EP0469612B1 - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a multiple-use package, which also serves as a transport container, for replacing disposable packages, such as shoe boxes. Furthermore, the container according to the invention is also intended to be used directly for display in the retail trade and to replace there the previously used, primarily stationary shelving systems. In this case, not only is packaging material saved, but also personnel expenditure since time-consuming unpacking, etc. for the display is not required. This is achieved in that the container essentially has the form of a collapsible shelf unit, whose intermediate shelves can assume a sufficient inclination to serve at the same time for display, and in which the articles to be accommodated can be fixed directly to the intermediate shelves without damage for transportation. Individual containers can readily be combined to form larger units and can be collapsed to a small volume in the empty state and transported back for refilling. <IMAGE>

Description

In today's business life, a lot of goods - though not very sensitive or in need of protection - for the most part long way from the manufacturer to the wholesaler Retailers packed elaborately, and then from Retailers either unwrapped and in the presentation posed or sometimes in addition to this purpose repacked. With some of these products, especially with Shoes, there is a relatively large amount Packaging material compared to the packaged goods, and beyond fall by packing and unpacking relatively high personnel costs. For example, the individual shoes first in tissue paper or similar wrapped, then in the individual shoebox packed, these shoe boxes in mostly 12 units comprehensive intermediate boxes packed, which then to pallets be put together.

All of this packaging is about Disposable packaging for a correspondingly high Waste incidence.

From FR-A-2 157 204 a piece of furniture that can be dismantled is known, the side walls of which and the rear wall only saves space after the container has been dismantled are collapsible.

In FR-A-1 446 702 a collapsible shelf is described which consists of there are two side walls, which are connected by means of two intermediate floors. The Intermediate shelves each have a hinge so that the side walls are almost on Plant can be brought together. Since this known shelf no Has back wall, it is not suitable for transporting goods to be presented.

From US-A-4, 271, 766 a collapsible shelf is known, which consists of two in collapsible side walls, a rear wall and two intermediate floors consists. Several such shelves cannot be in a retail store can be mechanically connected to each other, since connecting elements required for this absence.

In US-A-4,400,043 there is a collapsible storage shelf for camp purposes described, which consists of two side walls, a rear wall and several Intermediate floors exist. The individual walls or intermediate floors have to Merging the storage shelf can be separated and are not foldable against each other. So here is no quick and easy Merging possible.

A collapsible container is known from US-A-2 576 750, which in particular has two pivotally hinged doors for closing the container. It deals So it is a container that is closed on all sides in the assembled state Inside is only accessible by opening the doors. A presentation of goods in this container is therefore only possible to a limited extent, since the doors open after opening Impede the presentation of goods.

It is therefore the object of the present invention, a To create containers, on the one hand for the transport of the Goods are suitable, but beyond that if possible also directly for the presentation of the goods in retail is used, so that there are complex shelving systems for the Retailers are avoided and the container then to the manufacturer of the Goods can be transported back for new filling.

This task is accomplished using a collapsible container solved according to claim 1, 2 or 3. By in a room dimension much greater extension than in the other two Dimensions of space, relatively large units are created, which means little or no stacking effort require and still fold easily can to save space when empty and therefore to be transported back inexpensively.

The folding is facilitated by the fact that between the front and rear only the horizontal lying intermediate floors, but none across Viewer, vertical walls, what also the view would block on any underlying products.

The plate-like boundary parts like side walls, Intermediate floors, rear wall, etc. should - if consist of solid material at all - lightweight and nevertheless be made of stable material and such be constructed with as little as possible Optimal stiffness is achieved. For example, the side walls can be grid-shaped Have structure or the like.

The connecting elements enable this Assemble multiple containers into larger units such as a continuous presentation front, one free in the room standing presentation gondola or the like, the Entire unit a much greater stability than connected individual containers standing side by side exhibit.

The container should be used to hold shoes be dream-shaped, i.e. in the opened state by one be several times its width or depth. Here the side walls are made of solid material and in not be articulated, with several horizontal Intermediate shelves in the opened state of the container on the Side walls are attached. Is it about Intermediate shelves made of solid material, so the Side walls in the spread state and thus the Container kept in its unfolded state.

For the specific type of folding, there are: several options, some of which are detailed here should be listed:

For example, the rear wall can also be made of solid Material exist and with the side walls nearby the rear edge of which is articulated. The back wall has at least one additional hinge in it Course so that for the purpose of folding the Container the two side walls in a parallel position can be moved towards each other until they come close to each other. Depending on the training of the Joints between the rear wall and side walls and the Hinge inside the back wall moves the back wall either in the area between the two Side walls in, creating an M-shaped fold results, or from the area between the rear edges of the Side walls away to the outside, which means that the Shape of the container from a U shape to a V shape is transformed until the side walls actually meet issue.

The rear wall is preferably only a hinge in have their middle and additionally have stops, so that the rear wall does not go beyond its extended position can be moved.

Preferably - especially with the M-shaped fold - the rear wall is a maximum of twice as wide as the side walls, so that the M-shaped fold creates a compact, flat package with rectangular cross section in folded state results.

Like those necessary for inserting the shoes Intermediate floors are designed later - regardless of the type of folding of the container - discussed in more detail.

Another way of folding is that the two side walls over at least two, preferably below and arranged at the top of the side walls, articulated Intermediate floors are connected to each other. If this articulated shelves in the horizontal position the side walls apart, so that the container opened Condition. The intermediate floors or the Side walls have stops so that the Intermediate shelves do not have the extended, horizontal position can move out. For collapsing the container these intermediate shelves are folded up, so with only a joint in the course of the intermediate floors in a vertical brought upward position. This allows you to turn up the side walls in parallel to each other to move towards each other to approximate the system.

Again, in addition to the few that exist fixed, articulated intermediate floors further intermediate floors for the insertion of the goods needed.

The advantage of this folding is that For reasons of stability, not necessarily a back wall must be present. This means that the back wall either omitted entirely, or not by one in itself stable, for example flexible element such as a film or a textile fabric can be replaced.

Another folding variant is the Side walls and the rear wall made of solid material create, the rear wall in turn articulated with connected to the rear edges of the side walls, above beyond that, however, has no other joint.

In this case, the back wall is at least twice as wide like the sidewalls, so the sidewalls can Collapse the container folded inwards, i.e. open the front of the back wall. The necessities Intermediate floors can, for example, be articulated with their Trailing edge connected to the front of the back panel and for example, before collapsing the container can be folded up to the rear wall. Of the The next step would then be the said folding inwards of the side walls so that the container is collapsed Condition in turn a flat package with the length of the Side walls or the rear wall would be.

Regardless of the type of folding, as Connection elements for connecting individual containers U-shaped Brackets made of steel etc. are used, which over side walls lying side by side or also side by side lying rear walls from above or from the side can be. For this purpose, in the to be penetrated Recesses in the side walls or rear walls to provide.

This allows you to easily and with few Handles from a variety of inventive Containers larger, very stable units be put together.

In the intermediate floors, which do not add stability the container must serve in the clamped state it is, for example, solid plates that for example from the front in horizontal grooves on the Can be inserted inside the side walls.

Because a stabilization of the container by this Intermediate floors are not absolutely necessary these shelves can also be made from a flexible Material such as a textile fabric or a film exist, which along its edges or at least its corner points movably connected to the side walls is. For example, such could be flexible Material near the corners of eyelets, by means of which hooks etc. can be hooked into the unfolded container is possible.

The advantage of such a flexible material as Intermediate floor is that these intermediate floors a folding of the container not by hand a certain direction must be folded, but automatically in the collapsed state of the Adapt the container to the confined space.

Another advantage of such textile intermediate floors is in that a loop-like textile material is used can be. This can then be considered a half of a Velcro are used, the hook-shaped Part of the Velcro as at least one partial area on the bottom of the sole of the shoes or the bottom of the products to be introduced is applied.

So that the shoes or other products can be used Manufacturer on the mezzanine floor of the unfolded Container can be placed without being transported a shift and the scouring to be feared the outer walls of the container must be feared. Of further can additionally in the hook-shaped part of the Velcro fastener, which is applied to the sole of the shoe an electronic component will be glued in, which occurs when going through an electronic lock that for example at the exit of the retail store an alarm is triggered. In this case it is sufficient, only on some shoes such electronic Components to bring in a sample effect and to achieve a deterrent function.

In order to present the products during the often long transport route To protect pollution, it is beneficial to the container Closed on all sides when opened, filled to keep. The front can, for example, by a flexible material such as a film or a Textile material to be closed, which for example like a roller blind in vertical grooves on the Inside of the side walls in the area of their front edges is led. The retailer must, after setting up the individual containers in its sales rooms only these Remove the cover by placing it up in the groove pushes or onto an upper edge of the container Wind the arranged, spring-loaded roll leaves. The groove can also be used to insert Advertising posters, price tags etc. at the top of the Serve containers.

With folding types such as the second folding described, where the rear wall is also not to the stability of the unfolded container can contribute as a rear wall such a flexible cover can also be used, to protect the included products from pollution.

In an analogous application, the first and third described type of folding, in which the rear wall Side panels spread apart, flexible covers as Rear wall can be used if additionally in the area of Trailing edge between the side walls articulated with the Rear walls connected cross braces are arranged that perform this spreading function. Of course such flexible covers more sensitive to Damage what over the benefit of Weight saving must be weighed.

Furthermore, the described folding principles, the based on a slender, vertical, tower-shaped Element have been described, also on a transverse, correspondingly low element, whose Amount of a single product to be accommodated corresponds, so no additional shelves to Filing products contains more. In this case they are longest parts of the collapsible container, one Bottom and a cover plate representing horizontal Parts, then such collapsible individual floors stacked on top of each other and connected together need to put together larger units.

This alone should have disadvantages, since such filled individual floors have a considerable weight can and only by several people on top of each other can be stacked. In contrast, a single tower-shaped element even by a single person relatively easy over a correspondingly slippery surface how to pull concrete floor or carpet.

Furthermore, a Tilt the individual shelves towards be possible for the visitor.

This can be done by connecting the intermediate floors in the Do not sew the front edge directly to the side walls, but be solved with vertical rods, which are in turn guided in or on the side walls and along their longitudinal direction, i.e. in the vertical, are movable.

After placing the filled containers in the Salesrooms can be lowered by lowering the vertical Poles all attached to it by a few centimeters Intermediate floors of the container together and evenly the desired inclined position.

Fig. 1 a

eine Aufsicht auf einen aufgeklappten Behälter,

Fig. 1 b

einen teilweise zusammengeklappten Behälter in der Aufsicht und

Fig. 1 c

einen vollständig zusammengeklappten Behälter gemäß der Fig. 1a in der Aufsicht,

Fig. 2 a

eine Frontansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen anderen Behälters,

Fig. 2 b

einen teilweise zusammengeklappten Behälter gemäß Fig. 2a und

Fig. 2 c

einen vollständig zusammengeklappten Behälter gemäß Fig. 2 a,

Fig. 3 a

eine Aufsicht auf einen aufgeklappten weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Behälter,

Fig. 3 b

einen vollständig zusammengeklappten Behälter gemäß Fig. 3 a,

Fig. 3 c

eine freigeschnittene Seitenansicht eines Behälters gemäß Fig. 3 a,

Exemplary embodiments according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.
Show it

Fig. 1 a

a supervision of an opened container,

Fig. 1 b

a partially collapsed container in supervision and

Fig. 1 c

a completely collapsed container according to FIG. 1a in supervision,

Fig. 2a

2 shows a front view of another container according to the invention,

Fig. 2 b

a partially collapsed container according to Fig. 2a and

Fig. 2 c

a completely collapsed container according to FIG. 2a,

Fig. 3 a

a supervision of an opened further container according to the invention,

Fig. 3 b

a completely collapsed container according to FIG. 3a,

Fig. 3 c

3 shows a cut-away side view of a container according to FIG. 3a,

1 a to 1 c show plan views of a container in the unfolded, half folded and fully collapsed condition where the Rear wall is folded between the side walls, so that there is an M-shaped fold.

In such a container, the rear wall 6 is over Hinges 9 hinged with the side walls 5 nearby the rear edges 8 connected. The rear wall 6 has in a joint 10 at its center, so that the rear wall by one vertical axis can be folded. Here the joint 10 moves with the adjacent parts of the Rear wall 6 in the space between the two Side walls 5 in the direction of their front edges 7 to, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 a. At the same time, the side walls 5 approach the Container 1 in a parallel position to each other, as is clear in the course of Fig. 1 a to 1 c.

In the completely folded state of Fig. 1 c are the side walls 5 and those in between Parts of the rear wall 6 approximately parallel to each other, the mutual distance only by the Space requirements of the hinges 9 and the joint 10 determined becomes.

In Fig. 1 a can also be seen an intermediate floor 4, the in this case made of flexible material, such as textile fabric consists. This intermediate floor 4 has eyelets in its corners 17 on which the intermediate floor 4 with the inner sides the side walls 5 is connected. The front eyelets 17 are not directly with the side walls 5 connected, but each with a vertical Rod 16, which on the inside of the side wall 5 in the Vertical is slidably attached to this.

When container 1 is transported to the sales area is only the cover 18 of the Removed front panel, which is in grooves on the inside of the Side walls 5 near the front edge 7 is guided. This cover 18 can be pulled out or at the top of the container 1 are wound up.

For a better presentation of the on the intermediate floors 4 to reach stored products, they should be in the direction sloping towards the user, i.e. towards the front can be set. For this purpose, the rods 16 now pressed down by the desired distance, whereby the attachment points of the front eyelets 17 also reduce. This is an even inclination of all Intermediate floors 4 of a container reached.

In Fig. 1 b can also be seen how the Intermediate shelves 4 made of flexible material when folded of the container 1 around the inwardly migrating rear wall lay.

In Fig. 1 b is also on the left edge of the container recognize how by means of U-shaped brackets 12, the top are pushed over two adjacent side walls 5, one Connection to an adjacent container is created.

Due to the formation of the joint 10 ensured that the rear wall 6 does not have the stretched position can move backwards.

Of course, rear wall training is also possible, at which is not when folding the container in moves the space between the side walls 5, but the joint 10 against the direction of the arrow of the 1 a moved backwards, that is from the side walls 5 path. Such training has the advantage that in Clearance between the side walls 5 a free Sagging the flexible shelves 4 becomes possible, and the folded container narrower than in Fig. 1 c becomes. On the other hand, the folded container has a greater extension in depth corresponding to that half the width of the rear wall 6.

2 a to 2 c is another folding of the Shown container 1, in which the side walls of the Container in the opened state by some solid Intermediate shelves 4 are kept at a distance. A back wall is from such a construction Stability reasons is not absolutely necessary however, to prevent contamination of contained products to be available. However, you can choose the lighter and cheaper variant a flexible back wall made of foil or textile material be resorted to.

Fig. 2 a shows the container 1 in the unfolded Status. Between the side walls 5 are above, below as well as a fixed intermediate shelf 4 in the middle drawn in, which with hinges 9 with the Side walls 5 are connected. These fixed shelves 4 each have a joint 11 in the middle, which allows that when folding the container - as in 2 b and 2 c can be seen - these joints 11 from the stretched position of the intermediate floors 4 from itself upwards move so that the kinked intermediate floors first take a roof-like shape and later approximately parallel to the approximated, parallel Side walls 5 lie. The top shelf protrudes 4 naturally upwards from the folded container out, while the other fixed shelves in the Gap between the side walls 5 are located.

In addition, between the side walls 5 are a number of flexible intermediate floors 4 made of textile material, which with an unfolded container 1, as in Fig. 2 a are shown, are stretched. As it approaches the side walls 5 hang together flexible Intermediate shelves 4 increasingly due to gravity below and are at the complete folded container - as shown in Fig. 2 c - in the space still available between the side walls 5 and the folded shelves 4.

In addition, a cross strut 15 is an example in FIG. 2 a drawn in, which by means of a joint on one of the Side walls 5 is attached and before folding the Container, for example, up to the vertical Position is folded to the side walls 5 not hindering each other. When unfolded however, this cross strut spreads with its free end in a corresponding recess of the opposite Side wall 5 and keeps the side walls 5 thereby additionally at the desired distance. Such a cross brace 15 can, for example, for additional stabilization serve or also the otherwise used, middle, replace fixed shelf 4. Should with the help of such Strive 15 overall for stabilization through fixed Intermediate floors 4 are dispensed with, so these are not only near the rear edge of the side walls 5 at several To arrange places, but also close to them Leading edges to ensure sufficient tensioning of the existing ones flexible shelves 4 in the opened state of the To effect container 1.

Here too is due to the type of joint 11 or not shown stops on the edges of the individual parts of the fixed shelves 4 ensured that the fixed Intermediate shelves 4 from the extended, horizontal position only up, but not down over the extended position can be moved.

3 a to 3 c show a third variant of the Folding the container 1: The side walls 5 are also here connected to the rear wall 6 via hinges 9. This however has no additional joint in its course and is also a little bit on its outer edges cranked towards the side walls 5 to completely folded state of the container 1, as in Fig. 3 b shown, still space between folded side walls 5 and the rear wall 6.

This space is used for the existing fixed intermediate floors 4 needed, which has hinges 19 on their rear edges are connected to the inside of the rear wall 6, as in the cut side view of Fig. 3 c shown.

So that the side walls 5 can be folded inwards according to the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3 a, the fixed shelves 4, which in the horizontal position in the Proximity of the front edges on stops 20 of the side walls 5 rest, folded up into the vertical position, in which parallel to them close to the inside of the rear wall 6 lie, as shown in Fig. 3 b. Subsequently the side walls 5 can be folded inwards to Attachment to the undersides of the fixed intermediate floors 4.

In addition to the fixed shelves 4 can in turn flexible intermediate floors 4 between the Side walls 5 are attached, provided that they are in one sufficient distance above the fixed intermediate floors 4 in order not to hinder their folding up.

1, 2 and 3 was from a Ground plan, with the viewer facing Side, i.e. the width of the rear wall or front front, is larger than the width of the side walls, so that e.g. Shoes only standing in front of the viewer on the Intermediate floors can be stored. At least that Folding variants of FIGS. 1 and 2 also leave one Base area of the container 1, at which the depth of the Container is larger than its width, so that for example shoes with the point towards the viewer can be arranged.

Claims (14)

1. Collapsible container which has a rear wall (6), side walls (5) and shelves (4) and is longer, by a multiple, in one spatial dimension than in the other two spatial dimensions, in the case of which container the side walls (5), on the one hand, and the rear wall (6), on the other hand, are designed integrally in the long spatial dimension, the side walls (5) can virtually be brought to bear against one another, by means of a swing-action mechanism, without the shelves (4) being removed, the side walls (5) and the rear wall (6) consist of a lightweight, flexurally rigid material, the shelves (4) are located approximately horizontally and consist of a flexible material, the rear wall (6) is connected to the side walls (5) so as to be pivotable by hinges (9), the rear wall (6) can be collapsed by means of an articulation (10; 11), connecting elements (12) for the purpose of connecting the containers (1) to one another to give larger units are provided, and one (18) of the vertical outer walls can be removed without the stability of the container in the opened-out state being lost.
2. Collapsible container which has a rear wall (6), side walls (5) and shelves (4) and is longer, by a multiple, in one spatial dimension than in the other two spatial dimensions, in the case of which container the side walls (5), on the one hand, and the rear wall (6), on the other hand, are designed integrally in the long spatial dimension, the side walls (5) can virtually be brought to bear against one another, by means of a swing-action mechanism, without the shelves (4) being removed, the side walls (5) consist of a lightweight, flexurally rigid material, at least one of the approximately horizontally located shelves (4) consists of flexible material, rigid shelves (4) are arranged at least at the top and bottom ends of the container and can be swung upwards by means of an articulation (11), connecting elements for the purpose of connecting the containers (1) to one another to give larger units are provided, and one of the vertical outer walls can be removed without the stability of the container in the opened-out state being lost.
3. Collapsible container which has a rear wall (6), side walls (5) and shelves (4) and is longer, by a multiple, in one spatial dimension than in the other two spatial dimensions, in the case of which container the side walls (5), on the one hand, and the rear wall (6), on the other hand, are designed integrally in the long spatial dimension, the side walls (5) can virtually be brought to bear against one another, by means of a swing-action mechanism, without the shelves (4) being removed, the side walls (5) and the rear wall (6) consist of a lightweight, flexurally rigid material, the shelves (4) are located approximately horizontally and consist of flexible material, the side walls (5) are connected to the rear wall (6) so as to be pivotable by hinges (9) and can be swung against the rear wall (6), connecting elements for the purpose of connecting the containers (1) to one another to give larger units are provided, and one of the vertical outer walls can be removed without the stability of the container in the opened-out state being lost.
4. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rear wall (6) can be swung between the side walls (5).
5. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that, during the collapsing operation, the rear wall (6) can be swung outwards from the region between the side walls.
6. Container according to Claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the rear wall (6) is at least double the width of the side walls (5).
7. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by connecting elements which are intended for the purpose of connecting at least two containers and comprise U-shaped clamps (12) which can be pushed over abutting side walls (5) or rear walls (6).
8. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rigid shelves (4) can be pushed, from the front, into approximately horizontal grooves on the inside of the side walls (5).
9. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the vicinity of their corners, the shelves (4) consisting of flexible material are connected to the side walls (5) in a movable manner.
10. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the front side of the container (1) can be closed off by means of a covering (18) made of flexible material.
11. Container according to Claim 10, characterized in that the covering (18) is guided in vertical grooves on the inside of the side walls (5) in the vicinity of the front edge (7) of the latter.
12. Container according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least part of the top side of the shelves (4) consisting of flexible material is designed as part of a touch-and-close fastener.
13. Container according to Claim 2, characterized in that the rear wall (6) consists of flexible material, and there are provided transverse struts (15) which at one end are connected to one of the side walls (5) in an articulated manner and at their other end can be latched in recesses of the other side wall (5).
14. Container according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the vicinity of their front edge, the shelves (4) consisting of flexible material are fastened on vertical rods (16) which are arranged in the vicinity of the front edge of the side walls and can be displaced for oblique positioning of the shelves (4).

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