EP2014578A1 - Device for the transport and storage of freight - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has plate-shaped support elements (4) provided for attachment a part of receiving elements at two opposite side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) of a box (100). The support elements extend over a largest height portion of the side walls in a longitudinal direction. The support elements are made of thermoplastic material and comprise a receiving area for a mechanically stable receiving element. The receiving area exhibits a recess for receiving of fastening units connected with a flexible box structure.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the transport and storage of general cargo, comprising a container having a bottom and upwardly extending from the bottom side walls, wherein at least an upper portion of the side walls about an axis parallel to the bottom in an orientation approximately is folded down parallel to the ground, wherein on the side walls receiving elements for suspending and holding a flexible compartment structure are arranged.

Corresponding devices have long been known in the art. You will u. a. used for the supply and availability of components in the automotive industry. For example, has a corresponding, hinged in such a container, flexible compartment structure compartments whose walls are formed by a flexible, textile material and the items such. B. include doors or door panels of motor vehicles, which are supplied in such devices from a supplier to the manufacturer of the relevant automobiles and provided there during assembly of the vehicles on a belt, where assemblers remove the parts from each of the compartments of the container and immediately in or on the vehicle.

It is understood that corresponding devices can also be used for the transport of any other piece goods in other industries. In particular, such transport devices find application in the transport of high quality and at the same time sensitive cargo and the devices have the advantage that they are used again and again and after the transport corresponding piece goods no or at least less packaging material must be disposed of.

For the return transport corresponding emptied devices, it is expedient if the volume of the device in question can be drastically reduced, so that less transport capacity is required for the return transport of the devices, which is then available for other purposes.

For this reason, corresponding collapsible containers have already been developed, in which the side walls can be folded over substantially horizontally, ie parallel to the floor extending hinges in a position approximately parallel to the ground.

In some cases devices are known in which a flexible compartment structure remains connected during folding and after folding with the side walls of the container. In this case, however, the upper portions of the flexible compartment structure, which span the gap between respective opposite side walls, folded or buckled in itself. This can lead to damage to the flexible compartment structure and reduces its service life.

The present invention is in contrast to a prior art, in which the flexible compartment structure dissolved before folding the side walls at least in its upper region of the side walls and z. B. down to the bottom of the container, wherein only the vertical side walls of the individual compartments fold, which are exposed to generally lower loads than the horizontally tensioned side walls of a flexible compartment structure and therefore can be equipped so that they against folding or wrinkles are less sensitive.

Depending on the size of the container and the flexible shelving and depending on the weight of the parts to be stored and transported in the flexible shelves and their suspensions on the side walls of a corresponding container are often exposed to considerable loads and must be accordingly stable and solid equipped. On the other hand, this competes with the requirement to make optimal use of the space available in such a container or to make the container as small as possible for a given transport purpose so as not to unnecessarily bind transport capacities. The corresponding stable and solid receiving elements for suspending the flexible compartment structure must necessarily be arranged on the inner walls of the opposite side walls and therefore protrude into the interior of the container. Since the hinged compartment structure is flexible, ie generally made of webs of textile material or of plastic films, the receiving elements must be as close as possible to the container's container and as close as possible to the container upper ends of the side walls are arranged. On the other hand, since all the walls of the empty container to be folded for the return transport, correspondingly large and massive receiving elements in the corner regions of the container for the collapse of the side walls would interfere, at least if a pair of side walls, which has corresponding receiving elements, still stands upright, while the transverse sidewalls are folded.

Compared to this prior art, the present invention has the object to provide a corresponding device, which provides a favorable space utilization of the container and yet relatively easy and simple collapsible.

This object is achieved in that plate-shaped support elements are provided for the attachment of at least a portion of the receiving elements on two opposite side walls of the container, which extend in their longitudinal direction over most of the measured perpendicular to the Umklappachse the respective side wall height of the side wall, with the side wall are connected and have a receiving area for a mechanically stable receiving element, which has at least one first recess for receiving a connected to a flexible compartment structure or carrying this fastener.

Such a plate-shaped support member, which extends over a large part of the height of the side walls, on the one hand has a large area for secure connection to the respective side wall and on the other hand can be equipped with its receiving area so that it is also a relatively flat and slightly protruding Receiving element stably receives and secures to the container wall, wherein the support member may be very flat and thus only slightly protrudes from the side wall of the container inwardly.

It is understood that in this context, the concept of "container" and the "side walls" is interpreted very broad and that it may also be a frame or a frame in the container, which essentially a transport volume, for. B. in cuboid form, with such a frame or frame also defines side walls, even if they may be open or, for example, only from possibly also provided with a fabric or the like rod-shaped frame elements. Especially with such open or consisting of open frame parts or only with a light covering frame parts existing containers, the arrangement of a plate-shaped support member on these side walls is very advantageous to provide a stable basis for the attachment of a receiving element. In such cases, the support element z. B. are attached only to the frame parts or rods that define a side wall. In addition, however, of course, the present invention also includes containers which have stable side walls, for example of plastic plates or the like.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving region of the carrier element is designed as a second recess in the carrier element that surrounds the receiving element with its edge. For better distinction, the recess provided in the receiving element for receiving a fastening element of the flexible compartment structure is here referred to as "first recess" and the recess provided in the carrier element for receiving the receiving element is referred to as "second recess". Such with its edge the receiving element comprehensive recess of the support element provides even with a relatively thin or flat support member a large, secure fit for a receiving element, which is housed in this recess and at the same time ensures that the receiving element at most slightly from the inside of Container wall protrudes. In particular, according to one embodiment, it is provided that at least the edge of the receiving element encompassed by the first second cutout does not protrude beyond the surface of the carrier element facing the interior of the container, which has this second cutout. Conveniently, the edge of the receiving element is flush with the second recess in the carrier element. In addition, if the receiving element is formed substantially plate-shaped, it can be ensured in this way that the receiving element does not protrude beyond the surface of the support element, which can be formed as a plate-shaped and therefore relatively thin element, because it substantially its stability through its large area Training and possibly also receives a large-scale connection with the side wall.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that behind the first recess (the Aunahmeelementes) and within the second recess (the support member) a clearance for engaging behind the edge of the first recess is arranged by a fastening element of the flexible compartment structure. By engaging behind the edge of the first recess, the fastening element is secured to the receiving element.

It is further understood that it is expedient in such a case if, as already mentioned, the receiving element is also formed substantially plate-shaped and consists of a thinner plate material than the carrier elements connected to the side walls. In this way, the second recess in the support member may be formed correspondingly deeper and in the case of a flush with the inner surface of the support member final, plate-shaped receiving element then remains on the back of the receiving element of the corresponding space in the second recess.

According to one embodiment, the receiving element made of metal or a fiber composite material, wherein in many practical cases steel, aluminum or brass is a suitable material for the receiving element.

The carrier element or the carrier elements according to an embodiment of the invention made of plastic, in particular of a thermoplastic material. Such elements are easily manufacturable in largely arbitrary shapes and sizes and at least sufficiently stable enough as sufficiently large plates, in turn, to hold the even more stable receiving element, which must take in contrast to the support element rather point-like loads. Of course, however, the support elements can be made of any other material at least the same strength, for example, aluminum or steel.

The support elements according to one embodiment of the present invention have several functions: First, they serve as the just described holder for receiving elements, which in turn fasteners of a flexible compartment structure, e.g. in the form of the ends of an upper bar to which a flexible compartment structure is suspended. However, since the support elements also extend over a large part of the height of the retractable side walls, they can also take over the further function of keeping the flexible compartment structure taut even in the lower area. This can be done, for example, with the help of other rods which extend at a distance below the upper support rod of the flexible compartment structure by arranged on the end faces of the compartment structure loops. These additional rods, which may also be connected to the upper rod via other flexible connections, such as cables, straps or the like, so that they hang at predetermined maximum distances below the upper rod, should be so long that they just still between the opposite Fit sidewalls of a flexible compartment structure, but at the same time the clear width between the opposite support elements is smaller than the length of these additional rods. This means that you can hook these additional rods behind the support elements, as far as they still have a sufficient distance from the transverse to the support elements and parallel to the bars extending side wall. The support elements are therefore fastened at a sufficient distance from the corners of the container.

It is also important that the support elements on the two opposite sides, which are folded in the order of the other two, this transverse sides, are relatively flat or thin, so that the first to be folded sidewalls, although they extend completely or almost over the entire clear width between the side walls to be folded in as the second, they can be folded inwards past the support elements. Nevertheless, however, the support elements should still be thick enough to receive flush in their upper part a plate-shaped receptacle member and behind it still to provide a space for receiving a fastener or the head of a fastener, which should be designed according to short or narrow ,

The attachment of the support rods in the receiving elements or behind the support elements is done as follows. First, the upper rod is hung from above into the receiving elements, with a z. B. mushroom-shaped head at the end of the receiving rod passes into the space behind the receiving recess of the receiving element, while a rod connecting this head with the remaining part of the rod, rod-shaped portion slides into the relevant slot of the receiving element. There are different variants for this, which will be described later. Subsequently, the lower bars, which are only connected by flexible elements, e.g. Ropes, straps or an end face of the flexible shed itself connected to the upper support bars are tilted relative to the upper support bars in a vertical plane containing this upper bar so that they are effectively shortened in the horizontal direction so that they can be moved between the support members , After they have reached the space behind the support elements, they are again aligned horizontally, d. H. parallel to the upper support rod and thus engage behind the outer edges of the support elements. In addition, because they are connected to the upper bar by the flexible members, and occupy their lowest possible position due to their own weight, they remain in this horizontal orientation, thereby tensioning the flexible compartment structure over corresponding connecting members such as loops attached to the compartment structure.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the corners of the support elements are flattened at least in the region of their upper, a corner region of the container facing corner and the diagonally opposite lower corner, ie that the thickness of the plate-shaped support member at least to an upper corner, the is facing the nearest corner of a container, and becomes thinner toward the diagonally opposite corner, while still abutting the side wall and lies in the plane of the side wall. This serves, inter alia, that the side wall adjacent to the carrier element can be folded in more easily, namely, during its folding, its edge engaging with the corresponding oblique or flattened surface in the corner region of the carrier element occurs and so slides onto the support member and then also total on the support member over or over this time can slide, although otherwise no other parts protrude from the inner surface of the support member, as is the case according to some embodiments described above. The same applies to the unfolding of the container in reverse order, when a pair of side walls on which the support members are mounted, is already erected and the second pair still needs to be erected, since then the outer edges of the latter pair from below with the flattened Corner region of the support element engage and slide on this, so that they can be moved apart. The hinges of the side walls offer this ei sufficient play.

Conveniently, the support elements are also attached to the respective side walls in a sufficient distance from the respective nearest, transverse side wall, the z. B. 2 cm, better at least 3cm or even at least 4 or more cm should be. This is especially true for an embodiment in which the crumpled at a corner, fully erected side walls are in positive engagement with each other. For example, an edge angled from a first wall may protrude in extension of the adjacent side wall and have projections or recesses in which corresponding recesses or projections on the edge of the adjacent side wall positively engage, so that the edges of the two side walls are locked together. This locking engagement can be canceled according to an embodiment only when the (not the angled edge having) is folded inwards to move in this direction, the projections and recesses apart. Although these projections and recesses are limited to the upper portion of the abutting edges benachbarter side walls, the recesses and projections can only be brought out of their locking engagement when the corresponding side wall is pivoted sufficiently far, so that in its upper region, the projections and recesses have been moved by an amount relative to each other, which corresponds to the measured in this direction engagement length of these projections and recesses. This engagement length amount can be between 2 cm and 10 cm or a little more, so that the side wall to be folded in its upper end portion is already pivoted sideways by at least this amount when the projections with the recesses disengage. Only then can the edges of the side walls also move perpendicular to the pivoting plane of the side walls to be folded first. In particular, then the still upright side walls, which have the support elements, can be pressed slightly apart, since the lower hinge heirfür provides a sufficient range of motion. Accordingly, should also only then do the edges come into engagement with the bevelled ramp surfaces of the carrier elements, as a result of which the opposing carrier elements and the corresponding side walls are pressed slightly further apart.

The first recesses of the receiving elements are open according to an embodiment of the present invention upwards or they are at its upper end extended so that they allow the entrance of the head of a fastener behind the edge of the underlying portion of the first recess.

For example, the fastening elements may be formed as a mushroom-shaped by a head is connected via a tapered neck portion with the flexible compartment structure or a support rod or the like for the compartment structure. The head is then disposed above the first recess or in the widened portion of the first recess and pressed against the underlying side wall or the bottom of the second recess of the support element, wherein the thickness of the head is dimensioned so that it is in the space behind the Accommodates receiving element. The tapered neck portion may then enter the remaining narrower portion of the first recess of the receiving element.

It is generally expedient if the first recesses are approximately slot-shaped and define a longitudinal direction of the slot which, starting from the bottom of the slot towards an outlet opening, has components upwards and in the direction of the nearest corner of the container. The directions refer to the container in the erected, d. H. unfolded state.

Since the flexible compartment structure is suspended on the receiving elements or in the recess of the receiving element via the said fastening elements, corresponding tensile forces exerted by the flexible flat structure result downwards and also in the horizontal direction through the webs stretched between the various fastening elements of a side wall are. These forces ensure in a correspondingly inclined receiving slot that the fasteners remain securely in the recess of the receiving element even with shock. In this case, the slot forming the first recess does not necessarily have to be rectilinear, but it can also be angled or zigzagged and have the aforementioned directional components.

Since the receiving elements should be arranged so that the container volume is optimally utilized, according to an embodiment of the invention, the receiving elements holding carrier elements are each arranged in the vicinity of the corners of a container. According to one embodiment of the invention, the length of the support elements is at least 50% of the height of the foldable portion of the side walls and their width is less than one fifth of the length of the respective side wall, while the thickness is less than 3 cm, preferably less than 1.5 cm , The minimum width of the support elements should be a few cm, z. B. 5 cm, but widths of the order of 10 to 20 cm are preferred, depending on the size or the length of the container and the side walls. The height is generally more than 50 cm, but otherwise is arbitrarily adaptable and could also be less for smaller containers. In many practical cases, the length of the support members will reach 80 cm and more.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the receiving elements are formed as locking plates, which cooperate with the corresponding fastening elements of a flexible compartment structure such that these fasteners must be moved against a force exerted by the flexible compartment structure clamping force to reach a position in which the fasteners of their engagement with the receiving elements are releasable or can be used in the receiving elements. This is ensured, for example, by the features already mentioned, that the first recesses are slit-shaped with directional components upwards and horizontally in the direction of the nearest corner of the container. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the fastening elements are provided at the ends of supporting rods, which extend over the entire space between the receiving elements of opposite side walls. In this version with support rods according to a further embodiment, the fastening elements may be equipped such that they must be rotated for insertion into the receiving elements and also for removal from the receiving elements with the support rod about its longitudinal axis.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the side walls are so designed and the folding axes of the side walls arranged such that first a first pair of two opposite side walls must be folded before subsequently the second pair of side walls can be folded over. It is provided according to an embodiment of the invention that the support elements, which have the second recesses for receiving the receiving elements, are provided on the second side walls. If appropriate, support elements and receiving elements could also be provided on the first side walls, but it would not be necessary for these receiving elements and carrier elements to the same extent that the receiving elements and / or the Carrier elements protrude very little over the inner surface of the support elements. The receiving elements could also be placed on the surface of corresponding support elements z. B. are screwed or glued, since it does not matter so much in the first pair einklappender sidewalls, whether the receiving elements and support members protrude more or less far from the inner surface of the walls.

In this case, therefore, both the support elements and the receiving elements may well be thicker than the support elements on the first then folded side walls, since nothing must be moved past the support elements and receiving elements which are attached to the first folded side walls, if this together with be folded down the first folding sidewalls. According to one embodiment of the invention, the side walls to be folded first, where the thickness of the carrier elements and receiving elements attached thereto are less important than the side walls to be folded in second, are the shorter side walls of a rectangular container with sides of different lengths.

It is understood that the support members may optionally be formed integrally with the side walls, in particular when the side walls are made of plate-shaped plastic elements, wherein the support elements in this case simply as a plate or strip-shaped reinforcement in the vicinity of the vertical edges of Can provide side walls. The support elements could possibly even flush with other sections or upper and lower edges of the associated side wall.

An embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the above-defined container in addition to the flexible compartment structure, which is mounted with its fastening elements in the receiving elements of the device according to the invention. Such a flexible compartment structure may consist of a plurality of horizontal and / or vertical webs, which are sewn together, welded or glued together and which define a plurality of either side or top open compartments, in which piece goods can be introduced for transport.

In one embodiment, such a flexible compartment structure is provided with support bars along at least two opposing upper outer edges of the flexible compartment structure to which the entire flexible compartment structure hangs. In one embodiment, another support bar could be located parallel to the said support bars and about midway between them at the top of the flexible compartment and an additional suspension of flexible shelving make up. Also for this support rod corresponding support elements and receiving elements should be provided approximately in the middle of the opposite side walls. The support rods have at their ends the already mentioned fasteners for hanging in the receiving elements, so that suspended over the receiving elements, the fasteners and the support rods of the entire flexible compartment structure in the container and is clamped.

In one embodiment, corresponding support rods of the flexible compartment structure have at their ends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rods extending arm, in which in turn parallel to the longitudinal direction extending fasteners are provided which engage in the correspondingly shaped first recess of a receiving element. This makes it possible to offset the support rods relative to the first recesses of the receiving elements in the direction of a side wall of the container, so that in this way the volume of the container can be used even better.

In one embodiment, the flexible compartment structure has at its ends a plurality of spaced apart, parallel support rods, which are connected via flexible elements, for. B. are flexibly interconnected via a vertical outer side wall of the flexible compartment structure or via individual cables, strips and the like.

The support rods including their fasteners preferably have a length which exceeds the clear width between opposing support members, so that lower support rods, which hang loosely from an upper support member supported in a receptacle, are held behind the edge of the support members facing the nearest side wall of the container , So that the flexible compartment structure in the horizontal direction is also stretched horizontally by the additional, spaced below the upper support rod support rods.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Behälters mit den erfindungsgemäßen Trägerelementen,
• Figur 2 eine Draufsicht auf ein Trägerelement,
• Figur 3 eine alternative Ausführungsform eines Trägerelementes,
• Figur 4 eine Schnittansicht durch einen Behälter mit einer Innenansicht einer mit zwei Trägerelementen ausgestatteten Seitenwand,
• Figur 5 eine weitere Schnittansicht mit einer Innenansicht einer weiteren mit zwei anderen Trägerelementen ausgestatteten Seitenwand,
• Figur 6 ein erstes Aufnahmeelement für die Aufnahme in einer Aussparung eines Trägerelementes,
• Figur 7 ein zweites Aufnahmeelement, welches gegebenenfalls auf ein Trägerelement aufgesetzt werden kann,
• Figur 8a eine Detailansicht des Befestigungselementes einer Tragestange mit einem zugehörigen Aufnahmeelement
• Figur 8b eine Schnittansicht durch ein Trägerelement und ein Aufnahmeelement entsprechend der Schnittlinie B-B in Figur 6 mit einer eingesetzten Tragestange nach Figur 8a
• Figur 9 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Behälters mit eingehängtem , flexiblen Fachaufbau,
• Figur 10 eine Detailansicht einer Seitenwand mit einem Trägerelement oder der Anordnung von Trägerstangen eines flexiblen Fachaufbaus und
• Figur 11 eine Detailansicht einer Seitenwand mit einem darauf befestigten Trägerelement, dem entsprechenden Aufnahmeelement und daran aufgehängten Stangen eines flexiblen Fachaufbaus.

Further advantages, features and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the associated figures. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a container with the support elements according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 a top view of a support element,
• FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment of a carrier element,
• FIG. 4 a sectional view through a container with an interior view of a equipped with two support elements side wall,
• FIG. 5 a further sectional view with an interior view of another equipped with two other support elements side wall,
• FIG. 6 a first receiving element for receiving in a recess of a carrier element,
• FIG. 7 a second receiving element, which can optionally be placed on a support element,
• FIG. 8a a detailed view of the fastener of a support rod with an associated receiving element
• FIG. 8b a sectional view through a support member and a receiving element according to the section line BB in FIG. 6 with an inserted support rod after FIG. 8a
• FIG. 9 a perspective view of a container with hinged, flexible compartment structure,
• FIG. 10 a detailed view of a side wall with a support member or the arrangement of support rods of a flexible compartment structure and
• FIG. 11 a detail view of a side wall with a support member mounted thereon, the corresponding receiving element and suspended therefrom rods of a flexible compartment structure.

In FIG. 1 can be seen in a perspective view of a container 100 without flexible compartment structure, but with upright side walls 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b. The container consists of a bottom element 1, which also in the extension of the side walls has short vertical sections, on which the side walls 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b are pivotally articulated. The container has two short first side walls 2a, 2b and two long second side walls 3a, 3b, wherein the hinge axis 8a, over which the short side walls 2a, 2b are hinged, are slightly lower than the hinge axes 8b, over which the long side walls 3a , 3b are hinged to the bottom part 1. For folding the container, the short side walls 2a, 2b are first folded inwards and then lie on the floor element or parallel to the base of the floor element 1, possibly also a (not shown here) flexible compartment structure in collapsed condition directly on the bottom element. 1 can rest and the side walls 2a, 2b are folded over. Depending on the height of the container and depending on the length of the long side walls 3a, 3b, the folded-down side walls 2a, 2b overlap one another or not.

After the short side walls are folded in, the long side walls 3a, 3b can also be folded inwards, namely around their respective hinge axes 8b.

When the opposite sides 2a, 2b; 3a, 3b overlap after folding, it may be appropriate to arrange the pivot axes 8a on the opposite short side walls 2a, 2b and the pivot axes 8b on the opposite sides 3a, 3b respectively at different heights, so that in the folded state, all four side walls are collapsed more or less parallel to the bottom plate 1. One recognizes in the perspective view the FIG. 1 also on the inside of the side wall 3a and in the vicinity of the corners of the container support elements 4, which in the FIGS. 2 to 4 are shown again in more detail.

How to get in FIG. 2 recognizes the support member 4 consists of an elongated plate, which in accordance with FIG. 1 extends almost over the entire height of the side wall 3a and in the vicinity of the ends of the side wall 3a, ie in the vicinity of the corner regions of the container (with erect side walls) are arranged. The support elements 4 extend in the illustrated embodiment over more than 80% of the height of the foldable side walls 3a, 3b and have a width corresponding to about one tenth of the measured in the horizontal direction length of the side walls 3a, 3b.

The support elements 4 have at their upper end a recess 40, in which according to FIG. 6 a receiving element 5 can be arranged appropriately. The thickness of the carrier element 4 may, for. B. 2 to 3 cm and its width is typically between 6 and 20 cm. The upper outer corners of the carrier element 4 are flattened at 14. The receiving element 5, according to FIG. 6 is arranged in the recess, closes with its visible front surface flush with the front surface of the support member 4 from. The flattened corners form chamfers 14 during folding of the side walls 2a, 2b, since the support elements 4 together with the receiving elements 5 something of the inner wall surface of the wall 3a, 3b protrudes. When the side walls 2a, 2b bridge almost the entire clear width between the side walls 3a, 3b. As can be seen, the ends of the side walls 3a, 3b are angled slightly inward so that the side walls 2a, 2b need not span the full width between the side walls 3a, 3b, but the support member has a thickness that is approximately equal or perhaps slightly greater is as the angled lugs at the ends of the side walls 3a, 3b, then encounter when folding the side walls 2a, 2b whose edges on the inclined ramp surfaces 14, which were generated by the flattening of the upper corner regions of the support member 4 and thus slide on the support member 4th and can therefore be folded between the opposite support members 4. The same applies when erecting the side walls, so that a corresponding ramp is also provided on the diagonally opposite, lower inner corner of the support element. In addition to be able to produce the carrier elements uniformly, so that they can be struck either right or left on the respective side wall 3a, expediently have all four corners of the support elements 4, the aforementioned flats or chamfers 14 on.

The angled lugs on the side walls 3a also serve in one embodiment for a positive connection with the edges of the adjacent side walls 2a, 2b, by protrusions and recesses are arranged at these edges and lugs, which interlock when erecting the side walls 2a, 2b and define undercuts in the direction of the lugs so that the lug and adjacent edge in the plane of the side walls 2a, 2b can not be pulled apart. These projections and recesses can z. B. have the form of a concealed dovetail connection, which is limited to the upper edge region de lugs and side walls 2a, 2b where the initial pivotal movement of the side walls 2a, 2b when folding a relative movement to the lugs in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the side walls 3a, 3b in which the projections and recesses can be pulled apart at the edges (eg the dovetail joint).

The recess 40 of the support member 4 may also be stepped and be slightly shallower, for example, in its lower and right and left areas 41, so that in this edge region 41, the recess 40 has a depth which corresponds exactly to the thickness of the plate-shaped receiving element 5, which is flat and is formed with a uniform thickness. In one of the slots 15, 15 'generous area of the receiving element 5, which serves to receive the fastening elements of a support rod, the recess 40 may be deeper and include, for example, the entire thickness of the support member 4. In this way, the receiving element 5 'can be flush mounted on the shoulder or the step of the area 41 and glued there or glued into the recess or with screws 42 which extend through the receiving element and into the bottom of the area 41, be secured in the recess 40, 41.

FIG. 4 shows a section through the container along the line IV - IV in FIG. 1 with a plan view of the side wall 3a. It can be seen in the vicinity of the corner regions right and left respectively the plate-shaped support members 4 with the receiving elements 5, which extend over most of the height of the side wall 3a, which is folded inwardly about the hinge axis 8b. The left and right side walls 2a, 2b are around the lower axes 8a foldable, which could be arranged on the left and right side, as already mentioned, even at a slightly different height.

The side walls 2a, 2b may support elements 4 'according to FIG. 3 and (optionally differently shaped) receiving elements 5 ', which in FIG. 7 are shown. How to get in FIG. 7 recognizes, in this case, the receiving elements 5 'placed on the support members 4' and not received in a recess. The support elements 4 'have bores 43 which may be provided with threaded inserts into which fastening screws can be screwed.

According to a further embodiment, the receiving elements are not flat, but have angled Endansätze, which ensure that when the receiving element is placed on a flat surface and secured thereto, remains in the central region behind the recess, a free space in which the head a fastener can be added.

In the case of the receiving elements 5, which are arranged in corresponding recesses 40, a corresponding clearance is formed in that the recess 40 in its central and the slots 15, 15 'comprehensive area is deeper than the receiving element 5 is thick.

FIG. 6 shows a receiving element 5 with a recess according to a preferred embodiment. The recess of the receiving element 5 has the shape of two slots 15, 15 ', which extend to an upper inlet opening and are inclined towards each other. The fasteners 7 at the ends of support rods 20 which can be inserted into this recess are in FIG. 8 shown. How to get in FIG. 8 see, at the ends of support rods two transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support rod 20 extending arm 21 are arranged, which in turn have two peg-like, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the support rod extending elements 7, 7 ', one of which is equipped with a thickened head. For insertion and removal of these pins in the recesses of the receiving element 5, the support rod 20 must be rotated so that the arms are tilted accordingly, then first the head provided pin 7 'in the slot 15' and then insert by pivoting Turning the carrying days also introduce the second pin into the slot 15.

In FIG. 8a can be seen a section through a support member 4, which is attached to a side wall 3A, with a cut in FIG. 6 drawn section line BB, in addition to the support member 4 and the receiving element 5 is also reproduced a rod holder used in the receiving element. The thickness of the carrier element 4 is shown here greatly exaggerated in comparison to its width in order to make the individual elements better recognizable. The bevelled ramp surfaces 14 also appear relatively steep in this illustration, although they actually run much flatter, ie, at a smaller angle relative to the side wall 3a. As can be seen, the receiving element 5 is inserted into a stepped recess 40, 41 on the carrier element 4, so that its surface is flush with the interior of the container facing surface of the carrier element 4, wherein the carrier element 4 is formed thicker than that Receiving element 5, so that behind the receiving element 5 in the recess 40, a corresponding free space 13 remains, in which especially the head of the pin 7 'can be added, the pin 7 also hineinerstreckt into this space 13, but in fact also shorter could be.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the rod 20 has a length which exceeds the clear width between opposing inner surfaces of the support member 4, wherein the boom 21 ensures that the over the pins 7, 7 'on the receiving element 5 suspended support rod 20 is in extends the space behind the left-side edge of the support member 4, which faces the nearest shorter side wall 2a.

The receiving element 5 'has a double-angled slot 16 and is mounted on support elements 4' at the first folded short side walls 2a, 2b. In this case, the receiving elements 5 'are arranged so that the openings in the angled slots of the two arranged at opposite ends of the side wall receiving elements 5' are farther apart than the bottom of the slots 16. While the container 100 selectively either only with support elements 4, 4th 'and receiving elements 5, 5' on the short side walls 2a, 2b or on the long side walls 3a, 3b may be equipped, it is also possible, both the short sides 2a, 2b and the long sides 3a, 3b with support elements 4 ' 4 and receiving elements 5 'and 5, however, only one of these groups of carrier elements 4 or 4' and receiving elements 5 or 5 'is used for suspending a specific flexible compartment structure, ie either the one on the long side walls 3a, 3b or on the short side walls 2a, 2b, wherein the corresponding support rods 20, at the ends of the fastening elements 7, 7 'vorgeseh are, are of different lengths and once the space between the opposite short side walls 2a, 2b bridging and in the other case the space between the opposite long side walls 3a, 3b bridge. in case of using the Receiving elements 5 'do not need to be provided with arms 21 at the ends of the carrying bars 20 in order to position the carrying bars 20 respectively behind the outer edge of the carrier elements 4'. Instead, fasteners 7 'may be formed directly on the ends of the support rods 20, ie in extension of the respective axis of the support rods.

One and the same type of container can then be equipped with differently oriented flexible shelves in which the compartments have openings either to the short or to the long sides of the container.

FIG. 9 shows an example of such equipped with a flexible compartment structure 6 container, in which case support rods 20 are provided, which extend between opposite long side walls 3a, 3b and the respective receiving elements 5 on the support elements 4. The detail view A to FIG. 9 shows more exactly how the fasteners 7, 7 'of the support rod 20, as shown in FIG FIG. 8 is shown, are suspended in the slots 15, 15 'of the receiving element 5. The head of the element 7 'is received behind the receiving element 5 in the space formed by the recess 40 40, since the recess 40 is formed at least by the head thickness deeper than the receiving element 5 is thick, which in turn is flush with the front surface of the support member 4 ,

This applies in an analogous manner to a flexible compartment structure according to FIG. 11 is suspended from support bars 20 which extend parallel to the long side walls 3a, 3b and between opposite short side walls 2a, 2b to receiving elements 5 ', which are fixed to support elements 4'. Again, the length of the support rods 20 is greater than the clear distance between the surfaces of the support members 4 ', but of course smaller than the clear distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls 2a, 2b. This leads also to the fact that the suspended by flexible elements and a flexible end wall 6 at a distance below the upper supporting rods 20 further supporting bars 20 can be hooked behind the respective externa ß older edge of the support elements 4 'and thus better overall span the flexible skilled structure as if this would be suspended only on the upper support rods 20.

In FIG. 10 can be seen in a schematic sectional view that the flexible compartment structure at its ends in each case 3 arranged at different heights supporting rods 20 which are provided by flexible elements, for. B. by a flexible end wall of the compartment structure 6 and formed there loops are connected to each other. Since the length of the support rods 20 is larger when the clear distance between the support elements 4 on opposite sides in the erected container and approximately the clearance of the side walls 3a, 3b itself corresponds, the lower support rods can be arranged in the corner regions of the container still behind the support members 4, so that the flexible Fachaufbau not only by the upper support rods, but also by the lower support rods in the horizontal direction is clamped.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving element (5, 5 ') consists of metal or a fiber composite material.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carrier element (4) made of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic material.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the side walls consist of plate-shaped plastic or wooden elements, wherein the carrier elements (4) with the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) positively connected to this screwed or are glued.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the carrier elements (4) on the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) and in the vicinity of the corners of the container (100) are arranged.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the length of the support elements at least 50% of the height of the foldable portion of the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) and their width less than one fifth of the length of the respective side wall (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b), wherein the thickness of the carrier elements (4) is less than 3 cm, preferably less than 2 cm and in particular about 1.5 or 1 cm.

18. Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the side walls designed in such a way and the folding axes (8a, 8b) of the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) are arranged such that for folding the container first, a first Pair of two opposite side walls (2a, 2b) must be folded and then the second pair of side walls (3a, 3b) can be folded over it.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the carrier elements (4) having the second recesses, on the second side walls (3a, 3b) are provided.

20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the carrier elements (4) are formed integrally with the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b).

25. Device according to one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that the carrier elements (4) of the nearest, adjacent side walls (2a, 2b) in the fully erected condition of the container a distance of at least 2 cm, preferably of at least 3 cm and in particular of at least 5 cm.

26. Device according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that on the adjacent edges of adjacent side walls (2a, 3a, 2b, 3b) mutually inter-engaging projections and recesses are provided which form a positive connection in the erected state of the container, which secures the side walls from pulling apart in the direction of the plane of the first foldable side walls (2a, 2b).

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that the positive connection is a hidden dovetail connection between the vertical edges of the first foldable side walls and one in the direction of these side walls (2 a, 2 b) angled approach the second to be folded side walls (3 a, 3 b) ,

Claims (16)

Device for the transport and storage of general cargo, comprising a container (100) having a bottom (1) and side walls (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) extending from the bottom, at least an upper portion of the side walls surrounding one to the bottom parallel axis (8a, 8b) in an orientation approximately parallel to the bottom (1) is foldable, wherein on the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) receiving elements (5, 5 ') for suspending and holding a flexible compartment structure (6) are arranged, characterized in that for the attachment of at least a portion of the receiving elements (5, 5 ') on two opposite side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) of the container (100) plate-shaped support elements (4) are provided which in their longitudinal direction extend over the greatest part of the height of the side walls (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) measured perpendicular to the folding over axis (8a, 8b), are connected to the side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) and a receiving area for a mechani sch stable receiving element (5, 5 '), which in turn at least one first recess (15, 15'; 16) for receiving a with a flexible compartment structure (6) connected to this or carrying fastener (7, 7 '). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving region of the carrier element (4) as a receiving element (5) with its edge at least partially comprehensive second recess (40) in the carrier element (4) is formed. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that at least the edge of the receiving element (5) encompassed by the first recess does not protrude beyond the surface of the respective carrier element (4) facing the interior of the container (100). Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the edge of the receiving element (5) is flush with the surface of the carrier element (4) facing the inside of the container. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that behind the first recess (15, 15 ') and within the second recess (40) has a free space (13) for engaging behind the edge of the first recess (15, 15') a fastening element (7, 7 ') is provided. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the receiving element (5, 5 ') is also substantially plate-shaped and consists of a thinner plate material than the carrier elements connected to the side walls (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) ( 4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carrier elements (4) are flattened at least in the region of the upper corner facing the nearest corner of a container and the diagonally opposite lower inner corner of the carrier element (4). Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first recess (15, 15 ') is open at the top or widened at its upper end so as to allow entry of the head of a fastener behind the edge of the underlying portion of the first recess to allow. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first recesses (15, 15 '; 16) are approximately slit-shaped and, wherein the longitudinal direction of the slot from its bottom to an outlet opening towards the top and in the direction of the nearest Corner of the container directed components. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the receiving elements (5, 5 ') are designed as locking plates which cooperate with the fastening elements (7, 7') of a flexible compartment structure (6) such that these against one of The tensioning force exerted on the flexible compartment structure (6) has to be moved in order to reach a position in which the fastening elements (7, 7 ') are releasably detachable from their engagement with the receiving elements (5, 5'). Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the fastening elements (7, 7 ') are provided at the ends of support rods extending over the entire space between the receiving elements (5, 5') opposite side walls (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the fastening elements are arranged and equipped so that they are rotated about the longitudinal axis of the support rods must be used to be in the receiving elements (5) used or removable from these. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it has a flexible compartment structure (6) which can be suspended in the receiving elements. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the flexible compartment structure (6) at two opposite end faces at intervals above one another horizontally extending support rods having flexible connections with each other. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the length of the support rods including the fastening elements (7, 7 ') provided at their ends is greater than the clear distance between the support members (4) on opposite side walls (2a, 2b; 3a, 3b) Interspace in the unfolded state and hinged, flexible compartment structure (6) is bridged by the support rods. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that at least a part of the support rods is provided at its ends with a transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support rod extending arm (21) on which parallel to the support rod and at a distance from these fastening elements (7, 7 ') extend for engagement with the receiving elements on the side walls of the container (100).

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