EP2408677B1 - Container having folding side wall - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such containers are widely known. For example, there are containers with four side walls, all of which are hinged to the bottom of the container by means of hinges. Alternatively, containers are also known in which usually the narrow sides of the container bottom are folded away upwards and the longitudinal sides in turn can be folded over a hinge connection to the floor. At the same time, an upper peripheral frame is thereby lowered onto the container bottom.

As a result, the height of the container can be reduced, so that after use of the container for the return transport or storage of the container a much smaller space is needed.

Hinges usually hinged joints are used in which hinge pins are received in openings in the container bottom, or the side walls are connected via integrally molded hinges on the container bottom. Such hinges are easy to clean and allow easy production. Hinged hinges on the other hand are easily removable from the floor, so that side walls can be replaced in case of damage and so a repair of the container is possible.

From the US 5,094,356 A already a container with hinged side walls is known, are inserted in the arranged on the side wall hinges in corresponding openings of the container bottom and locked there. A cooperating with the hinge pin stop, which is formed in the container bottom, it is intended to protect the hinge connection against impacts from the outside.

From the US 4,081,099 A In turn, a hinge connection is known in which the hinge pin is enclosed by a rotating hinge sleeve. At the hinge sleeve a locking lug is formed, which abuts an upright side wall to a stop to prevent further rotation of the side wall to the outside beyond the vertical position.

Another embodiment is in the EP 0 958 177 B1 shown, from which the present invention proceeds according to the preamble of claim 1. In this embodiment, the hinge pin is held by detent springs in the hinge opening of the container bottom, wherein the detent springs are designed resilient, so that a clip-like insertion or removal of the hinge pin is possible. A disadvantage of this embodiment, it is that this compound has no high resistance to withdrawal of the erected side wall in a loaded container. Due to the resilience of the detent springs, a sagging of the bottom edge can occur under load and you get a kink between the bottom edge and side wall, which has a negative effect on the load transfer.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a container in which a sagging of the bottom edge is almost impossible even under load.

This object is achieved with the container according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of this subject matter are specified in the dependent subclaims.

The container according to the invention, which is used in particular for the transport of fruits and vegetables, has a container bottom and at least two foldable on the container bottom side walls, said hinged side walls are articulated by means of hinges relative to the ground and the hinges have a hinge pin, the upright Position of the hinged side wall is held in an opening corresponding to the hinge pin in the container bottom against withdrawal from the opening, wherein at least one transverse to the orientation of the hinge pin on one side projecting locking lug is formed on the hinge pin. In addition, it is provided that in the unfolded position of the side wall the hinge pin is held by at least one projection in the opening, wherein the latching nose defines the hinge pin in the opening under the projection.

Compared to the known hinge connection of EP 0 958 177 B1 Thus, the locking lug is not used to secure the side wall against further unfolding over the erected position, but the locking lug replaced in connection with the projection the previously resilient locking of the hinge pin, so that the hinge pin very stable against removal from the opening can be secured. The locking lug thus acts against the opening wall, so that the hinge pin is fixed under the projection.

In this way, a bending of the soil against the side wall is very effectively prevented. By means of the one-sided projecting locking lug the hinge pin in the opening can advantageously perform an eccentric movement during flaps and this can in particular be taken to ensure that the hinge pin is inserted into the opening in a position past the projection and in a folded position by 90 ° itself located under the projection.

At least one insertion nose is expediently provided in the opening for clip-like reception of the hinge pin in the opening. This ensures that the hinge pin is easy to insert into the opening and also removable, so that side walls can be easily replaced. In addition, the insertion lugs secure the side wall in the folded state against unwanted removal of the hinge pin from the opening.

Particularly preferably, the latching lug is integrally formed on the hinge pin and that in a vertical orientation to the extent of the side wall, so that the hinge can be removed in folded on the container bottom position of the side wall of the opening.

Particularly suitably, the hinge pin is mounted centrally on the side wall by means of at least one web and in the opening are on both sides of the webs or, preferably formed two pairs of opposing and against each other acting insertion lugs. As a result, a particularly stable hinge connection is realized.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the hinge pin holding projection is formed under at least two adjacent insertion lugs. Then, the hinge connection is made particularly compact and the hinge pin is held stable in the opening due to the adjacent projections without being able to tilt.

The side wall expediently has at least one support, which cooperates with the bottom and forms a mechanical barrier in the upright position of the side wall in relation to a further opening of the side wall. Then, an overstretching of the unfolding can be effectively prevented, so that the opened container gains additional stability.

The support can be designed as a latching nose, which engages in the upright position of the side wall a projection or recess in the ground. Alternatively or additionally, the support may be formed as a surface element which rests in an upright position of the side wall on a corresponding surface element of the bottom, wherein the surface elements are secured in an upright position of the side wall relative to a mutual displacement in the normal direction of the surface elements and wherein the two surface elements preferred extend in the extension of the erected side wall. However, the design as surface elements is preferred because it ensures greater load bearing and thus even greater stability.

Fig. 1

den erfindungsgemäßen Behälter in einer perspektivischen Gesamtansicht,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch den erfindungsgemäßen Behälter gemäß Fig. 1 parallel zum Behälterboden,

Fig. 3a bis 3c

Schnitte durch die Scharnierverbindung des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters gemäß Fig. 1 in drei verschiedenen Stellungen, wobei der Behälter mit dem Boden oben dargestellt ist,

Fig. 4a bis 4c

Schnitte durch die Abstützung des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters gemäß Fig. 1 in drei verschiedenen Stellungen, wobei der Behälter analog den Fig. 3a bis 3c mit dem Boden in oberer Position dargestellt ist,

Fig. 5 und 6

Detaildarstellungen des Bodens des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters gemäß Fig. 1 in zwei Ansichten,

Fig. 7 und 8

Scharnierverbindung und Abstützung einer Seitenwand des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters in zwei Ansichten und

Fig. 9 und 10

das Zusammenwirken von Seitenwand und Behälterboden des erfindungsgemäßen Behälters gemäß Fig. 1 in zwei Positionen,

Fig. 11

zeigt eine Seitenansicht des Behälters von der Schmalseite her sowie

Fig. 12

zeigt eine Seitenansicht des Behälters von der Schmalseite her in eingeklappter Stellung der Seitenwände.

The features and other advantages will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1

the container according to the invention in a perspective overall view,

Fig. 2

a section through the container according to the invention according to Fig. 1 parallel to the container bottom,

Fig. 3a to 3c

Sections through the hinge connection of the container according to the invention Fig. 1 in three different positions, with the container with the bottom at the top,

Fig. 4a to 4c

Cuts by the support of the container according to the invention Fig. 1 in three different positions, the container analogous to the Fig. 3a to 3c is shown with the ground in upper position,

FIGS. 5 and 6

Detailed representations of the bottom of the container according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in two views,

FIGS. 7 and 8

Hinge connection and support of a side wall of the container according to the invention in two views and

FIGS. 9 and 10

the interaction of side wall and container bottom of the container according to the invention Fig. 1 in two positions,

Fig. 11

shows a side view of the container from the narrow side as well

Fig. 12

shows a side view of the container from the narrow side forth in the folded position of the side walls.

In Fig. 1 is the container 1 according to the invention, which was produced by injection molding of plastic, shown purely schematically in an overall view. It can be seen that the container 1 has a container bottom 2 and four side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 arranged thereon. From the in Fig. 2 purely schematically shown section through the container 1 parallel to the container bottom 2 can be seen that the narrow sides 3, 5 each with three hinge connections 7 and the longitudinal sides 4, 6 are each connected with four hinge connections 7 with the container bottom 2.

Through the hinge connections 7, the side walls 3, 4, 5, 6 each fold in a known manner to the container bottom 2, so that the container 1 is substantially reduced in its height. The articulation points of the hinge connection 7 with respect to the narrow sides 3, 5 are in relation to the container bottom 2 at a height, while the articulation points of the hinge connections 7 of the longitudinal sides 4, 6 are arranged offset by at least one wall thickness relative to the container bottom 2, so that the Long sides 4, 6 in the folded state plan to lie on each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the articulation point is arranged offset so high relative to the bottom-side support surface, that the longitudinal sides without mutual overlap plan to lie on the already folded on the floor narrow side walls.

Additionally is in Fig. 2 to recognize that in addition to the hinge connections 7 still supports 8 between the longitudinal sides 4, 6 and the container bottom 2 are provided.

In connection with the Fig. 3a-c and Fig. 4a-c Now, the shape and function of the hinge connection 7 and the support 8 will be explained, these figures each show sections through the hinge connection 7 and the support 8. The hinge connection 7 and the support 8 are evidently formed in a base element 30, which is formed integrally with the floor and forms part of the floor element. The base element 30 extends on the bottom side along the side walls 4 and 6, as is apparent from Fig. 1 results. The base element 25 projects above the support surface of the bottom element 2 upwards and forms in the upright position of the side walls 4 and 6, as in turn Fig. 1 shows, so to speak, part of the lateral boundary of the receiving volume of the container. Fig. 3a and 4a show it longitudinal side 4, which is collapsed to the ground 2. Fig. 3b and 4b show an intermediate position and Fig. 3c and 4c show the fully erected position of the longitudinal side 4 relative to the bottom 2. At the same time is on the Fig. 5 to 10 referred to, show the detailed representations of the hinge connection 7 and the support 8 separately for the container bottom and the longitudinal side 4, and the interaction of the longitudinal side 4 with the bottom 2 in two different positions, namely the fully folded in Fig. 9 and an intermediate position in Fig. 10 ,

It can be seen that openings 9, 10 are provided both in the container bottom 2 for the hinge connection 7 and for the support 8. The opening 9 of the hinge connection 7 has pairs of oppositely arranged and each provided with an inclined surface insertion lugs 11a, 11a ', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c ', 11d, 11d', each projecting inwardly and upwards towards the longitudinal side 4 rejuvenate. At the lower end of the insertion lugs 11a, 11a ', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c ', 11d, 11d' are respectively projections 12, 13 are arranged. On the longitudinal side 4 is a hinge pin 14 via two out Fig. 7 apparent webs 15 arranged in one piece. The hinge pin 14 in turn has latching lugs 16 at its lateral ends, which extend in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the longitudinal side 4 of the hinge pin 14. In this regard shows Fig. 3a a section through the hinge connection 7 at the level of the locking lug 16 and the sections according to Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c are guided approximately at the height of the webs 15.

Out Fig. 3a It can be seen that the hinge pin 14 in the position of the folded on the bottom 2 longitudinal side 4 has a width A, which is slightly wider than the clear width between the paired insertion lugs 11 a, 11 a ', 11 b, 11 b', 11 c, 11 c ', 11d, 11d'. In connection with a certain flexibility of the injection-molded plastic base 2, the hinge pin 14 can be inserted along the insertion lugs 11a, 11a ', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c ', 11d, 11d' in the opening 9 and snapped after exercise of a certain Clip-like behind the at the insertion lugs 11 a, 11 a ', 11 b, 11 b', 11 c, 11 c ', 11 d, 11 d' arranged projections 12, 13, whereby the side wall is secured against being removed and held. If necessary, the side wall under pressure but can be dug again, so that an exchange of walls is possible. In this context, as specifically from the Fig. 9 and 10 can be seen in the bottom 2 at each opening. 9 an opening 17 is provided which receives the webs 15 in the folded-over position of the longitudinal side 4.

Due to the flexibility of the bottom 2 in the region of the opening 9, the hinge pin 14 after a elasticity-induced widening of the opening 9 on the insertion lugs 11a, 11a ', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c ', 11d, 11d' from the opening 9. In connection with Fig. 3b and 3c It is clear that the locking lugs 16 force the hinge pin 14 when unfolding the longitudinal side 4 relative to the bottom 2 to an eccentric movement that he presses against the side surface 18 of the bottom 2. Thereby, the hinge pin 14 is forced under the projection 12 of the insertion lugs 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, 11 d and is there in a completely erected condition of the longitudinal side 4 opposite the bottom 2 against withdrawal in the direction of extension of the longitudinal side 4 secured. In this way, even with large loads acting on the bottom 2 no migration of the bottom 2 with respect to the longitudinal side 4, since the rigid projection 12 fixes the longitudinal side wall 4 via the webs 15 and the hinge pin 14 in position. The eccentric movement of the hinge pin 14 in the opening 9 due to the locking lugs 16 is mainly from the top views in Fig. 9 and 10 clear. Since the hinge pin 14 is held over a plurality of adjacent projections 12, which are arranged on the insertion lugs 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, also a tilting of the hinge pin 14 is excluded and it is achieved a great stability of the hinge connection 7.

With the help of Fig. 4a-c and Fig. 5 to 10 The function of the support 8 will be explained below. It can be seen that the opening 10 of the support 8 in the bottom 2 likewise has an opening 19 through which, in the folded-in state of the longitudinal side 4, a web 20 (FIG. Fig. 7 and 10 ) engages, on which a support element 21 is integrally attached, which has a hook-shaped profile. The hook-shaped profile of the support element 21 in this case has a latching nose 22, which acts in the erected state of the longitudinal side 4 against a sloping wall 23 in the container bottom 2 and thereby presses a plane surface element 24 of the support element 21 against acting as a corresponding surface element wall 24 in the ground ,

That way, how special will be Fig. 4c can be seen, the side wall stabilized in its erected position and also effectively prevents the longitudinal side 4 can be folded over the raised position with respect to the bottom 2. The locking lug 22 also acts in the erected state of the longitudinal side wall 4 relative to the projection 26 in the inclined wall 23 as an additional fixation of the longitudinal side wall 4 relative to the bottom 2, so that a withdrawal of the support member 21 from the opening 10 is prevented. This also prevents migration of the bottom 2 with respect to the longitudinal side 4 at high loads. In an upright position thus the support is trapped and reduces kinking of the bottom edge. This is advantageous because when climbing with stacking edge under load usually has a sagging of the bottom edge of the lower tray, which can get a kink between the bottom edge and side wall, which would adversely affect the load application.

Specially made Fig. 4a It can be seen that the width B of the support element 21 is dimensioned so undersized with respect to the inside diameter of the opening 10 that the support member 21 is easily inserted and removed from the opening position of the longitudinal side 4 relative to the bottom 2 in the opening 10 ,

Out Fig. 3a-c and Fig. 5 . 6 It can also be seen that a web 25 is provided in the opening 9 of the hinge connection 7, which limits the position of the hinge pin 14 downwards. As a result, and also in the context of the boundary, which is provided over the edges 26, 27, rattling of the hinge connection 7 is prevented, so that it acts very compact and stable.

Fig. 11 shows a side view of the container from the narrow container side and it can be seen that the narrow side wall 3 is formed higher than the two adjacent longitudinal side walls 4 and 6. However, the upper edges of the four side walls 3 to 6 in the illustrated embodiment at the same level and thus flush top. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the two base-side sockets 30 protrude upward correspondingly high above the bottom surface. As a result, the side walls 4 and 6 can be made shorter in height, but nevertheless high at most, so that they, like Fig. 12 shows, on the same level can be folded down to the ground, without them lying in folded down position over each other and thus the empties transport position would be comparatively high. As a result, an extremely flat folding position of the container is achieved, which is due in principle only by the height of the bottom element and twice the thickness of the side walls. According to a practical embodiment, the container shown in the figures represents a tray with a basic dimension of 600x400 mm, which has a total height of 217 mm, which is achieved due to the above-described hinge formations. In this context is also the "loose cage" in the base, as he said on the basis of FIGS. 3a to 4c described is important because through the different positions or positions, the maximum height of the crate or an extremely low empty stack height can be obtained. By forming the upwardly over the floor protruding base elements 30 can be at the same upper level, the side walls 4 and 6 interpret to a length so that they lie in the folded position at the same level and do not overlap. With folding up the side walls 4 and 6, one finally reaches the height of the narrow side walls 3 and 5 due to the additional increase in consequence of the projecting lateral base 30. Wie Fig. 12 shows, the longitudinal side walls 4, 6 are flat and without mutual overlap on the already directly folded on the wing of the bottom narrow side walls and is the empties transport position iw only by twice the side wall thickness, thickness of the bottom and possibly provided on the bottom surface downwardly projecting Insurgents and stack members determined.

From the above representations it has become clear that the container 1 according to the invention has a hinge connection 7, which almost excludes a sagging of the bottom 2 with respect to the side wall 3, 4, 5, 6 under load. In particular, the hinge connection 7 can be easily designed such that the side wall 3, 4, 5, 6 can be removed from the floor 2 in a particularly simple manner. In addition, can be realized in a simple manner, a highly effective mechanical lock against folding up the side wall 3, 4, 5, 6 relative to the bottom 2 on the erected position addition. The container 1 is particularly simple and inexpensive can be produced because the bottom 2 is produced by injection molding without slide in the tool and thus a simple tool design is possible.

Claims (9)

1. A container (1), in particular for transporting fruit and vegetables, comprising a container base (2) and at least two sidewalls (3, 4, 5, 6) that are foldable onto the container base, the foldable sidewalls (3, 4, 5, 6) being articulated relative to the base (2) by means of hinges (7), and the hinges (7) comprising a hinge pin (14) which in an upright position of the foldable sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6) is held, within an orifice (9) in the container base (2) that corresponds to the hinge pin (14), against being pulled out from the orifice (9), at least one catch lug (16) which unilaterally protrudes in the direction transverse to the alignment of the hinge pin (14) being configured on the hinge pin (14), characterized in that in the folded-open position of the sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6), the hinge pin (14) is held within the orifice (9) by at least one protrusion (12), the catch lug (16) fixing the hinge pin (14) within the orifice (9) underneath the protrusion (12).
2. The container (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hinge pin (14) is held within the orifice (9) such that it performs an eccentric movement due to the action of the catch lug (16) relative to the orifice (9) when the sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6) is folded open.
3. The container (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one insertion lug (11a, 11a', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c', 11d, 11d') is provided within the orifice (9) for clamp-like reception of the hinge pin (14) within the orifice (9).
4. The container (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that the catch lug (16) is integrally formed on the hinge pin (14), specifically in the orientation perpendicular to the extension of the sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6), so that the hinge pin (14) may be removed from the orifice (9) in the position where the sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6) is folded onto the container base (2).
5. The container (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that the hinge pin (14) is centrally attached to the sidewall (3, 4, 5, 6) by means of at least one ridge (15), and in that preferably two pairs of opposite and counteracting insertion lugs (11a, 11a', 11b, 11b', 11c, 11c', 11d, 11d') are configured within the orifice (9) on either side of the ridge(s) (15).
6. The container (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the protrusion (12) holding the hinge pin (14) is configured underneath at least two adjacent insertion lugs (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d).
7. The container (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterized in that the sidewall (4, 6) comprises at least one support (8) which interacts with the base (2) and forms, in the upright position of the sidewall (4, 6), a mechanical barrier against further folding-open of the sidewall (4, 6).
8. The container (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the support (8) is configured as a catch lug (22) which, in the upright position of the sidewall (4, 6), engages behind a protrusion (26) in the base (2).
9. The container (1) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the support (8) is configured as a surface element (24) which, in the upright position of the sidewall (4, 6), adjoins a corresponding surface element (25) of the base (2), the surface elements (24, 25) being protected, in an upright position of the sidewall (4, 6), against mutual displacement in the normal direction of the surface elements (4, 6), and the two surface elements (24, 25) preferably extending in the direction of extension of the upright sidewall (4, 6).

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