GB2314833A

GB2314833A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB2314833A
Application number: GB9712018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Walter Stubbings
Original assignee: Heartbeat Manufacturing Co Redditch Ltd
Current assignee: Heartbeat Manufacturing Co Redditch Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-02
Filing date: 1997-06-11
Publication date: 1998-01-14
Also published as: GB9712018D0

Abstract

A storage container comprises a first panel (16) forming a base and front and rear walls, a pair of second panels (20) forming end walls, and a series of clips (40) for fixing each second panel to the first panel. Preferably the panels comprise wire mesh and preferably the clip comprises recesses for engaging wire.

Description

CONTAINERS This invention relates to containers intended for storage and/or display for example in shops and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide containers which can be stored and transported in minimum volume of space and easily erected by a user. A further object is to provide for stacking of the erected containers.

According to the invention a container comprises a first panel forming a base and front and rear walls, a pair of second panels forming end walls, and a series of clips for fixing each second panel to the first panel.

Preferably the panels are of wire mesh.

One embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the first panel; Figure 2 is an elevation of the second panel; figure 3 is an enlarged scale perspective view of one clip; Figures 4 and 5 are scrap views showing the clip being engaged with the panel of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container assembled from the components of Figures 1-3; and Figure 7 is an enlarged scale scrap view showing one clip engaged with components of both Figures 1 and 2.

Turning first to Figure 1 and Figure 7, the container is in this case a wire basket. One component 16, Figure 1, is a panel of wire mesh comprising in the illustrative example, nine heavy gauge wires disposed in three groups, those indicated by the reference numeral 10 being part of a back wall of the basket, those indicated by the reference numeral 12 being on the base, and those on part 14 forming the front wall. In this example the front wall is shorter than the back wall and is inclined at an obtuse angle to the base, whereas the back wall is inclined normally of the base. Other angles and arrangements are possible.

The heavy gauge wires are crossed by a plurality, in the illustration sixteen lighter gauge wires, called 'thin wires' equispaced between wires 18, which project slightly beyond the first and last of the plurality of thin wires 18a, 18b.

The panel of Figure 1 will normally be made in a flat condition with each intersection of wires welded, and then bent into the illustrated shape.

When so bent, the heavy gauge wires lie on what will be the outside of the basket.

Figure 2 shows an end wall 20. This comprises a peripheral loop-like heavy gauge wire 22 including parallel portions 24,26 joined by a straight portion 28 and a Vee shaped portion 30. The angle of the portion 28 relative to one of the portions 24,26 corresponds to the angle of the back wall relative to the base of the panel 16. A Vee shaped portion 30 joins the parallel portions 24,26.

A grid of thin wires is fixed to the wire 22 comprising, in this example, thirteen thin wires 32 parallel to the portion 28 and a U-shaped length of thin wire 34 having limbs generally parallel to the parts 24,26. The geometry of these wires is not important in relation to the fixing method described herein and they are simply for the purpose of infilling and making the end wall into a panel-like part. However the gap between the wire portion 28 and the grid may be useful to secure the complete basket in a desired position e.g. in cantilever fashion.

A pair of sheet metal clips of generally U-section, 36, is fixed to the portion 24.

The panel of Figure 2 is made in a similar fashion to that of Figure 1, by welding wires together.

Turning now to Figure 3, this illustrates a clip conveniently made by injection moulding a slightly resilient plastics material. The clip 40 has a pair of recesses 42,44 corresponding in size to the diameter of the wires 18 used in the first panel, and a third recess 46 corresponding in size to the diameter of the peripheral wire 24 on the second panel. Recess 42 opens to the exterior via an L-shaped slot 48 including a first leg which extends away from recess 44, whereas recess 44 opens to the exterior via a slot which is transverse to that leg or possibly extends arcuately about the centre of recess 44 for a reason which will be understood from a reading of this specification.

Recess 46 is formed in a portion 50 which also extends towards recess 42. An opening or jaw 54 extends between portion 50 and the main body 52 of the clip extending between recesses 42,44.

Turning now to Figures 4 and 5 these show the method of engaging each clip with a corresponding smaller gauge wire 18a or 18b and with the nearest adjacent smaller gauge wire in each case. In Figure 4 recess 42 has been engaged first with the nearest adjacent wire and then the clip is swung about that wire to engage the recess 44 with the wire 1 8a or 18b. Using the L-shaped recess 48 provides security against inadvertent detachment of the clips from the panel.

As best seen in Figure 6, three clips are used at each end of the panel of Figure 1 approximately in the positions of the references 60,62,64 of Figure 1.

One end panel 20 is then attached to one end of the panel 16 by first engaging wire portion 28, Figure 2, with two of the clips, hooking the same into the recesses 46 entering via the jaws 54 (Figure 3). Panel 20 may be generally co-planar with the base part of panel 16 at this time, and is then hinged about the axis of recess 46 to the required position when portion 30 (Figure 2) is close to the third clip. It can be engaged with that clip by manipulation due to the resilience and flexibility of the respective parts.

When so assembled and engaged, the peripheral wire 24,26,28,30 substantially surrounds the panel of Figure 1 but extends in a plane normally of each of the parts of that panel. The projecting ends of the wires 10 extend across the said peripheral wire on the inside of its loop.

The second end wall is engaged in like fashion to complete the assembly of an individual basket.

When the base portion of the basket is horizontal and lowermost, a like basket may be supported above the first one by engaging portions 26 of the end panels of the said like basket in the clips 36. Further baskets may be supported above that to make a tower of baskets. Due to the front wall components of each basket being shorter and inclined, the interior of the lower baskets in the tower will be accessible.

It will be appreciated that prior to assembly, the base components (Figure 1) for a plurality of baskets can be nested one inside the other and providing the dimensions are appropriate a stack of end wall panels can be laid flat in the nested stack of basket panels, so that a large number of basket components may be disposed in the volume of little more than a single assembled basket.

It will also be understood that the baskets (or other containers if not made of wire mesh or like) may be made in any desired size or shape.

Claims

1. A storage container comprising a first panel forming a base and front and rear walls, a pair of second panels forming end walls, and a series of clips for fixing each second panel to the first panel.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the panels comprise wire mesh.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the first panel is substantially U-shaped in end elevation.

4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein one of the front or rear walls is shorter than the other of the front or rear walls.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein one of the front or rear wall is inclined at an obtuse angle to the base.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the other of the front or rear wall is inclined normally to the base.

7. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the second panel comprise end portions configured to align at least in part with the front and rear walls of the first panel.

8. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the second panel comprises a peripheral loop of wire.

9. A container according to any preceding claim comprising a releasable clip having a body with recesses for engaging part of the first and second panels.

10. A container according to Claim 9 wherein the first or second panels comprise wire mesh and the releasable clip comprises a first and second recess for engaging separate wires of the first or second panels.

11. A container according to Claim 10 wherein at least one of the first or second recesses comprises a slot through which wire moves when attaching the clip to the first or second panel.

12. A container according to Claim 11 wherein both the first and second recess of the pair of recesses comprise slots through which wire moves when attaching the clip to the first or second panels.

13. A container according to Claim 12 wherein the slot of the first recess is directed in a first direction within the clip body and the slot of the second recess is directed in a second direction which is not aligned with the first direction.

14. A container according to Claim 13 wherein the first and second directions are substantially normal to one another.

15. A container according to any of Claims 9 to 14 comprising a recess which is substantially L-shaped.

16. A container according to any of Claims 9 to 15 wherein the clip body is substantially L-shaped.

17. A container according to any of Claims 9 to 16 wherein the clip body is formed from a resilient material such as plastics.

18. A container according to any preceding Claim comprising means for stacking assembled containers to allow access to the interior of each container.

19. A container according to Claim 18 wherein the stacking means comprises a clip attachable to the first or second panels, such as a c-shaped clip attachable by friction or mechanically.

20. A clip for releasably fastening wire panels of a storage container which clip somprises a body having recesses for engaging wire in two panels to be joined.

21. A clip according to Claim 20 comprising any one of the features of Claims 10 to 19.

22. A storage container substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 6.

23. A releasable clip substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3, 4. 5 and 7.