U.S. patent application number 10/384152 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-22 for runner for a transport box, a pallet or the like.
This patent application is currently assigned to GEORGE UTZ HOLDING AG. Invention is credited to Dubois, Jean-Marc, Emmenegger, Marc, Schab, Boris.
Application Number | 20040011798 10/384152 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27792855 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040011798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dubois, Jean-Marc ; et
al. |
January 22, 2004 |
Runner for a transport box, a pallet or the like
Abstract
Novel runners for a transport box, a pallet or the like are
described which are provided with an arrangement allowing assembly
of several similar or diametrically opposed runner elements into a
runner.
Inventors: |
Dubois, Jean-Marc;
(Bremgarten, CH) ; Emmenegger, Marc; (Bremgarten,
CH) ; Schab, Boris; (Wettingen, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SPECKMAN LAW GROUP
1501 WESTERN AVE
SUITE 100
SEATTLE
WA
98101
US
|
Assignee: |
GEORGE UTZ HOLDING AG
Bremgarten
CH
|
Family ID: |
27792855 |
Appl. No.: |
10/384152 |
Filed: |
March 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/639 ;
220/1.5; 220/636 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00069
20130101; B65D 2519/00407 20130101; B65D 2519/00422 20130101; B65D
2519/00497 20130101; B65D 2519/00034 20130101; B65D 2519/00621
20130101; B65D 2519/00666 20130101; B65D 2519/00059 20130101; B65D
2519/00318 20130101; B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D 2519/00557
20130101; B65D 2519/00985 20130101; B65D 2519/00975 20130101; B65D
2519/00333 20130101; B65D 2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00412
20130101; B65D 2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00442 20130101; B65D
2519/00174 20130101; B65D 19/18 20130101; B65D 2519/00358 20130101;
B65D 2519/00567 20130101; B65D 2519/00129 20130101; B65D 2519/00517
20130101; B65D 2519/00701 20130101; B65D 2519/0099 20130101; B65D
19/0024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/639 ;
220/1.5; 220/636 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/34 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2002 |
CH |
2002 0388/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A runner for a transport box, a pallet or the like, comprising
several similar or diametrically opposed runner elements positioned
in an arrangement that can be assembled into the runner.
2. A runner according to claim 1, wherein the runner elements
comprise cams that are arranged transversally to the cams at end
regions of the cams.
3. A runner according to claim 1, wherein the runner elements
comprise hollow spaces.
4. A runner according to claim 3, wherein the hollow spaces of the
runner elements have at least one arrangement selected from the
group consisting of: trapezoid-shaped and arc-shaped
arrangements.
5. A runner according to claim 1, wherein the runner elements
comprise flat longitudinal ribs.
6. A runner according to claim 1, wherein the runner elements can
be assembled at their end zones into a runner by means of
connection pieces.
7. A runner according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the end
zones of a runner element is beveled and forms a right angle with a
respectively beveled end region of another runner element.
8. A runner according to claim 7, wherein the respective end zones
are beveled in a step-like fashion.
9. A runner according to claim 2, wherein the cams comprise
honeycomb-like reinforcements.
Description
CLAIM FOR FOREIGN PRIORITY UNDER 37 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
[0001] This application claims foreign priority to Swiss Patent
Application No. 2002 0388/02, filed Mar. 6, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to a runner that can be
assembled to a transport box, a pallet or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A stackable transport box of this kind is known for example
from EP-A-0 876 963, in which a flap rotatable about a horizontal
axle is provided in the side walls. The rotating flap is rotatably
connected with an insert part which is fastened in a respective
detent in the side wall. The floor of the transport box is provided
in the corners and in the middle with vertical supporting pillars
which are mounted on a four-cornered supporting frame. The
supporting frame is of an integral design and comes with a massive
configuration.
[0004] To ensure that the supporting frame is sufficiently stable
from a mechanical viewpoint in order to reliably withstand loads of
more than 1000 kg, it needs to be provided with a predetermined
thickness and width. In the case of dimensions of the transport box
of more than 1 meter by 1 meter, the production of such a
supporting frame requires especially large matrixes. Moreover, the
supporting frame needs to be welded together with the supporting
pillars or to be glued with a synthetic-resin glue of high
strength.
[0005] Another type of stackable transport box is described in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,735,431 which consists of a supporting frame of vertical
supporting pillars and a honeycombed base plate. Side walls
perforated with oblong holes are situated between the supporting
pillars. The supporting pillars projecting below the base plates
are mutually connected by means of three parallel runners which
correspond to the length of the transport box. The two outermost
runners are provided with a flat arrangement, whereas the middle
runner is arch-shaped.
[0006] Although the longitudinal runners provided in this transport
box ensure the required stability and handiness for this box, they
can still lead to jamming of the transport box in conveying systems
such as conveyor belts or the like. The production of the runners
also require relatively large matrixes for the production of the
same and the runners need to be welded together with the supporting
pillars or glued together with an adhesive of high strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is based on the object of providing a
runner for a transport box, a pallet or the like which is
exceptionally stable, easy to produce and rapidly exchangeable.
[0008] This object is achieved by a runner assembled with several
similar or diametrically opposed runner elements.
[0009] The invention leads to the major advantage that the runners
consist of runner elements which can be assembled and are provided
with a handy size, especially with respect to handling and
mounting. When the runner elements are provided with a hollow
arrangement, much weight can be saved and the required stability
can still be maintained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Further advantages of the invention arise from the dependent
claims and the description below in which the invention is
explained in more detail by reference to an embodiment shown in the
schematic drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a stacking box with runners;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a pallet with runners;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows runner elements for the stacking box in an
exploded view from below, and
[0014] FIG. 4 shows the same runner elements of FIG. 3 in a
perspective view from above.
[0015] The same reference numerals were used for the same elements
in the figures and first-time explanations relate to all figures,
unless stated expressly otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a stackable transport box 1 with a base plate
2, four side walls 3, 4, 5 and 6, and with supporting pillars 8 at
the corners 9 and supporting pillars 10 in the middle between two
corners 9. The inwardly hollow arranged supporting pillars 8 and 10
are mutually connected by means of runner elements 12. The
assembled runner elements 12 form a closed rectangle. The transport
1 as illustrated here can be folded together, i.e. the walls 3, 4,
5 and 6 can be flipped together by means of hinges (not shown)
along edges 14 and 15.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a pallet 20 made of a rigid plastic material
such a polypropylene (PP) or the like. Said pallet 20 is provided
in the corner regions 21 with supporting pillars 22 which are
arranged as tube elements and have the cross section of an oblong
octagon. At the shorter sides 23 of the pallet 20, the same
supporting pillars 24 are provided between the supporting pillars
22. Moreover, further supporting pillars 25 are provided between
supporting pillars 22 and 24, which pillars 25 have an octagonal
cross section. Runner elements 28 are now inserted into the hollow
supporting pillars 22 along the longer sides 27, as in FIG. 1. The
two runner elements 28a and 28b have an identical configuration,
meaning that they are provided with a hollow cam 29 and a hollow
cam 30 at the inner end, which cams correspond to the inside
dimensions of the supporting pillars 22. Cam 30 corresponds to half
the inside cross section of the supporting pillar 25, so that the
inside cams 30 of the runner elements 28a and 28b jointly precisely
fill the hollow supporting pillar 25. The runner elements 28a and
28b are removed from the mould in a hollow fashion themselves and
are mutually coupled by means of a connecting piece (not shown
herein). As is shown, the runner elements 28a and 28b have flat
longitudinal ribs 31 which have a height of approximately 2 to 3
mm. Similarly arranged necks 32 with raster-shaped ribs 33 are
inserted into the middle supporting pillars 24 and 25, which necks
have the same height as the runner elements 28a and 28b. The base
plate 35 of pallet 20 is also provided with raster-like ribs 36 for
reinforcement purposes.
[0018] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the runner elements 12 of the transport
box 1. They are arranged either as a short element 12a and a
diametrically opposed short element 12b, or as a long element 12c
and a diametrically opposed long element 12d. The runner elements
12 consist of an oblong hollow supporting part 40 and an inside cam
41 and an outside cam 42. As tubular pieces, the inside cams 41 and
the outside cams 42 are provided with a hollow arrangement and are
provided with a honeycomb-like reinforcement 44. The runner
elements 12 are now mutually connected in the middle by means of
connection pieces 43 which are inserted into the hollow spaces of
the supporting parts 40. The two outside cams 42 of a short element
12a and a diametrically opposed long element 12d are also provided
shaped in a diametrically opposed fashion and are provided with a
notch-shaped separating wall 45a or 45d. These two separating walls
45a and 45d thus fit into each other, so that the two cams 42 fit
into a hollow supporting pillar 8. The two inner cams 41 of a short
element 12a and a diametrically opposed short element 12d are also
provided with a diametrically opposed configuration and fit
precisely into the hollow space of the middle supporting pillar 10.
In this way a closed rectangular supporting frame can be formed.
The cams 41 or 42 can be fastened to the supporting pillars 8 or 10
by means of screws (not shown), for which purpose respective bores
47 are provided in the cams 41 and 42 and in the supporting pillars
8 and 10. These runner elements 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are also
provided with longitudinal ribs 31. As is shown further, the hollow
space of the supporting part 40 shows a trapezoid cross section. It
can also be provided with an arc-shaped arrangement.
[0019] The runner elements 28 of pallet 20 are now arranged like
the runner elements 12 of transport box 1.
[0020] In order to reinforce the runner elements 12 or 28,
glass-fiber reinforced rods can be inserted which fit in a
dimensionally accurate manner in the inside hollow space of the
supporting parts 40. The rods can also be made of metal such as
aluminum or steel. The mechanical stability of the runner elements
12 or 28 can thus be increased further. These rods can also be
formed by the connection pieces 43 which then have approximately
the same length as the runner elements 12 or 28. For the purpose of
further stabilization, the hollow spaces of the supporting parts 40
can be subdivided into further hollow spaces by means of
longitudinal ribs (not shown here in more detail).
* * * * *