U.S. patent application number 10/699218 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for decomposable container having a multiple-part cover.
Invention is credited to Junge, Klaus.
Application Number | 20040251254 10/699218 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28051528 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040251254 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Junge, Klaus |
December 16, 2004 |
Decomposable container having a multiple-part cover
Abstract
A decomposable container, comprising: a base; a cover; and
supporting parts connected to said base and said cover, which space
the cover from the base and together with the base and the cover
form a container volume, wherein the cover comprises a plate-like
or shell-like cover area structure and a number of edge parts, with
at least one jointing element each, which are arranged, distributed
on the edge of said cover area structure and overlapping the same,
and positioned by means of said jointing elements and each provided
with at least one functional element, wherein said at least one
functional element per edge part forms a connecting element for
connecting the cover to the base and the supporting parts or/and
forms a positioning element, wherein said positioning element
serves to position the base and the cover, stacked one on top of
the other, on each other and/or to position the cover on or on top
of the supporting parts.
Inventors: |
Junge, Klaus; (Berlin,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RATNERPRESTIA
P O BOX 980
VALLEY FORGE
PA
19482-0980
US
|
Family ID: |
28051528 |
Appl. No.: |
10/699218 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00034
20130101; B65D 2519/00567 20130101; B65D 2519/00925 20130101; B65D
2519/00442 20130101; B65D 2519/00696 20130101; B65D 2519/00457
20130101; B65D 2519/00139 20130101; B65D 2519/00208 20130101; B65D
2519/00338 20130101; B65D 2519/00815 20130101; B65D 2519/00711
20130101; B65D 2519/0097 20130101; B65D 2519/00965 20130101; B65D
2519/0087 20130101; B65D 2519/00069 20130101; B65D 2519/0096
20130101; B65D 2519/0093 20130101; B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D
2519/00243 20130101; B65D 2519/00437 20130101; B65D 2519/00641
20130101; B65D 2519/0099 20130101; B65D 19/18 20130101; B65D
2519/00293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/004.28 |
International
Class: |
B65D 006/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 2003 |
DE |
203 09 286.4 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A decomposable container, comprising: a) a base; b) a cover; c)
and supporting parts connected to said base and said cover, which
space the cover from the base and together with the base and the
cover form a container volume, d) wherein the cover comprises a
plate-like or shell-like cover area structure and a number of edge
parts, with at least one jointing element each, which are arranged,
distributed on the edge of said cover area structure and
overlapping the same, and positioned by means of said jointing
elements and each provided with at least one functional element,
wherein said at least one functional element per edge part d1)
forms a connecting element for connecting the cover to the base and
the supporting parts or/and d2) forms a positioning element,
wherein said positioning element serves to position the base and
the cover, stacked one on top of the other, on each other and/or to
position the cover on or on top of the supporting parts.
2. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein each
of said edge parts comprises an upper part from which the at least
one jointing element projects at an angle, and in that the
respective edge part, together with its upper part, lies on the
cover area structure and abuts the edge of the cover area structure
via its at least one jointing element and is thus positioned on the
cover area structure.
3. The decomposable container as set forth in the preceding claim,
wherein each of the edge parts is provided with at least two
jointing elements projecting at an angle from the upper part, said
jointing elements abutting two edges of the cover area structure
which point at an angle to each other, and in that the respective
edge part is thus positioned on the cover area structure.
4. The decomposable container as set forth in the preceding claim,
wherein the upper part and the at least two jointing elements point
at an angle to each other in their respective pairs and together
form a spatial inner angle in which a corner region of the cover
area structure is accommodated.
5. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge parts, each lie on a surface of the cover area structure
facing away from the base and each abut at least one edge area of
the cover area structure.
6. The decomposable container as set forth in the preceding claim,
wherein the edge parts each abut at least two edge areas of the
cover area structure pointing at an angle to each other.
7. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
at least one functional element formed as a connecting element is a
tensing element to which a tensing means is fastened which tenses
the cover against the base via at least one of the supporting parts
or is directly fastened, tensing, to said at least one of the
supporting parts.
8. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
at least one functional element formed as a positioning element
projects from the respective edge part in order to protrude into a
counter element of a base, for stacking the base on the cover.
9. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said
at least one functional element formed as a positioning element is
the at least one jointing element.
10. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge parts are injection molded parts.
11. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge parts are molded from plastic.
12. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
cover area structure is a multiple-bridge plate or shell comprising
at least two covering layers and supporting bridges arranged
between the covering layers and connected to the covering
layers.
13. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
cover area structure is formed from a half-finished plate or shell
molded in a strand and tailored to the size required for the cover
by means of a separating method.
14. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 13, wherein
said half-finished plate or shell is an extrudate or laminate.
15. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
cover area structure is formed from a half-finished plate or shell
molded in a strand, tailored to the size required for the cover by
means of a separating method and provided with bevels by forming
under bending conditions.
16. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 15, wherein
said half-finished plate or shell is an extrudate or laminate.
17. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
cover area structure is molded as one piece in a method of original
molding.
18. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
cover area structure is molded from plastic.
19. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
base comprises a number of foot elements connected to each other by
means of a jointing connection.
20. The decomposable container as set forth in the preceding claim,
wherein the foot elements each comprise at least one free-standing
foot.
21. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 19, wherein
the base further comprises connecting pipes or rods which connect
the foot elements to each other.
22. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 19, wherein
the foot elements are each provided with at least one functional
element which forms a counter element to the at least one
functional element of the cover.
23. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 19, wherein
the number of foot elements corresponds to the number of edge
parts.
24. The decomposable container as set forth in claim 19, wherein
the foot elements each exhibit a length and width which correspond
to the length and width of the edge parts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The invention relates to a decomposable container having a
multiple-part cover.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In logistics, containers are increasingly in demand which,
having been unloaded following use as a transport or storage
container for unit goods or particulate goods, allow a space-saving
tare transport or space-saving container storage. Decomposable
containers which, once decomposed, can be compacted in a
space-saving way comprise a base, a cover and supporting parts
connecting the base to the cover which are detachably connected to
each other to form the container and, once they have fulfilled the
respective transport or storage function, can be detached from each
other again by simple handling and, once detached, compacted such
that the empty container can be transported and/or stored in a
space-saving way. The components of the container are
correspondingly provided with functional elements in order to be
able to assemble the components in the container and, when
decomposed, compact them into a handy package and stack them as
applicable. Typical functional elements include connecting elements
which serve to connect the components of the container to each
other to form the container. The same functional elements or
additional functional elements can also include positioning
elements which serve to position the individual components of the
decomposed container when compacted, and/or multiple containers
stacked one on top of the other as applicable, on each other. The
components of the container are mostly cost-effectively made of
plastic. The bases and covers of such containers in particular can
be injection molded parts, since injection molding allows the areas
necessary for the bases and covers to be molded at the same time as
molding the required functional elements. If, however, the
containers are to be provided in different sizes, then molding
tools in the required sizes have to be provided for forming the
bases and covers of different sizes. Molding tools for injection
molding or other suitable methods of original molding, however,
cause significant investment costs which become increasingly
significant with the number of tools supplied.
[0005] With regard to the bases of containers, other methods more
cost-effective than injection molding alone are already employed.
Thus, for example, DE 202 05 412 U1 describes a container base made
of foot elements produced by injection molding and extruded plastic
pipes connecting the foot elements to each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to also propose a
cost-effective solution for retaining the variability in size of
container covers.
[0007] The invention relates to a decomposable container comprising
a base, a cover and supporting parts which extend between the base
and the cover and space the cover from the base. The base, cover
and supporting parts at least substantially form the container when
connected, and define its volume.
[0008] In accordance with the invention, the cover comprises a
plate or shell structure which shall be referred to in the
following as a cover area structure, and a number of edge parts
which are each provided with at least one jointing element. The
edge parts are distributed on the edge of the cover area structure
and arranged overlapping the cover area structure. They are fixed
on the cover area structure by means of their respective at least
one jointing element in such a way that they each assume a defined
position. Each of the edge parts comprises at least one functional
element respectively. The at least one functional element is a
connecting element which serves to connect the cover to the base
and the supporting parts, or a positioning element which serves to
position the base and the cover, when stacked one on top of the
other, on each other and/or to position the cover, when the
container is assembled, on or on top of the supporting parts.
Positioning prevents the cover from slipping, at least in a
direction relative to the other or the number of other components
of the container with which the positioning element of the cover
cooperates, in order to fulfil the function of positioning. In its
embodiment as a positioning element, the functional element can
simultaneously be the jointing element.
[0009] In preferred embodiments, the edge parts are simply arranged
lying on an outer surface of the cover when the container is
assembled. In such embodiments, they correspondingly each comprise
an upper part lying on the cover. The at least one jointing element
for positioning the edge part in question on the cover area
structure projects at an angle from the upper part and forms a
stopper element which abuts the edge of the cover area structure
when the edge part in question is positioned and in this way
positions the edge part in question on the cover area structure.
The at least one jointing element can for example be a simple pin.
Preferably, the at least one jointing element comprises an
extension, measured along the edge of the cover area structure,
which is sufficient to prevent a rotational movement of the upper
part over the surface of the cover area structure when the edge
part in question is positioned, i.e. when the at least one jointing
element abuts the edge of the cover area structure.
[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment, each of the edge
parts comprises at least two, preferably exactly two, jointing
elements, for each of which what has been said above with respect
to the at least one jointing element applies. The at least two
jointing elements can in particular enclose, together with the
upper part, a spatial inner angle in which a corner region of the
cover area structure, abutting the upper part and the at least two
jointing elements, is accommodated.
[0011] If the at least one functioning element is a connecting
element, it preferably forms a tensing element to which a tensing
means of the container is fastened, for example a lashing strap.
The tensing means is fastened to the connecting element and to the
base or to one of the supporting parts and tenses the cover over
one or more of the supporting parts, preferably against the base or
simply against said one of the supporting parts.
[0012] If the at least one functioning element is a positioning
element of the cover, it can in particular be a plug-in element for
a plug-in connection to a counter element of the base or can just
simply form a centering element to position the base on the cover
for stacking on and/or under the cover.
[0013] The at least one functioning element can simultaneously form
a connecting element and a positioning element in the sense
described. Preferably, however, it only takes on one of the two
functions. Even more preferably, each of the edge parts is provided
with at least two functional elements each, one of which is the
connecting element and the other the positioning element.
[0014] The edge parts are preferably plastic parts and can in
particular be injection molded parts.
[0015] By forming the cover from a cover area structure, preferably
from a one-piece cover area structure, and a number of edge parts
which fulfil at least one particular function by means of their at
least one functional element each, the cover area structure can be
produced particularly simply and therefore cheaply. It can in
particular be continuously molded in a strand, preferably extruded
or laminated. Once molded in a strand, the plate or shell structure
thus obtained merely has to be tailored to the size desired for the
cover, which can be achieved using, simple and therefore cheap
separating methods, for example by cutting, sawing or nipping. A
further stage of finishing can be that of bending, by which
beveling is also meant. The cover area structure advantageously
does not require any further machining beyond the machining steps
cited, except for fine-machining to be performed as applicable,
such as for example grinding, smoothing and the like. Drilling and
milling are in particular not necessary for the cover area
structure tailored to size and subjected to subsequent bending as
applicable. On the other hand, the possibility is not to be
excluded that simple drilling and milling is and/or was performed
on the finished cover area structure.
[0016] The invention is particularly advantageous when covers of
different sizes are necessary for containers of different sizes.
The edge parts, which are preferably produced by plastic injection
molding, can be the same for each of the overall cover sizes. In
order to vary the size of the cover, it is merely necessary to
provide cover area structures of different sizes.
[0017] The cover area structure is preferably a multiple-bridge
plate comprising at least two covering layers and supporting
bridges connecting the covering layers to each other. The covering
layers and the supporting bridges preferably form a latticework in
the cross-section of the cover area structure. Preferred
multiple-bridge plates are for example described in DE 102 12 401,
to which reference is made in this respect. Another preferred
multiple-bridge plate is the Con Pearl.RTM. plate belonging to the
Applicant.
[0018] For retaining variability, the base can advantageously be
formed as described in DE 100 48 135 A1 and DE 202 05 412 U2 and in
US 10/162,971. The same applies with regard to the supporting parts
which can in particular be formed by columns or by incorporating
columns. Reference is hereby made to the cited documents with
regard to the base and supporting parts.
[0019] The base can advantageously be supplemented by a base area
structure which is simply laid onto connecting pipes or rods
between foot elements of the base, said pipes or rods connecting
the foot elements to each other with respect to the respective
base. With regard to the materials and manner of production, the
base area structure can be formed like the cover area
structure.
[0020] The invention also relates to a method for producing a
decomposable container comprising a base, a cover and supporting
parts which space the cover and the base from each other when the
container is assembled. To form the container, the base and the
supporting parts are produced separately. For producing the cover,
a half-finished plate or shell is molded in a strand, preferably
extruded or laminated. The half-finished plate or shell is then
tailored to a particular end size necessary for the cover, i.e.
acquires said end size, by means of a suitable separating method,
for example by cutting, sawing or nipping. The structure thus
obtained can already form the cover area structure. Bevels or
curves are formed by means of forming under bending conditions as
applicable, in a procedure following tailoring. Aside from purely
finishing procedures, such as for example grinding, cleaning and
the like, further machining is preferably not performed on the
cover area structure. Furthermore, the edge parts are molded
together with the at least one functional element in each case in a
pressing or casting method, preferably by injection molding. The
cover area structure and the edge parts are connected to each other
by means of jointing connections, such that the cover is obtained.
Lastly, the base, the supporting parts and the cover are connected
to each other, preferably by means of tensing means.
[0021] Other preferred embodiments are also described in the
sub-claims and combinations of the sub-claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Example embodiments of the invention will now be explained
by way of figures. Features disclosed by the example embodiments,
each individually and in any combination of features,
advantageously develops the subjects of the claims and the
embodiments described above. There is shown:
[0023] FIG. 1 a first example embodiment of a container in
accordance with the invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 a second example embodiment of a container in,
accordance with the invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 a third example embodiment of a container in
accordance with the invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 the container of the third example embodiment,
compacted;
[0027] FIG. 5 a part of a container base and a number of edge parts
for a container cover;
[0028] FIG. 6 a cover area structure and a base area structure;
[0029] FIG. 7 a base and a cover; and
[0030] FIG. 8 a modified base and a modified cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a container for individually transporting or
jointly transporting large unit goods. Such a unit good,
transported individually or in smaller units, can in particular be
a bicycle, preferably a motorcycle. The container comprises a base
1, a cover 10 and columnar supporting parts 9. The base 1, the
cover 10 and the columnar supporting parts 9 surround a container
volume in which the individual unit good or number of unit goods
can be accommodated. The supporting parts 9 rise up perpendicularly
from a surface of the base 1 facing the cover 10 and support the
cover 10. The base 1 and the cover 10 are each assembled from
multiple parts made of a small number of different types of plastic
parts.
[0032] The composition of the base 1 and the cover 10 may be seen
from an overview of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.
[0033] The base 1 consists of four foot elements 2, a number of
connecting pipes 4 and a base area structure 6. The foot elements 2
form the corner regions of the base 1 and are respectively
connected to each other in pairs by means of the connecting pipes
4, such that rigid base structure is created. The base area
structure 6 is a cruciform plate which is dimensioned such that it
fills in the free area between the foot elements 2 and a closed
base area is obtained. It simply lies on the connecting pipes 4
between the foot elements 2. Each of the foot elements 2 forms
free-standing feet 3 which on the one hand improves the stability
of the container and on the other creates space in particular below
the container, into which for example the forks of a forklift truck
can be inserted or in which another carrying means can engage. The
connecting pipes 4 are plugged into appropriately shaped
receptacles in the foot elements 2 and are held in a frictional
lock in said receptacles. In addition, they can be screwed to the
foot elements 2 or preferably connected in a material lock, for
example welded. The foot elements 2 further form one-piece
connecting elements 5 for connecting to the supporting parts 9. The
connecting elements 5 rise up perpendicularly from the surface of
the foot elements 2 towards the cover 10 and are shaped to fit the
hollow cross-section of the supporting parts 9, preferably such
that each one of the supporting parts 9 can be plugged onto one of
the connecting elements 5.
[0034] The foot elements 2 are plastic injection molded parts. The
base area structure 6 is a multiple-bridge plate, i.e. a stabile
hollow-chamber lightweight plate. Extruded one-piece plastic pipes
form the supporting parts 9.
[0035] The cover 10 consists of a rectangular cover area structure
17 and four edge parts 11 which lie in the corner regions of the
cover area structure 17 on its surface facing away from the base 1
and abut the edge areas of the cover area structure 17 which
converge in the respective corners. The connection between the
cover area structure 17 and the edge parts 11 is a positive lock
and to a lesser extent a frictional lock, such that before the
container is assembled, the edge parts 11 lie loosely on the cover
area structure 17 with a slight frictional lock force and abut and
grip its edges. The can be simply removed from the cover area
structure by hand, without tools.
[0036] The edge parts 11 are identical to each other. They each
consist of an upper part 12, two jointing elements 13 and a number
of connecting elements 14 and positioning elements 15, in the
example embodiment two connecting elements 14 and two positioning
elements 15. The upper part 12 exhibits a lower side which is
adapted to the surface of the cover area structure 17. Since the
cover area structure 17 of the example embodiment is a plate
structure, the lower side of the upper part 12 is correspondingly
plane. In the example embodiment, the upper part 12 is likewise
plate-like and comprises an opening which reduces the weight. The
jointing elements 13 project perpendicularly from the lower side of
the upper part 12. In the example embodiment, the jointing elements
13 are edge angles of the respective upper part 12 and extend over
the entire length of the respective edge of the upper part 12. In
this way, a spatial square angle is obtained, adapted to the shape
of the corner regions 18 of the cover area structure 17, in which
angle each one of the corner regions 18 of the cover area structure
17 is accommodated, tightly framed on three sides.
[0037] The connecting elements 14 each form a first functional
element of the edge parts 11. The connecting elements 14 are
identical to each other. They are shaped such that a tensing means,
for example a lashing strap, can be fastened to each of them, such
that the cover 10 is tensed towards the base 1 via the supporting
parts 9 by means of the tensing means fastened to the connecting
elements 14 and the container is thereby held together. The
connecting element 14 can in particular be a hook or more
preferably an eye for fastening the tensing means. The connecting
elements 14 are each formed in a recess of the edge parts 11, such
that tensing means fastened to each connecting element 14 does not
protrude beyond the edge part in question.
[0038] The positioning elements 15 serve for positioning and fixing
and thus for centering another base 1 on the cover 10. Positioning
and fixing is helpful when a number of assembled or compacted
containers are stacked one on top of the other, wherein merely for
the sake of completeness it may also be mentioned that assembled
and compacted containers can be stacked one on top of the other in
any order. The positioning elements 15 are appendices which rise up
from the upper parts 12 on their upper sides. If a base 1 is placed
onto the cover 10, the positioning elements 15 are accommodated in
the hollow feet 3 of the foot elements 2. In this way, the
positioning elements 15 prevent a base 1 placed onto the cover 10
from being able to slip off of the cover 10. The feet 3 form the
positioning counter elements which cooperate with the positioning
elements 15 for this purpose.
[0039] The edge parts 11 are plastic injection molded parts, molded
as one piece.
[0040] The cover area structure 17 is a plate structure made of an
extruded or laminated half-finished plastic product. In order to
obtain as high a bending resistance and buckling resistance as
possible, it is a double-bridge plate comprising two covering
layers and supporting bridges arranged in between, connecting the
covering layers. In the case of an extrudate, the supporting
bridges are linear bridges extending in the extruding direction of
the half-finished product, and preferably forming a latticework
with the covering layers. In the case of a laminate, the supporting
bridges are preferably supporting cups.
[0041] As may be seen, in FIG. 6 in particular, the cover area
structure 17 deviates from a simple, thin rectangular plate only in
that it comprises an elongated bevel 19 on each of its linear edges
which extends as far as the adjacent, simply plane corner regions
18. Once the edge parts 11 have been pushed or placed on, the
corner regions 18 are completely accommodated in the inner angular
region of the respective edge part 11. The jointing elements 13 are
as wide as the bevels 19 and extend he latter into the corners of
the cover 10. By means of the bevels 19 and the jointing elements
13, the cover 10 is obtained as a flat box, wherein the flat,
circumferentially closed side walls of said box, namely the bevels
19 and the jointing elements 13, point towards the base 1 when the
container is assembled. The supporting parts 9 abut obtusely
against the lower side of the cover 10, i.e. against the lower side
of the cover area structure 17, and are laterally supported on the
jointing elements 13 and/or bevels 19. This support on one side, on
two side in the corner regions of the cover 10, in conjunction with
the tensile force of the tensing means which tense the cover 10
against the base 1 and in combination with the plug-in connection
between the supporting parts 9 and the connecting elements 5, would
in, principle already be sufficient to stabilize the supporting
parts 9 with respect to their orientation. The jointing elements 13
would thus simultaneously also be positioning elements of the cover
10. In accordance with preferred embodiments, however, each of the
edge parts 11 comprises connecting elements corresponding to the
connecting elements 5 of the foot elements, said connecting
elements of the edge parts 11 each projecting from the lower side
of the edge parts 11 towards the connecting elements 5. In such
preferred embodiments of the edge parts 11, the columns 9 are thus
also positioned on the cover 10 in a positive lock and preferably
in a positive and frictional lock.
[0042] Constructing the cover 10 from a cover area structure 17 and
a number of edge parts 11 enables the cover 10 to be produced
cheaply. The advantage in costs becomes particularly significant
when covers 10 have to be produced in different sizes, for forming
containers having different base areas. The cover area structure 17
substantially takes on only the two tasks that it bridges the
required base area and serves as a support structure for the edge
parts 11. The edge parts 11 which in particular create the
fastening points for the tensing means, take on the other
functions. Dividing up the functions enables the cover area
structure 17 to be adapted to different base areas cheaply, while
the edge parts 11 can be produced in a constantly identical shape
and size, by injection molding or another method of original
molding which allows molding as one piece.
[0043] For producing the cover area structure 17, a simple
half-finished plate or preferably a hollow-chamber half-finished
plate is extruded or laminated in a strand. The half-finished
product can advantageously be the same for all established sizes.
As applicable, the width of the strand is set in accordance with
the desired size. In a following step, the half-finished product
provided in the strand is tailored to the required size by means of
a suitable separating method, for example by cutting. If the width
of the strand has already been set to the desired size, then it is
sufficient to cut the strand to length, in order to obtain the
cover area structure 17 in its overall measured, i.e. largest,
length and width. Using a subsequent separating method, the corner
regions 18 and the regions, still protruding plane, for the later
bevels 19 are formed. The cover area structure 17 is thus tailored
to the required size. In a following operational step, the bevels
19 are created by means of forming under bending conditions. Aside
from any fine-machining, such as for example edge-grinding and
cleaning the cover area structure 17, the finished cover area
structure 17 is then already provided. It is possible to simply and
therefore cheaply vary the size of the cover area structure 17.
[0044] The edge parts 11 are placed or pushed onto the cover area
structure 17 thus obtained, until they snugly abut the edges of the
corner regions 18 and the corner regions 18 are accommodated in the
inner angular regions of the edge parts 11, forming a slight
frictional lock. It should also be noted with respect to the cover
area structure 17 that the edges of its corner regions 18 always
exhibit the same length, since in particular the upper part 12 and
the jointing elements 13 of the edge parts 11 always have the same
shape and size.
[0045] It should also be noted with respect to the base area
structure 6 that it is preferably produced in the same way as the
cover area structure 17, but in the desired shape for the base.
Thus, with regard to its production, it differs only in the
operational step of tailoring to the required size. The separating
method employed for this purpose, however, is preferably the same
as for the cover area structure 17.
[0046] The supporting parts 9 are likewise extruded in a strand and
cut to the desired length.
[0047] Once the base 1 and the cover 10 have been formed by
jointing their components, the supporting parts 9 are plugged onto
the connecting elements 5 of the foot elements 2, such that they
rise up perpendicularly from the base 1. The cover 10 is then laid
onto the supporting parts 9 rising freely up, and tensed against
the base 1 by means of tensing means fastened to the connecting
elements 14. The base 1 is fitted with corresponding connecting
counter elements for fastening the tensing means.
[0048] The container shown in FIG. 2 differs from the container in
FIG. 1 in that, in addition to the supporting parts 9, it comprises
closed side walls 20. Furthermore, the supporting parts 9 are only
arranged in the corners of the container. The side walls 20 are
formed in one piece by a side wall ring. The side wall ring can be
folded, since each two of its side walls 20 are connected to each
other in the corner regions, forming a folding joint. Two of the
side walls 20, opposing each other, further comprise another
folding joint in their center, such that the side wall ring as a
whole can be folded flat together by means of an M-fold. The side
walls 20 comprise notches on their lower sides, the shape of said
notches being adapted to bevels 8 of the base area structure 6
rising up, such that each one of the bevels 8 is accommodated flush
in a respective notch and a smooth side wall 20 is thus obtained.
In this way, the side walls 20 simultaneously also hold the base
area structure 6 on the connecting pipes 4. Furthermore, the side
walls 20 form a smooth transition to the jointing elements 13 and
the bevels 19.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a container in accordance with a third example
embodiment, which as opposed to the container in FIG. 2 does not
comprise supporting parts 9, but rather the one-piece side wall
ring forming the side walls 20. Here, the side walls fully take on
the function of supporting parts. The container in FIG. 3 otherwise
corresponds to the container in FIG. 2.
[0050] FIG. 4 shows the container of the third example embodiment,
compacted. The side walls 20 are folded together and accommodated
in a hollow space between the base 1 and the cover 10. The
connecting elements 5 and/or the bevels 8 of the base 1 prevent the
side walls 20 from slipping out between the base 1 and the cover
10. Due to its flat box shape, in particular due to its jointing
elements 13, the cover 10 is positioned on the base 1 by
overlapping the jointing elements 13 and the connecting elements 5.
Here, too, the jointing elements 13 again form positioning elements
of the cover 10. As applicable, the tensing means which ensure that
the container components are held together when the container is
assembled can be used to tie the compacted container. As a result,
a particularly flat and thus space-saving container is created for
tare transport and/or storage. In particular, a number of such
compacted containers can be stacked one on top of the other to save
space, wherein the base 1 resting on the cover 10 is secured
against slipping off of the cover 10 by means of the feet 3 acting
as positioning elements in the stack by surrounding the positioning
elements 15 of the cover 10 on at least two sides, forming a corner
region.
[0051] FIG. 8 shows a minimal cover 10' formed from the edge parts
11 and a modified cover area structure 17' and a minimal base 1'
formed by means of the foot elements 2. The edge parts 11 and the
foot elements 2 correspond in their shape and size to the edge
parts 11 and foot elements 2 of the other example embodiments. The
cover area structure 17' differs from the cover area structure 17
of the other example embodiments only in that it does not comprise
the bevels 8 of the larger cover area structures 17. Rather, the
edge elements 11 abut each other directly via their jointing
elements 13. The foot elements 2 likewise abut each other directly.
The foot elements 2 can be connected to each other in a material
lock, for example by means of a welded connection. Alternatively or
additionally, short connecting pipes 4--connecting butts, so to
speak--can be plugged into the receptacles of the foot elements 2.
As the minimal base 1' and minimal cover 10' show, it is
particularly advantageous if the length and width of the edge parts
11 each correspond to the length and width of the foot elements 2.
In FIG. 8, preferred length and width dimensions are given in
millimeters by way of example.
[0052] In the foregoing description, preferred embodiments of the
invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or
variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The
embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best
illustration of the principals of the invention and its practical
application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All
such modifications and variations are within the scope of the
invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in
accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably
entitled.
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