U.S. patent application number 12/030176 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for container.
This patent application is currently assigned to JOKEY PLASTIK WIPPERFURTH GMBH. Invention is credited to Marcus Blumenschein.
Application Number | 20080190804 12/030176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37983255 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080190804 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blumenschein; Marcus |
August 14, 2008 |
Container
Abstract
The invention is related to a container (1) with a container
wall (2), a container bottom (3), and a container opening (4),
where the container wall (2) extends essentially conically from the
bottom to the opening and the inner side of the container wall (2)
displays axially oriented stacking ribs (5), distributed around the
circumference. According to the invention the container is designed
in that the radially outer area of the outer side of the container
bottom (3) is provided with at least one recess (10) which, when
stacking multiple containers (1) in each other, can be engaged by
at least one stacking rib of a container (1) located beneath it,
thereby fixing the containers (1) in place in non-rotating fashion
relative to each other. Hereby, the stability of the arrangement of
stacked containers is improved.
Inventors: |
Blumenschein; Marcus;
(Marienheide, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GROSSMAN, TUCKER, PERREAULT & PFLEGER, PLLC
55 SOUTH COMMERICAL STREET
MANCHESTER
NH
03101
US
|
Assignee: |
JOKEY PLASTIK WIPPERFURTH
GMBH
Wipperfurth
DE
|
Family ID: |
37983255 |
Appl. No.: |
12/030176 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/509 ;
220/669 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0233 20130101;
B65D 2303/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/509 ;
220/669 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/032 20060101
B65D021/032; B65D 8/00 20060101 B65D008/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 12, 2007 |
DE |
20 2007 002 213.1 |
Claims
1. Container with a container wall, a container bottom, and a
container opening, where the container wall extends essentially
conically from the bottom to the opening and the inner side of the
container wall displays axially oriented stacking ribs, distributed
around the circumference, characterized in that the radially outer
area of the outer side of the container bottom is provided with at
least one recess which, when stacking multiple containers in each
other, can be engaged by at least one stacking rib of a container
located beneath it, thereby fixing the containers in place in
non-rotating fashion relative to each other.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer
side of the container bottom is provided with recesses distributed
around the circumference to match the stacking ribs, which can each
be engaged by a stacking rib of a container located beneath,
whereby the containers can be fixed in place in a manner preventing
rotation about the container axis.
3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the
radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom
displays an axially projecting, essentially continuous foot that,
at points appropriately distributed over its circumference,
displays interruptions forming the recesses on the container
bottom.
4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least
three stacking ribs are provided.
5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that four
stacking ribs are provided, which are each arranged at an angle of
90.degree. to the nearest adjacent stacking ribs, and the recesses
on the container bottom are arranged similarly.
6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the
stacking ribs extend from the container bottom.
7. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the
stacking ribs have a radial width corresponding to between one and
three times the wall thickness of the container in this area.
8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the
stacking ribs have a radial width corresponding to between once and
twice the wall thickness of the container in this area.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a container with a container wall,
a container bottom, and a container opening, where the container
wall extends essentially conically from the bottom to the opening
and the inner side of the container wall displays axially oriented
stacking ribs, distributed around the circumference.
[0002] The purpose of the stacking ribs located on the inner side
of the container wall is to make it possible, when stacking
multiple containers in each other, for the respectively upper
container to be supported in the respectively lower container, such
that the two conically shaped container walls cannot get stuck in
each other. Owing to support by the stacking ribs, a slight
clearance remains between the two container walls, this permitting
easy separation of the containers stacked in each other. The
containers supported by the stacking ribs are arranged inside each
other in such a way that the edge area of the container opening of
the respectively upper container, with the fastening device for the
carrying strap, is located outside the container opening of the
respectively lower container.
[0003] Instability of the position of the containers supported by
the stacking ribs can occur during handling and transportation of
containers of this kind stacked in each other.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide containers
of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph that improve the
stability of the position of containers stacked in each other.
[0005] According to the invention, the object is solved in that, on
a container of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, the
radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom is
provided with at least one recess which, when stacking multiple
containers in each other, can be engaged by at least one stacking
rib of a container located beneath it, thereby fixing the
containers in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each
other.
[0006] As a result of this design, the respectively upper container
when stacking multiple containers of this kind is retained on the
stacking ribs of the respectively lower container in non-rotating
fashion. Furthermore, the containers stacked in each other can be
arranged and retained in a predetermined position in relation to
each other. This guarantees a very largely stable position of the
containers stacked in each other during handling or
transportation.
[0007] At least one of the stacking ribs can display a greater
axial height from the container bottom than the remaining stacking
ribs, where its difference in height in relation to the remaining
stacking ribs corresponds at least to the depth of the recess
provided on the outer side of the container bottom.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially
outer area of the outer side of the container bottom displays an
axially projecting, essentially continuous foot, which displays at
least one interruption forming at least one recess on the container
bottom.
[0009] The at least one interruption in a continuous foot on the
underside of the container bottom permits particularly simple
manufacture of the recess provided on the container bottom for
engagement of at least one stacking rib.
[0010] The recess(es) can, however, also be suitably shaped
sections of the edge area of the container bottom that are open
towards the underside, and preferably also towards the radially
outer side. Similarly, webs or projections can be provided on the
container bottom, between which one or more upper ends of the
stacking ribs, i.e. ends pointing towards the container opening,
engage, being retained between them in a manner preventing rotation
about the container axis.
[0011] The width of the recesses in the circumferential direction
of the container bottom can be slightly larger that the width of
the stacking ribs in the circumferential direction of the container
wall, such that a predetermined clearance remains between the upper
ends of the stacking ribs and the walls of the recesses.
[0012] On the other hand, the width of the recesses can be slightly
smaller than the width of the stacking ribs, in order to obtain a
predetermined clamping effect between the upper ends of the
stacking ribs and the wall areas of the recesses. In this case, the
containers stacked in each other can only be separated from each
other by overcoming the predetermined clamping force.
[0013] The stacking ribs located on the inner side of the container
wall can, e.g. by injection molding in an injection mold, be
integrally molded on the container wall and display a geometry
suitable for molding the container and removing it from the mold.
They preferably extend from the container bottom.
[0014] The height of the stacking ribs, or their length from the
container bottom, is expediently dimensioned in such a way that the
container walls of containers stacked in each other do not get
stuck. A slight clearance remains between the container walls,
allowing containers stacked in each other to be mutually aligned in
a predetermined orientation. Owing to the arrangement of the
stacking ribs, and the recesses on the container bottom interacting
with them, the required orientation of the containers stacked in
each other can be defined and, due to the non-rotating engagement
of the stacking ribs in the recesses, retained during handling or
transportation of the containers.
[0015] On the other hand, the stacking ribs can display an
identical length, in which context the outer side of the container
bottom is provided with multiple recesses, which are engaged by the
stacking ribs of a container located beneath it when stacking
multiple containers in each other, where at least one of the
recesses fixes the containers in place in non-rotating fashion
relative to each other due to engagement of at least one stacking
rib in said recesses.
[0016] In particular, the outer side of the container bottom can be
provided with recesses distributed around the circumference to
match the stacking ribs, which are in each case engaged by the
stacking ribs of a container located beneath, whereby the
containers can be fixed in place in a manner preventing rotation
about the container axis.
[0017] To guarantee sufficient stability when supporting numerous
containers stacked in each other, and resistance of these
containers to rotation relative to each other, the stacking ribs
display a radial extension from the container wall that corresponds
to between one and three times the wall thickness of the container
in this area. The radial extension preferably corresponds to once
to twice the edge thickness of the container.
[0018] The container outer wall is preferably not provided with a
continuous flange. The container outer wall is preferably designed
to be essentially smooth and/or free of projections and/or free of
undercuts except, where appropriate, for the radially
outward-projecting retaining areas for a carrying strap and the
corresponding areas for connection to the container wall.
[0019] Two practical examples of the invention are described in
more detail below on the basis of the drawings. The Figures show
the following:
[0020] FIG. 1 A longitudinal section through a practical example of
a container,
[0021] FIG. 2 An enlarged view of area A in FIG. 1,
[0022] FIG. 3 A perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1,
without lid,
[0023] FIG. 4 A perspective and cutaway view of the container shown
in FIG. 3,
[0024] FIG. 5 A cutaway view of containers according to FIGS. 1 to
4, stacked in each other,
[0025] FIG. 6 An enlarged view of the container bottom of another
practical example of a container, from below, and
[0026] FIG. 7 A sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 6.
[0027] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a practical example of a container 1 with
a container wall 2, a container bottom 3, and a container opening
4. Container wall 2 extends essentially conically from container
bottom 3 to container opening 4. Axially oriented stacking ribs 5,
distributed around the circumference of container wall 2, are
provided on the inner side of container wall 2. The container is
made of plastic and produced by injection molding, together with
the stacking ribs 5 integrally molded on its inner side. The
purpose of stacking ribs 5 is that, when stacking multiple
containers 1 prior to fitting lid 6, a container respectively
located in container 1 can be supported, such that the conical
container walls 2 of the two containers 1 are prevented from
getting stuck. Owing to being supported by stacking ribs 5, a
slight clearance remains between container walls 2, such that the
two containers 1 stacked in each other can easily be separated from
each other.
[0028] To enable a container 1 stacked in container 1 to be fixed
in place in non-rotating fashion relative to container 1, the
radially outer area of the outer side of container bottom 3 is
provided with recesses, which are engaged by the end of stacking
ribs 5 of container 1, positioned beneath and outside it, that
points towards container opening 4, thus fixing containers 1 in
place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other.
[0029] In the practical example described by FIGS. 1 to 4, the
recesses are designed as interruptions 7 of a foot 8 projecting
axially in the radially outer area of the outer side of container
bottom 3. As can particularly be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, foot 8
extends in annular fashion over the entire circumference of
container bottom 3.
[0030] When stacking multiple containers 1 with attached lids 6,
foot 8 can furthermore engage a corresponding axial depression in
edge area 9 of lid 6 of a container located beneath, cf. FIG. 1,
such that containers 1 with lids 6 stacked on each other are
radially fixed in place relative to each other and cannot slide on
each other.
[0031] The recesses designed as interruptions 7 of an annular foot
8 are distributed around the circumference of container bottom 3 to
match stacking ribs 5. In the present practical example, four
stacking ribs 5 and, accordingly, four interruptions 7 of foot 8
are provided, being arranged at an angle of 90.degree. to the
nearest adjacent stacking ribs 5 or interruptions 7.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of two containers according to
FIGS. 1 to 4, stacked in each other. In this context, container
bottom 3 of upper container 1 in the drawing sits on the upper edge
of stacking rib 5. A clearance remains between container walls 2 of
the two containers 1 stacked in each other, and can completely
surround the inner container if the position of the containers is
centered. The same also applies when stacking containers according
to the practical example described below. Generally speaking, a
lateral clearance between container walls 2 of the containers
stacked in each other can again remain in this case. The stacking
webs can also engage the recess with lateral and/or radial
clearance in the area of recess 10, in order to prevent jamming of
the containers in stacked state. This can apply independently of
the practical example.
[0033] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a further practical example enabling
containers 1 stacked in each other to be fixed in place in
non-rotating fashion. In this instance, the radially outer side of
container bottom 3 displays recesses 10 distributed over the
circumference, which are designed a local areas molded into
container bottom 3. Recesses 10 are in each case engaged by the
upper edge of a stacking rib 5 of a container 1 stacked beneath. As
can be seen from FIG. 6, recesses 10 are open towards the underside
and towards the radially outer side of container bottom 3.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0034] 1 Container [0035] 2 Container wall [0036] 3 Container
bottom [0037] 4 Container opening [0038] 5 Stacking rib [0039] 6
Lid [0040] 7 Interruption [0041] 8 Foot [0042] 9 Edge area [0043]
10 Recess
* * * * *