U.S. patent number RE41,323 [Application Number 11/502,580] was granted by the patent office on 2010-05-11 for transport container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to IFCO Systems GmbH. Invention is credited to Christian Barth, Richard Kellerer, Heinz Oster.
United States Patent |
RE41,323 |
Kellerer , et al. |
May 11, 2010 |
Transport container
Abstract
The present invention concerns a transport container, preferably
made of plastic material, especially for vegetables, fruit and the
like, with a floorboard (2) and several, preferably four,
collapsible side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) that are arranged
circumferentially on the floorboard (2) and can be folded down onto
it. According to a first aspect of the invention, the floorboard
(2) is provided with an essentially rectangular frame (8) in which
there extends a floor profile (9) with a smooth surface, said floor
profile (9) being stiffened by the provision of several bulges (10)
that are formed by the curvature of the floor profile (9) in
several space directions. According to a second aspect of the
invention, the collapsible side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) can be fastened
to each other in the upright position by means of a fastening
mechanism (7, 4) provided on adjacent side walls (3, 5; 3, 6; 5, 4;
5, 6) in which a fastening bolt of a fastener arranged on one side
wall (3, 5) can engage with a recess in the adjacent side wall),
where the fastener (7), which is essentially accommodated in the
side wall (3, 5), comprises or operates a displaceable element (16)
that can be displaced against the force of an elastic spring
element.
Inventors: |
Kellerer; Richard (Munich,
DE), Barth; Christian (Munich, DE), Oster;
Heinz (Starnberg, DE) |
Assignee: |
IFCO Systems GmbH (Pullach,
DE)
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Family
ID: |
29254766 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/502,580 |
Filed: |
October 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
10068504 |
Feb 5, 2002 |
06772897 |
Aug 10, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/7; 220/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
21/0235 (20130101); B65D 11/24 (20130101); B65D
11/22 (20130101); B65D 11/1833 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
25/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;220/4.28,6.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2686118 |
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Jul 1993 |
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FR |
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418675 |
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Oct 1934 |
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GB |
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418675 |
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Oct 1934 |
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GB |
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2175285 |
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Nov 1986 |
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GB |
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2175285 |
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Nov 1986 |
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GB |
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WO 96 32333 |
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Oct 1996 |
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WO |
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WO 9632333 |
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Oct 1996 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Stashick; Anthony D
Assistant Examiner: Grosso; Harry A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Glenn; Michael A. Glenn Patent
Group
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A transport container with a floorboard and a plurality of
collapsible side walls that are arranged circumferentially on the
floorboard and can be folded down onto it, where the collapsible
side walls can be fastened to each other in the upright position by
means of a fastening mechanism provided on adjacent side walls in
which a fastening bolt of the fastening mechanism on one side wall
can engage with a recess in the adjacent side wall, characterized
in that the .[.fastener.]. .Iadd.fastening mechanism
.Iaddend.comprises a displaceable element that is essentially
accommodated in the side wall and can be displaced against the
force of an elastic spring element, the elastic spring element
contained within the .[.fastening mechanism.]. .Iadd.displaceable
element.Iaddend..
2. The transport container of claim 1, characterized in that the
displaceable element can be operated both from the outside and the
inside of the side wall.
3. The transport container in accordance with claim 1 characterized
in that the .[.fastener.]. .Iadd.fastening mechanism .Iaddend.is
inserted in a cutout in the side wall.
4. The transport container in accordance with claim 1 characterized
in that the fastening bolt is preset in the fastened position by
the force of the elastic spring element.
5. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the elastic spring element is arranged on the
displaceable element, where the displaceable element is connected
with the side wall via the elastic spring element.
6. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the fastener also comprises a holder plate
that is arranged in a fixed position in the side wall where the
said holder plate is connected to the displaceable element via the
elastic element.
7. The transport container in accordance with claim 6,
characterized in that the holder plate extends only over a part of
the displaceable element.[., (16).]. preferably over about two
thirds of the displaceable element.
8. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the fasteners terminates substantially flush
with the inside or the outside of the side wall.
9. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the fastening bolt is provided with a contact
surface and an oblique surface where the contact surface comes to
be situated in the recess when in the fastened position, so that
the side walls cannot be detached from each other without operating
the displaceable element, while the oblique surface makes it
possible for the fastening bolt to glide over the adjacent side
wall.
10. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the .[.fastener.]. .Iadd.fastening mechanism
.Iaddend.is held in the fastener cutout by notch elements.
11. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the elastic element consists of an
essentially S-shaped spring.
12. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the displaceable element is provided
.[.either.]. with a gripping means trough on both sides.
13. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the displaceable element is designed as a
frame body that is essentially rectangular, the width of the said
frame body corresponding to the width of the side wall in which the
displaceable element is accommodated.
14. The transport container in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that .[.fastener.]. .Iadd.the fastening mechanism
.Iaddend.is made as a single piece from plastic material.
.Iadd.15. A transport container with a floorboard and a plurality
of collapsible side walls--that are arranged circumferentially on
the floorboard and can be folded down onto where the collapsible
side walls can be fastened to each other in the upright position by
means of a fastening mechanism provided on adjacent side walls in
which a fastening mechanism on one side wall can engage with a
recess in the adjacent side wall and the floorboard consisting of
an essentially rectangular frame where there extends a floor
profile with an essentially smooth surface, the said floor profile
being stiffened by the provision of several bulges formed by the
curvature of the floor profile in several direction, each of said
fastening mechanisms comprising a displaceable element that is
essentially accommodated in the associated side wall and can be
displaced against the force of an elastic spring element, the
elastic spring element contained within the displaceable
element..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The transport container in accordance with claim 15
characterized in that bulges are formed by an arch-like upward
curvature of the floor profile over the length of the short side
and wavelike shape of the floor profile along the long
side..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The transport container in accordance with claim 16
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The transport container in accordance with claim 17
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The transport container in accordance with claim 18
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The transport container in accordance with claim 19
characterized in that the horizontal floor sections are provided in
the area of the stacking grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. The transport container in accordance with claim 20
characterized in that the bulges represent depressions that,
starting from the horizontal floor sections at the level of the
upper end of the stacking shoulder extend right down to the bottom
end of the stacking shoulder..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The transport container in accordance with claim 21
characterized in that the floor profile is pre-stressed before
being inserted into the frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The transport container in accordance with claim 22
characterized in that the floor profile is formed as a single piece
with the frame..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. A transport container with a floorboard and a plurality
of collapsible side walls--that are arranged circumferentially on
the floorboard and can be folded down where the collapsible side
walls can be fastened to each other in the upright position by
means of a fastening mechanism provided on adjacent side walls in
which a fastening mechanism on one side wall can engage with a
recess in the adjacent side wall, the fastening mechanism having a
displaceable element that is essentially accommodated in the side
wall and can be displaced against the force of an elastic spring
element contained within the fastening mechanism, and the
floorboard consisting of an essentially rectangular frame where
there extends a floor profile with an essentially smooth surface,
the said floor profile being stiffened by the provision of several
bulges formed by the curvature of the floor profile in several
direction..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The transport container in accordance with claim 24
characterized in that bulges are formed by an arch-like upward
curvature of the floor profile over the length of the short side
and wavelike shape of the floor profile along the long
side..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The transport container in accordance with claim 25
characterized in that bulges are formed by an arch-like upward
curvature of the floor profile over the length of the short side
and wavelike shape of the floor profile along the long
side..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The transport container in accordance with claim 25
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The transport container in accordance with claim 25
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. A transport container, preferably made of plastic
material with a floorboard and several preferably four, collapsible
side walls arranged circumferentially on the floorboard and
foldable down onto it, characterized in that the floorboard
consists of an essentially rectangular frame in which there extends
a floor profile with an essentially smooth surface, the said floor
profile being stiffened by the provision of several bulges that are
formed by the curvature of the floor profile in several directions,
the floor profile formed as a single piece with the frame and that
the floor profile pre-stressed before being inserted in the frame,
the collapsible side walls being fastenable to each other in the
upright position by means of a fastening mechanism provided on
adjacent side walls in which a fastening mechanism on one side wall
can engage with a recess in the adjacent side wall, each of said
fastening mechanisms comprising a displaceable element that is
essentially accommodated in the associated side wall and can be
displaced against the force of an elastic spring element, the
elastic spring element contained within the displaceable
element..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The transport container in accordance with claim 29
characterized in that the floor profile is essentially rectangular
in shape and has a short side and a long side, where the bulges are
formed by an arch-like upward curvature of the floor profile over
the length of the short side and a wavelike shape of the floor
profile along the long side..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The transport container in accordance with claim 29
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The transport container in accordance with claim 29
characterized in that the floorboard is provided with a stacking
shoulder with stacking grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The transport container in accordance with claim 29
characterized in that the horizontal floor sections are provided in
the area of the stacking grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The transport container in accordance with claim 29
characterized in that the bulges represent depressions that,
starting from the horizontal floor sections at the level of the
upper end of the stacking shoulder, extend right down to the bottom
end of the stacking shoulder..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. A transport container, preferably made of plastic
material, especially for vegetables, fruit and the like, with a
floorboard and several collapsible side walls that are arranged
circumferentially on the floorboard and can be folded down onto it
characterized in that the floorboard has a floor profile, and the
floorboard is formed as a single piece with the frame and that the
collapsible side walls can be fastened to each other in the upright
position by means of a fastening mechanism provided on adjacent
side walls in which a fastening mechanism on one side wall can
engage with a recess in the adjacent side wall, the fastening
mechanism having a displaceable element that is essentially
accommodated in the side wall and can be displaced against the
force of an elastic spring element, the elastic spring element
contained within the displaceable element..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The transport container of claim 35 in that the
floorboard consists of an essentially rectangular frame in which
there extends a floor profile with a essentially smooth surface,
the said floor profile being stiffened by the provision of several
bulges that are formed by the curvature of the floor profile in
several space directions..Iaddend.
.Iadd.37. The transport container in accordance with claim 36
characterized in that the bulges of the floor profile are at least
partially separated from each other by horizontal floor
sections..Iaddend.
.Iadd.38. The transport container in accordance with claim 37
characterized in that the floorboard is provided with a stacking
shoulder with stacking grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.39. The transport container in accordance with claim 38
characterized in that the horizontal floor sections are provided in
the area of the stacking grooves..Iaddend.
.Iadd.40. The transport container in accordance with claim 34
characterized in that the bulges represent depressions that,
starting from the horizontal floor sections at the level of the
upper end of the stacking shoulder, extend right down to the bottom
end of the stacking shoulder..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The transport container in accordance with claim 35
characterized in that the floor profile is formed as a single piece
with the frame..Iaddend.
Description
The present invention concerns a transport container, preferably
made of plastic material, especially for vegetables and fruit in
accordance with the descriptive part of Claim 1 or 9.
Collapsible transport containers made preferably of plastic
materials are used for many different transport purposes, because
they are not only very stable, but also very light and, given the
fact that they can be folded, occupy very little space when they
have to be transported in the empty state. Particularly the
lightness of such transport containers is further enhanced by the
fact that the provision of numerous strengthening ribs makes it
possible to save a great deal of material. But this is associated
with the drawback that especially the outside of the transport
containers becomes very uneven and has numerous edges and recesses.
Apart from dirt collection problems, this gives rise to such
further problems that, especially in the area of the floorboard and
when the transport containers are used to carry fruit, bananas for
example, and have to be stacked on top of each other, any fruit
projecting slightly above the upper edge of the lower container is
liable to be damaged by the edges and strengthening ribs of the
upper container.
Another disadvantageous feature of known collapsible transport
containers derives from the fact that their sidewalls, which are
secured to each other in the upright position by means of fastening
elements, may already collapse when pressure acts on them. Although
this is helpful for the purposes of quick and simple handling, it
also has the disadvantage that, given inexpert handling, which the
containers will often suffer in practice when they are in frequent
use, the side walls will not be properly fastened in their upright
position, which can lead to a collapse of the side wall during
loading and stacking and consequent damage of the merchandise
contained therein. Moreover, the currently used fastening and
securing elements are often difficult to operate and not easy to
locate on the containers. Often there is also the further problem
that improper use may cause damage to the fastening and securing
elements.
It is therefore the scope of the present invention to make
available a collapsible transport container that will not be
sensitive to excessive and improper use as may occur, for example,
when the transport containers are overloaded and their side walls
become subject to considerable and bumpy loads. In particular, the
invention seeks to create a transport container that has as smooth
as possible an underside and is devoid ribs and reinforcing stays,
thereby avoiding the possibility of the merchandise in an
underlying container becoming damaged due to these strengthening
ribs being pressed into it. Nevertheless, the container floor
should also be sufficiently stable to assure safe transport of the
goods carried in the container. A further task of the present
invention is to create a means of fastening the collapsible side
walls to each other when in the upright position, where the said
means is to be easy to operate, i.e. easy to open and close, and
not sensitive to pressure or impact loads. In particular, ready
handling is to be assured by enabling the user to open and close
these fastening elements without having to change either his own
position or that of the transport container.
This task is absolved by a transport container having the
characteristics of Claims 1 and 9. Advantageous embodiments are set
out in the dependent claims.
The transport container in accordance with the invention has an
essentially rectangular floorboard that consists of a frame and a
floor profile arranged in it. Attached to the frame there are
collapsible side walls, preferably four in number, that can be
swivelled between a folded position, in which they lie on the
floorboard, and an upright position, in which they project upward
from the floorboard and substantially make a right angle with it.
The floor profile has a smooth upper and lower surface, both of
which are wholly devoid of strengthening ribs or stays, and owes
its stability to several bulges provided in the floor profile, the
said bulges being obtained by curving the floor profile in several
space directions. This results in a three-dimensional floor profile
that the said bulges render adequately rigid and which, given the
consequential possibility of avoiding the use of strengthening
ribs, also has a smooth surface that is easy to keep clean and will
not damage the underlying merchandise when the transport containers
are stacked on top of each other, because the lack of strengthening
ribs assures that no peak loads can occur in this area when it
comes into contact with the underlying merchandise, and that there
will rather be a uniformly distributed load.
Preferably the three-dimensional form of the floor profile is
obtained by bending the floor profile upward in the manner of an
arch along its shorter side and giving it a wavelike form along the
longer side. A structure of this type will not only assure a
particularly good rigidity, but will also bring with it a number of
technical advantages in the production process.
Advantageously the bulges in the floor profile will be provided in
such a manner that there will be horizontal floor sections between
these bulges. This has the advantage that there will be at least
some horizontal surfaces on which the merchandise to be carried in
the transport container can bear. Over and above this, the presence
of these horizontal floor sections assures that there will be areas
where the floor profile can be attached to the surrounding frame in
a very simple manner.
Correspondingly, in the presence of a stacking shoulder, which
should preferably be provided on the floorboard, so that in a stack
of transport containers it can engage (interlock) with the
container lying beneath it, it will be advantageous to provide
stacking grooves to permit staggered stacking of the transport
containers, locating these grooves in the areas in which the
horizontal sections of the floor profile border on the stacking
shoulder or the frame of the floorboard. In this way one obtains a
smooth transition from the floor profile to the frame of the
floorboard in these areas.
In the case of a floorboard with a stacking shoulder it will also
be advantageous to provide the bulges as depressions in the floor
profile in such a manner that they will come to extend in the area
between the upper end of the stacking shoulder and the lower end of
the stacking shoulder. From the manufacturing point of view this
offers the advantage that, starting from the horizontal floor
sections, which can be attached to the upper end of the stacking
shoulder, the outer border of the floor profile can always be
attached to the stacking shoulder, i.e. when there are depressions
along these borders right down to the lower end of the stacking
shoulder.
Preferably the floor profile will be formed as a single piece with
the frame, which can be done, for example, when the floorboard is
made from plastic materials by means of injection moulding.
With a view to further enhancing the rigidity of the floor profile,
it can be held in the frame in such a manner as to become subject
to a prestressing force and, more particularly, in such a manner
that the bulge (upward in the manner of an arch, for example) will
become more pronounced due to the elastic stresses. In this way the
carrying capacity of the floor profile can be further enhanced.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention the collapsible
transport container is provided with a device to keep the
collapsible side walls secured to each other in their upright
position, the said device consisting of a fastening mechanism on
adjacent side walls. The said fastening mechanism comprises a
fastener with a fastening bolt that is provided on one of the side
walls, together with a recess in the adjacent side wall with which
the fastening bolt can engage. The fastener consists of an element
that can be displaced against the force of an elastic spring
element, where the said displaceable element comprises or operates
the fastening bolt and is substantially accommodated within the
side wall. Given this accommodation of the fastener within a side
wall, the fastener is advantageously protected against being
damaged by forces that act on it from outside. Furthermore, the
fact that the displaceable element is pre-tensioned by an elastic
element or by the force that is needed to displace the displaceable
element assures that an unintentional operation of the fastening
mechanism due to the action of a pure pressure or force on the side
wall can be excluded.
Advantageously the displaceable element will be arranged within the
side wall in such a manner as to permit its being operated both
from the outside of the side wall and from the inside. In
particular, this can be obtained by inserting the displaceable
element and therefore the fastener in a fastener cutout in the side
wall in such a manner that the fastener can be operated from both
sides of the side wall through gripping troughs arranged on both
sides of the displaceable element or a gripping opening that
extends right through it. The fact that the fastener can be
operated from both sides has the advantage that all the side walls
can be collapsed without either the operator having to change his
position or the transport container having to be rotated.
From the point of view of manufacturing technique, moreover, the
fact that the fastener can be inserted in a cutout provided in a
side wall has the advantage that the fastener can be made as a
single piece from plastic materials and then be simply clipped into
the cutout in the side wall.
The fastener is preferably held and/or guided in the cutout in the
side wall by means of notch elements constituted by projections,
stays or the like. Since the displaceable element of the fastener
in the side wall has to be displaced to operate the fastening bolt,
the cutout opening must be sufficiently large to permit this
displacement of the displaceable element. In order to assure that
in a given position the fastening bolt and/or the displaceable
element associated with it will be appropriately pre-tensioned by
the elastic spring element, the displaceable element is arranged in
the side wall in such a manner as to be connected to the side wall
via the elastic element.
This can preferably be done by means of a holder plate that forms
part of the fastener and is firmly attached to the side wall.
Alternatively, however, the elastic element can also be attached
directly to the side wall.
Since the displaceable element is linked to the side wall via the
elastic element, the displaceable element is maintained in the
position in which the elastic spring element is slack. This is
preferably the fastened position, namely the one in which the
fastening bolt is engaged with the recess in the adjacent side
wall. This presetting in the fastened position effectively avoids
an unintentional collapse of the transport container.
In a preferred embodiment of the fastener an essentially
rectangular frame body acts as the displaceable element that at one
of its ends is provided with either circular gripping troughs on
both sides or a gripping opening that extends right through the
element. The width of the frame body of displaceable element
matches the thickness of the side wall, so that the fastener is
essentially flush with the inside and/or the outside of the side
wall. Within the frame body there is preferably arranged the
elastic element, which is essentially and advantageously designed
as an S-shaped spring and has one of its ends fixed to the side of
the frame body opposite to the gripping trough and its other end
fixed laterally either directly to the side wall or to holder plate
of the fastener, this plate being preferably situated within the
fastener cutout as a continuation of the side wall. This embodiment
occupies particularly little space and also assures adequate
protection of the spring element by the surrounding frame body. The
S-shaped design of the spring assures a particularly long spring
excursion that does not call for the application of any great
force.
In a preferred embodiment the fastening bolt is arranged directly
on the displaceable element on the side of the frame body opposite
to the gripping trough or the gripping opening, so that the
displacement of the displaceable element will also cause the
displacement of the fastening bolt.
When the fastener is to be opened, i.e. when the adjacent side
walls are to be detached from each other, the operator, inserting
his hand in the gripping trough or the gripping opening, must
displace the displaceable element against the spring force of the
elastic element, so that the fastening bolt will become disengaged
from the recess in the adjacent side wall. Since preferably the
displaceable element is provided with a gripping trough on both
sides or a gripping opening that passes right through the
displaceable element, the holder plate, which is preferably
arranged parallel to the surface of the side wall and the
displacement path of the displaceable element, will extend only
over a part area of the displaceable element, preferably about two
thirds and will not therefore cover the area of the gripping trough
or the gripping opening.
Other advantages, characteristics and features of the present
invention will be brought out by the detailed description of
possible embodiments to be given below with the help of the
attached drawings. The drawings, all of which are purely schematic,
show:
FIG. 1 a perspective view of a transport contained in accordance
with the invention;
FIG. 2 a perspective view from above of the floorboard of a;
transport container;
FIG. 3 a perspective view from above of the floorboard of a;
transport container;
FIG. 4 a section view along the line A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 a partial section view along the line B--B of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 a partial section view along the line C--C of FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 a partial section view along the line D--D of FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 a section view along the line E--E of FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 a partial side elevation of the transport container with a
fastener mechanism in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 10a) and b), respectively, a perspective view of the fastener
in the fastened position (a) and in the retracted position (b) when
the side walls are to be collapsed; and
FIG. 11 a partial perspective view of a side wall into which the
fastener can be inserted.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a transport container 1 of which
the side walls 3 to 6 are arranged on the floorboard 2 in such a
manner that they can be collapsed in the direction of the arrows
onto the floorboard 2. In order to secure the side walls 3 to 6 in
an upright position, the embodiment shown in the drawing is
provided with fasteners 7 on the side walls 3 and 5, which make it
possible to fasten adjacent side walls, i.e. 3 and 4, 3 and 6, 5
and 4, and 5 and 6. For reasons of simplicity, the hinge elements
that permit the side walls 3 to 6 to be swivelled with respect to
the floorboard 2 have not been shown, since any of the known
solution possibilities can be used for this purpose.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of just the floorboard 2 of the
transport container illustrated in FIG. 1. The floorboard 2
consists of a frame 8 with side wall continuations of different
heights, as well as a floor profile 9 that is arranged within the
frame 8. The floor profile 9, which has a smooth surface on its
upper and particularly also on its lower side, is characterized by
a multitude of bulges 10 that are provided essentially at its edge
along the long sides and in the corner areas. In the shown
embodiment example the bulges 10, which serve to enhance the
mechanical rigidity of the floor profile 9, are due to the fact
that the floor profile 9 has a form that is bent upwards about its
longitudinal axis and is wave-shaped along the long sides,
especially in its border areas. The superposition of these
three-dimensional forms leads to the bulges 10, which are therefore
curvatures not just in a single space direction, but at least in
two space directions. In FIG. 2 the nature of the bulges 10 is
represented by the rectangular areas indicated at the edges of the
longitudinal axis.
It can be seen from the figure that between the areas with bulges
10 there are horizontal floor sections 23 that extend essentially
in a horizontal direction and separate the areas with bulges 10
from each other.
FIG. 3 shows the floorboard 2 of FIG. 2 as seen from the underside,
so that the bulges 10, which in FIG. 2 are seen as depressions, are
here shown as elevations. FIG. 3 further shows that the floorboard
2 of the illustrated embodiment example is provided with a stacking
shoulder situated slightly inwards from the outer edge of the
floorboard 2, so that when the transport containers 1 are stacked
on top of each other, the said shoulder can engage with the top
opening of the underlying transport container 1. In order to make
possible also staggered stacking, the stacking shoulder 11 is
provided with interruptions, so-called stacking grooves 12, that
are arranged at different distances from each other along the
stacking shoulder 11.
As shown in the case of the illustrated embodiment, the horizontal
floor sections 23 will advantageously be aligned with the stacking
grooves 12, thereby assuring a stable and simple transition from
the stacking shoulder 11 or frame 8 to the floor profile 9.
FIG. 4 shows a section view along the line A--A of FIG. 2, i.e.
along one of the horizontal floor sections 23 of the floor profile
9. In the section view the floor profile 9 is therefore shown as an
even and plane surface between the frame 8. However, the section
view also shows that outside the section plane the floor profile 9
becomes depressed by the bulges 10 right down to the bottom edge of
the stacking shoulder 11. Moreover, in FIG. 4 one can also note a
stacking groove 12 in one of the short sides.
FIG. 5 is a representation similar to FIG. 4 and provides a partial
section view of an area in which the form of the floor profile 9
with its upward curvature along the shorter side causes bulges 10
to be situated along the edges of the longer sides of the floor
profile 9. The bulge 10 is here seen as a depression of the floor
profile 9 in the direction of the bottom edge of the stacking
shoulder 11. There is thus a direct transition from the bottom edge
of the stacking shoulder 11 to the floor profile 9.
A further section view in the area of a horizontal floor section 23
is shown in FIG. 6, which is therefore essentially similar to FIG.
4. There is a difference, however, inasmuch as the stacking
shoulder 11 in this area is not provided with a stacking groove 12,
so that there is no longer a smooth transition between the floor
profile 12 and the frame 8, as is the case in FIG. 4, but the frame
8 is rather provided with a downward continuation in the form of
the stacking shoulder 11.
A section through the floorboard 2 along its central longitudinal
axis is shown in FIG. 7. Since this area is constituted by a
horizontal floor section 23, the floor profile 9 is once again
represented as an even and plane surface. However, the elevation
view of the parts behind the section beautifully illustrates the
wave form of the floor profile 9 along the longitudinal axis, which
leads to several bulges 10 being situated along the longitudinal
axis. FIG. 7 also shows that stacking grooves 12 are arranged so as
to be aligned with the horizontal floor sections 23 and that the
bulges constitute depressions in the areas between the stacking
grooves 12.
The section view of FIG. 8, which represents a section parallel to
the side wall in the vicinity of one of the long sides of the
floorboard 2, provides a particularly good illustration of the
wavelike bulging of the floor profile 9, which contributes to
rendering the said floor profile more rigid. Starting from the
central longitudinal axis of the floorboard 2, the curvature of the
bulges 10 becomes gradually more pronounced in the direction of the
longitudinal sides, that is to say, in the direction of the frame
8.
FIG. 9 shows a partial section view of the side walls 3 and 4 of
the transport container of FIG. 1, with the side walls in their
upright position and firmly held together by means of the fastening
mechanism 7, 24. According to the representation of FIG. 9, the
fastening mechanism 7, 24 comprises a fastener 7 with a fastening
bolt 15 in the side wall 3, the said fastening bolt 15 engaging
with a recess 24 in the adjacent side wall 4. An elastic spring
element 14, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed in the
form of an S, keeps the fastening bolt 15 preset in its fastened
position. Opposing the force of the spring element 14, the
fastening bolt 15 can be displaced from its fastened position, i.e.
removed from the recess 24 in the adjacent side wall 4, when the
displaceable element 16 of the fastener 7, on which the fastening
bolt 15 is arranged, is displaced within the fastener cutout 18 in
the side wall 3. To this end the displaceable element 16 is
provided with a gripping trough 13 on both the inside and the
outside of the side wall 3, into which the operator can insert one
of his fingers.
The displaceable element 16, which is displaceably arranged within
the fastener cutout 18 of the side wall 3, is held in the side wall
3 by means of a holder plate 19, which in its turn is connected to
the elastic spring element 14 via the spring support 17.
As can be seen more readily from FIGS. 10a and 10b, which however
show only the fastener without the side wall, the holder plate 19
is fixed in the fastener cutout 18 of the side wall 3 by means of
the notch elements 20. Alternatively, however, it would also be
possible for the holder plate 19 to be designed as an integral part
of the side wall and for the displaceable element 16 to be
connected directly to the side wall 3 via the spring support 17, by
means of a plug connection for example.
FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate the situation of the fastener in the
fastened position (FIG. 10a) and in the unfastened position (FIG.
10b). In the fastened position, which is shown in FIG. 10a, the
force of the elastic spring element 14 so aligns the displaceable
element 14, which essentially consists of a rectangular frame body
that is rounded on one side, as to make the side on which the
fastening bolt 15 is arranged terminate substantially flush with
the front face of the holder plate 19. In this situation the
elastic spring element 14 is therefore in an unloaded or nearly
unloaded state. When the fastened position, in which the fastening
bolt 15 engages with the recess 14 in the adjacent sidewall, has to
be released, the displaceable element 16 is moved against the force
of the elastic spring element 14 in the direction of the arrow
shown in FIG. 10b. In this way the elastic spring element is
compressed and will therefore be in a loaded state. The operator
can move the displaceable element by placing a finger in the
gripping trough 13.
When the fastener 7 is inserted in the side wall 3 or in the
fastener cutout of the side wall 3 as shown in FIG. 11, the
fastening bolt 15 will project through the bolt hole 22 in the side
wall 3. When the displaceable element is moved as described above,
the fastening bolt 15 is pulled backward through the bolt hole 22,
so that the fastening bolt 15 will no longer project beyond the
bolt hole 22. The side wall 3 can therefore be moved very simply
with respect to the side wall 3 or the side wall 6.
Referring to FIG. 1, the transport container 1, given simultaneous
operation of the fasteners 7 first of one of the side faces 3 or 5
and then of the other of the side faces 3 or 5, can therefore be
collapsed by first folding the side faces 3 and 5 inwards and then
doing likewise with the side faces 4 and 6. Since the fasteners 7
in accordance with the invention are accessible both from the
inside and the outside, the operator can collapse the transport
container 1 without having to change his position or having to
rotate the transport container 1. The operation is thus greatly
simplified.
The fact that the fastening bolt 15 is wedge-shaped and has a
contact surface 25 and an oblique surface 26 assures that in the
fastened position the fastening bolt 15 will be securely in contact
with the recess 24, while the oblique surface 26 prevents the bolt
from constituting an obstacle to the erection of the side
walls.
* * * * *