Storage Means

Abstract

A storage means for receiving several receptacles for storing and/or transporting goods, the storage means including a base and two side walls arranged parallel to each other extending in an essentially vertical direction from the base. The side walls are made from vertically stacked segments. Two opposite segments each include at least one linear guiding means arranged at an inward facing side of the respective segment opposite to each other for receiving at least one of the receptacles in a sliding manner and supporting the received receptacle in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. A storage means for receiving several receptacles for storing and/or transporting goods, the storage means comprising: a. a base and b. two side walls arranged parallel to each other extending in an essentially vertical direction from the base, wherein c. the side walls are at least partially made from vertically stacked segments and wherein d. two opposite segments each comprising at least one linear guiding means are arranged at an inward facing side of the respective segment opposite to each other for receiving at least one of the receptacles in a sliding manner and supporting the received receptacle in the vertical direction.

2. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the at least one linear guiding means is a channel-like recess extending along the inward facing side of the respective segment.

3. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the linear guiding means comprises at least one undercut to prevent, during operation, an inappropriate disengagement of an interconnected receptacle in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side walls, when a force is applied to the side wall in said direction.

4. The storage means according to claim 3, wherein the linear guiding means each comprise at least one supporting surface to support a thereto interconnected receptacle in the vertical direction.

5. The storage means according to the previous claim 3, wherein in a sectional view of the linear guiding means, the at least one undercut is arranged opposite or adjacent or opposite and adjacent to the at least one supporting surface.

6. The storage means according to claim 3, wherein the at least one undercut comprises a bead and/or stop surface extending in a sectional view at least partially in a vertical direction for engaging with the received receptacle during operation in an interlocking manner.

7. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the vertically stacked segments are incorporated in a single segment.

8. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the segments is profile-shaped with a regular cross-section in sectional view.

9. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the segments is made from a continuously extruded profile, such as an extruded metal profile, in particular an extruded aluminium profile, or is at least partially made from plastics or wood.

10. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the linear guiding means comprise an inlet funnel at their entry region to lead a receptacle to be received into the linear guiding means.

11. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein an indicator element is arranged adjacent to each inlet funnel, said indicator element is configured to receive from a computer system via a communication network indicator information and to display the received indicator information for indicating during operation the linear guiding means destined to receive a specific receptacle by means of the indicator element arranged at the entry region of the linear guiding means.

12. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises at least one stiffening frame interconnecting the base and the two side walls to increase lateral stability, wherein the storage means comprising a top interconnected to the side walls in the vertical direction opposite of the base, such that the side walls extend between the base and the top.

13. A kit of parts comprising the storage means according to claim 1 and receptacle for storing and/or transporting goods in the storage means wherein the receptacle comprises supporting means arranged at least on two opposite sides of the receptacle to interconnect with two linear guiding means of the storage means during operation and to support the receptacle in a vertical direction.

14. The kit of parts according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle further comprises, a. securing means arranged in the region of the supporting means to interlock with an undercut of the linear guiding means of the storage means during operation to prevent an inappropriate disengagement of the supporting means and the linear guiding means in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side walls, when a force is applied to the side wall in said direction.

15. The kit of parts according to claim 14, wherein the securing means are incorporated into the supporting means formed as at least one out of the following or as combination thereof: L-shaped profile, sliding nuts, T-shaped sliding bolts, or rollers.

16. The kit of parts according to claim 13, wherein the receptacles are at least one out of the following: a tray, an expandable box, a cage, a net with frame; with each receptacle having a common spatial extension, in particular a common width, which is generally equal to the distance between the parallel side walls of the storage means.

17. The kit of parts according to claim 13, wherein in the storage means of claim 11, multiple indicator elements indicate a vertical position of the receptacle to be received, and a vertical distance between the indicator elements indicating the vertical position corresponds to a height of the receptacle to be received in the vertical direction.

18. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein at least two neighboring vertically stacked segments are interconnected by at least one of: force-lock, form-lock, adhesive, and welding.

19. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein at least one adhesive layer and/or at least one sealing element is placed between at least two vertically stacked segments.

20. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein at least one segment comprises at least one reinforcing element expanding essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction of the receptacles.

21. The storage means according to claim 20, wherein the reinforcing element is arranged internally or externally with respect to the at least one segment, or it is formed as a beam-like strud that is arranged within the at least one segment and connects two sides of the segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The herein described disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which should not be considered limiting to the disclosure described in the appended claims. The drawings are showing:

[0029] FIG. 1 a first variation of a storage means and a first variation of a receptacle according to the disclosure in a perspective view;

[0030] FIG. 2 a detailed view of FIG. 1 indicated by Q;

[0031] FIG. 3 an exploded view of the first variation of the storage means of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 4 a detailed view of FIG. 3 indicated by B; and

[0033] FIG. 5 a detailed view of FIG. 4 indicated by C.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first variation of a storage means 1 and a first variation of a receptacle 2 in a perspective view according to the disclosure and FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of FIG. 1 indicated by Q. FIG. 3 displays an exploded view of the first variation of the storage means of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of FIG. 3 indicated by B. FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of FIG. 4 indicated by C.

[0036] The shown first variation of the storage means 1 for receiving several receptacles 2 for storing and/or transporting goods comprises a base 3 and two side walls 4 arranged parallel to each other extending in an essentially vertical direction from the base 3. The side walls 4 are made from vertically stacked segments 5. Two opposite segments 5 each comprise at least one linear guiding means 6 arranged at an inward facing side 7 of the respective segment 5 opposite to each other for receiving at least one of the receptacles 2 in a sliding manner and supporting the received receptacle 2 in the vertical direction. In the shown first variation of the storage means 1 as best visible in FIG. 4 each segment 5 has four parallel linear guiding means 6 arranged at an inward facing side 7 of the respective segment 5.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the storage means 1 comprises a top 21 interconnected to the side walls 4 opposite of the base 3, such that the side walls 4 extend between the base 3 and the top 21.

[0038] It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the linear guiding means 6 of the first variation are channel-like recesses extending along the inward facing side 7 of the segments 5. The linear guiding means 6 each comprise a supporting surface 9 to support a during operation thereto interconnected receptacle 2 (not shown) in the vertical direction. The supporting surface 9 extends in a horizontal plane along the segments 5.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows furthermore that the linear guiding means 6 each comprise an undercut 8 to prevent, during operation, an inappropriate disengagement of an interconnected receptacle 2 in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side walls 4, when a force is applied to the side wall 4 in said direction.

[0040] The undercut 8 comprises a stop surface arranged on a bead 10 extending in a sectional view in a vertical direction to engage during operation with a received receptacle 2 in an interlocking manner. The undercut 8 is arranged adjacent to the respective supporting surface 9. As further indicated in FIG. 5 the linear guiding means 6 each have a G-Shaped cross-section.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows that neighboring vertically stacked segments 5 are interconnected by means of force-lock. In FIG. 4 it can be seen that each segment 5 comprises a positive (male) connector 15 and a corresponding negative (female) connector 16 arranged at opposite end regions of the segment for engaging with the respective connector 15, 16 of the vertically neighboring segment 5 in a force- and/or form-locking manner. The positive connector 15 comprises two latching ribs 17 protruding along the respective end region of the segment, as shown in FIG. 5. Each latching rib 17 comprises a first latching bead 18 protruding in a sectional view of the latching rip 17 at least partially perpendicular to latching rib 17. The negative connector comprises two corresponding second latching beads 19 for engaging with the respective first latching bead 18 of the vertically neighboring segment 5 in a form-locking manner.

[0042] The segments 5 of the shown first variation are respectively made from an extruded aluminium profile, as best visible in FIG. 5.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows an inlet upright 20 attached to an end face of the respective sidewall 4 using screws or bolts. Each inlet upright 20 comprises an inlet funnel 14 per linear guiding means 6. The inlet funnels 14 are aligned with the entry region of the respective linear guiding means 6 to lead a receptacle 2 to be received in to the guiding means.

[0044] FIGS. 1 and 2 show additionally a first variation of a receptacle 2 according to the disclosure. The shown receptacle 2 comprises supporting means 11 arranged at least on two opposite sides of the receptacle 2 to interconnect with two linear guiding means 6 of the storage means 1 during operation and to support the receptacle 2 in a vertical direction.

[0045] Furthermore, the receptacle 2 comprises securing means 12 arranged in the region of the supporting means 11 to interlock with the undercut 8 of the storage means 1 during operation to prevent an inappropriate disengagement of the supporting means 11 and the linear guiding means 6 in a direction essentially perpendicular to the side walls 4 when a force is applied to the side wall 4 in said direction. In the first variation the securing means 12 are incorporated into the supporting means 11 formed as an L-shaped profile. During operation the L-shaped profile engages with the supporting surface 9 and the undercut 8 of the respective linear guiding means 6.

[0046] Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0047] 1 Storage means [0048] 2 Receptacle [0049] 3 Base [0050] 4 Side wall [0051] 5 Segment (side wall) [0052] 6 Linear guiding means [0053] 7 Side (inward facing side of segment) [0054] 8 Undercut (linear guiding means) [0055] 9 Supporting surface (linear guiding means) [0056] 10 Bead (undercut) [0057] 11 Supporting means (receptacle) [0058] 12 Securing means (receptacle) [0059] 13 Rollers [0060] 14 Inlet funnel [0061] 15 Positive (male) connector (segment) [0062] 16 Negative (female) connector (segment) [0063] 17 Latching rib (positive connector) [0064] 18 First latching bead (positive connector) [0065] 19 Second latching bead (negative connector) [0066] 20 Inlet upright [0067] 21 Top