STACKABLE CONTAINER HAVING HINGED WALLS

Abstract

A stackable container including a rectangular base and four side walls hinged to the base. The side walls pivot between an erected useful position and an empty position folded in towards the base. At least one of the walls has a selectively covered or uncovered recess spaced from two lateral edges and a lower edge of this wall. A wall rail arranged parallel to the base is vertically displaceably guided in sliding guides between an upper covering and a lower uncovering position. Between the wall rail and the lower edge of the recess are at least two wall braces that, in the covering position, run obliquely and are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the wall and are each connected at their ends in a hinged manner to the wall rail and, at the lower edge of the recess, to the wall having the recess.

Claims

1. A stackable container comprising a rectangular base, two longer walls connected in hinged fashion to the base, and two shorter walls connected in hinged fashion to the base, the longer and shorter walls being pivotable between an erected useful position and an empty position folded in towards the base, at least one of the longer and shorter walls having a recess that keeps a distance from two lateral edges and a lower edge of this wall, the recess being configured to be covered for a transport of transport items housed in the container and configured to be uncovered for a presentation and removal of the transport items, wherein a wall rail that runs horizontally parallel to the base is guided in a vertically displaceable fashion at its ends in sliding guides that run at lateral edges of the recess on the at least one of the longer and shorter walls having the recess, seen in the useful position of the longer and shorter walls, between an upper covering position and a lower uncovering position for the recess, and wherein between the wall rail and the lower edge of the recess there are situated at least two wall braces that, in the covering position of the wall rail, run obliquely to the vertical and are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the wall and that are each connected at their ends in a hinged manner to the wall rail and, at the lower edge of the recess, to the wall having the recess.

2. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the wall braces are each additionally displaceably guided at their lower end at the lower edge of the recess in guides on the wall having the recess in the longitudinal direction of the lower edge of the recess, and wherein the wall braces each have a fixed pivot point at their upper end.

3. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the wall braces are each additionally guided at their upper end in the longitudinal direction of the wall rail in displaceable fashion on the wall rail, and wherein the wall braces each have a fixed pivot point at their lower end.

4. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the wall braces are configured to be capable of telescoping, having in each case at least two brace sections that are displaceable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction thereof.

5. The stackable container as recited in claim 1, wherein two latches are situated on or in the wall rail that are displaceable between a locking position that locks the wall rail at its two ends, at least in their covering position, to the wall having the recess, and an unlocking position.

6. The stackable container according to claim 5, wherein latches are situated on the shorter walls or on the longer walls for a releasable locking of the walls to one another in their erected useful position.

7. The stackable container according to claim 5, wherein latches identical to the latches situated on or in the wall rail, are situated on the shorter walls or on the longer walls for a releasable locking of the walls to one another in their erected useful position.

8. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein two locking elements that releasably lock the wall rail at its two ends at least in its covering position to the wall having the recess are situated on the wall rail of the wall having the recess.

9. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein two locking elements that releasably lock the wall rail at its two ends at least in its covering position to the wall having the recess are situated on the sliding guides of the wall having the recess.

10. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein one of the two longer walls has the recess having the wall rail and wall braces.

11. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein one of the two shorter walls has the recess having the wall rail and wall braces.

12. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the two longer walls each have the recess having the wall rail and wall braces.

13. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein the two shorter walls each have the recess having the wall rail and wall braces.

14. The stackable container according to claim 1, wherein both longer walls and both shorter walls each have the recess having the wall rail and wall braces.

15. A stackable container comprising a rectangular base, four side walls connected in hinged fashion to the base, the side walls being pivotable between an erected useful position and an empty position folded in towards the base, at least one of the side walls having a recess that keeps a distance from two lateral edges and a lower edge of this wall, the recess being configured to be covered for a transport of transport items housed in the container and configured to be uncovered for a presentation and removal of the transport items, wherein a wall rail that runs horizontally parallel to the base is guided in a vertically displaceable fashion at its ends in sliding guides that run at lateral edges of the recess on the at least one of the side walls having the recess, seen in the useful position of the side walls, between an upper covering position and a lower uncovering position for the recess, and wherein between the wall rail and the lower edge of the recess there are situated at least two wall braces that, in the covering position of the wall rail, run obliquely to the vertical and are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction of the wall and that are each connected at their ends in a hinged manner to the wall rail and, at the lower edge of the recess, to the wall having the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to a drawing. In the Figures of the drawing:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a stackable empty container with four foldable walls in the erected useful position, one of which walls is formed with a recess concealed here by a wall rail and wall braces, in an oblique view from above,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the walls in the erected useful position and concealed recess, with transport items situated in the container, also in an oblique view from above,

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the walls in the erected, useful position and with the recess here uncovered, also in an oblique view from above,

[0031] FIG. 4 shows the container of FIG. 1 with three walls already folded in towards the base and with a fourth wall, having the recess, during its folding, also in an oblique view from above,

[0032] FIG. 5 shows the container of FIG. 1 with all four walls in the folded-in empty position and with the recess here concealed, also in an oblique view from above,

[0033] FIG. 6 shows the container of FIG. 5 with all four walls in the folded-in empty position and with recess here covered, in a top view, and

[0034] FIG. 7 shows the container of FIG. 1 with all four walls in the folded-in empty position and with recess here uncovered, in a plan view.

[0035] In the following description of the Figures, the same parts in the various Figures are always given the same reference characters, so that it is not necessary to explain all the reference characters again for each Figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a stackable, empty container 1 with a rectangular base 10 and four walls 11, 11′, 12 pivotably connected thereto and foldable towards the base 10, in an erected useful position, in a view obliquely from above. Here, the walls 11, 11′ are longer walls and the walls 12 are shorter walls. The longer wall 11′ facing the viewer in FIG. 1 is formed with a rectangular recess 2 that is open at the top and that is spaced laterally from two lateral edges and at the bottom from a lower edge of this wall 11′.

[0037] The recess 2 can be covered for a transport of transport items accommodated in the container 1 and not shown in FIG. 1 and can be uncovered for a presentation and removal of the transport items.

[0038] For this purpose, a wall rail 3 running horizontally parallel to the base 10 is situated in the recess 2, which wall rail 3 is guided at its ends 31 in sliding guides 23 running along lateral edges 21 of recess 2 on the front longer wall 11′ having the recess 2, seen in the useful position of the walls 11, 11′, 12, so as to be vertically displaceable between an upper covering position and a lower uncovering position for the recess 2.

[0039] Furthermore, between wall rail 3 and lower edge 20 of recess 2, two wall braces 4 are situated which run obliquely to the vertical in the upper covering position of wall rail 3 and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of wall 11′. At their ends 41, 42, wall braces 4 are each hingedly connected to wall rail 3 and, at lower edge 20 of recess 2, to wall 11′ having recess 2. Moreover, wall braces 4 are each additionally guided at their lower end 42 on lower edge 20 of recess 2 in guides 24 on wall 11′ having recess 2 so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of lower edge 20 of recess 2. At their upper end 42, wall braces 4 each have a fixed pivot point on wall rail 3.

[0040] Two latches 5 displaceable in the longitudinal direction of wall rail 3 are situated on wall rail 3, each of which is adjustable between a locking position locking wall rail 3 at its two ends 31 to wall 11′ having recess 2, at least in its covering position shown in FIG. 1, and an unlocking position. In the embodiment shown, latches 5 are sliding latches in the form of one-piece injection-molded plastic parts that are preloaded by a spring force in the locking direction and are manually displaceable in the unlocking direction and are situated and guided on the outward-facing side of wall rail 3.

[0041] As an alternative to the above-mentioned latches 5 on or in wall rail 3, two locking elements that releasably lock wall rail 3 at its two ends 31 at least in its covering position to wall 11′ having recess 2 can be situated on wall rail 3 or on sliding guides 23 of wall 11′ having recess 2, for example locking balls or locking lugs that are preloaded by a spring force in the locking direction and that, for example, each cooperate with at least one locking recess on sliding guides 23 guiding wall rail 3 or on ends 31 of wall rail 3.

[0042] On shorter walls 12 of container 1 according to FIG. 1, identical or similar latches 52, for releasably locking walls 11, 11′, 12 to one another in their erected useful position, are situated directly below the upper edge of shorter walls 12 having latches 5 situated on wall rail 3.

[0043] FIG. 2 shows container 1 of FIG. 1 with walls 11, 11′, 12 in the erected useful position and with the recess concealed by wall rail 3 and wall braces 4, now with transport items 6 situated in container 1, also in an oblique view from above. In the example shown here, transport items 6 are egg cartons; however, other transport items can, of course, also be accommodated in container 1.

[0044] As FIG. 2 illustrates, wall rail 3 located in its upper covering position in recess 2, together with wall braces 4 connected thereto, ensures that no transport items 6 can fall out of container 1 unintentionally, in particular during transport and the vibrations frequently associated therewith.

[0045] In the case of smaller transport items 6, more than two wall braces 4 can also be provided.

[0046] FIG. 2 also shows that containers 1 filled with items 6 can be stacked one on top of the other, such that, as is known per se, an upper container 1 stands with its base 10 on the upper edge of the walls 11, 11′, 12 of a lower container 1 and engages in the latter for the purpose of securing against displacement.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows container 1 of FIG. 1 with walls 11, 11′, 12 in the upright position and with recess 2 here uncovered, also in an oblique view from above. To uncover recess 2, wall rail 3 is moved downwards along sliding guides 23 on lateral edges 21 of recess 2 in the direction of base 10 after latches 5 have been released.

[0048] When wall rail 3 is lowered, wall braces 4, each hinged to wall rail 3 at a fixed pivot point at their upper end 41, move sideways outward along guides 24 on lower edge 20 of recess 2, each with their lower end 42, until wall rail 3 and wall braces 4 have reached the lowest position shown in FIG. 3. In this uncovering position of wall rail 3 and wall braces 4, it is possible to view transport items in container 1 and to remove transport items from container 1, e.g., for customers in a supermarket, without any problems. At the same time, access to the interior of container 1 remains unobstructed even when containers 1 are stacked one on top of the other.

[0049] Since wall rail 3 and wall braces 4 move only in the area of wall 11′ having recess 2, the adjustment of wall rail 3 and wall braces 4 between the covering position and the uncovering position for recess 2 can be carried out without obstruction even when containers 1 are configured in a stack.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows the container 1 of FIG. 1, with three walls 11, 12 already folded in towards base 10 and with the fourth front longer wall 11′ having the recess 2 during its folding, also in an oblique view from above.

[0051] For the folding in of walls 11, 11′, 12, latches 52 situated externally on the respective left-hand shorter side wall 12 in FIGS. 1 to 3 and latches 52 situated mirror-symmetrically on the respective oppositely situated right-hand shorter side wall 12 and concealed there are adjusted in the release direction, in this case in the inward direction towards one another. This releases the mutual locking of walls 11, 11′, 12 and it is then possible to fold in first the shorter walls 12 and then the longer walls 11, 11′ towards base 10.

[0052] This results in a particularly low height of container 1 in its empty, collapsed state, as shown in FIG. 5 using the example of a completely collapsed container 1, which enables space-saving transport of empty containers 1.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows container 1 of FIG. 5 with all four walls 11, 11′, 12 in the folded-in empty position and with recess 2 here concealed, in a plan view. Wall rail 3 runs here along the upper edge of recess 2 in wall 11′ and wall braces 4 run from wall rail 3 obliquely downward and outward to lower edge 20 of recess 2.

[0054] Finally, FIG. 7 shows container 1 of FIG. 1 with all four walls 11, 11′, 12 in the folded-in empty position and with recess 2 here uncovered, also in a plan view. Wall rail 3 here runs along lower edge 20 of recess 2 in wall 11′ and wall braces 4 now run horizontally directly below wall rail 3

[0055] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate that for the folding of the container 1 it does not matter in which position wall rail 3 and wall braces 4 are currently situated, which simplifies the handling of container 1, in particular when it is folded.

[0056] The parts of container 1, i.e., its base 10, its walls 11, 11′, 12, wall rail 3, wall braces 4, and latches 5, 52 are usefully made of injection-molded plastic parts for the purpose of cost-effective mass production, low weight, and good durability of the container 1.

[0057] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0058] 1 stackable container [0059] 10 base [0060] 11 longer wall without recess [0061] 11′ longer wall with recess [0062] 12 shorter walls [0063] 2 recess in 11′ [0064] 20 lower edge of 2 [0065] 21 lateral edges of 2 [0066] 23 sliding guides on 21 for 3 [0067] 24 guides for 4 on 20 [0068] 3 wall rail [0069] 31 ends of 3 [0070] 4 wall braces [0071] 41 upper end of 4 [0072] 42 lower end of 4 [0073] 5 latch on 3 [0074] 52 latch on 12 [0075] 6 transport items