Collapsible multi-tray packaging with flexible insert cells for transport of goods

Abstract

A collapsible multi-tray packaging with flexible insert cells for transport of goods, includes collapsible frame structure, with opposing inwardly foldable shorter sides and opposing inwardly foldable longer sides, with at least two trays of flexible insert cells, the flexible insert cells are in each tray movably mounted in the inner groove of horizontal guides using sliding elements. The horizontal guides are interconnected with a flexible material between individual trays. On the two outer faces of the opposing shorted sides, there are vertical C-shaped guides mounted. In the vertical guides, sliding couplings are movably mounted, these couplings being firmly attached to the outer face of the horizontal guides. To the outer face of the horizontal guide of the first top tray there are suspension hooks attached, which are suspended with their curved part from the top face of the opposing shorter sides of the frame structure.

Claims

1. A collapsible multi-tray packaging with flexible insert cells for transport of goods, comprising collapsible frame structure, which comprises opposing inwardly foldable shorter sides and opposing inwardly foldable longer sides, further comprising at least two trays of flexible insert cells, wherein the flexible insert cells are in each tray movably mounted in an inner groove of horizontal guides sing sliding elements, and wherein the horizontal guides are interconnected with a flexible material between individual trays, wherein movement of the flexible material is not linked to the movement of the insert cells in individual trays wherein on two outer faces of the opposing shorted sides of the collapsible frame structure there are vertical C-shaped guides mounted, wherein in the vertical guides sliding couplings are movably mounted, these sliding couplings being firmly attached to an outer face of the horizontal guides, and wherein to the outer face of the horizontal guide of a first top tray there are suspension hooks attached, which are suspended with their curved part from a top face of the opposing shorter sides of the frame structure.

Description

AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention/technical solution is explained in detail on the attached drawings which illustrate:

(2) FIG. 1—shows assembled collapsible multi-tray packaging for transport of goods

(3) FIG. 2—shows view of unfolded packaging of FIG. 1 with inserted flexible insert cells

(4) FIG. 3—shows top view of the packaging of FIG. 1

(5) FIG. 4—shows detail “E” of FIG. 1—mounting of the insert cells in the horizontal guide, attachment of the sliding coupling in the vertical C-shaped guide to the outer face of the frame structure and of the suspension hook to the top face of the collapsible frame structure

(6) FIG. 5—shows detail “D” of FIG. 1—sliding coupling mounted on the outer face of the frame structure

(7) FIG. 6—shows detail “B” of FIG. 3—C-shaped sliding connection between the horizontal guide and vertical guide on the outer face of the frame structure

(8) FIG. 7—shows detail “A” of FIG. 2—attachment of the upper tray of the horizontal guide of the flexible insert cells by the suspension hook to the upper face of the collapsible frame structure

EXAMPLES OF INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

(9) The FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a collapsible multi-tray packaging 100 (hereinafter “packaging” 100) in folded condition (FIG. 3) and in the unfolded condition (FIG. 2). The packaging 100 comprises a collapsible frame structure 1, containing inside at least two vertically stacked trays 3 of insert cells 2; the illustrated example embodiment has four vertically stacked trays 3 of insert cells 2. The insert cells 2 are made of a soft flexible material, for example woven textiles, non-woven textiles, canvas, etc. The collapsible frame structure 1 is formed for example from a rigid plastic and is placed on a palette 9. The palette 9 and the collapsible frame structure 1 are connected with mechanical demountable or non-demountable joints, for example pins locked with split pins etc. The collapsible frame structure 1 with a rectangular base consists of two shorter sides 1.1 and two longer sides 1.2, while these sides 1.1 and 1.2 can be folded inwards as described below. The shorter sides 1.1 and longer sides 1.2 are fixed in a vertical position with commonly available mechanical stops or other commonly available methods proven in technical practice. On the outer faces 1.11 of the shorter sides 1.1, the vertical C-shaped guides 6 are dismantably attached, for example using screws, and extend along the entire vertical lengths of the shorter sides 1.1. The vertical guides 6 are formed from metal or, alternatively, from plastic. The number of vertical guides 6 attached on the outer faces 1.11 of the shorter sides 1.1 of the frame structure 1 is selected according to the dimensions of packaging 100, for the example given the number of vertical guides 6 is four. The packaging 100 may be closed with a lid (not shown).

(10) As mentioned above, in the example embodiment the packaging 100 is assembled from four trays 3, while on each tray 3 there are six insert cells 2 into which the transported goods are inserted. The outer vertical faces 2.1 of the first and the last insert cell 2, and side vertical faces 2.2 of two adjacent insert cells 2 are on each tray 3 fixed into sliding elements 4, wherein these sliding elements 4 are movably mounted in the inner groove 5.1 of the horizontal guides 5, which means that when one insert cell 2 moves, the adjacent insert cell moves as well and gradually the other insert cells 2 will move, as soon as the adjacent insert cell 2 is stretched or wrapped towards the adjacent insert cell (FIG. 4). This movement of the insert cells 2 occurs on each of the trays 3 independently of the movement of the insert cells 2 on another tray 3. The horizontal guides 5 are in vertical position between individual trays 3, interconnected with a flexible material 2.3 guided in the grooves (not shown) of the horizontal guide 5, wherein the movement of the flexible material 2.3 is not linked to the movement of the insert cells 2 in individual trays 3.

(11) To enable folding of shorter sides 1.1 of the frame structure 1 with the attached insert cells 2 inwards of the packaging 100, it is necessary to interconnect the horizontal guides 5 with the shorter sides 1.1 of the frame structure 1. This interconnection is implemented using sliding couplings 7 (FIG. 2, 4, 5). The sliding couplings 7 are on each tray 3 firmly attached to the outer face 5.2 of the horizontal guides 5 with fasteners and at the same time glidingly mounted in the vertical C-shaped guides 6. A possible design of the shape of the sliding couplings 7 is shown in FIG. 5. In order to fold the shorter sides 1.1 of the frame structure 1 with insert cells 2 fixed inside the packaging 100, it is further necessary to firmly connect the horizontal guides 5 of the first top tray 3.1 of the insert cells 2 with the outer face 1.11 of the shorter sides 1.1 of the frame structure 1, which is done using the suspension hook 8, the straight part 8.1 of which is fixed using fasteners to the outer face 5.2 of the horizontal guide 5, and with the curved part 8.2 it is suspended from the top face 1.3 of the shorter side 1.1 of the frame structure 1.

(12) The procedure for folding of the package: one (the first) shorter side 1.1 of the collapsible frame structure 1 with attached insert cells 2 is released from its position. Subsequently, the first shorter side 1.1 folds inward of the collapsible frame structure 1, and there is also one half of the insert cells 2 folded (wrapped) beneath it. The operator then releases the second opposing shorter side 1.1 from the vertical position, which, after folding inwards of the collapsible frame structure 1, shall rest on the already folded first shorter side 1.1, wherein there is the other half of the insert cells 2 folded (wrapped) beneath it. The insert cells 2, thanks to the sliding couplings 7 moving in the vertical C-shaped guide 6, will, during folding of the shorter sides 1.1, fold between the folded shorter sides 1.1 without increased tension. On the already folded shorter sides 1.1 and insert cells 2 both longer sides 1.2 of the collapsible frame structure 1 are folded. The folding order of the short sides 1.1 does not matter, since the folding works regardless of the order. The same applies to folding long sides 1.2. The unfolding is done in reverse order. For outer packagings that do not contain longer sides 1.2, folding is simplified to folding only the shorter sides 1.1 with insert cells. The folding procedure is not affected by any covering. The principle of folding and subsequent distribution of the shorter sides 1.1 and the longer sides 1.2 remains the same.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(13) 100 collapsible multi-tray packaging 1 collapsible frame structure 1.1 shorter side of the frame structure 1.11 outer face of the shorter side of the frame structure 1.12 inner face of the shorter side of the frame structure 1.2 longer side of the frame structure 1.3 top face 2 insert cells 2.1 outer vertical sides of the insert cells 2.2 lateral vertical sides of adjacent insert cells 2.3 flexible material 3 tray 3.1 top tray 4 sliding elements 5 horizontal guides 5.1 inner groove in the horizontal guide 5.2 outer face of the horizontal guide 6 vertical C-shaped guides 7 sliding couplings 8 suspension hook 8.1 straight part 8.2 curved part of the suspension hook 9 palette