Abstract
A container, preferably a pallet container with a liner bag, includes a base, at least one side wall, and an exchangeable valve assembly that can be mounted in an insertion direction into a valve socket in the container. The container includes at least one locking element for locking engagement of a locking structure of the valve assembly and which is movably mounted in or on the container and can be moved between an open position, in which the valve assembly can be inserted into or removed from the valve socket, and a closed position, in which the locking element engages the locking structure of the valve assembly to secure it inside of the valve socket.
Claims
1. A container comprising: a container body having a base, at least one side wall, and a valve socket a valve assembly that is insertible into the valve socket in an insertion direction; at least one locking element formed on a first component selected from the group consisting of the container body and the valve assembly; and a locking structure formed on a second component selected from the group consisting of the container body and the valve assembly, the second component being different from the first component, the at least one locking element being an exchangeable part that is separate from the container body and the valve assembly, the at least one locking element having a mounted state, in which the at least one locking element is configured for locking engagement with the locking structure, the at least one locking element being movably mounted in or on the first component so as to be movable relative to the first component between an open position, in which the valve assembly is insertible into or removable from the valve socket, and a closed position, in which the at least one locking element engages the locking structure to secure the valve assembly inside of the valve socket, the at least one locking element being biased into the closed position by a biasing element.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the biasing element is a spring.
3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the biasing element is a leaf spring integrally formed with the at least one locking element.
4. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one locking element and the locking structure comprises a first guide surface, which forcibly actuates a movement of the at least one locking element from the closed position into the open position, when the valve assembly is inserted into the valve socket in the insertion direction with a predetermined insertion force.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one locking element and the locking structure comprises a second guide surface, which forcibly actuates a movement of the at least one locking element from the closed position into the open position, when the valve assembly is moved out of the valve socket in a direction opposite to the insertion direction with a predetermined removal force.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface are designed such that the predetermined removal force is greater than the predetermined insertion force.
7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is inserted into the valve socket through a tilting movement.
8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the valve socket comprises a guiding groove which interacts with a guiding protrusion of the valve assembly to guide the tilting insertion movement.
9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the insertion direction is directed from an inside of the container body towards an outside of the container body.
10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure comprises at least one locking protrusion that engages with the at least one locking element.
11. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is slideably mounted within a guiding rail.
12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element comprises a lever that is accessible from an outside of the container body for manually moving the at least one locking element from the closed position into the open position.
13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a pallet container with a liner bag.
14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one locking element is movable in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction between the open position and the closed position.
15. A container comprising: a base; at least one side wall; an exchangeable valve assembly that is insertible into a valve socket provided in the container in an insertion direction; and at least one locking element, the at least one locking element being movable between an open position, in which the valve assembly is insertible into or removable from the valve socket, and a closed position, in which the at least one locking element engages a locking structure of the valve assembly to secure the valve assembly inside of the valve socket, the locking element being a separate and exchangeable part that is movably mounted in or on the container and is configured for locking engagement with the locking structure of the valve assembly, or that is movably mounted in or on the valve assembly and is configured for locking engagement with the valve socket, and at least one of the locking element and the locking structure comprising a first guide surface, which forcibly actuates a movement of the locking element from the closed position into the open position, when the valve assembly is inserted into the valve socket in the insertion direction with a predetermined insertion force.
16. A container comprising: a base; at least one side wall; an exchangeable valve assembly that is insertible into a valve socket provided in the container in an insertion direction; and at least one locking element, the at least one locking element being movable between an open position, in which the valve assembly is insertible into or removable from the valve socket, and a closed position, in which the at least one locking element engages a locking structure of the valve assembly to secure the valve assembly inside of the valve socket, the locking element being a separate and exchangeable part that is movably mounted in or on the container and is configured for locking engagement with the locking structure of the valve assembly, or that is movably mounted in or on the valve assembly and is configured for locking engagement with the valve socket, the valve assembly being insertable into the valve socket through a tilting movement, and the valve socket comprising a guiding groove which interacts with a guiding protrusion of the valve assembly to guide the tilting insertion movement.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a valve assembly prior to insertion into a valve socket of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a locking element according to the preferred embodiment;
(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the valve assembly according to the preferred embodiment;
(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the valve assembly prior to insertion into the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(7) FIG. 6 shows a top view of the valve assembly prior to insertion into the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(8) FIG. 7 shows a first sectional view of the valve assembly immediately before insertion into the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(9) FIG. 8 shows a second sectional view of a valve assembly immediately before insertion into the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(10) FIG. 9 shows a first sectional view of the valve assembly in an assembled/inserted state inside the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(11) FIG. 10 shows a second sectional view of the valve assembly in an assembled/inserted state inside the valve socket of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
(12) FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of the locking element in a closed position from above;
(13) FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the locking element in an open position from above;
(14) FIG. 13 shows a front view of the valve assembly in an assembled state inside the valve socket with the locking element in the closed position; and
(15) FIG. 14 shows a front view of the valve assembly in an assembled state inside the valve socket with the locking element in the open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(16) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a container 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, a pallet container 1 is shown, having a base 2 with a pallet structure, which is suitable for transport with a forklift or the like, and four foldable side walls 3. A liner bag (not shown) may be placed inside the pallet container 1 for secure transportation of liquid, granulated, powdered, viscous, paste-like goods or the like. The liner bag comprises a valve assembly 4 in proximity to its lower side, which can be securely inserted into the valve socket 5 provided laterally in a lower part of a side wall 3 at base level of the container 1.
(17) FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the valve socket 5 area of the container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention together with a valve assembly 4, which is ready for assembly inside the valve socket 5. In the depicted embodiment the valve socket 5 is arranged in a recessed portion of the base 2 (below the upper face level of the base 2), in order to allow for complete discharge of the liner bag contents through the valve assembly 4, once inserted and assembled. The depicted valve assembly 4 and valve socket 5 implement a novel type of securing/locking mechanism for securing/locking the valve assembly 4 inside the valve socket 5. This mechanism relies on a movable locking element (slider) 6, which is movably mounted on the container 1 (above to the valve socket 5) and movable between a closed position (left position in a frontal view) and an open position (right position in a frontal view). The locking element 6 is configured to secure the valve 4 inside the valve socket 5, when the valve assembly 4 is positioned therein and the locking element 6 is positioned in the closed or locking position. This is achieved by engagement of the locking element 6 with locking structures 7 arranged on the valve assembly 4. The locking element 6 is biased into the closed position by a biasing element 8, such that the locking mechanism is self-locking. In order to enable simple and one-handed snap-fit assembly/disassembly of the valve 4 into/onto the container 1, the locking element 6 and the locking structure 7 of the valve 4 engage through a pair of first guide surfaces 9 and a pair of second guide surfaces 10, which cause the locking element 6 to yield, if the valve 4 is moved into or out of the valve socket 5 in a certain direction and with sufficient force. Through such design, a robust securing/locking mechanism is provided, which additionally allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the valve 4 by either simply clicking it into or out of the valve socket 5 or by clearing the path for movement of the valve 4 by moving the locking element 6 out of the way (into the open position) manually via a lever 15. The exact functioning and design of the above mentioned securing/locking mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail in the following.
(18) From FIG. 1 it is apparent that the base 2 of the container 1 is formed by an upper base section and a lower base section, which are welded together. The upper base section forms a circumferential base wall, to which the side walls 3 are attached in which the locking element 6 is mounted, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper and lower base section also form/define the valve socket 5 together.
(19) As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the valve assembly 2 of the preferred embodiment is configured as a butterfly valve with a tube shaped main body 16 (in this example made from a thermoplastic material with a rubber plastic for sealing), a valve disc 17, a valve axle 18 with a lever portion, an inner flange 19, which is attached (attachable) to the liner bag, a main or middle flange 12, and an outer threaded portion 20, on which a cap 21 can be screwed. As the skilled person will appreciate, the valve assembly 4 can just as well be configured as a ball valve or any other suitable valve type. Since the valve assembly 4 is inserted into the interior of the container 1 together with the liner bag, the insertion direction (I) of the valve assembly 4 into the valve socket 5 is directed outwards.
(20) As can be seen e.g. in FIGS. 9 and 10, the front face of the middle flange 12 of the valve assembly 4 may preferably act as a limit stop with a corresponding contact surface 22 of the valve socket 5. In the depicted preferred embodiment, a guiding groove 11 is provided in the base of the valve socket 5, which interacts with a guiding protrusion (in this case the middle flange 12) of the valve assembly 4, in order to guide the insertion movement of the valve assembly 4 in a defined tilting motion (as best seen in FIG. 7). As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the valve socket 5 is provided with a centering protrusion 23 and the valve assembly 4 is provided with a complementary centering recess 24, which assist in centrally inserting the valve 4 into the valve socket 5. For toolless snap-fit assembly of the valve 4 into the valve socket 5, the main flange 12 of the valve 4 may be first inserted into the guiding groove 11 and subsequently the valve 4 may be tilted into the valve socket 5 (in an outwards direction) about the fulcrum formed by the guiding groove 11 and the main flange 12. The complementary centering protrusion 23 and centering recess 24 aid in perfectly aligning the valve 4 and the valve socket 5 in the transverse horizontal direction during said tilting motion, such that the locking structure 7 can easily connect and engage with the locking element 6.
(21) The locking element 6 is best seen in FIG. 3 (perspective view), 11 and 12 (top view when assembled inside the container). The locking element 6 is movably mounted in a position in proximity to the upper edge of the valve socket 5. In particular, in the preferred embodiment, the locking element 6 is constructed as a slider mounted in a slide bearing or guiding rail 14 which is provided within the container side wall 3 above the valve socket 5. The depicted slider 6 is injection molded from POM material, which reduces its frictional resistance, such that it can easily slide between the closed and the open position within the slide bearing or guiding rail 14 (recess). The locking element 6 comprises a number of vertical guiding protrusions 25 and horizontal guiding protrusions 26, which interact with corresponding recesses or slots in the slide bearing 14, in order to secure the locking element 6 therein and to provide a defined and rattle-free movement/sliding of the locking element 6. The vertical guiding protrusions 25 also act as limit stops for limiting the sliding movement of the locking element 6 in its longitudinal direction and comprise snap-fit hooks at their free ends for snapping the locking element 6 into the slide bearing/guide rail 14. In particular, in the depicted embodiment a recess is formed in the upper side of the valve socket 5, which defines the slide bearing/guide rail 14 and into which the locking element 6 may be snapped from below by engaging the vertical guiding protrusions with complementary slots formed in the slide bearing/guide rail 14. The locking element 6 is configured to engage with the locking structure 7 of the valve assembly 4 in a (self-locking) snap-fit manner as will be described in greater detail later on. For this purpose, the locking element 6 is mounted on the container 1, such that it is movable between a closed (locked) position (left position in frontal view of the valve 4; c.f. FIG. 11 or 13) and an open position (right position in frontal view; c.f. FIG. 12 or 14). In the closed position the locking element 6 forms an undercut together with the locking structure 7 of the valve 4. One could also say that valve assembly 4 is constricted from being removed from the valve socket 5 by the locking element 6, when the valve 4 is inserted in the valve socket 5 and the locking element 6 is in the locked position. The biasing element 8, which biases the locking element 6 into the closed position inside the slide bearing 14, is realized as an integral leaf spring formed onto one of the longitudinal ends of the biasing ends. As can be seen in FIG. 12, when the locking element 6 is moved into the open position, the leaf spring 8 is compressed against the wall of the slide bearing/guiding rail 14, thereby urging the locking element 6 back into the closed position. The locking element 6 is constructed as an injection mounted component, which is optimized for production in one piece.
(22) As can be seen e.g. in FIG. 1, the locking structure 7 of the preferred embodiment is constructed of two cantilever arms of sorts, which extend away from a front face of the main flange 12 in a forward (outward/insertion) direction of the valve assembly 4 and each form (perpendicular) downward projections 13 (taps, pins) at their distal ends. The locking element 6 and the locking structure 7 each comprise a pair of first guide surfaces 9, which forceably actuate a movement of the locking element 6 from the closed position into the open position (from left to right in a frontal view of the valve) in a perpendicular direction, when the valve assembly 4 is inserted into the valve socket 5 in the insertion direction (I). In other words, when the valve assembly 4 is pushed into the valve socket 5 the first guide surface 9 of its locking structure 7 glides off of the first guide surface 9 of the locking element 6 thereby pushing on the locking element 6 and causing it to yield and to move against the biasing force of the biasing element 8 into the open position, so that the valve assembly 4 is snapped into the valve socket 5. Once the valve assembly 4 sits inside the valve socket 5, the locking structure 7 (in particular the downward projections 13) has moved passed the obstructing portion of the locking element 6 and the locking element 6 moves back into the closed position under the influence of the biasing force. In the preferred embodiment, the locking element 6 (a second guide surface 10) stays in contact with the locking structure 7 after the valve assembly 4 has been snapped into the valve seat 5 thereby pinning the valve assembly 4 into the valve socket 5 can be seen e.g. in FIG. 10. One could say that the valve assembly 4 of the preferred embodiment is pinned between the locking element 6 and the contact surface 22 of the valve socket 5. In the depicted embodiment, the front faces of the downward projections 13 define the first guide surfaces 9 of the locking structure 7, which have a round or arcuate shape (c.f. FIG. 4). The first guide surfaces 9 of the locking element 6 are constructed as a notches or guide chamfers on the body of the locking element 6 which form an inclined surface with a 40° inclination with respect to the valve axis (c.f. FIG. 3 or FIG. 10).
(23) Similarly, the locking element 6 and the locking structure 7 are provided with a pair of second guiding surfaces 10, which facilitate disassembling the valve 4 out of the valve socket 5. These second guide surfaces 10 forceably actuate a perpendicular movement of the locking element 6 from the closed position into the open position (left to right in a frontal view of the valve), when the valve assembly 4 is moved out of the valve socket 3 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction (I) with a predetermined disassembly/removal force. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the second guide surfaces 10 are designed as a pair of corresponding (parallel) notched (inclined) surfaces each having a 35° angle with respect to the valve axis. The second guide surfaces of the locking structure 7 of the valve 4 are formed as guide chamfers with said 35° inclination on the back face of the downward projections 13 (facing the main flange 12 of the valve 4; c.f. FIG. 4). The second guide surfaces 10 of the locking element 6 are configured as guide chamfers with the above mentioned 35° inclination on the backside of the first guide surfaces 9 of the locking element 6 (c.f. FIG. 3). As such, the second guides surfaces 10 of the locking element 6 form a notched pocket or undercut, in which the downward protrusions 13 of the locking structure 7 of the valve 4 are caught, when the valve 4 is snapped into the valve socket 5 (c.f. FIG. 10).
(24) In a usual assembly process of the container 1 the valve assembly 4 will be inserted into the container 1 together with the liner bag (not shown) and the lower portion of the middle flange 12 will be inserted into the guiding groove 11 as best seen in FIG. 5. Then, the valve assembly 4 will be tilted forwards into the valve socket 3 in the insertion direction I). During this tilting motion the locking element 6 will yield into the open position while gliding off of the first guide surface 9 on the downward projection 13 of the locking structure 7 of the valve assembly 4 and will snap back in place under the force of the biasing element 8, once the locking structure 7 (the projection 13) has traveled past the guide surfaces 9, 10 of the locking element 6, thereby pinning the valve assembly 4 firmly into the valve socket 5.
(25) For disassembly, the user can simply kick against the valve 4 from the outside in the disassembly direction D, as best seen in FIG. 8. Again the locking element 6 is pushed into the open position (FIG. 11), in this case by the pair of second guide surfaces 10 gliding off one another. The more shallow inclination of the second guide surfaces 10 causes the force necessary for disassembly of the valve 4 to be greater than the assembly force. In the locking mechanisms known in the state of the art, the operator has to bend or crouch down and manually unlatch latching hooks formed on the valve 4 from the container. This operation requires both hands and bears the risk of injury for the operator. The above described disassembly by kicking provides a significant improvement in the ease of disassembly.
(26) In the preferred embodiment an additional lever 15 is provided on the locking element 6, which extends to the outside of the container 1 through a recess and which is accessible in proximity to the valve outlet (on an outer face of the corresponding side wall 3), in order to enable manual movement of the locking element 6 from the closed position (left in a frontal view, c.f. FIG. 9) into the open position (right in a frontal view, c.f. FIG. 10) against the biasing force for assembly or disassembly of the valve 4. This feature allows for one handed disassembly of the valve assembly 4, which provides a substantive advantage over the latching mechanisms which are known in the state of the art.
(27) Starting from the above described preferred embodiment, a container with an exchangeable valve assembly 4 may be altered in numerous ways without deviating from the invention.
(28) For example the movable locking element may also be positioned on the valve assembly and the container may comprise a complementary locking structure. Also the exact position of the locking element/locking structure relative to the valve socket may be altered (below or lateral of the valve socket).
(29) As the skilled person will appreciate the positions of protrusions and complementary recesses may be switched in many cases without altering the technical effect, e.g. with the guiding grove 11/guiding protrusion 12; the centering protrusion 23/centering recess 24 or the vertical and horizontal guiding protrusions 25, 26.
