CONTAINER HAVING A BLOCKABLE ARTICULATION DEVICE

Abstract

A container includes a first container portion, a second container portion, and an articulation device connecting the first container portion to the second container portion to be pivotable around a first hinge axis. The articulation device includes a sliding joint, which allows a sliding of the first container portion relative to the second container portion transverse to the first hinge axis. A blocking element is movable from a blocking position, which blocks the sliding joint against a spring force, to an unblocking position, which unblocks the sliding joint by an actuation of the sliding joint.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a first container portion; a second container portion; and an articulationa device connecting the first container portion to the second container portion to be pivotable around a first hinge axis and comprising a sliding joint, which allows a sliding of the second container portion relative to the first container portion transverse to the first hinge axis, and a blocking element, which is movable from a blocking position, blocking the sliding j oint, against a spring force to an unblocking position, unblocking the sliding j oint, by an actuation of said sliding joint.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge axis is essentially parallel to a bottom wall of the container.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is a separate member.

4. The container according to claim 1, further comprising an opening, wherein the second container portion is pivotable between a closing position to cover or close the opening and a fully opened position, and the first container portion has a first engagement portion and the second container portion has a second engagement portion, which are configured to engage or disengage by actuating the sliding joint when the second container portion is in the closing position.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the articulation device comprises an intermediate element which is connected to the first container portion to be rotatable around the first hinge axis and which is further connected to the second container portion to be rotatable around a second hinge axis.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is accommodated in a recess within the articulation device, such that the blocking element is adapted to protrude from said recess in the blocking position to block the sliding joint.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein, by actuating the sliding joint when the blocking element is in the blocking position, the second container portion and/or the first container portion is pressed against the blocking element and pushes said blocking element into the unblocking position.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein an inclined surface is provided at a contact area where the blocking element contacts the first container portion and/or the second container portion, such that a force acting on the blocking element in a sliding direction of the sliding joint due to a pressure of the first container portion and/or the second container portion is redirected via the inclined surface to push the blocking element into the unblocking position.

9. The container according to claim 6, wherein the first container portion has a first edge portion which is a corner or a protrusion extending radially with respect to the first hinge axis, and the blocking element is maintained pushed into the recess by the first edge portion, when the second container portion is a fully opened position, and when the intermediate element of the articulation device is rotated towards the closing position around the first hinge axis, the blocking element is at least partially released by said first edge portion to protrude from the recess.

10. The container according to claim 6, wherein the second container portion has a second edge portion which is a corner or a protrusion extending radially with respect to the second hinge axis, and the blocking element is maintained pushed into the recess by the second edge portion, when the second container portion is a fully opened position, and when the second container portion is pivoted towards the closing position around the second hinge axis, the second edge portion is removed from the blocking element, such that said blocking element is at least partially released to protrude from the recess.

11. The container according to claim 6, wherein the recess opens in a surface of the intermediate element and the blocking element is tiltable relative to said surface of the intermediate element.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second container portion, forms a stop with the articulation device and/or with the first container portion, said stop limiting a pivoting of the second container portion around the second hinge axis towards the closing position.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the second engagement portion forms the stop with the articulation device and/or with the first container portion.

14. The container according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element has a blocking end portion for blocking the sliding joint and a spring portion providing the spring force, wherein the spring portion and the blocking end portion are formed integrally.

15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the blocking end portion is smaller than an opening of the recess and a collar having a same shape as the opening of the recess is formed surrounding the blocking end portion.

16. An articulation device for a container according to claim 1, the articulation device comprising: a first hinge axis, adapted to provide a pivotable connection of a first container portion to a second container portions; a sliding joint, which allows a sliding of the second container portion relative to the first container portion transverse to the first hinge axis; and a blocking element, which is movable from a blocking position, blocking the sliding joint, against a spring force to an unblocking position, unblocking the sliding joint, by an actuation of said sliding joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0039] The following figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described below. Other embodiments, combinations of embodiments and modifications may be provided within the scope of this disclosure. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, respectively with a door in a closing position and in a fully opened position.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a partially sectional view of an intermediate element of an articulation device of the container according to the preferred embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a blocking element and a spring element of the intermediate element shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] FIG. 5 illustrates a closing process of the door of the container according to the preferred embodiment.

[0043] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the portion of the container shown in FIG. 6 from a container inside, illustrating a tilting of the blocking element at a certain closing angle of the door.

[0044] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a portion of the container according to the preferred embodiment from an outer side of the container, respectively illustrating the articulation device directly before reaching a closing position and after locking the door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The container 1 has a bottom wall and four side walls 2 serving as a first container portion and extending upwards from, preferably orthogonally to, the bottom wall. The bottom wall may form a receiving structure for a fork of a forklift. Each side wall 2 may be connected to a door 3 serving as a second container portion and being hinged to the corresponding side wall 2 via an articulation device 4. In this example, each door 3 has a lower rim, wherein one articulation device 4 is provided at each lower corner of the door 3. A shape and dimensioning of the door 3 corresponds to that of an opening 5 formed in the respective side wall 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0046] In FIG. 1, the doors 3 of the container 1 are closed and locked and cover the openings 5, such that an upper rim of the side wall 2 is flush with an upper rim of the door 3. The upper rims of the doors 3 may form a portion of a stacking rim adapted for engagement with a corresponding stacking portion of a bottom wall of a corresponding second container. In FIG. 2, the doors 3 are fully opened, such that the doors 3 are folded downwards and are essentially adjacent and parallel to the side walls 2.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a partially sectional view of an intermediate element 6 of the articulation device 4 of the container 1. The intermediate element 6 has a main body 7 having an essentially oval cross-section. At a first rounded end of the oval cross-section, the main body 7 accommodates a first hinge pin 8 defining a first hinge axis 8a and protruding from the main body 7 for insertion into a first hinge eye formed by the side wall 2. Further, at a second rounded end of the oval cross-section, the main body 7 accommodates a second hinge pin 9 defining a second hinge axis 9a and protruding form the main body for insertion into a second hinge eye formed by the door 3. The first and second hinge axis 8a, 9a extend parallel to each other.

[0048] Between the first and second hinge axis 8a, 9a, the main body forms a recess 10 or pocket. In said recess 10, a blocking element 11 is accommodated. The blocking element 11, also shown in FIG. 4, has an outer blocking end portion 12 adapted to protrude from the recess 10 in a blocking position shown in FIG. 3. The blocking end portion 12 forms an essentially oval nub. Further, the blocking element 11 has an inner spring portion 13 accommodated in the recess 10. The spring portion 13 is compressible in the extending direction or depth direction of the recess 10 to bias the blocking end portion 12 towards the protruding blocking position. Further, the spring portion 13 may be formed from two plastic sheets, which alternatingly contact each other and open to form an O-shape or diamond shape between such contact portions. Surrounding the blocking end portion 12, a collar 14 may be formed which has a shape essentially corresponding to a shape of the opening 15 of the recess. The blocking end portion 12 extends further outwards with respect to the main body 7 than the collar 14. The blocking end portion 12, the spring portion 13 and preferably the collar 14 are formed integrally. Dimensions and shape of an inner end 16 of the spring portion 13 may correspond to a cross-section of the recess 10 such that the inner end of the spring portion 13 is held at a defined position within the recess 10.

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates a closing process of the door 3 of the container 1 according to the preferred embodiment via views A (on the left) to F (on the right). In a first view A, the door 3 is in a fully opened position as shown in FIG. 2. The door 3 is folded downwards (towards the bottom wall) and extends essentially parallel and adjacent to the side wall 2. The intermediate element 6 which connects the side wall 2 and the door 3 extend preferably orthogonally thereto, providing a distance between the first hinge pin 8 and the second hinge pin 9.

[0050] As can be seen in view A, the first hinge pin 8 is received in a round hinge eye of the side wall which does not allow a translational movement of the first hinge pin 8 with respect to the side wall 2. The second hinge pin 9, however, is received in a longitudinally extending hinge eye forming a guiding groove 17 or guiding slot for guiding the second hinge pin 9 to move transverse to the first and second hinge axis 8a, 9a. Thus, the guiding groove 17 and the second hinge pin 9 form a sliding joint. In the fully opened position, the door 3 hangs from the second hinge pin 9, such that said second hinge pin 9 is located at a lower end (with respect to a closed position of the door 3) of the guiding groove 17 or guiding slot. Further, in this fully opened position and viewed in the present sectional view of the side wall 2 and door 3, the blocking end portion 12 of the blocking element 11 overlaps with one container outwards facing side (first unblocking part) of a first edge portion 18 of the side wall 2 and one container outwards facing side (second unblocking part) of a second edge portion 19 of the door 2, such that the blocking element 11 is held pushed into the recess 10 with the spring portion 13 (not shown in FIG. 5) being biased. I.e., the blocking element 11 is in an unblocking position. In particular, this view shows that a distances between the hinge eyes with respect to the corresponding container outer sides (unblocking parts) of the first and second edge portions 18, 19 is larger than a distance between the locking end portion 12 and the first and second hinge pins 8, 9.

[0051] Form the fully opened position shown in view A, the door 3 is pivoted upwards around the second hinge pin 9 and the second hinge axis 9a to an intermediate position shown in view B, as illustrated by an arrow. Said pivoting is limited by a stop formed between a protruding inner wall portion 20 forming a second engagement portion and a surface of the intermediate element 6. In this manner, the intermediate element 6 and the door are aligned with each other and are preferably orthogonal with respect to the side wall 2. The second hinge pin 9 is still located at the lower end of the guiding groove 17.

[0052] Due to the pivoting of the door 3, the second unblocking part of the second edge portion 19 has pivoted away from the blocking end portion 12, such that an upper end (with respect to a closed position of the door 3) of the blocking end portion 19 is released and may protrude from the recess 10 into a space formed between the side wall 2 and the door 3. Essentially, in the intermediate position shown in view B, a lower rim of the guiding groove 17 (i.e. a second blocking part of the second edge portion 19 formed by a rim of the door 3 facing downwards, when the door 3 is closed) is sandwiched or inserted between the second guiding pin 9 and the upper end of the blocking end portion 12 such that the second guiding pin 9 cannot move in the guiding groove 17 and the sliding joint is blocked. Further, the blocking end portion 12 provides an obstacle, particularly supporting the door 3 in the lifted position, or in other words, impeding the door 3 from pivoting back into the fully opened position.

[0053] Since a relative position of the intermediate element 6 and the side wall 2 has not changed, the lower end of the blocking end portion 12 and the blocking element 11 are still pushed into the recess 10 by the first edge portion 18 of the side wall 2. I.e. the blocking end portion 12 is tilted with respect to a surface of the intermediate element 6 wherein the opening 15 of the recess 10 is formed. When the door 3 is rotated further around the second hinge axis 9a towards the closing position as shown in FIG. 5, view C and in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first edge portion 18 (the unblocking part thereof which includes a corner of the door 3) first slides along the lower end of the blocking end portion 12 but does not release the blocking element 11. Thus, the tilted position of the blocking end portion 12 and the blocked position of the sliding joint are maintained. Due to the sliding joint being blocked by the blocking end portion 12, the door 3 does not slide downwards along the guiding groove 17.

[0054] The tilting of the blocking end portion 12 is best seen in FIG. 7, where arrows illustrate said tilting and where the articulation device 4 is viewed from an inside of the container 1. Further, FIG. 7 shows a supporting contact C1 between a circumferential surface of one part of the blocking end portion 12, which protrudes from the recess 10, and the door 3 (its adjacent edge portion adjacent to the second edge portion 19), where the door 3 is supported in the extended/ unlocked position, rolling off on the circumferential surface of the blocking end portion 12. Further, a blocking contact C2 is shown between a (outer) front surface of another part of the blocking end portion 12 and the first edge portion 18 of the side wall 2, where the side wall 2 contacts the blocking end portion 12 to keep it pushed into the recess 10.

[0055] When the door 3 is rotated further, shortly before reaching the closing position (e.g. 2° to 10° of pivoting from the closing position) as shown in FIG. 5, view D, the first edge portion 18 (the first unblocking part thereof) of the side door 2 moves away from the lower end of the blocking end portion 12, releasing it. Accordingly, the blocking end portion 12 is pushed out fully of the recess 10 due to the spring portion 13 of the blocking element 11. In this position, an upper rim of the first hinge eye (i.e. a first blocking part of the first edge portion 18), is sandwiched between the blocking end portion 12 an the firs hinge pin 8. Thus, the blocking end portion 12 forms a support for the intermediate element 6 with respect to the first container portion 2, or in other words, an obstacle, impeding the intermediate element 6 from pivoting back towards the intermediate position and the fully opened position. In particular, this view shows that distances between the hinge eyes with respect to the lower end of the door 3 and, respectively, the upwards facing side of the lower rim of the opening 5 (i.e. the first and second blocking parts) is essential equal to or smaller than corresponding distances between the locking end portion 12 and the first and second hinge pins 8, 9.

[0056] Finally, when the door 3 reaches the closing position as shown in FIG. 5, view E, and FIG. 8, the door is pushed downwards as illustrated by an arrow. In this closing position, the protruding inner door portion 20 and a recessed inner wall portion 21 are aligned. Also, FIG. 8, which shows the articulation device 4 from an outer side of the container 1, further shows that the door 3 forms a pocket 22 having at height corresponding to at least a length of the guide groove 17 and being located and dimensioned to receive the intermediate element 6. Then, due to a lower rim of the door 3 pressing against the blocking end portion 12, the blocking element 11 is pushed back into the recess 20, such that the sliding joint is unblocked. Accordingly, due to the pushing down by the lower rim of the door and the weight of the door, said door slides along the sliding joint into a locked position shown in FIG. 5, view F, and FIG. 9. During this step of actuating the sliding joint, the protruding inner door portion 20 and the recessed inner wall portion 21 engage with each other to lock the door 3 relative to the side wall 2 in the closed position. FIG. 9, which shows the articulation device 4 from the outer side of the container 1, further shows that in the locked position, the door 3 has slid towards the lower rim of the opening 5 such that main body 7 of the intermediate element 6 essentially fills the pocket 22.