Transport Device for Transporting a Delicate Object

Abstract

The invention concerns a transport container for transporting a delicate object, comprising a casing which is divided in a length direction into casing segments (1), provided with at least two upright edges (6) situated spaced apart from one another in a width direction extending transversely to the length direction and divided into edge segments corresponding to the casing segments, wherein two adjacent casing segments together with the corresponding edge segments are foldable about a common rotational axis situated in the plane of the casing, wherein the edge segments are, thanks to a folded structure, rigid in at least one direction perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding casing segments.

Claims

1. A transport container for transporting a delicate object, comprising: a casing which is divided in a length direction into several casing segments, wherein the casing is provided with at least two upright edges extending in the length direction, and situated spaced apart from one another in a width direction extending transversely to the length direction, wherein the upright edges are divided into edge segments corresponding to the several casing segments, wherein at least two adjacent casing segments each comprise at least two edge segments situated spaced apart from one another in the width direction, wherein the at least two adjacent casing segments together with the corresponding edge segments are foldable about a common rotational axis situated in the plane of the casing, wherein thanks to a folded structure, the edge segments are rigid in at least one direction perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding casing segments.

2. The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the region which extends in the width direction between the at least two upright edges is free from obstacles at least over a region that extends over several casing segments, and preferably over the entire length direction of the casing.

3. The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transport container is made of a material having a weight between 0 and 500 g/m.sup.2 and/or a density between 0 and 0.04 g/cm.sup.3.

4. The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of each of the edge segments at least on the casing side is substantially equal to the width of the corresponding casing segment.

5. The transport container as claimed in claim 1, wherein a width of each of the edge segments on a side of the edge segment facing away from the casing is narrower than the corresponding casing segment.

6. The transport container as claimed in claim 5, wherein a region which extends between two adjacent edge segments contains a bendable element, wherein the two adjacent edge segments are connected together with the interposition of the bendable element.

7. The transport container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bendable element is bendable with at least one direction component in a direction perpendicular to the casing.

8. The transport container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bendable element is a bridge between adjacent edge segments, wherein the bridge is bendable in a direction perpendicular to the casing, and wherein in an unbent state, the bridge extends in a plane substantially parallel to a plane in which the casing extends.

9. The transport container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upright edges have a substantially triangular cross-section.

10. The transport container as claimed in claim 9, wherein mutually facing faces of the upright edges stand substantially perpendicular to the casing.

11. The transport container as claimed in claim 9, wherein an end in the length direction of the casing is provided with a core piece, wherein the core piece comprises at least a first and a second end face, wherein the first and second end faces stand substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the casing, and wherein the transport container is foldable about the core piece.

12. The transport container as claimed in claim 10, wherein after folding, the first and second end faces of the core piece rest on the two mutually facing faces of the upright edges.

13. The transport container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the core piece is configured for engaging with a bottle in various positions in the width direction of the container, wherein the core piece is provided with engagement means for restricting or hindering a radial freedom of movement of the bottle.

14. The transport container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the engagement means are provided at least with: a first engagement part, wherein the first engagement part has a first inner diameter, a second engagement part, wherein the second engagement part has a second inner diameter.

15. The transport container as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least the first and/or the second end face of the core piece is also provided with reinforcement for supporting a base of the bottle, wherein the reinforcement rests on the first and/or second end face.

16. The transport container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the transport container is completely foldable from one sheet.

17. The transport container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the upright edge also contains a lock for locking the upright edge on the casing in a folded state, wherein the lock is formed by at least one first lip in the casing which engages foldably on at least one second lip in the upright edge, wherein the at least one second lip is arranged in mutually facing faces of the upright edge.

18. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one first lip has a protrusion which engages in a corresponding recess in the at least one second lip.

19. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lock is formed by at least one lip in the casing, wherein the lip engages in a recess in the upright edge.

20. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the casing also comprises a cover for at least partially and preferably completely covering a side face of the transport container after folding.

21. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein from a side view, the transport container has a substantially polygonal form after folding.

22. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the length of the separate edge segments differs, wherein after folding, the different edge segments create a substantially helical cavity.

23. The transport container as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in a state folded about the common rotational axis of the two adjacent casing segments, the adjacent edge segments of the two adjacent casing segments are at least partially nested inside one another.

24. The transport container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the casing is divided into at least four, preferably at least six casing segments.

25. The transport container as claimed in claim 24, wherein the two upright edges are each divided into at least four, preferably at least six edge segments corresponding to casing segments, wherein the at least four and preferably the at least six adjacent casing segments each comprise at least two edge segments spaced apart from one another in the width direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be explained briefly below with reference to the following figures in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of a first embodiment of the transport container, and

[0030] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of a second embodiment of the transport container,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the sheet from which the transport container is made, and

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment variant of the transport container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment variant of the present invention. The figure shows a transport container 8 for transporting a delicate object, comprising a casing 7 which is divided in a length direction into casing segments 1, wherein the casing is provided with at least two upright edges 6 extending in the length direction and spaced apart from one another in a width direction extending transversely to the length direction, wherein the upright edges 6 are divided into edge segments 1 corresponding to the casing segments 1, wherein at least two adjacent casing segments 1 each comprise at least two edge segments 1 situated spaced apart from one another in the width direction, wherein the at least two adjacent casing segments 1 together with the corresponding edge segments 1 are foldable about a common rotational axis 25 situated in the plane of the casing 7, wherein the edge segments 1 are rigid in at least one direction perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding casing segments 1. Also, in this embodiment variant, an end in the length direction of the casing 7 of the transport container 8 is provided with a core piece 11, wherein the core piece 11 comprises at least a first end face 2 and a second end face, wherein the first end face 2 and the second end face stand substantially perpendicular to the plane of the casing 7, and wherein the transport container 8 is foldable about the core piece 11. After folding, the first end face 2 and second end face of the core piece 11 lie on two mutually facing faces 9 of the upright edges 6. In this embodiment, the core piece 11 is configured for engaging with a bottle in different positions in the width direction of the container 8, wherein the core piece 11 is provided with engagement means 3, 4 for limiting or hindering a radial freedom of movement of the bottle. In this variant, the engagement means are provided with a first engagement part 3, wherein the first engagement part has a first inner diameter, and a second engagement part 4, wherein the second engagement part has a second inner diameter. The upright edges 6 are folded from the plane of the casing, and in order to lock these to the casing, the upright edges 6 of the transport container 8 have a lock 10 which connects the upright edges to the casing.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a second preferred variant of the transport container in which the core piece made from the plane of the casing comprises at least a first end face 2 and a second end face 12, wherein the first end face 2 and second end face 12 stand substantially perpendicular to the plane of the casing 7, and wherein the transport container is foldable about the core piece. After folding, the first end face 2 and the second end face 12 of the core piece lie on the two mutually facing faces of the upright edges. The core piece is furthermore provided with a reinforcement 13 which, on folding of the core piece, rests on the first end face 2 and the second 12 end face. In this embodiment variant, the core piece is provided with a fixing means, wherein the fixing means is provided with mutually engaging lips, wherein the fixing means enclose an object to be transported. This figure also shows a lock 15, which lock 15 is configured for holding an article of clothing 14.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a sheet from which the transport container can be folded. The sheet is provided with a lock 16, 17 for the upright edge, wherein the lock is formed by at least one first lip 16 in the casing which engages foldably on at least one second lip 17 in the upright edge, wherein the at least one second lip is arranged in mutually facing faces of the upright edge. The upright edge is divided into edge segments, wherein a width 19 of each of the edge segments at least on the casing side is substantially equal to the width 19 of the corresponding casing segment. Also, wherein a width 20 of each of the edge segments on a side of the edge segment facing away from the casing is narrower than the corresponding casing segment 19. Because of the difference in width of parts of the edge segment, a region 18 is created which extends between two adjacent edge segments, wherein the region 18 contains a bendable element 5, wherein the two adjacent edge segments are connected together with the interposition of the bendable element 5. The core piece in this sheet comprises a first end face 2 and a second end face 12 which, after folding of the core piece, stand substantially perpendicularly to the casing. Furthermore, the core piece is provided with a reinforcement which, on folding, comes to rest on respective insides of the first end face 2 and second end face 12. In order to be able to transport a delicate object such as a bottle, the core piece is configured for engaging with a bottle in different positions 3, 4 in the width direction of the container, wherein the core piece is provided with engagement means 3, 4 in order, after folding, to limit or hinder a radial freedom of movement of the bottle. In this embodiment variant, the engagement means are at least provided with a first engagement part 3, wherein the first engagement part has a first inner diameter, and a second engagement part 4, wherein the second engagement part has a second inner diameter.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows yet a further embodiment variant of the transport container 8 according to the present invention. Here, the casing 7 is shown which is divided into several casing segments 1. The rigid upright edge 6 is arranged on several adjacent casing segments 1, wherein the upright edge 6 is divided into several edge segments 1 corresponding to the casing segments. In this embodiment variant, the edge segments have a triangular cross-section. The several casing segments 1 together with the corresponding edge segments 1 can be folded about common rotational axes 25 located in the plane of the casing 7. In this embodiment variant, the edge segments are formed such that, during rolling up of the casing, the edge segments 1 nest inside one another. Here, a part of the edge segment 1 is situated inside another edge segment. The rolling up of the transport container may for example be limited by forming the edge segments 1 such that a back part 23 of the nesting edge segment 21 runs against a back part 24 of the edge segment in which it nests. In this way, is it easy to ensure not only that the transport container 1 is well folded, but also that the side edge of the transport container 8 is completely closed from the outside in the rolled state. This is because in the fully rolled state, all edge segments are nested inside one another. In this position, for example a locking lip 22 may be used for sealing the rolled transport container 8.