Transport and storage container

Abstract

A storage and transport container, in an unassembled state, is composed of a single-piece container blank having a bottom, foldable side and end walls and four corner flaps foldable inwardly at the side walls or the end walls. Respective turnover rims are integrally formed on the side walls and the end walls so that when the turnover rims are folded over, a stacking profile having a hook rim can be attached over the same. Four corner pieces are provided, wherein each corner piece has a base body having an upper stacking rim. Two insertion profiles are integrally formed on the base body, each having an angled profile section at the front end. The angled profile section positively fits in a respective profile recess of the side walls and the end walls. The stacking profiles extend over the insertion profiles flush against the stacking rim.

Claims

1. An unassembled transport and storage container which is stackable when assembled, comprising: a foldable container blank having a bottom, two side walls each foldable about a respective first folding line, two end walls each foldable about a respective second folding line, the side walls and the end walls being of a predetermined same thickness, four corner flaps each foldable inwardly at a respective one of the side walls or the end walls about a respective third folding line, a respective turnover rim at a top edge of each of the side walls and end walls, on each of the side walls and end walls a respective score parallel to the top edge of the side wall or the end wall, and each of the turnover rims being configured to be folded outwardly about a respective one of the scores and against the respective side wall or end wall at the top edge of which the turnover rim is located to form a rim thickness twice the predetermined same thickness of the side walls and the end walls; stacking profiles each configured to be attached over a respective one of the turnover rims of the side walls and the end walls and comprising in transverse cross-section, an inner leg and an outer leg, the inner and outer legs connected by connecting structure only at their proximal ends and otherwise spaced from each other to define a space configured to receive a respective one of said turnover rims when said turnover rim has been outwardly folded and a hook rim integrally formed on an inner side of the outer leg and configured to be latched over a longitudinal edge of a respective one of the outwardly folded turnover rims, and an stacking rim integrally formed on and surmounting the stacking profile connecting structure; further comprising corner pieces configured to be received between ends of adjacent pairs of the stacking profiles, wherein each corner piece comprises a base body having a stacking rim surmounting the base body and configured to align with the stacking rims of the stacking profiles; two insertion profiles are integrally formed on the base body perpendicular to each other and each of the insertion profiles has an angled profile section at a distal end thereof, thickness of each of the insertion profiles, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the respective side wall or end wall, other than at the angled profile section thereof being same as the wall thickness; a respective profile recess is formed in each of the side walls and end walls, each of the angled profile sections is of such width and length in a plane parallel to a plane of the respective side wall or end wall in which the respective profile recess is formed so that each of the respective angled profile sections forms a positive fit with the respective profile recess of the respective one the side walls and the end walls and each of the angled sections is of a thickness, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the respective side wall or end wall, which is twice the wall thickness; and the stacking profiles are configured to extend over the insertion profiles flush against the stacking rims of the corner pieces.

2. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, further comprising screw connections configured to connect the stacking profiles to the insertion profiles.

3. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, further comprising a respective molded body formed on each of two end faces of the stacking rim of each of the base bodies, wherein the end faces are at a right angle relative to each other, and corresponding openings in the stacking rims of the stacking profiles, each of the openings configured to engage a respective one of the molded bodies and thereby secure the stacking profiles to the corner pieces.

4. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container blank is comprised of plastic structured-core panels.

5. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein each of the corner pieces is an injection-molded plastic part.

6. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein the stacking profile is a continuously cast plastic part.

7. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein the corner flaps are configured to be fastened to the end walls when the container is assembled.

8. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein each of the corner pieces and stacking profiles has the same peripheral outer shape.

9. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein a downward extension is formed at a corner of the base body of each of the corner pieces and is configured so as to cover a gap.

10. A transport and storage container produced by assembling the unassembled transport and storage container of claim 1.

11. The unassembled transport and storage container according to claim 1, wherein said width and length of the angled profile is same as a width and length of the profile recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail hereafter based on one exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a foldable container blank;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the storage and transport box;

(4) FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E show the corner piece in five views;

(5) FIGS. 4A, 4B show the corner piece in two perspective views;

(6) FIGS. 5A, 5B show the stacking profile in front view and end view, respectively;

(7) FIG. 6A shows the assembly steps of inserting a corner piece and FIG. 6B shows a further stage of assembly in which the corner piece has been fully inserted and a stacking profile has been attached over a turnover rim and connected to the corner piece; and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the assembled transport and storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The described exemplary embodiment is a preferred variant of a container for transporting and storing small parts for automobile production. The finished storage and transport container is to have a size of 800800250 (LWH in mm).

(10) FIG. 1 shows a top view onto a foldable container blank, it is composed of a single-piece, 5 mm thick, plastic structured-core panel. A contour is generated by way of a plotter, so that a bottom 1, two side walls 2 foldable about a folding line 23, and two end walls 3 foldable about a folding line are created. Two corner flaps 4, which can each be folded inwardly about a folding line 24, are formed at each of the two side walls 2. It is important that all edges extend absolutely parallel to each other.

(11) The corner flaps 4 are sufficiently long as to cover the width of the end wall 3 and to abut in the center of the end walls 3 when folded together. Handle cut-outs 28 for handles 28 that can be inserted at a later stage are provided on the corner flaps 4. Handle cut-outs 28 are also incorporated in the two end walls 3. The folding lines 22, 23 and 24 are likewise scored by way of the plotter.

(12) Respective turnover rims 10 are integrally formed on the upper rim of the upwardly foldable side walls 2 and the upwardly foldable end walls 3, each of the turnover rims being foldable outwardly about a score 30 against the associated side wall 2 and end wall 3. The score is designed so as to completely sever the inner wall of the structured-core panel and for folding over to take place about the second wall, which is later the outer wall.

(13) The turnover rims 10 do not extend over the entire width of the side and end walls, but only to just before a profile recess 15. This profile recess 15 is approximately as high as a turnover rim 10. A corner tab 17 is formed between the profile recess 15 and a corner recess 18.

(14) FIG. 2 shows individual parts of a transport and storage container in an exploded view, comprising a container blank that is already folded, having folded-over turnover rims 10. Handles 28 are inserted into the two handle cut-outs 28 and the four handle cut-outs 26 in the corner flaps. The handles 28 have a two-piece design and include a peripheral groove, which corresponds to twice the thickness of the structured-core panels, and a snap-fit mechanism. The two handle halves are inserted into the handle cut-outs 28 and snapped together. The insertion of the handles causes the corner flaps 4 to be retained on the end walls 3, whereby additional locking is not needed.

(15) A stacking profile 9, which is open at the bottom, can be attached around the upper rim, which due the turnover rim 10 to being folded over has double the container wall thickness. FIGS. 5A, 5B show such a stacking profile 9 in front view and end view, respectively. The stacking profile 9 is a continuously cast plastic part and has a U shape. It comprises an inner leg 8, an outer leg 5 and a hook rim 8 that is integrally formed on the inside of the outer leg 5 and, in the attached state, can be latched over the end of the outwardly folded turnover rim 10 of the side walls 2 and of the end walls 3.

(16) The hook rim 8 is designed so as to be upwardly slanted by an angle of approximately 80. The inner leg 6 is bent slightly inward. This allows slight spreading when the stacking profile 9 is attached. Tension is also generated when the stacking profile 9 is attached, ensuring secure seating of the hook rim 8. The stacking profile 9 thus automatically snaps into place over the rim of the upright side walls 2 or end walls 3. The width of the turnover rims 10 corresponds to the inside width of the stacking profiles 9 from the upper stop of the same to the hook rim 8 of the same.

(17) To ensure good stackability of multiple containers, the stacking profile 9 has a hollow stacking rim 7 at the top. A stacking rim 12 ends flush on the outer side and is wide enough on the inside that the next transport and storage container can be positively placed thereon.

(18) FIG. 2 shows how four corner pieces 11 can be fitted together with the stacking profiles 9. The corner pieces 11 produced as injection-molded plastic parts are shown in five views in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, wherein FIG. 3A shows the bottom view, FIG. 3E shows the top view, and three side views are FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D. FIGS. 4A, 4B show perspective illustrations of a corner piece 11, from the inside (FIG. 3B) and from the outside (FIG. 3A).

(19) FIGS. 6A, 6B show how the corner pieces 11 can be mounted, wherein in FIG. 6B a corner piece 11 has been inserted and a stacking profile 9 has been attached.

(20) Each of the four corner pieces 11 comprises a base body 20, on the top of which a stacking rim 12 is integrally formed. Two insertion profiles 13 are integrally formed on the base body so as to be perpendicular to each other, each having an angled profile section 14 at the front end.

(21) The angled profile section 14 is as wide and as long as the profile recess 15, whereby it fits positively into a respective profile recess 15 in a side wall 2 and in an end wall 3, thereby bringing about a stable positive fit. The stacking profiles 9 extend laterally across the insertion profiles 13 against the stacking rim 12, so that no gap is formed.

(22) To prevent the individual parts from being able to detach on their own under very high loads, the stacking profiles 9 are fastened to the insertion profiles 13 by way of screw connections. The stacking profiles 9 have boreholes 21 for this purpose, and the angled profile section 14 of the corner pieces 11 comprise boreholes 18, into which threaded sleeves are inserted from one side and screws are screwed in from the other side.

(23) It is also possible that the boreholes 18, and thus the screw connections 19, are not located in the angled profile section 14, but in the 5 mm thick shaft of the insertion profile 13. This also provides fastening on the corner tab 17, and vertical forces can also be absorbed.

(24) To connect the stacking rims 12 of the corner pieces 11 horizontally to the stacking rims 9, and thereby secure these, moldings 25 are molded onto the side of the stacking rims 12, which fit into the corresponding opening of the hollow stacking rim 7 of the stacking profile 9.

(25) FIG. 6A shows that a design dependent gap 27 is created by folding the corner flap 4 over onto the end wall 3. This gap is closed by a corner molding 29.

(26) FIG. 7 shows a fully assembled transport and storage container. Because it has few components, it is light, but on the other hand it is highly stable, it has few protrusions and projections. The container blank can be entirely plotted or stamped. In this way, it is possible to precisely adhere to the dimensional accuracy by being true to the contour, whereby low manufacturing tolerances are made possible.

(27) The novel fastening of the corner pieces by way of the horizontally and vertically positively connected parts allows high load-bearing capacity to be achieved.

(28) Because it has few parts, the transport and storage container is easy and cost-effective to produce, in particular since the is no need to purchase complex equipment for miter cuts, or welding technology for the corners and for butt welding. No additional material is needed for fastening rims.

(29) The process times for box fabrication are shortened considerably. Poor weld joints at the critical corners are avoided. Moreover, the profile rods can be utilized considerably better since four relatively short portions must be cut to size for the sides. Due to the simple, more lightweight and more cost-effective injection-molded corner pieces, this type of container can be assembled essentially on-site at the customer's facility with the simplest of assembly means. End users can be supplied with the stamped container blanks by a central fabrication facility and are only required to cut the stacking profiles 9 to length and mount, and optionally screw, these together with the corner pieces 11.