STACKABLE AND NESTABLE CONTAINER

Abstract

A container (10) comprising a wall arrangement (20) defining an internal region (14). The container (10) further comprises a support arrangement (36) attached to the wall arrangement (20). The support arrangement (36) is arrangeable in a support position in which the support arrangement (36) extends across the internal region (14). The support arrangement (36) is also arrangeable in a non-support position in which the support arrangement (36) extends along the wall arrangement (20) within the internal region (14) in engagement with the wall arrangement (20). The support arrangement (36) is movable between the support and the non-support positions.

Claims

1. A container comprising: a wall arrangement defining an internal region; and a support arrangement attached to the wall arrangement; the support arrangement being arrangeable in a support position in which the support arrangement extends across the internal region; the support arrangement being arrangeable in a non-support position in which the support arrangement extends along the wall arrangement within the internal region in engagement with the wall arrangement; and the support arrangement is movable between the non-support and the support positions.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the wall arrangement includes a pivot point, and the support arrangement includes an attachment portion to attach the support arrangement to the wall arrangement at the pivot point.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein the attachment portion has an actuating formation to enable the support arrangement to be moved between the support and non-support positions.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the actuating formation comprises a socket to receive a tool for rotating the support arrangement.

5. A container according to claim 2, wherein the support arrangement further comprises a connecting member to connect the attachment portion to the central portion, the connecting member extending transverse to the central portion.

6. A container according to claim 2, including cooperating securing means to secure the support arrangement in the support position; the securing means comprising a securing projection on one of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement; and the securing means further comprising a securing recess defined by the other of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement; wherein the securing projection is received by the securing recess to secure the support arrangement in the support position.

7. (canceled)

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the securing projection is provided on the wall arrangement; the securing recess being defined by the support arrangement, whereby when the securing projection is received by the securing recess, the securing projection engages the support arrangement within the securing recess.

9. A container according to claim 6, wherein the connecting member defines the securing recess, whereby when the securing projection is received by the securing recess, the securing projection engages the connecting member within the securing recess.

10. (canceled)

11. A container according to claim 1, wherein the wall arrangement defines a locating formation, and the support arrangement has a locating projection received in the locating formation when the support arrangement is in the non-support position.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the wall arrangement has an upper edge, and the locating formation is a locating indentation open at the upper edge of the wall arrangement.

13. A container according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the wall arrangement has a main shoulder within the internal region; the main shoulder providing a main receiving area defined by the wall arrangement; whereby when the support arrangement is in the non-support position, the support arrangement is received in the main receiving area; and when the locating projection is received in the locating formation, the support arrangement extends along the main receiving area thereby providing a load bearing portion along the wall arrangement.

14. A container according to claim 1, wherein the wall arrangement comprises a pair of opposite first wall members and a pair of opposite second wall members, the pair of opposite first wall members extending transverse to the pair of opposite second wall members, and the support arrangement being attached to the first wall members adjacent one of the second wall members; the wall arrangement has a main shoulder within the internal region, the main shoulder providing a main receiving area defined by the wall arrangement; the main receiving area is defined in one of the second wall members, the main receiving area extending from the upper edge of each second wall member to the respective main shoulder; and a locating indentation is defined in the main receiving area, the locating indentation being open at the upper edge of the second wall member.

15. (canceled)

16. A container according to claim 1, including a guide arrangement to guide the support arrangement between the support and non-support positions.

17. A container according to claim 26, wherein the support arrangement includes the guide member to guide the support arrangement between the support and the non-support positions, and wherein the wall arrangement includes the guide track to interact with the guide members.

18. A container according to claim 26, wherein the guide track comprises either a slot defined through the wall arrangement, or a guide shoulder on the wall arrangement.

19. A container according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement comprises a substantially planar support member.

20. A container according to claim 19, wherein either: each of the second wall members defines a through hole, said through hole providing a handle to allow the container to be carried; or each of the second wall members includes a projection, said projection providing a handle to allow the container to be carried.

21. A container according to claim 19, wherein the first wall members have opposite ends at which the second wall members are attached, and each first wall member comprising a subsidiary shoulder formation at each end, the subsidiary shoulder formations of each of the first wall members providing subsidiary receiving areas in which the connecting members and the attachment portions are received.

22. (canceled)

23. A container according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement comprises an elongate, substantially planar central portion, and the container comprises a base from which the wall arrangement extends, whereby when the support arrangement is in the support position, the central portion extends substantially parallel to the base, and when the support arrangement is in the non-support position, the central portion extends transverse to the base.

24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the wall arrangement comprises a pair of opposite first wall members and a pair of opposite second wall members, the pair of opposite first wall members extending transverse to the pair of opposite second wall members, and the support arrangement being attached to the first wall members adjacent one of the second wall members; wherein the base has a pair of opposite first edge regions and a pair of opposite second edge regions, the first wall members being provided on the first edge regions, and the second wall members being provided on the second edge regions; and the base having an underside defining a respective concavity at each second end region, each concavity being configured to receive the locating projection of a support arrangement of a further container on which the container is stacked.

25. (canceled)

26. A container according to claim 16, wherein the guide arrangement comprises a guide member on one of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement; and the guide arrangement further comprising a guide track to interact with the guide member, the guide track being provided on the other of the support arrangement and the wall arrangement; wherein the guide member is movable along the guide track to guide the support arrangement when the support arrangement moves between the support and the non-support positions.

Description

[0057] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from one side of a container, showing support arrangements in support and non-support positions;

[0059] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the container showing the support arrangements in the support and non-support positions;

[0060] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from above of the container, showing the support arrangements in the support positions;

[0061] FIG. 4 is a perspective from above of the container, showing the support arrangements in the non-support positions;

[0062] FIG. 5 is a close up view from outside the container showing the support arrangement in the non-support position;

[0063] FIG. 6 is a close up view from inside the container showing the support arrangement in the non-support position;

[0064] FIG. 7 is an external view of an upper corner region of the wall arrangement, with the support arrangement in a non-support position;

[0065] FIG. 8 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement, with the support arrangement in the non-support position;

[0066] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of two of the containers nested one within the other, and a third container stacked upon the upper of the two nested containers;

[0067] FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of the three containers shown in FIG. 10;

[0068] FIG. 11 is a view from below of the container;

[0069] FIG. 12 is a close up of a region of the wall arrangement;

[0070] FIG. 13 shows the use of dividers in an internal region of the container;

[0071] FIG. 14 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement of a modified container, with the support arrangement in the non-support position;

[0072] FIG. 15 is an internal view of an upper corner region of the wall arrangement of the modified container, with the support arrangement in the support position;

[0073] FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of the modified container with the support arrangements in the support position; and

[0074] FIG. 17 is a view from below of the modified container.

[0075] The drawings show a container 10 comprising a body 12 defining an internal region 14. The body 12 comprises a base 16 having a pair of opposite first edges 18A and a pair of opposite second edges 18B extending transverse to the first edges 18A. In the embodiment shown, the base 16 is generally rectangular.

[0076] The body 12 further comprises a wall arrangement 20 extending upwardly from the base 16. The wall arrangement 20 comprises a pair of opposite first wall members 22 extending from the first edges 18A of the base 16.

[0077] The wall arrangement 20 further comprises a pair of opposite second wall members 24 extending from the second edges 18B of the base 16. The first wall members 22 are arranged transverse to the second wall members 24. Each of the second wall members 24 defines a through hole 26, which functions as a handle to allow the container 10 to be carried.

[0078] Each of the second wall members 24 defines a locating formation in the form of a locating indentation 28, open at the upper edge 30 of the second wall member 24.

[0079] The second wall member 24 has a main shoulder formation 32 extending outwardly from a lower region 33 of the second wall member 24, thereby providing a main receiving area 34.

[0080] The main receiving area 34 extends upwardly from the main shoulder formation 32 to the upper edge 30 of the second wall member 24. As shown in the drawings, the through hole 26 is defined just below the main shoulder formation 32.

[0081] The main shoulder formation 32 and the main receiving area 34 extend across the second wall member 24. The main receiving area 34 extends along the inner surface of the second wall member 24 from the upper edge 30 to the main shoulder formation 32.

[0082] The container 10 further includes two support arrangements 36 pivotally attached to the first wall members 22 adjacent the edge regions thereof. Each of the support arrangements 36 is in the form of a support arm extending across the respective second wall member 24.

[0083] Each support arrangement 36 comprises an elongate substantially planar central portion 38. At least one elongate locating projection 40 extends from the central portion 38.

[0084] The container 10 has a single locating projection 40 on the central portion 38 of each of the support arrangements 36. Modifications of the container 10 have three locating projections (see FIGS. 14 to 16 and the description below).

[0085] Each support arrangement 36 further includes two projecting attachment portions 42 to pivotally attach the support arrangement 36 to each of the first wall members 22 (see FIG. 7). Each attachment portion 42 is provided at a respective opposite end of the central portion 38.

[0086] Each support arrangement 36 is pivotally movable between a support position and a stowed position. In the support position, the central portion 38 extends across the internal region 14 and is spaced from the adjacent second wall member 24. Also, in the support position, the plane of the central portion 38 extends parallel to the base 16, and the locating projection 40 extends upwardly from the central portion 38.

[0087] In the stowed position, the central portion 38 is received in the main receiving area 34, and extends therealong, thereby providing a load bearing portion along the second wall member 24. Also, in the stowed position, the plane of the central portion 38 extends transverse to the base 16 and, in the case of each support arrangement 36 comprising a single locating projection 40, the locating projection 40 is received in the locating indentation 28.

[0088] The attachment portions 42 are connected to the central portion 38 by a triangular connecting member 44 provided at each end of the central portion 38. The connecting members 44 are shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0089] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the first wall members 22 comprise subsidiary shoulder formations 46 at each corner region between the first wall members 22 and the second wall members 24. The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 of each of the first wall members 22 provide subsidiary receiving areas in the form of subsidiary wall portions 48 in which the connecting members 44 and the attachment portions 42 are pivotally attached.

[0090] The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 extend from the main shoulder formations 32, transverse thereto. The subsidiary wall portions 48 extend from main receiving areas 34, transverse thereto.

[0091] The subsidiary wall portions 48 are provided in the first wall members 22 adjacent the upper edges of the first wall members 22 at corner regions between the first and second wall members 24.

[0092] Each attachment portion 42 projects from the respective connecting member 44 and is received in a pivot aperture 50 defined in the subsidiary wall portions 48 of the first wall members 22.

[0093] Each attachment portion 42 has an actuating formation to allow the support arrangement 36 to be moved between the support and non-support positions. Each actuating formation is a hexagonal socket 52 defined by the attachment portion 42.

[0094] The hexagonal socket 52 is configured to receive a hex key (not shown). Rotation of the hex key in the hexagonal socket 52 rotates the support arrangement 36.

[0095] The support arrangements 36 further include guide members 54 projecting from each of the connecting members 44. The guide members 54 are received in guide tracks in the form of curved guide slots 56 (see FIG. 7).

[0096] The guide slots 56 are defined in the subsidiary wall portions 48 of the first wall members 22.

[0097] The guide slots 56 are in the form of curved guide slots above each pivot aperture 50. Each guide slot 56 is in the form of an arc of a circle having its centre at the adjacent pivot aperture 50. The purpose of the guide slots 56 is discussed below.

[0098] The container 10 further includes cooperating securing means to secure the support arrangement 36 in the support position.

[0099] The securing means comprises a securing projection 49 on each of the subsidiary shoulder formations 46. The securing means further includes a securing recess 58 defined by each connecting member 44. Each securing recess 58 receives the respective securing projection 49 when the support arrangement 36 is moved between the non-support position, shown in FIG. 4, to the support position, shown in FIG. 3.

[0100] Each securing projection 49 has an upper corner 60. When the securing projections 49 are received in the securing recesses 58, the upper corner 60 of each securing projection 49 engages the respective connecting member 44 within the securing recess 58, thereby inhibiting movement of the support arrangement 36 from the support position.

[0101] FIG. 11 shows the underside of the container 10. The base 16 defines a depression 62 extending over a large proportion of the base 16. A plurality of strengthening members 64 are provided in the depression 62 to strengthen the base 16. Each strengthening member 64 is substantially straight, and extends diagonally across the depression 62.

[0102] The base 16 also defines positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 18B, adjacent the second wall members 24. The concavities 66 are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the locating projections 40. As a result, when the container 10 is stacked on the support arrangements 36 of a lower further container 10, the locating projections 40 of the upper container 10 are received in the concavities 66 of the support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10, thereby locating the upper container 10 on the lower container 10.

[0103] FIG. 12 is a close up of a region of one of the second wall members 24 in which the second wall member 24 has an opening 68, and an inner skin 70 is provided over the opening 68. The inner skin 70 is attached to the inner surface of the second wall member 24, and defines a pocket 72 in which a label can be disposed. The inner skin 70 includes an upper semi-circular recess 74 into which a finger can be inserted to remove the label. The opening is visible through the semi-circular recess 74 in FIG. 12, and can be seen in FIG. 5. The label can be viewed through the opening 68.

[0104] FIG. 13 shows the use of dividers 76 in the internal region 14 of the container 10. The dividers 68 can be secured to the first wall members 22 by means of fastening formations 78, which can be received in fastening slots 80 in the first wall members 22.

[0105] In use, both support arrangements 36 are moved to their respective stowed positions to allow the container 10 to be loaded. The container 10 can be carried by the handles to a destination, such as a storage point to a means of transport. When so carried, the support arrangements 36, being disposed in the main receiving area 34 just above the through hole 26, bear some of the load being carried.

[0106] When the container 10 has been carried to the destination, the user can press inwardly on the locating projections 40 on the central portions 38. This moves the support arrangements 36 inwardly of the internal region 14, to pivot the support arrangements 36 from the stowed positions to the support positions.

[0107] When the support arrangements 36 are so pivoted, the guide members 54 move in the guide slots 56, thereby guiding the support arrangements 36 to their support positions.

[0108] When the support arrangements 36 reach their support positions, the securing projections 49 on the subsidiary shoulders are received in the securing recesses 58. The aforesaid upper corners 60 of the securing projections 49 engage the connecting members 44 within the respective securing recesses 58.

[0109] In the support position of each of the support arrangements 36, the locating projections 40 extend upwardly. A further similar container 10 can be disposed on the container 10, the further container 10 being stacked upon the support arrangements 36 in their support position.

[0110] When so stacked, the locating projections 40 are received in the concavities defined in the base 16 of the further container 10. This locates the further container 10 on the container 10.

[0111] If desired, instead of pressing inwardly on the locating projections 40 to move the support arrangements 36 from their stowed positions, the user may insert a hex key into each of the hexagonal sockets 52. Turning the hex key pivots the respective support arrangement 36 between the stowed and support positions.

[0112] The above described embodiment provides the advantage that, the provision of the locating indentation 28 allows the container 10 to be loaded and unloaded by automation.

[0113] When the support arrangement 36 is in the stowed position, the support arrangement 36 is flush with the lower region of the second wall member 24. As a result, the support arrangement 36 provides a free passage for items in the container 10 to be emptied therefrom when the container 10 is turned upside down.

[0114] The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 allow the weight of containers 10 stacked on the support arrangement 36 to be transmitted to the first wall members 22.

[0115] Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the second wall members 24 are devoid of the through hole 28.

[0116] A further modification is shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, in which a further container 10A is shown. The further container 10A is a modified version of the container 10.

[0117] The further container 10A has all the features of the container 10, shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, with the exception of the differences discussed below. In FIGS. 14 to 17, the features of the further container 10A are designated with the same reference numerals as the corresponding features shown in the previous Figures.

[0118] In FIGS. 14 to 16, the guide tracks are in the form of curved guide shoulders 56A provided in the subsidiary wall portions 48.

[0119] Also, in the modification shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, each support arrangement 36 comprises three of the locating projections, namely a central locating projection 40A and two outer locating projections 40B (see FIG. 16). The central locating projection 40A is received in the locating indentation 28, and the two outer locating projections 40 are received in further locating indentations 28A defined in the inner skins 70.

[0120] The further container 10A possesses the projection 54. In the container 10A, the projection 54 engages the shoulder 56A, and slides therealong when the support arrangement 36 moved between the support position and the non-support position.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 17, the base 16 of the container 10A also defines three positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 18B, adjacent the second wall members 24. The three positioning concavities 66 comprise a central positioning cavity 66A and two outer positioning concavities 66B.

[0122] The central concavities 66A are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the central locating projections 40A. The outer concavities 66B are arranged to correspond in size and shape to the outer locating projections 40B.

[0123] As a result, when the container 10A is stacked on the support arrangements 36 of a similar further container 10A, in which the support arrangements 36 are in their support positions. The central and outer locating projections 40A, 40B of the upper container 10A are received in the respective central and outer positioning concavities 66A, 66B of the support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10A, thereby locating the upper container 10A on the lower container 10A.