Abstract
The present invention is directed to a foldable transport container suitable to receive and hold multiple plates with samples in it. The container is comfortable to load, transport and unload. The invention also relates to a strip of material for providing such a foldable transport container. Finally the invention relates to a method for assembling such a foldable container.
Claims
1. A foldable transport container for a stack of plates placed inside the transport container, with the transport container comprising in a folded state the following components: a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall linked to each other; a top wall divided into at least two parts, with a first top wall part linked to the front wall and a second top wall part linked to the back wall, the top wall providing a handle for carrying the transport container; and substantially open sides, wherein each of the front wall and the back wall comprises a flap on each of its lateral sides, with each flap being folded to a side of the transport container, and wherein each open side is at least partially covered by the respective folded flaps, further wherein each flap comprises a linked bottom latch and is connected to its opposing flap below the bottom wall by means of respectively opposing bottom latches, wherein the connection between opposing flaps is established by form-fit engagement of the respectively opposing bottom latches, further wherein each bottom latch comprises a notch and matching opposing notches interlace in a crosswise manner.
2. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein each open side is partially covered by the respective folded flaps for providing a central opening for access to the stack of plates from the outside of the transport container, preferably wherein the central opening extends from the top wall to the bottom wall.
3. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the first top wall part and the second top wall part each comprises a slot, and wherein an alignment of the slots establishes the handle for carrying the transport container.
4. The foldable transport container according to claim 3, wherein the first top wall part and the second top wall part are connectable with each other by means of at least one side shutter extending through the slots of the first top wall part and the second top wall part, by means of at least one top shutter extending through the slots of the first top wall part and the second top wall part, and/or by insertion of one top wall part into the other.
5. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the plates comprise at least 6 dPCR plates, stacked on top of each other.
6. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the transport container comprises at least one writable surface on its outer circumference, wherein the surface is implemented by means of a whiteboard material; the transport container comprises at least one identification code on its outer circumference; and the transport container comprises a magnet for Hall sensor application, embedded in its bottom wall.
7. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the folded state of the transport container is achieved without the use of an adhesive connection.
8. The foldable transport container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in an unfolded state, the transport container consists of a strip of material provided in a flat manner, in the form of a strip of cardboard or paper, pre-cut for providing the components of the foldable transport container.
9. The foldable transport container according to claim 8, wherein the strip of material comprises a coating suitable for sterilization, for re-usability of the foldable transport container, or the foldable transport container is for single use only.
10. The foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the transport container is provided for transportation inside a laboratory facility between instruments involved in a workflow of a respective assay.
11. A strip of material for providing a foldable transport container according to claim 1, wherein the strip is linked together between the bottom wall and the front wall, and between the bottom wall and the back wall, the first top wall part is linked to the front wall, the second top wall part is linked to the back wall, each top wall part comprises a slot, each of the front wall and the back wall comprises a flap linked on each of its lateral sides, each flap comprises a linked bottom latch with a notch, and each flap extends on an upper end thereof into a wing-like protrusion, wherein the strip of material comprises a coating suitable for sterilization for re-usability of the strip of material.
12. A method for assembling a foldable container according to claim 1 by means of a strip of material according to claim 11, including the steps of: folding the front wall and the back wall in an rectangular manner to the bottom wall, folding the flaps to the sides of the container in a rectangular manner, folding the bottom latches of the flaps towards the underside of the bottom wall, interlacing opposing bottom latches with each other by means of the respective notch in a crosswise manner, and bringing the first top wall part and the second top wall part in contact with each other by folding the same towards each other, with the slots being aligning with each other.
13. The method according to claim 12, further including the step of: connecting the first top wall part and the second top wall part with each other, by means of at least one side shutter extending through the slots of the first top wall part and the second top wall part, by means of at least one top shutter extending through the slots of the first top wall part and the second top wall part, and/or by insertion of one top wall part into the other, and/or folding the wing-like protrusions of the flaps slightly towards the outside of the transport container.
14. A foldable transport container for a stack of plates placed inside the transport container, with the transport container comprising in a folded state the following components: a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall linked to each other; a top wall divided into at least two parts, with a first top wall part linked to the front wall and a second top wall part linked to the back wall, the top wall providing a handle for carrying the transport container; and substantially open sides, wherein each of the front wall and the back wall comprises a flap on each of its lateral sides, with each flap being folded to a side of the transport container, and wherein each open side is at least partially covered by the respective folded flaps, wherein each flap on an upper end extends into a protrusion for providing guidance during an insertion of each plate into the transport container, wherein the protrusion is provided in the form of a guiding wing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of a foldable transport container according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the container accommodating multiple plates, and being held by a user's hand;
(2) FIG. 2 is a conceptual perspective view of a strip of material for providing the foldable transport container as depicted in FIG. 1;
(3) FIG. 3 is a conceptual perspective view of the foldable transport container of FIG. 1 during a step of a folding method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
(4) FIG. 4 is a conceptual perspective view of the foldable transport container of FIG. 1 during its loading with plates; and
(5) FIGS. 5a, b, c show conceptual perspective views of three solutions to connect two top wall parts of a foldable transport container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
(6) 1 foldable transport container 11 bottom wall 12 front wall 121a, 121b flap 122a, 122b protrusion 123a, 123b bottom latch 13 back wall 131a, 131b flap 132a, 132b protrusion 133a, 133b bottom latch 134 notch 14 top wall 141, 141 first top wall part 142, 142 second top wall part 143 slot 144 handle 145 side shutter 146 top shutter 147 insertion slot 15a, 15b side 2 plate 3 strip of material
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(7) FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 each show a conceptual perspective view of a foldable transport container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an embodiment of a foldable transport container 1 is illustrated in its folded state. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the folded transport container 1 can be loaded with a stack of plates 2 which contain samples, for example DNA samples for biological tests. The foldable transport container 1 can be used to transport the stack of plates 2 within a laboratory from one processing station to another. The foldable transport container 1 encloses the stack of plates 2 so that the plates 2 are protected from contamination during transport. The foldable transport container 1 comprises a handle 144 to carry the foldable transport container 1. In the folded state, the foldable transport container 1 is essentially shaped like a box with openings in its sides 15a, 15b.
(8) The foldable transport container 1 comprises a bottom wall 11 which limits the foldable transport container 1 at its bottom side. The bottom wall 11 is not visible in the illustration in FIG. 1, but can be gathered in FIG. 3. Adjacent to the bottom wall 11 are a front wall 12 and a back wall 13, respectively. The font wall 11 and the back wall 12 are linked to the bottom wall on opposite sides thereof. In the folded state, each of the front wall 11 and the back wall 12 are essentially orientated perpendicular to the bottom wall 11. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, front wall 11 and back wall 12 have the same shape and size. Front wall 11 and back wall 12 are essentially in contact with the plates 2 and keep them in a stacked position, stacked on top of the bottom wall 11. The foldable transport container 1 is limited at its upper side by a top wall 14 which is divided into a first top wall part 141 and a second top wall part 142. The first top wall part 141 is linked to the front wall 12 and the second top wall part 142 is linked to the back wall 13. The front wall 12 extends from the bottom wall 11 to the first top wall part 141 and connects both components. The back wall 13 extends from the bottom wall 11 to the second top wall part 142. The links between front wall 12/back wall 13 and the respective top wall parts 141, 142 are flexible, so that the top wall parts 141, 142 are foldable in relation to the front wall 12 and the back wall 13. The top wall 14 provides the handle 144 for carrying the foldable transport container 1. Both top wall parts 141, 142 each comprises a slot 143 intended for serving as part of the handle 144. The slots 143 have rectangular shape in the pictured embodiment. The two slots 143 of the first top wall part 141 and the second top wall part 142 are in alignment with each other and, thus, establish the handle 144 together with each other. The top wall 14 transfers the weight force of the plates 2 symmetrically to the handle 144. Since both top wall parts 141, 142 are part of the handle 144, it can be ensured that the foldable transport container 1 does not open accidentally during transport, i.e. during carrying the container 1 through a laboratory. As an option, it is possible to fixedly secure both top wall parts 141, 142 to each other. Here, possible solutions for such a fixing are exemplary shown in FIGS. 5a, b, c.
(9) The two sides 15a and 15b of the foldable transport container 1 are designed as substantially open sides. The substantially open sides 15a, 15b each provides a central opening for access to the stack of plates 2 from the outside of the transport container 1. The central opening illustrated in FIG. 1 in the open side 15a extends from the top wall 14 to the bottom wall 11. Thus, the content of the transport container 1, i.e. the stacked plates 2, are visible through the central opening.
(10) The bottom wall 11 is shaped rectangular and comprises four edges. One of those edges is linked to the front wall 12, as can be gathered from FIG. 2. The edge opposite to the edge linked to the front wall 12 is linked to the back wall 13. The two edges which are not linked to front wall 12 or back wall 13 are arranged at the substantially open sides 15a, 15b. Each of the front wall 12 and the back wall 13 comprises a flap 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b on each of its lateral sides. In the depicted folded state, these flaps 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b are folded to a respective side 15a, 15b of the transport container 1. The flaps 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b are orientated parallel to those edges of the bottom wall 11 which are not linked to the front wall 12 or the back wall 13. In the depicted state, the flaps 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b are orientated rectangular to the bottom wall 11 and rectangular to the front wall 12/the back wall 13. The sides 15a, 15b of the foldable transport container 1 are partially covered by the flaps 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b. The front wall 12 with its two flaps 121a, 121b as well as the back wall 13 with its two flaps 131a, 131b form corners which keep the plates 2 in their stacked position. The two flaps 121a, 121b of the front wall 12 and the two flaps 131a, 131b of the back wall 13 are respectively connected to each other by means of bottom latches 123a, 123b, 133a, 133b. These bottom latches 123a, 123b, 133a, 133b, in a connected state, are positioned beneath the bottom wall 11 in the folded state of the container 1 and are, therefore, not visible in FIG. 1. The bottom latches 123a, 123b, 133a, 133b are shown in FIG. 3, depicted at a stage when the bottom latch 133a is already connected to the bottom latch 133b, and during the process of connecting the bottom latch 123a with the bottom latch 123b. Also shown in FIG. 3 are the two flaps 121a, 121b extending at their upper ends into the protrusions 122a, 122b for providing guidance during insertion of plates 2 into the transport container 1, see also FIG. 4. The two flaps 131a, 131b extend at their upper ends into the protrusions 132a, 132b in an analog way. The working principle of the protrusions 122a, 122b, 132a, 132b is illustrated in FIG. 4.
(11) FIG. 2 shows a conceptual perspective view of a strip of material 3 for providing the foldable transport container 1 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The strip of material 3 as shown in FIG. 2 constitutes an initial pre-stage state of the foldable transport container 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. This strip of material 3 is a flat projection of the foldable transport container 1. The strip of material 3 consists of flat sheet material, for example cardboard. The strip of material 3 comprises cuts between components which are separated from each other after transformation into the transport container 1. In other positions, the strip of material 3 comprises links connecting components that are adjacent to each other after transformation into transport container 1.
(12) In the following, the terms and reference numerals describing the components of the strip of material 3 are the same as used for the corresponding components of the transport container 1 in the folded state.
(13) The central part of the shown strip of material 3 is the bottom wall 11. The bottom wall 11 is linked to the front wall 12 and the back wall 13. The front wall 12 is arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 11 and is directed towards the viewer in FIG. 2. The back wall 13 is arranged adjacent to the bottom wall 11 on the opposite side to the front wall 12. The front wall 12 is further linked to the first top wall part 141. The first top wall part 141 is linked to the front wall 12 opposing to the link between the front wall 12 and the bottom wall 11. In the same way, the second top wall part 142 is linked to the back wall 13 opposing to the link between back wall 13 and bottom wall 11. Each of the first top wall part 141 and the second top wall part 142 comprises a slot 143, which is cut out of the strip of material 3.
(14) Each of the front wall 12 and the back wall 13 further comprises two flaps 121a and 121b, and 131a and 131b. The flaps 121a, 121b are linked to the lateral sides of the front wall 12. The flaps 131a, 131b are linked to the lateral sides of the back wall 13. The link between the front wall 12 and the bottom wall 11 is orientated in a rectangular manner in view of the links between the front wall 12 and its flaps 121a, 121b. Similarly, the link between the back wall 13 and the bottom wall 11 is orientated in a rectangular manner in view of the links between the back wall 13 and its flaps 131a, 131b.
(15) All flaps 121a, 121b, 131a, 131b are each linked to a bottom latch 123a, 123b, 133a, 133b and to a protrusion 122a, 122b, 132a, 132b. In the following, these links are described exemplarily for the flap 121a, and this description applies in an analog way for the other flaps 121b, 131a, 131b and their respective bottom latches 123b, 133a, 133b and protrusions 122b, 132a, 132b.
(16) The link between the flap 121a and bottom latch 123a is orientated parallel to the links between the front wall 12/the back wall 13 with the bottom wall 11. In the embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 2, the link between the flap 121a and bottom latch 123a has the shape of a line and is orientated collinear to the link between the front wall 12 and the bottom wall 11. The bottom latch 123a is solely linked to the flap 121a. There is no link between the bottom latch 123a and the bottom wall 11. The bottom latch 123a comprises a pre-cut notch which is not visible in FIG. 2. The flap 121a is further linked to the protrusion 122a. The protrusion 122a is arranged on the side of the flap 121a opposing the side which is linked to the bottom latch 123a. The link between the flap 121a and the protrusion 122a has the shape of a line and is orientated parallel to the link between the front wall 12 at the bottom wall 11. The link between the flap 121a and the protrusion 122a is arranged collinear to the link between the front wall 12 and the first top wall part 141.
(17) All the links between the components of the strip of material 3 can be stamped, meaning that the thickness of the strip of material 3 is reduced in an area of these links. Such a stamping of the links makes it easier for the user to fold the components around these links during the transformation of the strip of material 3 into the transport container 1.
(18) FIG. 3 shows a conceptual perspective view of a foldable transport container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention during a particular folding step of the folding method of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 3 shows a state during folding a strip of material 3 according to FIG. 2 into a transport container 1 in its folded state as illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the bottom wall 11 is visible and directed to the viewer. Beneath the bottom wall 11 are the bottom latches 123a, 123b, 133a, 133b. On the left-hand side of the bottom wall lithe two bottom latches 133a, 133b of the back wall 13 have already been connected with each other. On the right-hand side of the bottom wall 11 the bottom latch 123a has already been folded and is orientated parallel to the bottom wall 11. The bottom latch 123b is in the state of folding. Each of the bottom latches 123a, 123b comprises a notch 134. To connect the bottom latches 123a, 123b with each other, their two notches 134 are in the start position to be interlaced. Starting from the illustrated position, the two notches 134 will next be moved into each other until they are interlaced. The two bottom latches 133a and 133b on the left-hand side of the bottom wall 11 are already in such an interlaced position.
(19) FIG. 4 shows a conceptual perspective view of a foldable transport container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention during loading with plates 2. FIG. 4 shows the foldable transport container 1 of FIG. 1. In the state illustrated in FIG. 4, the first top wall part 141 and the second top wall part 142 have been folded away from each other so that there is an opening between them. Through this opening, plates 2 are loaded into the interior of the foldable transport container 1. A first one of plates 2 has already been loaded and is positioned on top of the bottom wall 11. In the illustrated state, a user loads a second one of plates 2 into the foldable transport container 1. The loading of the second plate 2 is guided by the protrusions 122a, 122b, 132a, 132b. These protrusions 122a, 122b, 132a, 132b have been folded towards the outside of the foldable transport container 1. The protrusions 122a, 122b, 132a, 132b in the illustrated embodiment work like guiding wings during insertion of the plates 2 into the interior of the container 1.
(20) FIGS. 5a, b, c show conceptual perspective views of three different solutions a, b, c for connecting two top wall parts 141, 142 of a foldable transport container 1 according to different embodiments of the present invention. These possibilities a, b, c can be realized separate or in combination with each other.
(21) With solution a as shown in FIG. 5a, the lateral sides of the handle 144 are enclosed by two side shutters 145. These side shutters 145 are folded around the area neighboring the slots 143. To transport the foldable transport container 1, the side shutters 145 are wrapped around the handle 144 as shown by the arrow. To open the foldable transport container 1, the side shutters 145 can easily be disconnected/unfolded.
(22) With solution b as shown in FIG. 5b, a top shutter 146 is folded around the area above the slots 143 of the handle 144. The working principle of the top shutter 146 is the same as the working principle of the side shutters 145 in FIG. 5a. To transport the foldable transport container 1, the top shutter 146 is wrapped around the handle 144 as shown by the arrow. To open the foldable transport container 1, the top shutter 146 can easily be disconnected/unfolded.
(23) With solution c as shown in FIG. 5c, the shape of the upper area of the first top wall part 141 differs from the shape of the upper area of the second top wall part 142 in that the upper area around the slot 143 of the first top wall part 141 is smaller than the upper area around the slot 143 of the second top wall part 142. The second top wall part 142 comprises an insertion slot 147 which is arranged next to the slot 143. As shown in FIG. 5c, the upper area of the first top wall part 141 is inserted through the insertion slot 147 of the second top wall part 142. Thus, the upper part of the first top wall part 141 penetrates the second top wall part 142. Such penetration creates a form-fit engagement between the two top wall parts 141 and 142 which secures both parts to each other. In the state as illustrated in FIG. 5c, the insertion of the first top wall part 141 through the insertion slot 147 is not yet finished. Starting from the illustrated state, the first top wall part 141 is further moved until both upper edges of the first top wall part 141 and 142 match. In this matching state, the two slots 143 are aligned with each other, and, in this matching state, the two upper areas of the two top wall parts 141 and 142 establish a handle 144 that can be used to carry the transport container 1.
(24) While the current invention has been described in relation to its specific embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is for illustrative purposes only. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
