Container Made of Plastic

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) made of plastic, comprising a rectangular base (2) and four lateral walls (3, 4). The lower face of the base (2) has a first stacking contour (20) on the outer edge of the base, and the lateral walls (3, 4) have a second stacking contour (30, 40) on the upper edge region of the lateral walls. When containers (1) are stacked one over the other, the first stacking contour (20) of an upper container (1) and the second stacking contour (30, 40) of a lower container (1) engage with each other in a centering manner. The upper edge region of at least two opposing lateral walls (3, 4) is reinforced by at least one respective profiled reinforcement section (5) attached to the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, and the profiled reinforcement section (5) or each profiled reinforcement section has at least one profiled section web (50) on the section upper face facing away from the container (1), said profiled section web running in the longitudinal direction of the profiled reinforcement section (5) and forming a sliding path (11) for another container (1) to be placed thereon.

Claims

1.-23. (canceled)

24. A plastic container (1), comprising a rectangular base (2) and four lateral walls (3, 4), the base (2) at the bottom comprising a first stacking contour (20) at its outer edge, the lateral walls (3, 4) each comprising an upper edge section comprising a second stacking contour (30, 40), and in case of a stacking of a plurality of containers (1) on top of each other, the first stacking contour (20) of an upper container (1) and the second stacking contour (30, 40) of a lower container (1) are engageable with each other in a centering fashion, wherein the upper edge region reinforces at least two opposite lateral walls (3, 4) by respectively at least one reinforcement profile (5) fastened at the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting fashion, and the/each reinforcement profile (5) comprising at a top side pointing away from the container (1) at least one profiled section web (50) extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement profile (5) and forming a sliding track (11) for another container (1) placeable thereon.

25. A container according to claim 24, wherein the stacking contour (30, 40) of the/each lateral wall (3, 4) comprising a reinforcement profile (5) is respectively embodied at the top of the reinforcement profile (5).

26. A container according to claim 24, wherein the stacking contour (30, 40) of the/each lateral wall (3, 4) comprising a reinforcement profile (5) is embodied respectively at the top edge of the lateral wall (3, 4) separated from the reinforcement profile (5).

27. A container according to claim 24, the/each reinforcement profile (5) comprising in a lower section facing the lateral wall (3, 4) a groove (53) open towards the bottom, or a brace facing downwards, wherein at the top edge of the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) a brace (35) pointing upwards or a groove open towards the top is formed, and wherein the reinforcement profile (5) is latched or jammed or pushed or welded or adhered with its groove (53) on the brace (35) of the lateral wall (3, 4), or with its brace latched or jammed or pushed or welded or adhered in the groove of the lateral wall (3, 4).

28. A container according to claim 24, the/each reinforcement profile (5) comprising at a lateral section facing the lateral wall (3, 4) a groove (53) open towards the side or a brace pointing to the side, wherein at the top edge of the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) a brace (35) pointing to the side or a groove open to the side is formed, and wherein the reinforcement profile (5) with its groove (53) is latched or jammed or pushed or welded or adhered on the brace (35) of the lateral wall (3, 4), or with its brace latched or jammed or pushed or welded or adhered in the groove of the lateral wall (3, 4).

29. A container according to claim 27, wherein cooperating latch elements (34, 54) are formed at the lateral wall (3, 4) and at the corresponding reinforcement profile (5).

30. A synthetic container (1), comprising a rectangular base (2) and four lateral walls (3, 4), the base (2) at the bottom comprising at its outer edge a first stacking contour (20), the lateral walls (3, 4) at their top edge section comprising a second stacking contour (30, 40), and in case of a stacking of a plurality of containers (1) on top of each other, the first stacking contour (20) of an upper container (1) and the second stacking contour (30, 40) of a lower container (1) engage each other in a centering fashion, wherein the upper edge section of at least two opposite lateral walls (3, 4) is reinforced by at least one reinforcement profile (5) arranged in or at the lateral wall (3, 4), and extends in the longitudinal direction of the lateral wall, and wherein the/each reinforcement profile (5) is arranged offset in reference to the stacking contour (30, 40) in a direction towards the base (2).

31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the upper edge section of at least two opposite lateral walls (3, 4) comprises at least one sliding track (11) each, extending separated from the reinforcement profile (5) in the longitudinal direction of the lateral wall, for another container (1) to be placed thereon.

32. A container according to claim 30, wherein the/each lateral wall (3, 4) comprising a reinforcement profile (5) is a two-component or multi-component injection molded part, which is obtainable by successive injection of at least two different synthetics into a lateral wall or container mold, with one synthetic being a reinforced synthetic for the reinforcement profile (5) and one synthetic being a non-reinforced synthetic for the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) or the remaining container (1).

33. A container according to claim 30, wherein the/each lateral wall (3, 4) comprising a reinforcement profile (5) is obtainable by inserting a reinforcement profile (5), formed by a reinforced, prefabricated component, into a lateral wall or container mold and subsequently injecting a non-reinforced synthetic into the lateral wall or container mold, forming the remaining lateral wall (3, 4) or the remaining container (1).

34. A container according to claim 33, wherein in or at the/each lateral wall (3, 4) comprising a reinforcement profile (5), the reinforcement profile (5) is not bonded to the synthetic of the lateral wall (3, 4) and is displaceable to a minor extent in reference to the remaining lateral wall (3, 4).

35. A container according to claim 30, wherein the/each reinforcement profile (5) is latched or jammed or pushed or welded or adhered to the corresponding lateral wall (3, 4).

36. A container according to claim 24, wherein the upper edge section of two opposite longer lateral walls (3) is reinforced by respectively a reinforcement profile (5) extending continuously over a length of the corresponding lateral wall (3).

37. A container according to claim 24, wherein the upper edge section of all lateral walls (3, 4) is respectively reinforced by a reinforcement profile (5) continuous over the length of the corresponding lateral wall (3, 4).

38. A container according to claim 24, wherein the upper edge region of end sections of two lateral walls (3, 4), adjacent at corners of the container, are reinforced by a reinforcement profile (5) extending in an angular fashion.

39. A container according to claim 24, wherein the upper edge region of all lateral walls (3, 4) is reinforced by a single, frame-shaped circumferential reinforcement profile (5).

40. A container according to claim 24, wherein the lateral walls (3, 4) are made from a non-reinforced thermoplastic synthetic and the/each reinforcement profile (5) is made from a fiber-reinforced synthetic or metal.

41. A container according to claim 24, wherein sections of the stacking contour (20) of the base (2) located below the lateral walls (3, 4) comprising sliding tracks (11) respectively comprise a groove (21), the sliding tracks (11) and grooves (21) are respectively embodied such that upon placement of an upper container (1) onto a lower container (1) in a position relatively offset in the longitudinal direction of the sliding tracks (11) and groove (21) to each other the upper container (1) rests in an elevated position on the sliding tracks (11) of the lower container (1) in a displaceable fashion, wherein during or after any displacement of the upper container (1) into a position coinciding with the lower container (1), the sliding tracks (11) can enter the grooves (21) when the upper container (1) is lowered into a final stacked position.

42. A container according to claim 41, wherein the sliding tracks (11) are embodied respectively as vertically aligned, continuous or interrupted braces.

43. A container according to claim 42, wherein each sliding track (11) is stepped or sloped or rounded at its end sections (12).

44. A container according to claim 41, wherein the sliding tracks (11) are provided on two long lateral walls (3) or on two short lateral walls (4).

45. A container according to claim 41, wherein the two lateral walls (3 or 4) not equipped with sliding tracks (11) comprise at the top respectively one or more projections (44) distanced from each other in the longitudinal direction of these lateral walls (3 or 4) and securing a conventional container placed upon the container (1) from displacement in the longitudinal direction of the sliding tracks (11), with the height of the projections being equivalent to the height of the sliding tracks (11).

46. A container according to claim 24, wherein the container is a stiff container (1), the lateral walls (3, 4) being embodied in one piece with the base (2) or being fixedly connected therewith, or wherein the container is a foldable container (1) comprising lateral walls (3, 4) articulatably connected to the base (2).

Description

[0033] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the containers according to the invention are explained based on a drawing. The figures of the drawing show:

[0034] FIG. 1 a first container with respectively one reinforcement profile at two longer lateral walls located opposite each other, in a view diagonally from the top,

[0035] FIG. 2 the container of FIG. 1 in a front view of one of the longer lateral walls with a reinforcement profile fastened thereat,

[0036] FIG. 3 one of the longer lateral walls of the container of FIG. 1 and a reinforcement profile not yet fastened thereat in a view diagonally from the top,

[0037] FIG. 4 a portion of the longer lateral wall and the reinforcement profile of FIG. 3 connected thereto in an enlarged detail,

[0038] FIG. 5 a portion of the longer lateral wall and the reinforcement profile of FIG. 3 connected thereto in an enlarged illustration, partially in a front view and partially in a first vertical section,

[0039] FIG. 6 a portion of the longer lateral wall and the reinforcement profile of FIG. 3 connected thereto in an enlarged illustration, partially in a front view and partially in a second vertical section,

[0040] FIG. 7 a container with respectively one reinforcement profile at two opposite longer lateral walls, in a front view of the shorter lateral wall,

[0041] FIG. 8 another container with one reinforcement profile each at two opposite longer lateral walls, in a view diagonally from the top,

[0042] FIG. 9 one of the longer lateral walls of the container of FIG. 8 and a reinforcement profile not yet connected thereto, in a view diagonally from the top,

[0043] FIG. 10 the lateral wall of FIG. 9 with the reinforcement profile connected thereto in a view diagonally from the top,

[0044] FIG. 11 one of the longer lateral walls of another container and a reinforcement profile not yet connected thereto in a view diagonally from the top,

[0045] FIG. 12 the lateral wall of FIG. 11 and the reinforcement profile connected thereto in a view diagonally from the top, and

[0046] FIG. 13 one of the longer lateral walls of another container and a reinforcement profile connected thereto in a view diagonally from the top.

[0047] In the following description of the figures identical parts in the various figures of the drawing are always provided with the same reference character so that not every figure of the drawing requires an explanation for each reference character.

[0048] FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a container 1 with a base 2, with two opposite first longer lateral walls 3 and with two opposite shorter lateral walls 4, seen in a view diagonally from the top. The container 1 is here embodied as a folding container, in which the lateral walls 3, 4 are connected in an articulate fashion to the base 2 such that they are adjustable between the erected position of use shown in FIG. 1 and the resting position in which the four lateral walls 3, 4 are folded inwardly to the base 2.

[0049] Furthermore, the lateral walls 3, 4 are provided in a manner known per se respectively with a handle opening 31, 41 as well as detachable locking means 43 for a mutual fixing of the lateral walls 3, 4 in their position of use.

[0050] Via a lower stacking contour 20 at the outer edge region of the base 2 and respectively one upper stack and contour 30, 40 each at the top edge of the lateral walls 3, 4 several containers 1 can be stacked over top engaging each other in a centering fashion.

[0051] The base 2 and the lateral walls 3, 4 are here injection molded parts comprising a thermoplastic synthetic, with at least the lateral walls 3 comprising flexible wall sections 33 with a certain resilience in order to protect the goods stored or transported in the container 1.

[0052] In order to allow stacking such containers 1 in a safe and reliable fashion over top of each other without this leading to any bulging of the top edge of the lateral walls 3 towards the outside, particularly in the lower containers 1 in a stack of loaded containers 1, here one reinforcement profile 5 is respectively provided at the two opposite longer lateral walls 3 in a form-fitting fashion, in this case latched. The reinforcement profiles 5 are made from a material, particularly a fiber-reinforced synthetic or metal, which is more stable than the material the lateral walls 3 are made from per se, commonly a non-reinforced synthetic. The reinforcement profiles 5 ensure therefore that the lateral walls 3 in their upper edge region show a particularly high stability, thus preventing any undesired bulging of the upper edge of the lateral walls 3 in a stack of containers.

[0053] At the top, each reinforcement profile 5 shows a profiled section web 50 pointing upwards, extending in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement profile 5 and the corresponding lateral wall 3. The profiled section web 50 form at their top a sliding track 11, on which an upper container 1, after an only partially overlapping placement, can be displaced on a lower container 1 easily into its final stacked position.

[0054] The end sections 12 of the sliding track 11 are sloped in order to displace the upper container 1 in an elevated position in reference to the lower container 1 and to lower the upper container 1 only immediately prior or upon reaching the coinciding position of the upper container 1 in reference to the lower container 1. This way the goods in the lower container 1 are protected from damages by the shifting of the upper container 1.

[0055] In order to allow placing conventional containers with the same basic dimensions safely and stacked on the container 1, on the upper edge of the shorter lateral walls 4 formed by the upper stacking contour 40 respectively two projecting protrusions 44 are formed at a distance from each other. On the one hand, these projections 44 block a conventional container placed upon the container 1 from any undesired shifting along the sliding tracks 11 beyond a coinciding stacking position in reference to the container 1 located underneath.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows the container 1 of FIG. 1 in a front view of one of the longer lateral walls 3 with a reinforcement profile 5 fastened thereat. At the bottom of FIG. 2 the base 2 is visible with its stacking contour 20. The reinforcement profile 5 is connected to the lateral wall 3 at the upper edge of the lateral wall 3. A handle opening 31 is provided underneath a central section of the reinforcement profile 5 in said lateral wall 3. A central area of the lateral wall 3 framed by the four edge sections of the lateral wall 3 forms the flexible wall section 33, which shows certain resilience. The profiled section web 50 is visible at the top of the reinforcement profile 5, which forms the stacking contour 30 of the lateral wall 3 as well as one of the sliding tracks 11 with the sloped sliding track end sections 12.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows one of the longer lateral walls 3 and a reinforcement profile 5, not yet fastened thereat, in a view diagonally from the top. The lateral wall 3 shows at its top edge a brace 35 pointing upwards, at which in regular intervals latching elements 34 are provided in the form of latching cams projecting from the area of the brace. The reinforcement profile 5, shown above the lateral wall 3 and not yet connected thereto shows at its bottom a groove 53, by which the reinforcement profile 5 can be plugged on in a form-fitting fashion in the vertical direction from the top towards the bottom onto the brace 35. Here, via latching elements 54 in the form of latch openings appropriately positioned in the reinforcement profile 5, the locking profile 5 is latched in a securely operating fashion with the latch elements 34 at the lateral wall 3, however detachable if necessary, generating the desired reinforcement and stiffening of the upper edge region of the lateral wall 3.

[0058] At the bottom edge of the lateral wall 3 several, in this case four, hinges 32 are visible in FIG. 3, by which in a manner known per se the lateral wall 3 can be connected in an articulate fashion to the base 2 of the container 1, not shown here.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows in an enlarged detail a portion of the longer lateral wall 3 and the reinforcement profile 5 of FIG. 3 connected thereto. At the bottom left of FIG. 4 a portion of the lateral wall 3 is shown with the handle opening 31. The reinforcement profile 5 extends above thereof.

[0060] At the right above the handle opening 31 one of the pair of latching elements 34, 54 is discernible with the latching element 34 of the lateral wall 3 showing the form of a latching cam, which engages the latching element 54 of the reinforcement profile 5 formed as a latch opening.

[0061] Furthermore, FIG. 4 illustrates that the reinforcement profile 5 shows on its side facing the interior of the container several, parallel extending lateral profile wings 51, which result in the reinforcement profile 5 to be particularly rigid with relatively low material use.

[0062] At the top of the reinforcement profile 5 its vertical profiled section web 50 extends, with its top forming the sliding track 11 of the lateral wall 3.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a portion of the longer lateral wall 3 and the reinforcement profile 5 connected thereto in an enlarged illustration, partially in a front view and partially in a first vertical section. At the sectional area located at the right in FIG. 5 it is discernible how the reinforcement profile 5 is placed with its groove 53 onto the brace 35 at the upper edge of the lateral wall 3 in a form-fitting fashion.

[0064] Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows that the reinforcement profile 5 also shows at its surface, which is facing away from the viewer and pointing to the interior of the container, lateral profile wings 51, extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement profile 5, for effective stiffening.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows a portion of the longer lateral wall 3 and the reinforcement profile 5 connected thereto in an enlarge illustration, partially in a front view and partially in a second vertical section. The section extends here through one of the pairs of latching elements 34, 54 so that their cooperation is particularly clearly discernible, here.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a container 1 with respectively one reinforcement profile 5 at two longer lateral walls 3 opposite each other, in a front view of a shorter lateral wall 4. At the left and the right in FIG. 7 accordingly one of the two longer lateral walls 3 is therefore provided. At the bottom of FIG. 7 the base 2 is located with its bottom stacking contour 20.

[0067] At the top, the container 1 shows at the shorter lateral wall 4, facing the viewer, the stacking contour 40 forming the upper edge. At a distance from the upper edge and offset towards the bottom a handle opening 41 is provided in the lateral center of the lateral wall 4. Above the handle opening 41, parallel to the area of the lateral wall 42, two resilient locking means 43 extend, which are displaceable in the horizontal direction. Two upwards projecting protrusions 44 are formed at the upper edge of the lateral wall 4 at a distance from each other, which serve to secure a conventional container placed onto the container 1, showing the same basic dimensions, in a coinciding stacking position in reference to the container 1 and block any displacement of the upper, conventional container along the sliding tracks 11 out of the coinciding stacking position.

[0068] The corresponding stacking contours 30 are visible at the left and the right in FIG. 7, along the upper edge of the two lateral walls 3. The stacking contours 30 are here respectively formed by one of the reinforcement profiles 5, latched respectively at the top of the remaining lateral wall 3, which in turn show at the top a profiled section web 50 extending in the longitudinal direction, with its top respectively forming the sliding track 11.

[0069] At its longitudinal sides, extending in FIG. 7 at the left and the right perpendicular to the drawing level the base 2 shows, a groove 21 open toward the bottom, which is arranged coinciding with the profiled section web 50. When an identical container 1 is placed onto the container 1, at first offset in the longitudinal direction of the sliding tracks 11, the upper container 1 can be displaced via its grooves 21 on the sliding tracks 11 of the lower container 1 in a position elevated during the shifting to a final stacked position coinciding with that of the lower container 1, in which then the upper container 1 is lowered in reference to the lower container 1 by the cooperation of the appropriately designed sliding tracks 11 and the grooves 21 into its final stacking position.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows another container 1 with respectively one reinforcement profile 5 each at two opposite longer lateral walls 3 in a view diagonally from the top. Unlike the container according to FIG. 1, here the reinforcement profiles 5 are embodied as insertion parts, which are inserted as prefabricated parts during the production of the container 1 or its lateral walls 3 into an injection mold, in which then the remaining lateral wall is molded, causing the reinforcement profiles 5 to be securely connected to the respectively remaining lateral wall 3.

[0071] The sliding tracks 11 at the top of the stacking contours 30 of the longer lateral walls 3 are here not a portion of the reinforcement profiles 5 but a portion of the remaining lateral walls 3 and embodied respectively at the top of the brace 35 formed in one piece at the top of the lateral wall 3.

[0072] With regards to the other parts and details of the container 1 shown in FIG. 8 reference is made to the description above.

[0073] FIG. 9 shows one of the longer lateral walls 3 of the container of FIG. 8 and, separated therefrom, a corresponding reinforcement profile 5, in a view diagonally from the top. As discernible from FIG. 9 here the reinforcement profile 5 shows two longitudinal braces 55 extending parallel to each other and in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement profile 5 as well as several lateral braces 56 connecting them to each other and distanced from each other in the longitudinal direction. In the finished state of the lateral wall 3 the synthetic material of the remaining lateral wall 3 covers the lateral braces 56 of the reinforcement profile 5, by which it is securely connected to the remaining lateral wall 3.

[0074] Further, it is clearly discernible from FIG. 9 that here the sliding track 11 is formed at the top of the brace 35 of the stacking contour 30 of the lateral wall 3, thus is not a part of the reinforcement profile 5.

[0075] FIG. 10 shows the lateral wall of FIG. 9 with the reinforcement profile 5 connected thereto, once more in a view diagonally from the top. Here, it is particularly visible that the reinforcement profile 5 extends below the sliding track 11 and forms with its top, together with the top edge of the lateral wall 3, a portion of the stacking contour 30.

[0076] FIG. 11 shows one of the longer lateral walls 3 of another container 1 and a reinforcement profile 5 not yet connected thereto, in a view diagonally from the top. In this exemplary embodiment the reinforcement profile 5 can be latched with the remaining lateral wall by insertion in the direction from the top towards the bottom, for which purpose the lateral wall 3 comprises latching elements 34 and the reinforcement profile 5 shows latching elements 54 cooperating therewith.

[0077] On its facial end the reinforcement profile 5 shows here a guide pin 57 pointing downwards, which can be accepted in an appropriate recess near the lateral edges of the lateral wall 3. The guide pins 57 prevents particularly the tipping of the reinforcement profile 5, which here shows a profiled section web 50 pointing upwards and showing a sliding track 11 at the top, on which during the stacking process of containers 1 the weight of the respectively upper container rests during its displacement to the coinciding stacked position.

[0078] FIG. 12 shows the lateral wall 3 of FIG. 11 and the reinforcement profile 5 connected thereto, also in a view diagonally from the top. The latching element 34 of the lateral wall 3 and the latching elements 54 of the reinforcement profile 5 are now engaged in a latching fashion with each other and secure the reinforcement profile 5 in its assembled position at the lateral wall 3. The profiled section web 50 projects from the reinforcement profile 5 towards the top, extending in its longitudinal direction, with the top there forming the sliding track 11 with its end sections 12 extending down in a sloped fashion.

[0079] FIG. 13 finally shows one of the longer lateral walls 3 of another container 1 and a reinforcement profile 5 connected thereto in a view diagonally from the top. It is characteristic for the exemplary embodiment shown here that the reinforcement profile 5 is welded to the remaining lateral wall 3 or that the lateral wall 3 including the reinforcement profile 5 is produced as a two-component injection-molded part. In both embodiments, which cannot be distinguished visually by their appearance, the reinforcement profile 5 is connected in a particularly secure and lasting fashion to the remaining lateral wall 3.

[0080] The sliding track 11 is here formed at the top of a brace 35 of the stacking contour 30 of the lateral wall 3, thus in this exemplary embodiment it is not a part of the reinforcement profile 5.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0081]

TABLE-US-00001 Character Reference 1 Container 11 Sliding track 12 End sections of 11 2 Base of 1 20 Stacking contour at 2 21 Grooves in 20 3 first, longer lateral walls 30 Stacking contour at 3 31 Handle opening in 3 32 Hinges at 3 33 flexible wall section of 3 34 Latching elements at 3 35 Brace at the top edge at 3 4 second, shorter lateral walls 40 Stacking contour/top edge at 4 41 Handle opening in 4 43 Locking means 44 Projections at 4 5 Reinforcement profiles 50 Profiled section web top at 5 51 Profile wing laterally at 5 53 Groove at the bottom in 5 for 35 54 Latching elements at 5 55 Longitudinal braces 56 Lateral braces 57 Guide pins