DISPLAY CONTAINER

Abstract

A container for transporting and storing or presenting goods includes a bottom, a first side wall segment articulated to the bottom and which can be folded about a folding axis parallel to the bottom between a first folding position and a second folding position, and at least one second side wall segment, which is articulated to a side edge of the first side wall segment and which can be pivoted about a pivoting axis perpendicular to the bottom between a first pivoting position pivoted laterally away from the first side wall segment and a second pivoting position. The first side wall segment and/or the second side wall segment have at least one angled side border segment on the side edges facing each other and the two side wall segments are articulated to each other.

Claims

1. A display container for the storage and transportation or presentation of goods, the container comprising: a rectangular base; a first side wall; and at least one second side wall, wherein the first side wall is pivotally connected with the base such that it can pivot around a horizontal axis between a first folding position, in which the first side wall is substantially upright, and a second folding position, in which the first side wall is collapsed inwardly onto the base into a substantially horizontal or base parallel orientation; and the second side wall is hingedly connected with a side rim portion of the first side wall and movable between a first swivel position, in which the second side wall is swung away from the first side wall in a lateral direction, and a second swivel position, in which the second side wall is swung towards the first side wall, the first side wall and/or the second side wall comprising an L-shaped side rim portion at their facing side rims and the two side rim portions are jointed such that the at least one L-shaped side rim portion of the at least one side wall lies flat against the other of the first and second side walls at least in the first swivel position, forming a limit stop, which defines a right angle between the first and the second side wall.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein a lower edge section of the second side wall, which faces the base rim portion, and an upper section of the base rim portion are shaped complementarily such that, when the second side wall is moved into the first swivel position, the complementary sections of the second side wall and the base rim portion form a limit stop through form-locking engagement.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the lower edge section of the second side wall comprises at least one protrusion which is formed complementarily to at least one recess formed in the upper section of the base rim portion and which inserts therein, when the second side wall is moved into the first swivel position.

4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the lower edge section of the second side wall and the complementary upper section of the base rim portion form a latching engagement with one another, when the second side wall is moved into the first swivel position.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall include, at their side rims facing each other, one or more L-shaped side rim portions and the two side walls are articulated to each other, such that the L-shaped side rim portions are nested or encompass each other at least in the first swivel position and form one or more L-shaped pairs of contact surfaces.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the swivel axis is located inside the container corner defined by the two L-shaped side rim portions or is arranged to be inwardly offset therefrom at one of the two side walls, especially at the first side wall.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the swivel axis extends through the free end of the L-shaped side rim portion of the second side wall.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the L-shaped side rim portion or portions of the second side wall in the first swivel position is/are in full-surface contact inside of the L-shaped side rim portion or portions of the first side wall or is/are located alternately inside and outside of the L-shaped side rim portions of the first side wall.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein in the area of the contact surfaces the L-shaped side rim portions have complementary designs such as protrusions and recesses or ribs and grooves engaging at least in the first swivel position.

10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the L-shaped side rim portion of the first and/or second side wall comprises recesses, which can insert into the complementary designs located in the base rim portion, when the first side wall is folded towards the base into the second folding position together with the second side wall.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein in the second folding position, the L-shaped side rim portions of the second side wall are located inside the base rim portion and the L-shaped side rim portions of the first side wall are located outside of the base rim portion.

12. The container according to claim 10, wherein the base rim portion comprises one or more recesses for flushly receiving the L-shaped side rim portions of the first side wall in the second folding position.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the second side wall includes, at the other opposite side rim portion, an inwardly vertical groove for receiving a side wall insert.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein engaging means for releasably locking the side wall insert at one or more predetermined positions are provided at the groove itself or in the area of the groove.

15. The container according to claim 1, wherein on the side opposite to the first side wall section the base has a base rim portion comprising a holding fixture for a side wall insert in the form of a vertically movable side wall element, folding grid or a substitute wall.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall includes on its inside one or more recesses for receiving, in a space-saving manner, projections correspondingly formed on the inside of the second side wall in the second swivel position.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein a second side wall is articulated on both sides of the first side wall respectively, wherein the two second side walls are overlapping in the second swivel position.

18. The container according to claim 17, wherein each second side wall includes at its outsides one or more recesses for receiving, in a space-saving manner, projections correspondingly formed on the inside of the respective other second side wall in the second swivel position.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one L-shaped side rim portion of the first side wall and the at least one side rim portion of the second side wall have reduced wall thickness, such that the side rim portions that are lying flat against one another have a wall thickness together, which corresponds with the wall thickness of the first or second side wall elsewhere.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0023] Further advantages will be evident from the following description of a preferred embodiment by way of enclosed drawings, of which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention in the completely erected condition;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the container according to the first embodiment of the invention with two partly inwardly pivoted side walls;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the container according to the first embodiment of the invention with two completely inwardly pivoted side walls;

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the container according to the first embodiment of the invention with the back wall being folded inwardly together with two inwardly pivoted side walls;

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the pivot joint according to a second embodiment from the rear;

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a perspective partial top view of the back wall comprising two inwardly pivoted side walls according to the second embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 7 shows the detailed view VII from FIG. 6;

[0031] FIG. 8 shows the detailed view VIII from FIG. 6;

[0032] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a side wall according to the second embodiment of the invention in a condition immediately before the completely swung-open position; and

[0033] FIG. 10 shows a detailed partial top view of a corner area between a side wall and a folding grid moved upwards at the container front side according to the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container 2 suited for transporting and storing, however especially for presenting goods. The container 2 is preferably made from plastic. The container 2 includes a substantially rectangular base 4 which is trough-shaped and, resp., is recessed in the center and, resp., on the sides has somewhat elevated rims. The container 2 further includes a long side wall or back wall 6 (first side wall section) and two adjacent short side walls 8 and 10 (second side wall sections). At the second long side or front wall side instead of a fixed side wall a vertically movable folding grid 12 is provided which is shown completely lowered in FIG. 1. Thus, in the position shown in FIG. 1, the container 2 can be loaded and unloaded very easily via the front wall side, while the folding grid 12 can be pulled upwards and thus extended for the purpose of transport locking. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the container 2 is also perfectly suited for presenting goods.

[0035] The back wall 6 is articulated to the base 4, while the two side walls 8 and 10 are articulated to the back wall 6. In this way, each of the side walls 8 and 10 can be swiveled/pivoted inwardly, as shown in FIG. 2 (about a vertical pivoting axis) so as to be finally pivoted, in the completely inwardly pivoted position (second pivoting position) (cf. FIG. 3), completely and superimposed toward the back wall 6. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the back wall 6 can be folded together with the two inwardly pivoted side walls 8 and 10 (about a horizontal folding axis) toward the base and, resp., inwardly. It is further evident from FIG. 1 that the two short side walls 8 and 10 have grip openings 14 for lifting the container 2. The folding grid 12 includes two recesses or projections 16 so that it can be pulled upwards from the position shown in FIG. 1.

[0036] Each of the side walls 8 and 10 is connected to the back wall 6 about a vertical axis A to be pivoting by approx. 90 via a joint. From FIGS. 1 to 3 it is further evident that both side rim portions 18 of the side walls 8 and 10 facing the back wall 6 as well as side rim portions 20 of the back wall 6 facing the side walls 8 and 10 are formed to be bent in L shape or at right angles or include a plurality of such vertically spaced L-shaped portions which are flatly nested in the completely outwardly pivoted position of the side walls 8 and 10 shown in FIG. 1. The L-shaped rim portion 20 of the back wall 6 thus encompasses the respective L-shaped rim portion 18 of the side walls 8 and 10. The vertical pivoting axis A extends through the free end of the L-shaped rim portion 18 of the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 and through the back wall 6 in a portion that is offset somewhat inwardly or toward the center of the back wall 6 relative to the rim portion 20 of the back wall 6 so as to allow the L-shaped side rim portions of the side walls 8 and 10 to pivot.

[0037] The side walls 8 and 10 are connected to each other via plural vertically spread joint portions 22, e.g. by means of releasable plug joints. The L-shaped rim portion 18 of the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 further includes on its outside plural projections 24 spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction which, when the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is outwardly pivoted, engage in recesses 26 appropriately formed in the side rim portions 20 of the back wall 6 so that the projections 24 complete the recesses 26 when the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is completely outwardly pivoted, i.e. by 90 relative to the back wall 6.

[0038] The pivoting range of the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is limited, on the one hand, to a maximum of 90 by interaction of the L-shaped rim portions 18 and 20, but on the other hand by vertically projecting stops 28 formed in T shape at the respective base edge (base rim portion 32) which stops engage in corresponding T-shaped recesses 30 formed at the lower edge of the side wall 8 and, resp., 10. The outward movement of the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is limited by the interaction of the stops 28 and the recesses 30. Further, the stops and/or recesses include appropriate detent means so as to lock the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 in the outwardly pivoted position (FIG. 1) with the base 4. Due to the undercut recesses 30, the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is secured in the outwardly pivoted position via the stops 28 also in the vertical direction.

[0039] When the folding grid 12 is pulled upwards, said grid, too, prevents the side walls 8 and 10 from pivoting inwardly. When the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is pivoted completely inwardly (cf. FIG. 3), the L-shaped leg of the rim portion 18 of the side wall and the L-shaped leg of the side rim portion 20 of the back wall 6 are somewhat spaced apart from each other, namely so far that, when the back wall 6 is brought from the outwardly folded position shown in FIG. 3 to the inwardly folded position shown in FIG. 4, the two L-shaped rim portions 18 and 20 encompass the rim 32 of the base 4 on both sides, with the stops 28 formed at the base rim 32 passing through the recesses 26 in the side rim portion 20 of the back wall 6. In this way, the back wall 6 can be folded together with the two side walls 8 and 10 into the trough-shaped base 4 in a space-saving manner.

[0040] In the completely folded position as shown in FIG. 4, the two side walls 8 and 10 are received in the trough-shaped interior of the base 4 and the back wall 6 encompasses the two opposite short base rim portions 32. For receiving the L-shaped rim portions 20 of the back wall 6 in a flush manner, a recess 34 which is completed by the L-shaped rim portion 20 of the back wall 6 in the folded position is further provided in the base rim portion 32 (cf. FIG. 4).

[0041] For vertically guiding the folding grid 12, each of the two side walls 8 and 10 includes on the side edge facing the folding grid 12 vertical grooves 36 which are open to the inside and are open downwards (to the base). The folding grid 12 may be pulled vertically upwards along said grooves 36 and can be locked via detent means 48 (cf. FIG. 10) in the completely extended position, i.e. when the folding grid reaches the upper edge of the adjacent side walls 8 and 10, as will be described later in detail.

[0042] As is further visible from FIGS. 1 and 2, the back wall 6 has two recesses 38 extending in the vertical direction and being equally spaced from the center of the wall on both sides, said recesses serving for receiving the grooves 36 protruding somewhat from the inner side wall surface, when the side wall 8 and, resp., 10 is pivoted inwardly toward the back wall 6. As the two side walls 8 and 10 together are wider than the back wall 6, they are necessarily overlapping when they are pivoted toward the back wall 6. Against this background, the left-hand recess 38 in the back wall 6 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided for the groove 36 of the right-hand side wall 8, when the latter is pivoted inwardly first, and the right-hand recess 38 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided for the groove 36 of the left-hand side wall 10, when the latter is pivoted inwardly before the other side wall 8.

[0043] The container 2 according to the invention thus permits pivoting the two side walls 8 and 10 inwardly in any order without entailing any drawback. For the same reason, the two side walls 8 and 10 in turn have recesses 40 extending vertically on their outside which equally serve for receiving the groove 36 of the respective other side wall 8 and, resp., 10 which is pivoted inwardly in the second place. This enables the side walls 8 and 10 to be folded or pivoted inwardly in a space-saving manner without the user having to observe any predetermined pivoting order.

[0044] FIGS. 5 to 10 describe a second embodiment of the invention, the latter differing from the first embodiment by single aspects only, therefore it is not intended to repeat the entire description of the first embodiment with respect to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective rear view of the container 2, wherein it is evident also here that the side wall 10 and, resp., 8 includes L-shaped rim portions 18 and the back wall 6 includes L-shaped rim portions 20. As is visible from FIG. 5, the L-shaped rim portions 18 of the side wall 10 include joint pins 42 adapted to be clipped into corresponding joint holding fixtures 44. In the second embodiment, too, the L-shaped rim portions 20 of the back wall 6 encompass the rim portions 18 of the side wall 10 and, resp., 8. In the background of FIG. 5, furthermore the raised and unfolded folding grid 12 which is adapted to prevent objects from falling out of the container to the front is visible at the container front side. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective partial top view including the back wall 6 and the two inwardly pivoted side walls 8 and 10, wherein the left-hand side wall 10 has been pivoted inwardly before the right-hand side wall 8 and the left-hand side wall 10 is adjacent to the inner surface of the back wall 6 and the right-hand side wall 8 contacts the left-hand side wall 10.

[0045] It is further evident that the second embodiment differs also by the surface design of the respective walls 6, 8 and 10, i.e. that they exhibit (substantially) single-walled side walls including reinforcing ribs instead of double-walled side walls having smooth surfaces.

[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view VII from FIG. 6, namely the interaction of the L-shaped rim portions 18 and 20 of the back wall 6 and, resp., side wall 10. As is especially evident from FIG. 7, the joint axis extends through the free end of the L-shaped rim portion 18 of the side wall 10 and through a portion in the back wall 6 which is moved inwardly by the leg of the L-shaped rim portion 18 so as to provide the appropriate pivoting space for the L-shaped rim portion 18. The surfaces of the two L-shaped rim portions 18 and 20 facing each other and, resp., the inner surface of the rim portion 20 of the back wall 6 and the outer surface of the rim portion 18 of the side wall 10 are provided with transverse grooves and ribs (in parallel to the upper edge of the back wall) which alternately engage in each other in the vertical direction. This design does not only help to stiffen or reinforce the L-shaped rim portions 18 and 20 but also helps to obtain form closure between the side wall 10 and, resp., 8 and the back wall 6, thus relieving the joints.

[0047] In FIG. 8 engagement of the grooves 36 on the inside of the two side walls 8 and 10 in the respective recesses 38, 40 on the back wall 6 and, resp., on the outside of the side wall 10 is visible. The inverse image is resulting when the pivoting order is changed. In this respect, the second embodiment is not different from the first embodiment, therefore any further explanations are omitted in this context.

[0048] FIG. 9 illustrates the side wall 10 directly before the maximum pivoting position is reached. In contrast to the first embodiment, the stops 28 formed at the base rim 32 are not in the form of T-shaped stops but in the form of almost rectangular lugs 28, with corresponding projections 30 formed at the outer wall surface of the side wall 10 and, resp., 8 in the lower edge area penetrating the recesses of said lugs and thus enabling the side wall 10 to be vertically secured to the base 4.

[0049] FIG. 10 illustrates the front corner area of the side wall 10 with the completely raised folding grid 12. As is evident from FIG. 10, the groove 36 is not open toward the top so that the upper groove end 46 forms an upper stop for the folding grid. It is further evident from FIG. 10 that at the groove 46 a detent ramp 48 is formed which, when it has been overcome, enables a vertical captive fastening of the folding grid 12 in the position shown in FIG. 10. In order to overcome the detent ramp 48 a particular force has to be applied from above to the folding grid 12, thus causing the folding grid 12 and/or the side wall 10 to move to the side and to release the folding grid 12.

[0050] By way of the embodiments a container was described in which the side walls adjacent and, resp., articulated to each other include respective angled side rim portions forming overlapping angular profiles. The articulation between the side walls may be increased already when only one side wall section includes an angled side rim portion which in the outwardly pivoted position (position of use) lies flat (with its outer or inner side) against the other side wall section.