Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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translated from German
Iletter from: Herrmann-Trentepohl
Kirschner . Grosse
Bockhorni & Partner
Munich, Germany
Letter to: Schoeller-Plast SA
11, route de la Condemine
CH-1680 Romont, Switzerland
Nov. 26, 1991
Ref. No. T 63540 WOP (Bo/La/Pl)
Returnable Pack
The invention concerns a returnable pack, in particular a container
for use in such returnable packaging system.
The increasing emphasis on the protection of the environment and
the accompanying resulting demands for decreased waste or far-
reaching waste avoidance leads to considerable difficulties in the
case of conventional packaging systems, since according to planned
ordinances or ordinances which have already been passed in certain
countries, transport packs must, after use, be taken back by the
wholesale and retail trade and disposed of outside of the public
disposal services for re-use or recycling. In the case of
conventional one-way cardboard packs, which are often used in
conjunction with shrink wrap and adhesive tapes, this involves for
the business or service organization responsible for disposal of
the packaging material a sorting and storage expense, which
necessarily results in conventional packaging systems becoming more
expensive.
In order to eliminate these problems, concepts for returnable
packaging systems have already been proposed, which in practice
could not be implemented, however, at the trade or consumer level
for a number of different reasons.
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A packaging system has already been proposed which consists of box-
like containers of recyclable plastic, the side panels of which are
of conical construction for the purpose of stacking the empty
containers. Apart from the fact that because of the conical
construction of the container side panels a fairly sizable dead
volume is created that cannot be used for packaging or for
accommodating shippable products, the conical construction often
causes the stacked containers to jam during the return transport,
which also carries with it the danger that when separating the
stacked containers they can be damaged or destroyed. Moreover, in
the case of these containers, the merchandise packed in them must
be unpacked by sales personnel and shifted to shelves.
Finally, it is known how to construct a container from collapsible
elements, which again requires, however, that for display purposes
the goods must be taken out of the container and put on the shelf.
Furthermore, a fairly considerable weakening of the container
results from the large number of joint hinges used for this
solution, so that the use of this container system for transpor~
and packaging of comparably light products is limited. The
frequently collapsible construction of these systems entails that
this type of pack is only reluctantly being accepted by the trade
and the consumer, whereby especially manufacturers of high-value
quality goods mostly reject these systems, because they are
concerned that the pack's defects are going to be identified with
their own products.
The object of the invention is to create a returnable pack, of
rugged constructio~, easy to manufacture, for multiple applications
as well as easy to handle. Furthermore, the pack should have
product-displaying characteristics and enable a considerable volume
reduction for the return trip when empty. Finally, the pack should
be suitable for palletizing systems, well stackabLe and in stacked
condition also combinable with other conventional packaging
systems.
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This objective is individually and in combination solved by means
of the characteristics set forth in the claims or in the
description hereinafter.
The container according to the invention is a box consisting of
matching elements, of bottom, cover and the side panels of the
con~ainer or box which form the wall panels. Bottom and cover are
suitably uniform, i.e. the bottom can at the same time be used as
cover and vice versa.
In effect, bottom and cover are designed in the form of a tray and
consist specifically of a plate-shaped bottom element with a all-
around wall molding of reduced height. The individual elements can
preferably be assembled via-plug-in connections into the container,
whereby the wall panel is then mounted onto the bottom and
subsequently the cover onto the wall panel. This makes it possible
to use the pack also immediately for product display, since only
the cover and/or the wall panel needs to be lifted up and off for
the goods to be shifted to the shelf together with the bottom
element. Because of this, there is no longer the need for sales
personnel to unpack and shift the goods to the shelf as is the case
with the conventional packaging systems. The system is purposely of
modular construction, whereby bottom and cover are combinable, i.e.
also without wall panel, bottom and cover it forms a container
accommodating cans.
The collapsible construction of the ~all panel is particularly
advantageous, since this enables a considerable volume reduction
for the return trip. Bottom and cove~ are suitably stackable into
each other for the return trip. To t:~is effect, it is useful to
provide for hinges in the corner areas and/or in the middle of the
panel sides, so that the panel can be folded together to one size,
which enables accommodation of the folded panel within the
container itself or that the folded panel, because of its
dimensions, does not project beyond ~he basic dimensions of the
other container elements.
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Recessed grips in bottom and cover not only facilitate thehandling, but they form open slots for the closed container for
ventilation and cooling purposes.
Using knobs (= protuberances), especially arranged in fields, on
predetermined bottom and cover surfaces, makes stacking of the
containers slip-free to a large degree thereby avoiding stacking
borders which are frequently used with conventional packaging; this
in turn creates the advantage of being able to use the pack
according to the invention in combination with conventional
packaging systems, especially cardboard packs. The wall panel can
be suitably designed with display openings, which may be formed by
a transparent wall of the wall panel. The individual elements
making up the container are suitably affixed by means of
conventional tightening straps which may be soldered, whereby other
affixing possibilities are also realizable, such as push button
systems. The tightening straps and other fasteners from the same
material are thereby suitably manufactured like the individual
elements of the container, that is to say, preferably from
polypropylene, which permits a simple recycling. Polypropylene has
shown itself to be a suitable material for this purpose, since the
containers will in that case have a useful life of more than ten
years.
The invention guarantees that with a few system components a
universally usable returnable pack is obtained. Thus, containers
consisting of only one bottom and one cover can be produced e.g.,
whereby the container height may be changed at random by adding one
or several wall panels. Depending on the type of goods, the pack
can also be produced by using only one bottom or by using only one
bottom and one cover, that is to say without side walls, in which
case the goods are affixed to the bottom and/or cover by means of
tightening straps. If no tightening straps are used, the container
elements can also be secured by means of labels glued on the
outside.
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Th~ DOX iS therefore very well suitable for transporting goods; yet
is equall~ suitable for displaying goods on the shel~. ~ space-
saving return trip of the box is possi~le at the same time. secause
of its modular construction, one and the same ~ox may be used for
many different products. secause of the versatile applicability of
this packaging system preferably consisting of only two system
components, namely tray or dish-shaped or plate-shaped bottom
element for bottom and cover as well as panels for the side walls
forms a solution for the earlier-explained problem, which is now
being adopted by the trade and the consumer.
Below, the most important characteristics of the invention are
highlighted using a description of a preferred embodiment. The
drawings show the following:
Fig. 1 a view of the boctom element of the container from below,
Fig. 2 a top view of the bottom element according to Fig. 1,
ig. 3 a partial sectional side view of the bottom element, seen
from the narrow side,
ig. 4 a partial longitudinal section side view of the bottom
element,
ig. 5 a top view of one wall panel of the container,
ig. 6 a side view of the wall panel according to Fig. 5,
whereby the left half is a sectional representation,
ig. 7 a sectional view of the wall panel, cut-away in one half,
seen from the narrow side,
ig. 8 a top view of a further e~Dodiment of a wall panel,
Fig. 9 a top view of a partial element of the wall panel
according to Fig. 8,
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Fig~ O a side view of the partial element shown in Fig. 9,
ig. 11 a top view of the partial element shown in Fig. 9, in
collapsible position,
Fig. 12 a side view of the partial element shown in Fig. 11,
Fig. 13 a sectional view along Line C-C in Fig. 10,
Fig. 14 a sectional view along Line D-D o~ Fig. 12,
ig. 15 a sectional and side view of the wall panel shown in Fig.
8 (Section along Line A-A, View according to Arrow Z),
ig. 16 a sectional view along Line B-B as well as a partial view
according to Arrow Y as per Fig. 8,
Fig. 17 a sectional view of a detail in Fig. 16,
Fig. 18 a top view of a further embodiment of a bottom/cover,
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Fig. 19 a partial sectional side view of the cover in Fig. 18
ig. 2d a detail of a loc~ing mechanism of the cover with
corresponding wall panel or cover, which is placed on
top,
ig. 21 a detail X from Fig. 19 to show a special embodiment of
tabs and recesses 14 and 15,
ig. 22 a view of the narrow side of the cover in Fig. 18,
ig. 23 a detail of the knob (protuberance) fields provided at
the bottom of the cover,
ig. 24 a top view of the partial elements which are moun~able
onto a collapsible wall panel,
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Fi~` 2S a side view oE half a partial element, which forms the
longitudinal side of a collapsible wall panel,
Fig. 26 .the view according to Fig. ~5 seen from above,
ig. 27 a side view of the longitudinally running partial element
represented in Fig. 24 (cf. also shown in Fig. 25),
ig. 28 a side view of the short partial element according to
Fig. 24,
ig. 29 the detail of the locking mechanism of the longitudinal
side of the wall panel according to Fig. 27 as well as
ig. 30 a side view of the short side of the wall panel or of the
corresponding partial element according to Fig. 2a.
In Figures 1 to 4, an element is shown which can equally serve as
bottom and cover of the container, which can be assembled into a
container together with a wall panel shown in Fig. 5 to 7.
Specifically, a container can be formed from the element shown in
Fig. 1 to 4 by an element shown in Fig. 1 to 4 as bottom, a wall
panel that can be placed on top of the latter according to Fig. 5
to 7 and a cover placed on top of the upper end of the wall panel.
The element according to Fig. 1 to ~, hereinafter designated as
bottom (or equally as cover, however), is a plate-like bottom
element 1 with an all-around wall molding 2, which projects
slightly upward from the bottom surface and which also without the
mounted wall panel provides a lateral hold to the goods placed on
the bottom. The height of the wall molding, measured from the
underside o~ bottom plate 1, preferably amounts to between 30 and
45 mm, especially preferred is 37.5 mm. ~all molding 2 is indenced
at its lower end at 2a, so that for the return trip the elements,
which form the bottom cover, can be stacked into one another.
Indentation 2a also serves as gripping aid, thereby facilitating at
the same time the handling of the container, which is built up from
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the 'element generally designated as 3, as bottom and cover and from
wall panel 4. Finally, element 3 which in the embodiment example is
provided with a recess ~ at the narrow side, which forms an open
slot in the closed container for ventilation and cooling, as well
as a gripping surface for handling the container or element 3. At
the bottom side 5 of element 3, which is specifically shown in Fig.
1, knob fields are found designated as 6, which assure a slide
slowdown or slip reslstance when stacking the containers under one
another, but also when stacking the containers in conjunction with
other packs, such as cartons. In the embodiment example shown, each
time half the bottom side 5 is provided with four knob fields, i.e.
in total eight knob fields 6. This distribution has been selected
in this manner, since it assures the ideal slip slow-down both for
vertical stac~ing of the containers and for transfer stacking. The
knob fields consist of a number of rows or protuberances, l~nereby
the consecutive rows are arranged staggered in relation to one
another. The knobs themselves are preferably shaped in semicircular
fashion. It has been shown that this arrangement of knob fields and
this protuberance shape is particularly suitable for the goal of
achieving slip resistance.
To strengthen element 3, vertically oriented reinforcement fins 7
are provided in the inside area of',rall moldings 2. The wall areas
of the module, however, can also be concave shaped or with concave
profiles. Reinforcing seams are also possible.
These elements 3 which are visualized as bottom and cover may be
combined with wall panel 8 appearing in Fig. 5 to 7, which forms
the side walls of the container. This wall panel 8 is of collap-
sible construction, whereby in the corner areas of the wall panel,
preferably slightly offset in the longitudinal areas of the wall
panel, hinges have been provided. In the embodiment example shown
and especially preferred are two diamet-ically opposing joints 9
forming hinge joints and two other opposing joints are l'filml'
hinges 10, roughly at the narrowed ~own corner areas of the wall
panel. By means of slanting surfaces 11, film hinges 10 take on the
latch function of the panel in folded out position, which leads to
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a r ~ase of hinge joints 9 during swing-out. If needed, film
hinges or also hinge joints can be used at all four corners.
Particularly sulta~le is a hinge with two joint fingers which are
interspac~ed and between which a joint latchet assures the grip,
whereby the three joint constructions are connected together to the
hinge joint through a hinge pin.
Film hinge 11 of a slimmed down film hinge-type material preferably
stretching out over the entire height of the wall panel, has the
advantage that basically over the entire height of wall panel 8
tensile stresses are absorbed over a very large surface, which is
of importance for the useful life o~ wall panel 8. Slanted surfaces
11 serving as buffer surfaces are arranged inclined preferably at
45 with respect to the mai.n surfaces of wall panel 8. The height
of wall panel 8 lies suitably in the area of 65 to 85 mm preferably
at 75 mm, where~y module-type wall panel gradations can be
provided, like 150 mm high wall panel modules and 75 mm wall panel
modules.
To form the container, reciprocal attachment of individual elements
3 and 8 occurs by means of interchangeablY arranged cabs and
recesses which are arranged opposite to one ano~her in accordance
with the interchangeably arxanged ta~s and recesses of the
counterpart. In this way, element 3 forming the bottom or the cover
of the container has tabs 12 and recesses 13 at the two opposing
longitudinal sides, whereby tabs 12 project upward beyond upper
border surface 14 of element 3. Tabs 12 on the one longitudinal
side of element 3 axe hereby directly facing corresponding recesses
13 at the other longitudinal side. Tabs 14 at both opposing narrow
sides of element 3 are constructed cog-shaped, so that recesses 15
are also formed complementarily. Also here, tabs 14 and 15 are
arranged opposite to one another in interchangeable position. As
may be observed clearly from Fig. 2, tabs and recesses 12, 14 and
13, 15 are arranged of~set toward the outside and thereby away from
the inner perimeter of wall molding 2 offset toward the outside of
the wall molding. This assures that ~rojecting tabs 12 do not
interfere when several elements 3 are stac~ed into one another,
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since otherwise corresponding recesses would have to be provided in
the outs`ide area of element 3, which would also lead to a weakening
o~ the structure of elements 3. Tabs 12, 14 possess hereby at the
inward facing side a conical surface, which is clearly evident ~rom
Fig. 3 and 4. Naturally, instead of the embodiment forms of the
tabs and recesses shown, also other suitable profile forms are
applied. Using two tabs and two recesses at each side of element 3
has been proven to be effective. It goes without saying that
pertinent tabs and recesses of the module have appropriate lengths
when producing a plug-in connection, whereby snap-in connections
may also be effect.ively created.
Similarly in interchangeable arrangement, wall panel 8 contains
complementary tabs and recesses, so that elements 3 and 8 can be
stacked on top of one ano~her at random. From the description
follows clearly, that to produce a container also a random number
of wall panels can be placed on a bottom element. As appears from
Fig. 6 and 7, corresponding knob fields 6 are arranged on the
external surfaces of wall panel 8, whereby on the longitudinal side
of the wall panel each time 4 and on the narrow side each time 2
knob fields 6 are provided. Also the tabs and recesses of wall
panel 8 are designated with the same reference marks as element 3.
Finally, Fig. 7 shows quite clearly on the right the hinge of two
spaced out fingers and a hinge tab 17 gripping between the ~ingers.
Finally, the inner surfaces of wall panel 8 are also effectively
strengthened with reinforcement fins 7.
Elements 3 and 8 are appropriately manufactured from the same
plastic, i.e. preferably from shock resistant polypropylene. To
affix the elements assembled into the container, tightening straps
are preerably used, which are pulled around the container and
soldered, if necessary. Also these s~raps are suitably made of
polypropylene, i.e. from the same material as elements 3 and 8. For
the physical positioning of the tightening straps corresponding
recesses are provided in the external surfaces of elements 3 and d,
which are designated by 18. This assures an even, optically
pleasing but also positive interloc'.~ seating of the fastener.
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As _~rface measurement for module or container every dimension is
suitable~ which enables a sensible arrangement of the containers on
standard pallets. Preferred dimensions are 300 x 200 for outside
and 280 x 18S mm for inside; but also suitable are dimensions from
400 x 300 for outside and 370 x 280 mm for inside. Of course,
further variations are possible; especially regular gradations are
preferred in the wall height of the modules.
In order to increase the stability and to decrease the weight, it
is furthermore appropriate to create the wall moldings and wall
panels with concave spaces, whereby the concave space construction
is carried out suitably by means of the press molding process.
Collapsing the wall panel occurs by pressing the panel together at
an angle, thus lining up one longitudinal side and one narrow side
on a plane, so that two adjoining wall surfaces are created with
each one narrow and one longitudinal side in axial alignment.
The container system described is particularly suitable for use in
a returnable transport pack system aimed at the following cycles:
manufacturer - trade, wholesale trade - retail trade, trade -
service provider and trade - consumer. ~n the manufacturer - trade
cycle, volume and weight are preferably recorded, rather than the
number of containers which have been made available. The manufact-
urer supplies the trade with a predetermined quantity of containers
and guarantees to take the containers back. Following disposal by
the trade, the volume of containers disposed o is weighed and the
weights at arrival and departure are compared. The trade is thereby
permitted a loss quota.
In the wholesale - reta`il trade cycle, recording of the delivery by
the industrial entity also occurs via volume and weight, similarly
for passing the pac~ on from wholesale to retail level. Pickup at
the retail level occurs via a service provider after the
corresponding weight control has been carried out. The service
provider arranges disposal for the trade while recording the weight
either at the trade level or at delivery to the service provider.
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~ask of the service provider is sorting, washing, storing and
financing the container systems following pickup from the trade and
prior to delivery to the manufacturer, thus completing the cycle of
returnable transport pack system.
In the traffic with the consumer, it is appropriate to provide for
a deposit system for the containers with flat-fee deposit amounts,
in order to reduce possible losses. It is thereby useful,
especially considering the theft risk, to introduce a chip svstem,
so that a deposit reimbursement only occurs then, when the RTS
(returnable transport system) containers are returned together with
the chip. In connection with this new, hereby equally claimed
system, the use of the container described above is extraordinarily
effective or such a system can be produced in a particularly
effective manner using the container described above.
In Fig. 8 to 16, a further embodiment is shown of a wall panel
which is compatible with the remaining elements, for which the same
reference marks are being used for identical components. Also this
wall panel according to Fig 8 has tT~o diametrically opposing hinge
joints 9 and two diametrically opposing film hinges 10; however, it
is preferably assembled from t~o identical partial elements that
are separable and can be mounted onto the wall panel. One of the
partial elements is shown in Fig. 9 in stretched out position, from
which film hinge 10 is clearly visible. From Fig. 9 and 10 as well
as from Fig. 12 and 13, the hinge joint is also clearly visible,
whereby at one end of the partial element at one fork joint 19 two
seats 20 are provided for hinge pins 21 shown at the other end of
the partial element. ~t hinge pin unit 22, a clip tab 23 is also
constructed, which in fold-in position snaps into a corresponding
recess 24 on fork joint 19 of the other partial element to form the
wall panel according to Fig. 8. The fork joint seat is best
observed from the detail in Fig. 13. From this, it is evident in
particular that pins 21 can be effectively pushed into seats 20 by
means of a slot channel 25, so that they seat firmly in for~ joint
19, but can still be loosened (cf. Fig. 13).
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Fr~ the ViewS in Fig 15 and 16, it it evident that at the outside
of this wall panel 8, fins 26 which are running longitudinally and
parallel to each other have been constructed in the form of a
ri~bon of fins, whose profile ~orm appears from Fig. 17, and which
serve to improve installation and removal o~ labels used for the
containers at the site, i.e. on the store shelf. Based on this fin
structure, the labels can be removed and new ones installed very
easily, especially when the same container is being displayed on
the store shelf with different merchandise.
In Fig. 18 and subsequent figures, a further embodiment form is
shown consisting of bottom, cover and wall panel, especially Eor
large containers, having cross-section dimensions of approx. ~OO x
600 mm and larger. In order to increase the rigidity of the bottom
and/or cover elements, they are constructed with dual walls, as
appears from Fig. 19 and 22. The dual wall construction is achieved
by means of extrusion blowing. In order to assure an exact distance
between both walls 28 and 29, from the top 27 on - at the upper
part of the bottom of the cover marked 27 - cup-like or tube-like
formations 30 are molded in one piece, which are effectively
constructed at regular distances, especially in parallel rows over
the cross-section of the cover and the bottom. These cup-like or
tube-like formations 30, however, do not onl~ assure the distance
between both walls of the concave co~ver, but through them the
rigidity of the cover or of the bottom is being increased. At the
external surface of cover and bottom, just like in the wall panel
described below, fins 26 are constructed, which are arranged to run
longitudinall~ and parallel and whic:~ correspond to the fins
according to Fig. 16 and 17. The narrowly spaced fins arranged next
to each other are visible. Moreover, the construction oE the cover
and/or bottom resembles the above described elements, so that for
identical building blocks the same refe-ences marks are used. An
essential deviation in relation to t:~e above described embodiment
examples, however, consists in a locking mechanism 31, which is
shown in Fig. 19 and 20. Specificall~ involved are undercut slots
32 and corresponding projections 33, which are constructed ~o
complement each other, so that during assembly of a cover wi~h an
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ac~ ional bottom or cover or wall panel the corresponding slots
and projections can snap-lock in place. This results in a certain
hold and a Certain a~fixing of the individual elements for
constructlng a container and loosening is only possible by exerting
a certain pressure. For absolute attachment o~ the container
elements to a container, additional fasteners are suitably used,
such as the tightening straps described before which can be
soldered and subsequently loosened by simply tearing them apart,
and which are seated flush especially in corresponding recesses 18
of the elements. 3ased on the concave construction of cover and
bottom, inner fi~s 7 provided for the other embodiment forms can be
dropped. AS shown in Fig. 19, recesses 18 are provided for seating
the tightening straps also at the upper edge and not only on the
outside.
In Fig 24ff another wall panel 8 that can be folded together, is
shown, for which the same reference marks are being used for the
same components. Wall panel 8 is assembled according to Fig. 24
from two partial elements 34 forming the narrow side and two
partial elements 35 forming the longitudinal side, wnereby in Fig.
24 only one longitudinally running partial element 35 is shown. ~he
wall panel consists of four partial elements 3a and 35, whereby in
the corner areas hinge joints are each time arranged similar to the
above described construction. The const~uction details of the hinge
joints appears from the drawings.
E~sential in the case of the hinge joints is that the hinges do not
seat directly in the corner, but are offset by a certain dimension
A, as appears from Fig. 24, so that the axle joint is seated away
from the immediate corner, apparoximately on the longitudinal side.
This is advantageous, because in ~his way when folded together, the
largest dimension is formed by the length of longitudinal partial
element 35, given the fact that leg joints 36 which protxude at the
ends on the shorter partial element are situated inward when
folding together and do not project out.~ard beyond partial elemen~s
35. Additionally, in the center of shor_ partial elements 34 a film
hinge has been constructed similar to ~ilm hinge 10, so that, as
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appears from Fig. 24 on the right, partial elements 34 ca~ he
folded or collapsed inward. In collapsed position, partial elements
34 do therefore not project beyond partial elements 35.
Locking mechanism 31 shown in Fig. 2~ and 29, corresponds to the
locking mechanism on above described cover, so that no further
explanation is necessary. Furthermore, longitudinal fins 26 are
again provided on the external surfacQs, as needed. The partial
elements or the wall panel can be constructed concave or also with
inner fins.
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