Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02307609 2000-04-28
Bremer Design GmbH
Am Wall 209, 28195 Bremen
Stackable Container
Amended description
The invention relates to a stackable container, in particular for the storage
and transport of food
rations for airplane passengers, comprising a base shell and a cover that can
be placed onto the
base shell and can be removed therefrom. The invention further relates to a
method for the use
of the stackable container.
Stackable containers of this type are known, in which the base shell is formed
by a tray, onto
which a cover can be placed. The cover protects any transported goods from
adverse
environmental conditions. Such containers are widely used for transporting
food servings,
which, due to the cover, stay hot longer and do not dry out as quickly.
A stackable container of the above type is known, for example from DE 39 04
053 Al,
possessing a first socket connector for a locking attachment of the cover to
the base shell. In
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addition, a second socket connector is provided for a locking attachment of
the base shell to the
cover of the container located underneath, so that, with the interposition of
a cover, the base
shells stacked on top of one another can form a stable unit. Since the first
and second socket
connectors are compatible, it can alternatively be envisioned to connect the
base shells to each
other to form a stack, without the need for any covers.
Hereby, a reoccurring problem is the storing of the cover once it has been
removed from the tray
This inadequacy is especially apparent when a large number of containers are
opened and handed
out at almost the same time, as for example is the case during distribution of
food to airplane
passengers.
The objective of the present invention is to further develop a stackable
container of the above-
mentioned type in such a way that the containers can be easily opened when
they are removed
from a stack, and one always obtains a fixed, predetermined unit of one base
tray and one cover
The invention meets this objective for a stackable container of the initially
mentioned type by
providing fastening means on the container for connecting the base shell to
the cover of an
identical container, so that when the base shell is lifted the cover of the
container underneath is
lifted as well.
According to this invention's method, the transported items are arranged on a
base shell, the
cover is placed onto the base shell, several containers are arranged in a
stack by fastening the
base shell to the cover of the respective container situated underneath, the
upper cover of a stack
is removed from its base shell, and then the uppermost, already opened base
shell, together with
the cover of the container situated immediately underneath, is removed from
the stack and
handed out for use.
The invention's particular advantage is that, during or after the opening of
the container, a cover
can be fastened to a base shell in a space saving manner. If the container is
handled individually,
then the cover can, after its removal, be pushed under the base shell and be
fastened to it. In this
manner, during and after opening the container, the cover is stored with a
minimum use of
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space. Such an arrangement of base shell and cover has the advantage that,
even in its open
state, the container is a manageable unit. Furthermore, in both its closed as
well as in its opened
state, the container utilizes the same footprint area, since in both cases the
base shell and the
cover are situated on top of each other. These two features significantly
contribute to the fact that
the container can be handled easily and can be used with a minimum use of
space. When
stacking this invention's container, in particular when using this invention's
method, it is also
possible to fasten a container's base shell to the cover of the container
immediately underneath,
and then to remove it from the stack as a unit. When an opened container is
removed from the
stack, the following container is opened simultaneously, without any
additional steps of
removing or storing its cover. Thus the space-saving connecting of the base
shell with a cover
underneath is made possible without an additional operation. ...
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In a preferred embodiment of the stackable container, the fastening means form
a detachable
connection between the base shell and the cover. Because of this, the
container, after it has been
opened or used, can be separated into a base shell and a cover and can then be
used again as an
individual closed container. This creates the option to arrange base shells
and covers in a stack
as units or in alternating order.
In an alternate embodiment, the fastening means between the base shell and the
cover consist of
adhesive elements, which quickly and securely connect adjacent components.
In a preferred embodiment of the stackable container, the base shell possesses
an essentially flat
base section and a circumferential side wall. The flat base section provides
for good stability of
transported items that may be placed on the base shell, while the side wall on
one hand protects
the transported items, and on the other hand prevents the spilling of liquids
from the container.
In addition to the mechanical protection, the combination of a base shell with
a cover creates a
space that is insulated from the surrounding atmosphere. In this protected
space the transported
items can be stored at cool temperatures without suffering damage.
In an advantageous further development of the stackable container, the
fastening means on the
base section of the base shell and on the cover contain interlocking
complementary fastening
elements to implement a positive connection. This type of connection has the
advantage that the
base shell and the cover of the container underneath can be fastened to each
other easily and
detachably when they are placed upon each other. Hereby one can envision
resilient or latching
fastening elements, that automatically engage the base shell when it is placed
onto the cover, or
fastening elements, that after placing the base shell on the cover are engaged
by the user by
means of suitable locking elements.
It is especially favorable if the fastening means of the stackable container
contain connector
grooves and corresponding, complementary connector edges on the base shell and
the cover,
respectively. The base shell of a container and the cover of the container
located underneath can
then be coupled in a simple manner by sliding the edges into the corresponding
grooves.
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In a preferred embodiment, the stackable container includes locking means that
the user can set
to a locked position and in this position prevent a separation of the base
shell from the cover. As
a result of this, the base shell is fixed with respect to the cover and can
not detach itself on its
own. The user has to release the lock before the base shell and the cover can
be separated.
In a practical fi~rther development, the stackable container contains a handle
element for
manipulating the locking means to allow the user the simple operation of the
locking means.
The handle element is conveniently located at a position that is easily
accessible to the user.
In a preferred embodiment of the stackable container the fastening means are
designed in such a
way that they can be engaged and disengaged by sliding them in plane that is
essentially parallel
to the base section. Thereby, the stackable containers can be stacked in a
simple manner in
standardized trolleys, by inserting or removing the containers in a drawer-
like fashion.
In a practical fi~rther development of the stackable container, the handle
element is integrated
with the locking means to simplify the form of the container. This also
enables the user to
activate the locking means and to move the container with only a single
operation.
It is especially preferred if the handle element of the stackable container is
attached to the base
shell or to the cover, and if, in its locked position, it can enter into
positive or non-positive
engagement with the adjacent cover or base shell. In this manner, the handle
element can
connect the two adjacent components. After locking a cover to a corresponding
base shell, a
closed container can be taken from the stack, whereas after locking a cover to
the base shell of a
container situated above, an opened container can be taken from the stack.
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In a further practical development of the stackable container, the handle
element is preloaded
into the desired locking position, so that the lock of the connection can not
open spontaneously
It is especially practical if the handle element of the stackable container
can be preloaded into
two opposing locking positions that are separated by a dead point. This
ensures that there is
always a locked connection, either with the container above or the one
underneath. As a result
of this, a stack either separates into a set of closed or of open containers.
It is especially preferred if the height and width of the stackable container
approximately
correspond to the separation of the tray guides and the width of a trolley,
respectively, and if the
containers are equipped with appropriate indentations in the region of the
tray guides. This
allows the stacking of the container in the well-established trolleys that are
used especially for
the transport of containers in the passenger compartments of airplanes.
In a preferred embodiment, the container possesses an essentially rectangular
base area to
achieve a good conformity to the space that is available in the trolleys and
on an airplane's
folding tables
If the release of the base shell and the cover occurs by sliding of the
fastening means, then it is
sufficient if the locking means prevent this sliding movement. Then it is
especially practical if
the container's locking means are located on a front section of the
circumferential side wall of
the base shell or the cover. This front section extends essentially at right
angle to the sliding
direction of the fastening means. Since both the fastening of the base shell
to the corresponding
cover, and the fastening of the base shell to the cover underneath are
achieved in the same
manner, the same front section can lock either of the two connections.
Practical further developments of the invention are characterized by the
features of the
subclaims. In the following, examples of the invention are illustrated by
figures:
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Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the invention's container in a closed
state.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a base shell and, at a distance, of a lower
and upper
cover.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a base shell and, at a distance, of a lower
and upper
cover, including the actuating path of the locking means.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a stack of containers as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a stack as in Fig. 4 with an opened
uppermost
container and engaged locking means.
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a stack as in Fig. S with the upper
container partially
removed.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a trolley.
Fig. 1 shows a closed stackable container 1 with a base shell 3 and a cover 5.
At the lower
surface of base shell 3, the container 1 possesses a shallow connector groove
13 in the
longitudinal direction, which extends nearly along the entire width of
container 1. The
connector groove is laterally bordered by groove walls that rest on the base
area of the connector
groove. The groove walls form a narrow angle with the base area, defining
undercuts, into
which a corresponding complementary connector edge 15, provided on the
exterior surface of
cover 5, can engage. Thus, the base shell 3 and the cover 5 can be fastened to
each other by the
fastening means 13 and 15 by pushing the connector edge 15 and the connector
groove 13 into
each other along the longitudinal direction. In this position the connector
edge 15 is engaged to
the corresponding undercuts, so that base shell 3 can not be upwardly removed
from the cover 5
that is located beneath it.
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As seen in Fig. 2, the base shell 3 contains an essentially flat base section
9, which can be
smooth or can be equipped with a surface structure. The base section 9 is
laterally bordered by a
circumferential side wall 11. On the upper edges of two of its longitudinal
sections 12, the side
wall 11 is equipped with coupling elements 29, using which the base shell 3
and the cover 5 of
the corresponding container 1 can be connected. The lower surface of cover 5
contains
complementary groove-like fastening elements 29, into which the coupling
elements 29 can be
inserted and can be shifted in the longitudinal direction. As shown in Figs. 2
and 3, hereby it is
sufficient if the coupling elements 29 only cover a partial section of the
circumferential side wall
11.
In a front section 24 of the base shell 3 and of the cover S, an edge strip 25
with locking means
17 is provided, which, in its locked position, prevents the base shell from
detaching itself 3 from
the connected cover 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the base shell 3
possesses on its face an
edge strip 25 that on both sides joins the side wall 11 of base shell 3, and
in an intermediate
middle section extends with a concave curvature to approximately the level of
the base section 9
of base shell 3. In its middle section the edge strip 25 contains an
essentially trapezoidal opening
18, which is open towards the front section 24, and which is tapered towards
the front section
24. The opening 18 forms part of the locking means 17 between the base shell 3
and the cover
S, and complementary locking means can engage into it. On its front section
24, the cover 5
possesses a flexible edge strip 25 carrying the complementary locking means
17.
To allow the edge strip 25 to move essentially in a vertical direction, it is
connected to the cover
only on the outer sections of front section 24. The flexible edge strip 25 can
assume an upper
and a lower stable position. Stable in the sense, that a force must be applied
to move the flexible
edge strip 25 from one of its stable positions, before it automatically snaps
into the second,
opposite stable position, after passing through a dead center point. Hereby
the movement of the
flexible edge strip 25 is limited to an essentially vertical movement between
the two stable
positions, compare bottom of Fig. 3.
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In its middle section, the flexible edge strip 25 possesses an essentially
trapezoidal region 20 of
increased thickness on both sides, the size and position of which is such that
it can engage into
the opening 18 of an adjacent, connected base shell to form the complementary
locking means
17. It is intended that the over-thick region 20 of the flexible edge strip 25
not only serves as
locking mechanism, but also as handle 19 to operate the locking means 17 and
to move the
containers 1.
The base shell 3 and the cover 5 can be combined in different ways. Fastening
the base shell 3 to
the appropriate cover 5 results in a container 1 that is closed on all sides,
see Fig. 1. In this
arrangement the flexible edge strip 25 of cover 5 is in its lower stable
position, in which the
trapezoidal over-thick region 20 engages into the opening 18 of the base shell
3 and locks both
together. A container 1 closed in this manner can be transported individually
or can be arranged
in a stack by connecting it to other containers 1, compare Fig. 4.
It is also possible to create a unit of a base shell 3 and a cover 5 in which
the base shell 3 is
fastened to the cover 5 located underneath. In this configuration - i.e. open -
the unit can then be
removed from a stack, compare Figs. 5 and 6. In this arrangement the cover's
flexible edge strip
25 is brought into the upper stable position, so that the over-thick region 20
of the flexible edge
strip 25 engages into the opening 18 of the edge strip 25 of the connected
base shell 3, and locks
both together.
By fastening the base shell to the next lower cover 5 it is possible to form a
stack that can be
moved securely without any need for further stabilizing means. But the
containers 1 are also
suitable to be transported in a conventional trolley 21 with tray guides 27 of
Fig. 7. For this
purpose, the container 1 is dimensioned in such a way that its height
corresponds to the vertical
distance of two neighboring tray guides 27, and its width corresponds to the
inside clearance of
the trolley 21. The cover 5 of a container 1 is slightly flattened towards its
longitudinal sides, so
that, together with the base shell 3 located above, they from indentations 23
in which the tray
guides of the trolley can be located.
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Using this invention's container 1 it is possible to implement an operating
method that is
especially suited for providing food to airplane passengers. All components of
a meal and all
utensils that are needed by a passenger for the consumption of a meal are
arranged on the base
shell 3 of container 1. Subsequently, the container 1 is closed by means of a
cover 5; it is then
locked, and refrigerated for further transport. Hereby the closed container 1
protects the food
from harmful environmental effects. This protection also makes it possible to
store the meal at
temperatures below the freezing point without the food drying out. The closed
containers can be
transported to an airplane either individually or combined into stacks. Due to
the good food
protection it is possible to store the container 1 with the food in a plane's
cargo bay, which
might be at very low temperatures. In this intended use, an automatic
transport system then
transports the containers 1 during the flight from the cargo bay into the
passenger area, where
they are received by the flight personnel. On this route the meal is brought
to a temperature
suitable for consumption. Several different methods are suitable for this, for
example, it is
possible to partially heat the main course by induction.
Subsequently, the stacked containers 1 are placed onto a rolling base or are
placed into a trolley
21. To be able to offer the passengers an open container 1 containing food,
one at first unlocks
and removes the cover 5 of the container 1 that is uppermost in the stack,
compare Fig. 5.
Subsequently, the cover 5 located underneath the opened base shell 3 is
unlocked from its
corresponding base shell 3 by means of handle 19 and is fastened to the opened
base shell 3. As
a next step, the created combination of cover 5 and base shell 3 is taken from
the stack, compare
Fig. 6. The food is served to the passenger in an already opened container 1.
The following
container 1 in the stack is also open, and can be served to the next passenger
in the same
manner. After consumption of the meal the stack is recreated in the opposite
sequence, creating
a stack of closed containers 1. Subsequently, the closed containers 1 can be
handed over to the
automatic conveyer system and can be transported to the plane's cargo bay.
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List of reference symbols
1 Stackable container
3 Base shell
Cover
9 Base section
11 Circumferential
side wall
12 Longitudinal section
13 Connector groove
Connector edge
17 Locking means
18 Opening
19 Handle element
Over-thick region
21 Trolley
23 Indentations
24 Front section
Edge strip
27 Tray guide
29 Fastening elements
