Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02628737 2008-05-06
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PS508PC00
1
Open-topped stackable container
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The present invention relates to containers or tubs suitable for storing and
transporting fish and/or
other food products. Such containers molded in plastic are commonly used on
board vessels and in
fish processing facilities as well as for transporting fish. Typically the
bottom of such fish tub
containers is shaped like a pallet to facilitate fork lifting of the tubs.
When such containers are filled
to the rim with slippery material such as fish and ioe the top layer may
easily glide off and out from
the contalner, during transportation on a vessel or truck. This can happen
also if containers are
stacked on top of each other, as the top layer material in a lower container
may still esrape
through the open space between the top rim of the container and the pallet-
shaped base of an
upper container stacked on top of It. The space between stacked containers
also means tfiat there
is void space left between the containers which means that some space is not
being utilised within
a limited cargo space (e.g. on board a truck or vessel) which is filled with
containers.
Prior art document CA 2,124,467-A1 discloses a container tub having an inner
bottom wall and an
outer bottom wall forming a pallet section with closed fork lift Insertion
slots.
EP 291610-Al discloses an upright tank-like container with a screw-cap top,
having a notch or
recess circumscribing the container approximately centered on the side walls
of the container,
which can be used for lifting the container by a fork lift.
DE 2523784-Al shows a barrel-type container with a circumscribing recess dose
to the top of the
barrel, which is for lifting by a fork iift.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel type of fish tub container which can be
readily stacked to
create a substantially tight closure on a lower container, preventing km of
material and enhancing
the overall Insulation of the containers. The container has larger inner
volume relative to Its overall
outer dimensions as compared to conventional containers and thus enables more
efficient use of
storage space, e.g., in cargo compartments of vessels. Addltionally, the
container allows flexible
handling by a fork lift. The container is provided with recesses along the
bottom of side walls of the
container, allowing fork lifting and tumbling and rotating the container on a
fork lift such as for
washing, emptying, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 shows a bottom perspective view of a preferred container tub of the
invention.
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Figure 2 show a top perspective view of a preferred container tub of the
invention.
Figure 3 shows a side view, an end view and a top view of cantainer tub. 3a
shows a side view
(left) of a side wail 2 of the container and a cross-section (right) through
the section A-A
tliustrating dearly the cross-section of the insertion recesses 5 and
shoulders 12. 3b shows an end
view (left) of an end wall 3 of the container and a aoss-section through the
section A'-A'. 3c shows
a top-view of the container. Note that the marked in dimensions are oniy meant
to illustrate a
preferred embodiment; the embodiment illustrated in the drawings is not
limited to the exact size
and dimensions indicated,
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Ffgure 4 shows another embodiment, where the side walls 2 (with the recesses
5) are shorter than
tTie end walls 3. 4a shows a bottom view, 4b is an end view cross-section of
the section B-B, 4c Is
an end view showing an outer end wall 3, 4d is a side view cross-section
through the section A-A,
4e is a side-view showing a side waill 2 and 4f is a top view. Note that the
drawings are not drawn
to scaie.
Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment of a container with shorter side wails 2
than end walls 3.
Figure 6 shows a side view, an end view, top view and cross-section of the
container shown in
Figure S. 6a shows an end view, 6b a side view, 6c the cross-section through
the section A-A and
6d is a top view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The Invention provides an open-topped stackable container 1 which comprises
side walls 2, end
walls 3 and a bottom wail 4. The side walls are provfded with open fork ltft
Insertion recesses S
along the iength of the side walls in proximity to the bottom, of sufficient
width/depth and height
to allow Insertion and secure holding by a conventional fork lift. Preferably
the recesses have a
width (depth) in the range of about 7--20 cm, such as the range of about 7-12
cm such as
preferably about 10 cm. In certain embodiments described in more detail below
extra deep
recesses may be advantageous, such as having a wldth in the range of about 12-
20 cm, such as in
the range of about 15-20 cm. The height must be sufBdent to readily
accommodate a lift fork of
conventional thickness, preferably the height of the recesses Is In the range
of about 5-15 cm or
the range of about 5-10 cm, such as in the range about 5-7 cm or the range
about 7-10 cm,
including about 4 cm, 5 cm, 6 an, 8 cm or 10 cm. Stiil, the recesses shouid
not be too big as that
would unnecessarily reduce the Internal volume of the container.
The container is of a generally rectangular shape when looking from a top-
view, and can have side
walls 2 which are longer than the end walls, as is Illustrated in the
embodiment shown in Figure 3,
or aiternatively side walls 2 which are shorter than the end walls, as
Illustrated in Figures 4-6. In
- yet a further embodiment, the side walls can be the same length as the end
wails, creating
essentially a square container.
In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the container Is provided with
downwardly protrusions 6,
7, 8. Said protrusions are preferably arranged such that the outer dimensions
of said protrusions
mate with the tnner periphery 9 of the open top of a second container, thereby
allowing secured
vertical stacking of two or more of said containers. The protrusions provide
support feet to the
container and are preferabiy of sufficient height to allow insertion of a lift
fork underneath the
container, in between the protrusions, for lifting the eontainer. Typically,
the container has at least
a protrusion element in each corner of the bottom (corner protrusions 6) and
preferably also a
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protrusion element centrally in between adjacent corner elements (center end
protrusions 8 and/or
center side protrusions 7). Preferably, the protrusions are arranged such as
to provide for fork lift
slots 10 parallel with the side walls and preferably additionally or
alternatively fork lift slots 11
parallel with the end walls of the container.
As mentioned above, it is anadvantage of the present invention that upon
stacking two containers
one on top of each other the upper container creates a substantially tight lid
for the lower
container. Additionally, in the embodiments where, the containers are provided
witfithe mentioned
bottom protrusions the stacking is secure such that theupper:container cannot
readilyslide off the
lower container as the protrusions of the upper container extend into the
lower container and mate
with the inner periphery 9, of the open top of the lower container.
The recesses inflict shoulders 12 inside the container, along the interior
side walls,on the bottom of
the container, said shoulders are defined by a shoulder side 13 and a shoulder
top surface 14. The
shoulders can be advantageously used for inserting a loose bottom plate
resting on the shoul,ders;
forinstance, a perforated bottom plate can be inserted and laid on the
shoulders for.rinsing and/or
more effective draining of product stored in the container.
The container preferably has at least one hole 17 adjacent to the bottom
providing a drain for
draining liquid of the container. The hole is preferably sealable with a
matching plug and can in
certain embodiments also be used to connect. a,hose to the container or a
pipe, e.g. 'as part of a
cooling system. Preferably; there are two or moreholes, e.g., inõopposing
corners'of.the. container
or in every corner of the container. Said at least one hole,can
suitably,extendthrough a shoulder;
side of the container and is preferably circular. In the embodiment'shown in
Figure 2 the bottom of
the container has guiding grooves 18 parallel with the end walls 3, that can
receive liquid, e.g.
: , , ..
melting water, and guide to the drain hole(s).
In a useful embodiment the plug to seal the,drain hole is provided with
a.sealing surface which
mates with'a sealing surface in the holewithin the periphery of the hole
closest to the surface of,
the inner wall, such that when the hole is plugged, the plug creates a
substantially flat surface
where water and dirt can not,reach from the container into any gap or crevice
between the hole
and plug (e.g. in threads of the hole).
The container has in one embodiment bevelled corner surfaces 15, the upper
ends of which
comprise outwardly extending corner pieces with handles/slits 16 that can be
used for lifting said
container by hooks.
The container is in a useful embodiment configured such that liquid that
drains from the drain hole
of an upper container does not substantially leak into a lower container onto
which the upper
container is stacked. This can be suitably implemented by forming the distal
ends of the insertion
recesses such that the lower surface of the recess ( the surface 19 which form
a flat board surface in
the embodiment shown in Figure 2) has a distal edge 21 that reaches
sufficiently distally such that
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any liquid dripping of the edge will not drip into the lower container and
preferably is shaped such
that the liquid drtps through the handle/slit 16. The surface 19 may have a
slanting distal end 20 to
guide draining liquid towards the distal edge. In one embodiment the distal
edge has a notch 22 to
further guide the draining liquid and may as well have a corresponding notch
23 in the handle/slit
16.
Figure 4 shows a slightiy different embodtment than In Figure 2 or 3. Also in
this embodiment, the
side walls 2 are shorter than the end walls 3. The slde walls 2 have recesses
5, which in this
particuiar embodiment have more depth than seen In Figure 2 and 3. The
contalner is provided
with four drain holes 17 located on the end walls close to the bottom,
adjacent to the ends of the
recesses S. The inner surface of the bottom wall 4 has a center ridge 26
creating a slight lnciination
away from the center ridge such that any liquid runs down towards the grooves
18 and drain holes
17.
This embodiment shows another configuration for draining of liquid that leaves
the containers; on
the end walls are created vertical drain grooves 25 which overtap wtth the
drain holes 17. At the
upper end of the drain groove is a recess 24 in the outer top edge of the end
wall, In order to guide
draining liquid down the guiding groove and if the container Is stacked on top
of another container,
the draining liquid that runs down the guiding groove is directed to the
corresponding guiding
groove of the adjacent lower container.
The depression 27 on the end wall is an optional feature, intended for an RFID
tag (radio frequence
identification tag, also referred to as transponder).
It will be understood that the present invention Is not Itmited to containers
or bfns of any certain
size and can have substantially the same or similar size as conventfonal bins,
e.g. with an internal
volume 1n the range of about 150-1200 L. This includes relatively small bins
suitable for manual
handling and/or in stnall contained spaces, e.g. on board small vessels, such
as in the range of
about 150-350 L including the range of about 150-250 L or about 200-250 L.
Intermediate sized
bins may as well be produced in accordance with the invention, e.g. in the
range of about 350-
600L such as In the range of about 350-500 L or in the range of about 400-500
L, induding about
400 L, about 440 L or about 460 L. The invention comprises as weil larger
bins, such as in the
range of about 700-1200 L, including about 750 L, 800 L, 1000 L or 1200 L. It
will be particularly
appreciated that for smaiter bins, e.g. in the range of about 250-660 L the
volume gain as
compared to conventional tubs with "pallet" shaped bottom will be relatively
more than for larger
tubs. Hence, in certain embodiments, the container tub has a volume in the
range of about 250-
660 L, such as in the range of about 350-500 L, including about 400 L, 440 L,
460 L or 480 L.
Commercially available conventional 440 L fish tubs, produced e.g. by the
present applicant have a
total height of about 58 cm. A tub of the present invention with the same
volume of 440 L has a
height of about 48 cm, hence saving about 20% space. Containers of the
invention have In some
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embodiments a total height in the range of 35-65 cm, including the range of
about 40-60 cm, such
as about 45 cm, 48 cm, 50 cm or 55 cm.
Containers of similar size as the embodiment shown. in Figures 4.and 5, with
long end walls which
5 are longer than the width a conventional fork lift, e.g. about 1200 mm, are
found particularly
advantageous, as such wide end walls allow for a,conventional fork lift to
remove a first vertical
row of containers from a large stack of containers and subsequently drive into
the void in the
stack to remove the next vertical row which was immediately behind the first
vertical row. ,This
gives increased flexibility to move the container in a working area such as a
storehouse, stockroom '
or'the like. In these embodiments of the container it may useful to have extra
deep recesses 5,
which reduce the width of the container.measured between the recesses 5(i.e.,
the width which
dictates the necessary width between the two prongs of the lift fork).
olded from'a.thermoplastic polyme'r;material,'e.g.
The container of the invention is preferably m
polypropyfene, polyethylene (including LLDPE, LDPE andin particular HDPE),
polyamide (Nylon),
polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, acetal; polyphenylene sulfide,
polyesters, and the
like. Other polymer materials may as well, be used in certain embodiments,
such as,'acrylonitrife
butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other copolymers (acetal copolymers).
The containers are typically, molded by conventional rrmeans wellknown to;the
skilled,person
Preferred methods include rotomolding, although it is .contemplated that other
methods may, as
well be used such as injection-molding, compression moiding or extrusion blow
molding,' and other
conventional methods may as well be used.
For added insulation the container can comprise a double-wallõouter shell
surrounding an inner
core. The inner core preferably comprises a,material selected from
polyethylene foam"a,nd
polyurethan foam. A double-walledcontainer of the resent p invention'can be
produced by
rotomolding in order to moldthe outer.wall shell and subsequently,the inner
core Ynateriai may be ". .
introduced by injection before the other wall shell is sealed off. The
container of the present"
invention can however also be of single-walled type which" can beproduced e.g.
by rotomolding.
