Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
1
Container
The invention relates to a container with a container wall, a
container bottom, and a container opening, where the container
wall extends essentially conically from the bottom to the open-
ing and the inner side of the container wall displays axially
oriented stacking ribs, distributed around the circumference.
The purpose of the stacking ribs located on the inner side of
the container wall is to make it possible, when stacking mul-
tiple containers in each other, for the respectively upper con-
tainer to be supported in the respectively lower container,
such that the two conically shaped container walls cannot get
stuck in each other. Owing to support by the stacking ribs, a
slight clearance remains between the two container walls, this
permitting easy separation of the containers stacked in each
other. The containers supported by the stacking ribs are ar-
ranged inside each other in such a way that the edge area of
the container opening of the respectively upper container, with
the fastening device for the carrying strap, is located outside
the container opening of the respectively lower container.
Instability of the position of the containers supported by the
stacking ribs can occur during handling and transportation of
containers of this kind stacked in each other.
The object of the present invention is to provide containers of
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
2
the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph that improve the
stability of the position of containers stacked in each other.
According to the invention, the object is solved in that, on a
container of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph, the
radially outer area of the outer side of the container bottom
is provided with at least one recess which, when stacking mul-
tiple containers in each other, can be engaged by at least one
stacking rib of a container located beneath it, thereby fixing
the containers in place in non-rotating fashion relative to
each other.
As a result of this design, the respectively upper container
when stacking multiple containers of this kind is retained on
the stacking ribs of the respectively lower container in non-
rotating fashion. Furthermore, the containers stacked in each
other can be arranged and retained in a predetermined position
in relation to each other. This guarantees a very largely sta-
ble position of the containers stacked in each other during
handling or transportation.
At least one of the stacking ribs can display a greater axial
height from the container bottom than the remaining stacking
ribs, where its difference in height in relation to the remain-
ing stacking ribs corresponds at least to the depth of the re-
cess provided on the outer side of the container bottom.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially outer
area of the outer side of the container bottom displays an
axially projecting, essentially continuous foot, which displays
at least one interruption forming at least one recess on the
container bottom.
The at least one interruption in a continuous foot on the un-
derside of the container bottom permits particularly simple
manufacture of the recess provided on the container bottom for
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
3
engagement of at least one stacking rib.
The recess(es) can, however, also be suitably shaped sections
of the edge area of the container bottom that are open towards
the underside, and preferably also towards the radially outer
side. Similarly, webs or projections can be provided on the
container bottom, between which one or more upper ends of the
stacking ribs, i.e. ends pointing towards the container open-
ing, engage, being retained between them in a manner preventing
rotation about the container axis.
The width of the recesses in the circumferential direction of
the container bottom can be slightly larger that the width of
the stacking ribs in the circumferential direction of the con-
tainer wall, such that a predetermined clearance remains be-
tween the upper ends of the stacking ribs and the walls of the
recesses.
On the other hand, the width of the recesses can be slightly
smaller than the width of the stacking ribs, in order to obtain
a predetermined clamping effect between the upper ends of the
stacking ribs and the wall areas of the recesses. In this case,
the containers stacked in each other can only be separated from
each other by overcoming the predetermined clamping force.
The stacking ribs located on the inner side of the container
wall can, e.g. by injection molding in an injection mold, be
integrally molded on the container wall and display a geometry
suitable for molding the container and removing it from the
mold. They preferably extend from the container bottom.
The height of the stacking ribs, or their length from the con-
tainer bottom, is expediently dimensioned in such a way that
the container walls of containers stacked in each other do not
get stuck. A slight clearance remains between the container
walls, allowing containers stacked in each other to be mutually
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
4
aligned in a predetermined orientation. Owing to the arrange-
ment of the stacking ribs, and the recesses on the container
bottom interacting with them, the required orientation of the
containers stacked in each other can be defined and, due to the
non-rotating engagement of the stacking ribs in the recesses,
retained during handling or transportation of the containers.
On the other hand, the stacking ribs can display an identical
length, in which context the outer side of the container bottom
is provided with multiple recesses, which are engaged by the
stacking ribs of a container located beneath it when stacking
multiple containers in each other, where at least one of the
recesses fixes the containers in place in non-rotating fashion
relative to each other due to engagement of at least one stack-
ing rib in said recesses.
In particular, the outer side of the container bottom can be
provided with recesses distributed around the circumference to
match the stacking ribs, which are in each case engaged by the
stacking ribs of a container located beneath, whereby the con-
tainers can be fixed in place in a manner preventing rotation
about the container axis.
To guarantee sufficient stability when supporting numerous con-
tainers stacked in each other, and resistance of these contain-
ers to rotation relative to each other, the stacking ribs dis-
play a radial extension from the container wall that corres-
ponds to between one and three times the wall thickness of the
container in this area. The radial extension preferably corres-
ponds to once to twice the edge thickness of the container.
The container outer wall is preferably not provided with a con-
tinuous flange. The container outer wall is preferably designed
to be essentially smooth and/or free of projections and/or free
of undercuts except, where appropriate, for the radially out-
ward-projecting retaining areas for a carrying strap and the
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
corresponding areas for connection to the container wall.
Two practical examples of the invention are described in more
detail below on the basis of the drawings. The Figures show the
5 following:
Fig. 1 A longitudinal section through a practical example of
a container,
Fig. 2 An enlarged view of area A in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 A perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 1,
without lid,
Fig. 4 A perspective and cutaway view of the container shown
in Fig. 3,
Fig. 5 A cutaway view of containers according to Figs. 1 to
4, stacked in each other,
Fig. 6 An enlarged view of the container bottom of another
practical example of a container, from below, and
Fig. 7 A sectional view along line B-B in Fig. 6.
Figures 1 to 4 show a practical example of a container 1 with a
container wall 2, a container bottom 3, and a container opening
4. Container wall 2 extends essentially conically from contain-
er bottom 3 to container opening 4. Axially oriented stacking
ribs 5, distributed around the circumference of container wall
2, are provided on the inner side of container wall 2. The con-
tainer is made of plastic and produced by injection molding,
together with the stacking ribs 5 integrally molded on its in-
ner side. The purpose of stacking ribs 5 is that, when stacking
multiple containers 1 prior to fitting lid 6, a container re-
spectively located in container 1 can be supported, such that
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
6
the conical container walls 2 of the two containers 1 are pre-
vented from getting stuck. Owing to being supported by stacking
ribs 5, a slight clearance remains between container walls 2,
such that the two containers 1 stacked in each other can easily
be separated from each other.
To enable a container 1 stacked in container 1 to be fixed in
place in non-rotating fashion relative to container 1, the ra-
dially outer area of the outer side of container bottom 3 is
provided with recesses, which are engaged by the end of stack-
ing ribs 5 of container 1, positioned beneath and outside it,
that points towards container opening 4, thus fixing containers
1 in place in non-rotating fashion relative to each other.
In the practical example described by Figs. 1 to 4, the re-
cesses are designed as interruptions 7 of a foot 8 projecting
axially in the radially outer area of the outer side of con-
tainer bottom 3. As can particularly be seen in Figs. 3 and 4,
foot 8 extends in annular fashion over the entire circumference
of container bottom 3.
When stacking multiple containers 1 with attached lids 6, foot
8 can furthermore engage a corresponding axial depression in
edge area 9 of lid 6 of a container located beneath, cf.
Fig. 1, such that containers 1 with lids 6 stacked on each oth-
er are radially fixed in place relative to each other and can-
not slide on each other.
The recesses designed as interruptions 7 of an annular foot 8
are distributed around the circumference of container bottom 3
to match stacking ribs S. In the present practical example,
four stacking ribs 5 and, accordingly, four interruptions 7 of
foot 8 are provided, being arranged at an angle of 90 to the
nearest adjacent stacking ribs 5 or interruptions 7.
Figure 5 shows a cutaway view of two containers according to
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
7
Figs. 1 to 4, stacked in each other. In this context, container
bottom 3 of upper container 1 in the drawing sits on the upper
edge of stacking rib 5. A clearance remains between container
walls 2 of the two containers 1 stacked in each other, and can
completely surround the inner container if the position of the
containers is centered. The same also applies when stacking
containers according to the practical example described below.
Generally speaking, a lateral clearance between container walls
2 of the containers stacked in each other can again remain in
this case. The stacking webs can also engage the recess with
lateral and/or radial clearance in the area of recess 10, in
order to prevent jamming of the containers in stacked state.
This can apply independently of the practical example.
Figures 6 and 7 show a further practical example enabling con-
tainers 1 stacked in each other to be fixed in place in non-
rotating fashion. In this instance, the radially outer side of
container bottom 3 displays recesses 10 distributed over the
circumference, which are designed a local areas molded into
container bottom 3. Recesses 10 are in each case engaged by the
upper edge of a stacking rib 5 of a container 1 stacked be-
neath. As can be seen from Fig. 6, recesses 10 are open towards
the underside and towards the radially outer side of container
bottom 3.
CA 02676410 2009-07-23
8
-- Container
List of reference numbers
1 Container
2 Container wall
3 Container bottom
4 Container opening
5 Stacking rib
6 Lid
7 Interruption
8 Foot
9 Edge area
10 Recess
