Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRANSPORTATION CONTAINER
The invention relates to a transportation container having a stacked
arrangement of containers
formed from plastic.
Background
Transportation containers for goods of various types and small parts are known
per se in a varie-
ty of different embodiments. As an example, the document DE 19 42 864
discloses a transporta-
tion container for goods of any type with a means for a forklift truck, in
which the transportation
container is formed from individual parts which can be assembled in different
ways depending as
required, for example to form pallets with stacked columns onto which further
pallets and contain-
ers can be placed, or to form single-stacked or multi-stacked containers with
side walls which
can be removed so that they can be loaded and unloaded from the side, wherein
the containers
can be closed by inserting a side wall.
A transportation container which can be assembled is also known from the
document DE 10
2014 105 871 Al. The size of the transportation container can be adjusted to
change its
transportation volume.
Document DE 40 37 696 Al discloses a modular container system formed from
modular ele-
ments which are matched to each other, wherein specific dimensions are
identical so that they
can be combined to produce different containers.
Summary
The object of the invention is to provide a transportation container with a
stacked arrangement of
containers which are formed from plastic, which is versatile and for which
loading and unloading
is as simple as possible.
The object is solved by means of a transportation container with a stacked
arrangement of con-
tainers formed from plastic as claimed in the independent claim 1. The
embodiments form the sub-
ject matter of the dependent claims.
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In one aspect, a transportation container is provided with a stacked
arrangement of containers
formed from plastic, in which the containers are formed with a container
bottom and a peripheral =
container wall, wherein the container bottom is configured so as to cover a
total area of a
transportation pallet or a section thereof. The peripheral container walls are
formed with an upright
wall and reinforcements disposed thereon. The containers are releasably
assembled from container
components which have two lateral container components, wherein container
components dis-
posed adjacent to each other are connected together in an interlocking and/or
force-fitting manner
in the region of the container walls and the container bottom. Containers
disposed directly one
above the other are articulated together along a long side of the container in
a manner such that an
upper container can be moved between an initial position in which the upper
container is disposed
in a manner such as to close the upper container opening of a container which
is disposed directly
beneath it, and a swung up position in which the upper container has been
swung up about a swiv-
el axis of the articulated connection so that the upper container opening of
the container which is
disposed directly therebeneath is opened.
In the stacked arrangement of the containers, the containers disposed directly
on top of each other,
which in general may also be termed crates, are placed on top in a manner
which is at least partial-
ly interlocked. In this manner, in one embodiment, in the bottom region of the
upper container, pro-
jections which may run continuously or discontinuously around the outer
periphery engage in an
interlocking manner in associated sections in the lower container, for example
in the region of an
upper peripheral rim of the lower container. Positioning or storage elements
for the upper container
may be formed with the projections in the bottom region when the latter is
disposed on a storage
area, for example, for example on a floor.
The containers or the container parts may be produced as injection moulded
components, wherein
recycled plastic may be used in this regard.
The upper container may be locked in the swung up position by means of a
locking device. Locking
at least in the swung up position may be carried out by ensuring that the
upper container clicks into
the swung up position. In this regard, the locking device may include a guide
component which,
when swinging up or down, is guided along a projection which penetrates into
the guide component
which, for example, is disposed at the upper rim of the lower container. In an
end position, the
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guide component locks so that the upper container is secured in the swung up
position. To swing it
down subsequently, the guide component can be released from the locked
position to allow the
upper container to be swung down into position on the lower container.
The upper container may be capable of being secured against being swung up
when the upper
container is disposed in the initial position on the container disposed
directly beneath it by means of
a closing device. One or more closures may be provided which, by closing the
respective closure,
secure the upper container in the initial position on the container which is
disposed directly there-
below. One or more of the closures may be disposed on the front of the
transportation container.
One or more closures may be provided exclusively in the region of the front,
i.e. on the opposite
side to the articulated connection disposed at the back.
The container bottoms may include openings at least in a section of the bottom
surface. At least in
a section of the container bottom, a grid floor may be provided, whereupon the
openings are
disposed within a grid structure. The grid structure may completely cover the
respective bottom
surface of the container or crate. It may be formed by webs and openings
disposed therebetween.
The grid structure may be formed in a consistent manner over the entire grid
floor, for example with
a honeycomb or kite structure. Alternatively, the container bottom may be
partially or completely
configured as a closed bottom.
The lateral components may be formed as crate components which are open on one
side, and the
at least one central container component may be formed as a crate component
which is open on
both sides. The lateral container components and/or the at least one central
container component
may be formed as one piece or from a plurality of assembled wall components.
As an example, wall
section-forming components may be clipped onto the bottom or fastened in a
different manner, for
example releasably. In one embodiment, between the lateral container
components are a plurality
of central container components which may be formed with the same or different
widths.
The connections between the container components may be provided with tongue
and groove con-
nections. The tongue and groove connections may be formed in the region of the
upright side walls
and/or in the region of the container bottom. In complementary manner or as an
alternative, the
container components may be screwed together. In this regard, openings and
associated screw
bosses may be provided on the container components.
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The connections between the container components may be provided with
interlocking connec-
tions, wherein projections engage in an interlocked manner in associated
recesses. The interlock-
ing connections may be formed in the region of the upright side walls and/or
in the region of the
container bottom. The projections may be disposed on a vertically orientated
wall section and pro-
ject in the direction of the container component to be fastened thereto so
that, when the container
components are assembled, they can be accommodated in an associated recess in
the opposite
container component.
Flutes may be disposed on one or both surfaces of surface sections which face
each other when
the container components are releasably assembled. The surface flutes may be
disposed adjacent
to one of the connections into which the container components engage. The
flutes may have a flat
toothed structure at least in parts, for example with pyramids or truncated
pyramids.
The reinforcements may comprise reinforcing ribs which project outwardly
and/or inwardly from the
upright wall of the container wall. The reinforcing ribs may be formed on the
container wall as up-
right flat sections. The depth of the reinforcing ribs looking along the
container wall may change
over the height of the container wall. As an example, the reinforcing ribs may
be deeper in a foot
region which is adjacent to the bottom of the container, and thus wider than
in the upper end region.
In the case in which reinforcing ribs are provided which project inwardly,
they may form push-in
seats for releasable storage components which can be disposed in the
container. Inserts may be
inserted into one or more of the push-in seats, for example in the form of
upright wall inserts,
whereupon the load volume of the container can be divided up. Furthermore,
foam blocks may be
secured in the container by means of the push-in seats, which blocks serve to
accommodate ob-
jects to be transported in the transportation container.
In a container which is disposed at the top of a stack, the top container
opening may be at least
partially closed by a lid. The lid may be formed in one or more parts. The lid
may be completely
removable from the container. In one embodiment, the lid is provided with at
least two lid parts
which are hinge mounted on opposite sides of the container. The lid parts may
respectively cov-
er a region of the container opening which is associated with one of the
container components. In
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this manner, when the container is made wider, for example by inserting a
further central con-
tainer component, an associated lid part can be incorporated into the lid.
A container which is disposed at the bottom of a stack may be disposed on one
or more
transportation pallets, wherein the bottom of the bottom container completely
overlies a loading
surface of the one or more transportation pallets. The loading surface may
correspond to half or all
of the area of a Euro Pool pallet. The one or more transportation pallets may
be releasably secured
to the stack of transport containers by means of a securing means.
A sealing element may be disposed on opposite surfaces of the container
components. The sealing
element may be formed as a sealing strip formed from an elastic material, for
example rubber. The
sealing element may be positioned on the associated surface, optionally
secured with a bonding
agent, or alternatively it may be positioned in a groove provided on the
associated surface. By
means of the sealing element, it is possible to make the transportation
container watertight, dust-
proof or gas-tight. In one embodiment, the sealing element may be provided in
different separated
regions between adjacent walls in order to seal the respective regions when
assembled.
When the container bottom is formed so as to cover the whole surface of a
plurality of
transportation pallets, the transportation pallets are connected together by
means of pallet connect-
ors. The area of the container bottom overlies the area of the transportation
pallets. The pallet con-
nectors may, for example, be produced as profiles formed from metal, in
particular aluminium. The
pallet connectors may in this regard be inserted into associated recesses on
the pallets when the
pallets are moved towards each other. Spacers may be disposed between the
pallets.
Transport securing means may be disposed in the container formed, for example,
as foam strips or
sheets. In one embodiment, the transport securing means may be evenly spaced
apart. The
transport securing means may be inserted at the wall into associated push-in
seats.
One or more holding rings may be provided on the container, for example
clipped onto the bottom.
Goods for transport accommodated in the transportation container can be lashed
down with the aid
of the holding rings. Anchoring points may be provided for optional additional
holding rings. The
anchoring points may be produced by predetermined breaking points which allow
the anchoring
points to be removed in order to create an aperture for the insertion of a
holding ring.
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A closing lug may be hinge mounted. In the closed state, a securing lug may
penetrate through an
aperture in the closing lug so that a securing rod or padlock can be
introduced into an opening of
the securing lug, in order to secure the closing lug in the closed position.
Description of the embodiments
Further exemplary embodiments will now be described in more detail with the
aid of the figures of
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a transportation
container with a stacked
arrangement of two containers formed from plastic;
Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the transportation
container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a lateral container
component;
Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a central container
component;
Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a transportation container
from the side,
wherein a lid is closed;
Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the transportation container
of Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a pallet of the
transportation container of
Figure 1;
Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a lid;
Figure 9 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a further transportation
container prior to
assembly;
Figure 10 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the further transportation
container of Figure
9 after assembly;
Figure 11 represents diagrammatic views of a container with transportation
securing means
disposed therein;
Figure 12 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a section with a seal;
Figure 13 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a section of a container
with a holding ring,
as well as a holding ring, and
Figure 14 represents diagrammatic perspective views of a section with a
closing lug.
Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatic perspective views of a transport container
1, in which an up-
per container 2 and a lower container 3 are disposed directly above and below
each other. The
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lower container 3 is disposed on two pallets 4a, 4b and releasably secured to
it by means of a se-
curing means 5. A loading surface 6 which is formed by the two pallets 4a, 4b
together, completely
overlies a bottom surface 7 of the lower container 3. In addition, a bottom
surface 8 of the upper
container 2 is of the same size.
A container bottom 9 is formed as a grid floor 10 which has a grid structure
which extends over the
entire bottom surface 8. The grid floor 10 is formed by webs 10a and openings
10b surrounded by
the webs 10a. Projections 11 and associated recesses 12 (see also Figure 3)
are integrated into
the grid floor 10. The projections 11 are disposed in the associated recesses
12 when the upper
and lower containers 2, 3 are releasably assembled from container components.
In this regard,
Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views of a lateral container component 30 as
well as a central
container component 40.
The upper container 2 and the lower container 3 are articulated along a long
side of the container
13 by means of a hinged articulation 14, as can be seen more clearly in
Figures 5 and 6. A locking
means 15 is provided with a guide component 15a as well as an associated
guided guide pin 15b
which is guided between the swung up position shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the
initial position
shown in Figures 1 and 2 when swung upwards and downwards in an elongate
recess 15c of the
guide component 15a. In the swung up position shown in Figures 5 and 6, the
upper container 2 is
locked by means of the locking means 15. To swing it down, the locking means
15 is released.
In the embodiments shown, two containers are stacked one above the other and
disposed on the
pallets 4a, 4h. Alternatively, more than two containers of this type may be
stacked one on top of the
other.
The upper and lower containers 2, 3 are each assembled from two lateral
container components 30
which are shown in Figure 3, as well as a central container component 40 which
can be seen in
Figure 4. Alternatively, a plurality of central container components 40 may be
disposed between the
two lateral container components 30, for example three at most. In addition,
the central container
component 40 may be dispensed with entirely.
In addition to the connections by means of the projections 11 and the
associated recesses 12 in the
region of the container bottom, tongue and groove connections 16 are
additionally provided in the
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region of the upright lateral walls 17 of the containers 2, 3. Alternatively,
both the projections 11 and
the tongue and groove connections 16 may be dispensed with, whereupon the
container compo-
nents 30, 40 may be screwed together.
Reinforcing ribs 18 protrude inwardly and outwardly from the container walls
17. As can be seen in
Figure 3, with the reinforcing ribs 18, push-in seats 20 may be formed on an
inside 19 into which,
for example, foam components can be pushed in order to locate them within the
respective con-
tainer 2, 3. In one embodiment, foam components of this type (not shown) may
accommodate
items or components to be transported, for example in an interlocking manner.
The items to be
transported may in this manner be localized and secured within the respective
container.
As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, a lid 21 is hinged on the upper container 2
so that the upper
container 2 can be opened for loading or unloading. Figure 8 shows a
diagrammatic view of a cen-
tral lid portion 21b (see also Figure 9 below) of the lid 21 from above, which
is formed by adjacent
lid portion elements 22, 23.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of one of the pallets 4a, 4b. A pallet
loading surface 26 is formed
on pallet feet 24, 25, which in the embodiment shown has a closed bottom 27
with a reinforcement
27a disposed thereon with webs 27b. The webs 27b form compartments 28 into
which objects can
fall which drop through the grid floor 10 of the container 2, 3. The bottom 27
of the pallets 4a, 4b
may cover the entire bottom area of the containers 2, 3.
The upper container 2 is secured on the lower container 3 by means of a
closing means 29, several
of which are shown, and which in the embodiment shown is provided with a
closing lug 29a (cf.
Figure 1). The closing means 29 prevents the upper container 2 from swinging
upwards when
closed.
Figures 9 and 10 show diagrammatic perspective views of a further transport
container 1 before
and after assembly; in contrast to Figure 9, Figure 10 shows a transport
container with upper and
lower containers 2, 3. The same reference numerals as those used in the
preceding figures are
employed for the same features here.
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Lid parts 21a, 21b, 21c are provided which are associated with the central
container component 40
and the lateral container components 30.
To form the container bottom 9, pallets 4a, 4b are fixed together with the aid
of pallet connectors
50a, 50b which, for example, are formed as metal profiles, in particular
aluminium. In this regard,
the pallet connectors 50a, 50b are pushed into associated recesses in the
pallets 4a, 4b when the
pallets 4a, 4b are moved towards each other. Spacers 51 are disposed between
the pallets 4a, 4b.
Figure 11 shows views of a container in which transportation securing means 60
are disposed
which, in the embodiment shown, are configured as foam strips or sheets. In
the embodiment
shown, the transportation securing means 60 are evenly spaced. The
transportation securing
means 60 are inserted at the wall into associated push-in seats 19.
Figure 12 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a section with a sealing
element 70 which in
the embodiment shown is configured as a sealing strip formed from an elastic
material, for example
rubber. The sealing element 70 may be placed on the associated surface 71,
optionally secured by
a bonding agent or alternatively positioned in a groove provided on the
associated surface 71. With
the aid of the sealing element 70 it is possible to make the transport
container 1 watertight, dust-
proof and/or gas-tight. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the sealing element may
be disposed in re-
gions 72a, 72b, 72c in order to seal the respective regions upon assembly.
Figure 13 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a section of a container
with a holding ring 80
which is clipped onto the bottom, as well as an individual holding ring.
Transportation items re-
ceived in the transportation container can be lashed down with the aid of the
holding ring 80. The
anchoring points 81 in the embodiment shown are formed by predetermined
breaking points which
allow the anchoring points 81 to be removed in order to create an aperture for
insertion of a holding
ring.
Figure 14 shows diagrammatic perspective views of a section with a closing lug
29a which is hinge
mounted. In the closed condition (see the right hand view in Figure 14), a
securing lug 90 pene-
trates through an aperture 91 in the closing lug 29a so that a securing rod or
a padlock can be in-
troduced into an opening 92 of the securing lug 90 in order to secure the
closing lug 29a in the
closed position.
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The features disclosed in the present description, claims and the drawings may
be of significance
both individually and also in any combination in respect of generating the
various embodiments.
