Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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STACKABLE AND NESTABLE CONTAINER
This invention relates to containers. Embodiments of the invention relate to
containers having movable support arrangements. Embodiments of the invention
relate to containers having movable support arms.
Containers with movable support arms are known in the art as bale arm
containers. Such containers have a body defining an internal region and arms
pivotally
attached to opposite walls of the container body at upper regions thereof. The
arms
are movable between a region outside the body to a support position over the
internal
region. However, the arms of known such containers can be difficult to be
moved to
the support position.
According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a container
comprising:
a wall arrangement defining an internal region; and
a support arrangement attached to the wall arrangement;
the support arrangement being arrangeable in a support position in which the
support arrangement extends across the internal region;
the support arrangement being arrangeable in a non-support position in which
the support arrangement extends along the wall arrangement within the internal
region
in engagement with the wall arrangement; and
the support arrangement is movable between the support and the non-support
positions.
The wall arrangement may define a locating formation, and the support
arrangement has a locating projection received in the locating formation when
the
support arrangement is in the non-support position.
The locating projection may be received in a concavity defined by the base of
a
further container stacked on the support arrangement, thereby locating the
further
container thereon.
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The wall arrangement may have an upper edge. The locating formation may be
open at the upper edge of the wall arrangement. The locating formation may be
a
locating indentation.
The non-support position of the support arrangement may be a stowed position
of the support arrangement. The support arrangement may comprise a
substantially
planar support member The support arrangement may comprise a support arm.
The wall arrangement may have a main shoulder formation providing a main
receiving area defined by the wall arrangement. The main shoulder formation
may
extend outwardly from a lower region of the wall arrangement. The main
receiving
area may extend from the upper edge of the inner surface of the wall
arrangement to
the main shoulder formation.
When the support arrangement is in the non-support position, the support
arrangement may be received in the main receiving area. When the locating
projection
is received in the locating formation, the support arrangement may extend
along the
main receiving area thereby providing a load bearing portion along the wall
arrangement.
The support arrangement may be provided within the internal region defined by
the wall arrangement. The support arrangement may be pivotally attached to the
wall
arrangement.
The support arrangement may comprise a central portion. The central portion
may be elongate. The central portion may be substantially planar.
The container may comprise a base from which the wall arrangement may extend.
The container may comprise a body, the body comprising the wall arrangement
and
the base.
When the support arrangement is in the support position, the orientation of
the
central portion may be transverse to the orientation of the central portion
when the
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support arrangement is in the non-support position. When the support
arrangement is
in the support position, the plane of the central portion may extend parallel
to the base.
When the support arrangement is in the support position, the central portion
may
be substantially parallel to the base. When the support arrangement is in the
non-
support position, the central portion may extend transverse to the base.
The support arrangement may include an attachment portion to attach the
support arrangement to the wall arrangement at a pivot point. The support
arrangement may comprise a connecting member to connect the attachment portion
to the central portion. The connecting member may extend transverse to the
central
portion.
The attachment portion may be a projecting attachment portion. The attachment
portion may project from the connecting member.
The attachment portion may have an actuating formation to enable the support
arrangement to be moved between the support and non-support positions.
The actuating formation may comprise a socket to receive tool for rotating the
support arrangement. The socket may be a polygonal socket, to receive a key.
The
socket may be hexagonal socket. The key may be a hex key.
The support arrangement may comprise two of the attachment portions. Each
attachment portion may be provided at a respective opposite end of the support
arrangement. The attachment portions may pivotally attach the support
arrangement
to the wall arrangement at pivot points. The container may comprise a
respective pivot
point at each attachment portion.
The support arrangement may comprise two of the connecting members. A
respective connecting member may be provided at each opposite end of the
central
portion. A respective attachment portion may be provided on each connecting
member_
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The container may include a guide arrangement to guide the support
arrangement between the support and non-support positions. The guide
arrangement
may comprise a guide member on one of the support arrangement and the wall
arrangement.
The guide arrangement may comprise a guide track to interact with the guide
member. The guide track may be provided on the other of the support
arrangement
and the wall arrangement
The support arrangement may include the guide members to guide the support
arrangement between the support and the non-support positions. The wall
arrangement may include the guide track to interact with the guide members.
The guide members may move along the guide track to guide the support
arrangement when the support arrangement moves between the support and the non-
support positions. The guide members may project from the connecting members.
The guide track may extend around the pivot point. The guide track may curve
around
the pivot point. The guide track may be arranged above the pivot point.
The guide arrangement may comprise two guide tracks, which may be arranged
opposite one another Each guide track may be arranged adjacent a respective
pivot
point.
In one container, the, or each, guide track may comprise a slot extending
through
the wall arrangement.
In a modification of the aforesaid container, the, or each, guide track may
comprise a guide shoulder on the wall arrangement.
The support arrangement may comprise two of the guide members. A respective
guide member may be provided at each opposite end of the central portion. Each
guide member may be provided on a respective one of the connecting members.
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The container may include cooperating securing means to secure the support
arrangement in the support position.
The securing means may comprise a securing projection on one of the support
arrangement and the wall arrangement. The securing means may comprise a
securing
recess defined by the other of the support arrangement and the wall
arrangement.
The securing projection may be received by the securing recess to secure the
support arrangement in the support position. The securing projection may
engage the
support arrangement or the wall arrangement when the securing projection is
received
in the securing recess.
The securing projection may be provided on the wall arrangement. The securing
recess may be defined by the support arrangement. When the securing projection
is
received by the securing recess, the securing projection may engage the
support
arrangement within the securing recess. When so engaged, the securing
projection
inhibits movement of the support arrangement to the non-support position.
The connecting member may define the securing recess. When the securing
projection is received by the securing recess, the securing projection may
engage the
connecting member within the securing recess.
The securing projection may have a corner to engage the region defining the
securing recess. The corner may engage said region when the securing
projection is
received in the securing recess. The corner may engage the connecting member
when
the securing projection is received in the securing recess.
When the securing projection engages the securing arrangement within the
securing recess, the securing projection may inhibit movement of the support
arrangement from the support position.
The wall arrangement may comprise a plurality of wall members. The wall
arrangement may comprise a pair of opposite first wall members. The wall
arrangement may comprise a pair of opposite second wall members. The pair of
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opposite first wall members may extend transverse to the pair of opposite
second wall
members.
The support arrangement may be attached to the first wall members adjacent one
of the second wall members. The main receiving area may be defined in one of
the
second wall members.
The container may comprise two of the support arrangements. Each of the
support arrangements may be attached to the first wall members adjacent one of
the
second wall members. Each of the support arrangements may be pivotally
attached
to both of the first wall members at the attachment portions of the respective
support
arrangement.
Each end of both second wall members may have a respective main shoulder
formation providing the main receiving area. The main receiving areas may
extend
from the upper edge of each second wall member to the respective main shoulder
formations. The central portion of the support arrangement may be received in
the
main receiving area defined by each second wall member.
The locating indentation may be defined in the main receiving area. The
locating
indentation may be open at the upper edge of the second wall member
Each of the second wall members may define a through hole. The through hole
may function as a handle to allow the container to be carried. The through
hole may
be defined in the second wall member beneath the respective main shoulder
formation.
Alternatively, each of the second wall members may be devoid of a through
hole.
The handles may be provided by projections on the second wall member
The first wall members may have opposite ends at which the second wall
members are attached. The first wall members may comprise subsidiary shoulder
formations at each end. The subsidiary shoulder formations may be provided at
corner
regions of the first wall members.
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The subsidiary shoulder formations of each of the first wall members may
provide
subsidiary receiving areas in which the connecting members and the attachment
portions are received.
The subsidiary shoulder formations may extend transverse to the main shoulder
formations. The subsidiary receiving areas may extend transverse to the main
receiving area. The subsidiary receiving areas at each end of the first wall
members
may extend to the main receiving area of the respective second wall member.
The base may have a pair of opposite first edge regions at which the first
wall
members are attached. The base may have a pair of opposite second edge regions
at which the second wall members are attached.
The base may have an underside defining a respective concavity at each second
edge. Each concavity may be configured to receive the locating projection of a
support
arrangement of a further container on which the container is stacked.
The support arrangement may comprise a single locating projection. The
container may comprise a single locating formation defined by the wall
arrangement.
The base may define a single concavity at each end.
In a modification, the support arrangement may comprise three locating
projections spaced therealong. In this modification, the container may
comprise three
of the locating formations spaced along the wall arrangement. The base may
define
three concavities spaced along each end of the container.
The base may define a depression. A plurality of strengthening members may be
provided in the depression to strengthen the base. Each strengthening member
may
be substantially straight, and may extend diagonally across the depression.
The container may comprise dividers arrangeable in the internal region. The
dividers may include fastening formations to secure the dividers to the first
wall
members. The first wall members may define fastening slots to receive the
fastening
formations.
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An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of a container, showing support
arrangements in support and non-support positions;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of the container showing the support
arrangements in the support and non-support positions;
Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the container, showing the
support
arrangements in the support positions;
Figure 4 is a perspective from above of the container, showing the support
arrangements in the non-support positions;
Figure 5 is a close up view from outside the container showing the support
arrangement in the non-support position;
Figure 6 is a close up view from inside the container showing the support
arrangement in the non-support position;
Figure 7 is an external view of an upper corner region of the wall
arrangement,
with the support arrangement in a non-support position;
Figure 8 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement, with
the
support arrangement in the non-support position;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of two of the containers nested one within the
other,
and a third container stacked upon the upper of the two nested containers;
Figure 10 is a sectional side view of the three containers shown in Figure 10;
Figure 11 is a view from below of the container;
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Figure 12 is a close up of a region of the wall arrangement;
Figure 13 shows the use of dividers in an internal region of the container;
Figure 14 is an internal view of the upper region of the wall arrangement of a
modified container, with the support arrangement in the non-support position;
Figure 15 is an internal view of an upper corner region of the wall
arrangement of
the modified container, with the support arrangement in the support position;
Figure 16 is a top perspective view of the modified container with the support
arrangements in the support position; and
Figure 17 is a view from below of the modified container.
The drawings show a container 10 comprising a body 12 defining an internal
region 14. The body 12 comprises a base 16 having a pair of opposite first
edges 18A
and a pair of opposite second edges 1813 extending transverse to the first
edges 18A
In the embodiment shown, the base 16 is generally rectangular
The body 12 further comprises a wall arrangement 20 extending upwardly from
the base 16. The wall arrangement 20 comprises a pair of opposite first wall
members
22 extending from the first edges 18A of the base 16.
The wall arrangement 20 further comprises a pair of opposite second wall
members 24 extending from the second edges 18B of the base 16. The first wall
members 22 are arranged transverse to the second wall members 24. Each of the
second wall members 24 defines a through hole 26, which functions as a handle
to
allow the container 10 to be carried.
Each of the second wall members 24 defines a locating formation in the form of
a locating indentation 28, open at the upper edge 30 of the second wall member
24.
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The second wall member 24 has a main shoulder formation 32 extending
outwardly from a lower region 33 of the second wall member 24, thereby
providing a
main receiving area 34.
The main receiving area 34 extends upwardly from the main shoulder formation
32 to the upper edge 30 of the second wall member 24. As shown in the
drawings, the
through hole 26 is defined just below the main shoulder formation 32.
The main shoulder formation 32 and the main receiving area 34 extend across
the second wall member 24. The main receiving area 34 extends along the inner
surface of the second wall member 24 from the upper edge 30 to the main
shoulder
formation 32.
The container 10 further includes two support arrangements 36 pivotally
attached
to the first wall members 22 adjacent the edge regions thereof. Each of the
support
arrangements 36 is in the form of a support arm extending across the
respective
second wall member 24.
Each support arrangement 36 comprises an elongate substantially planar central
portion 38. At least one elongate locating projection 40 extends from the
central portion
38.
The container 10 has a single locating projection 40 on the central portion 38
of
each of the support arrangements 36. Modifications of the container 10 have
three
locating projections (see Figures 14 to 16 and the description below).
Each support arrangement 36 further includes two projecting attachment
portions
42 to pivotally attach the support arrangement 36 to each of the first wall
members 22
(see Figure 7). Each attachment portion 42 is provided at a respective
opposite end
of the central portion 38.
Each support arrangement 36 is pivotally movable between a support position
and a stowed position. In the support position, the central portion 38 extends
across
the internal region 14 and is spaced from the adjacent second wall member 24.
Also,
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in the support position, the plane of the central portion 38 extends parallel
to the base
16, and the locating projection 40 extends upwardly from the central portion
38.
In the stowed position, the central portion 38 is received in the main
receiving
area 34, and extends therealong, thereby providing a load bearing portion
along the
second wall member 24. Also, in the stowed position, the plane of the central
portion
38 extends transverse to the base 16 and, in the case of each support
arrangement
36 comprising a single locating projection 40, the locating projection 40 is
received in
the locating indentation 28.
The attachment portions 42 are connected to the central portion 38 by a
triangular
connecting member 44 provided at each end of the central portion 38. The
connecting
members 44 are shown most clearly in Figures 7 and 8.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8, the first wall members 22 comprise subsidiary
shoulder formations 46 at each corner region between the first wall members 22
and
the second wall members 24. The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 of each of
the
first wall members 22 provide subsidiary receiving areas in the form of
subsidiary wall
portions 48 in which the connecting members 44 and the attachment portions 42
are
pivotally attached.
The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 extend from the main shoulder formations
32, transverse thereto. The subsidiary wall portions 48 extend from main
receiving
areas 34, transverse thereto.
The subsidiary wall portions 48 are provided in the first wall members 22
adjacent
the upper edges of the first wall members 22 at corner regions between the
first and
second wall members 24.
Each attachment portion 42 projects from the respective connecting member 44
and is received in a pivot aperture 50 defined in the subsidiary wall portions
48 of the
first wall members 22.
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Each attachment portion 42 has an actuating formation to allow the support
arrangement 36 to be moved between the support and non-support positions. Each
actuating formation is a hexagonal socket 52 defined by the attachment portion
42.
The hexagonal socket 521s configured to receive a hex key (not shown).
Rotation
of the hex key in the hexagonal socket 52 rotates the support arrangement 36.
The support arrangements 36 further include guide members 54 projecting from
each of the connecting members 44. The guide members 54 are received in guide
tracks in the form of curved guide slots 56 (see Figure 7).
The guide slots 56 are defined in the subsidiary wall portions 48 of the first
wall
members 22.
The guide slots 56 are in the form of curved guide slots above each pivot
aperture
50. Each guide slot 56 is in the form of an arc of a circle having its centre
at the
adjacent pivot aperture 50. The purpose of the guide slots 56 is discussed
below.
The container 10 further includes cooperating securing means to secure the
support arrangement 36 in the support position.
The securing means comprises a securing projection 49 on each of the
subsidiary
shoulder formations 46. The securing means further includes a securing recess
58
defined by each connecting member 44. Each securing recess 58 receives the
respective securing projection 49 when the support arrangement 36 is moved
between
the non-support position, shown in Figure 4, to the support position, shown in
Figure
3.
Each securing projection 49 has an upper corner 60. When the securing
projections 49 are received in the securing recesses 58, the upper corner 60
of each
securing projection 49 engages the respective connecting member 44 within the
securing recess 58, thereby inhibiting movement of the support arrangement 36
from
the support position.
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Figure 11 shows the underside of the container 10. The base 16 defines a
depression 62 extending over a large proportion of the base 16. A plurality of
strengthening members 64 are provided in the depression 62 to strengthen the
base
16. Each strengthening member 64 is substantially straight, and extends
diagonally
across the depression 62.
The base 16 also defines positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 186,
adjacent the second wall members 24. The concavities 66 are arranged to
correspond
in size and shape to the locating projections 40. As a result, when the
container 10 is
stacked on the support arrangements 36 of a lower further container 10, the
locating
projections 40 of the upper container 10 are received in the concavities 66 of
the
support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10, thereby locating the upper
container 10 on the lower container 10.
Figure 12 is a close up of a region of one of the second wall members 24 in
which
the second wall member 24 has an opening 68, and an inner skin 70 is provided
over
the opening 68. The inner skin 70 is attached to the inner surface of the
second wall
member 24, and defines a pocket 72 in which a label can be disposed. The inner
skin
70 includes an upper semi-circular recess 74 into which a finger can be
inserted to
remove the label. The opening is visible through the semi-circular recess 74
in Figure
12, and can be seen in Figure 5. The label can be viewed through the opening
68.
Figure 13 shows the use of dividers 76 in the internal region 14 of the
container
10. The dividers 68 can be secured to the first wall members 22 by means of
fastening
formations 78, which can be received in fastening slots 80 in the first wall
members 22.
In use, both support arrangements 36 are moved to their respective stowed
positions to allow the container 10 to be loaded. The container 10 can be
carried by
the handles to a destination, such as a storage point to a means of transport.
When
so carried, the support arrangements 36, being disposed in the main receiving
area 34
just above the through hole 26, bear some of the load being carried.
When the container 10 has been carried to the destination, the user can press
inwardly on the locating projections 40 on the central portions 38. This moves
the
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support arrangements 36 inwardly of the internal region 14, to pivot the
support
arrangements 36 from the stowed positions to the support positions.
When the support arrangements 36 are so pivoted, the guide members 54 move
in the guide slots 56, thereby guiding the support arrangements 36 to their
support
positions.
When the support arrangements 36 reach their support positions, the securing
projections 49 on the subsidiary shoulders are received in the securing
recesses 58.
The aforesaid upper corners 60 of the securing projections 49 engage the
connecting
members 44 within the respective securing recesses 58.
In the support position of each of the support arrangements 36, the locating
projections 40 extend upwardly. A further similar container 10 can be disposed
on the
container 10, the further container 10 being stacked upon the support
arrangements
36 in their support position.
When so stacked, the locating projections 40 are received in the concavities
defined in the base 16 of the further container 10. This locates the further
container
on the container 10.
If desired, instead of pressing inwardly on the locating projections 40 to
move the
support arrangements 36 from their stowed positions, the user may insert a hex
key
into each of the hexagonal sockets 52. Turning the hex key pivots the
respective
support arrangement 36 between the stowed and support positions.
The above described embodiment provides the advantage that, the provision of
the locating indentation 28 allows the container 10 to be loaded and unloaded
by
automation.
When the support arrangement 36 is in the stowed position, the support
arrangement 36 is flush with the lower region of the second wall member 24. As
a
result, the support arrangement 36 provides a free passage for items in the
container
10 to be emptied therefrom when the container 10 is turned upside down.
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The subsidiary shoulder formations 46 allow the weight of containers 10
stacked
on the support arrangement 36 to be transmitted to the first wall members 22.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, the second wall members 24 are devoid of the through
hole
28.
A further modification is shown in Figures 14 to 17, in which a further
container
10A is shown. The further container 10A is a modified version of the
container10.
The further container 10A has all the features of the container 10, shown in
Figures 1 to 13, with the exception of the differences discussed below. In
Figures 14
to 17, the features of the further container 10A are designated with the same
reference
numerals as the corresponding features shown in the previous Figures.
In Figures 14 to 16, the guide tracks are in the form of curved guide
shoulders
56A provided in the subsidiary wall portions 48.
Also, in the modification shown in Figures 14 to 17, each support arrangement
36 comprises three of the locating projections, namely a central locating
projection 40A
and two outer locating projections 40B (see Figure 16). The central locating
projection
40A is received in the locating indentation 28, and the two outer locating
projections
40 are received in further locating indentations 28A defined in the inner
skins 70.
The further container 10A possesses the projection 54. In the container 10A,
the
projection 54 engages the shoulder 56A, and slides therealong when the support
arrangement 36 moved between the support position and the non-support
position.
Referring to Figure 17, the base 16 of the container 10A also defines three
positioning concavities 66 at each opposite edge 18B, adjacent the second wall
members 24. The three positioning concavities 66 comprise a central
positioning
cavity 66A and two outer positioning concavities 66B.
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The central concavities 66A are arranged to correspond in size and shape to
the
central locating projections 40A. The outer concavities 66B are arranged to
correspond in size and shape to the outer locating projections 4013.
As a result, when the container 10A is stacked on the support arrangements 36
of a similar further container 10A, in which the support arrangements 36 are
in their
support positions. The central and outer locating projections 40A, 40B of the
upper
container 10A are received in the respective central and outer positioning
concavities
66A, 66B of the support arrangements 36 of the lower container 10A, thereby
locating
the upper container 10A on the lower container 10A.
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