DE29503254U1 - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Description

Dr-Inq W Bernhardt ^ Kobenhüttenweg 43, 66123 Saarbrücken

" Telephone (0681) 65000

Patent Attorney Fax (0681) 65066

Description:

1) Friedola Gebr. Holzapfel GmbH & Co. KG, 37269 Eschwege

2) KTP Plastics Technology and Production GmbH & Co. KG, 66265 Heusweiler

"Collapsible container"

The invention relates to a collapsible container with a base made of a plastic molded part, which has recesses formed downwards as feet, between which there is space for the engagement of the lifting fork of a forklift truck, and in which borders, in particular in the form of grooves, are formed, into which side walls connected to the vertical container edges to form a sleeve are to be inserted, in particular further with a lid that can be placed over the sleeve.

The familiar containers are cuboid-shaped. The sleeve is made of corrugated cardboard. It is usually discarded after one use.

The invention is based on the object of creating a container suitable for reusable use.

According to the invention, this purpose is achieved in that, in a container of the type mentioned at the outset, the sleeve consists of at least five side walls and the connections of the side walls at the edges are designed in such a way that the sleeve can be folded by folding at least one edge, folding out at least two edges and stretching at least one edge.

When folded, the collapsible sleeve reaches a size in which it can be packed flat with the base and, if necessary, the lid and transported back.

Preferably, the sleeve, including its height dimension, fits exactly on the base and under the lid when folded, so that a closed package is created for return transport.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sleeve consists of eight side walls and can be folded in at two opposite edges, folded out at the four edges adjacent to these and stretched at the remaining edges. The sleeve with an octagonal cross-section can, even if it is not an equilateral octagon, be folded into four layers essentially without gaps, thus creating a packaging form with particularly favorable use of space.

Apart from that, the octagonal shape provides a comparatively large container volume and a relatively high level of stability, particularly load-bearing capacity, when in operation.

A hexagon would also be possible, but the side lengths would be very different or the folded walls would overlap. A pentagon can only have one fold and in any case requires a much larger side. If the four other sides are all half this size, an acceptable volume is still possible.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the sleeve can be extended by a further sleeve that can be telescopically placed on it or inserted into it.

This measure can compensate for the aforementioned limitation of the height of the sleeve if necessary.

It is particularly suitable for use in containers for shipping plastic granules that have different bulk densities.

By means of knobs or the like formed on at least one of the two sleeves, the further sleeve can be held to the first sleeve at one height or a plurality of heights.

The additional sleeve is conveniently the same height as the first sleeve, so that it too, when folded, fits under the lid.

When the container is folded and packed, the lid conveniently extends slightly over the edge of the base.

This means that the folded sleeve or sleeves are also held securely at the sides. They cannot slip over the edge of the base and/or the container.

The sleeve is conveniently made of a plastic material that has a hollow structure with two cover films on both sides, similar to the principle of corrugated cardboard, and is pressed in at the edges mentioned so that it can be folded here.

Preferably, the plastic material is pressed in twice at the edges to form so-called M-edges. This gives relatively good flexibility in both directions, so that the sleeve can be bent in and out at all edges. Stretching is in between, so it is also possible.

The drawings show an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a collapsible container,

Fig. 2 shows the container, folded, in an exploded isometric view,

Fig. 3 shows the container, completely folded, in the representation corresponding to Fig. 2 and

Fig. 4 shows the bottom of the container on a larger scale in isometric view.

The container designated 1 consists of a base 2, two telescopically assembled sleeves 3 and 4 forming its side walls and a lid 5.

The base 2 is provided with feet 6, 7 and 8 at the four corners, in the middle and on the middle of the sides. Feet 6 to 8 are shaped as recesses. Foot 7 is open at the bottom. This allows the container to be emptied, for example in such a way that a bag that additionally encloses the container contents has a projection at the bottom in the middle that can be pulled out through foot 7, cut open and tied back up again.

A groove 9 runs on the sides of an octagon in sections along the four sides of the base, where it opens into the recesses of the feet 7 and then continues again, and diagonally in front of the corners of the base, just past the recesses of the feet 6. In the latter sections, diagonally rising elevations 10 are formed on the outer wall of the groove 9.

The sleeve 3 is inserted into the groove 9; its side walls each have the same dimensions as the corresponding straight sections of the groove 9. The edges between the side walls are designated 11 to 18.

The sleeve 4 inserted into the sleeve 3 is supported on knobs designed as lugs 19, which are stamped outwards on opposite side walls of the sleeve 3. Such lugs are arranged at three different heights. If the container is to have a lower height than shown, the sleeve 4 is pressed over the upper lugs 19 with increased force until it reaches the middle, possibly the lower lugs and in the extreme case the base 2.

The sleeve 4 engages in a groove on the underside of the cover 5, which groove corresponds to the groove 9.

The lid 5 is slightly hood-shaped and has side walls 20 which, as can be seen in Fig. 3, can enclose the base 2. Recesses 21 are formed on its upper side in order to accommodate the feet 6 to 8 of another container placed on the container 1 and to secure them against displacement.

The base 1 and the lid 5 are made of recycled plastic.

The sleeves 3 and 4, for example, consist of a plastic material constructed in the manner of corrugated cardboard. At the edges 11 to 18, this material is pressed together on two adjacent lines by welding its layers. The edges of the blank from which the sleeve 3 or 4 is made are also welded at one of the edges.

To fold the container, the sleeve 4 is pulled out of the sleeve 3. The sleeves are folded by folding them at the edges 11 and 15, as indicated by arrows, by folding them out at the edges 18 and 12 and 14 and 16 adjacent to them, and by stretching them at the two remaining edges 13 and 17.

The sleeves 3 and 4 are then placed on the base 1, as shown in Fig. 2. The cover 5 is placed over them, enclosing them. Fig. 3 shows the packed state.

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Claims (12)

Expectations: 1. A collapsible container with a base (2) made of a plastic molded part, which has recesses formed downwards as feet (6; 7; 8), between which there is space for the engagement of the lifting fork of a forklift truck, and in which surrounds, in particular in the form of grooves (9), are formed, into which side walls connected to the vertical container edges (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18) to form a sleeve (3) are to be inserted, in particular further comprising a lid (5) which can be placed over the sleeve (3),
characterized, that the sleeve (3) consists of at least five side walls and the connections of the side walls at the edges (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18) are designed in such a way that the sleeve can be folded by folding at least one edge (11; 15), folding out at least two edges (18; 12; 14; 16) and stretching at least one edge (13; 17). 2. Container according to claim 1,
characterized, that the sleeve (3) consists of eight side walls and can be folded in at two opposite edges (11; 15), folded out at the four edges adjacent to these (18; 12; 14; 16) and stretched at the remaining edges (13; 17). 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized, that the sleeve (3) can be bent in and out at all edges (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18). 4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized, that the sleeve (3), when folded, fits on the base (2) and under the lid (5). 5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized, that the sleeve (3) can be extended by a further sleeve (4) which can be telescopically placed on it or inserted into it. 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized by knobs (19) or the like formed on at least one of the two sleeves (3; 4) in such a way that they hold the further sleeve (4) at least at one height. 7. Container according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that both sleeves (3; 4), folded, fit under the lid (5). 8. Container according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that in the folded and packed state (Fig. 3) of the container (1) the lid (5) extends over the edge of the base (2). 9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sleeve(s) (3; 4) consists or consist of a plastic material. 10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the plastic material has a hollow structure with two cover films on the two sides. 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the plastic material is pressed in at said edges. 12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that the plastic material is pressed in twice at the edges (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18), preferably to form M-edges.