GB2241492A

GB2241492A - Lidded transport containers

Info

Publication number: GB2241492A
Application number: GB9104205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ferdinand Wipking
Original assignee: Georg Utz AG
Current assignee: Georg Utz AG
Priority date: 1990-02-28
Filing date: 1991-02-28
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2011-02-28
Also published as: DE9002331U1; CH682997A5; GB9104205D0; GB2241492B

Abstract

A transport container of generally rectangular form, e.g. of synthetic plastics material has a bottom wall and, constructed integrally therewith, outwardly obliquely set side walls 3, 18 which at their upper portions define an access aperture 1. The access aperture 1 can be closed by means of a lid 2, which lid 2 is detachable as a whole and comprises two relatively hinged lid parts 5. The lid parts 5 are movable out of an extended position in which they are aligned in one plane into a folded position in which the lid parts 5 bear at least substantially flat upon each other. <IMAGE>

Description

1 Interlockable transpQrt container The invention relates to an

interlocking transport container of basically rectangular form and consisting particularly of synthetic plastics material, with a bottom and, constructed integrally therewith, outwardly obliquely set side walls which at their upper portion define a handling aperture.

Already known are interlockable transport containers which are provided with integral and separately transportable lids. Thus, an increased transport volume is entailed when transporting Interlocked but empty transport containers.

The invention is based on the problem of providing an interlockable transport container according to the preamble to Claim 1 which overcomes the transport drawbacks of a one-piece lid, is readily stackable in nested form and has a high level of closure security.

The invention resolves this problem by an interlockable transport container having the features according to Claim 1. For further substantial developments, attention is drawn to Claims 2 to 9.

The transport container according to the invention, together with the associated lid which is removable as a whole and which consists of two hinge-connected lid parts, permits of a simple type of common and spacesaving transport of inter-engaged transport containers and lids, because the folded lid can be transported on the interior bottom of the transport container in a space-saving and captive manner. For transporting the filled containers in a manner which offers security of handling, the lid may be secured by means of one or a plurality of insertable seals. Thus, a simple theft-proof closure of the upper access aperture is possible.

With regard to further advantages and details, attention is drawn to the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings which diagrammatically show in greater detail an example of embodiment of the object of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the interlockable transport container with a hinged-on lid and with the side flap closed, Fig. 2 a, b, c show various positions of the hinged lid, Fig. 3 shows the positioning of the lid for closing the handling aperture, Fig. 4 shows a cross-section through the lid and the hinged flap in the side wall, with a push-in seal, Fig. 5 shows a lid separated into two lid parts with insertable hinge parts, Fig. 6 is a detail of the lid with the hinge part and the handle web, Fig. 7 shows a transport container with two U-shaped stacking members and Fig. 8 shows the stacking members in the retracted condition.

Fig. 1 illustrates an interlockable transport container of basically rectangular shape with a bottom and with, constructed in one piece with the bottom, upwardly and outwardly inclined side walls 3, 18. A removable lid 2 occludes and engages over an upper access aperture 1. The lid 2 consists thereby of two interconnected lid parts which are hinged about a transverse median axis 4 parallel with the end side walls 3 of the transport container. In the extended position 6a of the lid 2 (Fig. 2a) it forms a flat surface and support when the transport containers are stacked. The access aperture 1 is enclosed by a horizontal encircling supporting shoulder 7 formed in the upper marginal portion of the side walls 3, 18 and into which, in the closed position of the lid 2, the lid edges 8 can engage. The lid 2 is secured in the closed position by locking members 9, 10. These are formed by pockets or lugs 9 on the transport container which are inwardly open above the shoulder zones on the narrow side and locking tongues 10 on the lid parts 5 which project outwardly from the outer edges 11 parallel with the transverse median axis 4.

On a longitudinal edge close to the transverse median axis 4, the lid 2 is provided with a downwardly angled-over locking lug 13 engaging the recess 14 in the supporting shoulder 7. By means of a push-in seal 17 which passes through it (Fig. 4), lid 2 and longitudinally directed side wall 18 of the transport container can be connected in that the push-in seal 17 is inserted through a locking aperture 16 in the lug 13 and into a matching aperture 15 in the side wall 18 of the container.

For centrally tightening up and making a roof-shaped figure (Fig. 2b) of the lid parts 5, the lid parts 5 each comprise a handle web 20 located towards the ends of the transverse median axis 4. The two mutually identical lid parts 5 are connected to each other in hinging fashion via symmetrically disposed push-in hinge parts 21, 22 so that the hinge parts are identical to one another, are inter-exchangeable with one another and can be injection moulded. They permit of movement of the lid parts into a hinged position 6b (Fig. 2c) in which the lid parts 5 bear flat on one another. In this hinged position, the lids can conveniently be inserted into the transport container and transported in a space-saving fashion without hampering the transport containers when they are interlocked into one another. Instead of individually accommodati.ng each lid 2 in its container, it is also possible for all the lids 2 of the containers which are grouped together into one interlocked column, to be transported in the topmost container of the column.

Fig. 7 shows the transport container with the lid 2 removed and illustrates, parallel with the narrow side 3, a pivot axis 25 consisting of a depression 23 in the supporting shoulder 7 (Fig. 8) and pivoted into an operating position a U-shaped bracket 24 which is so positioned that the transport containers can be stacked without a lid 2. In this operating condition, a main arm 26 of the stacking bracket 24 engages the access aperture 1 at a distance from the supporting shoulder 7 on the narrow side.

In a longitudinally directed side wall 18 of the transport container there is a draw-off aperture 12 which can be closed by a hinged member 19. This hinged member 19 can be reciprocated along its bottom edge about a horizontal axis 27. In the region of its upper edge, this flap 19 is provided with a projecting lug 28 and a locking aperture 29 disposed therein. In the closed position of the flap 19, the tie 13 is, with the bolt aperture 16 of the lid 2, so disposed in alignment with the associated matching aperture 15 in the side wall 18 of the container that by means of the push-in seal 17 an overall closure can be achieved.

1

Claims

1. An interlockable transport container of generally rectangular form, (e. g. consisting particularly of synthetic plastics material), having a bottom wall and, constructed integrally therewith, outwardly obliquely set side walls which at their upper portions define an access aperture, characterised in that the access aperture can be closed by means of a lid, which lid is detachable as a whole and which comprises two lid parts connected in such a way as to be hinged in respect of each other about a transverse median axis with the side walls at opposed ends of the container, the lid parts being movable out of an extended position in which they are aligned in one plane into a folded position in which the lid parts bear at least substantially flat upon each other.

2. A transport container according to Claim 1, characterised in that the access aperture is bounded by a shoulder which supports the lid edges and which is formed in the upper periphery of the side walls; being provided with locking members to fix the lid in the closed position.

3. A transport container according to Claim 2, characterised in that the shoulder zones parallel to the transverse median axis are provided with inwardly open bolt pockets or lugs, and in that the lid parts have outwardly projecting locking tongues on their outer edges which are parallel with the transverse median axis, and which engage said bolt pockets or lugs.

4. A transport container according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that on a longitudinal edge close to provided with which engages which has a position of aperture in a container and which engages the transverse median axis, the lid is a downwardly angled-over locking lug a recess in the supporting shoulder and locking aperture which, in the closed the lid, is aligned with a matching longitudinally directed side wall of the which serves to receive a plug-in seal through both apertures.

5. A transport container according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterised in that in the lid, close to the transverse median axis, and above the supporting shoulder of the container, there are bolt apertures which in the closed position of the lid are aligned with matching apertures in the supporting shoulder of the container and which serve to accommodate a push-in seal which engages through both apertures.

6. A transport container according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the lid has, on both lid parts, and in each case close to the ends of the transverse median axis, a handle web for central pull-up so that the lid parts are set in a roof-like arrangement.

7. A transport container according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the lid consists of two identical lid parts connected via symmetrically disposed push-in hinge parts.

8. A transport container according to one of 1 Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that, in the supporting shoulder there is along each of the sides parallel to the transverse median axis and the end portions of the sides adjacent thereto a depression which in plan view is U-shaped and which is adapted for holding a U-shaped stack of brackets which is pivotable about a pivot axis parallel with the transverse median axis out of a starting position in the depression and towards the centre of the container into a working position in which a main arm of the bracket engages over the access aperture at a distance from the supporting shoulder.

9. A transport container according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that there is provided in a side wall a withdrawal aperture which is adapted to be closed by a flap which is hinged about a horizontal axis exten ding along the bottom edge of the withdrawal aperture and about a substantially central parallel axis and which is provided in the region of its upper edge with a projecting tongue and disposed therein a bolt aperture which in the closed position of the flap is aligned with the bolt aperture in the bolt tongue of the lid and the associated matching aperture in the side wall of the container.

10. A transport container substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings Figures 1 to 8.

Published 1991 at Ibe Patent Office. Concept House. Cardiff Road. Newport. Gvxnt NP9 1 RH Further copies may he obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cw-mfelinfach. Cross Keys. Newrport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques hd. St MarY Cray. Kent.