IE48111B1 - Bin - Google Patents

Description

This invention is concerned with bins for articles, such as vegetables, which are intended in use to be superimposed one upon another to provide a plurality of compartments.

An object of the invention is to provide a bin of this kind such that a number of bins can be nested inside one another to reduce the overall volume occupied by the bins and thereby facilitate transport and storage.

The invention provides a moulded 10 plastics bin having an open front wall, a rear wall, a bottom and two side walls, said walls sloping inwardly and downwardly to allow two such bins to be nested within one another and two handle-like members integrally moulded with the bin and each hinged to an opposite one 15 of the two side walls, each such member being movable to an outwardly extending position to allow nesting of bins and each such member being shaped to provide ε surface which when the member is turned inwardly abuts the side wall tosupport the member in a position providing a ledge on which a similar bin may be stacked. In the t-turned position, the handle-like members may be used as actual handles for lifting the bins. For convenience, the nandle-like members will be referred to as handles though ii will be understood that they need not necessarily be suitable for use in lifting the bin.

In a preferred form, each handle, when turned inwardly scuts the top surface of the rim and the inner surface of •ce side wall and an inwardly directed projection in the cue wall. - 2 48111 The bin is moulded in plastics and the handles are integrally moulded parts of the main moulding hinged thereto by plastics hinges. The hinge may be formed for example by a relatively thin plastics strip connecting the handle to the body of the container.

Other parts of the invention are embodied in the preferred form of bin which will now be described in some detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bin according to the invention with the handles extended outwardly; Figure 2 is a similar view with the handles extending inwardly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of two bins in stacked relationship; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the bin half in section on the centre line; and Figure 5 is a detail to a larger scale of the part circled at A in Figure 4.

In this form, a bin comprises a bottom 1, a rear wall 2, a pair of side walls 3 and a shallower front wall 4 which when two bins are stacked one upon the other as shown in Figure 3 provides an opening 5 to allow access to the inside of the bin. The four walls slope downwardly and inwardly so that the bin can be nested in closely fitting relationship inside another similar bin. Each side wall is formed with an inwardly projecting portion 6 and a corresponding recess on the outside, the side edges of this portion being sloped - 3 48111 downwardly and outwardly to permit nesting of the bins. A rim 8 extends outwardly from the top of the bin.

Hinged to the top edge of each side wall is a handle-like member 7 which can be turned outwardly as shown in Figure 1 or inwardly as shown in Figure 2. When turned outwardly the members serve as handles by which the bin may be lifted or carried and leave the top of the bin clear of obstruction so that a second similar bin may be nested therein. When turned inwardly, the handles' 7 are supported by the rim 8 and inner surface 9 of the side walls and provide a ledge 10 on which a second similar bin may be supported to form a stack. In this inward position, the underside of the ledge 10 rests on the top of the projecting portion 6 to provide additional support.

The bin 1 is moulded from plastics and the handles 7 are moulded integrally therewith being connected to the edge of the rim 8 by a plastics strip 11, for example of polypropylene, as shown in Figure 5 to an enlarged scale.

The hinge strip 11 is of reduced thickness to provide sufficient flexibility to allow the handle 7 to be turned from its inward to its outward position.

Considering the handle 7 in its outward position as shown in Figure 4, a part 71 of width substantially egual to the width of the rim 8 extends outwardly from the hinge 11.

A part 72 extends upwardly from the outer edge of the part sloping outwardly at an angle corresponding to the slope of the side wall 2. The part 72 is of height substantially squal to the distance from the rim 8 to the top edge of the - 4 48111 projecting portion 6. A part 73 extends horizontally outwardly from the top of the part 72, the underside of this part 73 forming the ledge 10. Webs 74 are provided at each end of the handle.

It will be seen that with the handles in the positions shown in Figure 4, the top of the bin is free from obstruction so that another bin can be nested therein for storage or transit. When the handle is turned inwardly about its hinge 11, the part 71 rests on the top of the rim 8, the part 72 abuts against the inside top surface of the bin and the upper surface of the part 73 rests on the top edge of the projecting portion 6. The part 73 projects inwardly and its undersurface then provides a ledge to support another bin in stacked relationship.

It will be undestood that the invention is not restricted to the details of the preferred form described by way of example which may be modified without departure from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims (3)

1. CLAIMS:1. A moulded plastics bin having an open front wall, a rear wall, a bottom and two side walls, said walls sloping inwardly and downwardly to allow two such bins to be nested 5 within one another, and two handle-like members integrally moulded, with the bin and each hinged to an opposite one of the two side walls each member being movable to an outwardly extending position to allow nesting of bins -and each such member being 10 shaped to provide a surface which when the member is turned inwardy abuts the side wall to support the member in a position providing a ledge on which a similar bin may be stacked.

2. A bin according to Claim I, in which, when each handle-like 15 member is turned inwardly, it abuts against one or more of the following parts of the bin, viz.the top edge of the side wall, the top inner surface of the side wall and an inwardly projecting portion of the side wall.

3. A bin substantially as described with reference to the 20 accompanying drawings.