Lid for a closed container and system consisting of a container and a lid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lid for a closed container, wherein a connector is arranged on the lid, the connector is supported in a manner that can move relative to the side edges and is guided by a guiding portion, and the present invention also relates to a system composed of a lid and a container.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid for closing a container and a system consisting of the lid and the container. Background Art

[0002] In mass production, small parts or structural assemblies are ideally transported in reusable containers for transportation to their assembly locations. To protect these components or structural assemblies, the containers are usually closed with lids. Here, the task of the lid is to protect the small parts or structural assemblies contained in the container from external influences. The small parts or structural assemblies can also represent dangerous goods. In this case, the lid or the combination of the lid and the container must protect the environment from the influence of the dangerous goods. This applies in particular in the event of operating errors of the closed container, such as dropping or overheating. The UN standards and / or GGVS - ADR - RiD define the necessary minimum requirements for this. Different lids and container - lid combinations that meet these requirements are known from practice.

[0003] For example, the lid is placed from above into the receiving part of the container. The surrounding support edges on the side walls of the container position the lid such that the lid does not protrude beyond the upper edge of the side of the container. Four connectors for closing the container are fastened to the surface in a rotatable manner about an axis perpendicular to the lid surface. Each individual connector has a hook on its closing side. If the connector is turned into the closed position, the hook engages into the elongated hole of the side part of the container. Two such connectors are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the lid, and the container has corresponding elongated holes on these side parts. As the lid is placed and the four connectors are respectively hooked in, the lid cannot be loosened from the container.

[0004] Another feasible solution for closing the container with a lid can be achieved by one or more tension bands. For this purpose, hooks and tension clips are respectively fastened to the opposite side parts of the container for each tension band. For closing, the lid is placed on the surrounding edge on the inner side of the container and does not protrude upward beyond the side edge of the container after being placed. One end of the tension band is hooked into the hook and then guided through the lid to the tension clip. By pulling the tension band, the lid is pressed against the surrounding edge. Usually, at least two tension bands are used for each container.

[0005] The disadvantage of these two embodiments of the lid or the system consisting of the lid and the container is the complex manual operation for opening and closing such a system. Especially in the industrial application of containers in mass production with a narrow time rhythm, the reduction of the effort during operation can be used to improve efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to reduce the number of operations necessary for opening or closing a system consisting of a lid and a container. In particular, the locking / unlocking of the lid should be achievable with a single operation.

[0007] The invention:

[0008] The object of the present invention is solved by a lid and a system consisting of a container and a lid.

[0009] A lid for closing a container, in particular a container for explosive dangerous goods, has at least one connector on at least two opposite side edges. At least one connector arranged on a side edge is supported so as to be movable as vertically as possible with respect to the side edge and as parallel as possible to the lid plane.

[0010] The lid has guide portions on its upper side and / or lower side, which are used for guiding the movable connectors and for preventing the movement of the connectors as vertically as possible with respect to the lid plane. In the sense of the present invention, a movement as vertical as possible or as parallel as possible allows a deviation of ±20°, preferably ±15°, from the respective movement direction. The connectors are designed in terms of their dimensions such that they can transfer the acting loads from the lid to the container and / or from the container to the lid. The dimensions of the guide portions arranged on the lid are also determined accordingly. The vertical or parallel movement of the connectors according to the present invention with respect to the lid plane allows for a faster and easier operation of the closing mechanism of the lid.

[0011] Other preferred embodiments of the lid are explained below. Preferred embodiments of the system consisting of the lid and the container are also described below.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable connector can move between a parked position within the lid plane and a closed position, in which the movable connector projects from the side edge. Thereby, a lid dimensionally adapted according to the present invention can be inserted into an existing or known container and interconnected with the container by means of the connectors.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one connector on the side edge opposite the movable connector is preferably rigidly connected to the lid with respect to the side edge. The positioning of the movable connector on the lid on a side edge in particular reduces the effort during operation for larger containers, since the user, for example, does not have to walk around the container.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one stationary connector is preferably configured as a hinge connector. Thereby, the lid can preferably be inserted into the receiving portion of the container by a rotational movement relative to the side wall of the container. Inserting the lid by a rotational movement simplifies the operation and facilitates the positioning of the lid relative to the container.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, structural elements are preferably arranged on the upper side and / or the lower side of the lid plane, preferably on the upper side, and more preferably still on the upper side, structural elements in the form of actuating elements are arranged, and at least two of the movable connectors can be moved by a common structural element, preferably the actuating element. The use of at least two movable connectors increases the force that can be transmitted between the lid and the container. The movable connectors can be moved together by a common structural element, preferably an actuating element, thereby reducing the effort required when operating the lid. The arrangement of the actuating element on the upper side enables a closed lid plane. Thereby, the lid can seal the container.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the structural element preferably has at least one spring, preferably a spring formed by the structural element itself, for pre-tensioning the movable connector into a position protruding beyond the side edge. Such a snap mechanism increases the safety of the closing process.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the spring connected to the structural element, preferably a spring formed by the structural element, can preferably be reinforced by another spring additionally arranged between the structural element and the spring. This enables the elastic force to be matched to different requirements without changing the basic structure.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the structural element, the spring and / or the movable connector are preferably made as a structural assembly. Thereby, the unit cost of the lid is reduced compared to the case of assembling from single parts. Manufacturing as a structural assembly is also understood as manufacturing the structural assembly by multi-component injection molding.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the structural element and / or the structural assembly are preferably made of plastic, preferably polypropylene, polyethylene and / or ESD-capable plastic. The use of plastic, especially injection molding material, enables a lid, a structural element, a structural assembly and a connection that are cost-effective, light and can be manufactured by injection molding. Plastic in the sense of the present invention also includes plastics produced by biological methods. In the sense of the present invention, the lid, the structural element and / or the structural assembly can also be reinforced by the incorporation of fibers. This also includes woven fibers, rods, bars or composite structures composed thereof.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid desirably has at least two structural elements, preferably two structural elements each with two connectors, which connectors are assigned to a common side edge. The use of two structural elements each with two connectors allows the following containers to be closed in a reliable and force-designed manner, which containers have a large base area relative to the height of the container.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one connector more preferably has at least a partially surrounding groove in the region of the connector that protrudes beyond the side edge in the closed position. In the case of a load, the surrounding groove can engage with the container or the receiving part of the container and increase the force that can be transmitted. For this purpose, the hook at least partially enters into the associated receiving part.

[0022] At least one side edge without a connector has at least one hook. The hook improves the positioning of the lid relative to the container on the one hand and increases the load that can be transmitted acting on the lid from the outside on the other hand.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, it is preferably the case that at least one side edge without a connector has at least one hook. The hook can be used as a positioning aid or for transmitting the force acting on the lid. The protruding side hook or surface preferably has a rib structure that enters into the receiving part. In the case of a load, greater forces can thus be borne.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the upper side of the lid preferably has at least one reinforcing rib to prevent the lid from bending. This embodiment increases the resistance of the lid to the forces acting on the lid plane. Taking into account the material properties of the lid material used, the reinforcing rib can be positioned on the lid plane by analyzing the bending line in the case of a load. In order to reduce the weight, it may be necessary to construct a honeycomb structure with the reinforcing rib and, if necessary, to enclose the honeycomb structure with another lid plane. The foaming of the cavity formed by the two lid planes and the reinforcing rib can further increase the bending stiffness additionally.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the guiding part of the connector is preferably constituted by at least one reinforcing rib. By means of these preferred embodiments, the force of the connector is led to specially designed parts of the lid.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the hook, the reinforcing rib and / or the lid plane desirably consist of a continuous structural assembly. This embodiment enables simplified manufacture of the lid and at the same time increases the stability of the lid.

[0027] Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment, the object of the present invention is solved by a system consisting of a container having a bottom and side walls and the lid. For each connector of the lid, complementary receiving portions, preferably through-holes, are present in the side walls of the container for receiving the connectors. The corresponding receiving portions or through-holes enable a targeted positioning of the force introduction points on the side walls of the container. Thereby, the resistance of the system consisting of the lid and the container can be improved.

[0028] In order to position the lid and withstand the forces acting on the upper side of the lid, according to a preferred embodiment, support surfaces preferably complementary to each hook of the lid are present in the side walls of the container. The combination of the hooks and the support surfaces enables an accurate positioning of the lid relative to the container. The operation is thereby simplified. If the hooks and the complementary support surfaces are positioned on the side walls of the container such that the lid can only be inserted into the container in one position, incorrect positioning of the lid can be avoided. This can be achieved, for example, by an asymmetrical distribution of the support surfaces on the side walls.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, the lid plane is ideally smaller than the area bounded by the side walls of the container. Thereby, the lid can be inserted into the container and does not protrude beyond the side edges of the container. Thereby, stackability of the containers is achieved without forces acting on the lids.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, it is preferably the case that at least the centers of the complementary receiving portions or through-holes in the side walls have a spacing from the edge between two side walls of the container, and this spacing is ≥5%, preferably ≥10%, of the length of the side walls. By this spacing arrangement, the resistance of the system is increased. For containers according to the standards VDA 4500 / VDA 4504, the best force introduction points are present in this spacing.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the container closed by the lid ideally at least meets the requirements for the drop height and internal pressure load standardized by UN dangerous goods approval. Thereby, in particular, the requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods such as, for example, airbag or seatbelt pretensioner systems are met. Preferably, in particular, the approval levels UN 4H2 / X (X = packing group 1 to 3) and / or UN 4H2 / Y (Y = packing group 2 to 3) are achieved. Description of the Drawings

[0032] The description is accompanied by the following five drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a view of the lid,

[0034] Figure 2a shows a cut-away portion of the lid of Figure 1; and

[0035] Figure 2b shows a cross-section of this partial area,

[0036] Figure 3 showing the actuating element,

[0037] Figure 4 showing a view of the container with a lid,

[0038] Figure 5 showing a cross-section of the container with a closed lid. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0039] The present invention will be described in detail below in terms of form and embodiment with reference to the mentioned drawings. In all the drawings, the same technical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0040] Figure 1 shows a lid 1 according to the invention, which has four fixed connectors 122 assigned to the side edges 113 and four movable connectors 121 assigned to the opposite side edges 113. In addition, two hooks 14 are respectively present on two side edges 113. On the upper side of the lid plane 11, two members in the form of actuating elements 17 are arranged. These members respectively act on two assigned movable connectors 121. The upper side of the lid plane 11 is strengthened by a plurality of ribs 15 parallel to the side edges 113 and forms a honeycomb-like, here rectangular structure.

[0041] In Figure 2a, a cut-out part of the lid 1 of Figure 1 is shown, and in Figure 2b, a cross-section of this partial area is shown. The actuating element 17 with the connector 12 can be seen. The connector 12 has a partially surrounding groove 123. When the actuating element 17 moves in the arrow direction, the connector 12 moves back and forth perpendicular to the side edges 113 of the lid plane 11 accordingly. Due to a certain gap between the guiding part 13 of the connector 12 and the connector 12 itself, the positioning error of the lid 1 or the connector 12 relative to the receiving part 21 or the through-hole 22 in the side wall 24 of the container 2 can be compensated.

[0042] Figure 3 A structural assembly is shown, which consists of a connector 12, an actuating element 17 and two springs 18 formed by the structural assembly or members. In addition, two receiving points for additional springs are arranged on the actuating element 17. Here, additional springs not shown here can be arranged between the leaf spring formed by the actuating element and the receiving points. In addition, the actuating element 17 has additional pins on the side facing away from the connector 12. The pins can be connected to the lid 1 by means of a seal through the through-holes in the ribs 15 and the through-holes in the pins. The seal breaks when the actuating element 17 or the connector 12 moves relative to the ribs 15.

[0043] shown in Figure 4 is a system consisting of a container 2 and a lid 1 according to the invention. The lid 1 is hooked into a complementary receiving part by a stationary connector 122 on the side wall 24 of the container 2 and can be inserted into the container 2 by a swinging movement (arrow). After the lid 1 is inserted, the movable connector 121 is again placed in the closed position and the container 2 is thus closed with the lid 1.

[0044] Figure 5 shown is a cross-section of Figure 4 the container 2 closed with the lid 1 as shown in. Both the stationary connector 122 and the movable connector 121 prevent the lid 1 from moving relative to the container 2 perpendicular to the lid plane 11. When a load is applied to the lid 1 or the lid plane 11 from the lower side of the lid, the groove 123 in the connector 12 engages with the side wall 24 of the container 2.

[0045] List of reference signs

[0046] 1 Lid

[0047] 11 Lid plane

[0048] 113 Side edge

[0049] 12 Connector

[0050] 121 Movable connector

[0051] 122 Stationary connector

[0052] 123 Groove

[0053] 13 Guide part

[0054] 14 Hook

[0055] 15 Reinforcing rib

[0056] 17 Manipulation element

[0057] 18 Spring

[0058] 2 Container

[0059] 21 Receiving part

[0060] 22 Through hole

[0061] 24 Side wall

Claims

1. A lid (1) for closing a container (2), the lid (1) having a lid plane (11) which has an upper side, a lower side and at least four side edges (113), wherein at least one connector (12) is arranged on at least two opposite side edges (113) respectively, characterized in that, - at least one connector (12) arranged on the side edge (113) is supported so as to be movable as perpendicular as possible to the side edge (113) and as parallel as possible to the lid plane (11); and - the lid (1) has guide portions on its upper side and / or lower side for guiding the movable connector and preventing the movable connector from moving as perpendicular as possible relative to the lid plane (11), - wherein at least one connector (12) has at least a partially surrounding groove (123) in the region of the connector (12) that projects beyond the side edge (113) in the closed position, wherein the upper side of the lid (1) has at least one reinforcing rib (15) for preventing the lid from bending or making it difficult for the lid to bend, wherein the guide portion (13) of the movable connector is constituted by the reinforcing rib (15), wherein an operating element (17) arranged on the upper side of the lid plane (11) has a pin on the side thereof facing away from the connector (12), and the pin can be connected to the lid (1) by means of a lead seal through a through hole in the reinforcing rib (15) and a through hole in the pin, and the lead seal breaks when the operating element (17) or the connector (12) moves relative to the reinforcing rib (15).

2. The lid according to claim 1, characterized in that, the movable connector can move between a parked position and a closed position inside the lid (1), and in the closed position the movable connector projects from the side edge (113).

3. The lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, at least one connector (12) on the side edge (113) opposite to the movable connector is rigidly connected to the lid (1) relative to the side edge (113).

4. The lid according to claim 3, characterized in that, at least one stationary connector is configured as a hinge connector.

5. The lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, - a structural element is arranged on the upper side of the lid plane; and - at least two of the movable connectors can move through a common structural element.

6. The lid according to claim 5, characterized in that, the structural element has at least one spring (18) for preloading the movable connector into a position where it projects beyond the side edge (113) of the lid (1).

7. The lid according to claim 6, characterized in that, the spring (18) constituted by the structural element can be strengthened by an additional spring arranged between the structural element and the spring (18).

8. The lid according to claim 6, characterized in that, The structural element, the spring (18) and / or the movable connector are made as a structural assembly.

9. The lid according to claim 8, characterized in that the structural element and / or the structural assembly are made of plastic.

10. The lid according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid (1) has at least two structural elements assigned to a common side edge (113).

11. The lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one side edge (113) without a connector (12) has at least one hook (14).

12. The lid according to claim 11, characterized in that the hook (14), the reinforcing rib (15) and / or the lid plane (11) consist of a continuous structural assembly.

13. A system consisting of a container (2) and a lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the container having a bottom and a side wall (24), characterized in that for each connector (12) of the lid (1), there is a complementary receiving part (21) in the side wall (24) of the container (2) for receiving the connector (12).

14. The system consisting of a container (2) and a lid (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that in order to position the lid (1) and withstand the forces acting on the upper side of the lid (1), for each hook (14) of the lid (1), there is a complementary bearing surface in the side wall (24) of the container (2).

15. The system consisting of a container (2) and a lid (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the lid plane (11) is smaller than the area bounded by the side wall (24) of the container (2).

16. The system consisting of a container (2) and a lid (1) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that at least the center of the complementary receiving part (21) or the through hole (22) in the side wall (24) has a spacing from the edge between the two side walls (24) of the container, and the spacing is ≥ 5% of the length of the side wall (24).

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