Stackable container

Abstract

A stackable container (100) with a base part (1) and a lid (2) pivotable about an axis (A) on the base part (1), wherein the base part (1) has a plurality of feet on its underside for placing the container on a surface or on a lid (2') of another, similar container (100'), and wherein the container (100) has at least one support element (11) projecting downwards from the base part (1), which, when the first container (100) is placed on the other container (100'), engages in an engagement structure of the other container (100') and thereby inhibits a displacement of the first container (100) against the second container (100') in at least one direction vertical to the stacking direction, characterized in that the at least one support element (11) is arranged separately from the feet on the base part (1), wherein it is set back relative to the feet in such a way thatthat when the container (100) is placed on a flat surface, there is no mechanical contact between the support element (11) and the surface.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a stackable container according to the preamble of claim 1. Such containers can be used, for example, to hold power tools or consumables in the trades environment. Particularly on construction sites, a variety of different tools such as jigsaws, cordless screwdrivers, hammer drills, or hand-held circular saws are often used. These tools usually first have to be loaded into a vehicle, then transported to the respective construction site, and then brought to their respective location on the construction site – or to a temporary storage space provided there, e.g., a lockable container or similar. For this purpose, it has proven advantageous in the past to design the containers in such a way that they can be stacked on top of one another and, if necessary, also locked.In this way, groups of similar containers can be formed, which can be easily transported together and stored in stacks.

[0002] A corresponding container is described in European Patent EP 2 313 321 B1. The arrangement disclosed in the cited document is characterized in particular in that at least two containers are stacked in such a way that two front and two rear feet of an upper container engage in corresponding recesses of a lower container and the two rear feet interact with the rear recesses in the lid of the lower container in such a way that a hinge effect is produced and the upper container can be placed on the lower container by first inserting the upper container - slightly raised at the front - with its rear feet into the corresponding recesses in the lid of the lower container and then lowering the front part of the upper container onto the front part of the lower container by pivoting about the pivot axis thus formed.The front feet of the upper container, designed as centering elements, engage with the corresponding recesses in the lid of the lower container, thus securing the upper container against slipping. However, the dual function of the front feet / centering feet has the disadvantage that the feet, which are typically subject to considerable mechanical stress, are subject to a certain amount of wear or damage over time. In this case, situations can arise in which the desired centering functionality is no longer guaranteed.

[0003] In addition, the aforementioned document shows a twist lock on the front end of the container, which can be used either to lock two containers together or simply to lock one container. Due to the design of the twist lock, however, it can only apply a limited amount of pre-tension, so that reliable closure of a container or secure locking of two containers against each other is not always guaranteed.

[0004] WO 2013 / 075941 A2 discloses a stackable hand tool case that can be secured to a surface by means of a hand tool case holding device. The hand tool case holding device can be locked to the hand tool case. Mutual displacement protection is provided by the fact that the hand tool case can be secured in a case receiving area by means of a second holding device of the hand tool case holding device.

[0005] From EP 0 043 540 A2 an assortment box shelf is known which is equipped with several assortment boxes which can be pulled out like drawers, each assortment box having a hinged lid.

[0006] Based on the prior art described above, the present invention aims to provide a container which has mechanically robust devices for centering compared to similar containers and which can be reliably closed or locked with other containers.

[0007] This object is achieved by the devices having the features listed in the independent claims. The subclaims relate to advantageous embodiments and variants of the invention.

[0008] The stackable container according to the invention according to independent claim 1 is characterized in that the at least one support element is arranged separately from the feet on the base part, wherein it is set back with respect to the feet in such a way that when the container is placed on a flat surface, there is no mechanical contact between the support element and the surface.

[0009] In other words, the support element serves exclusively to support the upper container against the lower container in such a way that any slipping or displacement of the two containers against each other in a spatial direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the containers, i.e. the vertical direction, is inhibited or prevented at the latest at a specified point. The support element is not intended to function as a stand. This measure according to the invention prevents the support element from being exposed to increased mechanical stress and thus the risk of damage. Furthermore, new design options arise for the design of the underside of the support element, i.e. the side that faces the lower of the two containers when two containers are stacked on top of each other.In particular, the underside of the support element can be designed open, since there is no need for a standing surface on the underside of the support element.

[0010] If the support element is arranged in a base part of the container, a particularly efficient protection of the support element against mechanical stress can be achieved while at the same time maintaining the desired support functionality by the underside of the support element being set back by 3 to 5 mm, in particular by 4 mm, from the plane in which the undersides of at least three feet are located.

[0011] In a variant of the invention, the at least one support element can be designed such that when the container is placed on another, similar container, it inhibits the displacement of the upper container against the lower container only in a first direction.

[0012] A certain centering function beyond mere support can be achieved in a further embodiment of the invention in that the at least one support element is designed such that when the container is placed on another, similar container, it inhibits the displacement of the upper container against the lower container in a first and a second direction.

[0013] The mentioned centering can be further improved in particular by the first and second directions being perpendicular to one another; for this purpose, the support element can in particular have an L-shaped geometry.

[0014] The support element can be designed as a nozzle-shaped centering element; alternatively, the support element can also be designed as a circumferential rib.

[0015] In an advantageous development of the invention, the circumferential rib can be designed as a hollow profile with a rectangular cross-section, with a web running along a diagonal inside the rib. This creates a material-saving yet robust design of the support element.

[0016] In a further variant of the invention, a stackable container, in particular a stackable container as described above, is provided with a closure device for locking a lid to a base part of the container. The closure device comprises a buckle and a shackle, and the container comprises a closure lug for closing the first container and a coupling lug for coupling the container to another, similar container. The closure device is designed such that the shackle can selectively engage around the closure lug of the first container or the coupling lug of the second container.

[0017] In other words, the described closure device makes it possible to either close a single container or to connect two stacked, similar containers together, thus creating a stable container assembly. The use of a swing-top closure as described above has the advantage over, for example, the twist-top closure known from the prior art that a higher preload can be applied by the swing-top closure. For this reason, among other things, the closure is considerably more robust against a loss of functionality or wear due to frequent use.

[0018] The coupling lug can be arranged in the base part of the container; the geometric parameters of the swing closure can, in particular, be selected such that the swing is pivotable about an axis C and, in the closed or coupled state, the distance from the axis C of that flank of the coupling lug and the closure lug which engages with the swing is in the range of 20 mm to 45 mm, in particular in the range of 33 mm.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing.

[0020] It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a container according to the invention, Fig. 2 two section lines AA and BB for further explanation of the embodiments shown, Fig. 3 a perspective view of two coupled containers according to the invention, Fig. 4 in a sectional view the conditions in the area of both the rear and the front base, Fig. 5 in a sectional view the lateral extension in particular of the front support elements, Fig. 6 a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 a sectional view of the Fig. 6 shown embodiment, Fig. 8 another sectional view of the Fig. 6 shown embodiment, Fig. 9 a third embodiment of the invention, Fig. 10 a sectional view of the Fig. 9 shown embodiment, Fig. 11 a further sectional view of the Fig. 9 shown embodiment, Fig. 12 a fourth embodiment of the invention, Fig. 13 a sectional view of the Fig. 12 shown embodiment, Fig. 14 a further sectional view of the Fig. 12 shown embodiment, Fig. 15 in a perspective view a further variant not belonging to the invention, Fig. 16 a perspective view of the Fig. 15 shown container from below, Fig. 17 a detailed enlargement of the Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 shown embodiment, Fig. 18 a further detail enlargement of the one in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 shown embodiment; and Fig. 19 a sectional view of the Fig. 15 and Fig. 16 shown embodiment.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container 100 according to the invention. The container has a trough-shaped base part 1 and a lid 2 arranged on the base part in the region of the rear side so as to be pivotable about the axis A. The base part 1 has on its front side a lateral carrying handle 3 and a buckle 4 with a bracket 41 pivotable about an axis C for closing the container 100 or for coupling the container 100 to other containers, as will be explained in more detail below. On its upper side, the container 100 has a lid carrying handle 5 which is pivotable into the lid 2 and can optionally be used to transport the container 100. The lid 2 also has two front recesses 6 and two rear recesses 7, which serve to accommodate feet or support elements of another similar container 100 standing on the container 100.The rear recesses 7 exhibit a rearward-facing undercut 8, into which a corresponding projection of a rear support foot of another container can engage, resulting in a hinge-like effect of the two rear recesses 7 in interaction with the associated support feet, and allowing a similar second container 100' arranged on the container 100 shown to be pivoted relative to it about the axis A'. In practical use, this is particularly important when a second container 100' is to be arranged on the first container 100.To this end, the second container 100' is first slightly lifted upwards in its front region, i.e., in the region in which the side carrying handle and the buckle with bracket are located, and placed onto the first container 100. It is then pushed backwards until the rear feet of the upper container 100' engage with the rear recesses 7 of the lower container 100, in particular with the undercuts 8. The upper container 100' is then lowered onto the lower container 100 by rotating about the axis A' in its front region, forming a stack of two containers 100, 100'.

[0022] In the front area of the container 100, it is shown how the buckle 4 with its associated bracket 41 engages in a locking lug 9 in the lid 2 of the container 100 and in this way tensions the lid 2 against the base part 1, whereby the container 100 is reliably closed, in particular due to the pre-tension thus achieved. Also shown in Fig. 1 is the coupling lug 10 in the lower part of the base part 1. It is used to lock two stacked containers 100, 100' against each other, as in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2 shows how the bracket 41 engages around the coupling lug 10 of a second container 100' arranged on a first container 100 according to the invention, and in this way secures the second container 100' against the first container 100 or couples the two containers 100, 100' to one another. The coupling lug 10 and the locking lug 9 are arranged with respect to the bracket 41 or to the buckle 4 such that, in the closed or coupled state, the distance from the axis C of that flank of the coupling lug 10 and the locking lug 9 which engages with the bracket 41 is in the range of 20 mm to 45 mm, in particular in the range of 33 mm.

[0023] This advantageous design of closure 9 and coupling lug 10 in cooperation with the buckle 4 and the associated bracket 41 creates a simple and robust possibility of coupling two containers according to the invention (or possibly also containers of other systems) to one another under a certain pretension or of reliably closing a container in uncoupled use.

[0024] In Fig. 2 also shows the two section lines VV and IV-IV, which are used below to explain the geometric conditions, particularly in the area of the feet and the support elements.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 shows, in a first embodiment of the invention, a perspective view of two coupled containers 100, 100' according to the invention from the underside. The enlarged detail clearly shows the design of the support element 11, which is spaced apart from a front base 12. As shown in the Fig. 3 and described in more detail in the Fig. As can be seen in section IV-IV shown in Figure 4, the support element 11 or 11' is designed such that it is considerably flatter than the front base 12 or 12' and thus does not come into contact with the ground when a single container or the bottommost container of a stack is placed on it, thus reducing the risk of mechanical damage to the support element 11 or 11'. This ensures that the support element 11 or 11' can continue to function properly even after extended use of the container 100 or 100'.

[0026] Fig. Figure 4 shows, in a further sectional view (section IV-IV), the conditions in the area of both the rear and the front base 13', 12' and the support element 11'. The engagement of the projection 14' of the rear base 13' in the undercut in a recess 7 of the lid 2 of the lower container 100 is clearly visible. It is also clearly visible that the support element 11' rests against the front side wall of the front recess 6 in the lid 2 of the lower container 100, effectively preventing the upper container 100' from being pulled off or slipping forward. However, pivoting upwards is entirely possible and desirable in the event that the upper container 100 is not locked to the lower container 100 via the buckle 4 and the associated bracket 41.Furthermore, it can be seen that due to the interaction of the projection 14' in the rear base 13' with the undercut in the rear recess 7, a withdrawal of the upper container 100' from the lower one in the rear region of the arrangement is effectively prevented.

[0027] Fig. 5 shows, in a further sectional view (section VV), the lateral extent, in particular, of the front support elements 11'. In the example shown, the front support elements 11' are designed such that they only rest at the front, i.e. in the handle direction, against the front wall of the recess 6 in the lid 2 of the lower container, in order to prevent the above-described slipping of the upper container 100' forward relative to the lower container 100. The support elements 11' do not rest laterally against the wall of the front recess 6, so that in the embodiment shown, the support elements 11' only provide support in the manner of a stop, but not centering. However, the centering of the two containers 100, 100' is achieved by the rear feet 13' in conjunction with the rear recesses 7 being designed such that lateral slipping of the containers relative to one another is also prevented.For this purpose, as shown, the dimensions of the rear feet 13' and the rear recesses 7' are such that the mutually facing sides of the rear feet each rest against the wall of the rear recess 7' or only a small distance in the range of a few tenths of a millimeter remains between the wall of the recess 7' and the lateral flank of the rear foot 13'. In contrast to the variant known from the prior art, in which the rear feet 7' engage in a groove extending practically over the entire width of the container, the in . Fig. 5, an increased interior volume of the container according to the invention can be achieved due to the smaller space requirement of the recesses 7'.

[0028] In addition, the design of the support elements 11' in the form shown offers the advantage that when the front part of the upper container 100' is lowered onto the lid 2 of the lower container 100, the support elements 11' slide more easily into the recess 6, since no fine adjustment is required laterally.

[0029] Fig. Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the invention, in which the support element is designed as a nozzle-shaped centering pin 11a. In this case too, as can be seen from the sectional view in Fig. 7 - the support element 11a' is recessed relative to the base 12a, thereby ensuring the advantages already mentioned above with regard to mechanical protection and, in addition, robustness against dirt. However, in contrast to the embodiment shown in the preceding figures - as the sectional view Fig. 8 - the support pin 11a' rests on the mutually facing sides of the walls of the recesses 6 both in the front and in the lateral area of the recess 6 in the lid 2 of the lower container 100, so that the interaction of the two centering pins 11a' not only provides a supporting effect but also an additional centering effect.

[0030] Fig. 9 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which the support element is realized as a support rib 11b; the Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 illustrate the geometric relationships as sectional views analogous to the sections already used above. Here, too, the support element or support rib 11b or 11b' is recessed relative to the base 12b or 12b' and ensures centering due to its engagement both laterally and forwardly in the recesses 6 of the lid of the lower container 100. The support rib 11b or 11b' is designed as a circumferential rib in the manner of a hollow profile with a rectangular cross-section. For further mechanical stabilization of the support rib 11b or 11b', a web runs along a diagonal inside the rib, the height of which essentially corresponds to the height of the circumferential rib.

[0031] Fig. 12 shows a further variant of the invention, which is derived from the Fig. 3-5 shown embodiment. In contrast to the variant shown in the figures mentioned, the Fig. 11, the support element 11c not only provides forward support, but also lateral support, which is achieved by the essentially L-shaped geometry of the support element 11c. A first leg of the support element 11c, conceived as an "L", rests against the front side of the recess 6, while a second leg of the "L" runs essentially vertically to the first leg and rests against the inwardly directed side surface of the recess 6. The geometry of the support element 11c is determined based on the Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. Especially in Fig. 13 shows the flatter geometry of the support element 11c' compared to the base 12'.

[0032] Fig. 15 shows a further variant not belonging to the invention, in which several support elements 11d are arranged projecting upwards on the lid 2 of a container 100. Thus, in contrast to the embodiments described above, the support elements 11d are located on the opposite side of a container 100 according to the invention. In the example shown, the support elements 11d are designed as three upwardly projecting rib-shaped elements arranged next to one another in a straight line. This structure on the upper side of the lid 2 of the container 100 corresponds to a complementary further structure mounted in the base part of the container 100, which in the example shown has two forwardly projecting projections 15.

[0033] Fig. Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a container of the aforementioned embodiment, viewed from the bottom. The comparatively small design of the feet 12 is also clearly visible in the figure.

[0034] Fig. 17 shows in a detailed enlargement the structure of the support elements 11d and their arrangement on the lid 2 of the container 100 in the area between the recess 6 and the front edge of the lid 2. The rib-shaped structure of the support elements 11d is clearly visible.

[0035] Based on the Fig. 18 shown detail enlargement and the Fig. The section shown in Figure 19 is intended to illustrate the effect of the Fig. 15 to 19. Clearly visible in Fig. 18 shows the meshing engagement of the projections 15' in the base part 1' of the upper container 100' with the rib-shaped support elements 11d arranged in the lid of the lower container 100. The illustrated geometry of the projections 15' and support elements 11d ensures, on the one hand, a reliable securing of the upper container 100' against being pulled forward from the lower container 100. Furthermore, due to the lateral abutment of the projections 15' and support elements 11d against one another, a lateral fixation of the containers 100 and 100' relative to one another is also ensured.

[0036] Fig. Figure 19 illustrates the geometric relationships in the area of the support elements 11d as well as the projections 15' and the base 12' in the recess 6 by means of a section through one of the support elements 11d running parallel to a short side wall of the containers 100 or 100'. Clearly visible in Fig.Figure 19 shows the effect of the intermeshing structure of support elements 11d and projections 15'. The front flank of the base 12' maintains a distance a from the front wall of the recess 6, which can be in the range of 1 to 3 mm, in particular in the range of 2 mm. Maintaining the distance a ensures that the base 12' does not strike the front wall of the recess 6, even when subjected to a tensile force forward on the upper container 100', thus absorbing no forces vertical to the stacking direction of the containers. In the embodiment shown, these forces are absorbed by the structure of support elements 11d and projections 15', so that the base 12' in the example shown does not contribute to supporting the cases against each other in a direction vertical to the stacking direction. However, in other embodiments not shown here, this case is entirely conceivable - depending in particular on the dimensions of the base 12'.

Claims

[1] A stackable container (100) comprising a base part (1) and a lid (2) pivotable about an axis (A) on the base part (1), wherein the base part (1) has a plurality of feet on its underside for placing the container on a base or on a lid (2') of another, similar container (100'), and wherein the container (100) has at least one support element (11) projecting downwards from the base part (1), which, when the first container (100) is placed on the other container (100'), engages in an engagement structure of the other container (100') and thereby inhibits displacement of the first container (100) relative to the second container (100') in at least one direction vertical to the stacking direction, characterized bythat the at least one support element (11) is arranged separately from the feet on the base part (1), wherein it is set back with respect to the feet in such a way that when the container (100) is placed on a flat surface, there is no mechanical contact between the support element (11) and the surface. [2] Stackable container (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the underside of the at least one support element (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) is set back by 3-5 mm, in particular by 4 mm, from the plane in which the undersides of at least three feet (12) lie. [3] Stackable container (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the at least one support element (11) is designed such that when the container (100) is placed on another, similar container, it inhibits the displacement of the upper (100) against the lower (100') container only in a first direction. [4] Stackable container (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the at least one support element (11a, 11b, 11c) is designed such that when the container (100) is placed on another, similar container (100'), it inhibits the displacement of the upper (100) against the lower (100') container in a first and a second direction. [5] Stackable container (100) according to claim 4, characterized by that the first and second directions are perpendicular to each other. [6] Stackable container (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the support element (11c) has an L-shaped geometry. [7] Stackable container (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the support element (11a) is designed as a nozzle-shaped centering element. [8] Stackable container (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the support element (11b) is designed as a circumferential rib. [9] Stackable container (100) according to claim 8, characterized by that the circumferential rib is designed in the manner of a hollow profile with a rectangular cross-section and a web runs along a diagonal inside the rib. [10] Stackable container (100), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a locking device for locking a lid (2) on a base part (1) of the container (100), characterized by in that the closure device has a buckle (4) with a bracket (41) which can be pivoted about an axis (C), wherein the container (100') has a closure lug for closing the first container (100) and a coupling lug (10) for coupling the container (100) to a further, similar container (100'), and wherein the closure device is formed in such a way that the bracket (41) can optionally engage around the closure lug of the first container (100) or the coupling lug (10) of the second container (100'). [11] Stackable container (100) according to claim 10, characterized by that the coupling nose (10) is arranged in the bottom part (1) of the container (100). [12] Stackable container (100) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that in the closed and coupled state, the distance of that flank of the coupling nose (10) and the locking nose (9) which engages with the bracket (41) from the axis (C) is in the range of 20 mm to 45 mm, in particular in the range of 33 mm.

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