Container for storing general cargo

Abstract

A receiving container (1) for storing general cargo, comprising a container base (2), closed side walls (4, 5, 6, 7) surrounding a container interior (3), and an opening container lid (8), wherein the receiving container (1) has two or more frame elements (9a-h) arranged in horizontally superimposed planes in a first operating position (10), each with a compartment (17) forming at least one pocket (16) made of a flexible material, and wherein the frame elements (9a-h) together with the compartment (17) are pivotably connected at one end about a horizontal pivot axis (11) to the receiving container (1) from the first, horizontal operating position (10) to a second, upwardly positioned operating position (12) and back, characterized in thatthat in the first operating position (10) the frame elements (9a-h) together with an end wall (13) arranged opposite the pivot axis (11) form a side wall (4) of the receiving container (1), and that the compartments (17) are arranged and fixed or suspended in the respective frame element (9a-h) so as to be displaceable from front to rear, such that in the second, erected operating position (12) of the respective frame element (9a-h) the pockets (16) are pushed together towards the pivot axis (11) and the pockets (16) collapse and / or fold together.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a receiving container for storing unit loads according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention.

[0002] From DE 197 41 339 C1, a transport container is known, comprising a base, a lid, and insertable drawer sets as supports for intermediate shelves, for transporting components of safety systems in motor vehicles that contain a pyrotechnic propellant. To prevent the risk of explosion in the event of fire and to ensure the controlled combustion of ignited pyrotechnic propellants, the transport container has side walls made of closed sheet metal cladding. The end walls of the drawer sets together form one of the side walls. According to one embodiment, the base, lid, and intermediate shelves are formed by grids to ensure an airflow and thus a chimney effect for rapid combustion. Furthermore, it is proposed that the intermediate shelves be made of a highly flammable material.

[0003] DE 10 2008 039 461 A1 discloses a device for receiving packaged goods, comprising at least two spaced-apart outer walls and partitions arranged between and attached to the outer walls, which define compartments for the packaged goods. The outer walls, partitions, and / or a bottom wall can consist at least partially of a flexible web material, for example, a textile synthetic or natural fiber material, PVC, plastic film, or tarpaulin material. The walls can be double-layered, with a stiffening element or a cushioning element, for example, in the form of a rigid plastic sheet or bubble wrap, arranged between the layers.

[0004] DE 10 2018 109 176 A1 discloses a transport container with a base, side walls surrounding the interior of the container, and a removable compartment within the interior of the container, which forms compartments open at the top by means of partitions. The partitions consist of a flexible and foldable web material, in particular textile synthetic or natural fiber material, PVC, plastic film or tarpaulin material, and are sewn together to form the compartment.

[0005] EP 0 112 966 A1 discloses a receiving container for storing unit loads, in this case flat recording media, with a container bottom, with closed side walls surrounding a container interior and with an opening container lid, wherein the receiving container has two or more frame elements arranged in a first operating position in horizontally superimposed planes, each with at least one compartment forming a pocket made of a flexible material, and wherein the frame elements together with the compartment are pivotably connected at one end about a horizontal pivot axis from the first, horizontal operating position to a second, upwardly positioned operating position and back to the receiving container.

[0006] US Patent 3,659,703 A discloses a compact, suitcase-like binder with accordion-style gussets around its perimeter. Inside the binder, multiple rigid dividers are stacked one above the other, pivotally mounted at one end. Each rigid divider has a flexible pocket on its upper and lower edges for holding and retaining papers.

[0007] German patent DE 10 2015 107 441 A1 discloses a container in the form of a case for storing food products, in particular chocolate products, comprising a base and a lid pivotably arranged on the base, and an insert that can be arranged in the container to hold said food products. The insert is made of paper, cardboard or foil and has an accordion fold.

[0008] DE 42 30 274 ​​A1 discloses a container for the transport, storage, or similar purposes of general cargo. The container has a base plate, at least two side walls connectable to the base plate, and at least one rear wall connectable to the base plate, as well as shelves that can be fixed substantially parallel to the base plate. The shelves are pivotally hinged to at least one of the side walls and / or the rear wall.

[0009] US Patent 4,527,694 A discloses a frame arrangement comprising a plurality of open carrier pockets slidably mounted within the same frame for receiving and mutually shielding charges, such as electrostatic charges, for example, of PC circuit boards. The frame arrangement, including the carrier pockets containing the charge, can be stored in a transport box.

[0010] The object of the invention is to create an alternative receiving container for storing unit loads, in view of the prior art, which, while retaining the advantages of the prior art, enables simplified access to unit loads stored within the compartments.

[0011] Starting from a receiving container for storing general cargo, comprising a container base, closed side walls surrounding the interior of the container, and an openable container lid, wherein the receiving container has two or more frame elements arranged in horizontally superimposed planes in a first operating position, each with at least one compartment forming a pocket made of a flexible material, and wherein the frame elements together with the compartment are pivotably connected at one end about a horizontal pivot axis to the receiving container from the first, horizontal operating position to a second, upwardly positioned operating position and back, the stated problem is solved by the fact that, in the first operating position, the frame elements together form a side wall of the receiving container with an end wall arranged opposite the pivot axis.and that the compartments are arranged and attached or suspended in the relevant frame element in such a way that they can be moved from front to back, such that in the second, erected operating position of the relevant frame element the pockets are pushed together towards the pivot axis and the pockets collapse and / or fold together.

[0012] The receiving container offers the advantage, in terms of current technology, that the compartments can be loaded with and unloaded with individual items more easily and conveniently. Furthermore, the required installation space, at least in terms of the container's depth, is minimized because the compartments holding the frame elements are not pulled out of the container horizontally like a drawer, but rather pivoted around a horizontal axis. Moreover, the compartments, made of flexible material, allow for largely component-independent storage of individual items, as the flexible material can largely conform to the contours of the items being stored, yielding in one direction or another according to these contours. This means that various items with differing external contours can be stored flexibly within this receiving container.

[0013] The dependent claims describe preferred further developments or embodiments of the invention.

[0014] Advantageously, at least the side walls of the receiving container are made of a non-combustible material, for example sheet steel, which takes into account the circumstance described at the beginning of a possible ignition of hazardous goods, such as airbags with pyrotechnic propellants.

[0015] To protect particularly fragile items, the compartment pockets are further provided with molded inserts and / or protective elements for the items to be held. These molded inserts and / or protective elements preferably consist of a lightweight foam, for example, a plastic foam or another suitable lightweight material designed as a molded insert and / or protective element, such as paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, knitted fabric, etc. Preferably, the molded inserts and / or protective elements are designed and arranged in the compartment in such a way that they do not impede the compartment pockets from collapsing when the frame element is in its upright operating position.

[0016] As the invention further provides, at least the compartments consist of a flammable material, which also takes into account the circumstance described at the beginning of a possible ignition of hazardous goods, such as airbags with pyrotechnic propellants.

[0017] As for the material of the compartments, this can be made of a textile natural or synthetic fiber fabric, a plastic film, or a tarpaulin material made of plastic.

[0018] It is further advantageous that the container bottom is designed to be air-permeable and / or flammable, or formed by the compartment of the lowest frame element. This measure also takes into account the previously described circumstance of the potential ignition of hazardous materials, such as airbags with pyrotechnic propellants.

[0019] The same applies to the measure of positioning the container bottom at a distance from the surface on which the receiving container is stored or placed. This creates a chimney effect when the container lid is open in the event of a fire involving the aforementioned items (hazardous goods), enabling a rapid and controlled combustion of the items (hazardous goods).

[0020] Accordingly, the container is particularly well-suited for the storage of hazardous materials, such as airbags with pyrotechnic propellants. These could include, for example, airbags for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, such as driver airbags, head airbags, side airbags, and the like, which, despite their varying external contours and shapes, can be stored variably in the pockets of the flexible material compartments. No modification or alteration of the compartments is necessary, as, as already explained above, the flexible material can largely conform to the contours of the stored items and yield accordingly.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this embodiment, but encompasses all embodiments defined by the claims. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A perspective front view of a receiving container in its open state, and Fig. 2 the view “A” after Fig. 1.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a receiving container 1 for storing packaged goods (not shown in the drawing), which may be, for example, hazardous materials in the form of airbags with pyrotechnic propellants for vehicles, especially motor vehicles. The receiving container 1 has a cuboid shape with a base 2, four closed side walls 4 to 7 surrounding the interior 3, and an opening lid 8. At least the side walls 4 to 7 are made of a non-combustible material, for example, sheet steel, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0023] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the receiving container 1 has eight frame elements 9a-h, which in a first operating position 10 (see Fig. 1, frame elements 9b-h) are arranged in horizontally stacked planes. The frame elements 9a-h are each pivotally connected at one end to the receiving container 1 about a first, horizontal pivot axis 11 from the first, horizontal operating position 10 to a second, upwardly oriented operating position 12 and back. Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows, by way of example, only the uppermost frame element 9a in the aforementioned second, erected operating position 12. In the first operating position 10 of the frame elements 9a-h, they together with one of the end walls 13 arranged opposite the first pivot axis 11 form the front, closed side wall 4 of the receiving container 1.

[0024] In order to erect the frame elements 9a-h, the following must be done according to this embodiment and as described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows that the container lid 8, which is also pivotally attached at one end to the receiving container 1 about a second, horizontal pivot axis 14, must also be erected. If lower frame elements 9b-h are to be erected, those arranged above them, as well as the container lid 8, must already be erected (not shown in the drawing).

[0025] How the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen further in Figure 2, both the container lid 8 and the frame elements 9a-h have pivoting aids which, according to this embodiment, are formed by gas springs 15 known per se. Alternatively, the container lid 8 can also be designed to be detachable from the receiving container 1, for example, to be manually placed on it and optionally locked in place, as well as manually lifted off it (not shown in the drawing).

[0026] How the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the frame elements 9a-h each have a compartment 17 made of a flexible material, forming an upwardly open pocket 16. This material can be, for example, a textile natural or synthetic fiber fabric, a plastic film, or a tarpaulin material made of plastic. According to one embodiment, the compartment 17 is attached to the respective frame element 9a-h by means of mechanical fastening elements known per se and therefore not shown in the drawing, such as screws or rivets, in a force-fit and / or material-fit manner by adhesive bonding.

[0027] The compartments 17 are furthermore arranged and fastened or suspended in the respective frame element 9a-h in such a way that the pockets 16 collapse and / or fold together in the second, erected operating position 12 of the respective frame element 9a-h. Fig. Figure 1 shows in a highly schematic way the compartment 17 of the uppermost frame element 9a with the indented pockets 16.

[0028] The compartment 17 is movable from front to back, for example running on rails not shown in the drawing, suspended in the frame element 9a-h, so that the compartment 17 in the erected state of the frame element 9a-h is preferably already pushed together towards the first pivot axis 11 due to gravity (not shown in the drawing) and the pockets 16 collapse and / or fold together.

[0029] To protect particularly fragile items, it is further provided that pockets 16 of the compartments 17 have molded inserts and / or protective elements for the items to be stored, which are not shown in the drawing. The molded inserts and / or protective elements preferably consist of a lightweight foam, for example, a plastic foam or another suitable lightweight material designed as molded inserts and / or protective elements, such as paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, knitted fabric, etc. Preferably, the molded inserts and / or protective elements are designed and arranged in the compartment 17 in such a way that they do not impede the pockets 16 of the compartments 17 from collapsing in the upright operating position 12 of the respective frame element 9a-h. Alternatively, these are taken from the respective compartment 17.

[0030] The functionality of the receiving container 1 is derived from, for example, a state in which all pockets 10 of the compartments 17 contain at least one item stored therein, as follows: Opening the container lid 8, in this case by pivoting it upwards about the second pivot axis 14. Then, at least one item is removed, or, according to this example, all items are removed from the pockets 16 of the compartment 17 of the uppermost, still horizontally arranged frame element 9a. If one, two, or more items are to be removed from the compartment 17 of the frame element 9b below, the container lid 8 must remain in the upright position, and the frame element 9a above it must be moved into the second, upright operating position 12, whereby the pockets 16 collapse and / or fold together. Once all items have been removed from the pockets 16 of the compartment 17 of the frame element 9b, this element must also be moved into its second operating position 12 in order to remove the items from the compartment 17 of the frame element 9c below, and so on.

[0031] It is surely self-evident to the expert that the advantages of this receiving container 1 are best realized when identical items are stored in it, which are removed from the receiving container 1 one after the other, starting with the uppermost frame element 9a and proceeding downwards to the lowest frame element 9h.

[0032] As already indicated above, regarding the storage of components of motor vehicle safety systems containing a pyrotechnic propellant, for example, regarding the storage of airbags, it is required that, in order to prevent the risk of explosion in the event of fire and to ensure the controlled combustion of ignited pyrotechnic propellants, at least the side walls 4 to 7 of the receiving container 1 be made of a non-combustible or fire-resistant material. According to this embodiment, these are made of sheet steel.

[0033] To ensure controlled and rapid combustion, it is further stipulated that at least the compartments 17 must be made of a combustible material. The materials listed above, such as natural or synthetic textiles, plastic films, or plastic tarpaulins, meet this requirement. In addition, it may be advantageous in this context for the container bottom 2 to be permeable to air, for example, designed as a grid in accordance with the prior art (DE 197 41 339 C1) and / or be made of combustible material, or be formed by the combustible compartment 17 of the lowest frame element 9h. This is further enhanced by the fact that, as shown in the above, the following applies: Fig.1 As can be seen, the container base 2 is spaced away from a surface 18 on which the receiving container 1 is stored or placed, and when the container lid 8 is open, in the event of a fire of said general cargo (hazardous goods) a chimney effect is created which enables a rapid and controlled burning of the general cargo (hazardous goods). Reference symbol list 1 collection container 2 Container bottom 3 Container interior 4 side wall 5 side wall 6 side wall 7 Side wall 8 container lids 9a-h frame elements 10 First operating position (frame element 9a-h) 11 first pivot axis (frame element 9a-h) 12 second operating position (frame element 9a-h) 13 End wall (frame element 9a-h) 14 second pivot axis (container lid 8) 15 Gas spring 16 bags 17 compartments 18 parking spaces 19 Container foot

Claims

A receiving container (1) for storing general cargo, comprising a container base (2), closed side walls (4, 5, 6, 7) surrounding a container interior (3), and an openable container lid (8), wherein the receiving container (1) has two or more frame elements (9a-h) arranged in horizontally superimposed planes in a first operating position (10), each with a compartment (17) forming at least one pocket (16) made of a flexible material, and wherein the frame elements (9a-h) together with the compartment (17) are pivotably connected at one end about a horizontal pivot axis (11) from the first, horizontal operating position (10) to a second, upwardly positioned operating position (12) and back to the receiving container (1), characterized in thatthat in the first operating position (10) the frame elements (9a-h) together with an end wall (13) arranged opposite the pivot axis (11) form a side wall (4) of the receiving container (1), and that the compartments (17) are arranged and fixed or suspended in the respective frame element (9a-h) so as to be displaceable from front to rear, such that in the second, erected operating position (12) of the respective frame element (9a-h) the pockets (16) are pushed together towards the pivot axis (11) and the pockets (16) collapse and / or fold together. Receiving container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the side walls (4, 5, 6, 7) of the receiving container (1) consist of a non-combustible material. Receiving container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pockets (16) of the compartments (17) have molded inserts and / or protective elements for the goods to be received. Receiving container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the compartments (17) consist of a combustible material. Receiving container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the compartments (17) is formed by a textile natural or synthetic fiber fabric or a plastic film or a tarpaulin material made of plastic. Receiving container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container bottom (2) is air-permeable and / or flammable or is formed by the compartment (17) of the lowest frame element (9h). Receiving container (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the container base (2) is arranged at a distance from a surface (18) on which the receiving container (1) is stored or placed. Receiving container (1) according to one of the preceding claims for receiving packaged goods constituting dangerous goods.

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