Stackable feed container

Abstract

The invention relates to a stackable feed container with a container body extending from a container base to a container opening and a container cover detachably arranged on the container body that covers the container opening. To provide a feed container that allows access to the feed stored in the container even when stacked, the container cover comprises a lid element that closes the filling section of the container opening, with a support surface adapted to the container base, and a flap element that is adjustable relative to the lid element between a closed position that closes a dispensing section of the container opening and an open position that releases the dispensing section.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a stackable feed container with - a container body extending from a container bottom to a container opening and - a container cover that covers the container opening and is detachably attached to the container body.

[0002] Feed containers consisting of a container body and a container cover that closes the container opening are known in various designs from the prior art. They serve to store feed and provide it as needed at the designated feeding areas, which can be, for example, barns for livestock such as cattle, pigs, or chickens. Containers of the type mentioned above are, for example, described in the following documents: DE 20 2019 103 011 U1, US 2017 / 0 267 419 A1, CN 2 04 701 904 U, CN 2 07 121 023 U, AU-A-59350 / 98, CA 2 554 950 A1, CN 2 18 840 132 U, US 2006 / 0 108 381 A1, EP 0 997 386 A1, US 8,517,212 B2, US 2,006,588 A, US 4,949,865 A, US 2018 / 0 092 478 A1, US 2013 / 0 186 897 A1, DE 20 2005 005 022 U1, CN 2 06 485 712 U and CN 2 03 439 364 U are known.

[0003] The known feed containers have the disadvantage that their opening is completely sealed by a cover for storing the feed, and this cover must be removed to access the feed. Furthermore, stacking the feed containers also requires the presence of a cover, which then has the disadvantage that, with the exception of the topmost container, all feed containers in the stack are only accessible after the stack has been unwound.

[0004] Starting from this premise, the invention aims to provide a feed container which allows access to the feed arranged in the feed container even when stacked.

[0005] The invention solves the problem by providing a stackable feed container with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the stackable feed container are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The stackable feed container according to the invention has a container body which, in the position of use, extends vertically from a container base to a container opening, which is bounded by a circumferential rim of the container body. The container opening can be closed with a container cover that can be detachably attached to the container body, so that the feed stored in the feed container is protected from contamination.

[0007] According to the invention, the container cover comprises two elements: a lid element and a flap element. The lid element closes a filling section of the container opening, and the flap element closes a dispensing section. The dispensing section is the area of ​​the container opening through which the feed is to be removed from the feed container, while the filling section is the area of ​​the container opening through which the feed is to be filled into the container.

[0008] A key feature of the lid element is a support surface adapted to the container base. An adapted support surface is defined as one dimensioned to allow the container body and its base to be placed on it. The placement of the flap element adjacent to the support surface thus enables the flap element to be adjusted between a closed position, which seals the dispensing section of the container opening, and an open position, even when another container body is positioned on the support surface. This allows the dispensing section to be released, enabling the feed to be extracted from the feed container.

[0009] The feed container according to the invention thus enables the stacking of several feed containers by virtue of the design of the container cover, with each container base being arranged on the base of the cover element. At the same time, feed can also be removed from the feed container even when stacked, since the flap element is not blocked by another feed container arranged on the container cover, even when stacked, so that it can be adjusted between the closed and open positions.

[0010] The design of the flap element and its connection to the container body, as well as the design of the lid element, such that it allows adjustment of the flap element between the closed and open positions, is fundamentally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flap element is articulated, in particular pivotally connected, to the lid element. This embodiment of the invention, in which the flap element can be pivoted relative to the lid element, for example, by means of pins arranged opposite each other on the lid element, which engage in corresponding recesses on the flap element, represents a particularly simple and cost-effective way of adjusting the flap element between the open and closed positions.The size of the access opening, through which the feed can be removed from the dispensing section of the container body, can be easily determined by adjusting the swivel angle.

[0011] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a locking device is further provided which secures the flap element in the open position. In this embodiment, the position of the flap element in the open position, or in several other predefined positions, is secured by a locking device designed such that moving the flap element from a locked position requires increased force. The locking device thus secures a predetermined position, in particular the open position of the flap element, so that the feed can then be removed from the feed container without interference and without having to manually lock the flap element in its position.

[0012] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking device comprises a locking element arranged on the flap element and a locking element receptacle arranged on the cover element, wherein the locking element and the locking element receptacle are releasably engaged in the open position. This embodiment of the invention, in which the locking element receptacle is formed, for example, by a dome-shaped recess and the locking element has a corresponding dome-shaped section projecting towards the recess, represents a particularly simple and cost-effective design for defining a locking position.Starting from the engaged position of the detent element and detent element receptacle, an increased force can be applied to pivot the flap element from the open position, whereby the shape of the detent element and the detent element receptacle determines the detent torque to be overcome.

[0013] Due to the inventive design of the stackable feed container, in which the lid element provides a surface for the base of another feed container and, furthermore, a flap element is arranged adjacent to the lid element, which is not subjected to the weight of the feed container placed on the lid element, it is possible, even in the stacked state, to provide access to the interior of the feed container via the flap element adjacent to the lid element. The flap element can, but does not necessarily have to, be directly adjacent to the lid element.

[0014] According to a further development of the invention, the container body is designed in the area of ​​the container opening such that a plane spanned by the circumferential edge of the container body in the area of ​​the withdrawal section is inclined towards the bottom of the container relative to a plane spanned by the circumferential edge of the container body in the area of ​​the filling section.

[0015] According to this embodiment of the invention, the rim of the container body that defines the container opening does not extend in a plane, preferably parallel to the container base, but rather forms a first plane in the filling section, which preferably runs parallel to the plane defined by the container base. In the dispensing section, the rim of the container body forms a second plane that runs at an angle to the plane defined by the circumferential rim in the filling section. This embodiment of the invention, in which the rim in the dispensing section is positioned such that the front end of the container body—relative to the feed container's operating position—is located below the rim in the filling section, provides particularly good access to the flap element and to the interior of the container body when the flap element is open.Depending on the inclination of the extraction section relative to the filling section, the swivel angle of the flap element between the closed position and the open position can be determined, thus defining the degree of accessibility.

[0016] The container body is preferably filled via the filling section of the container opening, although even when the container body is open, i.e., when the container cover is not attached to the container body, the dispensing section can also be used to place feed in the feed container. For example, the container cover can be completely removed from the container body to fill the feed container. According to the invention, the lid element is articulated, in particular pivotally connected, to the container body.

[0017] According to the invention, the entire container cover is preferably articulated to the container body via the lid element. An articulated, and in particular pivotable, connection of the lid element to the container body allows the latter to be moved from a position covering the filling section to a position releasing the filling section, while simultaneously the lid element remains connected to the container body, thus reliably preventing damage to or loss of the lid element. The articulated arrangement of the lid element also allows the lid element, together with the flap element, to be moved relative to the container body into a position that completely releases the container opening, in particular by pivoting it.

[0018] According to the invention, for the articulated arrangement of the lid element on the container body, which can be designed in any configuration, a recess is provided on opposite sides of the container body. This recess is designed to articulately receive two corresponding pins arranged opposite each other on the lid element. This allows for particularly simple assembly of the lid element onto the container body for their articulated connection. The pins are positioned in the recesses and thus enable adjustment of the lid element between a position in which it rests on the edge of the container body in the area of ​​the filling section and a pivoted position relative to this position, in which the filling section is opened.

[0019] According to the invention, the recess has an open receptacle inclined towards the rear of the container body for arranging the pin in the closed position of the lid element. The recess has a pocket-shaped receptacle in which the pin is arranged in the closed position of the lid element. The receptacle is open, inclined towards the rear of the container body, and rising in that direction, so that when the lid element is pivoted, a pin attached to the lid element rises from the pocket-shaped receptacle into the recess.

[0020] The recess, angled towards the rear of the container body, prevents the lid from being removed from the container body via the recess when closed, i.e., with the lid resting on the rim. The necessary vertical movement of the pin within the recess is blocked by the angled recess. This allows the container cover to be secured to the front of the feed container, for example with a lock, thus preventing the lid from being removed. The angled recess prevents the vertical movement of the pin within the recess that would be required for removal.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a pin guide track inclined towards the rear of the container body adjoins the open receptacle, and a stop surface running parallel to the rear of the container body adjoins this guide track opposite the receptacle. In this embodiment of the invention, the recess extends from the receptacle and has an inclined pin guide track. When the lid element pivots relative to the container body, the pin rises from the closed position to an open position within the recess. A stop surface adjoins the pin guide track and runs parallel to the rear of the container body, preventing the lid element from pivoting further relative to the container body. The stop surface thus forms a limit to the opening of the lid element relative to the container body.

[0022] It is particularly advantageous that the flap element can be locked, and in particular secured, to the container body in the closed position. This locking mechanism can be achieved, for example, by providing corresponding bores on the container body and the flap element, which are aligned with each other in the closed position of the flap element, so that they can be used to receive a lock body, such as a padlock. Such a locking mechanism prevents unauthorized access to the interior of the container body, and in combination with the advantageously provided design of the recess with an inclined, open receptacle, a single locking element can prevent any access to the interior of the feed container.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the container body is further provided with two opposing handle sections with wave-shaped recesses and / or a hook element. The arrangement of handle sections allows for particularly easy handling of the container body, especially if the handle sections are provided with wave-shaped recesses whose shape is adapted to the fingers of a hand. A hook element allows the attachment of accessories to the feed container, e.g., scoops or the like, by means of which feed can be selectively removed from the feed container.

[0024] The vertical extent of the container body – in relation to its operating position – is generally freely selectable, with a preferred configuration of the container body in which the container opening, bounded by the edge of the container body, has a larger area than the container bottom. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, an end face of the container body is inclined relative to a plane defined by the container bottom such that this inclination forms an angle greater than 80°, preferably greater than 65°, and most preferably greater than 50°, and / or has an outwardly convex cross-section.

[0025] With an inclined end face of the container body, the cross-section of the container body increases continuously from the base to the opening. Depending on the angle of inclination of the end face relative to the base, the ratio between the area of ​​the base and the area of ​​the opening can be determined. Since, in the case of a stackable feed container, the base determines the size of the surface area that the lid element must provide, the inclined design of the end face determines the area of ​​the flap element through which the container remains accessible even when stacked. An outwardly convex cross-section of the end face of the container body further increases the dispensing area of ​​the opening, which is covered by the flap element when closed.The size of the opening cross-section of the extraction section can thus be determined in a particularly reliable and simple manner by the inclination of the front face relative to the bottom of the container and / or an outwardly curved design of the front face of the container body.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a separating element is arranged in the area between the dispensing section and the filling section. This separating element extends vertically in the area between the filling section and the dispensing section, starting from a region in the plane of the container opening and extending to a region spaced apart from the container bottom. In the horizontal direction, the separating element extends between the opposing side surfaces of the container body, thus separating the filling section from the dispensing section in such a way that feed placed in the filling section must pass through the separating element in the free area between the container bottom and the separating element in order to be removed from the dispensing opening.This design ensures that feed is removed from the container body according to the "first-in first-out" principle, thus preventing the feed from spoiling due to excessively long storage time in the container body.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support surface is inclined towards the edge of the lid element, and the edge of the lid element has a recess adjacent to the support surface. This embodiment of the invention ensures that moisture or liquids arranged on the support surface do not remain there, but are instead drained away towards the edge of the lid element via the existing incline, where they can be discharged through the recesses in the lid element. These recesses are openings in the edge of the lid element through which moisture can escape from the inner area of ​​the lid element, which is defined by the edge.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the lid element has support bodies arranged in the edge region, projecting towards the support surface, which are preferably adapted to the contour of the container body in the edge region of the container base. This embodiment of the invention provides that the support bodies in the edge region of the lid element bear laterally against the container bodies arranged on the support surface, thereby additionally securing the position of the container bodies on the support surface. By adapting the contour of the support bodies to the contour of the container body in the transition area between the container base and the container side walls, where the support bodies come into contact, a particularly reliable positioning is achieved.

[0029] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1. A perspective view of a feed container; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the container body of the feed container of Fig. 1; Fig. 3. A perspective view of a container cover for the feed container of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a perspective view of a flap element of the container cover of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a first perspective view of a lid element of the container cover of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 a second perspective view of the lid element of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a perspective view of the container cover of Fig. 3 in an open position of the flap element; Fig. 8 an enlarged representation of a connection area of ​​the flap element and the cover element; Fig. 8a an enlarged representation of the cover element in the connection area with the flap element; Fig. 8b an enlarged representation of the flap element in the connection area with the lid element; Fig. 9 a perspective view of two feed containers in a stacked position; Fig. 10 a perspective view of the feed container of Fig. 1 with a locking element; Fig. 10a an enlarged representation of the connection area of ​​the lid element with the container body, partly in section; Fig. 11 a perspective view of the feed container of Fig. 1 with open lid element; Fig. 11a a schematic representation of the connection area of ​​the lid element and the container body in the open position of the lid element; Fig. 12 a perspective view of the feed container of Fig. 1 with open flap element and separating element partially, in section and Fig. 12a a sectional view of the feed container of Fig. 12.

[0030] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a feed container 1-14 in a perspective view. Feed container 1 is composed of a [missing information] in a perspective view in Fig. 2 container body 2 as well as one in Fig. 3 shown container cover 5.

[0031] The container body 2 extends from a container base 33 in a vertical direction – relative to the operating position – to an edge 28 that defines a container opening. The container opening is divided into a filling section 3 and a dispensing section 4. The container cover 5, adapted to the container opening, accordingly has a lid element 6 adapted to the filling section 3 (see figure). Fig. 5 and Fig. 6) and a flap element 7 adapted to the extraction section 4 (see Fig. 4) open, wherein the flap element 7 is positioned opposite the lid element 6 between the in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shown closing position and the one in Fig. 7 and Fig. The opening position of the flap element 7 shown in Figure 9 is adjustable.

[0032] The container body 2 is bounded around its perimeter by two opposing side surfaces 24, a rear wall, and an end face 25. The end face 25 is not perpendicular to the bottom of the container 33, but rather inclined relative to the plane defined by the bottom of the container 33, and is also convex outwards. In the area of ​​the dispensing section 4, a plane defined by the rim 28 in the dispensing section 4 is not parallel to the bottom of the container 33, but is inclined relative to it. Consequently, a plane defined by the circumferential rim 28 in the area of ​​the filling section 4, which runs essentially parallel to the bottom of the container 33, is also inclined relative to the plane defined by the dispensing section 4. In the illustrated embodiment, a recess 29 in the rim 28 separates the dispensing section from the filling section 3.

[0033] The cover element 6 and the flap element 7 are hingedly connected to each other, with pins 12 being arranged on the cover element for this purpose, which engage in correspondingly shaped openings 30 on the flap element 7. A locking device is also formed in the contact area between the flap element 7 and the cover element 6, which is formed by a bead-shaped locking element 19 arranged on the cover element 6 and by a correspondingly shaped locking element receptacle 20 formed on the flap element 7 (see Figure 1). Fig. 8, Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b).

[0034] When the flap element 7 pivots relative to the cover element 6 from the closed position to the open position, the locking element 19 engages in the locking receptacle 20 and thus locks the open position of the flap element 7 relative to the cover element 6. A recess 13 on the cover element 6 in the pivoting range of the flap element 7 relative to the cover element 6 ensures that the flap element 7 can pivot freely relative to the cover element 6.

[0035] The container cover 5 is also hinged to the container body 2 via the lid element 6. For this purpose, the container body 2 has two opposing recesses 15 in its rear edge region, which allow the lid element 6 to be articulated relative to the container body 2. Fig. 11 to pivot to the opening position shown.

[0036] The design of the pivotable connection between the lid element 6 and the container body 2 is described in Fig. 10a and Fig. 11a. Thus, the recess 15 has a pocket-shaped receptacle 16 in which a pin 14 is positioned on the lid element 6 in the closed position of the lid element (cf. Fig. 10a). The receptacle 16 is bounded on one side by a pin guide track 32 and on the other side by a projection 18, which is inclined towards the rear of the container, so that in the closed position of the lid element 6, when the pin 14 is arranged in the receptacle 16, the projection 18 blocks vertical lifting of the lid element 6 from the container body 2. During a pivoting movement of the lid element 6 relative to the container body 2, the pin 14 rises on the pin guide track 32 until it comes to rest against a stop surface 17 extending perpendicular to the container bottom 33, thereby blocking further pivoting of the lid element 6 relative to the container body 2.

[0037] This design of the articulated connection of the lid element 6 with the container body 2 also makes it possible to lock the feed container 1 using a lock 31, as in Fig. Figure 10 shows a secure locking mechanism, with the lock 31 extending through corresponding openings 26, 27 on the container body 2 and flap element 7, respectively. Due to the inclined mounting 16, the lock is positioned in the Fig. In the closing position shown in 10, it is not possible to remove the lid element 6 from the container body 2.

[0038] The container body 2 also has a separating element 8 inside it, which separates the container body 2 in the area of ​​the filling section 3 from the withdrawal section 4, so that feed first filled in the area of ​​the filling section 3 is also first withdrawn from the withdrawal opening 4 according to the principle of "first in first out" (cf. Fig. 12, Fig. 12a).

[0039] For stackable arrangement, as shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 9, the lid element 6 has a support surface 9, which is bounded by the edge 10 of the lid element 6. Additional support bodies 11 projecting towards the support surface 9 serve to secure a feed container 1 arranged on the support surface 9. Furthermore, the support surface 9 is inclined towards the side surfaces 24 of the container body 2, so that any liquid coming onto the support surface 9 is directed towards the surrounding edge 10 and from there is drained away via the recesses 13.

[0040] To increase usability, the container body 2 also has a hook 21 on one side, which can be used to attach accessories, such as shovels, to the container body 2. A grip section 23 formed by wave-shaped recesses 22 improves the grip on the container body 2. Reference symbol list 1 feed container 2 container bodies 3 Filling section 4. Extraction section 5 Container cover 6 lid element 7 flap element 8 separating element 9 parking spaces 10 Edge (lid element) 11 Support bodies 12 pins (for flap element) 13 cutouts 14 pins (for container body) 15 recess 16 recording 17 Stop surface (recess) 18 lead 19 locking element 20 Raster element holder 21 hooks 22 Exclusion 23 Handle section 24 side surface 25 Front 26 Opening (folding element) 27 Opening (container body) 28 rim (container body) 29 Exclusion 30 Opening 31 Castle 32 pin guide track 33 Container bottom

Claims

[1] Stackable feed container with - a container body (2) extending from a container bottom (33) to a container opening and - a container cover (5) which covers the container opening and is detachably arranged on the container body (2) with - a lid element (6) closing a filling section (3) of the container opening, with a support surface (9) adapted to the container bottom (33) and - a flap element (7) which is adjustable relative to the lid element (6) between a closed position closing a withdrawal section (4) of the container opening and an open position releasing the withdrawal section (4), characterized by, that the lid element (6) is articulately, in particular pivotably, connected to the container body (2) by two recesses (15) arranged opposite each other on the container body (2) for the articulated reception of two correspondingly opposite pins (14) arranged on the lid element (6), wherein the recesses (15) have an open receptacle (16) inclined towards a rear of the container body for arranging the pins (14) in the closed position of the lid element (6). [2] Stackable feed container according to claim 1, characterized by , that the flap element (7) is connected to the cover element (6) in a hinged manner, in particular a pivotally hinged manner. [3] Stackable feed container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a locking device that secures the flap element (7) in the open position. [4] Stackable feed container according to claim 3, characterized by, that the locking device has a locking element (19) arranged on the flap element (7) and a locking element receptacle (20) arranged on the cover element (6), wherein the locking element (19) and the locking element receptacle (20) are releasably engaged in the open position. [5] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the container body (2) is designed in the area of ​​the container opening such that a plane spanned by the circumferential rim (28) of the container body (2) in the area of ​​the withdrawal section (4) is inclined towards the container bottom (33) relative to a plane spanned by the circumferential rim (28) of the container body (2) in the area of ​​the filling section (3). [6] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a pin guide track (32) inclined towards the rear of the container body is connected to the receiving (16), to which a stop surface running parallel to the rear of the container body is connected opposite the receiving (16). [7] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the flap element (7) can be locked, in particular secured, to the container body (2) in the closed position. [8] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the container body (2) has two oppositely arranged handle sections (23) with wave-shaped recesses (22) and / or a hook element (21). [9] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that an end face of the container body (2) - is inclined in such a way as to a plane spanned by the bottom of the container (33) that this plane encloses an angle greater than 80°, preferably greater than 65° and particularly preferably greater than 50° and / or - has an outwardly curved cross-section. [10] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a separating element (8) is arranged in the area between the extraction section (4) and the filling section (3). [11] Stackable feed container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the support surface (9) is inclined towards the edge (10) of the lid element (6) and that an edge (10) of the lid element (6) has recesses (13) adjacent to the support surface (9). [12] Stackable feed container according to claim 11, characterized by, that the lid element (6) has support bodies (11) arranged in the area of ​​the edge (10) projecting towards the support surface (9), which are particularly preferably adapted to the contour of the container body (2) in the edge area of ​​the container bottom (33).

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