Transport and storage containers

Abstract

Transport and storage container comprising a rectangular base and two first, opposing side walls and two second, opposing side walls, wherein the four side walls are adjustable between an upright working position and a flat empty position, wherein the two first side walls are each equipped with two adjustable locking devices, wherein, in their locking position, when the side walls are in the upright working position, the locking devices positively engage the first side walls with their adjacent second side walls, so that the first side walls cannot be folded down towards the base, wherein, in the unlocked position of the locking devices, the side walls can be folded down towards the base into the flat empty position, and wherein each locking device comprises a horizontally displaceable lock.which can be operated from the outside of the first side wall and which is held in the first side wall by friction in such a way that its movement requires the finger force of a user.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transport and storage container comprising a rectangular base and two first, opposing side walls and two second, opposing side walls, wherein the four side walls are adjustable between an upright operating position and a flat empty position.

[0002] A transport and storage container of the type mentioned is known from DE 101 37 328 B4. In the container known from this document, a one-piece, bow-shaped actuating element is arranged on the outer surface of the inwardly folding side wall or of two opposing inwardly folding side walls. This actuating element can be moved upwards by pulling with the fingers. This lifting movement disengages the locking lugs molded onto the actuating element from their engagement position with the locking hooks on the adjacent longitudinal side walls, so that the unlocked side walls can then be folded inwards.

[0003] This well-known container has the disadvantage that the actuation of the locking device in the unlocking direction is unfavorable, because on the one hand an upward stroke movement must be exerted on the actuator for unlocking, but on the other hand an inward and downward force must then be exerted on the side walls to fold them in.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a transport and storage container of the type mentioned above which is advantageous compared to known containers in terms of its handling and operation and which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

[0005] The problem is solved by a transport and storage container according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims or are described below.

[0006] Because each locking mechanism includes a horizontally sliding latch that can be actuated from the outside of the first side wall and is held in the first side wall by friction in such a way that its movement requires the user's finger force, the user can unlock the locking mechanisms sequentially and then fold the side walls. The user can therefore perform all the steps required to unlock and fold the container with just one hand, and the movements are very simple. This significantly simplifies handling compared to known containers that require at least two hands and complicated handles for unlocking and folding.In particular, with the solution according to the invention, the user does not have to actuate two latches simultaneously in order to hold them in the unlocked position at the same time, because otherwise one latch would automatically return to its locked position upon release, for example by spring force.

[0007] To achieve the appropriate frictional engagement, so that the latch can only be moved with a certain amount of finger force, a precise dimensional alignment is achieved between the latch and the compartment in which it is held. Moving the latch is then only possible by overcoming corresponding frictional forces. The latch cannot move "on its own," i.e., solely due to gravitational forces or movements of the container as a whole, relative to the container. The fact that the latch must be moved horizontally to move from the locked to the unlocked position provides an additional safeguard against the latch unintentionally slipping out of position due to impacts or vibrations of the container in a vertical direction.The fact that the latch can be operated from the outside of the side wall has the advantage that it cannot be unintentionally moved by the movement of an object located inside the container.

[0008] Plastic, especially propylene, is particularly suitable as a material for the first side wall and the bar. The side walls and the bar are preferably manufactured using injection molding.

[0009] Preferably, at least one side wall has ribs on its inner side extending perpendicularly to the plane of the side wall, forming compartments that are bounded in a plane parallel to the plane of the side wall by sections of the ribs. Preferably, the latch is held in a compartment of a first side wall.

[0010] Preferably, the sliding bolt engages in a compartment of a second side wall in its locking position.

[0011] Preferably, in the locked position, a section of the bolt is frictionally connected to the second side wall into which it engages. Preferably, a rib-like grip section is formed on the bolt. Preferably, the rib-like grip section projects outwards from an opening in the first side wall.

[0012] Preferably, the rib-like handle section overlaps the opening in the first side wall in a vertical direction, so that the bolt is held in a form-fitting manner in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first side wall.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the figures, which show an exemplary embodiment. They show Fig. 1: a container according to the invention in the usable position, wherein the locking devices are in the locking position; Fig. 2: an excerpt of Fig. 1; Fig. 3: a view of the container according to Fig. 1 from the bottom; Fig. 4: a part of a cross-section parallel to a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 1; Fig. 5: a cross-section parallel to a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 1; Fig. 6: a side view of a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 1; Fig. 7: a horizontal cross-section of the container according to Fig. 1 from the top; Fig. 8: a view of the container according to Fig. 1 from the top; Fig. 9: the container according to Fig. 1 in the operating position, with the locking devices in the unlocking position; Fig. 10: a part of a cross-section parallel to a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 9; Fig. 11: a cross-section parallel to a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 9; Fig. 12: a side view of a first side wall of the container according to Fig. 9; Fig. 13: a horizontal cross-section of the container according to Fig. 9 from the top; Fig. 14: the container according to the previous figures while folding in the side walls; Fig. 15: the container in the flat empty position according to the previous figures; Fig. 16: a bolt in the state before it is attached to the first side wall; Fig. 17: a bolt during the process of its attachment to the first side wall; Fig. 18: a bolt in the state attached to the first side wall.

[0014] The figures show a transport and storage container according to the invention. The dimensions are chosen so that a user can grasp the two handles 5 with one hand each.

[0015] The container comprises a rectangular base and two opposing side walls 1a, 1b and two opposing side walls 2a, 2b. The four side walls 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b are adjustable between an upright working position and a flat empty position. They can be folded in or out by means of a hinged connection in the base area. The two first side walls 1a, 1b are each equipped with two adjustable locking devices.

[0016] The container is made of plastic. It resembles a type of slatted structure, with several horizontally extending slats on each side wall.

[0017] In the Fig. In sections 1 to 8, the four side walls 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b are in the upright operating position, with the locking devices in the locked position. The locking devices hold the first side walls 1a, 1b positively against their adjacent second side walls 2a, 2b, so that the first side walls 1a, 1b cannot be folded down towards the floor. Each locking device comprises a horizontally displaceable bolt 3, which can be actuated from the outside of the first side wall 1a, 1b and which is held frictionally in the first side wall 1a, 1b in such a way that its displacement requires the finger force of a user. The second side walls 2a, 2b cannot be folded down towards the floor in this state because they are blocked by the first side walls 1a, 1b.Folding the side walls outwards is prevented in particular by the fact that the engagement means 7 arranged on the first side walls 1a, 1b engage in the second side wall 2a, 2b parallel to the adjacent second side wall 2a, 2b.

[0018] In this operating position, with the locking mechanisms in the locked position, the container can hold items for transport or storage. Furthermore, the container can be stacked with similar or other containers of the same dimensions. When empty, the container's side walls 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b can be folded inwards towards the bottom, resulting in a flat empty position where the container's height is reduced to a fraction of its height when the side walls are folded. This allows for space-saving transport and storage of the empty container.

[0019] The side walls 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b have ribs on their inner side extending perpendicular to the plane of the respective side wall, forming compartments that are bounded in a plane parallel to the plane of the side wall by sections of the ribs. The bolts 3 are each held in a compartment 6 of a first side wall 1a, 1b. In its locking position, the bolt 3 engages in a compartment 8 of a second side wall 2a, 2b.

[0020] The section of the bolt 3 that engages the second side wall 2a, 2b is frictionally connected to the second side wall 2a, 2b into which it engages. A rib-like grip section 4 is formed on the bolt 3, projecting outwards from an opening in the first side wall 1a, 1b. The rib-like grip section 4 overlaps the opening in the first side wall 1a, 1b vertically, so that the bolt 3 is positively locked in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first side wall 1a, 1b.

[0021] In the Fig. In sections 9 to 13, the four side walls 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b are in the upright operating position, with the locking mechanisms in the unlocked position. The locking bolts 3 have been pushed out of the locked position by overcoming frictional forces. This movement is possible by the finger force of a user. However, it cannot happen "on its own," i.e., solely due to gravity or movement of the container as a whole.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 14 shows the container during the folding of its side walls. The first two side walls have already folded inwards onto the floor. The second side walls are currently moving from their upright position to their folded position, in which they will then lie parallel to the floor on top of the already folded first side walls. This flat empty position is shown in Fig. 15 shown.

[0023] To enable cost-effective production of the bar 3, each bar 3 is a one-piece injection-molded plastic part. This allows the bar to be manufactured in the same way as the side walls and bottom of the transport and storage containers, so that all parts of the container can be produced using the same manufacturing equipment.

[0024] The bar 3 can be mounted in an advantageously simple manner on the first side wall 1a, 1b. Fig. Figure 16 shows a bar 3 in the state before it is attached to the first side wall 1a, 1b. The bar 3 can simply be inserted into the designated compartment on the inside of a first side wall. Fig. Figure 17 shows the bar 3 during the process of its attachment to the first side wall. Fig. Figure 18 shows a bar 3 in the state attached to the first side wall 1a, 1b. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 101 37 328 B4

[0002]

Claims

[1] Transport and storage container comprising a rectangular base and two first, opposing side walls and two second, opposing side walls, wherein the four side walls are adjustable between an upright operating position and a flat empty position, wherein the two first side walls are each equipped with two adjustable locking devices, wherein, in their locking position, when the side walls are in the upright operating position, the locking devices positively engage the first side walls with their adjacent second side walls so that the first side walls cannot be folded down towards the base, wherein, in the unlocked position of the locking devices, the side walls can be folded down towards the base into the flat empty position, and wherein each locking device comprises a horizontally displaceable lock,which can be operated from the outside of the first side wall and which is held in the first side wall by friction in such a way that its movement requires the finger force of a user. [2] Transport and storage container according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least one side wall has ribs on its inner side extending perpendicular to the plane of the side wall, forming compartments which are bounded in a plane parallel to the plane of the side wall by sections of the ribs. [3] Transport and storage container according to claim 2, characterized by that the bolt is held in a compartment of a first side wall. [4] Transport and storage containers according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the sliding bolt, in its locking position, engages in a compartment of a second side wall. [5] Transport and storage container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that in the locked position a section of the bolt is frictionally connected to the second side wall into which it engages. [6] Transport and storage container according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that a rib-like handle section is formed on the bolt. [7] Transport and storage container according to claim 6, characterized by , that the rib-like handle section protrudes outwards from an opening in the first side wall. [8] Transport and storage container according to claim 7, characterized by , that the rib-like handle section overlaps the opening in the first side wall in a vertical direction, so that the bolt is held in a form-fitting manner in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first side wall.

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