Transport container with a low overall height when not in use

Abstract

Transport container (1) made of plastic comprising a base (2) with foldable side walls (3, 4) arranged thereon to form a receiving space (5), characterized in that a support surface (6) of the transport container (1) is formed by a flat surface which is formed under the side walls (3, 4) on the base (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transport container made of plastic comprising a base with foldable side walls arranged thereon to form a receiving space.

[0002] Transport containers, also known as containers, stacking boxes, folding boxes, collapsible boxes or similar, are usually made of plastic and are used to transport and / or store any number of goods from one place to another. For example, they are used to transport food, in the postal service or in delivery or logistics centers. A transport container comprises a base with four opposite side walls, each arranged in pairs and designed to be hinged and / or foldable. The base is usually rectangular, so that two opposite side walls are referred to as the long walls and the other two side walls are called the end walls. The transport container is usually open at the top and / or stackable. The transport container and its side walls form a receiving space.

[0003] In addition, the floor is usually reinforced with a continuous, circumferential floor frame. In a stack of similar transport containers, the floor usually rests continuously on the upward-facing upper sides of the side walls of the transport container arranged below. In the bottom transport container, only the floor frame rests on a preferably level and solid surface. This gives rise to the problem that the floor, or sections of it that lie outside the floor frame, deform or bend downwards when loaded by a stack of similar transport containers arranged above. The weight forces are no longer continuously distributed vertically downwards, since the side walls are usually supported outside the floor frame on the transport container below.

[0004] This can lead to deformation or bulging of the side walls of a rectangular transport container and, in particular, to its collapse.

[0005] The thickness or strength of the side walls is usually around 1.5 cm due to additional reinforcing ribs, stiffening bars, or a corrugated design. When folded, the stacking height is approximately 3 cm when the thickness of the longitudinal and side walls and the thickness of the base are added together.

[0006] Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a transport container which has the lowest possible stacking height when not in use.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention with a transport container according to claim 1.

[0008] A transport container, also called a container, folding box, collapsible box, transport crate, or similar, comprises a base and four upwardly facing, hinged and / or foldable side walls projecting from it. The base area of ​​the base is usually rectangular. Furthermore, the side walls can be pivoted, folded, and / or folded relative to the base, for example, to reduce the transport volume of the container when not in use. It is also apparent that the container is composed, for example, of several plastic parts, each of which is injection-molded, for example, and then preferably assembled without tools.

[0009] To fold or collapse, for example, the two short side walls or end walls on a rectangular container can first be pivoted downwards on the base using pivot axes or hinges, and then the two longer side walls or long walls are folded together by half their height on pivot axes or hinges and / or also pivoted inwards. The pivot axes of the long walls are positioned further away from the base than the pivot axes of the end walls that are to be folded in first. In principle, all other types of folding / folding or similar are also conceivable. Thus, in the folded state, the arrangement is base - end wall - long wall, seen from bottom to top. In principle, an arrangement of base - side wall - end wall is also possible.

[0010] The core idea of ​​the invention is that the base of a transport container is designed and configured such that a support surface of the transport container is formed by a flat surface formed on the base beneath the side walls. The term "support surface" is understood to mean the surface or part of the base that forms the lowest underside, which projects furthest downwards from the base, in particular perpendicular to its usually rectangular main plane. This means that, for example, in the case of the second-to-lowest transport container in a stack of similar transport containers, this support surface rests directly on the side walls and the base edge of the lowest transport container. This results from the arrangement of the support surface directly beneath the side walls.The weight forces of the stack from the second to the bottom transport container are therefore transmitted directly vertically downwards into the side walls and the base edge of the bottom transport container. The side walls of the bottom transport container then transmit the vertical weight forces directly via the base into the support surface on the underside of the base, which is formed by a flat surface, into a preferably fixed and in turn flat base. In particular, no parts of the transport containers project downwards, perpendicular to the main plane of the base of the transport containers, beyond the support surface or protrude over it. This eliminates the need for a conventional base frame projecting downwards, although the base can still be reinforced or stiffened, for example as a double base with webs, ribs or the like arranged in between.Then a flat underside of the floor serves as a support surface and a flat top side of the floor serves as the flat floor of the recording room.

[0011] The advantage of the invention is that, by dissipating the weight forces directly downwards via the side walls, the edge of the base, and the support surface of the transport container directly below, no transverse forces occur within the side walls. This effectively prevents, in particular, edge-bending of sections of the base that are not directly supported by the side walls below or the ground itself.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the support surface is designed to extend continuously around the base of the transport container. This means that the support surface is designed in a crown or frame shape, with the frame-like support surface always located directly below the side walls in order to absorb the weight forces arising directly from the side walls and transfer them to the side walls of the transport container located directly below or into the ground.

[0014] Furthermore, locking projections can be formed on the side walls, particularly in the corner areas of the transport containers, which effectively prevent any relative movement of the stacked transport containers. For locking with the transport container arranged above in a stack, the support surface is designed such that, for example, a continuous, full-surface support surface is equipped with one or more locking recesses that are not located in the area of ​​the side surfaces above. This means that these one or more locking recesses do not interrupt the introduction of the weight force vertically downwards into the support surface and the side walls of the next lower transport container arranged below it, or the ground below.In the case of a ring-shaped or frame-shaped support surface as described above, the inner region of the continuously circumferential support surface forms a single locking recess into which the locking lugs can be engaged, for example in the corners of the transport container arranged underneath.

[0015] The total height of the folded transport container is preferably a maximum of 2 centimeters. This is achieved by ensuring that the side walls are, for example, 0.5 centimeters thick and that the base, in particular, is designed without a base frame. To this end, for example, reinforcing ribs or the like are omitted from the side walls or are designed to be very minimal. By arranging the support surface directly below the side walls, the weight forces can still be diverted vertically downwards, so that no bending, deformation, or the like occurs within the side walls and the base with its support surface.

[0016] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing show: Fig. 1: a transport container in perspective view, Fig. 2: a view of a front side of a transport container and Fig. 3: a top view of a support surface of the transport container.

[0017] In the purely schematic Fig. 1 to 3, the same reference numerals designate the same components.

[0018] In the presentation in Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an unfolded transport container 1, which essentially comprises a base 2 and four side walls 3, 4. These form a receiving space 5 for any desired goods, such as mail, parts from a logistics center warehouse, food, plants or vegetables, or the like. The container 1 is preferably composed of injection-molded plastic parts. The side walls 3, 4 can be pivoted or folded relative to the base 2 or a base plate in order to minimize its space requirements when not in use, as indicated by the pivoting directions S1, S2 with double arrows. Furthermore, the transport container 1 is designed to be stackable both in the unfolded use position and in the folded non-use position. In the use position, the base 2 or its support surface 6 preferably rests continuously and flush on the side walls 2, 3 of a similar transport container 1 in a stack.It is understood that the side walls 3, 4 protrude essentially vertically upwards from the base 2 when unfolded. All components can, for example, be equipped with openings, recessed grips or the like as handles and / or can be designed like a grid at least in sections to save weight or for better ventilation. Furthermore, the base 2 in particular can be rectangular with larger longitudinal walls 3 and shorter end walls 4. Thus, to fold the transport container 1 when not in use, the end walls 4 are first pivoted inwards S2 and then the longitudinal walls 3 are folded inwards in the pivoting direction S1 so that the longitudinal walls 3 are arranged above the side walls 4 and the base 2 below. When unfolding the transport container into the use position, the procedure is reversed. In principle, the end walls 4 can also be folded in first and then the longitudinal walls 3.

[0019] The support surface 6 of the transport container 1 is formed by a flat surface formed under the side walls 3, 4 on the base 2. This means that a lowermost region of the base 2 is formed by the support surface 6, and no part of the transport container 1 protrudes downwards beyond this support surface 6 in the use position. In particular, the support surface 6 can, for example, be designed to be continuously circumferential, for example to form a frame surrounding the transport container 1. Alternatively, the support surface 6 of the base 2 can also be designed to be flat and cover the entire surface.

[0020] Since the support surface 6 is arranged directly beneath the side walls 3, 4 of a transport container 1, in a stack of several similar transport containers 1, the weight forces acting on the side walls 3, 4 are transmitted exactly vertically downwards via the base 2 and the support surface 6 into the side walls 3, 4 of the transport container 1 arranged below. In the case of the lowest transport container 1, the weight forces are then also diverted exactly vertically downwards into a preferably flat and paved surface. Thus, particularly in the area of ​​the base 2, no forces act transversely to a main plane of the side walls 3, 4 or the main plane of the support surface 6 or the base 2. This effectively prevents deformation or bending of the base 2 or the side walls 3, 4.

[0021] In particular, by eliminating a downwardly projecting base frame, it is possible to reduce the overall height of a transport container 1 when not in use. For example, the side walls 3, 4 are designed with a thickness of only 0.5 centimeters at most. This allows for an overall height of no more than 2 centimeters, and in particular, no more than 1.5 centimeters.

[0022] In Fig. 2 shows the transport container 1 with base 2, longitudinal walls 3 and an end face 4 in a view of the end face 4. The support surface 6, which forms the lowest part of the transport container 1, is formed on the underside of the base 2. In a stack of several similar transport containers 1, this support surface 6 then lies on the upper sides of the side walls 3, 4 of the transport container 1 arranged underneath, in particular flush, continuously circumferential and flat. This ensures that weight forces are always diverted vertically from top to bottom through the side walls 3, 4, the base 2 and the support surface 6. In particular, in the case of the lowest transport container 1 in a stack, the weight forces are then diverted vertically downwards into a base and no transverse forces occur and parts of the transport container 1 do not deform.This makes it possible to obtain a lightweight transport container 1 that folds flat when not in use.

[0023] Finally, Fig.3 is a plan view of a support surface 6 of the transport container 1. The support surface 6 of the base 2 is illustrated by the outer rectangle drawn with a continuous line. The side walls 3, 4 of the transport container 1 are arranged in the area of ​​this outer rectangle and the rectangle drawn within it with a dashed line. This means that this continuous support surface 6 is supported directly on the side surfaces 3, 4 of a transport container 1 arranged below it in a stack of similar transport containers 1. If it is the bottom transport container 1 in a stack, the weight forces of the side walls 3, 4 are diverted directly and exactly vertically downwards into the ground. This effectively prevents deformation of the transport container 1 and it can be designed with a base 2 and side walls 3, 4 each with a small thickness or strength.

[0024] Within the dashed rectangle, the support surface 6 can either be designed to cover the entire surface, or this area is empty, so to speak, and forms a single locking recess 8, as here, or several locking recesses 8 are provided. Locking projections 7, which in turn are preferably formed integrally on the side walls 3, 4, can engage in these one or more locking recesses 8. The locking projections 7 are arranged such that they are preferably located in the corner regions of the transport container 1. Here, for example, there are four locking projections 7 in order to secure the transport container in all directions of a horizontal plane relative to transport containers 1 arranged above and below it in a stack. Furthermore, the locking projections 7 are arranged such that they are located within a receiving space 5 of the transport container 1.This means that they are not arranged in a main plane of a flat side wall 3, 4, but are offset laterally. Thus, while they protrude into the receiving space 5 and slightly reduce its volume, the support surface 6 for supporting the side walls 3, 4 is not interrupted by the required corresponding locking recesses 8. This means that, as illustrated here, the support surface 6 is uninterrupted between the rectangle with the solid line and the rectangle with the dashed line.

[0025] In order to fold the transport containers 1, corresponding recesses can then be formed in the side walls 3, 4 and the base 2 for the locking projections 7 projecting laterally from the side walls 3, 4. List of reference symbols: 1 transport container 2 floor 3 Longitudinal wall 4 Front side 5 interior of 1 6 support surface of 2 7 locking projection on 3, 4 8 locking recess in 6 S Swivel direction of 3, 4

Claims

[1] Transport container (1) made of plastic comprising a base (2) with foldable side walls (3, 4) arranged thereon to form a receiving space (5), characterized by that a support surface (6) of the transport container (1) is formed by a flat surface which is formed under the side walls (3, 4) on the bottom (2). [2] Transport container (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the support surface (6) is formed continuously around the bottom (2) of the transport box (1). [3] Transport container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the entire floor (2) is formed continuously over its entire surface. [4] Transport container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that locking projections (7) are formed on the side walls (3, 4), in particular in the corner regions of the transport container (1), and one or more locking recesses (8) are formed in the support surface (6). [5] Transport container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the total height of the folded transport container (1) is a maximum of 2 centimeters.

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