Transport container with a locking device

Abstract

Transport container (1) comprising a base (2) with foldable side walls (3, 4) arranged thereon to form a receiving space (5), characterized in that a U-shaped bolt (7) is arranged on a side wall (4), which bolt runs horizontally in the position of use and is open at the bottom and is displaceable (V) relative to the side wall (4), and the U-shaped bolt (7) has a bolt section (11) which interacts with a bolt recess (12) on the adjacent side wall (3), and a ramp (9) on the side wall (4) is assigned to the U-shaped bolt (7), wherein the U-shaped bolt (7) can be expanded by displacing (V) the U-shaped bolt (7) into an unlocked position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transport container comprising a base with foldable side walls arranged thereon to form a receiving space and a locking device.

[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, transport containers are equipped with a locking device that can be designed as desired. This locks, locks, or otherwise releasably secures the erected side walls relative to one another and / or to the base. This prevents unwanted, automatic or unintentional collapsing and increases the stability of the transport container, particularly under load. Such a locking device consists in a simple design of locking projections, locking lugs, undercuts, or the like, which are formed, for example, on the side walls and / or the base and interact with one another. For example, when unfolding, corresponding locking lugs or locking tongues are formed on adjacent side walls, which lock into one another in the use position.In the same way, movable latches, pins or bolts can be formed on one side wall, which can also be spring-loaded and which can be brought into engagement in corresponding recesses on the adjacent side wall.

[0004] Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a transport container which is equipped with an easy-to-use and automatic locking device.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention with a transport container according to claim 1.

[0006] 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.

[0007] For folding or collapsing, for example, the two shorter side walls of a rectangular container can first be pivoted downward on pivot axes or hinges at the bottom. Then, the two longer side walls are folded together by half their height on pivot axes or hinges and / or also pivoted inward. In principle, all other types of folding / collapsing or similar are also conceivable.

[0008] The core idea of ​​the invention is that a U-shaped bolt is arranged on each of two opposite side walls, which in the use position runs horizontally and is displaceable or movable relative to the side wall. In the use position, the U-shaped bolt is open downwards. This means that the two legs of the "U" point towards the floor in the use position. Furthermore, the U-shaped bolt is placed on an upper edge of the side wall, i.e., in the use position, it is located on the upper side of the side wall facing away from the floor. A bolt section is used to lock the bolt to an adjacent side wall, which, in a locked position, interacts with a bolt recess on the adjacent side wall. Finally, the U-shaped bolt is assigned a ramp on the associated side wall, wherein the U-shaped bolt can be expanded by moving the U-shaped bolt into an unlocked position. In another version, the latch is installed vertically in the corner area. In this alternative version, the U-profile is open toward the center of the side on which it is mounted. The latch is then also operated vertically.

[0009] This means that the U-shaped bar, which is displaceable relative to the side wall and is also designed as a plastic injection-molded part, is deformed by running up against the ramp, which is in particular designed as a single piece with the side wall. Preferably, at least one leg of the U-shaped bar is pressed outwards away from the side wall. The other leg of the U-shaped bar, which preferably lies flush with the front wall and slides along it, serves as an abutment to generate the necessary restoring forces in the U-shaped bar. Since it is preferably a plastic part, the bar has elastic restoring forces to automatically return to its original shape.If the U-shaped bolt is operated by hand and pushed onto the ramp on the side wall, the U-shaped bolt and the ramp on the side wall, and in particular the steepness and length of the ramp, can be designed in such a way that after the U-shaped bolt is released, such restoring forces act that the U-shaped bolt in turn automatically slides down the ramp into its locked position. For locking to the adjacent side wall, a bolt recess on this adjacent side wall is used, into which the bolt section of the U-shaped bolt can be engaged in the locked position or in the position of use. This bolt recess can be designed, among other things, as a hole, slot or the like, into which the bolt section can be moved.

[0010] To fold the transport container from a use position to a non-use position, the U-shaped latch on the side wall is operated manually or with a handling device, for example, moved towards the middle of the top edge of the side wall. In doing so, one leg of the U-shaped latch runs at least partially onto the inclined ramp and is widened. Restoring forces are generated and at the same time the latch section is pulled out of the latch recess in the adjacent side wall. The side wall with the U-shaped latch can now be freely pivoted towards the adjacent side wall, for example towards the center of the transport container. The U-shaped latch is now released and, due to the restoring forces, shifts outwards again.This means that one widened leg slides off the ramp, and the locking section, which has been displaced outward, can be inserted into a correspondingly dimensioned and positioned recess on or in the adjacent side wall or a side section projecting upwards above the base of the transport container. The adjacent side wall with the locking recess is then folded inward so that it is positioned over the side wall with the U-shaped locking bar, which in turn is positioned over the base.To open the transport container, the procedure is reversed, i.e. the side wall with the locking recess is opened essentially vertically, the locking section is manually pulled out of the recess and the side wall with the U-shaped locking bar is opened essentially vertically, the locking bar is released and moves automatically in such a way that the locking section engages in the locking recess. In the example shown, the locking latch is activated by a bevel on the long wall when the container is uprighted. The bevel on the long wall pushes the two latches together toward the center.

[0011] The advantage of the invention is that automatic locking in the position of use is ensured by the restoring forces of the U-shaped bolt and no additional components such as a spring are required to actuate a bolt.

[0012] It is understood that corresponding guide grooves and projections are formed on the U-shaped latch and / or on the associated side wall, both to hold the U-shaped latch captively and to determine its possible direction of movement. For example, projections pointing toward the interior of the "U" are formed on the legs of the U-shaped latch that point downwards when the side wall is in the use position, engaging behind corresponding undercuts on the side wall.

[0013] In principle, two ramps can also be formed on the side wall in order to widen the U-shaped bar or its two legs preferably symmetrically or to obtain greater restoring forces.

[0014] It is evident that, in particular, the U-shaped latch is made of a plastic that has sufficient stability and permanent elasticity to allow the latching device to be used frequently. Furthermore, two symmetrically designed U-shaped latches are preferably arranged on each side wall to enable this side wall to be locked to both adjacent side walls.

[0015] Within the scope of the invention, the ramp is formed on one leg of the U-shaped bar and a correspondingly dimensioned recess is provided on the end wall. As soon as the ramp on the U-shaped bar then meets an edge of the recess, this leg is widened accordingly.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment, the diagonally rising ramp on the end wall is assigned a ramp receptacle on the U-shaped bar. The ramp receptacle is designed, for example, as a substantially horizontally extending elongated hole and accommodates the diagonally rising, also preferably horizontally extending ramp. As soon as an inner edge of the ramp receptacle contacts the ramp, particularly as a result of a manual displacement of the U-shaped bar, this inner edge is pushed up the ramp, thereby widening the U-shaped bar or its leg with the ramp receptacle. This generates restoring forces in the U-shaped bar which, when the U-shaped bar is released, cause this inner edge to slide back down the ramp and the bar section of the U-shaped bar to once again engage with the bar recess on the adjacent side wall.In principle, the ramp holder can also be designed as an internal recess on the leg of the U-shaped bar, so that the ramp is completely covered from the outside.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, a handle for operation is arranged on the U-shaped latch, which is designed in particular as a grip opening. For example, a finger is inserted into each of the grip openings of the two latches and pulled together toward the center of the upper edge of the side panel to unlock. After the latches are released, they then slide outward again automatically.

[0019] Furthermore, a stop can be arranged on the side wall in the area of ​​the U-shaped bar, which interacts with a stop receptacle on the bar. For example, the stop is designed as a pin or horizontally running web and the stop receptacle as a corresponding elongated hole. This limits the horizontal displacement of the U-shaped bar and the bar cannot be moved too far. A web-shaped stop can also serve to guide the U-shaped bar horizontally or to hold it captive. For this purpose, the U-shaped bar can be clipped onto this web during assembly of the transport container due to its elasticity. In principle, two or more stops and stop receptacles can also be formed on two sides of the side wall. The stop and stop receptacle can also be formed on the other component.

[0020] Preferably, the leg of the U-shaped bar that meets the ramp on the end wall is longer or wider than the other leg of the U-shaped bar, which serves as an abutment and, for example, rests flush against the end wall to generate the necessary restoring forces in the U-shaped bar. This longer or wider design of this leg ensures that it is sufficiently expanded by the ramp, and the material is not subjected to excessive bending forces. The longer leg therefore extends further to the ground in the use position.

[0021] 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 corner area of ​​a transport container in the position of use in a perspective, partially sectioned view and Fig. 3: a corner area of ​​a transport container in perspective view.

[0022] In the purely schematic Fig. 1 to 3, the same reference numerals designate the same components.

[0023] 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. The base 2 can also be equipped with a base frame running around the outside or around the edges to reinforce it, particularly under load, in a stack. Furthermore, the transport container 1 is designed to be stackable both in the unfolded position for use and in the folded position for non-use.In the use position, the base 2 or the base frame 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 in a grid-like manner 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 subsequently 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 is arranged below them.When opening the transport container into the use position, the procedure is reversed.

[0024] The transport container 1 further comprises a locking device 6 in the form of two U-shaped bars 7, each of which can be displaced back and forth independently of one another in the displacement direction V relative to the end wall 4 on which they are arranged. The locking device 6 prevents the transport container 1 from accidentally collapsing and increases its stability.

[0025] In Fig. 2 shows a corner region of a transport container 1 in the use position in a perspective, partially sectioned view. On the top side of an end wall 4, on the upper side facing away from the base 2, there is a U-shaped bar 7 which can be moved back and forth in the direction of displacement V. The U-shaped bar 7 is preferably designed as a plastic injection-molded part and has sufficient strength and corresponding elasticity. Two legs 8a, 8b are formed on the U-shaped bar 7, which, in the use position of the transport container 1, point towards the base 2. One leg 8a is longer and wider than the other leg 8b. On the end wall 4 in its upper region and assigned to the U-shaped bar 7, a ramp 9 is preferably formed in one piece and rises diagonally in the direction of displacement V.Furthermore, a ramp receptacle 10 in the form of an elongated hole is formed on the leg 8a of the U-shaped bolt 7.

[0026] If an inner edge of the ramp holder 10 is moved along the ramp 9, preferably manually, the longer leg 8a of the U-shaped bar 7 is raised or the leg 8a is widened relative to the other leg 8b. The other leg 8b preferably slides permanently and over its entire surface along the end wall 4 and serves as an abutment for the restoring forces in the leg 8a. If the U-shaped bar 7 is then released, the inner edge of the ramp holder 10 then slides automatically in the opposite direction V down the ramp 9 and the U-shaped bar 7 automatically assumes a locked position.

[0027] In this case, a locking section 11 of the U-shaped locking bar 7, which points essentially horizontally outwards or towards the adjacent longitudinal wall 3, engages in a locking recess 12 on the adjacent longitudinal wall 3. The locking recess 12 can, for example, be designed as a slot or hole for a correspondingly shaped locking section 11 or, as here, as a correspondingly designed recess in an upper corner region of the longitudinal wall 3. The locking section 11 also prevents any relative movement of the longitudinal wall 3 and the end wall 4 and, in particular, the longitudinal wall 3 will deform less under load because part of the applied weight is absorbed by the locking section 11 and diverted via the end wall 4.

[0028] Furthermore, a stop 13 is preferably formed in one piece on the upper region of the end wall 4. The stop 13 is designed, for example, as an elongated, essentially horizontally extending web. A stop receptacle 14 is assigned to the stop 13 on the leg 8a of the U-shaped bolt 7, which stop receptacle is also designed, for example, as an essentially horizontally extending elongated hole. The stop 13, in cooperation with the stop receptacle 14, limits a relative movement V of the U-shaped bolt 7 relative to the side wall 4, so that the U-shaped bolt 7 cannot be pushed too far in the direction of the adjacent longitudinal wall 3, or the leg 8a of the U-shaped bolt 7 cannot be widened too far by the ramp 9. The stop 13 and the stop receptacle 14 can also serve to releasably hold and guide the U-shaped bolt 7 on the end wall 4.The U-shaped bolt 7 is clipped onto the stop 13 with its stop holder 14.

[0029] Finally, Fig. 3 a corner area of ​​a transport container 1 in perspective view. In addition, a handle in the form of a handle opening 15 is formed on the U-shaped bolt 7 or on its longer leg 8a. For example, a finger is inserted into this handle opening 15 and the U-shaped bolt 7 is pulled towards the middle of the upper edge of the end wall 4 so that the bolt section 11 is pulled out of the pocket-shaped bolt receptacle 12 and the end wall 4 can be folded inwards S2, free from the longitudinal wall 3. If the handle opening 15 is released, the U-shaped bolt 7 automatically moves again in the direction of the adjacent longitudinal wall 3 and can engage in a corresponding recess there when not in use.

[0030] It is understood that two symmetrically designed locking devices 6 are preferably provided on the end face 4 of the transport container 1 in order to lock the end wall 4 to both adjacent longitudinal walls 3. Likewise, the locking devices 6 can alternatively be arranged on the longitudinal walls 3. List of reference symbols: 1 transport container 2 floor 3 Longitudinal wall 4 Front side 5 interior of 1 6 locking device 7 U-shaped bar 8 legs of 7 9 Ramp on 4 10 Ramp mount on 8a 11 bar section of 7 12 latch recess on 3 13 Stop at 4 14 Stop mount on 8a 15 Handle opening at 8a S Swivel direction of 3, 4 V Displacement direction of 7

Claims

[1] Transport container (1) comprising a base (2) with foldable side walls (3,4) arranged thereon to form a receiving space (5), characterized by , on a side wall (4) there is arranged a U-shaped bolt (7) which, in the position of use, runs horizontally and is open at the bottom and which is displaceable (V) relative to the side wall (4), and the U-shaped bolt (7) has a bolt section (11) which interacts with a bolt recess (12) on the adjacent side wall (3), and a ramp (9) on the side wall (4) is assigned to the U-shaped bolt (7), wherein the U-shaped bolt (7) can be expanded by displacing (V) the U-shaped bolt (7) into an unlocked position. [2] Transport container (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the ramp (9) on the side wall (4) is assigned a ramp receptacle (10) on the U-shaped bar (7), in particular on one leg (8a). [3] Transport container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat a handle, in particular in the form of a handle opening (15) for actuation is arranged on the U-shaped bolt (7). [4] Transport container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a stop (13) is arranged on the side wall (4) in the region of the U-shaped bolt (7) and in particular a stop receptacle (14) is formed on one leg (8a) of the U-shaped bolt (7). [5] Transport container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that one leg (8a) of the U-shaped bar (7), which runs onto the ramp (9) on the end wall (4), is longer than the other leg (8b) of the U-shaped bar (7).

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