PLASTIC CONTAINER
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GEORG UTZ HOLDING AG
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing stackable plastic containers with outward projecting rims and ribs are prone to shifting and tilting on narrow, L-shaped shelves commonly found in modern high-shelf warehouses, lacking a uniform support surface and stability.
The design incorporates a second base with a flat middle portion and a surrounding frame that extends beyond the first base, providing a uniform support surface and reinforcing ribs to enhance stability, allowing for secure stacking and horizontal placement on narrow rail-like shelves.
The enhanced design ensures containers remain upright and stable on narrow shelves, preventing tilting and skewing, and allows for centered stacking through recesses and protrusions for improved storage reliability.
Smart Images
Figure MX433737B0
Abstract
Description
PLASTIC CONTAINER Field of Invention The invention relates to a stackable container made of plastic for the storage and transport of goods. In particular, it relates to the design of the base and the circumferential upper edges of the side walls of that container. Background of the Invention Stackable plastic containers available on the market today have, for example, a circumferential rim along the upper edge of their side walls and a circumferential rib along the lower end of the side walls above the base level, with the rim and rib projecting outwards perpendicular to the side walls. A first container of this type can be stacked on top of a second container by placing the circumferential rib at the lower end of the side walls of the first container on top of the circumferential rim at the upper end of the side walls of the second container. In doing so, the base of the upper first container fits snugly within the side walls of the lower second container, preventing the stacked containers from shifting relative to each other. These containers are shown, for example, in Figures 11 and 12. Ref. 341922Figures 1b and 15. A first vessel 1 in Figure 1a has a base 2 and side walls 3, 4 with an upper circumferential rim 5 at the upper end of the side walls and a circumferential rib 6 at the lower end of the side walls. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 7 are located on the outer sides of the side walls 3 and 4 and at the corners of vessel 1. The base 2 extends below the level of the circumferential rib 6 and only to the outer sides of the side walls 3 and 4, as indicated by lines A. Figures 1b - 1d show two of these vessels 1 and 8 in a stack. The circumferential rib 6 of the lower vessel 1 rests on the upper rim 5 of the lower vessel 8, and the base of the upper vessel 1 is inserted within the side walls of vessel 8.Figure 15 shows prior art vessels placed on a tall frame having vertical elements 31 and L-shaped elements providing narrow rail-like support surfaces extending horizontally 32 for the vessels 1. In this case, the bases 2 of the vessels 1, the extension of which is indicated by lines A, rest on a limited surface on the horizontal elements 32. Brief Description of the Invention The present invention aims to further develop these plastic containers so that Ó / UUUUO I or can also be used reliably in modern high-bay warehouses that have rail-shaped support surfaces on the shelves. According to the invention, the plastic container has a first base with a lower side facing outwards and an upper side facing inwards, and four side walls projecting vertically from the first base. A circumferential rim extends along the upper edge of the side walls, and a circumferential rib extends along their lower end, the rib extending outwards from the outer sides of the side walls and perpendicular to them. According to the invention, the container has a second base that is arranged on the lower side of the first base and encloses the latter along its lower side and side edges.The second base has a generally flat base surface that extends parallel to the first base beyond the extension of the first base to the extension of the outer ends of the circumferential rib on the side walls. In one embodiment, the second base has a flat middle section and a frame surrounding the middle section. In this case, the middle section extends over the entire surface of the underside of the first base. On one side, the frame extends outward from the circumference of the middle section in the plane of the middle section, and on the other side, it has a circumferential wall that extends perpendicular to the plane of the middle section of the second base in the direction of the circumferential ribbing on the side walls of the vessel. The circumferential wall of the second base thus extends parallel to the side walls of the vessel. The invention offers the advantage that the bearing surface of the container according to the invention is enlarged and lies in a single plane, in contrast to the aforementioned prior art containers. That is, the base does not include a step. This allows, in particular, improved and reliable horizontal storage on a tall rack with narrow, L-shaped shelves. These L-shaped shelves, as mentioned above, are in the form of two parallel rails attached to vertical elements of the tall rack on which the containers are placed. Since the containers according to the invention have a homogeneous bearing surface in a single plane, they can be placed on the rail-like shelves, their bearing surface being enlarged due to the second base. Tilting and skewing due to steps on the underside of the containers are avoided. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second base frame has reinforcing ribs that are arranged inside the circumferential wall of the frame and are perpendicular to the plane of the middle part of the second base. In one embodiment of the invention, each of the reinforcing ribs extends at an unequal angle of 90° with respect to the circumferential wall of the frame. In another embodiment of the invention, the second base has reinforcing ribs arranged in a grid pattern along its midsection and attached to the underside of the first base. The reinforcing ribs extend from the top of the second base to the underside of the first base. Here, their upper ends are connected to the underside of the first base. In another embodiment, the second base has a continuous solid surface on its underside that extends only over the flat middle portion. In the frame region, however, the second base does not have a solid surface on its underside. The second base is preferably joined to the first base by welding, with the upper ends of the reinforcing ribs of the central part of the second base being welded to the lower side of the first base. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container has a plurality of holes on the lower side Ó / UUUUO I or the second base in the region of its frame and a plurality of elements projecting upwards on the upper circumferential edge of the side walls, wherein the positions of the projecting elements correspond to the positions of the holes such that when two containers are stacked one on top of the other, the projecting elements can be inserted into the holes. In this case, the circumferential wall of the frame of the container located at the top rests on the circumferential edge at the upper edge of the side walls of the container located at the bottom. The gaps in the second base and the associated protruding elements on the circumferential upper rim allow these containers to be stacked in a centered manner. In a preferred embodiment, the protruding elements are elongated, and the recesses in the second base are also correspondingly elongated with the same dimensions. The elongated shape of the projecting elements and the recesses allows for the centering of a stack of multiple containers. The plastic container according to the invention can also be manufactured by adapting an existing container according to the prior art. For this purpose, the second base is manufactured by injection molding and then attached to the bottom side. Ó / UUUUO I or from an existing container by welding. The additional advantages of the invention are evident from the dependent patent claims and the following description in which the invention is explained in more detail by means of an exemplary embodiment shown in the schematic figures. Brief Description of the Figures The figure shows a container of the above technique in a perspective view from below. Figure 1b shows two containers from Figure 1a stacked one on top of the other. The Figure shows the stack in Figure Ib in a side view. Figure 1d shows the stack from Figure 1c in a side view rotated 90°. Figure 2 shows an example of a container according to the invention in a perspective view from below. Figure 3 shows the container from Figure 2 in a perspective view from above. Figure 4 shows the container according to the invention in a view from below. Figure 5 shows the container according to the invention of Figure 2 in a side view. Figures 6-9 show the container of Figure 5, where the first and second bases are separated from each other in each case and their relative position to each other is shown, of which Figure 6 shows the container in the side view, Figure 7 shows the vessel in a cross-section according to VII-VII in Figure 5, Figure 8 shows the container in perspective view, Figure 9 shows a side view of the container in Figure 6 according to IX. Figure 10 shows a stack of containers according to the invention. Figures 11 and 12 show views of the stack in Figure 10 from the short and long sides of the container, respectively. Figure 13 shows multiple containers according to the invention placed on a tall frame according to XIII-XIII of Figure 14. Figure 14 shows the containers from Figure 13 in a plan view. Figure 15 shows containers made according to the above technique placed in a tall frame. In the figures, the same reference signs have been used for the same elements in each case, and the explanations for the first time apply to all figures unless expressly stated otherwise. J / UUUOl or Detailed Description of the Invention Figures 2 to 5 collectively show various views of a container 11 according to the invention, having a first base 12 with a lower side and an upper side inside the container, the upper side of which is visible herein. Short side walls 13 and long side walls 14 project vertically from the upper side of the base 12. The short and long side walls 13 and 14 are surrounded at their upper end by an upper circumferential rim 15, with a circumferential rib 16 arranged at the level of the lower end of all the side walls 13 and 14. Both the circumferential rim 15 at the upper edge and the rib 16 at the lower end project outwards and perpendicular to the side walls.According to the invention, a second base 17 is disposed on the underside of the first base 12, the second base having a substantially flat middle portion 18 and a frame 19 surrounding the middle portion, enclosing the first base 12 on its underside and lateral edges. The flat middle portion 18 extends parallel to the first base 12 to the extent of the outer sides of the first base 12 and the downward extension of the side walls 13 and 14. The frame 19 of the second base 17 surrounds the middle portion 18 around its circumference. On one side, the frame has a flat, outward-extending portion 20. Ó / UUUUO I or from the circumference of the flat middle part 18 in the plane of the middle part 18. On the other hand, on the outer circumference of its flat part 20, it comprises a circumferential wall 22 perpendicular to the flat part 20 and projecting in the direction of the circumferential rib 16 and surrounding the lateral edges of the first base 12. In the example shown, according to Figure 4, the flat portion 20 of the frame 19 is formed by multiple ribs 21 that are perpendicular to the plane of the flat mid-portion of the second base 17 and extend from the circumference of the flat mid-portion 18 to the circumferential wall 22 of the second base 17. The lower ends of the ribs 21 extend parallel to the plane of the first base 12 and in the plane of the lower side of the second base 17. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ribs 21 are slightly curved so that they extend around and enclose the outer edge, i.e., the side edges, of the first base 12. The lower side of the second base 17 has a solid continuous surface 18' in the middle part 18, whereas in the flat part 20 of the frame 19 there is no such continuous surface and the flat part 20 is partially open on the lower side and is formed only by the ribs 21. In this way, the frame 19 is not closed on its lower side. Alternatively, the underside of the part Ó / UUUUO I or flat 20 can also be solid. Figures 6-9 show the vessel 11 according to the invention, the second base 17 of which is shown separately in each case, wherein the position of the latter is shown relative to the first base 12. In Figure 7, the positions of the outer sides of the side walls 13 and the outer sides of the first base 12 are indicated by lines A. The flat middle portion 18 of the second base 17, which is attached to the lower side of the first base 12, extends beyond the extension of the first base 12 to lines A. From the outer sides of the middle portion 18, the flat portion 20 of the frame 19 extends outward in the plane of the middle portion 18 to the level of the outer ends of the circumferential rib 16. The circumferential wall 22 of the frame 19 is perpendicular to the flat portion 20 and extends in the direction of the circumferential rib 16. Figures 8 and 9 show the second base 17 and in particular reinforcing ribs 21 arranged in the frame 19. They extend perpendicular to the plane of the second base 17 and the first base 12 and, for example, are at an unequal angle of 90° with respect to the circumferential wall 22. Furthermore, in this example, the middle portion 18 of the second base 17 is provided with reinforcing ribs 23 that span the surface in a grid-like manner. For example, Ó / UUUUO I or the reinforcing ribs 23 are arranged at right angles to the sides of the second base 17. The second base 17 in this example has a continuous surface 18' on its lower side, which extends only over the middle part 18. As a result, the frame 19 is open at the bottom in the region of the flat part 20 and the reinforcing ribs 21 of the frame 19. The second base 17 is joined to the base 12 by welding, as an example. In this case, the upper sides of the reinforcing ribs 23 are welded to the lower side of the first base 12. Figures 10-12 show a stack of two containers according to the invention in different views, in particular how the containers including the second base 17 can be stacked one on top of the other. The centering elements 24 and 25 on the upper edges 15 of the side walls 13 and 14, respectively, and the correspondingly formed recesses 26 on the lower side of the second base 17, as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 8, serve this purpose. Figures 13 and 14 show the advantageous placement of the containers 11 according to the invention on a tall frame 30 with vertical elements 31 and narrow rail-like support surfaces 32 on which the containers 11 rest with the second base 17. As a result of the enlarged support surface of the containers 11 due to the extension of the second base 17 to the outer end of the circumferential rib 16 on the side walls, as well as the upper circumferential edges 15, the containers 11 are always standing horizontally and with an enlarged support surface on the narrow shelf surfaces 32. List of references prior art container base short side wall long side wall circumferential rim at the upper end of the side walls circumferential rib in the side walls reinforcing rib stacked container container according to the invention first base short side wall long side wall upper circumferential rim circumferential rib in side wall second base Ó / UUUD I or flat middle part of the base 17 second base frame flat part of the frame reinforcing rib in the frame circumferential wall reinforcing rib in the base centering element hollow centering element Ó / UUUD I o 27-29 high shelf warehouses vertical elements 32 narrow support shelf surface, similar to a rail, It is noted that with regard to this date, the best The method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.
Claims
1. A plastic container having a first base with a lower side and an upper side and four side walls projecting perpendicularly from the first base, wherein a circumferential rim extends along the upper edge of the side walls and a circumferential rib extends along the lower end of the side walls, characterized in that it has a second base disposed on and enclosing the lower side of the first base, wherein the second base has a flat base surface extending parallel to the first base beyond the extension of the first base to the extension of the outer ends of the circumferential rib on the side walls.
2. The plastic container according to claim 1, characterized in that the second base has a flat middle portion and a frame surrounding the middle portion, wherein the middle portion extends over the entire surface of the lower side of the first base, and the frame extends outwards from the circumference of the middle portion in the plane of the middle portion and has at its outer edge a circumferential wall extending perpendicular to the plane of the middle portion of the second base in the direction of the circumferential rib in the side walls.
3. The plastic container according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame of the second base has reinforcing ribs that are arranged on the inner side of the circumferential wall of the frame and are perpendicular to the plane of the second base.
4. The plastic container according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the reinforcing ribs extends at an angle with respect to the circumferential wall of the frame.
5. The plastic container according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the second base has reinforcing ribs arranged in a grid-like manner, which are joined to the lower side of the first base.
6. The plastic container according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the second base has a continuous surface on its lower side.
7. The plastic container according to claim 6, characterized in that the continuous surface of the second base extends only over the flat middle part thereof.
8. The plastic container in accordance with Ó / UUUUO I or any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the second base is joined to the first base by means of welding.
9. The plastic container according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that it has a plurality of hollows on the lower side of the second base, as well as upwardly projecting elements on the circumferential edge at the upper edges of the side walls, wherein, when two identical plastic containers are stacked on top of each other, the projecting elements can be inserted into the hollows.
10. The plastic container according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the protruding elements and the hollows in the second base have an elongated shape.