CONTAINER HAVING SHOCK ABSORBER

Abstract

A container has a bottom and side walls extending from the bottom towards a circumferential container edge. The container edge is provided with a damping portion on at least one container corner. The damping portion is designed and adapted to at least partially dissipate an impact acting on the container corner while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a container, in particular a nestable large load carrier or large load carriers which can be placed inside each other, having a bottom and side walls which in particular widen from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim conically and/or in steps.

BACKGROUND

Nestable containers are known from the prior art which have side walls widening towards the container opening and thus enable several unfilled containers to be placed inside each other to reduce the transport volume during empty transport.

Tests by the applicant about the overturning kinematics of a stack of containers placed inside each other in this way have shown that when the stack tips over onto a flat bottom, the upper edge of the lowermost container of the stack is the first to hit the bottom due to the inertia-related later impact of the containers arranged further up in the stack and due to the container cross-section which widens towards the top. Particularly in the case of large load carriers, which are handled by forklift trucks or comparable industrial trucks, such overturning of a container stack occurs comparatively frequently. In particular when forming stacks and separating containers from such a stack, it often happens that the forks do not hit the intended engagement recesses and the stack is knocked over. Particularly in the case of high stacks of such large containers, very high impact forces occur in the event of overturning, which then act on a single container rim, frequently resulting in breaking of the container rim of said lowermost container. A conical container with a broken container rim is usually unusable due to the load-bearing effect of the edge and has to be sorted out.

SUMMARY

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container with a more robust construction.

According to the invention, a (plastic) container is provided which has a bottom, in particular a rectangular bottom, and side walls extending from the bottom to a container rim. The container rim has an (integrated) damping portion or crumple zone at at least one container corner, preferably at all container corners, which is designed and adapted to at least partially dissipate an impact acting on the container corner, in particular from the side or from above, while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation.

The damping portion may be formed by at least one clearance hole formed in the container rim or in the container corner, preferably in a material rib extending vertically or perpendicularly to the bottom in the region of the container corner.

This means that the clearance hole forms a clearance or deformation area in the region of the container corner, which absorbs shocks and facilitates deformation of the container corner towards the center of the container. This ensures that by controlled deformation of the container corner when force is applied to the upper container corner, e.g. when the container falls onto the corner, the container is not damaged so severely, e.g. does not tear or break, that it can subsequently no longer be used and has to be sorted out.

In particular, the clearance hole may be provided in a rib which extends diagonally to the container and is oriented vertically. Preferably, the clearance hole extends transversely to the container corner or one longitudinal side of the clearance hole points in the direction of the container corner. Further preferably, the clearance hole is slot-shaped or oval. This achieves a higher spring effect or a higher elastic deformability than if the clearance hole is round according to an alternative.

The clearance hole can extend transversely or parallel to the bottom.

Preferably, the clearance hole is slot-shaped, round or oval, or the circumference of the clearance hole is rounded, i.e. edge-free, in order to avoid a notch effect.

Preferably, the principal axis of the oval or elliptical clearance hole extends from a vertex located outside and below to a vertex located inside and above at an angle in the range of 30° to 60°, preferably in the range of 40° to 50°, preferred at an angle of 45° to the bottom.

According to an additional or alternative aspect of the invention, a (plastic) container is provided which has a bottom, in particular a rectangular bottom, and side walls which extend from the bottom towards a container rim. The container may be a nestable container, whose side walls widen from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim, in particular conically and/or in steps. A support rib extending vertically or perpendicularly to the bottom is provided below the container rim in the region of at least one container corner and connects the container rim and a support structure or side wall edge arranged vertically below it. The support rib is provided with an essentially V-shaped recess facing inwards, preferably provided with a radius or rounding on the inside, which enables elastic and/or plastic deformation of the container corner in the event of an impact acting on the container corner, in particular from above.

The recess forms a spring contour which acts in the manner of an arc spring and allows plastic and/or elastic deformation of the container corner downwards and inwards. This absorbs an impact acting on the container corner and also improves force transmission to the rest of the container. Preferably, the spring contour is formed by a rib running diagonally to the container and oriented vertically. In particular, the spring contour has a rib cutout or rib recess, which has a first region that is rounded inwards and a region that is arranged below this region and extends obliquely outwards, which preferably extends as far as the support structure. This increases stiffness of the spring contour on the side of the support structure, and a force acting thereon is transmitted more effectively to the rest of the container. On the other hand, the region rounded inwards preferably extends up to the lower outer edge of the container rim, as a result of which the stiffness of the spring contour on the side of the container rim is lower and the spring effect of the spring contour is higher.

According to an additional or alternative aspect of the invention, a (plastic) container is provided which has a bottom, in particular a rectangular bottom, and side walls which extend from the bottom towards a container rim. At least one of the side walls of the container has, on its outer side, a shock absorber or damper which, viewed in the container height direction, is arranged below the container rim and preferably at a distance therefrom and projects from said outer side at least to such an extent that it is tangent to or intersects a plane which is defined between an outer edge of the bottom and an, in particular lower, outer edge of the container rim of the at least one side wall. Due to such a constructive design, the shock absorber hits a flat bottom before the container rim during a tilting movement of the container around the associated outer edge of the bottom. In addition, the shock absorber is constructively configured and adapted to at least partially dissipate an impact acting laterally on the container while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation, i.e. the shock absorber is adapted in its structure and/or its material selection to receive energies occurring during an impact, e.g. through internal frictional losses.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the shock absorber may be hollow or a clearance may be formed between the shock absorber and the outer surface of the associated side wall. Particularly preferably, the at least one shock absorber may have a hollow profile, in particular enclosing a cavity or clearance together with the shielded side wall. Providing a cavity or a clearance between the shock absorber and the side wall shielded by this shock absorber makes it possible to define a specific deformation path or crumple zone on which the shock absorber can deform and thus dissipate impact energy.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one shock absorber may be arranged in the upper third of the container, in particular at a distance of 180 to 240 mm from the upper container rim, as seen in the container height direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls can extend in a widening manner from the bottom in the direction of the container rim, in particular conically and/or in steps. The container cross-section, which widens in the container height direction, allows several identically constructed containers to be nested or placed inside each other. A shock absorber is particularly advantageous for such nestable containers, since the edge is particularly exposed due to the conical shape of the walls.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shock absorber can be configured in such a way that it does not protrude further in the direction parallel to the ground than the outer edges of the container rim of the container side protected/shielded by it, so as not to increase the outer dimensions of the container. Preferably, the shock absorber can be flush with said outer edge of the container rim or can be aligned with it in the container height direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, the container can have four side walls and four shock absorbers can each be arranged in corner regions of the container. In this way, impact forces can be transferred well into the already reinforced corner regions of a container.

Preferably, the shock absorbers can be arranged on two opposite side walls of the container. In the case of containers with an essentially rectangular base, for example, it makes sense to provide shock absorbers on the longer side walls, since the containers are more likely to tip over the longer bottom edge. In the case of large load carriers, there is often a predetermined engagement direction or engagement sides for forklift trucks and the like. In this case, it is advantageous to arrange the shock absorbers on the side walls facing away from the engagement sides, since a stack of stacked containers will usually tip away from the forklift truck.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the shock absorber may comprise a predetermined impact absorption portion or crumple portion adapted to dissipate impact energy upon impact while undergoing elastic and/or plastic deformation. Various embodiments of such impact absorption portions are conceivable. According to a preferred configuration example, the impact absorption portion may be a folded portion of the shock absorber. According to another embodiment, the impact absorption portion may be a purposefully introduced, predetermined breaking point that dampens the impact force. According to a further embodiment, the shock absorber may comprise an elastomer portion for improved shock absorption.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber may be suspended from the container via an elastic spring portion, for example an integral, plastic leaf-spring portion, and thus be spring-preloaded on the container so as to be movable relative to the container sidewall.

According to a further preferred aspect, the shock absorber may taper towards the container exterior or respectively in the direction away from the container. In this way, impact forces can be received at a predetermined, comparatively small area portion of the shock absorber and can be distributed to a larger area of the container. According to a preferred embodiment, the shock absorber can be tapered or rounded towards the outside of the container (in the direction away from the container interior).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shock absorber can have a projection on the outside of the container for the defined introduction of impact forces, which projects obliquely in the direction away from the container and downwards (in the direction towards the bottom) from the shock absorber.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the container rim may be cantilevered towards the container exterior. Further preferably, the cantilevered container rim may cantilever by more than 10 mm on at least two opposite sides so that said cantilevered edge is adapted from one side for engagement by a fork of a lift truck or by another industrial truck.

Particularly preferably, the container may be a large load carrier with a pallet-shaped bottom part adapted for engagement by a fork of a lift truck or another industrial truck. In such containers, large forces act when stacks of containers placed inside each other tip over, so that a shock absorber according to the invention is of particular advantage.

According to an alternative embodiment, the shock absorber may be formed as a shock bracket arranged on the outside of the associated side wall.

According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the container may be made of plastic, in particular by an injection molding or rotomolding process. Particularly preferably, the container may be produced as a single piece of material and the shock absorber may be integrally molded thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention from different sides;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are views illustrating the overturning kinematics of a stack of identically constructed containers placed inside each other according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a container according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a first embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a second embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a third embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a fourth embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a fifth embodiment of a shock absorber;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a container according to a further aspect of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of an upper container corner of the container of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Configuration examples of the present disclosure are described hereinafter based on the accompanying figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show perspective views of a container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The container 1 shown is a large load carrier made of plastic with a pallet-shaped bottom 2 with recesses 3 for engagement of the fork of a lift truck and four side walls 4, 6, 8, 10. The container 1 shown is designed as a nestable container 1, i.e. the four side walls 4, 6, 8, 10 widen conically towards the container opening in order to enable placing the identically constructed containers 1 inside each other (see, for example, FIG. 2A). More precisely, the container 1 shown is a so-called rotary stacking container, which can be either stacked or nested with an identically constructed container, depending on the relative rotation of the two identically constructed containers.

The container 1 shown has a cantilevered container rim 12 which defines its container opening and is structurally reinforced by a circumferential ribbed wreath. The ribbed structure of the container rim 12 forms recessed areas (not described in more detail here) which enable one or more containers 1 to be lifted out of a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other via a forklift truck for separation. Especially during such separation operations with lift trucks, it often happens that stacks of containers 1 placed inside each other are knocked over.

The container 1 of FIGS. 1A and 1B also has projections or ribs 13 which run horizontally or parallel to the bottom in each of its corner regions and which are arranged deeper than the circumferential ribbed wreaths of the container rim 12 and which serve as a stop for limiting the nest depth when several identically constructed containers 1 are placed inside each other.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate the behavior of a stack of large load carriers 1, 1′ placed inside each other when tipping over. It has been determined by the applicant that, due to inertia and the play between the individual containers 1 placed inside each other, the lower edge of the cantilevered container rim 12′ of the lowermost container 1′ of the stack often forms the first point of impact of such a container stack. This is generally not designed for such loads, which causes the container rim 12′ to break and the container 1′ to become unusable.

As can be seen in FIG. 2B, the containers 1 arranged further up in the stack tend to hit the bottom with their container rim 12 in a rather flat manner when tipping over. FIG. 2C shows an end position in which the stack comes to rest on the container edges 12 of the containers 1.

In summary, the container rim 12 of the lowermost container 1 of a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other is subjected to a disproportionately large share of the impact force, and the exact point of impact of the individual containers 1 varies with their position in the container stack. Consequently, it is difficult to design the container rim 12 for this load.

Due to the problems described above, the container 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention has a shock absorbing structure or shock absorber 14. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2A, for example, the shock absorber 14′ is configured to project far enough from the side wall and below the container rim 12′ so that when a stack of containers 1 placed inside each other tips over, the shock absorber 14′ of the lowermost container 1′ hits the bottom before its container rim 12A. The same applies to the containers 1 arranged a bit higher up in the stack. The container 1 according to the preferred embodiment comprises four such shock absorbers 14, which are each arranged in corner regions and essentially shield two opposite side walls 4, 6 of the container 1 or project from them (cf. FIG. 1A).

As can be clearly seen, for example, in the side view of FIG. 3, the shock absorber 14 is designed as a shock absorbing structure which is spaced from the container rim 12 towards the container bottom side and projects in profile over the side wall 4, 6. More specifically, the shock absorber projects so far from the associated outer container side that it pierces an imaginary plane E spanned between the lower outer edge 24, 26, 28, 30 of the cantilevered container rim 12 and the outer edge 16, 18, 20, 22 of the bottom 2. In other words, the shock absorber 14 protrudes from the outer side of the associated side wall 4, 6, 8, 10 to such an extent that it projects beyond the imaginary plane E and thus, in the event of overturning (with the outer edge 16, 18, 20, 22 of the bottom 2 as instantaneous pole), hits the bottom before the lower outer edge 24, 26, 28, 30 of the protruding container rim 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the shock absorber 14 is spaced downwards from the container rim 12 in the container height direction and projects so far in the direction parallel to the bottom that it is flush with a projection A of the outer surface of the container rim 12. On the one hand, this serves the purpose of ensuring that the shock absorber does not unnecessarily increase the outer dimensions of the container 1 and, on the other hand, in this way the outer surface of the container rim 12 and shock absorber 14 can both serve as support points in an overturned container stack (see also FIG. 2C).

A number of preferred configuration examples for shock absorbers 14 according to the present invention are explained below. Common to all of these embodiments is that they are configured by their overall structure or by predetermined impact absorption portions 32 to at least partially absorb or dissipate impacts. Mechanisms for such dissipation of impact energy are mainly internal friction losses during elastic deformation and/or during plastic deformation of components.

The basic structure of the shock absorber 14 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a hollow profile and is arranged in the respective corner regions of the container 1. Said hollow profile shape encloses a cavity or a clearance R between the side wall and the shock absorber 14. The hollow profile shock absorber 14 is integrally molded to the container 1 and, due to its overall structure or respectively the clearance R enclosed towards the wall, provides elasticity and a defined spring deflection/a defined crumple zone for receiving impact forces. The hollow profile shape of the shock absorber 14 forms a defined collision portion 15 at its end on the container outside (as seen from the shielded side wall 4), in this case a flattened end portion. Seen from this collision portion 15, the structure of the shock absorber 14 (the hollow profile) widens in the direction towards the container or in the direction towards a central container plain M. This has the advantage that impact forces at the collision portion 15 can be transmitted in a defined manner into the shock absorber 14 and can then be distributed over a larger area and transmitted into the container 1. In addition, the widening hollow profile structure supports a defined elastic deformation of the shock absorber 14.

The hollow profile shock absorber 14 is molded onto the container 1 in such a way that the hollow profile is open in the direction of the side wall 8, 10 adjacent to the shielded side wall 4, 6. This allows good demoldability during production in a plastic molding process. A lower section of the shock absorber 14 (or its hollow profile shape) running essentially horizontally or parallel to the bottom is formed by the rib 13, which also serves for limiting the nest depth.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a hollow profile-shaped shock absorber 14 according to a second embodiment, which is similar in form and function to the shock absorber 14 according to the first embodiment. The main distinguishing feature of the shock absorber 14 according to the second embodiment from the first embodiment is the rounded or essentially semi-circular hollow profile collision portion 15. Compared to the flattened curved collision portion 15 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the semi-circular profile shape generates a higher point of impact in the event of overturning and thus an advantageous transmission of force into the hollow profile structure of the shock absorber 14, which widens in the direction towards the central container plain M.

The shock absorber 14 shown in FIG. 6 according to a third embodiment of the invention comprises, like the shock absorber 14 according to the second embodiment, a round/rounded collision portion 15. In addition, the shock absorber 14 according to a third embodiment has, at the lower half of its semi-circular collision portion 15, a projection 34 pointing obliquely away from the container interior and downwards for a defined transmission of force into the shock absorber 14. The semi-circular collision portion 15 has reduced material thickness above the projection 34 in order to provide a defined predetermined breaking point 35 in this area. In addition, according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the shock absorber 14 has a spring portion 36 via which it is suspended from the container 1 (here from the container rim 12). Due to the spring suspension already provided by the spring portion 36, the shock absorber 14 according to the third embodiment can be designed with a less expanding hollow profile structure.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of a shock absorber 14 according to the invention. This has an impact absorption portion 38 in the form of a folded portion 38. Similar to comparable structures in passenger cars, the folded structure allows a defined deformation with increased energy dissipation per compressed distance. In the embodiment shown, the folded portion 38 is arranged in the horizontally running portion or rib 13 of the hollow-profile shock absorber 14 and adjacent to the collision portion 15 in order to receive impact forces occurring during the collision as directly as possible.

FIG. 8 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of a shock absorber 14 manufactured in a two-component injection molding process. In this embodiment, the collision portion 15 of the shock absorber 14 projecting away from the container interior is coated with an elastomer portion 40 which cushions forces occurring during impact. In other words, an elastomer pad 40 is molded onto the outside of the shock absorber 14 for improved shock absorption. In this embodiment, the collision portion 15 per se therefore forms the impact absorption portion 32.

FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the container 1, whose basic configuration essentially corresponds to that of the containers described above. In this embodiment, the container 1 has a shock absorber 14 according to the first embodiment. However, it is likewise conceivable that the container 1 may be provided with any of the shock absorbers 14 described above.

According to the aspect of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9, the container rim 12 has damping portions 42 in the region of upper container corners 41 of the container 1 which allow increased elastic and/or plastic deformation of the container rim 12 in response to a load, e.g. an impact on the container corner 41. As shown in detail in FIG. 10, the container rim 12 in the region of the container corner 41 forms a vertically oriented rib 43 running diagonally to the container 1. In the diagonal rib 43, in turn, a further clearance or clearance hole 44 is provided in the form of an oblique or diagonally running slot. One longitudinal side of the slot 44 faces the upper container corner 41, so that the slot 44 and the upper container corner 41 substantially define a triangle between them, which substantially corresponds to the damping portion 42. When a force is applied to the container corner 41, the slot thus enables elastic and/or plastic deformation of the container rim 12 in the region of the container corner 41, i.e., of the damping portion 42, in order to prevent damage thereto. For this purpose, the slot 44 is in particular oval in shape in order to achieve higher deformability.

Furthermore, the container 1 shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 has a spring contour 45 in the area of the container corner 41 below the container rim 12, which runs between the shock absorber 14 and the lower outer edge 24 of the container rim 12 and essentially forms an extension of the diagonal rib 43. The spring contour 45 is formed by a V-shaped recess or a rib cutout 46 that recesses concavely inward. This V-shaped recess 46 in the rib acts in the manner of an arcuate spring and, when a force is applied to the container corner 41 and/or to the shock absorber 14, increases elastic and/or plastic deformation of the container rim 12 in the region of the container corner 41 or respectively of the shock absorber 14 in order to prevent damage thereto. The rib cutout 46 also has a slope which extends downwards and diagonally outwards from the arcuate or concavely rounded region of the rib cutout 46 up to the shock absorber 14 in order to achieve improved force transmission from the shock absorber into the container. In the event of an impact from above on the container corner 41, the (V-shaped) recess 46 allows the container corner 41 to spring downwards and inwards or to deform. This controlled deformation can largely prevent a material fracture in the area of the container corners 41. In the event of an impact from below on the shock absorber 14, it can spring upwards and inwards or deform due to the (V-shaped) recess 46.

In summary, several solutions (shock absorber 14, damping portion 42, spring contour 45) have been described for preventing material fractures in the event of impacts from outside on a container 1. These solutions can be implemented together, in any combination or individually in a container.

Claims

1. A container comprising a bottom and side walls that extend from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim, the container rim comprising at least one container corner, a damping portion configured and adapted to at least partially dissipate an impact acting on the at least one container corner while undergoing at least one of an elastic deformation and a plastic deformation.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the damping portion is formed by at least one clearance hole formed in the container rim or in the container corner or in a material rib extending vertically or perpendicularly to the bottom in proximity to the container corner.

3. A container comprising: a bottom and side walls that extend from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim;a support structure arranged vertically below the container rim; anda support rib extending vertically or perpendicularly to the bottom and below the container rim in proximity to at least one container corner, said support rib connecting the container rim to the support structure,the support rib comprising a recess pointing inwards, said recess allowing at least one of the elastic deformation and the plastic deformation in response to the impact acting on the at least one container corner.

4. A container comprising: a bottom and side walls that extend from the bottom towards a circumferential container rim; anda shock absorber on an outer side of at least one of the side walls,the shock absorber being arranged in a container height direction below the container rim and projecting from said outer side at least to such an extent that the shock absorber is tangent to or intersects a plane spanned between a first outer edge of the bottom and a second outer edge of the container rim of said at least one of the side walls, so that during a tilting movement of the container about the first outer edge, the shock absorber hits a flat bottom before the container rim,the shock absorber being hollow,a clearance being formed between the shock absorber and an outer surface of said at least one of the side walls shielded by the at least one of the side walls, andthe shock absorber tapering in a direction away from an interior of the container, so that the shock absorber is configured and adapted to at least partially dissipate the impact while undergoing at least one of the elastic deformation and/or the plastic deformation.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the shock absorber does not project further in a direction parallel to the bottom than the second outer edge of the container rim.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the shock absorber is arranged in an upper third of the container, viewed in the container height direction.

7. The container according to claim 4, wherein the side walls comprise four side walls, and the container comprises four shock absorbers arranged in corner regions of the container, the shock absorber on the outer side of the at least one of the sidewalls being one of the four shock absorbers.

8. The container according to claim 4, wherein the shock absorber comprises a predetermined impact absorbing section adapted to at least partially dissipate impact energy upon impact while undergoing said at least one of the elastic deformation and/or the plastic deformation.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the impact absorbing section is a folded portion, an elastomer portion or a predetermined breaking point.

10. The container according to claim 4, wherein the shock absorber is suspended from or connected to the container via an elastic spring portion.

11. The container according to claim 4, wherein an underside of the shock absorber runs parallel to the container rim and said underside forms a stop for limiting a nest depth when nesting several identically constructed containers.

12. The container according to claim 4, wherein the shock absorber has a projection on an outside of the container for a defined introduction of impact forces, said projection being oriented in a direction obliquely away from the interior of the container and downwards from the shock absorber.

13. The container according to claim 4, wherein the circumferential container rim is designed to cantilever outwards in order to allow engagement of a fork of a lift truck or other industrial truck.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the container rim comprises a ribbed structure or a plurality of ribbed wreaths.

15. The container according to claim 4, wherein the container is a large load carrier with a pallet-shaped bottom part adapted for engagement of a fork of a lift truck or other industrial truck.

16. The container according to claim 4, wherein the container is made of plastic.