Patent Grant
10889406
This application is a U.S. National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application PCT/IS2016/050008, filed May 4, 2016, and published as WO 2016/178253 A1 on Nov. 10, 2016. PCT/IS2016/050008 claims priority from Icelandic application number 050105, filed May 4, 2015, and from Icelandic application number 050127, filed Nov. 6, 2015. The entire contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to stackable open top multi-purpose transport containers, especially containers for transporting food items.
Many containers used for the shipping of goods have the drawback that during transport, empty containers take up as much space as do filled ones. As a consequence, the cost of shipping empty containers, for example on sea vessels, is quite substantial. In general, it would be advantageous if empty containers could be stored in a manner that minimizes the amount of space they take up.
A further drawback of many containers is that when stacked, the stack of containers tends to be unstable, due to the slippage of the containers. This is a particular problem at sea, where movement caused by sea waves can easily cause stacks of containers to slip or collapse.
DE19704945 discloses a stacking crate that has a laying flange at the upper edge of the wall, with a counter flange at the lower edge. When crates are stacked, one crate rests on the upper flange of the lower crate through its lower flange structure.
DE4432030 discloses a container that has a sloping intermediate section in the centre of each side wall. Each side wall also has inward and outward projecting areas, that permit the stacking of containers. The front of the container has an opening, or it may be closed, having a sloping intermediate section in the front.
EP2024242 discloses a system of crates for transporting fish that have an edge are on their top that is in a channel shape, and has a through hole located on the outer side of the bottom of the crate wall adjacent to the edge are. The base of the crate has a second through hole, so that liquid can drain out from the crate into the channel-shaped are of a crate stacked below, and then through the first through-hole, out of the channel-shaped area alongside the outer side crate wall. The crates can be stacked on top of each other so that an upper crate can be inserted into a lower crate, and rotated about a vertical axis by 180°, and thus can empty boxes be stacked into one another.
The present invention provides containers that have the advantage that they can be stacked in multiple ways in both normal (upright) and inverted orientation. When empty and stacked, the containers can occupy significantly less space than they normally would, saving space during transport of empty containers. Further, when stacked, adjacent containers in a stack are interlocked so as to form a stable stack.
One aspect of the invention relates to an open top container (a male container) that comprises a bottom having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge of each side thereof, the bottom interconnecting four side walls extending from the bottom, the side walls consisting of two pairs of oppositely located side walls extending from the bottom to form an opening having a rim around it, the lower end of the side walls being interconnected with the bottom at an inwardly position from the outer edge thereof, at least a portion of each of the side walls extending angularly inwardly from the bottom towards an opposing side wall. The container can further comprise at least one support member extending downwardly from the lower surface of the bottom in proximity to the outer edge of the bottom.
Preferably, the container has a continuous structure, meaning that the container is provided as a single continuous structural unit, and is not assembled from individual components.
The bottom of the male container can be rectangular, the four side walls being upright extending from the bottom. The lower end of the side wall can meet the bottom of the container at a distance from the edge of the bottom. This allows for another container with similar dimensions but with vertical side walls (a female container, as further described herein) to be placed in an inverted position on top the container. The distance from the edge of the bottom to the side walls of the container can preferably be such that a second (female) container, when placed on top of the container in an inverted position will fit snugly on top of the container, such that a sandwich-type structure of two containers is formed, in which the two containers are largely locked with respect to horizontal movement.
To facilitate the formation of sandwich-type structures, the side walls of the male container can preferably be tilted with respect to a vertical axis by an angle in a range from about 1° to about 10°, in a range from about 2° to about 8°, in range from about 3° to about 6°, or in a range from about 5°. The side walls of the male container can also be preferably tilted by an angle in a range from about 1° to about 5°. In other embodiments, the lower end of the tilt of the wall can be from about 1° to about 5°, or from about 2° to about 4°, or about 2°. The higher end of the tilt of the wall can be from about 4° to about 10°, or from about 5° to about 8°, or about 5°.
It is also possible that a portion of the side wall be tilted inwardly, i.e. towards an opposing wall, while the remaining portion of the wall is vertical. In such a configuration, an upper section of the wall is preferably tilted inwardly, while a lower section is substantially vertical. Further, the side wall can contain sections that are tilted to different degrees. For example a lower portion of the side wall can have a smaller tilt than an upper portion of the wall. The wall can also have a plurality of sections with varying tilt, for example a lower section that is vertical, a midsection that is tilted inwardly and an upper section that is vertical. Other configurations and shapes of the wall are also possible within the concept of the upper rim of the side wall being located closer to an opposing rim than the distance between the bottom of opposing walls. For example, the walls may have a concave or convex bend when viewed from the side, either along a portion of the wall or along the entire wall.
Two pairs of walls of the male container can have substantially identical configuration with respect to their tilt, even though their lengths are different. It is also possible that the two pairs of walls have different tilts, i.e. one pair of walls may be more or less tilted than the other pair of opposing walls. In one embodiment, all four walls of the male container are tilted to the same degree.
The support member of the container can be configured to allow for a fork lift to be inserted and lift the container. This is especially important for large and/or heavy containers, that cannot be easily lifted by manpower. It is preferable that the container thus configured contain at least one pair of oppositely positioned fork lift openings, that allow a fork to be inserted for transport/lifting of the container. The fork lift opening can also serve the purpose of allowing a crane or a specially configured fork lift to lift and rotate the container. The support member can be provided with at least two pairs of fork lift insertion openings, wherein each member of a pair of such openings is arranged opposite to a substantially identical opening. In other words, when viewing the container from one side, two fork lift insertion openings are seen on that side of the container, each arranged on a support member (that can either be a single support member having two fork lift insertion openings), and on the opposite side of the container, identical fork lift insertion openings are provided, preferably on identical support members, such that a fork lift can insert a fork through the fork lift openings and transport the container.
The skilled person will appreciate that other configurations of fork lift insertion openings are possible, for example by providing additional fork lift insertion openings that are adapted for use by different types of fork lifts that can have multiple prongs.
In one configuration, the support member is structured such that its outer edge is positioned inwardly from the outer edge of the bottom of the container. When provided as two oppositely positioned support members, the outer edge of the two support members can be positioned inwardly from the outer edge of the bottom of the container. The distance from the outer edge of the support members to the outer edge of the bottom can be about equal to the width of the upper rim of the container. When the support member is provided as a structure with irregular shape, the distance from the outermost edge to the outer edge of the bottom can suitably be about equal to the width of the upper rim of the side wall of the container.
In one configuration, the at least one support member is comprised of two pairs of oppositely located support members that are arranged close to two opposite outer edges of the bottom, such that each support member that is arranged close to a first outer edge of the bottom is oppositely located to a substantially identical support member that is arranged close to a second outer edge of the bottom.
The fork lift insertion openings can be provided as slits within the support member, of dimensions that are suitable for the insertion of a fork. The slits can have a height in the range of about 60 mm to about 100 mm, such as about 60 mm to about 80 mm, about 60 mm to about 70 mm, or about 70 mm to about 90 mm. It can be convenient to have the slits configured to be of a height that is about the same, or slightly greater than, the thickness of a typical lift fork. In some embodiments, the slits have a height of about 66 mm. The width of the slits can range from about 150 mm to about 400 mm, such as about 200 mm to about 300 mm, or about 250 mm to about 300 mm. The support member can be a continuous structure, at least along, or in close proximity to, the outer edge of the bottom of the container, extending downwards from the bottom, the structure having fork lift insertion openings provided as slits. The fork lift insertion openings can also be provided by a gap between adjacent support members that are located along one side of the container. Thus, another embodiment relates to a container that comprises at least three support members that are located in close proximity to the edge (the outer edge) of one side of the bottom, and at least three oppositely located support members in close proximity to an opposite edge (an opposite outer edge) of the bottom, wherein the at least three support members are configured to provide at least two fork lift openings thereinbetween. It is also possible that the three support members be interconnected along their upper end, i.e. via a bridging plank that extends along the lower surface of the bottom of the container, bridging each pair of thus positioned support members, so as to form a continuous structure along one side of the bottom of the container. An identical structure can be positioned in an opposing position along the other side of the container, providing structural support for the container, as well as means for lifting and transporting the container by e.g. using a fork lift.
The upper rim of the container can have recesses that are of a length that is comparable to the length of the fork lift insertion openings of the support member. The recesses serve the purpose of allowing a fork lift to lift a container that is placed on top of the male container (a female container), as is further described herein. The recesses can have a length that is identical, or nearly identical, to the length of the fork lift insertion openings. When the fork lift insertion openings are provided as slits within the support member structure, the recesses can be of a length that is identical, or nearly identical, to the length of the slits so provided. The recess can also be of a length such that the recess, when viewed from above, is at least as long as the outermost portion of the fork lift insertion openings. Thus, the recess can at least comprise a portion of the rim that starts at a location between one corner of the container and a point that is vertically directly above the outermost part of a fork lift insertion opening on a support member that is disposed on that side of the container, and ends at a location between the next corner of the container and a point that is vertically directly above the outermost part of another fork lift insertion opening on a support member that is disposed on the same side of the container. There can thus be a single recess on a side of the container. In one configuration, there are four recesses on the rim of the container, one on each side of the container. In another configuration, there are two recesses on the rim of the container, on opposing side walls, the recesses being located vertically to support members that are arranged along the same side of the container. The height of recesses is preferably such that it will allow a fork of a fork lift to be inserted through the fork lift openings of an upper container in a stack of containers (a female container, as described herein), without the upper portion of the side wall of the lower container interfering with such insertion. The height of the recess can for example be approximately equal to the height of the fork lift insertion opening, for example when the fork lift insertion opening is provided as a slit. The height of the recess may suitably also range from about one quarter to about three quarters of the height of the fork lift insertion opening.
To provide means for securing and stabilizing a sandwich that comprises a male container and an inverted container (female container) that has been placed on top thereof, as well as to provide structural support to the male container, the male container can contain at least one flange that is positioned on the outside facing surface of at least two opposing side walls. The at least one flange can also be positioned on all four side walls. The flange can be tapered in an upward fashion, at least along a portion of its length. The flange can also be substantially more narrow at its top than at its bottom. For example, the flange can be very thin at its top, so that the upper end of the flange smoothly merges with the side wall of the container. The flange can also be tapered towards the sides along an upper part thereof.
The flange can extend from the bottom of the container, such that the lower end of the flange meets the upper side of the bottom of the container. The flange can also be located at an upward distance from the bottom, so that a gap is present between the bottom and the lower end of the flange. In some embodiments, the container contains two or more flanges, or three or more flanges, along the outward facing surface of at least two opposing side walls. In some embodiments, the container contains three flanges on two opposing side walls. In one embodiment, the male container comprises four flanges, two of which are arranged on one side of the container, and each of which reaching from the corner of the container to a point towards the middle of the outer side wall of the container, and the other two being similarly arranged on an opposing side walls. Preferably, the flanges are of substantially identical shape and arranged in comparable locations on the side wall. It is also possible that two opposing side walls each contain a single flange, that can extend along a substantial portion of the outer surface of the side walls, both flanges being equal in shape and location on each side wall.
The flange can be thickest at its lower end. The thickness of the flange can be adjusted so that when a container (a female container) is placed in an inverted position on top the male container, the inverted container will fit snugly on top of the male container, the side walls of the inverted container being positioned adjacent to, or meeting, the flanges of the male container. This results in a stabilized sandwich of containers. Accordingly, it can be useful to structure the flange such that the horizontal distance from the outer edge of the bottom of the container to the outer edge of the lower end of the flange is approximately equal to the width of the upper rim of the wall of the container. The horizontal distance from the outer edge of the bottom of the male container to the flange can thus be approximately equal to the width of the upper rim of the wall of a female container, as described herein.
The skilled person will appreciate that modifications to the flange structures are possible and are also envisaged. For example, multiple flange structures can be interconnected on the outer surface of the container, so that a single mechanical structure that contains multiple flange portions resides on the outside surface of a single side wall. Such structure will combine the two functional features of the flange, i.e. provide structural support to the container, as well as allowing for stable sandwich-type structure of two containers.
The bottom of the container can have an upper surface that is substantially flat, in other words the surface is not slanted. The bottom surface can also be at least partially slanted, so that when placed on a level surface, liquid in the container will flow towards at least one side of the container. The slant can be from one side of the container, such that liquid in the container will tend to flow towards one side of the container. Preferably, however, the slant starts at the middle of the container, towards at least two sides, preferably all four sides, of the container. The upper surface of the bottom can thus be slanted from its middle towards the sides of the container, so that when placed on a level surface, liquid in the container will flow towards the sides of the container.
There can also be provided at least one drain, that serves the purpose of allowing liquid from the container to be drained. The drain can be provided as one or more drain hole, that can optionally be closable by a suitable stopper, plug, a valve, or by other means known in the art. There can be at least one drain hole arranged on at least one side wall, the drain hole traversing the side wall and being provided as an opening onto the bottom surface of the container, to allow liquid within the container to flow through the drain hole. Preferably, the lowermost surface of the drain hole is approximately level with the upper surface of the bottom of the container. The drain can also be provided such that the drain has a smaller opening into the container than out of the container. In one embodiment, the drain is of a generally circular shape.
The drain hole can have a generally circular profile, but can also have a rectangular, ellipsoidal or other suitable profile. The drain hole will typically have dimensions that allow for free flow of liquid from the container, and the dimensions of the hole will therefore take into account the overall dimensions of the container and the need for draining capabilities. The number and position of drain holes can also be adjusted to provide additional draining capabilities as needed. For example, for certain uses it can be beneficial to have drain holes both in the bottom and lower sides of the container. The diameter of the drain holes can typically be in the range of about 10 mm to about 100 mm, such as about 20 mm to about 100 mm, about 30 mm to about 80 mm, about 40 mm to about 70 mm, or about 50 mm to about 60 mm.
The drain can also be provided as one or many drains, such as drain holes, that are arranged on the bottom of the container. Such arranged drains can be closeable or resealable.
The container can also comprise one or more drain channels that are arranged on the upper side of the bottom of the container. Such drain channels accumulate liquid in the container, for example liquid generated by melting ice in the container, and preferably are fluidly connected to at least one drain holes, to allow for draining from the container through the drain channel and a drain hole. In one embodiment, the drain channel is arranged on the upper surface of the bottom, at a meeting point of the bottom and the side walls, where the bottom meets the side walls. The drain channel can also be provided as multiple channels on the bottom of the container. There can for example be drain channels that extend generally from the middle of the container towards drain channels arranged at the meeting point of the bottom and side walls. Alternatively, there can be one or more drain channel that extends from the middle of the container and feeds directly into a drain hole on, or near, the side of the container.
The invention further provides an open top container (female), that comprises a bottom having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge of each side thereof, the bottom interconnecting four vertical side walls extending from the bottom, wherein the side walls consist of two pairs of oppositely located side walls extending from the bottom to form an opening having a rim around it, and wherein the container further comprises at least one support member that extends downwardly from the lower surface of the bottom in proximity to the outer edge of the bottom, wherein the at least one member is provided with at least two fork lift insertion openings along one side thereof, oppositely located to substantially identical openings on an opposing side of the support member, and wherein the rim has a plurality of recesses, the recesses being vertically aligned with, and being of substantially equal length as, the fork lift insertion openings.
In another aspect, the invention provides a female open top container comprising a substantially rectangular bottom having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge of each side thereof, the bottom interconnecting four substantially vertical side walls extending from the bottom, the side walls consisting of two pairs of oppositely located side walls extending from the bottom to form an opening having a rim around it, the container further comprising at least one support member extending downwardly from the lower surface of the bottom in proximity to the outer edge of the bottom, wherein the at least one support member provides at least two oppositely oriented fork lift insertion openings along opposite sides of the container, and wherein the container further comprises at least one drain, for draining liquid from the container.
The drain can be provided as one or more drain hole, that can optionally be closable by a suitable stopper, plug, a valve, or by other means known in the art, as described in the foregoing for the male container. The drain hole can be arranged and designed as described in the foregoing. The container can furthermore comprise one or more drain channel, which can suitably be arranged as described in the foregoing section describing a male container.
The bottom of the female container can be rectangular in shape, and the four side walls can be vertically upright extending from the outer edge of the bottom, perpendicular to the bottom. This allows for the placement of an inverted female container on top of a male container, as described further herein, so as to form a sandwich-type structure.
The support member can be provided as two support members that are placed in opposite positions in close proximity to the outer edge of the bottom. In such a configuration, the fork lift insertion openings are preferentially provided as oppositely located openings on the two oppositely located support members. The support members can be positioned at the outer edge of the bottom, extending downwardly from the bottom so that the outer surface of the support member forms a continuous structure with the outer edge of the bottom.
The at least one support member can also be provided as a single support member, that can extend along, and be structured downwardly from, the outer edge of the bottom. In one such embodiment, the outer edge of the support member extends vertically downward from the outer edge of the bottom, so as to form a continuous planar surface.
The fork lift insertion openings can be provided as slits within the support member, of dimensions that are suitable for the insertion of a fork of a fork lift. The support member can be a continuous structure, at least along, or in close proximity to, the outer edge of the bottom of the container, extending downwards from the bottom, the structure having fork lift insertion openings provided as slits. The fork lift insertion openings can also be provided by a gap between adjacent support members that are located along one side of the container. Such multiple support members can optionally be interconnected by a bridging member that meets the support members, so as to form a single structure.
The upper rim of the container can have recesses that are of a length that is comparable to the length of the fork lift insertion openings of the support member. The recesses serve the purpose of allowing a fork lift to lift an upper container in a stack of containers, as is further described herein. The recesses can have a length that is identical, or nearly identical, to the length of the fork lift insertion openings. When the fork lift insertion openings are provided as slits within the support member structure, the recesses can be of a length that is identical, or nearly identical, to the length of the slits so provided. The height of recesses is such that it will allow a fork of a fork lift to be inserted through the fork lift openings of a container that is placed on top of the female container (a male container, as described herein), without the upper portion of the side wall of the lower container interfering with such insertion. The height of the recess can for example be approximately equal to the height of the fork lift insertion opening, for example when the fork lift insertion opening is provided as a slit. The height of the recess may suitably also range from about one quarter to about three quarters of the height of the fork lift insertion opening.
In one embodiment, the rim comprises continuous recesses along at least two opposite sides of the container that also have support members arranged close thereto, and wherein each of such recesses is vertically aligned with the thus arranged support members. The recesses can be of a length such that a recess, when viewed from above, is at least as long as the outermost portion of the fork lift insertion openings on the container. Thus, the recess can at least comprise a portion of the rim that starts at a location between one corner of the container and a point that is vertically directly above the outermost part of a fork lift insertion opening on a support member that is disposed on that side of the container, and ends at a location between the next corner of the container and a point that is vertically directly above the outermost part of another fork lift insertion opening on a support member that is disposed on the same side of the container. There can thus be a single recess on a side of the container. In one configuration, there are four recesses on the rim of the container, one on each side of the container. The rim can also have a plurality of recesses, the recesses being vertically aligned with, and at least of equal length as, the fork lift insertion openings.
Similar to the male container described in the above, the bottom of the container can have an upper surface that is substantially flat, in other words the surface is not slanted. The bottom surface can also be at least partially slanted, so that when placed on a level surface, liquid in the container will flow towards at least one side of the container. The slant can be from one side of the container, such that liquid in the container will tend to flow towards one side of the container. Preferably, however, the slant starts at the middle of the container, towards at least two sides, preferably all four sides, of the container. The upper surface of the bottom can thus be slanted from its middle towards the sides of the container, so that when placed on a level surface, liquid in the container will flow towards the sides of the container.
The walls of the male and female containers described in the foregoing can be of substantially equal and uniform thickness (width), i.e. the walls of the male and female containers can be of equal thickness, and the walls can also be uniformly thick, i.e. the thickness at the bottom of the wall is approximately equal to its thickness at its top. It is also possible that the walls of the male or female containers, or both, be slightly thicker at their bottom than at their top. Such a design provides additional structural stability to the containers, and can therefore be advantageous.
The containers can be useful for storage and transport of food items, such as fish, meat, poultry and the like. The containers can also be useful for a variety of other goods of varying sizes and shapes, heavy and light, and their manufacture and dimensions will be adjusted accordingly. It should be appreciated that the containers of the invention can be designed in any dimension suitable for their use. In general, the dimensions of the bottom of the containers (width× length) can be in the range of (about 0.1 to about 10.0 m)×(about 0.1 m to about 10.0 m), such as (about 0.2 m to about 5.0 m)×(about 0.2 to about 5.0 m), such as about (0.3 m to about 3.0 m)×(about 0.3 m to about 3.0 m). In some embodiments the dimensions of the containers can be (0.8 to 1.2 m)×(1.0×1.4 m), such as about (0.9 to 1.1 m)×(1.1 to 1.3 m). The height of the containers can be in the range of about 0.05 to about 4.0 m, such as about 0.1 to about 4.0 m, such as about 0.2 to about 3.0 m, such as about 0.3 to about 2.0 m, such as about 0.4 to about 1.5 m, such as about 0.5 to about 1.4 m, such as about 0.6 to about 1.3 m, such as about 0.7 m to about 1.2 m, such as about 0.8 m to about 1.1, such as about 0.9 to about 1.0 m.
In certain embodiments, the containers of the invention are useful for transporting fish or fish products. The dimensions of the bottom of such containers, male or female, can be in the range (about 0.5 to about 3.0 m)×(about 0.5 to about 3.0) (width× length). The dimensions can also be in the range (about 0.8 m to about 1.2 m)×(about 1.0 m to about 1.4 m) or (about 0.9 m to about 1.1 m)×(about 1.1 m× about 1.3 m). The height of such containers can be range from about 0.2 to about 1.0 m, such as about 0.3 to about 0.8 m, such as about 0.3 to about 0.6 m, such as about 0.4 to about 0.5 m.
In preferred embodiments, the ratio of the length to the width of the containers can be about 2:1, such as about 1.8:1, such as about 1.6:1, such as about 1.4:1, such as about 1.2:1, such as about 1:1. More preferably, the ratio can be about 1.2:1, such as in the range of about 1.1:1 to about 1.3:1.
The male and female containers described herein in the foregoing can be assembled into sandwich-type structures, when one type of container (male or female) is placed in an inverted position on top of the other type of container. The design and structure of the containers is such that the sandwich-type structure that is formed is stable, i.e. the containers fit snugly on top of each other. A further feature of the containers is that they can be assembled in stacks, by four types of stacking, i.e. (a) upright-inverted, i.e. one type of container (male or female) on top of an inverted container of the other type (male or female); (b) upright-upright, i.e. one type of container (male or female) on top of the other type of container, where both containers are in an upright position; (c) inverted-upright, i.e. one type of container (male or female) in an upright position on top of an inverted container of the other type.
As a consequence, stacks of containers can be formed, that alternately comprise male and female containers. Either type of container can be the bottom container in the stack, and that container can either be in an upright or inverted position. Subsequent containers in the stack are of alternate sex, and can be placed in alternate positions with respect to adjacent containers in the stack, i.e. each adjacent pair of containers in the stack can be in an upright-inverted, an upright-upright, or an inverted-upright configuration.
Accordingly, the invention further provides a system of containers that comprises alternately vertically stackable open-topped male and female containers as described in the foregoing description of the male and female containers. The system has the further advantage that it can be realized using male and female container having multiple configurations as described in the foregoing, while retaining the advantage of stable and space-saving stacking capabilities.
In one aspect, the system comprises alternately vertically stackable open-topped male and female containers, each male container and each female container comprising a body comprising a bottom having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge, the bottom interconnecting four substantially upright side walls extending from the bottom, the side walls consisting of two pairs of oppositely placed side walls extending from the bottom to form an opening having a rim, wherein the bottom of male and female containers are of substantially equal length and width, the side walls of the female container extending substantially vertically from the bottom, the side walls of the male container extending angularly inwardly towards an opposing side wall from an inwardly position of the bottom with respect to its outer edge, such that when turned by 180° from an upright position, the walls of the male container will fit within the opening of an upright female container.
The system will typically contain a plurality of open-topped male and female containers. For example, the system can contain two or more open-topped male and female containers. Preferably, the system contains an approximately equal number of male and female containers, wherein adjacent members in the stack are male and female. In general, the stack comprising a total of N members will typically comprise N/2 members of each of male and female containers (if N is an even number). Alternatively, the stack can comprise (N−1)/2 members of one type of container and (N−1)/2+1 members of the other types (if N is an odd number). By way of example, for a stack of 7 members, the bottom being male, alternate female and male members can be stacked on the first member, the stack ending in a male member. As a consequence the stack contains (7−1)/2=3 female members and (7−1)/2+1=4 male members.
The system can further be described by the stabilizing fit between support members of a container and an adjacent container in a stack. Accordingly, in one embodiment, each male member further comprises at least one support member extending downwardly from the lower surface of the bottom in proximity to the outer edge of the bottom, the at least one support member being shaped such that when a male container is stacked in an upright orientation on top of an upright female container, the at least one support member of the male container fits within the rim of the female container such that a peripheral portion of the bottom of the male container meets at least a portion of the rim of the female member.
In a further embodiment, the at least one support member of the male and female containers can be further configured so as to be in close proximity to an upper portion of opposing side walls of an adjacent container in a vertical stack of containers that are in an upright position, so as maintain the stack in a stable state.
In other words, the support members of a male container can fit snugly within the side walls an adjacent upright female container in a stack, and the support members of a female container can fit snugly around the side walls of an adjacent upright male container in a stack (due to the walls of the male container being tilted inwardly).
In a further or alternative aspect, a system is provided, comprising alternately vertically stackable open-topped male and female containers, each male container and each female container comprising a body comprising a bottom having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge, wherein the bottom interconnects four upright side walls extending upwards from the bottom, wherein the side walls consist of two pairs of oppositely positioned side walls that extend from the bottom to form an opening having a rim, wherein the bottom of male and female containers are of approximately equal dimensions (i.e., equal length and width), the side walls of the female container extending approximately vertically from the bottom, the side walls of the male container extending angularly inwardly towards an opposing side wall from an inwardly position of the bottom with respect to its outer edge, such that when turned upside down (i.e., flipped by 180° from an upright position), the walls of the male container will fit within the opening of an upright female container, wherein each male member and each female member further comprise at least one support member extending downwardly from the lower surface of the bottom in proximity to the outer edge of the bottom, wherein the at least one support member is shaped such that (a) when a male container is stacked in an upright orientation on top of an upright female container, the support member of the male container fits within the rim of the female container such that a peripheral portion of the bottom of the male container meets at least a portion of the rim of the female member; (b) when female container is stacked in an upright orientation on top of a male container, the support member of the female container allows the rim of the male container to meet the lower surface of the bottom of the female container at an inwardly position from the edge of the bottom of the female container; and wherein (c) the at least one support member of the male and female containers is configured so as to be in close proximity to an upper portion of opposing side walls of an adjacent container in a vertical stack of containers that are in an upright position, so as maintain the stack in a stable state. In an embodiment, the support member of the male container that fits within the rim of the female container fits inside the upper walls of the female container, towards the middle of the female container.
The side wall of the male member can be further configured such that when a female member is stacked on top of a male member in an inverted orientation, the rim of the female member rests on a substantial portion of the outer edge of the bottom of the male member in close proximity to the lower portion of the male side wall (i.e., the lower portion of the side wall of the male container), so as to maintain the stack in a stable state.
The support members of the male and female containers can also be further configured so as to be engaged in a locked position with support members of an adjacent member within the stack with respect to horizontal movement when a male container is stacked in an upright position on top of an inverted female container. In some embodiments, the bottom of the male and female containers have equal dimensions, i.e. equal length and width.
When an inverted female container is placed on top of an upright male container, the different configuration of the walls of the two types of containers will provide for a snug fit of female containers on top of male containers, providing structural stability to a stack of containers that contain such configuration of containers. The flanges that can be present on the male containers, in addition to providing structural stability to the containers, provide further structural stability to a stack of containers in this configuration.
In general, it should be appreciated that any of the above described structural features of the male and female containers can be implemented in the system of stackable containers, which can contain male and female members with any of the above described features, so as to allow for the stackable function of the containers.
The support members of the male and female containers are structured so as to provide support to the containers, and also to provide structural integrity and support to a stack of containers. Thus, when a male container is stacked in an upright orientation on top of an upright female container, the support member of the male container can fit snugly within the rim of the female container. In some embodiments, the support members of the male container fit snugly within recesses on the rim of the female container, such that the peripheral portion of the bottom of the male container rests on the upper rim of the female container. In other embodiments, the support members of the male container fit inside the upper part of the side walls of the female container, towards the middle of the container. Thereby, when stacked on top of a female container, the periphery of the lower surface of the bottom of the male container will touch the upper rim of the female container on which it is stacked, and simultaneously the support member of the male member touches an upper portion of the inner surface of the side wall of the female container. The support member of the female container can be structured so that when an upright female container is stacked on top of an upright male container, the lower surface of the bottom of the female container rests on the rim of the male container. Due to the inward tilt of the walls of the male container, an inwardly located portion of the bottom of the female container rests on the rim of the male container. Further, the support member of the female container can be structured to fit snugly on top of the male container, i.e. an upper portion of the outer portion of at least two of the walls of the male container will be located very close to, or touch, an inner portion of the support member of the female container. This provides for stability of the stack of containers with respect to horizontal movement, with minimal or no slippage of the containers within the stack.
The containers can be further configured to provide for stable stacking of an upright male container that rests on the top of an inverted female container. In this configuration, the support members of the two types of containers meet such that the two containers are interlocked with respect to horizontal movement. The support member of the male container is thus configured so as to fifth within the support member of the adjacent female container, while simultaneously a peripheral portion of the lower surface of the male bottom rests on the inverted female support member. It is also possible to configure the containers such that in this configuration, the support member of the male containers also rests on top of the lower surface of the female container. The support member of the male container can also be configured to fit inside the support member of the female container, at an inwardly position from the outer edge.
It should be appreciated that when provided with fork lift insertion openings, the containers of the invention further can also be provided with recesses along their upper rim that can allow for the lifting of any desired portion of a stack of containers. Thus, when stacked end-on, i.e. an upright male container on top of an upright female container or vice versa, recesses along the upper rim of the male and female containers are provided such that it is possible to insert a fork through the fork insertion openings on the upper container, through the slits on the lower container, and move the upper container in the stack. For example, the rim of the male and/or female container can comprise continuous recesses along at least two opposite sides of the container that also have support members arranged close thereto, such that each of such recesses is vertically aligned with the thus arranged support members. The slits therefore provide for free movement of the fork of a fork lift or the like when containers are stacked. It is also possible to structure the support members of the male and female containers such that when an upright male container is placed on top of an upright female container, it will be possible to insert a fork into and through fork lift insertion openings on the female container and lift the stack of male and female containers.
It should also be appreciated that by placing an inverted female container on top of an upright male container (or vice versa), a significant amount of space can be saved. This is an important feature for the storage and/or shipping of containers, for example in warehouse or on vessels, where space saving can be critical. The amount of space that is saved by this stacking configuration can be defined by the reduced volume occupied by the stacked containers. The space saving, compared with a stack of identical containers that are stacked in an upright position, can be on the range of about 25-50%, such as about 35-45%, such as about 40%. The stacks are also stable, due to the interlocking features of the design of the individual containers.
In yet another configuration of the system of stackable containers, it is possible to stack pairs of male and female containers, where within each layer of the stack, two identical containers (male of female) are placed side by side. When stacked end-on, i.e. all containers in a stack are upright, containers in adjacent layers in the stack are horizontally rotated by 90° with respect to adjacent layer(s), which when combined with the structural features described by the foregoing features of male and female containers results in a stack of container pairs that is stable with respect to horizontal movement. Further, this configuration allows for stacking of sandwich-type structures of inverted female containers that are placed on top of male containers, wherein two such sandwich-type structures are place side by side in each layer of the stack, adjacent layers of sandwich-type structures being rotated by 90° with respect to adjacent layers. Thereby, a stack of containers can be formed that saves space by virtue of the manner in which female containers are stacked on top of male containers (or vice versa) within the stack. This can result in significant amount of space being saved during shipping and/or storage.
The dimensions of the containers in this configuration can suitably be such that parallel pairs of containers fit within a pallet, which will allow for easy manipulation of stacks of containers by use of a fork lift.
The containers are preferably molded from a thermoplastic polymer material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The container can for example by molded from LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE, polyamide (Nylon), polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, acetal, polyphenylene sulfide, polyesters, and the like. Other polymer materials can also be used, such as acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other copolymers (acetal copolymers).
The containers can be molded by conventional means well known to the skilled person. Preferred methods include rotomolding, although it is contemplated that other methods may as well be used such as injection-molding, compression molding or extrusion blow molding, and other conventional methods may as well be used.
Preferably, the containers are molded as a one-piece construction, that is the containers are molded as a single continuous structural unit. This has the advantage that no post-production assembly is required, which results in a more economical and convenient production.
For added insulation the containers can comprise a double-wall outer shell surrounding an inner core. The inner core preferably comprises a material selected from polyethylene foam and polyurethane foam. The containers can also be double-walled. A double-walled container can for example be produced by rotomolding in order to mold an outer wall shell and subsequently an inner core material can be introduced by injection before the other wall shell is sealed off.
The containers can however also be of single-walled type which can be produced e.g. by rotomolding.
Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail, referring to the non-limiting drawings.
Turning to
A side view of the container 1 is shown in
A bottom view of the container 1 is provided in
Turning to
In
A top view of the female container, shown in
The design of the containers allows for stacking of the containers that provides for stable stacks and space saving of empty containers. Thus, male and female containers can be alternately stacked so that a stack of containers is formed that contains male and female containers in the alternate. Further the containers are designed such that they can be stacked in different configuration, each being stable with respect to horizontal movement, due to the design of the male and female containers.
Thus, turning to
In illustration B of
Turning to illustration C, an upright female container is shown on top an upright male container. An upper portion of the side walls 2,3 of the male containers fits snugly within the support members 26 of the female containers, such that the upper rim of the male container meets the lower surface of the bottom of the female container. The resulting stack is stable with respect to horizontal movement. The fork lift insertion openings 24 of the female container are aligned with recesses 4 in the wall 2 of the male container, allowing for the insertion of a fork through the stack, so that the upper female container, or a stack of containers that have a female container as its bottom member can be lifted and transported from the stack.
A stack of containers, female and male in the alternate, can thus be formed as shown in illustration A of
Illustration D in
Thus, stacks of containers of the present invention can be formed, wherein within each vertical stack, male and female containers are alternately provided. The containers can further be provided in an upright or inverted configuration with respect to an horizontal axis, i.e. containers within the stack can either be upright or they can be rotated by 180° with respect to a horizontal axis. Stacks of containers can thus be provided, with different configurations of adjacent members in the stack as indicated in
In
Side views A and B showing a short wall and a long wall of the containers are indicated in
The male and female container in this configuration are alternately stackable as shown in
In B, a male container is stacked on top of a female container. Here, the support members 7 of the male container fit snugly within recesses 23 along the upper rim of the walls of the female container, such that the two containers are interlocked with respect to horizontal movement.
In C, an upright female container rests on top of an upright male container. Due to the side walls 2,3 of the male container being tilted inwardly, the female container rests on top of the male container such that the upper rim 9 of the male container meets the bottom 25 of the female container. In this configuration, the support members 26 of the female container are adjacent to, and in close proximity with, an upper region of the side walls of the male container, so that the stack of containers is stable with respect to horizontal movement.
Thus, through the different stacking possibilities of the containers, stacks of containers can be formed, wherein male and female containers are placed alternately in the vertical stack, inverted female container on top of an upright male container, upright male container on top of an upright female container, upright female container on top of an upright male container, or upright male container on top of an inverted female container. The stacking of inverted female containers on top of upright male containers provides for substantial space savings when storing or transporting empty containers.
In
An alternative embodiment of male containers in accordance with the invention is shown in
A bird's eye view of the alternative male container is shown in
Side views of an alternative female container are shown in
The view from above shown in
Four views of stacking arrangements of the alternative male and female containers are shown in
It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments that are described in the foregoing. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
It should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges, and are also contemplated, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also contemplated.
It should be understood that the particular structural embodiments, methodology, materials, and substances, etc., described herein can vary. Thus, variations that are within the skills of the ordinary practitioner are also contemplated. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in the following clauses:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 050105 | May 2015 | IS | national |
| 050127 | Nov 2015 | IS | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IS2016/050008 | 5/4/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2016/178253 | 11/10/2016 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20180127146 A1 | May 2018 | US |
