BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention deals with crates for transporting goods which enable presenting the goods transported within the crate to a consumer and making it easier for him/her to access the goods within the crate.
A multitude of products are transported in crates that are open toward the top. For example, a multitude of different shapes of crates are known in the beverage industry for transporting bottles of beverages or relatively small trading units of bottles of beverages (for example so-called sixpacks from production to the retail trade). In the retail trade, the crates are typically stacked, so that access can only be from the top, and so that, consequently, products located in a crate which is at a relatively low position within the stack can only be accessed if all of the crates located on top of it are removed. This is extremely awkward and necessitates a lot of strength and time. In addition, such crates typically are only intended for transporting commodities of a specific type, e.g. bottles, so that other crates have to be employed for transporting other commodities.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide crates enabling more efficient and easier access to products being transported within the crate.
SUMMARY
According to an embodiment, a crate may have: a base; at least two pairs of mutually opposing side walls, a first one of said side walls extending upward from the base in a vertical direction at least partly by a retrieval height only which is smaller than the height of one or more of the remaining side walls so as to define a lateral opening dimensioned to enable accessing and retrieving products contained within the crate through the lateral opening; a blocking element which extends between the two opposing side walls adjoining the first side wall and which is movable between a first position and a second position, the blocking element being arranged, in the first position, between the opposing side walls and at a distance from the first side wall, and the blocking element being arranged, in the second position, to overlap with the first side wall; and a latching mechanism having a movable element configured to engage with the opposing side walls and/or with the blocking element so as to latch the blocking element, in its first position, with the opposing side walls, wherein the blocking element includes a bracket, a first bar arranged at a first end of the bracket, and a second bar arranged at a second end of the bracket, wherein those ends of the bar which face away from the bracket are arranged at the opposing side walls in a rotational manner.
According to another embodiment, a system may have: an inventive crate; and a plurality of inserts structured for different products, it being possible for one of the inserts to be optionally arranged within the crate.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a crate having a base and at least two pairs of opposing side walls, a first one of the side walls being configured such that it enables products contained in the crate to be retrieved. To this end, the first side wall extends—from the base upward in the vertical direction—at least partly by a smaller retrieval height only, which is smaller than the height of one or more of the remaining side walls. The retrieval height is determined such that a lateral opening is defined, by the first side wall, which is dimensioned to enable accessing and/or retrieving products contained within the crate through the lateral opening. The crate further includes a blocking element which extends between the two opposing side walls adjoining the first side wall, and which is movable between a first and a second position, said blocking element being arranged, in the first position, between the opposing side walls and spaced apart from the first side wall, said blocking element being arranged, in the second position, to overlap with the first side wall, the crate further including latching mechanism comprising a movable element configured to engage with the opposing side walls and/or the blocking element so as to latch the blocking element, in its first position, with the opposing side walls.
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the movable element is arranged at the blocking element and includes a latch biased into a first position, said movable element being configured to move the latch from the first position into a second position upon actuation, each of the opposing side walls comprising a recess in which the latch engages in its first position, so that the blocking element is latched with the opposing side walls, and the latch in the second position not engaging in the recesses, so that the blocking element is not latched with the opposing side walls.
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the blocking element includes a bracket, a first bar arranged at a first end of the bracket, and a second bar arranged at a second end of the bracket, those ends of the bars which face away from the bracket being arranged, in a rotational manner, at the opposing side walls. In such a configuration, the latch includes, in accordance with an embodiment, first and second latch elements which are vertically movable, the first latch element being arranged within the first bar, and the second latch element being arranged within the second bar. Alternatively, the latch may include first and second latch elements that are horizontally movable and are arranged within the bracket. In accordance with said embodiments, the movable element may include first and second actuation elements which cooperate with the first and second latch elements, respectively, for a movement from the biased, first position into the second position. In accordance with a further embodiment, wherein the latch elements are horizontally movable and are located within the bracket, the movable element may include a shared actuation element which cooperates with the first and second latch elements for a movement from the biased, first position into the second position. In such a case, a mechanism may further be provided which is configured to translate the horizontal movement of the shared actuation element into two opposite movements of the first and second latch elements, or latching elements.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the blocking element is arranged at the opposing side walls in a rotational and vertically translatable manner, the blocking element comprising a first latch element and a second latch element, and the opposing side walls including third and fourth latch elements. The latch elements are configured such that the first and third latch elements and the second and fourth latch elements engage with each other when the blocking element is arranged at a first vertical position, and so that the first and third latch elements and the second and fourth latch elements do not engage when the blocking element is arranged at its second vertical position. The movable element is movable between a first position and a second position, the blocking element being held at the first vertical position when the movable element is at its first position; and a movement of the blocking element from the first vertical position to the second vertical position being allowed when the movable element is at its second position.
In accordance with this embodiment, the blocking element may include a bracket, a first bar arranged at a first end of the bracket, and a second bar arranged at a second end of the bracket, those ends of the bars which face away from the bracket being arranged, in a rotational and vertically translatable manner, at the opposing side walls. Each of the opposing side walls includes a surface facing away from the low side wall and having a first surface portion spaced apart from the low side wall and a second surface portion being set back in relation to the first surface portion. In its first position, the blocking element is arranged at the second surface portion, there being a gap between the bracket and the first surface portion when the blocking element is arranged in the first vertical position, the movable element being arranged, in its first position, within the gap and thus preventing vertical movement of the blocking element.
In accordance with embodiments, the blocking element includes a bracket extending between the opposing side walls, and two bars arranged at the opposite ends of the bracket, a first end of the bars being arranged at the opposite ends of the bracket, and a second end of the bars being arranged at the corresponding side wall in a rotational manner. The opposing side walls and the first side wall may include recesses for receiving the bracket and the bars, it being possible for the recesses to be such that the bars and the bracket are flush, in the first and/or second position(s) of the blocking element, with a surface of the opposing side walls that faces the first side wall, and/or with an outer surface of the one side wall. The blocking element may be arranged, at the second position, with a distance from the base which corresponds to about a third, half or two thirds of the height of the opposite side walls. Moreover, the blocking element may be configured to be additionally arranged, at a further position, to be spaced apart from the first side wall; in this case, the bars may be configured like telescopes so as to optionally arrange the blocking element at the second or the further position.
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, a crate of the above-mentioned type further comprises an insert for being arranged on the base of the crate, the insert being configured in dependence on the products to be received in the crate.
In accordance with embodiments, the insert may be detachably connectable to the base and/or the side faces, advantageously only while employing special tools. The insert may be plate-shaped, and a first surface of the insert, which faces the base, may be adapted to a structure of the base. That surface of the plate-shaped insert which opposes the first surface is structured to match the product to be received. The insert may include mandrels (quills, sleeves), longitudinal bars, transverse bars and/or depressions. Embodiments further provide a system which includes a crate in accordance with embodiments of the invention as well as a plurality of inserts structured for various products, it being possible for one of the inserts to optionally be arranged within the crate.
In accordance with said embodiments, a system that may be freely custom-tailored is thus provided which may readily be adapted to different products to be received within the crate, for example on the part of a service provider who provides the crates in accordance with the configuration desired by a client, and has the corresponding inserts available and custom-tailors the crates without inserts accordingly; it being provided in this case that the inserts are replaceable only by using a special tool which is in the possession of the crate provider only.
In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the crate has an upper limit from the first side wall area (which may also be the entire side wall) extending from the base upward and having a relatively low retrieval height. This means that above said first side wall area, there will be not further nonpositive connection between the adjoining side walls. In other words, the first side wall is of a lower height, at least partly, than the surrounding or some of the surrounding side walls, so that reaching into the crate is also possible so as to obtain easy access to products located within crates which are located relatively low down in the stack, even if the crates are in the stacked state.
However, the height of the first side wall is dimensioned, in some embodiments, such that the specific products transported within the crate cannot fall out of the crate during transport. In some embodiments, the crate is intended to transport bottles or bottles that are pre-packed in relatively small trading units, which is why the first side wall has a height sufficient to prevent individual bottles from falling out of the crate. In some embodiments, the height is between 1 and 10 cm. In some further embodiments, this height is between 2 and 5 cm, or generally more than 2 cm.
In some embodiments, the first side wall has—at its edges adjoining the adjacent side walls—two side wall portions, respectively, which extend up to the height of the adjoining side walls so as to increase the crate's stability.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the crate has four side walls, grip openings being arranged at least in those side walls which adjoin the first side wall. The grip openings each have an area which is parallel to the base and an area which is perpendicular to the base. In some embodiments, the area perpendicular to the base is arranged in the direction of the first side wall. In some embodiments, in addition, the first opening portion, which is horizontal and extends essentially in parallel with the base, merges to the vertical opening portion having a radius large enough to be able to grip the crate in the radius as well. In these embodiments of the invention it is possible, as a consequence, to also grip and lift the crate in the radius or in the vertical opening portion, so that the crate will tilt backward when being gripped. During transport, this will reduce the likelihood of the objects, e.g. the bottles, falling out of the crate through the openings of the first side wall.
In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the crate further comprises, in the base area adjoining the first side wall, a larger bearing surface for the products to be transported than, on average, in the remaining area of the base. In other words, this means that if the base is not configured, for weight-saving reasons, to extend over the entire surface area/to have an all-over surface but consists of individual bars for example, the number of bars per unit area, i.e. the density of bars in the area adjoining the first side wall, will be higher. This results in that an item placed into the crate in the vicinity of the side wall, for example a bottle of beverage or a can having a large bearing surface, will be in contact with the base. This prevents the bottle or can of beverage from sliding or tilting into recesses located between the base bars, so that unwanted falling out of the can or the bottle during transport is prevented.
In some embodiments, in addition, the side walls adjoining the first side wall have a smaller height—at the front side where they adjoin the first side wall—than at that front side which opposes the side wall. This means that in the direction of the opening, the side walls bordering on the opening are lower, so that, on the one hand, the space made available for retrieval is increased, and so that, on the other hand, the incidence of light and/or the viewing angle into the interior of the crate is increased so as to provide improved visualization of the objects, e.g. bottles or the like, that are being transported within the crate.
In some further embodiments, the remaining side walls which do not correspond to the first side wall are foldable in relation to the base, so that the crate may be brought into a folded-up state, wherein the remaining side walls bear on the base, or are located above the base, such that they are approximately parallel to said base. Consequently, the crate can be transported at lower cost and more efficiently when it is in the emptied state.
Some embodiments have an additional movable side wall area which extends above the first side wall in the vertical direction and may be either removed or folded down. This may have the advantage that in the folded-open state, the movable side wall area additionally increases stability and/or safety, so that no goods or products may fall out of the crate. In addition, in the folded-open or folded-down state, the movable side wall area may be used for presenting product information or the like.
In some embodiments, the movable side wall area is configured to be latticed and/or formed from a plurality of ridges, so that the crate may be cleaned by means of high-pressure jetting without separating the movable side wall area from the crate and/or without unintentionally detaching same from the crate due to the high pressure.
In some embodiments, the remaining side walls are further coated and/or laminated, on their inner surfaces, with a film containing product information that may be easily viewed from outside.
In some further embodiments, a light film is provided, so that, due to the light reflection, the objects and/or bottles transported within the crate may be better perceived optically.
In some further embodiments, the three remaining side walls which do not correspond to the lower wall are equal in height, so that the crates may be stacked one upon the other, the base of one crate coming to lie on the three remaining side walls of the crate beneath it. To this end, specific recesses or contours may be provided both in the base and in the upper ends of the remaining side walls, into which the matching recesses or contours of the base and of the remaining side walls, respectively, engage so as to enable stackability and ensure a reliable position.
In some embodiments of inventive crates suitable for storing and/or transporting and presenting bottles of beverages or cans, the base comprises a plurality of mandrels extending from the base upward in the vertical direction. Mandrels are three-dimensional objects located on the base and shaped such that the bottles are held or secured by the external bounding surfaces of the mandrels, so that the bottles are effectively prevented from falling out. In some embodiments, the mandrels only have a small height in the vertical direction, so that they may also be referred to as mandrel stubs. The height and outer shape of some mandrels is selected such that they will, in connection with the first side wall, prevent the bottles from falling out through the lateral opening. However, to ensure retrieval, in some embodiments the mandrels are not higher, at their highest locations, than the first side wall. In some embodiments, the outer bounding surfaces of the mandrels have varying heights so as to adapt them in the best possible manner to the tasks set. To enable tilting out of the bottles in the direction of the first side wall while enabling high stability, the mandrels have a lower height in a direction parallel to the side wall than in the direction toward the first side wall, so that tilting in parallel with the first side wall is enabled, whereas tilting in a direction perpendicular thereto is rendered difficult, and the bottles are securely held.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a crate for transporting bottles;
FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1, loaded with sixpacks;
FIG. 3 shows loaded, stacked crates in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a bottom view;
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of an inventive crate;
FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of an inventive crate have foldable side walls;
FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6 in the partly folded-in state;
FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6 in the fully folded-in state;
FIG. 9 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6, loaded with bottles;
FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6, loaded with sixpacks;
FIG. 11 shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;
FIG. 12 shows a detailed view of mandrels used in some embodiments of the invention;
FIG. 13(
a) shows a crate in accordance with FIG. 1 with a blocking element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in a first, open position;
FIG. 13(
b) shows the crate of FIG. 13(a) with the blocking element in the second, closed position;
FIG. 14 shows a stacked arrangement of a crate of FIG. 1 and of a crate of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 shows a crate in accordance with FIG. 1, comprising a replaceable insert;
FIGS. 16(
a)-(d) show embodiments of inserts that may be employed in the crate in accordance with FIG. 16;
FIG. 17 shows a detail of a crate in accordance with an embodiment, FIG. 17(a) depicting a front representation of the left-hand side of the crate of FIG. 13(b), and FIG. 17(b) depicting a sectional representation;
FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of implementing the latching mechanism, FIG. 18(a) showing a front representation of the left-hand side of the crate of FIG. 13(b), and FIG. 18(b) showing a lateral sectional representation of a detail of the side wall;
FIG. 19 shows a further embodiment of implementing of the latching mechanism, FIG. 19(a) showing a front representation of the left-hand side of the crate of FIG. 13(b), and FIG. 19(b) showing a lateral sectional representation of a detail of the side wall;
FIG. 20 shows a different embodiment of a latching mechanism in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 21 shows a lateral sectional representation of the latching mechanism of FIG. 20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an inventive embodiment of a crate 10 for beverages. In the embodiment shown, the base 12 is not configured to extend continuously over the entire surface area, but consists of a latticed structure. As may be seen from the bottom view of the crate of FIG. 3, the base 12 is formed by a plurality of bars, or ridges. They are arranged in a sufficiently dense manner so that the goods to be transported, for example the bottle, cannot fall through the base of the crate or does not tip over in an uncontrolled manner when the edge of a bottle tilts into one of the cavities between the ridges.
In addition, the crate comprises two pairs of mutually opposing side walls 14a, 14b and 16a, 16b, respectively, which extend upward, i.e. in the vertical direction 18, from the base 12. A first one of the four side walls, in this example side wall 16b, extends into the vertical direction 18 by only a small retrieval height 20.
The retrieval height 20 is lower than the height of the remaining side walls 14a, 14b and 16a, so that a lateral opening is formed which enables access to or retrieval of bottles or products, which are contained and transported within the crate, through the lateral opening. No further structure of the crate is located above the first side wall 16b. On the base 12 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of mandrels are arranged, additionally, of which the mandrel 22a and the mandrel 22b are accentuated by way of example. Therefore, the lateral opening for retrieving the products is created in that the first side wall 16b has a lower height than the adjoining or remaining side walls. Height here and in the following figures is to be understood to mean the dimension in the positive vertical direction 18. The term “top” designates a position in the positive vertical direction 18, the term “bottom” designates a position having a smaller coordinate in the vertical direction 18. Sides are understood to mean any directions which limit the crate in the directions parallel to the surface of the base 12.
A lateral opening is defined and/or formed by the first side wall 16b, which lateral opening enables access to retrieving the bottles transported within the crate. In other embodiments, other products may obviously be transported within the crate. In the crate of FIG. 1, so-called sixpacks may also be transported, i.e. prepacked trading units of six bottles.
In alternative embodiments which are not shown here, the side wall does not have the low retrieval height 20 across its entire length, but stationary side wall portions extend into the lateral opening from the adjoining side walls 14a and 14b, the lateral opening remaining large enough to ensure retrieval of the products or bottles. Such crates may have increased stability.
The embodiment of a crate 10, shown in FIG. 1, further comprises a movable side wall area 23 which is pivoted via hinges 24a to 24c with regard to a stationary first side wall 16b. The movable side wall area 23 is depicted in a folded-down position in FIG. 1, where it is folded downward with regard to the first side wall 16b. In the folded-upward position, which will be illustrated below by means of several further embodiments of the invention, the movable side wall area 23 extends upward in the vertical direction 18. In this manner, safety may additionally be increased in that any bottles located within the crate 10 will not tilt outward. Additionally, the movable part may be used for presenting product information or the like.
The side walls 14a and 14b adjoining the first side wall 16b have grip openings 28a and 28b, respectively, at which the crate may be lifted up and carried. To this end, the grip openings comprise both a first opening area extending in parallel to the base, and a second opening area extending essentially in the vertical direction, the functions of which will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3.
In addition, the side walls 14a and 14b adjoining the first side wall 16b comprise tapered edge areas 30a and 30b at their ends pointing toward the first side wall, through which edge areas light may fall into the crates even when they are stacked one above the other. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, those ends of the side walls 14a and 14b which adjoin the first side wall 16b thus have lower heights than their opposite ends. It is self-evident that even though, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the recessed part of the side wall is essentially triangular, any other recess shapes may also be used for alternative embodiments. In some embodiments, the height of the side walls 14a and 14b adjoining the first side wall 16b continuously increases up to the maximum height. In alternative embodiments, the increase in height may also take place in stages or progressively, of course.
The crate shown in FIG. 1 is stackable, i.e. the contours of the upper ends of the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a are configured such that, upon stacking, they will engage with the contour or the structure of the base of another crate (see FIG. 3, for example), so that the crates may be stacked one upon the other. Nevertheless, the lateral opening defined by the first side wall 16b enables retrieving bottles or trade units of bottles such as sixpacks from inside the crate, even if the latter is stacked.
In some embodiments of the invention, the inwardly facing faces of the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a are provided with a light color, so that, due to the incidence of light caused by the openings 30a and 30b, the bottles within the crate will be clearly visible for the observer observing from outside. In alternative embodiments, the faces are pasted with product information or advertisement.
The embodiment of the invention which is shown in FIG. 1 further comprises, on at least one of the side walls (in the case shown here, on the side wall 14b), a plurality of ridges 32a to 32d which run in the vertical direction and project inward from a side face and which prevent the bottles held by the mandrels inside the crate from coming into contact with the side wall with their entire side faces, and from soiling a large area of said side face. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the ridges 32a to 32d are arranged such that the bottles abut the outer wall with their outermost radii at the positions of the ridges 32a to 32d. In this manner, one can prevent large areas of the inner surfaces of the side walls from being soiled, since this is the case for the ridges only.
FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the crate 10 of FIG. 1 in a state in which it is loaded with 3 sixpacks.
The sixpacks 40a, 40b and 40c each contain six individual bottles not depicted here for reasons of clarity.
In addition to the mandrels, which engage in the sixpacks from below—the sixpacks being open at the bottom for this purpose—, the sixpacks are also held by the ridges 40a and 40b which are arranged on the base 12 of the crate 10, as is shown in FIG. 1.
As becomes clear from the view of FIG. 3, which shows two crates 10 and 10a in a stacked state, the products or bottles may be retrieved from the lower crate 10 even in the stacked state. Of course, this also applies to the sixpacks 40a, 40b and 40c when they are transported and/or presented within the crates as an alternative option to individual bottles.
As becomes evident from FIGS. 2 and 3, the specific embodiment of a crate which is shown in FIG. 1 has a high level of flexibility with regard to the bottles to be transported, since it is possible, with the crate, to transport sixpacks, on the one hand, and individual bottles, on the other hand. This results from the arrangement, shown in FIG. 1, of the mandrels 22a and 22b and of the ridges 42a and 42b.
It is self-evident that in other embodiments of the crate 10, the arrangement of mandrels may be selected differently. For example, in some embodiments, ridges may be completely dispensed with, and instead, only mandrels may be employed. However, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, both are possible, since each individual bottle inserted into one of the gaps between mandrels and/or ridges is supported, in four directions in each case, either by a side wall of a ridge, by a mandrel, or by one of the side walls 14a, 14b, 16a, or 16b of the crate, so that same is stably secured for transport.
As becomes clear in FIG. 3, it is now possible, due to the stackability of the crates and due to the possibility of lateral retrieval which is provided by the first side wall 16b, to offer for sale different products in a column of stacked crates. In cooperation with the mandrels, the side wall 16b prevents the bottles from tilting out of the crate 10 during transport, which is why the side wall 16b is dimensioned such that it will prevent toppling out of the box during transport. At the same time, however, it remains sufficiently low for the bottles to be able to be retrieved from the crate in the forward direction, even if a further crate 10a is located on top of the crate 10. In accordance with some embodiments, for this purpose the bottles may initially be slightly lifted and then be tilted out in the forward direction. In some embodiments, this is enabled by a particular configuration of the mandrels as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 12.
FIG. 3 clearly shows a further property of some embodiments of the present invention, namely the particular configuration of the grip openings 28a and 28b. The grip opening is bent and extends both horizontally and vertically. In other words, the grip opening 28a comprises an opening area 50a extending in parallel to the base 12 and a second opening area 50b extending essentially in the vertical direction 18. The demarcation between the vertical and horizontal opening areas in FIG. 3 is to be understood as being merely exemplary. Thus, the grip opening 28a also extends with a significant expansion in the vertical direction, so that the grip opening 28a may be used by a person in the vertical opening area as well. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the grip opening 28a may obviously also be shaped differently than in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. For example, it may also have a square or rectangular cross-section, so that the crate may be lifted both from the top by means of the horizontal opening area 50a and from the side by means of the vertical opening area 50b.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the vertical opening area is located on that side which is associated with the first side wall 16b, and it merges into the horizontal opening area 50a at the outer contour (i.e. at the contour pointing in the direction of the first side wall) with a large radius. This results in that, when the crate is lifted, it may also be gripped in the radius, so that the crate will tilt backward (in the direction of the side wall 16a) when the vertical opening area is located on that side which is associated with the first side wall 16b, so that the individual bottles are additionally prevented from falling out because of the tilt of the crate when it is being carried.
As is illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows a perspective bottom view of the crate of FIG. 1, and in FIG. 11, which shows a bottom view of a further embodiment of the invention, in some embodiments of the invention safety is additionally increased by a specific design of the base 12 in that area 50 which adjoins the first side wall 16b.
In some embodiments of the invention, the base 12 is not formed to have an all-over surface, but is formed by an arrangement of ribs in order to save weight and facilitate cleaning. Said ribs cover the surface area of the base 12 such that the individual bottles rest securely on the base 12 with their bases. In the area 50 of the front edge, i.e. in the area 50 adjoining the first side wall 16b, the number, or the area surface density, of the ribs is increased as compared to the remaining area, so that the bottles located there cannot tilt outward all by themselves even if, due to external influences, they are slightly tilted from their rest position toward the first side wall 16b. This is avoided by the ribs being placed so densely in the area 50 adjoining the first side wall 16b that the edge of a bottle cannot tilt into the empty space between two adjacent ribs. In other words, in the area 50 adjoining the first side wall 16b, the base 12 has a bearing surface for the bottles that is larger than the bearing surface made available, on average, across the base per unit of area so as to enable secure fastening of the bottles.
As is also clear from FIG. 4, the base 12 has—in the area adjoining the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a—an elevation consisting of several ribs whose contours are configured such that they will engage, inside the side walls, in the contour of the side walls of a further crate when the crate is placed upon said other crate so as to ensure stackability and a secure position in the stacked state.
In addition, the base of the crate has a bar 52 in its center, which bar 52 extends from the side wall 16a to the first side wall 16b, and whose ridges have a larger expansion in the vertical direction than the remaining ridges of the base. Said bar 52 serves to additionally support the first side wall 16b, which has a relatively low height, so as to increase the crate's stability. The bar 52 is centrally arranged, so that the bar, which extends further down than the remaining base, will not impede removal of the bottles from the lower crate in the stacked state.
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, which differs from the embodiments discussed by means of the preceding figures essentially in that, with the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, other bottle sizes may be transported. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is adapted to bottles having contents of 0.5 l, the embodiment of a crate which is shown in FIG. 5 is adapted to bottles having contents of 0.33 l. Therefore, the embodiment of FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 essentially in the arrangement of the mandrels and in the thickness of the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a, which has been changed so as to hold the bottles arranged inside the crate given the same outer volume of the crate. For example, the crate shown in FIG. 5 comprises five mandrels 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d and 54e, for example, which adjoin the first side wall 16b, so as to hold in the first row a total of six bottles of contents of 0.33 l. In addition, the crate of FIG. 5 has merely one continuous ridge 56 in the center of the crate, so that alternatively, four sixpacks may be transported by using the crate.
Unlike the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4, the embodiment of FIG. 5 moreover shows the crate with a folded-upward, movable side wall area 23 at the first side wall 16b. Since, apart from that, the design features of the crate of FIG. 5 correspond to those of FIG. 1 and have identical functionalities in each case, renewed discussion of the components which match those of the crate of FIG. 1 shall be dispensed with. Additionally, it is to be mentioned here that the crate shown in FIG. 5, just like the crate shown in FIG. 1, has at least one opening 58 at the side wall 16a opposing the first side wall 16b, said opening 58 extending through the side wall 16a, so that the crate may be attached or suspended on a wall or a shelf or the like by means of the opening.
To increase safety of the attachment, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 each additionally have an optional second attachment opening 60.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is also configured for transporting 24 bottles with a content of 0.33 l each, and largely corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a, or at least parts of the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a, are arranged to be foldable by means of hinges in relation to the base. They are foldable such that they may be folded toward the base and will be essentially parallel to the base in a folded-down state, as is illustrated in FIG. 7 for the side wall 16a, which in the folded-down state is parallel to the surface of the base 12. FIG. 8 shows all of the side walls 14a, 14b and 16a in the folded-down state, so that in the folded-up state the crate may be readily transported back to the brewery or to a bottling company without consuming a lot of stowage space. This may considerably reduce transport costs.
Even though, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the foldable side walls 14a, 14b and 16a are shown only for a crate which is configured to transport 24 bottles of 0.33 l each, it is self-evident that the crate for bottles of 0.5 l, which is shown in FIG. 1, may also be equipped with foldable side walls. Generally, in all of the embodiments presented here, the features described or shown by means of the individual embodiments may be mutually combined in any manner desired so as to obtain alternative further embodiments of inventive crates.
FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 in the loaded state, wherein there will be 24 bottles in the crate.
Similarly to FIG. 5, in this case, too, the movable side wall area 23 is in the folded-open position so as to additionally secure the bottles of the frontmost row, or to attach product designations for transport on the exterior surface of the flexible part 23, which are not relevant to the presentation of the goods.
FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 with an alternative form of loading, namely with four sixpacks 70a, 70b, 70c and 70d.
FIG. 11, finally, shows a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, it being obvious that the mandrel 54c has a different geometric shape than the mandrels 54a, 54b and 54d or 54e so as to enable insertion of sixpacks. In alternative embodiments, however, the central mandrel 54c may of course have the same shape as the remaining mandrels, such as mandrel 54a, for example. Likewise, any other mandrels may have the shape of the mandrel 54c.
As may be gathered from the top view in FIG. 11, even for the case of the crates designed for 24 bottles of beverage, the base 12 is designed, in the area 50 adjoining the first side wall 16, with a larger bearing surface than the average bearing surface of the entire base, so as to prevent the bottles from accidentally toppling out of the crate.
FIG. 12 shows an enlarged representation of the mandrels 54a to 54c so that their specific shapes may be seen which, in cooperation with the first side wall 16b, enable holding the bottles both in a secure manner and such that they may be retrieved in the forward direction. To achieve this, some embodiments of mandrels have an exterior surface whose height is not constant in the vertical direction 18. The hatched area 70 is to be understood as the external bounding surface of the mandrel 54a, i.e. that area or those area elements which laterally bound the mandrel, i.e. in all of the directions orthogonal to the vertical direction 18.
The outer bounding surface 70 has a varying height, as was already described. The mandrel is less high in a first side face area 75 extending in parallel to the first side wall 16b and securing a bottle in the backward direction (in the direction 72 pointing away from the first side wall 16b) than it is in a second side face area 76 securing the bottle against tilting in a direction 74 parallel to the first side wall 16b.
With the mandrel 54a shown in FIG. 12, which has an essentially diamond-shaped cross-section, one tip of which points toward the first side wall 16b, the function of preventing backward tilting is thus performed by a first bounding surface area 75, which closes the mandrel essentially in the direction parallel to the first side wall 16b. A second bounding surface area 76 bounding the mandrel 54b in the direction of the first side wall 16b prevents tilting of the bottles in parallel to the first side wall 16b.
The first side face area 75 is lower than the second side face area 76 so as to enable tilting when the bottles are tilted forward without having to lift the bottle to such an extent that it possibly already abuts the base of a further crate stacked upon the crate in question.
The second bounding surface area 76, however, prevents tilting in the direction parallel to the first side wall 16b and may therefore be higher so as to increase stability. Generally, both the mandrels 54a and 54b and the mandrel 54c result in maximum stability while at the same time enabling tilting out toward the front in that the mandrels have a lower height in the direction parallel to the side wall than in the direction perpendicular to the side wall.
In addition, the mandrels in FIG. 12 are provided with outer bounding subareas which are concavely curved inward between the tips of the essentially diamond-shaped basic form, the radius of the curvature essentially corresponding to the diameter of a bottle so as to be able to still securely hold the bottle.
With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, a further embodiment of the invention will be described below, according to which a crate as was set forth, for example, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 is provided with a further element, a blocking element, which serves as transport protection, for example. FIG. 13 shows a crate which essentially corresponds to the crate of FIG. 1, so that repeated description of the various elements already described with reference to FIG. 1 will be dispensed with. As may be seen, the crate of FIG. 13(a) further includes a blocking element 100 comprising a bracket 102 having two opposite ends. A first end 102a of the bracket 102 has a first bar 104 arranged thereat, and a second end 102b of the bracket 102 has a second bar 106 arranged thereat. Those ends 104a and 106a of the bars 104, 106a, said ends facing away from the bracket 102, are mounted in a rotational manner on the opposite side faces or end faces 14a and 14b. In the situation shown in FIG. 13(a), the blocking element or transport protection element 100 is in a position located between a first position and a second position. The crate shown in FIG. 13(a) is once again shown in FIG. 13(b), but now with the blocking element 100 in a first position wherein the bracket 102 extends between the side walls 14a and 14b, said bracket 102 being arranged at a distance from the lower side wall 16b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13(b), the bracket 102 is at half the height of the side walls 14a and 14b, the present invention not being limited to this arrangement, however. Rather, the bracket 102 may be arranged to be either higher or lower, depending on the circumstances. The bars 104 and 106 are configured and mounted such that, when the bracket 102 is flipped over from the position shown in FIG. 13(a) to the position shown in FIG. 13(b), the bracket 102 assumes a desired distance from the bottom, lower side wall 116b. As may be seen from FIG. 13(b), the side walls 14a and 14b, or those surfaces of said two end walls which face the low side wall 16b, are structured to receive the bars 104 and 106 as well as that area wherein the bracket 102 is connected to the bars 104 and 106, i.e. the opposite ends 102a and 102b of the bracket 102, in recesses or cavities in such a manner that a flush front face will result.
FIG. 14 shows a stacked arrangement of a crate of FIG. 1 on which a crate of FIG. 13 is arranged, the situation shown here being one wherein the bracket 102 is arranged in a second position in which it is arranged to overlap with the low side wall 14b. As may be seen, the low side wall 16b is also structured by recesses or clearances so as to receive the bracket 102 in the second position shown in FIG. 14 so that a flush front face of the side wall 16b will result.
As may also be seen from FIGS. 13(b) and 14, the opposite ends 102a and 102b of the bracket 102 are configured such that in the first position, which is shown in FIG. 13(b), they will surround the corresponding side wall 14a and 14b so as to ensure latching and secure positioning of the bracket 102. Similarly, in the position shown in FIG. 14, secure positioning of the bracket 102 is achieved in that corresponding engagement elements formed in the low wall engage with the bracket 102.
The advantage of this embodiment consists in that an additional transport protection element has now been provided which is arranged, during transport, in the position shown in FIG. 13(b) and may thus have an impact on products located within the crate so as to prevent movement of same toward the opening, in other words, to provide a further barrier against the products falling out. The bracket is connected to the side faces or end faces of the crate in a rotational manner and may be moved from the closed position shown in FIG. 13(b) to the open position in a simple manner, so that free access to the products located within the crate is possible.
The invention is not limited to the examples described by means of FIGS. 13 and 14; rather, instead of arranging the bracket 102 at approximately half the height of the end walls, a different position may also be selected, for example the distance from the low wall 16b may be selected to amount to a third of the height of the side walls or to two thirds of the height of the side walls. In addition, provision may be made, in accordance with an embodiment, to configure the bars 104 and 106 like a telescope so as to position the bracket 102, starting from the situation in FIG. 14, at different heights along the height of the side walls, so that the height of the blocking element 102 may be adjusted in a flexible manner and in dependence on the products located within the crate.
By means of FIGS. 15 and 16, a further embodiment of the invention will be described below, FIG. 15 showing a crate which was already described with reference to FIG. 1, but differs in terms of the configuration of the base 12. In the crate shown in FIG. 15, an insert 112 is provided which is arranged on the base of the crate so to be detachable from same. The insert 112 shown in FIG. 16 includes an upper surface 112a on which a first bar 114 is shown which extends in parallel to the opposing end walls 14a and 14b over the entire depth of the crate to the rear wall 16a. A further bar, the transverse bar 116, is provided, which extends from the side wall 14a at approximately half the height of the depth of the crate toward the first bar 114. The insert 112 may be provided, for example, to receive products packaged in cardboard boxes and having dimensions which correspond to the resulting compartments in the insert 112. In addition to such products, any products may be provided for being received in the crate in accordance with FIG. 16, it also being possible, in accordance with the invention, for various inserts 112 to be detachably arranged within the crate.
By means of FIG. 16, some examples of the implementation of the inserts 112 will be rendered, it being possible, for example, for the surface 112a in FIG. 16(a) to be provided with rectangular-shaped and circular depressions so as to simultaneously receive products having a corresponding footprint. Similarly to FIG. 15, FIG. 16(b) shows the arrangement of bars on the top surface 112a of the insert 112, and in accordance with FIG. 16(c), mandrels may be provided on the top surface 112a, similarly to what was described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIG. 16(d) shows a bottom surface 112b of the insert 112, elements 118a to 118d arranged at the corners being shown which serve to engage with corresponding elements or recesses in the base 12 of the crate, said elements 118 being configured such that, following locking with the crate base, detachment from the crate base is possible only by using special tools, so that a crate provider may custom-tailor the crates in different manners as desired by the clients without the clients using the crate having the possibility of replacing the insert for utilization with other products. In this manner, the crates may be custom-tailored in accordance with the requirement demands of the clients, and in particular, it is possible to flexibly react to increased demand for crates having specific inserts when, at the same time, crates for other products are not in such high demand.
Embodiments of the invention will be explained below in more detail with reference to the crates of FIGS. 13 and 14. In accordance with said embodiments, the blocking element of the crates shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 comprises a latching element having a movable component so as to ensure secure latching of the blocking element in its closed position.
FIG. 17 shows a section of a crate in accordance with a first embodiment, FIG. 17(a) showing a front representation of the left-hand side of the crate of FIG. 13(b). It shall be noted at this point that the right-hand side of the crate is not shown for simplicity's sake, but may be configured to correspond to the left-hand side. FIG. 17(b) shows a sectional representation for illustrating the latching mechanism.
As may be seen in FIG. 17(a), the blocking element 102 includes a bracket 102 which differs from the bracket shown in FIG. 13 in that the bracket includes two bars 102c and 102d extending between the opposing side walls 14a and 14b (see FIG. 13). The ends of the bars 102c and 102d are integrally connected to the vertical bars 104 and 106, respectively, so that a blocking element corresponding to the blocking element shown in FIG. 13 is obtained. It shall be noted that embodiments of the invention are not limited to this configuration of the blocking element 100—rather, a blocking element in the form of the blocking element shown in FIG. 13 which has only one bracket bar may also be employed; alternatively, more than two bracket bars may be utilized. The crate further includes a latching mechanism 200 arranged, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 17(a), on the bracket 102, more specifically on the bracket bar 102c adjacent to the side wall 14a. The latching mechanism 200 includes an actuation element 202 and a housing 204 wherein the remaining elements of the mechanism are accommodated. The actuation element 202 is movable in the horizontal direction so as to actuate a latch, arranged within the housing, in the manner described below.
FIG. 17(
b) shows details of the latching mechanism of FIG. 17(a). As may be seen, the latching mechanism includes a latch element 206 which is horizontally movable, as is depicted by the arrow in FIG. 17(b). The latching element 206 is movably mounted within the housing 204 and is biased, via a spring 208, into the position shown in FIG. 17(b). The actuation element 202 is effectively connected to the latch element 206 so as to effect, by a corresponding horizontal movement, a movement of the latch element 206 from the position shown in FIG. 17(b) to a position drawn back to the right. The side wall 14a includes a recess 210 wherein the latch element 206 is arranged in its first position shown in FIG. 17(b). In this position, the blocking element 100 is latched at the position shown in FIG. 17(a) and in FIG. 13(b). Because of the latch element 206, which is located within the recess 210, a movement of the blocking element 100 into the position shown in FIG. 13(a) is prevented. To allow such a rotational movement, it is necessitated to remove the latch 206 from the position shown in FIG. 17(b) by actuating the element 202 against the spring force of the spring 208. Once a corresponding distance has been covered by actuating the element 202 by means of the latch, said element will be located outside the recess 210, and flipping over of the blocking element, for example into the position shown in FIG. 13, is enabled, or allowed.
The advantage of the inventive configuration consists in that now safe positioning of the blocking element at the first position thereof is achieved, which prevents, in particular during transport, unintentional opening of the element and, thus, the products contained within the container from falling out. Utilization of such a latching mechanism with a movable element is advantageous as compared to a pure locking closure since secure latching is achieved in this manner. In the case of locking, the blocking element may open as a result of impacts or shocks to which the crate is exposed, or as a result of movements of the goods within the crate.
With reference to FIG. 18, an alternative embodiment of the configuration of the latching mechanism is described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the latching mechanism includes a vertical latch element instead of the horizontal latch element known from FIG. 17. As is shown in FIG. 18(a), the latching mechanism 200 is arranged within the blocking element and includes a vertically movable actuation element 202. FIG. 18(b) shows a lateral sectional representation of a section of the side wall, the viewing angle being from the side in the direction of the side wall. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 18(b), the latching element, or latch element, 206 is movably arranged within a recess 212 of the blocking element. The latch element 206 is vertically movable, as is depicted by the arrow, and is biased into the position shown in FIG. 18(a) by a spring 208. The side wall 14a includes the recess 210 with which the latch element 206 engages in its position shown in FIG. 18(b), so that a movement of the blocking element in the direction of the bent arrow is prevented. The latch element 210 is effectively connected to the actuation element 202, so that a downward movement of same results in that the latch element is moved downward against the spring force of the spring 208 and will eventually exit the recess 210 so as to allow a movement of the blocking element in the direction of the bent arrow in FIG. 18(b).
FIG. 19 shows a further embodiment of the invention, which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18, wherein however—unlike FIG. 18—the active elements of the latching mechanism are arranged within the side wall 14a. As is shown in FIG. 19(a), the latching mechanism 200 includes the actuation element 202, which is arranged in an upper portion of the side wall 14a. FIG. 19(b) shows a sectional representation similar to that of FIG. 18(b). As may be seen, the latching element 206 is now arranged within the recess 210 in the side wall 14a and is biased, by means of the spring 208, in the direction pointing downward in FIG. 19(b). Same may be vertically moved by means of the actuation element 202, which is effectively connected to the latch element 206, as is shown by the double arrow in FIG. 19(b). The latch element 206 is represented in the biased position, wherein it engages with the recess 212 in the blocking element, so that a movement of the blocking element in the direction of the bent arrow is avoided.
As may be seen, the side wall 14a and, likewise, the other side wall 14b, which is not shown in any more detail in FIGS. 17 to 19, include a narrow surface 220 facing the low side wall 16b and including a first surface portion 220a spaced apart from the low side wall 16b, and a second surface portion 220b arranged between the low side wall 16b and the first surface portion 220a, which second surface portion 220b is set back in the direction of the rear wall 16b in relation to the first surface portion 220a, so that that surface 220 of the side wall 14a which faces the low wall 16b has a projection 222. In accordance with embodiments, the side wall 14a is configured such that the surface portions 220a and 220b are mutually offset such that the blocking element in its first position abuts the second surface portion 220b, the projection 222 being dimensioned such that the first surface portion 220a of the wall 14a and a surface of the blocking element which faces the low wall 16b are flush—if the blocking element is in the first position—so as to provide an essentially flush front surface of the side walls of the crate.
It shall be noted at this point that the inventive latching mechanism is not limited to the mechanisms described by means of FIGS. 17 to 19; rather, they may also be implemented differently. For example, in the case of horizontal latching elements, a shared actuation element may be provided along the length of one of the bracket bars, a suitable gear mechanism being additionally integrated which effects a movement of the actuation element in opposite movements of the two latch elements effectively connected thereto, so that upon actuation of the latch element in one direction, unlatching of the latch elements 206 cooperating with the two opposing side faces 14a and 14b is effected. Likewise, the horizontal latch mechanism may be built into one of the bracket bars, a corresponding release mechanism either also being part of the bracket bar or being part of the side wall.
FIG. 20 shows a further embodiment of a latching mechanism in accordance with the present invention. The blocking element 100 includes a recess 230 in the area wherein the bracket bars 102c and 102d are connected to the vertical bar 104. In the embodiment shown, the recess is located between the upper bracket bar 102c and the lower bracket bar 102d. In other embodiments, the recess may also be provided at different positions. In addition, the side wall 14a includes a hook-shaped projection 232, which in the direction of the low side wall 16b, i.e. in the forward direction, projects beyond the second surface portion 220b of the side wall 14a. In FIG. 20, the blocking element 100 is represented in its first position wherein it closes the opening defined between the side walls 14a and 14b. In this position, the bars 104, 106 of the blocking element 100 abut the surface portion 220b of the narrow surface 220 of the side wall 14a, as was briefly explained above by means of FIG. 19(b). Unlike the embodiments described so far, in the embodiments described with reference to FIG. 20 the blocking element 100 is not only rotationally mounted, but also vertically movable. In the closed position shown in FIG. 20, the hook portion of the projection 232 encompasses an outer surface of the bar 104 through the recess 230, so that the blocking element 100 is prevented from moving forward into its opened position. The blocking element 100 is arranged, in its first position, such that there is a gap 234 between the bracket 102 and the projection 222 of the side wall 14a.
So as to prevent, during transport of the crate, a vertical upward movement of the blocking element 100 into the gap 234 and, thus, to prevent unlatching, a movable element 236 is further provided which is arranged, on the upper bracket bar 102c, to be rotationally movable about an axis 238 so as to be able to be moved between the position shown in FIG. 20 and a further position. The movable element 236 includes a portion 240 which is arranged within the gap 234 and is removed from the gap 234 by a rotational movement of the movable element about the axis 238. As long as the portion 240 is located within the gap 234, vertical movement of the element 100 and, thus, its unlatching, or detachment of the element 100 from the hook-shaped projection 232, is prevented. To enable the blocking element 100 to open, the movable element 234 is rotated so as to remove the portion 240 from the gap 234, whereby a vertical upward movement of the blocking element is enabled, whereby the hook-shaped projection 232 will release the blocking element 100, so that the latter may be flipped over.
FIG. 21 shows a lateral sectional representation illustrating the configuration of the projection 232. As may be seen, the projection includes a hook-shaped portion 232, the blocking element 104 being configured, at the corresponding location, for engagement with said projection 232a. Alternatively, the projection 232 may also extend toward the outside over the thickness of the blocking element 104, so that the portion 232a will engage with an outer surface of the blocking element. A movement of the blocking element within the gap 234 results in that engagement of the projection 232a with the outer surface 104a of the blocking element 104 is undone, so that a movement of the blocking element in the direction of the bent arrow shown in FIG. 21 is enabled. If such a movement is not desired, the blocking element is arrested at the position shown in FIG. 21 by means of the element shown in FIG. 20, and because the portion 240 of the movable element 236 is arranged within the gap 234, vertical upward movement of the element is no longer possible.
Even though embodiments of the present invention were discussed above mainly in the context of crates for beverages, further embodiments of the present invention may also be utilized for other types of products, of course. For example, beverage cans as well as any other cylindrical objects such as hairsprays, deodorants or the like may be transported by using the inventive crates. In addition, the crates having lateral openings are also suitable for entirely different types of products, which may also deviate from a cylindrical basic form. The crates may be used universally for all kinds of products, since they enable the products to be laterally removed from the crate even in the stacked state. This major advantage is not limited to the type of goods transported.
While this invention has been described in terms of several advantageous embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.
Patent Application
20130320006
