Patent Application
20250121991
The invention relates to a transport container and a container arrangement comprising a support structure and a transport container releasably attachable to the support structure.
A stackable case for transportable machine tools with a box- or shell-like lower part and a raisable lid hinged to the lower part is known from EP 0 555 533 B1. For vertical stacking of several cases, the lower part of an upper case is positioned on the lid of the lower case arranged directly there below. In order to guarantee a correct relative positioning between the cases during stacking, complementary centering plugs are arranged on the base of the lower part and on the top of the lid, specifically, downwardly protruding projections molded onto the base of the lower part, which can be inserted into recesses in the lid. Several connectors are distributed along the wall periphery of the lower part of the case for releasably and firmly connecting the cases of the case stack. In particular, first connectors in the form of a tab-like pivoting part are arranged in the area of the top of the lower part and second connectors are arranged in the form of rib-like protrusions in the area of the lower part near the base. The tab-like pivoting part is then mounted to pivot on the lower part around an axis perpendicular to the stacking direction and connectable to a rib-like protrusion of the lower part of a mounted case. During coupling of the lower part of a mounted case via the tab-like pivoting part of the lower part of the lower case, coupling of the lid of the lower case also occurs simultaneously via third connectors arranged on the lid, which are also designed as rib-like protrusions. Coupling of just the lid is also possible by arranging the tab-like pivoting part on the lower part so as to be movable parallel to the stacking axis, i.e., without simultaneously coupling same to the rib-like protrusions of the lower part of a mounted case. The tab-like pivoting part is consequently movable between a raised position, which enables a coupling position between two cases mounted one upon the other, and a position that enables a locked position for fixing the lid relative to the corresponding lower part.
A container arrangement is also known from DE 10 2018 121 479 A1 with at least two vertically stackable containers, comprising a box-like lower part and a lid pivotably attached thereto. The containers then have a multipart pin recess opening to accommodate pin protrusions on the base part of an open container in the region of a rear lid back panel that is molded above the top surface. A front coupling connection between stacked containers can be made through a sliding bar movable perpendicular to the stacking direction and arranged on the front side. In particular, by pushing in the direction of the lid back panel the sliding bar then engages with a hook end over two attachment lips in the underside of the upper container as well as an attachment lip in the lid of the lower container parallel thereto. By deflecting the sliding bar away from the front plate, the hook end disengages from the attachment lips so that the front coupling connection is raised and the containers can be released from each other. A releasable connection of the body and lid can be made via a pivot bar that is separate from the sliding bar.
A drawback in solutions known from the prior art is that locking or unlocking of the lid by a user, as well as securing of stacked containers in a coupled state, is time-consuming and may require several manual operations, for example, first holding a locking element for a lid in a position in which the lid can be closed, in order to then lock the lid via the locking element. Furthermore, several costly to produce or complex locking and coupling structures for the containers are often required in order to lock a lid, on the one hand, and to secure the coupling of two containers, on the other.
Based on the above, one aspect of the invention relates to a transport container that can be arranged on a support structure, for example, another transport container, which has a locking mechanism to secure a upper container part on a lower container part, as well as a coupling mechanism to secure the container on the support structure, in which case locking of the upper container part on the lower container part as well as securing of the container on the support structure occur simply and in which simple unlocking of the upper container part secured on the lower container part, as well as simple releasing of the container from the secured arrangement on the support structure are possible, in particular independently of each other. In addition, the locking mechanism and the coupling mechanism should be advantageous to manufacture, in particular, have the fewest possible components with the simplest design. In addition, a container arrangement comprising such a transport container as well as a support structure are to be provided.
Accordingly, disclosed herein are a transport container and a container arrangement. Advantageous embodiments and useful modifications of the invention are also disclosed herein.
The transport container according to the invention for releasable attachment to a support structure, for example, to another container having the support structure or an adapter plate having the support structure includes a lower part and an upper part that encloses a receiving space together with the lower part and is pivotably connected to the lower part via a hinge for optionally closing or opening the receiving space. The transport container, in particular, can be a container for tools or tool parts, for example, a bit box. The lower and upper parts, which are preferably made of a plastic, for example, polypropylene, can then be designed as box- or shell-like and each can enclose its own receiving space, in particular a receiving space open to one side. However, it is also possible in principle for the upper part or the lower part to be designed in the form of a lid that does not enclose its own receiving space. To releasably secure the upper part in the closed position that seals off the receiving space, when sitting on the lower part, the transport container also has a closure element movable between a closed position and an open position. The transport container also includes a retaining element movable between a retaining position and a release position, via which the transport container can be fixed in a coupling position in which the lower part is arranged with the underside thereof on the support structure, in particular resting on the support structure. In particular, the underside of the lower part then has at least one coupling element, which is coupled to at least one corresponding mating element of the support structure, in particular engaged therewith. The coupling element, for example, can be an engagement bar that engages in the coupling position in a correspondingly configured engagement recess of the support structure.
The closure element and the retaining element according to the invention are two elastically deflectable segments of a securing element arranged on the lower part that can be actuated independently or decoupled from each other. The elastic deflectability of the closure and retaining element is then to be understood with respect to a normal or ordinary actuation of these elements by a user for opening the transport container or releasing the transport container from a support structure, in which case after the force causing the deflection has been eliminated, the closure or retaining element returns to the corresponding base position. The securing element is then preferably formed in one piece, in particular integrally or in one part, in particular preferably of plastic, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
In particular, the closure element according to the invention, which is elastically deflectable from the closed position that forms the base position, has a locking tab or locking bar, which engages in a corresponding locking recess of the upper part in the closed position when the upper part is arranged in the closed position that seals off the receiving space. Owing to the configuration of the closed position as the base position, the locking tab is also held in this engaging arrangement. The upper part is arranged on the lower part is thus secured against opening. Accordingly, during deflection of the closure element into the opening position, the locking tab disengages from the locking recess so that the transport container can be opened by pivoting the upper part around the pivot axis formed by the hinge. During closure of the upper part, the closure element is preferably briefly deflected from the closure position by contact of the locking tab against the outside of the locking recess, which preferably has a correspondingly designed lead-in chamfer, in order to then automatically lock into the locking recess in the fully closed transport container, i.e., without requiring any additional manual operation by the user.
The retaining element, which is elastically deflectable from the retaining position forming the base position, also includes a locking element, in particular a locking hook, for releasable engagement in a retaining recess of the support structure. In particular, the locking element engages in the retaining recess of the support structure in the retaining position when the transport container is arranged in the coupling position and the retaining element is in the retaining position. By the locking element being engaged in the retaining recess, the transport container is fastened to the support structure so as to secure same from being lifted off or removed. Owing to the configuration of the retaining element with the retaining position forming the base position, the locking element is then also held in the position that engages in the retaining recess. To release the transport container from the support structure, the retaining element is deflected from the retaining position into the release position so that the locking element disengages from the retaining recess of the support structure. The transport container can then be removed from the support structure, for example, by disengaging an engagement bar serving as coupling element and arranged on the underside of the lower part from a corresponding engagement recess in the support structure. In the aforementioned embodiment with the coupling element configured as an engagement bar, when the transport container is arranged in the coupling position on the support structure, the engagement bar is preferably initially inserted into the engagement recess of the support structure and the transport container then pivoted in the direction of the support structure so that the locking element engages in the retaining recess. The retaining element is then preferably deflected briefly from the retaining position by contact of the locking element with the outside of the retaining recess, which can have a corresponding lead-in chamfer, and then locked automatically in the retaining recess when the transport container is completely arranged in the coupling position, without requiring any further manual operation by a user.
By decoupling the retaining element and the closure element, when one element is actuated or deflected, there is no deflection or actuation of the other element. The retaining element remains in the retaining position that forms the base position when the closure element is deflected into the opening position. When the transport container is opened, it therefore remains securely fastened to a support structure. Similarly, when the retaining element is deflected into the release position, the closure element remains in the closed position so that opening of the transport container does not occur during removal of the transport container from the support structure. Owing to the configuration of the transport container according to the invention, in which the closure element and the retaining element are designed as segments or areas of a single securing element that can be operated when decoupled from each other, a configuration is obtained for a locking mechanism for releasable locking of the upper container part on the lower container part, as well as a securing mechanism for releasable securing of the transport container on a support structure, which is advantageous to manufacture and design and simple to actuate, in which, in particular, the locking of the transport container and the securing of same to the support structure occur separately from each other.
In an advantageous embodiment of the transport container, the upper part is pivotably connected to the lower part via a hinge arranged on a first side of the lower part, in particular the back of the lower part, for optional closing or opening of the receiving space, and the securing element is arranged on a second side of the lower part, in particular a front of the lower part opposite the back. This arrangement of the hinge and the securing element having the closure element provides a transport container that is advantageous to design and manufacture, which enables simple actuation of the closure element and opening of the transport container and holds the upper part securely in the closed position.
In an advantageous embodiment, the closure element and the retaining element are arranged on opposite sides of the securing element. The locking tab is then preferably arranged on or near the top of the securing element facing in the direction of the upper part, and the locking element, in particular the locking element designed as a locking hook, is arranged on or near the underside of the securing element facing the direction of a support structure. In this way, an embodiment of the securing element that is advantageous in terms of design is provided together with the closure and retaining elements decoupled from each other, which enables secure retaining of the upper part in the closed position as well as the transport container on the support structure. In particular, the aforementioned embodiment also enables simple actuation of the closure and retaining element occurring separately from each other.
The retaining element is preferably arranged between two vertically running separation slots of the securing element. The separation slots then extend inward in particular from the outer edge of the side of the securing element having the retaining element, for example, to about one-third or one-half the height of the securing element. The retaining element is preferably bounded laterally by the two vertically running separation slots. The retaining element is then connected to the rest of the securing element via the connection area arranged between the two separation slots. Decoupling of the retaining element from the closure element is ensured by the separation slot. To support decoupling, the securing element can also have a separation bar, in particular on the connection area arranged between the two separation slots, which rest against the lower part or is contact with the lower part during actuation of the retaining element or the closure element. The described embodiment provides a robust and simple to manufacture securing element with a retaining element that can be actuated decoupled from the closure element. In particular, the separation slots can then also be simply introduced after producing a base element for the securing element.
In an advantageous embodiment, the securing element is rigidly connected to the lower part, i.e., in particular fixed and immovable at the connection site. This ensures that the securing element is not unintentionally moved during actuation of the retaining element or the closure element, thereby adversely affecting the actuation or deflection of the retaining element or the closure element. The securing element is preferably mounted releasably on the lower part via at least one fastening device. The releasable arrangement also makes it particularly easy to replace a defective securing element. The fastening device is then preferably formed by a fastening hook arranged on the securing element and a fastening recess arranged on the lower part and designed for hooking the fastening hook. The fastening hook and/or the fastening recess can be a component of the securing element or the lower part, i.e., designed integral therewith. However, subsequent incorporation of the fastening hook and/or the fastening recess on the securing element or lower part is also possible. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to provide the fastening recess on the securing element and the fastening hook on the lower part of the transport container. It is particularly preferable for the securing element to be mounted on the lower part via two fastening devices. The retaining element is then preferably arranged between the at least two fastening devices and separated therefrom, in particular by two vertically running separation slots. Owing to the above-described embodiments, the securing element can be mounted simply and securely on the lower part. To guarantee secure positioning of the securing element on the lower part, in particular during actuation of the closure or retaining element, the securing element can have an installation bar arranged between two fastening devices, which lies on or near the lower part in a securing element mounted on the lower part. In addition, or alternatively, the outer edge of the side of the securing element that has the retaining element, can be formed as an installation edge lying against or next to the lower part. The securing element then preferably has one installation edge on each side of the retaining element.
In an advantageous embodiment, the closure element has an engagement section for pulling the closure element from the closed position outward into the opening position. The engagement section is then arranged in particular above the locking tab in the case of a locking tab arranged on the top of the securing element or formed by the region of the securing element arranged above the locking tab. In another advantageous embodiment, the retaining element has an actuation section to force the retaining element from the retaining position to the release position, in particular on the side facing away from the transport container or facing outward. The retaining element, and therefore the locking element, is consequently deflected in the direction of the transport container when a force is applied against the actuation section. Simple actuation of the closure and retaining element is provided by the described embodiments. In addition to the described embodiment, a correspondingly reversed configuration of the closure and retaining element is also conceivable in principle, in particular such that the retaining element has an engagement section to pull the retaining element into the release position and the closure element has an actuation section to force it into the opening position.
In an advantageous embodiment, the underside of the lower part has at least one coupling element that is coupled to the mating element of the support structure in the coupling position, in particular engaged therewith. The underside of the lower part preferably has an engagement bar, which in the coupling position engages in the corresponding engagement recess of the support structure. For simple, rapid and secure arrangement of the transport container on the support structure, the at least one engagement bar is arranged on or near the back having the hinge, in particular on the back edge of the lower part. In an advantageous embodiment, the lower part has several engagement bars for engagement in a correspondingly configured engagement recess of the support structure. The engagement recess can then also have several sections, each of which enables accommodation of one engagement bar. The engagement bars are then preferably arranged along the back, in particular along the edge of the underside of the lower part running along the back.
In an advantageous embodiment, the transport container is configured as a stackable transport container. The top of the upper part then has a support structure designed in particular for stacking, for example, of an equivalent, identical transport container for arrangement of the lower part of the equivalent transport container thereon. The upper part then preferably has at least one retaining recess for the locking element of the equivalent transport container. With particular preference, the top also has at least one mating element, in particular in the engagement recess, for coupling with a coupling element arranged on the underside of an equivalent transport container, in particular an engagement bar. In another advantageous embodiment, the top of the upper part has at least two such mating elements, in particular two engagement recesses, which preferably can also serve as retaining recesses. A configuration of the retaining recess analogous to or as an engagement recess represents a particularly preferred variant, since in this way insertion of both the locking tab and the locking element into the engagement recess and into the retaining recess considered as such is possible. The retaining recess in this advantageous embodiment can consequently also be used as an engagement recess. The reverse situation applies for the engagement recess. An engagement bar of an equivalent transport container then engages in the coupling position into a first engagement recess and the fastening hook of the equivalent transport container engages in a second engagement recess serving as retaining recess. In the aforementioned embodiment, an equivalent transport container can be mounted on the upper part in two positions, in particular rotated by 180° relative to each other.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the stackable transport container, the top of the upper part has at least two protrusions extending upward relative to a lid surface, in particular a front protrusion arranged on or next to the front having the securing element and a rear protrusion arranged on or next to the back having the hinge. The protrusions then each have at least one engagement recess, which is opened preferably in the direction of the other protrusion or directed inward from the perspective of the transport container. Simple and secure arrangement of an equivalent transport container in the coupling position is thus provided and therefore simple and secure stacking of several equivalent transport containers.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a container arrangement that includes a transport container as described above as well as at least one support structure having at least one retaining recess for releasable mounting of the transport container thereon. The support structure can then preferably be arranged on another in particular equivalent transport container or on an adapter plate. The support structure also preferably has a mating element suitable for coupling with a coupling element of the transport container, in particular an engagement recess that is suitable for receiving an engagement bar arranged on the underside of the transport container.
These and additional features as well as advantages and effects of the transport container according to the invention, as well as the container arrangement according to the invention are apparent from the following illustrative embodiment described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
A securing element 7, shown in detail in
To secure the upper part 3 in the closed position shown in
The closure element 10 has a locking tab 13 on the back facing the lower part 2 and the upper part 3 to secure the upper part 3 in the closed position shown in
As also shown in
The retaining element 11 has a locking element 16 forming the lower area of retaining element 11 to secure the transport container 1 on a support structure, which in the present case is designed in the form of locking hook. In the retaining position that forms the base position, the locking element 16 engages in a corresponding retaining recess of the support structure. Securing of the transport container 1 on a support structure and the mode of operation of the retaining element 11 are described below with reference to
As shown in particular in
In order to obtain the stacking of the transport containers 1, 1′ in the coupling position shown in
Loosening of the two stacked transport containers 1, 1′ is shown in
In the interest of completeness, it is pointed out that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above by way of example. For example, in addition to the depicted coupling of two equivalent transport containers, it is also possible to attach a transport container to an adapter plate having the equivalent but not identical support structure. It is also possible to provide differently configured engagement bars, as well as more or fewer engagement bars or other coupling elements as well as a different configuration of the engagement recesses. In principle, it is also conceivable to design a transport container having several securing elements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 128 317.0 | Oct 2023 | DE | national |
