WO1997049613A1

WO1997049613A1 - Hinge and lock for the side walls of a box-shaped collapsible container

Info

Publication number: WO1997049613A1
Application number: PCT/CH1996/000456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Umiker
Original assignee: Schoeller International Engineering S.A.
Priority date: 1996-06-24
Filing date: 1996-12-20
Publication date: 1997-12-31

Abstract

A hinge is disclosed for a box-shaped, plastic collapsible container with one bottom and four side walls that can be folded down inwards on the bottom and that are hinged to the bottom or to vertically protruding edges of the bottom. In their upright position, adjacent side walls can be locked together in the area of their top edges at the corners of the container to form a combined, lateral-thrust resistant structure. This hinge is characterised by at least one arm (12) which carries hinge pins (13) arranged on the folding axis (5) of the side walls. When the collapsible container (1) is assembled, the hinge pins (13) engage hinge bearings (17). The points at which the hinge pins (13) are attached to the at least one arm (12) are resiliently joined to each other. Also disclosed is a lock for the side walls of a box-shaped container (1), in which the side walls have ramps (10) or recesses (25) on which an edge (24) of the adjacent side wall is guided or into which said edge (24) can be inserted when the side walls are erected.

Description

Hinge and lock to the side walls of a box-shaped folding container

The invention relates to a hinge and a locking mechanism for the rare walls of a box-shaped container made of plastic, which has a bottom and four side walls which can be folded inwards and which are hingedly connected to the bottom, or with shelves projecting from the bottom, adjacent walls Sidewalls in their upright position in the area of their upper edge at the container corners can be locked together to form a shear-resistant overall assembly.

Such box-shaped folding containers are used, for example, for the transport and storage of goods, in particular as containers for displaying and promoting retail goods packed in bags, bags and the like. To minimize the transport volume of empty containers, the side walls can be folded against the floor.

A generic container is known from German published patent application DE 44 46 322. This box-shaped container consists of a base and four rare walls which can be folded inwards towards the base and are connected to the base or with intermediate members projecting upwards from the base , with adjacent side walls in their upright position, preferably in the area of their upper edge at the container corners, being lockable with one another to form a shear-stable overall assembly.

Of the problems that arise repeatedly in connection with such generic folding containers, three deserve more attention: 1. The weight of the folding container is often too large or the stability of weight-minimized containers is too low.

2. The hinges are exposed to considerable stresses due to the assembly or repeated installation and collapse of the side walls as well as the carrying of the filled containers on the transverse side walls. As a result, the service life of a generic container can be considerably shortened.

3. Locks, as described in the above-mentioned disclosure, can make everyday and worldwide use of the folding containers more difficult: the closures must e.g. opened or closed properly by hand (with the tips of your fingers). Due to dirt or deformation, such closures tend to block and can - if at all - only be opened or closed by hand with difficulty. Due to the understandable but improper use of any tools in this situation, serious damage to the locks is to be feared.

However, no proposed solutions to these problems are presented in said publication.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide hinges or locks of the side walls of a folding container. The basic conditions are:

1. An extremely small side wall thickness should enable the folding container to have a minimum weight.

2. The hinges should allow the side walls to be installed easily and should easily withstand repeated folding of the side walls. You should - at Carrying the filled containers, for example on the transverse side walls, can bear a relatively large load, regardless of the lifespan of the folding box and despite the small side wall thickness.

3. The locking of the side walls - because of the small thickness of the side walls - should enable a high stability of the folding container or a sufficiently shear-stable overall assembly without the use of movable elements.

A hinge of a box-shaped container made of plastic is proposed, which has a bottom and four side walls which can be folded inwards towards the bottom and are hingedly connected to the bottom - or with shelves projecting upward from the bottom, with adjacent side walls in their erect position in the area of their upper edge at the container corners can be locked together to form a shear-resistant overall assembly, characterized in that this hinge has at least one arm which carries hinge pins arranged on the folding axis of the side wall, the Hinge pins are in engagement with hinge bearings in the assembled state of the folding container and that the attachment points of the hinge pins on this at least one arm are resiliently connected to one another. In the case of a folding container of this type, a locking of the side walls is proposed, in which the one side wall has ramps or recesses over which the edge of the adjacent side wall is guided when the latter is erected or into which this edge can be inserted. The locking of adjacent side walls can thus be closed and also opened without the use of tools. Examples of preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to drawings. Show it :

Fig. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a folding container

Fig. 2 perspective views of a hinge:

2a arms with hinge pin, dismantled hinge,

2b niche with hinge bearings, dismantled

Hinge, 2c composite hinge;

Fig. 3a view of a dismantled hinge viewed from the front, Fi g. 3b representation of an assembled hinge in vertical section;

Fig. 4 perspective representations of a lock:

4a from inside the folding container, 4b from outside the folding container;

Fig horizontal section through a lock.

1 shows a folding container 1 in which the transverse side walls 2 and a long side wall 3 are erected. A long side wall 3 is slightly inclined towards the inside of the folding container 1 and is either to be folded down practically parallel to the container bottom 4 or likewise to be brought into the upright position. It is obvious that in this first embodiment of such a folding container 1, first the long side walls 3 and then the transverse side walls 2 are folded in against the container base 4. The folding axes 5, around which the side walls can be folded, are ",,., PCT / CH96 / 00456 97/49613

- 5 -

gen inside shelves 6. These shelves 6 are preferably formed directly on the container base 4 and made in one piece with this; but you can also use e.g. Snap locks (not shown) must be connected to the bottom of the container. The height of the shelves 6 depends on the folding sequence of the side walls 2, 3; the shelves of the mutually opposite side walls to be folded in are designed so high that the side walls completely folded in pairs around the folding axes 5 lie practically parallel on the container base 4. The other two opposite side walls, which, when completely folded around the folding axes 5, are practically parallel to one another and are practically parallel on the first folded-in rare walls. The transverse side wall is shown here with a transverse web 7. These crosspieces serve to carry the filled folding containers. These folding containers 1 can carry a carton that can be inserted or snapped into the recesses 8 of the side walls or other flat endings (under certain circumstances with advertising imprints).

The pivot hinges 9 are clearly visible, of which 4 preferably connect a side wall to the shelf 6; however, fewer or more hinges can also be provided per side wall. Ramps 10 can also be seen on a transverse side wall 2, which serve to lock adjacent rare walls. The pressure points 11, which are important for releasing the locking of the side walls, can be seen on a long side wall.

Fig. 2 shows a pivot hinge 9 in the disassembled and assembled state. In Fig. 2a, the two arms 12, at least one of which is elastic, are formed on the underside of a side wall and each carry a hinge pin 13. Between the starting points of these hinge pins 13 there is a resilient element 14. The Arms 12 can be slightly conical (as shown) or parallel and have rounded portions at the attachment points or the transitions to the side walls. In further embodiments of the invention, the resilient element 14 can extend over a longer part of the arms 12, or the arms and the resilient element can together have an essentially U-shaped profile in cross section, on the legs of which the attachment points of the hinge pins are located 13 are located. The hinge pins 13 preferably have a cylindrical shape, but they can also have a polygonal or otherwise different cross-section and be hollow or filled. The hinge pins 13 preferably have supporting surfaces 15 and insertion surfaces 16, but they can also be formed at their ends so as to be easier to assemble the hinges in the hinge meshes.

Corresponding to the number of hinge pins 13 are shown in Fig. 2b hinge bearing 17, which are preferably molded into a board 6. In a further embodiment of the invention, the hinge bearings 17 could also be molded into ribs which are molded onto a shelf 6 or onto the container base 4. A hinge recess 18 is formed between the hinge bearings 17, which is preferably closed off against the outer part of the rim 6 by a rear wall 19; the back wall can also be omitted. By minimizing the thickness of the side wall and / or the rim, the diameter of the hinge pin 13 can be substantially more than half the thickness of the side wall or rim 6.

A pin hinge 9 according to the invention can also have a fixing tab 20, for the purpose of additional stabilization of this hinge, which is fastened to the board 6 or to the container bottom 4, for example, by means of reinforcements 21. In the assembled state of the pin hinge 9 - with the side wall upright - the hinge pins engage in the hinge bearings, the folding axis of the side wall extending through the hinge bearings 17 and hinge pins 13 and lying in the area of the side wall or the flange 6. The preferably elastic arms 12 lie in the hinge recess 18 and the resilient element 14 is in contact with the fixing bracket 20.

Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the arms 12 and the resilient element 14 in the front view (Fig. 3a) and the vertical section corresponding to the section line B B

B - B of an assembled hinge (Fig. 3b). The arched resilient element 14, which connects the attachment points of the two hinge pins 13 to one another, is shown in FIG. 3b in its relaxed position in such a way that an apparent overlap of the inwardly facing arch with the fixing tab can be seen. This overlap is a measure of the pressure that the fixing tab 20 exerts on the resilient element 14 in this situation. This pressure forces the arms 12 and thus the pins 13 to assume such a position that the hinge pins 13 sit as deeply as possible in their bearings. This ensures that the hinges are not separated, even when carrying large loads. An additional We ^¬ effect of this pressure is the fact that the side wall is automatically kept in the vertical. The alignment of the arch of the resilient element 14 downwards or outwards would have a similar effect, so that the pressure would be caused by an apparent overlap with the lower edge 22 or the rear wall 19 of the hinge recess 18.

In the preferred arrangement of FIG. 3, the fixing tab 20 also prevents the hinge pins 13 from being pressed out of the hinge bearings 17 by external pressure on the side wall. In a preferred one Embodiment of these pin hinges 9, the arms 12, the hinge pin 13 and the resilient element 14 or the hinge bearing 17 and the fixing tab are integrally formed on the side walls or shelves 6; however, resilient elements 14 or fixing tabs 20 can also consist of materials other than those used for the side walls or the bottom of the container. For example, other plastics (such as nylon) or metals could be used.

As an alternative to the hinges shown here, the hinge pins can be directed towards one another and engage in two hinge bearings located in between or in a common hinge bearing of this type. A further embodiment of the invention comprises exchanging the attachment points of the arms 12 with the hinge pins 13 and the attachment locations of the hinge bearings 17 and fixing tabs 20, so that the representations of FIGS. 2 and 3 are "upside down" are considered.

Fig. 4 shows the locking of the side walls, Fig. 4a shows the locking position of two adjacent side walls. According to a first embodiment, in which the transverse side walls 2 are U-shaped and have side webs 23 lying in the surface of the long side walls 3, the edge 24 of the

Long side wall 3 is moved over the ramps 10 formed on the transverse side wall 2 and brought into abutment with the side web 23. In the end position, the edge 24 is located in a niche 25 (see FIG. 5) and the elevation 26 near the top of the long side wall 3 is in a recess 27 corresponding to its size near the top of the side web 23. The niche 25 is like this dimensioned (see also FIG. 5) that the elevation 26 and the recess 27 are in engagement with one another in such a way that the two side walls cannot automatically separate from one another. To loosen this shear stable connection, which none has movable parts on the respective sides, a finger pressure (preferably with the thumb of the hand used in each case) on the pressure point 11 (see FIG. 4b) is sufficient to push the elevation 26 out of the depression 27, after which the long side wall 3 is folded in can.

The locked end position of two adjacent side walls is shown in horizontal section (FIG. 5). The edge 24 of the longitudinal side wall 3 was pushed over the ramps 10 of the transverse side wall 2 until the latter abutted the side web 23 of the U-shaped transverse side wall. During this movement of the long side wall 3, which is guided over the ramps 10, the transverse side wall 2 deviates somewhat outwards and can be moved towards the long side wall 3 as soon as it strikes the side web 23: the edge 24 is thus in the Niche 25 moves and the elevation 26 is brought into engagement with the recess 27. The rear edges of the elevation 26a and that of the recess 27a get caught, thereby preventing the connection from opening automatically. 5, these trailing edges 26a and 27a are drawn in conically. A particularly preferred embodiment of these trailing edges includes their right-angled alignment to the outside of the folding container 1. A further embodiment of these trailing edges 26a, 27a includes their toothed alignment, which - instead of tipping to the left (as shown), tilts to the right in FIG. 5 comprises.

To open, the long side wall 3 is rotated by advantageously — simultaneously left and right — thumb pressure on the pressure points 11 by the rearmost point of contact thereof with the side web 23 of the transverse side walls 2. The elevations 2δ thus move out of the depressions 27 on both sides of the long side wall 3. The transverse side walls 2 can both be folded slightly outwards and the long side wall 3 placed inwards on the bottom 4 of the folding container 1. Of course, a lock, in which the longitudinal side walls 3 are U-shaped and have ramps 10, niches 25 and depressions 27 and in which the transverse side walls 2 have corresponding pressure points 11, edges 24 and elevations 25, functions analogously and is part of the scope of the present invention. In that embodiment, first the transverse side walls 2 and only afterwards the longitudinal side walls 3 - about the folding axes 5 - are folded into a position practically parallel to the container bottom 4. Likewise, the elevations 26 and depressions 27 or their attachment locations can be interchanged with one another without moving away from the subject matter of the present invention.

A folding container with hinges according to the invention and / or locking according to the invention is preferably produced from plastic by injection molding. The possibility of using other materials (such as metals or light metals) or manufacturing processes (such as blowing or pressing) should be explicitly mentioned here.

Compared to the prior art, the following advantages result from the present invention — for example and not in a final list — the following advantages:

• Because of the formation of pivot hinges for the

Production of an extremely light and thin-walled folding container can be selected from a larger number of raw materials. For example, even transparent hinged containers can be made from high-quality polycarbonate, whereas if tape or film hinges were used, the choice of raw materials would essentially be limited to polypropylene and its copolymers.

• Thanks to their relatively large diameter, the hinge pins on the crossbars are so strong that the collapsible containers can also absorb larger loads can be held and transported.

The locking of the side walls is so secure that a shear-resistant overall assembly is created on the folding container without parts having to be moved relative to the respective side wall when the lock is being closed or released.

Claims

Protection claims

1. Hinge of a box-shaped container made of plastic, which has a bottom and four side walls which can be folded inwards and which are hingedly connected to the bottom - or with shelves projecting upward from the floor - with adjacent side walls in their upright position in the area of their upper edge at the corners of the container can be locked together to form a shear-resistant overall assembly, characterized in that this hinge has at least one arm (12) which is arranged on the folding axis (5) of the side walls Hinge pin (13) carries, the hinge pin (13) in the assembled state of the folding container (1) engaging with hinge bearings (17) and that the attachment points of the hinge pin (13) to this at least one arm (12 ) are resiliently connected.

2. Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that a resilient element (14) is arranged between the attachment points of these hinge pins (13) in the area of the hinge pins (13) and that these hinge pins (13) on two arms (12 ) are arranged, one of which is formed at least elas ^¬ table.

3. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one arm (12), the hinge pin (13) and the resilient element (14) are integrally formed on a side wall and that the hinge bearing (17) are molded into a rim (6).

4. Hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the at least one arm (12), the hinge pin (13) and the resilient connection (14) are integrally formed on a board (6) and that the hinge bearing (17th ) are molded into a side wall.

5. Hinge according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a fixing tab (20) is arranged on a board (6) or on the container bottom (4) for each hinge (9) - for the stabilization thereof - for the same.

6. Hinge according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixing tab (20) is arranged so that it has a

Exerts pressure on the resilient element (14) on at least one arm (12).

7. Locking the side walls of a box-shaped container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one side walls have ramps (10) or niches (25) over which an edge (24) of the adjacent side wall be ^¬ when the latter is erected or into which this edge (24) can be inserted.

8. Locking according to claim 7, characterized in that the transverse side walls (2) are U-shaped with side webs (23) which have elevations (26) which - for preventing an automatic unlocking - with corresponding, in the longitudinal side walls (2) arranged depressions (27) can be brought into engagement.

9. Lock according to claim 8, characterized in that the long side walls (3) have pressure points (11), after which the elevation when printing on these pressure points (11)

(26) m of the long side wall (3) and the recess (27) in the side webs (23) of the transverse side wall (2) can be separated from one another and the locking of the adjacent side walls can thereby be released.

10. Locking according to claim 7, characterized in that the long side walls (3) are U-shaped

Side webs (23) which have depressions (27) which - in order to prevent automatic unlocking - can be brought into engagement with corresponding elevations (26) arranged in the transverse side walls (2).