Special receptacle or package – Structural features for vertical stacking – i.e. – similar... – Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-26
2001-04-17
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for vertical stacking, i.e., similar...
Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
C220S007000, C220S004340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216872
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a stackable container suitable for transporting produce.
Many different kinds of stackable containers for transporting produce are known. Examples of these are re-usable non-collapsible crates of a plastics material and disposable collapsible cardboard boxes.
Crates of this type are relatively expensive and bulky and thus present the disadvantage of occupying considerable space, especially when empty and, because the crates are non-collapsible, it is relatively expensive to transport the empty crates.
A disadvantage of cardboard boxes is that they tend to get wet when stored in cold rooms and once they are wet, they collapse relatively easily, especially when stacked.
Collapsible stackable plastics containers have been used in the past to attempt to overcome the above disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of the previously proposed containers is that, in order to be stackable, a substantial amount of plastic material is used per container, thus making the containers relatively expensive. Another disadvantage of these containers is that the mechanism employed to make the containers collapsible, is relatively complicated.
South African patent number 96/9707 discloses a collapsible container assembly which includes a number of side walls and a floor adapted to be joined to the side walls to form a crate. The container assembly further includes connection means having complementary gaps and protrusions provided in the protrusions, the apertures at each pair of side meeting edges being in alignment. The container assembly further includes an elongate locking member of a plastics material, for each pair of side meeting edges of the side walls. The locking members are adapted to be inserted into the respective aligned apertures in the protrusions to releasably hold the protrusions of side meeting edges of the side walls together.
A disadvantage of this type of container assembly is that the locking members as such are not designed to bear the weight of a superjacent container when two like containers are stacked. An additional amount of plastics material therefore is incorporated into the side meeting edges of the side walls. Due to the additional plastics material, the cost of such containers is therefore usually relatively high. This type of container is therefore more suitable for use as a relatively large reusable pallet-type crate. Furthermore, with the locking member in position, the side members cannot pivot relative to each other. Therefore, in order to store and transport the container, the locking members have to be removed and the individual components of the container stacked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a stackable container for produce, with which the aforesaid disadvantages may be overcome or at least minimised.
The stackable container of the invention is suitable for transporting produce and comprising a housing constituted by a first pair of opposed side walls, a second pair of opposed end walls, and a floor panel; and a plurality of separate elongate load bearing shafts connected to the housing and adapted to bear the weight of a superjacent container when two like containers are stacked.
The walls may each have two opposite side meeting edges, with one of the side meeting edges of one wall being connected to one of the side meeting edges of an adjacent wall by one of said load bearing shafts.
The side meeting edges of the walls may be provided with connecting means, with each connecting means comprising a plurality of staggered connecting formations for intermeshing with the staggered connecting formations of one of the other walls.
Each connecting formation may define an opening which is aligned with the openings of other connecting formations, for respectively receiving the load bearing shafts.
The side and end walls may be hinged to the floor panel.
The stackable container may include a cover member which is hinged to one of the walls.
Further according to the invention the housing is moulded in the form of a unitary blank from a plastic material and the walls and cover member are hinged by a plastic type hinge.
The blank may be stackable with other like blanks.
The housing may be provided with a retaining formation for retaining the cover member in a closed position.
Further according to the invention, the load bearing shaft comprises a metal rod having a head at one end defining a socket for receiving an opposite end of a load bearing shaft of a subjacent like container.
According to an alternative configuration of the invention, the first pair of opposed side walls and the second pair of opposed end walls forms a rectangular structure; the side walls being hinged together at their respective side meeting edges; and the rectangular structure formed by the side and end walls being removably connected to the floor panel and being collapsible when removed from the floor panel.
The walls may be hinged together by hinge formations, with each hinge formation comprising a plurality of staggered hinge members for intermeshing with the staggered hinge members of one of the other walls.
Each hinge member may define a bore which is aligned with the bores of other hinge members, for respectively receiving the load bearing shafts.
The stackable container may include an annular cover member which defines an opening and which connects to the rectangular structure in clip-on fashion.
The stackable container may further include a flexible web for closing the opening of the cover member, the web being trapped between the cover member and the rectangular structure, in use.
The floor panel may also connect to the rectangular structure in clip-on fashion.
The floor panel may also be annular to define an opening which is also closable by a flexible web which is trapped between the floor panel and the rectangular structure, in use.
The walls and floor panel may be performed and more particularly may define elongate slots to reduce the weight of each wall and the floor panel.
The end walls may each define a grip formation for handling of the container.
According to another alternative configuration of the invention, the first pair of opposed side walls and the second pair of opposed end walls forms a rectangular structure and the container includes a separate removable annular cover member defining an opening and which cover member is connectable to the rectangular structure in clip-on fashion, the cover member being adapted for trapping a flexible web between the cover member and the rectangular structure, to close the opening of the cover member.
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Castellano Stephen
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
PQR 59 Properties (PTY) Ltd.
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