Plastic Container with Hook Element

The invention relates to a plastic container for storing and transporting objects.

Plastic containers for storing and transporting objects, for example in the course of warehousing, internal transportation, and/or delivery of the objects, are used in a variety of ways. In order to utilize the available storage space as efficiently as possible in the course of warehousing, i.e., a targeted and systematic storage of objects for later use, several plastic containers may be placed in storage one behind the other on shelves, for example. However, several plastic containers stored one behind the other present a challenge when placing them in storage and retrieving them from storage.

It is an objective of the invention to provide an improved plastic container for storing and transporting objects, in particular a plastic container for improved placing in storage and retrieving from storage. The objectives underlying the invention are solved by the features of the independent claims.

In one aspect, a plastic container for storing and transporting objects is disclosed, which comprises a bottom and four side walls. A first of the side walls comprises a hook element made of plastic on an outer side of the plastic container. The hook element comprises a downwardly open U-shaped cross-sectional profile in a sectional plane perpendicular to the first side wall and to the bottom of the plastic container. The hook element comprises a plurality of stabilizing ribs.

The hook element makes it possible to couple the plastic container to one or more other plastic containers for placing in storage and/or for retrieving from storage. For example, the plastic container with the hook element may be hooked into a receiving element of a further plastic container, in particular one of identical construction, which is designed complementary to the hook element. This allows the plastic container to be coupled to the other plastic container with a form-fitting, for example. In this way, for example, a train assembly of two or more coupled plastic containers may be formed. A respective train assembly of plastic containers comprises a plurality of plastic containers coupled together using respective hook elements, in particular form-fittingly coupled together. By coupling the plastic containers to one another, it may be ensured that a first, i.e., foremost position on an edge of the depth support of a storage rack is always occupied when plastic containers of the train assembly are placed in storage and/or retrieved from storage, as long as at least one plastic container is still present.

For example, the plastic containers comprise a hook element on the outer side of a first side wall and a complementary receiving element, i.e., pocket element, on the outer side of an opposite second side wall. The hook element and receiving element may, for example, have a complementary shape such that the hook element and receiving element of two plastic containers of identical construction may be coupled together in a form-fitting manner. The hook element and receiving element are shaped in such a way, for example, that the forces applied are distributed as evenly as possible in the plastic material from which the elements may be made, for example by injection molding. The hook element and receiving element are shaped, for example, in such a way that the forces applied are transferred into the bottom of the plastic container.

For example, the hook elements of the plastic containers of a train assembly enable force transmission from plastic container to plastic container, so that when a front plastic container of the train assembly is gripped, the frictional forces of all the plastic containers of the train assembly that are attached to each other may be overcome and the train assembly may be moved. In particular, pushing or pulling forces may be transmitted in the course of placing in storage or retrieving from storage, which enable the train assembly to move along a longitudinal direction of the train assembly.

When retrieving a plastic container from storage, for example, the foremost plastic container in the train assembly may be pulled out of a rack and suspended or decoupled from the train assembly. The train assembly is moved towards an edge of the rack or the depth support by a length of a plastic container, for example, so that a previously second foremost plastic container takes on the rack the position of the previously foremost and now decoupled plastic container. In this way, the foremost position always remains occupied by a plastic container, for example.

Similarly, an additional plastic container may be attached or coupled to a foremost plastic container of the train assembly during a placing in storage and pushed into the rack. In this case, for example, the train assembly is moved away from the edge of the rack or the depth support by a length of a plastic container and further into the rack when the additional plastic container is pushed into the rack. As a result, the additional plastic container in the rack takes the position of the previously foremost plastic container in the train assembly. In this way, the foremost position always remains occupied by a plastic container, for example.

Such placing in storage and retrieving from storage, in which pushing and/or pulling forces are transmitted along the train assembly, makes it possible that gripping the frontmost plastic container of the train assembly is sufficient. For example, it is not necessary to reach into the rack for placement in storage and/or retrieval from storage, nor are further technical devices required within the rack for placing the respective plastic containers in storage and/or retrieving the respective plastic containers from storage. Thus, for example, it may be avoided that an operating device, in particular an automated operating device, has to move into the depth of the rack for the purpose of placing respective plastic containers in storage and/or retrieving respective plastic containers from storage in order to place and/or pick up a plastic container. This makes it possible, for example, to realize a higher storage density with simultaneously simpler designed operating devices. The higher storage density may be achieved, for example, by the fact that the plastic containers may be stored close behind one another, for example coupled to one another in a form-fitting manner, and possibly close side by side if no additional space is required for further technical devices within the rack for placing the plastic containers in storage and/or for retrieving the plastic containers from storage.

In a sectional plane perpendicular to the first side wall and to the bottom of the plastic container, the hook element has a downwardly open U-shaped cross-sectional profile. Such a U-shaped cross-sectional profile enables, for example, simple hooking or form-fittingly coupling of the plastic container with a further plastic container, in particular of identical construction, which has a receiving element with a complementary upwardly open U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

The hook element comprises a plurality of stabilizing ribs. A use of stabilizing ribs makes it possible to stabilize or stiffen the plastic hook element in such a way that it is suitable for transmitting forces, in particular pulling and/or pushing forces, which are large enough to overcome frictional forces from one or more other plastic containers coupled to the plastic container via the hook element. This applies to both static and dynamic frictional forces. The plastic containers rest on deep supports made of galvanized steel, for example. The frictional forces are, for example, frictional forces between plastic, such as polypropylene (PP), and steel, such as galvanized steel. This also applies in particular to loaded plastic containers. The pulling and/or pushing forces, that act on a foremost plastic container of a train assembly and are to be transmitted, e.g., act in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall of the foremost plastic container.

For example, the bottom of the plastic container comprises a support structure with a cell structure that has a pattern of cells with downwardly open cells. A cell structure is understood here to be a structure formed from a plurality of individual cells. An individual cell has, for example, at least one lateral cell wall via which neighboring cells are connected to each other. The individual cells may have different cross-sectional shapes, in particular polygonal cross-sectional shapes. The individual cells of the respective cell structures form, for example, downwardly open cavities with a cross-section, in particular a polygonal cross-section, parallel to an extension plane of the bottom or an upper side of the bottom. The polygonal cross-section may be, for example, a triangular, square, pentagonal, or hexagonal cross-section. For example, the cell structure may be a honeycomb structure with cells in the form of honeycombs with a hexagonal cross-section.

A respective cell structure may have the advantage that the plastic container only rests with the lower edges of the cells on a support, such as a deep support of a rack. Friction is limited, for example, to the respective lower edges. At the same time, the cell structure may ensure high stability of the bottom of the plastic container.

A U-shaped profile comprises two legs connected to each other. The connecting section between the two legs is the base of the U-shaped profile. The base may be flat, straight or concave, for example. In the case of a flat base, for example, additional curved transition sections may be provided between base and leg. The legs of the U-shaped profile may, for example, be straight or curved, in particular concavely curved. For example, the legs extend parallel to each other. For example, the legs extend perpendicular to a flat base of the U-shaped profile or to a tangent to a minimum or maximum of a curved base, in particular to a center of the base. For example, the two legs are inclined away from each other so that an opening of the U-shaped profile increases with increasing distance from the base. For example, a first of the two legs is inclined relative to a normal to a flat base of the U-shaped profile or to a tangent to a minimum or maximum of a curved base, in particular to a center of the base, while the second leg extends parallel to the normal. For example, both legs are inclined relative to a normal to a flat base of the U-shaped profile or to a tangent to a minimum or maximum of a curved base, in particular to a center of the base.

The U-shaped cross-sectional profile enables, for example, the hook element to be easily hooked into a receiving element of a further plastic container provided for this purpose, which has, for example, a complementary U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element also makes it possible, for example, to redirect forces acting on the hook element, in particular in the direction towards the bottom of the plastic container. For example, the hook element is arranged for this purpose near the bottom of the plastic container, i.e., in a lower region of the first side wall.

In addition, the U-shaped cross-sectional profile has, for example, rounded transitions without corners, in particular only rounded transitions, as a result of which local force peaks and a resulting exceeding of a maximum limiting stress of the plastic material from which the plastic container is made may be avoided during force transmission. For example, the hook element has no corners along the force path, i.e., the transmission path of a force acting on the hook element, but only rounded curves, which means, for example, that local force peaks and thus material overloads may be avoided.

The U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element counteracts, for example, a bending of the first side wall as a result of a force acting on the hook element.

Examples make it possible for the forces required to overcome the frictional force to be applied to the plastic containers of a train assembly via the hook elements in such a way that the limiting stress of the plastic material from which the plastic containers and in particular the hook elements are made is not exceeded at any point along the force transmission path. This applies, for example, to polypropylene (PP), from which the plastic containers may be made, for example by injection molding. This applies, for example, to recycled polypropylene, from which the plastic containers and in particular the hook elements may be made, for example by injection molding. A respective limiting stress for recycled polypropylene is around 20 MPa, for example. This applies, for example, to new, non-recycled polypropylene (PP), from which the plastic containers and in particular the hook elements may be made, for example by injection molding. A respective limiting stress for new, non-recycled polypropylene is around 30 MPa, for example.

A use of stabilizing ribs makes it possible, for example, to achieve sufficient stabilization or stiffening of the hook element and at the same time, for example, to maintain a constant wall thickness of all sections of the plastic container and in particular of the hook element, which is required for a manufacturing by injection molding.

Stabilizing ribs and/or stabilizing struts of the hook element generate, for example, lines of force between friction surfaces on the bottom of the plastic container and a connection section to an adjacent plastic container in a train assembly. The connection section is, for example, the section of a connection between the respective hook element and a receiving element of the neighboring plastic containers.

Curvatures of the hook element may move or distribute occurring stress maxima from an edge of the connection section to its center, for example, whereby a size of an effective area may be increased and thus the locally occurring stresses in the plastic material may be reduced.

A train assembly may, for example, comprise two or more plastic containers. For example, a train assembly comprises up to five plastic containers. For example, a train assembly comprises three plastic containers. For example, a train assembly comprises four plastic containers. For example, a train assembly comprises five plastic containers.

By using the stabilizing ribs, even in the case of a train assembly with up to five plastic containers, it may be ensured that the hook element is configured to pull up to four plastic containers, for example. It may therefore be ensured that the hook element is configured, for example, to transmit a force that is sufficient to overcome the frictional forces of four loaded plastic containers.

By form-fittingly coupling the hook element into a complementary receiving element, a form-fitting coupling, comparable to a claw coupling, may be implemented between the plastic containers of a train assembly.

By means of the stabilizing ribs, for example, a load applied to the hook element in the height range of the bottom may be transferred into the first side wall of the plastic container and from there further transferred into the bottom of the plastic container.

For example, several first stabilizing ribs of the plurality of stabilizing ribs of the hook element are arranged parallel to each other and each extend, for example, perpendicular to the first side wall and to the bottom of the plastic container. Furthermore, the first stabilizing ribs each comprise a lower edge which comprises a downwardly open U-shape in an extension plane of the respective stabilizing rib.

For example, the first stabilizing ribs with the U-shaped curved lower edges form the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element. For example, the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element is a cross-sectional profile of a cross-section through one of the first stabilizing ribs. For example, the first stabilizing ribs with the U-shaped lower edges each form an inner arc of the hook element, along which force is transmitted.

The parallel arrangement of the first stabilizing ribs next to each other may, for example, achieve a better, in particular a uniform distribution of the force over the individual stabilizing ribs and thus over the width of the hook element. This applies in particular when the first stabilizing ribs are arranged next to each other at equal distances.

For example, the first stabilizing ribs extend down to the bottom of the plastic container. By extending the first stabilizing ribs, for example along the first side wall, down to the bottom of the plastic container, effective force transmission along the first stabilizing ribs into the bottom of the plastic container may be ensured, for example.

For example, the first stabilizing ribs extend down below an upper side of the bottom of the plastic container. By extending the first stabilizing ribs, for example along the first side wall, down below an upper side of the bottom of the plastic container, the force transmission along the first stabilizing ribs into the bottom of the plastic container may be further improved, for example.

For example, at an end remote from the first side wall, the hook element comprises an inner surface that is essentially perpendicular to the bottom. This vertical inner surface enables, for example, a secure form-fitting connection between the hook element and a complementary receiving element.

For example, at an end remote from the first side wall, the hook element comprises an inner surface inclined obliquely in direction towards the first side wall. An inner surface inclined obliquely in direction towards the first side wall, for which, for example, a lower end of the inner surface is further away from the first side wall than an upper end of the inner surface, enables, for example, a further plastic container to be pulled towards the plastic container with the hook element or vice versa. In the course of inserting the hook element into a respective receiving element of the further plastic container, the receiving element is guided along the inclined inner surface of the hook element towards the first side wall of the plastic container with the hook element. Alternatively, for example, the hook element is guided together with the plastic container along the inclined inner surface towards the further plastic container when it is inserted into the receiving element.

For example, the hook element comprises a downward-facing support surface at the end remote from the first side wall. This support surface is used, for example, to support the hook element on a receiving element, in particular when the hook element is inserted into the receiving element.

For example, the support surface is designed as a first edge lip with a rounded first transition section to the inner surface of the hook element. The inner surface is, for example, an inner surface perpendicular to the bottom. For example, the inner surface is inclined obliquely in direction towards the first side wall. A rounded transition section may, for example, make it easier to insert the hook element into a receiving element of a further plastic container provided for this purpose.

For example, the hook element further comprises, on an outer side of the hook element facing away from the first side wall, a plurality of second stabilizing ribs of the plurality of stabilizing ribs of the hook element, which are arranged next to each other along a direction extending parallel to the first side wall and the bottom of the plastic container and each extend perpendicular to the first side wall and to the bottom of the plastic container.

The parallel arrangement of the second stabilizing ribs next to each other may, for example, achieve a better, in particular a uniform distribution of the force over the individual stabilizing ribs and thus over the width of the hook element. This applies in particular when the second stabilizing ribs are arranged next to each other at equal distances.

For example, the first and second stabilizing ribs each extend in pairs in a common plane, wherein the common planes are each arranged perpendicular to the first side wall and the bottom of the plastic container. For example, the second stabilizing ribs, as outer stabilizing ribs, are each arranged further away from the first side wall of the plastic container than the first stabilizing ribs, which are, for example, inner stabilizing ribs. For example, the second and first stabilizing ribs extend one behind the other along a force transmission path from an end of the hook element remote from the first side wall down to the bottom of the plastic container. This enables effective force transmission from the second to the first stabilizing ribs and then from these down to the bottom of the plastic container.

For example, the hook element does not have a support surface at the end remote from the first side wall. For example, gaps between the second stabilizing ribs arranged on the outer side of the hook element facing away from the first side wall are downwardly open.

For example, the hook element further comprises, arranged on the outer side of the hook element, one or more stabilizing struts of the hook element, which extend perpendicular to the second stabilizing ribs and/or connect them to one another. The stabilizing struts are configured, for example, to further increase the stability or rigidity of the hook element. In particular, forces acting laterally may thus be better distributed along the width of the hook element, for example to the first and/or second stabilizing ribs.

For example, a section of the outer side of the hook element is inclined in direction towards the first side wall. Examples may have the advantage that the inclination of the outer side or the section of the outer side may improve force transmission of the hook element in direction towards the first side wall. In addition, support of the hook element at the first side wall may be improved in the course of force transmission.

For example, the section of the outer side of the hook element extends in an arc towards the first side wall. Examples may have the advantage that the curved shape of the outer side or the section of the outer side may improve force transmission of the hook element in direction towards the first side wall. In addition, support of the hook element at the first side wall may be improved in the course of force transmission. Finally, the stability of the hook element may be improved by the curved shape.

For example, the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element comprises two legs, of which a leg arranged on the side of the first side wall is inclined relative to a normal of the bottom of the plastic container, so that an opening of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile increases with increasing distance from a base of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile.

An increasing opening may, for example, make it easier to insert or hook the hook element into a receiving element provided for this purpose. Furthermore, an opening that increases with increasing distance from the base of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile enables, for example, a further plastic container to be pulled towards the plastic container with the hook element or vice versa. In the course of inserting the hook element into a respective receiving element of the additional plastic container, the receiving element is automatically aligned by the decreasing opening of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile in the respective profile and, if necessary, guided towards the plastic container with the hook element. Alternatively, for example, the hook element is aligned during insertion and, if necessary, guided together with the plastic container towards the other plastic container into the receiving element.

For example, the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element has rounded transitions between the legs and the base of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The U-shaped cross-sectional profile has a concave base, for example.

Due to rounded transitions, local force peaks and thus material overloads may be avoided in the course of force transmission by the hook element along the U-shaped cross-section profile.

For example, one or more of the following components of the hook element are arranged above the bottom of the plastic container: a section of the hook element comprising the outer side of the hook element facing away from the first side wall, the base of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the hook element, the support surface.

On the one hand, arranging parts of the hook element above the bottom of the plastic container may make it easier to create a form-fitting connection with a receiving element provided for this purpose. On the other hand, in the course of force transmission by the hook element, force absorption above the bottom and redirection of the absorbed force down to the bottom of the plastic container by the hook element may be facilitated.

For example, the hook element on the outer side of the plastic container is integrally molded with the first side wall. For example, the hook element is manufactured as part of the plastic container in one piece with the plastic container. Examples may ensure a firm connection between the plastic container and the hook element. In addition, no further work step is required to attach the hook element to the plastic container.

For example, the hook element on the outer side of the plastic container is connected to the first side wall using a first non-destructively detachable connection. For example, the hook element on the outer side of the plastic container is connected to the first side wall using a first non-destructively detachable plug-in connection. For example, the plug-in connection comprises a snap connection. For example, the hook element is held in the plug-in connection with the first side wall by means of latching or clipping.