[0001] The present invention refers to a system of identical modular containers which can
be piled up on top of one another, to be used particularly, but not exclusively, for
the storage and transportation of foodstuffs.
[0002] In the sector of so-called "household goods", plastic containers for foodstuffs are
known which are used for the storage and transportation of foodstuffs of various kinds.
[0003] For instance, it is well known that it is necessary to place, in refrigerators or
freezers or in some other cold environment, fresh and/or cooked food for the purpose
of storing it ready for use within relatively short periods.
[0004] Plastic containers for foodstuffs are also used to transport the aforesaid food from
one place to another, for example, when transferring from one house to another or
during trips or excursions, etc.
[0005] In order to meet the needs mentioned above, containers that can be piled up one on
top of another have already been proposed. However, these containers present the drawback
of not having a positive-seal means of closing between one container and another,
a fact which may give rise to the problems referred to in what follows.
[0006] First of all, the containers are piled up without there being a real seal-type means
of closing, and this can lead to the contents coming out and an inadequate storage
with loss of the flavour of the food, and also an undesirable contamination of the
refrigerator.
[0007] In addition, picking up and transporting the pile of containers is not easy or safe,
in that a careless or clumsy operation could easily cause sudden and unexpected separation
of the piled containers, and the contents could consequently get spilt.
[0008] Finally, it is difficult to separate a single container from the rest of the pile
at a time, for example the one on the top or the one on the bottom.
[0009] DE 1 062 621 discloses a tooth positioned near the bottom of the containers to be
piled up on top one of the other, the clamping means consist of a rigid and complex
levers system (1, 2 and 3).
[0010] US 4,760,921 discloses a modular storage system made from at least two stackable
storage receptacles of one piece moulded plastic construction. Each receptacle presents
a plurality of T-shaped locking tabs formed integrally with the basket. Each tab is
adapted to pivot from an as-moulded position to a position in which it releasably
engages an over-head receptacle, as well as to a position in which it releasably engages
an adjacent receptacle.
[0011] The general purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks
of the known art by creating a system of identical modular containers that can be
piled up on top of one another, in which a safety seal is provided between one container
and another, picking-up and transporting of the entire pile can be carried out safely,
and it is also possible to separate one or more of the containers at a time easily
from the rest of the pile.
[0012] The above purpose is achieved by a system of containers as claimed in the main claim
attached and in the subordinate claims.
[0013] The structural and functional characteristics of the invention and its advantages
with respect to the known art will be more clearly understood from an examination
of the following description referring to the attached drawings which illustrate a
practical example of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the positive-seal item between one container
and another in a system of modular containers made according to the principles of
the invention;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a single container;
- Figure 3 is an exploded front view which illustrates, longitudinally and in cross
section, two containers that can be piled up, one set on top of the other;
- Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 illustrating the same containers in
front view transversely and in cross section;
- Figure 5 is a view illustrating a container with corresponding lid in exploded view;
- Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 illustrating the lid fitted onto the
container but not clamped on it; and
- Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 illustrating the lid positively fixed
to the container.
[0014] With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, the system of modular containers in question
is designated, as a whole, by 10 and comprises a plurality of containers 11 that are
identical to each other and can be piled on top of one another, and possibly also
comprises a top lid 12.
[0015] The containers described in the embodiment provided as a non-limiting example are
rectangular in plan view and have rounded edges, but could also have any other geometrical
shape suitable for the purpose.
[0016] As is clearly shown in Figures 2-4, each container 11 is provided with a restricted
bottom section 13, which, together with the longitudinal perimetral walls 14 and transverse
perimetral walls 15, identifies a perimetral undercut 16.
[0017] In this way, a number of containers 11 can be piled on top of one another, as shown
in Figure 1, by inserting - with a slight interference - the bottom section 13 of
one container in the top of the container set underneath. For this purpose, the external
dimensions of the bottom section 13 and the internal dimensions at the top of each
container are complementary, and in any case such as to ensure a fit with a slight
interference between the surfaces that come into in contact.
[0018] The reference number 17 designates hand-grips which extend from the longitudinal
top edges of each container 11.
[0019] According to the present invention, on the sides of each container 11 (transverse
sides) there is provided a positive clamping system between one container and another.
[0020] More precisely, the said clamping system consists of a flap 18 hinged in 19 - for
example by means of a line of less resistance - to the top edge of the container.
[0021] Each flap 18 presents, at its centre, an opening 20 designed for clamping, as shown
in Figure 1, onto a tooth 21 protruding, in vertical alignment, from the container
above, in the vicinity of the bottom section 13.
[0022] In this way, it is evident how a plurality of piled containers, for example as shown
in Figure 1, can be positively sealed together by simply clamping the opening 20 of
a flap 18 of a container 11 set underneath onto the tooth 21 of a container 11 set
on top.
[0023] For the above purpose, the operation of piling one container on top of another (after
the contents have been placed inside) is performed with the flaps 18 lowered or open
in the position shown in Figure 2, whilst the positive closing of one container on
top of another is performed by rotating the flaps upwards about the hinge line 19
and engaging, as mentioned above, the opening 20 with the tooth 21.
[0024] The flap 18 may, for instance, be made of a relatively pliant or soft thermoplastic
material, either the same as or different from the rigid thermoplastic material of
which the containers are made.
[0025] The top container of a pile or the single container can be provided with a closing
lid 22 (Figures 5-7) which has on its sides a tooth 23 for clamping by means of the
flap 18 of the container 11 beneath, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.
[0026] In this way, the purpose mentioned in the preliminary part of the description is
achieved of making a system of identical modular containers which may be piled on
top of one another, where the containers making up the pile are interconnected positively
by means of a chain-type closing system, which, however, does not involve all the
containers at the same time but enables separation of one or more containers at a
time from the rest of the pile in conditions of absolute safety, i.e., without any
danger of the pile being overturned.
[0027] The system proposed by the invention moreover ensures a sealed means of closing between
the containers, which is able to prevent any food of a fluid nature accidentally getting
spilt out of the containers either during storage or during transportation, so that
the flavour of the food is preserved perfectly without any pollution of the surrounding
environment.
[0028] Of course each container may be subdivided into a number of compartments; i.e., it
may comprise a number of modules that can be fitted together when the pile is formed.
[0029] The scope of the invention is defined by the ensuing claims.
1. System of containers which can be piled up on top of one another, between one container
(11) and another, releasable means of reciprocal clamping being provided,
characterized in that the said clamping means are made up of flap (18) hinged (19) at the top edge of the
container (11), the said flap (18) having at its centre an opening (20) designed to
clamp to retention means, which consists of a retention tooth (21) extending from
the side of the container near the bottom (13).
2. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said releasable means of reciprocal clamping are provided on the transverse sides
(15) of each container.
3. System according to Claim 2, characterized in that the clamping means of a container set underneath clamp to the retention means of
a container set above.
4. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said flap (18) is made of soft material and is hinged to the top edge of the
container (11) by means of a line of less resistance (19).
5. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one lid (22) provided with releasable means of clamping to
a container (11).
6. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said releasable means of clamping are made up of retention teeth (23) extending
from the sides (transverse sides) of the said lid (22), onto which openings (20) of
hinged flaps (18) provided on the container (11) underneath clamp.
1. System aus Behältern, die einer über dem anderen aufstapelbar sind, wobei zwischen
einem Behälter (11) und einem anderen eine lösbare Einrichtung zum wechselseitigen
Klemmen vorgesehen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klemmeinrichtung aus einer Klappe (18) gebildet ist, die an einer Oberkante des
Behälters (11) angelenkt ist (19), wobei die Klappe (18) in ihrer Mitte eine Öffnung
(20) aufweist, die so gestaltet ist, dass sie an einer Halteeinrichtung klemmt, die
aus einem Haltezahn (21) besteht, der sich von einer Seite des Behälters nahe des
Bodens (13) erstreckt.
2. System gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die lösbaren Einrichtungen für das wechselseitige Klemmen auf den gegenüberliegenden
Seiten (15) jedes Behälters vorgesehen sind.
3. System nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klemmeinrichtung eines Behälter, der unter einem darüber liegenden Behälter angeordnet
ist, an die Halteeinrichtung des letzteren angeklemmt ist.
4. System nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klappe (18) aus weichem Material hergestellt ist und mittels eines Streifens
(19) geringen Biegewiderstandes an die Oberkante des Behälters (11) angelenkt ist.
5. System gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es zumindest einen Deckel (22) aufweist, der mit einer lösbaren Einrichtung zum Anklemmen
an einen Behälter (11) versehen ist.
6. System gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die lösbare Einrichtung zum Anklemmen aus einem Haltezahn (23) gebildet ist, der
sich an den Seiten (gegenüberliegenden Seiten) des genannten Deckels (22) erstreckt,
wobei Öffnungen (20) von angelenkten Klappen (18) die auf dem darunter liegenden Behälter
(11) angeordnet sind, anklemmen.
1. Systèmes de conteneurs que l'on peut empiler les uns sur les autres, comprenant des
moyens détachables de fixation réciproque entre un conteneur (11) et un autre, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de fixation sont composés d'un rabat (18) articulé (19) au niveau
du bord supérieur du conteneur (11), ledit rabat (18) ayant en son centre une ouverture
(20) conçue pour s'emboîter dans un moyen de maintien, lequel est constitué d'une
languette de maintien (21) s'étendant à partir du côté du conteneur à proximité de
la base (13).
2. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens détachables de fixation réciproque sont disposés sur les faces transversales
(15) de chaque conteneur.
3. Système selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation d'un conteneur sous-jacent s'emboîtent dans le moyen de maintien
d'un conteneur sus-jacent.
4. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit rabat (18) est fait d'une matière souple et est articulé sur le bord supérieur
du conteneur (11) au moyen d'une ligne de moindre résistance (19).
5. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend au moins un couvercle (22) muni de moyens détachables de fixation à un
conteneur (11).
6. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens détachables de fixation sont constitués de languettes de maintien
(23) s'étendant à partir des faces (faces transversales) dudit couvercle (22), sur
lesquelles les ouvertures (20) des rabats articulés (18) fournies sur le conteneur
(11) sous-jacent viennent s'emboîter.