GB1604094A

GB1604094A - Crates

Info

Publication number: GB1604094A
Application number: GB1026778A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GPG International Ltd
Current assignee: GPG International Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-23
Filing date: 1978-05-23
Publication date: 1981-12-02

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CRATES (71) We, GPG INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, a British Company, of Cranford, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 6RQ, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to crates.

Crates have hitherto been proposed in which opposed side walls and opposed end walls extend upwardly from a base and the opposed internal faces of at least the side walls are of corrugated form to define upwardly extending alternate concave and convex wall portions. By this arrangement it is intended that suitably shaped and dimensioned articles may be located in the crate in closely parallel rows extending between the opposed wall portions and the rows are staggered by the concave and convex wall portions so that an article in a first row may extend partly between two adjacent articles in an adjacent row on one or both sides of the first row.

Such an arrangement of staggered rows permits the packing of articles in the crate in a form commonly known, and hereinafter referred to, as "close hexagonal packing", and a crate specifically designed for close hexagonal packing is commonly known, and is hereinafter referred to, as "a honeycomb crate". Examples of honeycomb crates are disclosed in U.K. Patent Specifications Nos.

1,086,901 and 1,314,056.

A major advantage of honeycomb crates is the increased storage capacity provided, for the same base area, by the close hexagonal packing arrangement over a more conventional type crate designed for storage of articles in a parallel and non-staggered row configuration. A further advantage is that the corrugated form of the walls provides increased rigidity and strength to the crates.

However, in view of the increased storage capacity of honeycomb crates and hence the increased load that may be borne by a lower crate in a vertical stack, it is considered advantageous if additional strength can be provided to such crates. A difficulty which is encountered in increasing the strength of a honeycomb crate is to do so without decreasing its storage capacity (and hence detracting from a major advantage) and without substantially increasing the overall external dimensions of the crate. It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this difficulty.

According to the present invention there is provided a plastics moulded crate comprising a base, and opposed side walls and opposed end walls which extend upwardly from the base to provide a substantially parallelepipedon external configuration to the crate; each side wall having at least two hollow buttresses which extend upwardly within the crate from the base to provide hollow column-like structures in the side walls and the opposed internal faces of the side walls with upwardly extending alternate concave and convex wall portions of which the convex wall portions are formed by the surfaces of the hollow buttresses; partition walls which form, in part with the internal faces of the opposed walls, an array of substantially similarly sized partitioned areas for the accommodation of articles in the crate, said partitioned areas being located in rows which extend substantially parallel to the end walls and wherein each row has at at least one end thereof a concave or a convex wall portion and each row has an adjacent row in which the partitioned areas at at least one of the common ends of those two rows are formed by the partitioned walls and respectively a convex wall portion and a concave wall portion and a concave wall portion whereby the partitioned areas in the said two rows are staggered with respect to each other.

The provision of the column-like structures can confer additional strength to the walls without increasing the external dimensions of the crate. Furthermore as the crate is of parallelepipedon shape the external surface of each of the side and end walls may be regarded as substantially planar, thereby providing the advantage of eliminating the undesirable grooved structure that is visible on the outside of known corrugated walled honeycomb crates.

In view of the increased strengthprovided by the integral hollow column-like structures in the walls, it may be possible to provide the side wall with unreinforced material or structure in the region of the concave por- tions, for example the thickness of the side wall parts which partly define-the hoLlow column-like structures and the thickness of the side wall parts which are adjacent to the hollow column-like structures may be substantially the same.

Although the external surfaces of the side and end walls may be substantially planar as aforementioned it will be realised that such surfaces can include rebates, recesses, apertures and/or ribs similarly to conventional parellelopipedon crate structures; as such the phrase "substantially planar" is to be interpreted in comparison with the exttrnal-cor rugated formation which has hitherto-been associated with honeycomb crates (for example as is evident from Figure 2 in U.K. Patent Specification No. 1,086,901).

The crate of the present invention is to be injection moulded in plastics material and each hollow column-like structure may be formed with the use of a male spigot in the female mould-part which latter mainiy defines the external configuration of the crate. Each hollow-column-like structure may thus be closed or-open at its upper-end.

In a preferred embodiment of the crate, the hollow buttresses and hence the hollow column-like structures, oppose each other.

Furthermore, a hollow buttress may be formed at any corner of the crate and the adjacent side and end walls at that corner may co-operate to form, in part, a hollow column-like structure. Usually, the hollow column-like structures will extend substantially the full height of the crate wall, but the walls may be of greater -height than the hollow buttresses.

The end walls of the crate may also have substantially planar external surfaces and undulating internal profiles to define alternate upwardly extending concave and convex wall portions, the latter being located on upwardly extending secondary buttresses on the end walls. Such secondary buttresses as are provided for the end walls will form reinforcing column-like structures in those walls similar to the side walls. Generally, however, because of the nature of the close hexagonal packing arrangement, the secondary buttresses for the end walls of the crate will be smaller than those for the side walls and therefore the buttresses for the end walls may be solid (although of course they can be hollow to form hollow column-like structures similar to those in the side walls).

One embodiment of a honeycomb crate constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the crate, the left-hand half in the drawing being viewed from below and the right-hand half from above; -Figure 2 is a side view of the crate in half section taken on the line A-A of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the crate in half section taken on the line B-B of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line CK of Figure 1.

The honeycomb crate shown in the drawings is generally of oblong rectangular parallelepipedon shape and has a base 1 with downwardly extending support ribs, as shown for example at 2, on which the crate stands and which serve to interlock the crate with similar underlying crates in conventional manner when stacked in bridging relationship with those crates (that is "brick stacking"). Extending vertically from the base are opposed side walls and end walls shown generally at 3 and 3a respectively. The base 1 is rectangular in plan view and the external configuration of the peripheral wall formed by the side and end walls is substan tially planar and follows the rectangular shape of the base 1. The crate is divided internally by a straight centre partition wall which extends between the side walls 3 and along a centre line 4 which is parallel to the end walls 3a.As will be seen from Figure 1 the crate is symmetrical about the centre line 4 and also about a centre line which extends parallel to the side walls 3 and is sub-divided into similarly sized partitioned areas 5 by partition walls as shown for example at 6. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the straight centre partition wall separates to adjacent rows of partitioned areas which are not staggered with respect to each other. The partition walls 6 include zig-zag shaped partition walls which extend between the side walls 3 generally parallel with the end walls 3a and remote from the centre partition wall. The zig-zag parition walls have associ ated therewith bridging partition walls which extend substantially parallel with the side walls 3 to communicate between the apices of adjacent zig-zag partition walls and be tween the apices of a zig-zag partition wall and the centre partition wall or an end wall 3a which is adjacent thereto. By this zig-zag and bridging partition wall arrangement hexagonal partitioned areas are provided and generally the partition walls define closely parallel rows of partitioned areas that extend between the opposed side walls 3.

These rows are staggered so that (see Figure 1) a hexagonal partitioned area 5' extends partly between the two hexagonal parti tioned areas 5" in an adjacent row. Such an arrangement - for the rows where each row has at least one adjacent row the partitioned areas in which adjacent rows are staggered with respect to each other permits close packing of articles, such as bottles, in the crate.

The staggering of the rows of hexagonal partitioned areas 5 means that the ends of the rows (that is along the side walls of the crate) provide a non-planar configuration and, in each half, taken about the centre line 4 of the crate, the ends of the rows form internal undulating profiles on the opposed side walls 3 comprising opposed convex portions 8 and opposed concave portions 9, all of which portions 8 and 9 extend vertically from the base 1. The portions 8 and 9 define the internal profiles of the side walls 3, and the outer profiles or faces 10 of the side walls 3 are substantially planar as compared to the inner configuration.The convex portions 8 are formed by four hollow buttresses which extend inwardly of the crate on each side wall 3 and thus form with the respective walls vertically extending hollow columnlike structures 11 which extend substantially the full height of the crate (which is best seen in Figures 3 and 4 which show respectively a column structure 11 for a side wall 3 and a column structure 11 at a corner of the crate).

Between the hollow column-like structures 11 the side walls 3 are solid and together with the buttresses 8 define the concave portions 9.

To provide the close hexagonal packing arrangement as shown in Figure 1, undulations are provided on the internal face of the end walls 3a but these are very much smaller than those on the internal face of the side walls 3. These small undulations are formed by the surfaces of the secondary buttresses provided by hollow column-like structures 11' in the end walls 3a. Partitioned areas 5a have been squared-off along the end walls 3a to permit simpler formation of handles 13 (see Figure 2) in the end walls.

The honeycomb crate illustrated is injection moulded in plastics material in a mould (not shown) comprising male and female parts which respectively define the inner and outer configurations of the crate. The female part of the mould which defines the outer configuration of the base l has a plurality of male spigots which in conjunction with the male part define the partition walls 6 and which on withdrawal after moulding leave apertures, as shown for example at 14 and 14', in the base I and partition walls 6. A similar arrangement may be used to form the hollow column structures 11 and 11'.

As will be realised from Figures 3 and 4, the spigots defining the hollow column structures 11 are withdrawn through the base 1 and the bottom 15 of each column structure is thus open. Each column structure l l is closed at its upper end except for a small aperture 17 which corresponds to the location of a pin for stabilising the spigot (which defines the inside of a column-like structure) during moulding.

Ribbing for reinforcement of the crate (as shown at 16) may be provided on the side and end walls together with other desired configurations, but it will be appreciated that the external faces 10 and 12 of the side and end walls 3 and 3a respectively is substantially planar as compared with the respective internal undulating configuration of those walls. Further while the crate illustrated has identical types of undulating portions (i.e.

either concave or convex) at each end of a row of partitioned areas 5, each row may have a concave portion at one end and convex portion at the other end. Still further the parallel rows of partitioned areas 5 may extend longitudinally of the crate rather than laterally as illustrated.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A plastics moulded crate comprising a base, and opposed side walls and opposed end walls which extend upwardly from the base to provide a substantially parallelepipedon external configuration to the crate; each side wall having at least two hollow buttresses which extend upwardly within the crate from the base to provide hollow column-like structures in the side walls and the opposed internal faces of the side walls with upwardly extending alternate concave and convex wall portions of which the convex wall portions are formed by the surfaces of the hollow buttresses; partition walls which form, in part with the internal faces of the opposed walls, an array of substantially similarly sized partitioned areas for the accommodation of articles in the crate, said partitioned areas being located in rows which extend substantially parallel to the end walls and wherein each row has at at least one end thereof a concave or a convex wall portion and each row has an adjacent row in which the partitioned areas at at least one of the common ends of those two rows are formed by the partitioned walls and respectively a convex wall portion and a concave wall portion whereby the partitioned areas in the said two rows are staggered with respect to each other.

2. A crate as claimed in claim I in which the hollow buttresses and partitioned areas are substantially symmetrically disposed about a centre line which extends substantially parallel with the end walls.

3. A crate as claimed in claim 2 in which a substantially straight centre partition wall extends between the opposed side walls along said centre line and said centrepartition wall separates two adjacent rows of partitioned areas which are not staggered with respect to each other.

4. A crate as claimed in claim 3 in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. areas in which adjacent rows are staggered with respect to each other permits close packing of articles, such as bottles, in the crate. The staggering of the rows of hexagonal partitioned areas 5 means that the ends of the rows (that is along the side walls of the crate) provide a non-planar configuration and, in each half, taken about the centre line 4 of the crate, the ends of the rows form internal undulating profiles on the opposed side walls 3 comprising opposed convex portions 8 and opposed concave portions 9, all of which portions 8 and 9 extend vertically from the base 1. The portions 8 and 9 define the internal profiles of the side walls 3, and the outer profiles or faces 10 of the side walls 3 are substantially planar as compared to the inner configuration.The convex portions 8 are formed by four hollow buttresses which extend inwardly of the crate on each side wall 3 and thus form with the respective walls vertically extending hollow columnlike structures 11 which extend substantially the full height of the crate (which is best seen in Figures 3 and 4 which show respectively a column structure 11 for a side wall 3 and a column structure 11 at a corner of the crate). Between the hollow column-like structures 11 the side walls 3 are solid and together with the buttresses 8 define the concave portions 9. To provide the close hexagonal packing arrangement as shown in Figure 1, undulations are provided on the internal face of the end walls 3a but these are very much smaller than those on the internal face of the side walls 3. These small undulations are formed by the surfaces of the secondary buttresses provided by hollow column-like structures 11' in the end walls 3a. Partitioned areas 5a have been squared-off along the end walls 3a to permit simpler formation of handles 13 (see Figure 2) in the end walls. The honeycomb crate illustrated is injection moulded in plastics material in a mould (not shown) comprising male and female parts which respectively define the inner and outer configurations of the crate. The female part of the mould which defines the outer configuration of the base l has a plurality of male spigots which in conjunction with the male part define the partition walls 6 and which on withdrawal after moulding leave apertures, as shown for example at 14 and 14', in the base I and partition walls 6. A similar arrangement may be used to form the hollow column structures 11 and 11'. As will be realised from Figures 3 and 4, the spigots defining the hollow column structures 11 are withdrawn through the base 1 and the bottom 15 of each column structure is thus open. Each column structure l l is closed at its upper end except for a small aperture 17 which corresponds to the location of a pin for stabilising the spigot (which defines the inside of a column-like structure) during moulding. Ribbing for reinforcement of the crate (as shown at 16) may be provided on the side and end walls together with other desired configurations, but it will be appreciated that the external faces 10 and 12 of the side and end walls 3 and 3a respectively is substantially planar as compared with the respective internal undulating configuration of those walls. Further while the crate illustrated has identical types of undulating portions (i.e. either concave or convex) at each end of a row of partitioned areas 5, each row may have a concave portion at one end and convex portion at the other end. Still further the parallel rows of partitioned areas 5 may extend longitudinally of the crate rather than laterally as illustrated. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A plastics moulded crate comprising a base, and opposed side walls and opposed end walls which extend upwardly from the base to provide a substantially parallelepipedon external configuration to the crate; each side wall having at least two hollow buttresses which extend upwardly within the crate from the base to provide hollow column-like structures in the side walls and the opposed internal faces of the side walls with upwardly extending alternate concave and convex wall portions of which the convex wall portions are formed by the surfaces of the hollow buttresses; partition walls which form, in part with the internal faces of the opposed walls, an array of substantially similarly sized partitioned areas for the accommodation of articles in the crate, said partitioned areas being located in rows which extend substantially parallel to the end walls and wherein each row has at at least one end thereof a concave or a convex wall portion and each row has an adjacent row in which the partitioned areas at at least one of the common ends of those two rows are formed by the partitioned walls and respectively a convex wall portion and a concave wall portion whereby the partitioned areas in the said two rows are staggered with respect to each other.

4. A crate as claimed in claim 3 in which

zig-zag shaped partition walls extend beE tween the opposed side walls remote from the centre partition wall and generally parallel therewith, said zig-zag shaped partition walls having associated therewith bridging partition walls which extend substantially parallel with the side walls to form rows of substantially hexagonal patitioned areas which are in staggered relationship with respect to at least one adjacent row to provide a honeycomb partitioned structure for close hexagonal packing of articles.

5. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the thickness of the side wall parts which partly define the hollow column-like structures and the thickness of the side wall parts which are adjacent to the hollow column-like structures is substantially the same.

6. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the end walls have secondary buttresses which extend upwardly within the crate from the base to provide column-like structures and upwardly extending alternate concave and convex wall portions of which the latter are formed by the surfaces of said secondary buttresses.

7. A crate as claimed in claim 6 in which the secondary buttresses define hollow column-like structures in the end walls with which they are associated.

8. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and which is substantially symmetrical about a centre line which extends substantially parallel with the side walls.

9. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a hollow buttress is formed at at least one corner of the crate, the adjacent side and end walls co-operating to define therewith a hollow column-like structure at the corner.

10. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least some of the column-like structures extend substantially the full height of the walls of the crate.

I 1. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each hollow column-like structure is formed with the use of a male spigot in a female mould-part which latter mainly defines the external configuration of the crate.

12. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each hollow column-like structure is open at its upper end.

13. A crate as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the hollow buttresses in the side walls oppose each other.

14. A plastics crate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.