Container frame for use with a pallet to form a storage and transport container

• US 5,356,014 A
• Filed: 11/12/1991
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecoboard Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ecoboard Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Berner, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): PRICE, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US07/776,228
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 206/600, 206/509, 229/23 R, 493/128
• US Class Current: 206/600
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/20 made wholly or mainly of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00019 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00054 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00089 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00099 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00159 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00194 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00502 whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00592 by means of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00641 Structures intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00711 removable lid or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0091 whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to each other

Abstract

The container frame (1) is constructed with three layers, the middle layer (3) having a smaller width than the inner and outer layers (2, 4). Insertion slots (5, 6) are thereby formed at the top and bottom of the container frame. A pallet (7) made of carton forming the bottom of the container comprises a base plate (8) and feet (9) made of layers of cardboard, glued to its underside. On the side of the base plate (8) lying opposite the feet (9) is glued a cardboard bottom element (10), whose edges (11) are bent upwards. The insertion slot (6) of the container frame is placed on the bent edge (11). A lid element (12) with bent over edges (13) can be placed in the upper insertion slot (5). All components of the container consist of cardboard or corrugated cardboard and glue and are suitable for recycling.

Claims

1. Container frame for use with a pallet to form a storage and transport container made from a collapsible blank of recyclable cardboard material, characterized in that it comprises wall elements (55, 56, 57, 58) constructed of at least three layers, a middle layer (3) joining the wall elements with each other and having a smaller width than the outer layers (2, 4) and thereby forms an insertion slot (6) at least on one side of the container wall.

2. The container frame of claim 1, characterized in that the middle layer (3) is set back on both sides from the edge of both outer layers (2, 4) and thereby forms a second insertion slot (5) to accommodate a lid (12) or a second container frame (65).

3. Container frame for use with a pallet made from a collapsible blank of recyclable cardboard material, characterized in that it comprises wall elements constructed of at least three layers, a middle layer (37) joining the wall elements (59, 60, 61, 62) with each other and at least the outer layer (34) being offset on at least the bottom side (35) with respect to the inner layer (36, 37) and thereby forms an extended edge (35) on one side of the container frame for fitting over a pallet.

4. The container frame of claim 3, characterized in that at least the outer layer (34) is also offset at the top side (38) with respect to the inner layer (36, 37) and thereby forms a ledge on which another container frame or lid can be stacked.

5. The container frame of claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the inner layer (36) extends beyond the middle layer (37) and forms in the extended portion a bendable tab (39, 40, 41, 42).

6. A pallet for use with a container frame comprised of wall elements constructed of at least three layers, a middle layer joining the wall elements with each other and having a smaller width than the outer layers and thereby forming an insertion slot on at least one side of the container wall, characterized by a pallet bottom (8) and pallet feet (9) made of recyclable cardboard material, the pallet bottom (8) being provided with an extended edge (11) made of cardboard material to be inserted into the slot of the container frame (1).

7. The pallet of claim 6, characterized in that the extended edge (11) is collapsible.

8. The pallet of claim 6 or 7, characterized in that another layer (10) which projects on all sides beyond the pallet bottom, is connected with the pallet bottom (8), the projecting edges (11) forming the collapsible extended edge.

9. Process for producing a container frame for use with a pallet to form a storage and transport container made from a collapsible blank of recyclable cardboard material, characterized in that a first and second lengthwise element (22, 25) and a first and a second crosswise element (23, 26) are glued to each side of the middle layer (24), two lengthwise and two crosswise element lying opposite each other, a third crosswise element (27) being placed with a coating of glue on its upper side on the upper second lengthwise element (25) and a third lengthwise element (28) with a coating of glue on its upper side being placed on the upper second crosswise element (26), the projecting portions (29, 30) of the middle layer (24) being wrapped around and glued to the third elements (27, 28) and a fourth crosswise element (31) and a fourth lengthwise element (32) with a coating of glue on the underside being glued to the middle layer (24) over the third crosswise element (27) and over the third lengthwise element (28) respectively.

10. A storage and transport container with a container frame (1) made from a collapsible blank of foldable, recyclable cardboard material and a bottom, formed from a pallet (7), characterized in that the container frame comprises wall elements (55, 56, 57, 58) constructed of at least three layers, a middle layer (3) connecting the wall elements with each other and having a smaller width than the outer layers (2, 4) and thereby forming an insertion slot (6) at least on one side of the container, and the pallet having a pallet bottom (8) and pallet feet (9) also made of recyclable cardboard material, the pallet bottom (8) being provided with an extended edge (11), made of eg. cardboard material, to insert in the slot (6) of the container frame (1).

11. The container of claim 10, characterized in that the middle layer (3) of the container frame (1) is offset on both sides from the edge of the two outer layers (2, 4) and thereby forms a second insertion slot (5) for accommodating a lid (12) or a second container frame (65).