EP0007335A1

EP0007335A1 - Container with folding legs.

Info

Publication number: EP0007335A1
Application number: EP78900052A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudolf Bieri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-07-19
Filing date: 1979-02-14
Publication date: 1980-02-06
Also published as: JPS6058100B2; GB2021071A; GB2021071B; AU525987B2; CH618132A5; DE2856978D2; WO1979000048A1; AU3818478A; DE2856978C1; EP0007335B1; US4424912A; JPS5422279A; CA1119977A

Abstract

Le bac, par exemple un panier a linge ou un plateau, est muni de pieds repliables qui, dans la position repliee, sont sensiblement paralleles au fond du bac et sont retenus dans cette position par un dispositif de verrouillage. Le bac (10) est muni d'un dispositif (36, 38, 44, 80, 82) permettant de plier et de deplier les pieds comprenant une commande manuelle (36) qui peut etre actionnee tout en tenant le bac (10) par ses poignees (30, 32).The tray, for example a laundry basket or a tray, is provided with folding legs which, in the folded position, are substantially parallel to the bottom of the tray and are retained in this position by a locking device. The tray (10) is provided with a device (36, 38, 44, 80, 82) for folding and unfolding the legs comprising a manual control (36) which can be operated while holding the tray (10) by its handles (30, 32).

Description

Container with fold-out legs

description

The invention relates to a container with fold-out legs according to the preamble of claim 1.

Containers of this type are known; for example, CH-PS 583 118 describes a multipurpose basket, in particular a laundry basket, on the bottom of which foldable and foldable legs are attached. The legs are held in their folded position by a locking device. When the locking device is released, the legs fold down under the influence of springs which are arranged on their pivot pins and tend to bring the legs into their unfolded position. To fold in, the legs must be swung in by hand against the force of the spring and locked using the locking device. This is cumbersome, especially when the basket is full and cannot be tilted to fold the legs or vice versa.

The object of the invention is seen in creating a container of the type mentioned, in which the legs can be folded in effortlessly even when the container is full.

This object is achieved in the container of the type mentioned by the characterizing features of claim 1. Using the folding device, which can be operated from the handle, the legs can be easily folded in from the handle without tipping or even reversing the container.

The term container is to be understood here in the broadest sense and includes everything that is suitable for holding objects, such as baskets, tubs, trays and the like.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in claims 1 to 19.

A preferred embodiment of the container is designed according to claim 2, wherein the training according to claim 3 is appropriate.

In general, the link is rigid and designed as a rod; but it can also be designed as a flexible element, preferably as a rope. Both in connection with a rigid as well as with a flexible connecting member, the actuating member can be used as an eccentric member, e.g. be designed as a one-armed lever, the pivot of which is arranged on the container bottom. In combination with a flexible connecting link, the eccentric link can also be designed as a roll, on which the flexible element is wound when the legs are folded in or out.

A safety device is advantageously arranged to hold the legs in their unfolded position; it can be designed, for example, according to claim 10. The securing device can have a locking part fastened to the container and a latch part fastened to the handle part according to claim 11. Furthermore, the securing device according to claim 12 contain a spring which biases the legs in their unfolded position. Such a safety device can be arranged so that it can also be used as a locking device for the folded legs.

The embodiment according to claim 13 is advantageous, the eccentric arrangement of the legs on the pivot promoting the unfolding.

A particularly simple design of the bearing and the securing device describes claim 14, the configuration according to claim 15 being advantageous.

The stability and security against folding the legs can be improved by training according to claim 16. A particularly simple embodiment of the further securing device is defined in claim 17.

An embodiment of the container according to claim 18 facilitates the folding of the legs, an embodiment according to claim 19 being particularly advantageous since it is simple and also includes the possibility of holding the parts of the securing device in engagement when the legs are extended.

Exemplary embodiments of the container according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

1 shows a container with one pair of legs folded in and out, in a simplified representation, in section I-I of FIG. 2;

Fig. 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with legs folded, from above. 3 shows a first embodiment of a folding device, in the folding position, in vertical section;

Fig. 4, the folding device of Figure 3, in the extended position.

5 shows a second embodiment of the folding device, in the folding position, in vertical section;

FIG. 6 shows the folding device of FIG. 5, in the unfolded position;

Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the folding device, in the folding division, schematically, in vertical section

FIG. 8 shows the folding device of FIG. 7 in the unfolded position;

9 shows a variant of the design of the actuating element in an embodiment of the folding device, similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8;

10 shows a bearing with a first and a second securing device with the leg extended, in section X-X of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 the bearing of FIG. 10 in section XI-XI of FIG. 10; and

Fig. 12, the bearing of Fig. 10 with the leg folded.

1 and 2, the container 10 has a horizontal container base 12 and four approximately vertical sides walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and four legs 22. The container bottom 12 contains a peripheral, downwardly projecting edge 24 which practically forms the continuation of the side walls. The container bottom 12 forms with its edge 24 a space 26 which receives the legs in the folded state and parts of a folding device arranged on each narrow side wall 16, 20. When the legs are folded in, the container stands on the edge 24 of the container base 12.

The narrow side walls 16, 20 have carrying handles 30, 32 arranged centrally in their upper region, each with a recess 34 visible in FIGS. 3 and 4. Through this recess, parts of the folding device protrude, namely a handle part 36 and the upper region of a connecting member 38, in whose lower, angled end 40 a horizontal axis 42 is received. The axis 42 extends approximately along the entire narrow side wall 20 and is connected at its ends to an eccentric actuator 44 of the folding device. The actuator 44 designed as an eccentric lever and the connecting member 38 are thereby articulated to one another.

Each actuator 44 is supported by a pivot 46 in a recess 48 in the container bottom 12. The recess 48 is designed as a vertically arranged elongated hole, so that the pivot 46 can move vertically therein. The mode of operation of this training is described below.

On the side of the actuating member 44 opposite the angled end 40 of the connecting member 38, the leg 22 is fastened eccentrically to the pivot pin 46. At the upper edge of the narrow side wall 20 there is a locking part 50 of a locking device which, when the legs are folded in, cooperates with a latch part 52 which is arranged below the handle part 36 on the connecting member 38. Between the link and the side wall 20 of the container 10 is a resilient element 54 is arranged, which has the tendency to push the link 38 away from the side wall 20 to the outside.

The container also has a safety device for the legs which is effective in the unfolded position. Two downwardly projecting lugs 56, 5 are arranged on the container bottom 12. The longer extension 56 forms a stop to limit the unfolding movement of the leg. Together with the short extension 58, it forms a latching opening 60 which tapers conically upwards and is arranged above the pivot 46 of the actuating element 44. On this or on the pivot pin a locking cam 62 is arranged, which rests on the long extension 56 when the legs are folded out and is located below the locking opening.

The container works as follows:

3, the container 10 is, as mentioned, on the edge 24 of the container base 12 or is 30.3? held. The connecting member 38 with the grip part 36 is in its lowest position relative to the side walls, and the locking device 50, 52 prevents the legs from unfolding because their locking part 50 and their pawl part 52 engage behind one another. In order to fold out the legs 22 when the container 10 is raised, one presses on the handle part 36 while holding the container 10 by the carrying handles 30, 32 and moves it there through the pawl part 52 relative to the locking part 50 downwards. The resilient element 54 then presses the connecting member 38 with the pawl part 52 away from the side wall 20 or from the locking part 50. When the handle part 36 is released, the legs drop down into the unfolded position under the effect of their weight and thereby rotate the actuating member 44 in the counterclockwise direction, so that the connecting member 38 with the handle part 36 moves upward relative to the side walls, into which in FIG. 4 position shown.

The latching opening formed by the lugs, together with the latching cams, forms a securing device for securing the legs in the unfolded position, while the container 10 is held by its carrying handles 30, 32. This position is shown in Fig. 4 with solid lines.

If you then place the container on its extended legs, its bottom and its side walls sink downwards relative to the legs, i.e. the legs 22 and thus the pivot 46 arranged in the elongated hole 48 move upward until the upper limit of the elongated hole 48 bears against the pivot 46 or the conical latching cam 62 in the conical latching opening 60. The legs of the standing container are secured against unintentional folding. This position is indicated in Fig. 4 with dash-dotted lines. The legs can only be folded in when the container is lifted again and the latching cam 62 can disengage from the latching opening 60.

To fold in the legs, it is therefore necessary to first lift the container on the carrying handles 30, 32 and then to press the handle part 36 downward, for example with the thumb or the ball of the thumb, against the carrying handles 30, 32. which causes the actuator 44 to pivot clockwise and thus fold the legs. As soon as the pawl part 52 is in the region of the recess 34, it is pushed outwards as a result of an inclined surface 53 which slides along the locking part 50. After the upper end of the pawl part 52 has reached a lower level than the lower end of the locking part 50, the locking device 50, 52 comes back into engagement.

5 and 6, the securing device for the unfolded legs is combined with the locking device for the folded legs. It has a pawl part 70 which is arranged on a pawl lever 72 which is articulated on the handle part 36. This latch lever interacts with the locking part 74 both when the legs are folded out and in, and can be deflected against the force of a resilient element 76 into a position in which the connecting member 38 is displaced, under the effect of the weight of the legs when unfolding or under pressure on the handle part 36 when folding, is possible. The recess 48 for the pivot 46 is circular in this case and of the approaches there is only the longer approach 56, which serves as a stop for the locking cam 62 to limit the leg movement. 3 and 4 corresponding parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

Instead of the rod of FIGS. 3 to 6 serving as a connecting member, a flexible element 80, for example a rope, can also be provided according to FIGS. 7 and 8, which is connected on the one hand to the handle part 36 and on the other hand to the actuating member 44, which in turn is designed as an eccentric lever . The handle part is when the NEN 24 in its lower position, with a catch lug 82 of the grip part 36 engaging in a catch hook 84 on the side wall 20. When the legs 22 are folded in, the catch lug 82 engages in an upper catch hook 86 and, together with the latter, forms the locking device which prevents the legs from unfolding. A spring 90 arranged between a guide 88 and the grip part 36 presses the grip part against the side wall 20 in order to facilitate the engagement of the catch lug 82. Otherwise, the design and mode of operation correspond to FIGS. 3 to 6, and the same parts are again provided with the same reference symbols.

If a flexible element is used as the connecting element, a roller 92 can also be used as the actuating element, as shown in FIG. 9, to which a leg is attached eccentrically and onto which the flexible element 80 rolls when the leg is folded out and when the legs are folded in. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to that of FIGS. 7 and 8.

10 to 12 show a particularly preferred embodiment of one of four bearings for the legs 22 on the container bottom 12, which has a first securing device 94 and a second securing device 96 for securing the legs 24 in the unfolded position. The first and the second securing device are offset from one another with respect to the pivot axis 98 of the legs 22 by approximately 180 °.

The bearing contains a bearing pin 102, which is connected to the container bottom 12 or its edge 24 projecting downwards via a fastening plate 100 and engages in a bearing bore 104 in a shaft 106 which carries two legs 22. The other end of the shaft 106 is also held with a bearing corresponding to the bearing shown. The first securing device 94 is formed by two flats 108 lying opposite one another on the bearing journal 102, which, when the legs 24 are extended, enable the bearing journal 102 to snap into a lower elongated hole 110, which is arranged in the shaft 106 and opens into the bearing bore 104. The second securing device 96 has a hole 112 opposite the elongated hole 110 in the wall of the bearing bore 104. This hole 112 cooperates with a pin 114 arranged on the fastening plate 100 above the bearing pin 102 when the legs are extended, as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 shows the position when the leg 22 is folded in and with the first and second securing devices 94, 96 disengaged, the bearing pin 102 being located in the bearing bore 104.

The bearing of FIGS. 10 to 12 is equipped with a spring device 116, which facilitates the folding of the legs and, when the legs are extended, promotes and holds the engagement of the safety devices 94, 96. The spring device has a circumferential spring 118, for example a rubber ring, which is held above the bearing on a holder 120 on the container bottom 12 and is laid down around the housing 122 of the bearing bore 104 and the elongated hole 110. Guide grooves 124, 126, 128 on the bearing journal 102, on the housing 122 and on the holder 120 prevent the spring 118 from sliding off. By guiding the spring 118 around the housing 122 of the elongated hole, an eccentric engagement point 130 is obtained which is arranged in the direction of the leg 22 at a distance from the bearing is. Furthermore, the holder 120 is designed such that it protrudes in the direction of the folded leg 22 with respect to the vertical axis 132 of the bearing. This design of the spring device 116, on the one hand, brings the securing devices 94, 96 into engagement, as can be seen from FIG. 10 and on the other hand, gives the leg 22 a force component which supports the folding movement when folding in, as can be seen from FIG. 12.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, it would also be possible to arrange the bearing bore fixed on the container bottom and to provide the shaft with the bearing journal. The slot should then be on top and the second securing device on the bottom. It would also be possible, for example, to provide only a tension spring to be arranged between the container bottom and the leg or shaft instead of the spring device with the rotating spring.

By means of the actuator and under the influence of gravity, the legs must then be folded out against the force of the spring and secured by means of the securing device.

Claims

1. Container with fold-out legs, which are at least approximately parallel to the container base in the folded position and are held in the folded position by means of a locking device, characterized in that the container (10) has a carrying handle (30, 32) of the container (10) has actuatable folding device (36, 38, 44, 80, 92) for folding out extended legs (22).

2. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the folding device (36, 38, 44, 80, 92) has a grip part (36) which can be gripped from the carrying handle (30, 32) of the container (10), which is coupled by means of a connecting member (38, 80) to an actuating member (44, 92) connected to at least one leg (22).

3. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the handle part (36) can be moved from an upper to a lower position when the leg (22) is folded in or out.

4. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the connecting member (38) is designed as a rod.

5. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the connecting part (80) is designed as a flexible element, preferably as a rope.

6. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the actuator as an eccentric terglied (44,92) is formed, the pivot (46) mounted on the container bottom (12) and connected to at least one leg (22).

7. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the eccentric member is designed as a one-armed lever (44), at the free end of which the connecting member (38, 80) is articulated.

8. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the eccentric member is designed as a roller (92) on which the flexible element (80) is wound when the legs are folded in or out.

9. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that a securing device (48, 56,58,60,62,70,72,74,76,94,96) is arranged to the legs in their unfolded position to keep.

10. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the securing device (48, 56, 58, 60, 62) on the container (10) has projections (56, 58) between which when the container is parked ( 10) a latching cam (62) engages on its unfolded legs (22), which is arranged on a pivot pin (46) mounted in a vertically extending elongated hole (48) and connected to at least one leg.

11. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the securing device (70, 72, 74, 76) has a locking part (74) fastened to the container (10) and a latch part (70) fastened to the handle part (36). has, which preferably against the force of a fe derenden element (76) and / or can be unlatched.

12. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the securing device has a spring which biases the legs in their unfolded position.

13. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that each leg (22) is arranged eccentrically on a pivot (46) to which the actuating member (44, 92) is connected.

14. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the legs (22) are each mounted on the bearing base (12) via bearing journals (102) and bearing bore (104), the securing device (94) on the bearing journals (102 ) has opposing flats (108) which, when the legs (22) are folded out, snap into an elongated hole (110) e opening into the bearing bore (104).

15. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the respective bearing pin (102) is arranged in a stationary manner on the container base (12) and the bearing bore (104) is rotatable and on the shaft (106) of the legs (22) is arranged, the elongated hole (110) being at the bottom when the legs (22) are folded out.

16. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it each has a further securing device (96), which is preferably offset by approximately 180 ° with respect to the pivot axis of the legs (22) with respect to the first securing device (94) .

17. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the further securing device (96) on the rotatable part (104) of the bearing bore / journal arrangement (102, 104) on the side opposite the elongated hole (110) has further pin-hole arrangement (114, 112) which lock when the legs (22) are folded out.

18. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the folding device has a spring device (116) which is tensioned when the legs (22) are folded out by means of an actuating element or by the weight of the legs (22), and a Safety device (94,96) to hold the legs (22) in their extended position.

19. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the spring device (116) has a spring (118), preferably a rubber ring, which is arranged above the bearing on a holder (120) on the container bottom (12) and is connected to the rotatable part (104) of the bearing, the point of engagement (130) projecting eccentrically away from the bearing in the direction of the leg (22).

CHANGED CLAIMS (submitted to the International Bureau on January 17, 1979 (January 17, 1979))

1. Container with fold-out legs, which are held lying at least approximately parallel to the container bottom in the fold-in position and can be folded in from the unfolded position by means of fold-in devices which can be actuated by handle parts protruding upwards from the container handles, characterized in that the legs (22) are pretensioned in the fold-out position and the folding devices (36, 38, 44) also have locking devices (50, 52, 70, 72, 76) which can be actuated by means of the handle parts (36) and hold the legs in the folded position.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle part (36) of each folding device (36, 38, 44) is connected by means of a connecting rod (38) to an eccentric member (44), the pivot pin (46) of which is on the container base (12). is mounted and connected to at least one leg (22).

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a securing device (48,56,58,60,62,70,72, 74,76,94,96) is arranged to hold the legs in their unfolded position.

4. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the securing device (48,56,58,60,62) on the container (10) arranged lugs (56,58), between which when parking of the container (10), a latching cam (62) engages on its unfolded legs (22), which is arranged on a pivot pin (46) mounted in a vertically extending elongated hole (48) and connected to at least one leg.

5. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the securing device (70, 72, 74, 76) has a locking part (74) attached to the container (10) and a pawl part (70) attached to the handle part (36). has, which preferably against. Force of a resilient element (76) can be engaged and / or disengaged.

6. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each leg (22) is arranged eccentrically on a pivot (46) to which the actuator (44,92) is connected.

7. A container according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the legs (22) are each mounted on the bearing base (12) via bearing journals (102) and bearing bore (104), the securing device (94) on the bearing journal (102 ) has mutually opposite flats (108) which, when the legs (22) are folded out, snap into an elongated hole (110) opening into the bearing bore (104).

8. Container according to claim 7, characterized in that the respective bearing pin (102) is arranged in a stationary manner on the container base (12) and the bearing bore (104) is rotatable and is arranged on the shaft (106) of the legs (22), the elongated hole (110) when the legs (22) are folded out lies down.

9. Container according to at least one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that it each has a further securing device (96) which is preferably offset by approximately 180 ° with respect to the pivot axis of the legs (22) with respect to the first securing device (94) .

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized in that the further securing device (96) on the rotatable part (104) of the bearing bore / journal arrangement (102, 104), specifically on the side opposite the elongated hole (110), a further journal hole. Has arrangement (114, 112) which lock when the legs (22) are folded out.

11. Container according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the folding device has a spring device (116) which is tensioned when the legs (22) are folded out by means of an actuating element or by the weight of the legs (22), and a Securing device (94, 96) for holding the legs (22) in their extended position, the spring device (116) a spring (118), preferably a rubber ring, which is arranged above the bearing on a holder (120) on the container bottom (12) and is connected to the rotatable part (104) of the bearing, the point of application (130). protrudes eccentrically away from the bearing in the direction of the leg (22).

DECLARATION REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 19

The enclosed pages 1 to 4 replace the previous pages 1 to 4.

The previous claims 1 to 19 are replaced by the new claims 1 to 11 in order to differentiate the invention from the prior art cited in the search report given by US Pat. No. 2,478,678. Claims 1 and 2 have been reformulated and claims 3 to 11 correspond to previous claims 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.

The exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 7 to 9 are not covered by the new claims.