Patent Publication Number: US-2012024820-A1

Title: Crate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a crate, in particular, a fruit or vegetable crate. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     PCT International Publication WO 2008/094131 discloses a folding transport crate used for transporting and storing foodstuffs. The crate is collapsible and has a locking mechanism, which has a plurality of fastening devices for closing and aligning side panels of the box to each other. 
     German Patent Reference DE 10 2004 036 254 A1 relates to a collapsible and disassemblable container with two opposing first side panels, two opposing second side panels, four connecting pieces, and a bottom panel. The dimensions are given for standard format pallets, such as a shipping pallet with one side length of 120 cm and one side length of 100 cm, a Euro pallet with one side length of 120 cm and one side length of 80 cm, a Düsseldorf pallet with one side length of 60 cm and one side length of 80 cm, and for standard format larger crates, such as a lemon crate with one side length of 40 cm and one side length of 30 cm and a banana crate with one side length of 40 cm and one side length of 60 cm. 
     Fruits and vegetables are stored and transported in crates of the above-mentioned type. For storage and transport, the crates can be stacked on or placed next to one another to be transported on pallets or in larger crates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of this invention is to provide an improved crate, which can be achieved by a crate, in particular a fruit or vegetable crate, that includes a bottom panel with a rectangular base area and side panels, which each protrude from a lateral edge of the bottom panel and perpendicular to the bottom panel. The bottom panel and side panels form a storage space for storing goods. The crate has sides, namely length sides and width sides, each with a respective side length, and the side lengths are dimensioned so that several of the crates can be placed next to and essentially flush with one another in one level on standard format pallets and/or in standard format larger crates. 
     The crate according to this invention has one advantage that several of these crates can be placed in different sizes of standard format larger crates or stacked on different standard format pallets, with only small gaps or lateral protrusions relative to the lateral edges of the pallets or the side panels of the larger crates. This allows the most versatile possible use of the crate, permitting optimal utilization of the space on a pallet or in a larger crate. The defining characteristic of claim  1  can be supplemented with or replaced by one or more of the defining characteristics explained below, without going beyond the scope of this invention. 
     The expression “essentially flush” is understood to mean that the crates placed next to and against one another adjoin one another in an almost exactly flush way, with the possibility of a slight protrusion or gap. A side length difference, such as a protrusion or gap, is preferably less than 4 cm, in particular less than 2.5 cm, and particularly less than 1 cm. Preferably, it is desirable for there to be basically no protrusions, because the space required for the stacked crates is then larger than the space provided by the pallets or larger crates. 
     Preferably, the side lengths are dimensioned so that several crates can be placed in one level next to and against one another on standard format pallets and/or in standard format larger crates so that there is only a slight side length difference relative to the pallets and/or larger crates. The side length difference here is one difference between a side length of a pallet or crate minus a side length of the crate according to this invention, multiplied by the number of crates placed against one another parallel to this side. Where appropriate, it is possible to take into account a wall thickness. This wall thickness is taken into account in determining the side length of the larger crate and/or pallet. 
     Preferably, the side lengths of the crate correspond to the following mathematical relationship: 
         B−n   B   ×b=&lt;D   B ; 
         L−n   L   ×l=&lt;D   L ; 
     where −2 cm=&lt;D=&lt;2 cm, in particular D&gt;=0; 
     and where 
     B and L are the side lengths of standard format pallets or standard format larger crates, 
     b and l are the side lengths of the crate according to this invention, 
     D L  is the side length difference in the length side direction, 
     D B  is the side length difference in the width side direction, 
     n L  is the number of crates placed against one another in the length side direction, and 
     n B  is the number of crates placed against one another in the width side direction. 
     Preferably, the crate has a width of 8.0 to 9.0 cm, in particular 8.3 to 8.7 cm. Preferably, the crate has a length of 12.5 to 13.7 cm, in particular 12.9 to 13.4 cm. Preferred values are 8.55 or 8.4 cm for the width 13.0 and 13.3 cm for the length. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the crate has a width of 11.0 to 11.8 cm, in particular 11.2 to 11.6 cm. In this case, the crate preferably has a length of 14.6 cm to 15.4 cm, in particular 14.8 to 15.2 cm. In particular, the crate has a width of 11.4 cm and a length of 15.0 cm. 
     Preferably, the crate has four side panels. In addition, the crate is preferably collapsible, with side panels that can be moved from their orientation perpendicular to the bottom panel into an orientation essentially parallel to the bottom panel. 
     The crate according to this invention can be used for an extremely wide variety of products. It can conceivably be used in particular for transporting or storing chemical products, chemicals, body and beauty care products, dentifrices, building materials, metal goods and small hardware, cutlery and dishes, jewelry, printed matter, stationery, art supplies, craft supplies, cleansers and cleaning supplies, toys, foods such as meat, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk and dairy products, coffee, tea, baked goods, baking ingredients, spices, and beverages, as well as animal feeds, tobacco, computer accessories, audio and data storage media, and much more. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention is explained in greater detail below in view of the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a crate according to this invention, in the folded-open state; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a crate according to this invention, in the collapsed state; 
         FIG. 3  shows two crates according to this invention placed next to each other in a larger crate; 
         FIG. 4  shows a plurality of crates according to this invention, arranged on a pallet; 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows different stacking schemes for a crate according to this invention; 
         FIG. 6  schematically shows two additional stacking schemes for the crate according to this invention; and 
         FIG. 7  schematically shows another stacking scheme for a banana box. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a crate  1  according to this invention, which has a bottom panel  2  and four side panels  3 . The bottom panel  2  has a rectangular base area with four lateral edges  4 . From each lateral edge  4 , a side panel  3  protrudes perpendicular to the bottom panel  3 . The side panels  3  can be affixed to the bottom panel  3  along the lateral edges  4 . Hinges that are not shown can be provided between the lateral edges  4  and the side panels  3 . However, a side panel  3  can be alternatively at least indirectly attached to the bottom panel  2  at another location. The bottom panel  2  and the four side panels  3  form a storage space  6  for products, preferably for accommodating fruits and vegetables. A storage space can also be formed by fewer than four side panels. 
       FIG. 2  shows that when the crate  1  is in the collapsed state, the side panels  3  are oriented parallel to the bottom panel  2 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , two crates  1  according to this invention are placed next to each other in a larger crate  5 . In this case, a number of crates  1  (n L =2) are placed next to each other in the length side direction. A number of crates  1  (n B =1) are placed next to each other in the width side direction. The larger crate  5  has a wall thickness W, which must be subtracted from the respective side length L, B of the larger crate  5  when taking into account the available space inside the larger crate  5 . There is a side length difference D L  on the order of a few millimeters in the length direction so that a gap is present between the two crates  1 . 
     The crate  1  according to this invention is also referred to below as a “microcrate”, while the larger crate  5  is also referred to as a “minicrate”. The minicrate can be dimensioned so that it can accommodate two microcrates and also so that a plurality of minicrates can be placed next to and against one another in an essentially flush arrangement on a standard format pallet. For example, the minicrate can have a side length B of 16.15 to 17.14 cm, while the side length L can assume values between 25.67 and 26.66 cm. 
       FIG. 4  shows 21 crates  1  according to this invention arranged flush with one another on a pallet  7 . A number of crates  1  (n L =3) are placed next to one another in the length side direction. A number of crates  1  (n B =7) are placed next to one another in the width side direction. If the pallet  7  in  FIG. 4  is an EU pallet with the dimensions 80×120 cm, then the minicrate introduced in the above paragraph would completely or almost completely cover the pallet  7  in the way shown above. 
     The crate  1  (1 st  crate) has width sides  8  with a side length b of 8.55 cm. The 1 st  crate  1  has length sides  9  with a side length l of 13.3 cm. The following table illustrates the stackability of this crate on standard format pallets and in standard format larger crates. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Name 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 EU 
                 Düsseldorf 
                 Shipping 
                 Lemon 
                 Banana 
               
               
                   
                 1 st  crate 
                 pallet 
                 pallet 
                 pallet 
                 crate 
                 crate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Dimensions 
                 13.3 × 8.55 
                 120 × 80 
                 60 × 80 
                 100 × 120 
                 30 × 40 
                 60 × 40 
               
               
                 Wall thickness (W) 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 Length (l, L) 
                 13.3 
                 80 
                 80 
                 120 
                 40 
                 40 
               
               
                 Number (n) 
                 1 
                 6 
                 6 
                 9 
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                 Total length (n*b) 
                 13.3 
                 79.8 
                 79.8 
                 119.7 
                 39.9 
                 39.9 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 0.2 
                 0.2 
                 0.3 
                 0.1 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 Width (b, B) 
                 8.55 
                 120 
                 60 
                 100 
                 30 
                 60 
               
               
                 Number (n) 
                 1 
                 14 
                 7 
                 11 
                 3 
                 7 
               
               
                 Total width (n*b) 
                 8.55 
                 119.7 
                 59.85 
                 94.05 
                 25.65 
                 59.85 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 0.3 
                 0.15 
                 5.95 
                 4.35 
                 0.15 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The table lists the Euro pallet with a length of 80 cm and a width of 120 cm, the Düsseldorf pallet with a length of 80 cm and a width of 60 cm, the shipping pallet with a length of 120 cm and a width of 100 cm, the lemon crate with a length of 40 cm and a width of 30 cm, and the banana crate with a length of 40 cm and a width of 60 cm. It is clear that the EU pallet can accommodate six 1 st  crates in its length direction and fourteen 1 st  crates in its width direction with virtually no gap between them. The same is true of the Düsseldorf pallet, which accommodates only half as many crates in its width direction. Nine crates fit onto the shipping pallet in its length direction and eleven crates fit onto it in its width direction, forming a gap of about 6 cm in its width direction. 
     It is also clear that three of the 1 st  crates in the length direction can take up almost exactly the length of the lemon crate and banana crate. In the width direction, three crates fit onto the width of the lemon crate and seven fit onto the width of the banana crate. A noticeable gap of 4.35 cm occurs only with the lemon crate. To this extent, the 1 st  crate  1  according to this invention, when correspondingly arranged in rows, can occupy the same space occupied by a lemon crate or banana crate. Because this does not involve placing the 1 st  crate into the lemon crate or banana crate, but rather having it occupy the space of the crates, the wall thickness of the lemon crate and the banana crate is given here as 0 cm. 
     The table below shows alternative dimensions of a crate according to this invention (2 nd  crate). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Name 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 EU 
                 Düsseldorf 
                 Shipping 
                 Lemon 
                 Banana 
               
               
                   
                 2 nd  crate 
                 pallet 
                 pallet 
                 pallet 
                 crate 
                 crate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Dimensions 
                 13 × 8.4 
                 120 × 80 
                 60 × 80 
                 100 × 120 
                 30 × 40 
                 60 × 40 
               
               
                 Wall thickness (W) 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Length (l, L) 
                 13 
                 80 
                 80 
                 120 
                 40 
                 40 
               
               
                 Number (n) 
                 1 
                 6 
                 6 
                 9 
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                 Total length (n*b) 
                 13 
                 78 
                 78 
                 117 
                 39 
                 39 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 2 
                 2 
                 3 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 Width (b, B) 
                 8.4 
                 120 
                 60 
                 100 
                 30 
                 60 
               
               
                 Number (n) 
                 1 
                 14 
                 7 
                 11 
                 3 
                 7 
               
               
                 Total width (n*b) 
                 8.4 
                 117.6 
                 58.8 
                 92.4 
                 25.2 
                 58.8 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 2.4 
                 1.2 
                 7.6 
                 3.8 
                 0.2 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The side length l of the length side of the crate is 13.0 cm; and the side length b of the width side of the crate is 8.4 cm. This 2 nd  crate is particularly suitable for use in lemon crates and banana crates. For example, the lemon crates and banana crates each have a wall thickness of 0.5 cm, which is subtracted twice from the outside dimensions B, L of these larger crates  5 . In this respect, 1 cm less is available in the respective length and width directions. It is clear from the table that an arrangement in rows achieves a precise use of space in the lemon crate and banana crate in the length direction. In the width direction, a slightly enlarged gap of 3.8 cm is present only in the lemon crate. 
     In addition, the second crate can also be favorably stacked on the EU pallet, the Düsseldorf pallet, and the shipping pallet. The shipping pallet results in gaps of 3 cm and 7.6 cm. 
     The table below shows alternative dimensions of a crate according to this invention (3 rd  crate). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Name 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 EU 
                 Düsseldorf 
                 Shipping 
                 Lemon 
                 Banana 
               
               
                   
                 3 rd  crate 
                 pallet 
                 pallet 
                 Pallet 
                 crate 
                 crate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Dimensions 
                 11.4 × 15.0 
                 120 × 80 
                 60 × 80 
                 100 × 120 
                 30 × 40 
                 60 × 40 
               
               
                 Wall thickness (W) 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
               
               
                 Length (l, L) 
                 15.0 
                 80 
                 80 
                 120 
                 40 
                 40 
               
               
                 Number length side (nl) 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 1 
                 2 
                 0 
               
               
                 Number width side (nb) 
                 0 
                 7 
                 7 
                 2 
                 0 
                 3 
               
               
                 Total length (nb*b + nl*l) 
                 15 
                 79.8 
                 79.8 
                 37.8 
                 30 
                 34.2 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 0.2 
                 0.2 
                 2.2 
                 9 
                 4.8 
               
               
                 Width (b, B) 
                 11.4 
                 120 
                 60 
                 100 
                 30 
                 60 
               
               
                 Number length side (nl) 
                 0 
                 8 
                 4 
                 0 
                 1 
                 3 
               
               
                 Number width side (nb) 
                 1 
                 0 
                 0 
                 5 
                 1 
                 1 
               
               
                 Total length (nb*b + nl*l) 
                 11.4 
                 120 
                 60 
                 57 
                 26.4 
                 56.4 
               
               
                 Side length difference D 
                 0 
                 0 
                 0 
                 3 
                 2.6 
                 .26 
               
               
                 Fig. 
                 5a 
                 5b 
                 5c 
                 5d 
                 5e 
                 5f 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The side length l of the length side of the crate is 15.0 cm; and the side length b of the width side of the crate is 11.4 cm. 
     The stackability of the 3 rd  crate in one level is explained in greater detail in conjunction with  FIG. 5  and in connection with the above table. The base area of the 3 rd  crate  1  is shown in  FIG. 5   a  with the side length b of the width side and the side length l of the length side.  FIG. 5   b  schematically depicts how the 3 rd crate 1 according to this invention can be stacked on an EU pallet 7. In this case, eight crates are placed with their width sides against one another in the width direction of the EU pallet. Seven  3 rd  crates according to this invention are placed with their length sides against one another in the length direction of the EU pallet. There is no side length difference in the width direction of the EU pallet because the width B of the EU pallet is an integral multiple of the side length l of the 3 rd  crate. There is a side length difference of 0.2 cm in the length direction of the EU pallet. 
     The stackability on a Düsseldorf pallet  7  is shown in  FIG. 5   c , which essentially corresponds to half the width of the EU pallet. In the width direction of the pallet, only four 3 rd  crates  1  according to this invention are placed with their width sides against one another. The arrangement in rows with respect to the length side of the Düsseldorf pallet and the associated side length difference correspond to those of the EU pallet. 
     The stackability on a quarter pallet  7  is shown in  FIG. 5   d , which has a half the width and half the length of the EU pallet, such as, dimensions of 60×40 cm. Along the width of the quarter pallet, two rows of four 3 rd  crates  1  according to this invention are placed with their width sides against one another. In the third row, the 3 rd  crates  1  according to this invention are oriented perpendicular to those in the other rows. It is thus possible to place five additional crates next to one another in the width direction. This results in a side length difference D L  of 2.2 cm in the length direction of the quarter pallet. A side length difference in the width of the quarter pallet occurs only in the region of the third row, in which the length sides of the crates rest against one another. The side difference D B  there is 3 cm. 
     The 3 rd  crates can consequently be stacked onto the quarter pallet, the Düsseldorf pallet, and the EU pallet with a very good use of space. 
       FIG. 5   e  shows the stackability of the 3 rd  crate  1  in the lemon crate  5 . In it, two rows of 3 rd  crates  1  are provided parallel to the length side of the lemon crate. In the first row, three of the 3 rd  crates  1  are placed with their length sides against one another. In this row, there is a side length difference D L  of 4.8 cm. In the second row, two of the 3 rd  crates are placed with their width sides against each other. In this row, there is a side length difference of 9 cm (not shown in table). 
       FIG. 5   f  shows the stackability of the 3 rd  crate  1  in the banana crate  5 . In it, three rows of 3 rd  crates  1  are provided parallel to the length side of the banana crate. In these rows, three of the 3 rd  crates  1  are placed with their length sides against one another. In these rows, there is a side length difference D L  of 4.8 cm. In the second row, two of the 3 rd  crates  1  are placed with their width sides against each other. In this row, there is a side length difference of 9 cm (not shown in table). In the width direction of the banana crate  5 , there is a side length difference D B  of 2.6 cm. 
     In the depictions and values in  FIGS. 5   e  and  5   f , a wall thickness of the larger crate  5  is taken into account. 
     With the 1 st  crate as well as with the 2 nd  crate and 3 rd  crate, the proposed arrangement requires no more room in one level than is provided by the pallets and crates. There is thus no protrusion beyond the edge of the pallets or larger crates. It is generally advantageous if the side length difference is greater than or equal to 0, for example so that the crates can be stacked in such a way that with a good use of space, but the crates not protrude beyond the edge of pallets or larger crates. 
       FIG. 6  shows two more stacking schemes in connection with a shipping pallet also labeled with reference numeral  7 , with the dimensions 100×120. On the length side with the side length L=120 cm according to  FIG. 6   a , eight 3 rd  crates or microcrates  1  are placed one after another in a row, with their width sides (side length b=11.4 cm) resting against one another. In the width direction (side length B=100 cm), seven 3 rd  crates are situated with their length sides (side length l=15 cm) resting against one another. The stacking scheme also has one more row of ten 3 rd  crates placed with their length sides resting against one another. In the width direction B of the shipping pallet  7 , there is a side length difference D B  of 5.2 cm. It is thus possible to stack a total of 66 crates in one level on the shipping pallet. Alternatively to the row with the ten microcrates, eight microcrates could also be oriented in the same direction as those in the other rows, but this would then result in only 64 microcrates in one level. 
       FIG. 6   b  shows the shipping pallet  7  with a total of 28 larger crates or miniboxes  5 . A minibox  5  here has length 25 cm and a width of 17.14 cm or, in another exemplary embodiment, a width of 17.1 cm. The shipping pallet  7  or also inch-dimensioned pallets, however, are more important particularly for shipments within, to, or from the USA. Because of this relevance, the minibox  5  with the dimensions 17.1×25 cm or 17×25 cm is also referred to as the “USA minibox.” 
     The miniboxes  5  are arranged in seven rows of four miniboxes each, with their length sides against one another. One minibox  5  can contain two 3 rd  crates or microcrates  1  (not shown), which, as described above, preferably have dimensions of 11.4×15 cm. If all of the miniboxes are correspondingly filled, a total of 56 (28×2) microboxes could be accommodated in one level of the shipping pallet. 
     It goes without saying that in addition to the above explanations, the crates can also be stacked on top of one another. 
     Within an arrangement of crates, the crates can have different colors. Different colors can give an indication of the goods contained in a crate. Thus for example, red crates can be used for tomatoes, green crates for limes, yellow crates for lemons, and orange crates for tangerines. The merchant and the logistics companies can thus create a corresponding association with the goods based solely on the color of the crates, which can simplify handling. 
     In connection with the minibox  5 , which preferably has dimensions of 26.66×17.1 cm or 25×17.14 cm, it is possible to create a “box in box in box” system, particularly with a microbox having the dimensions 11.4×15 cm. In this case, two microboxes  1  can be accommodated in one minibox  5 , which can in turn be placed with a second minibox  5  into a lemon crate (30×40 cm). This in turn can be placed without any side length difference onto an EU pallet or Düsseldorf pallet and stacked. 
     Another example of a “box in box in box” system, which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , is likewise based on the microbox or microcrate  1  with the dimensions 11.4×15 cm, which, as explained above, can be placed together with another microbox into a USA minibox or USA minicrate (25×17.1 cm). Two of these USA miniboxes can then in turn be placed in a midibox/midicrate  11  with the dimensions 29×38 cm, and another exemplary embodiment has the dimensions 28×38 cm and each dimension can vary by up to 0.5 cm. This midibox  11  and another midibox  11  can then be placed in a banana crate  10  with the dimensions 60×40 cm, as shown. The banana box  10  can thus accommodate a total of 8 microcrates  1 , which are contained in 4 USA minicrates  5 . This therefore produces a box in box in box system for the logistics zone of the USA, this system being based on the microbox  1  with the preferred dimensions 11.4×15 cm that is likewise best suited for the European logistics zone.