Patent Description:
Shelved roll containers are widely used in retail business to carry and store goods for storage and merchandising purposes. Roll containers have been tailored to meet the requirements of particular applications. Let us take florists as an example. A roll container tailored to transport and store flowers is preferably one that is not overly deep so as to fit into narrow corridors typically found in florist shops. In addition, the shelves should preferably permit the passage of any spillages of water but retain spillages of soil. Accordingly, typical meshed roll containers with a square foot-print are not ideal for such an application.

An exemplary roll container specially modified for florist use is disclosed in <CIT> involving shelves that can be tilted for a convenient presentation of the goods. The shelves of several roll containers may be positioned into receptive individual holes of one roll container for return logistics, wherein the other roll containers are disassembled for more to gain volumetric efficiency. <CIT> discloses a logistics system with a roll container and a plurality of shelves set to be installed into a series of slots arranged along removable uprights of the roll container.

There is, however, an ever-present need to improve the usability of shelved roll containers or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a roll container with a base and two elongated supports that are supported by the base. The base has a quadrilateral shape and comprises uprights provided to opposing lateral edges of the base. The supports each have a plurality of individual slots provided in a spaced apart configuration along the supports for receiving a tab of a respective plurality of shelves) in a spaced apart configuration. The roll container further includes a folding mechanism between the base and the supports for turning the supports between an operational state and a folded state. In the operational state of the roll container the supports extend transversally in respect to the base. In the folded state of the roll container the supports extend parallel to the base. The folding mechanism comprises an elongated guide, which is provided to the uprights, and a hinge pin, which is provided to the supports and configured to run in the guide of the upright. The folding mechanism is configured to allow respective translation and rotation between the support and base during conversion between the operational and folded state. The roll container comprises carrier beams, which connect both pairs of adjacent uprights and extend along lateral sides of and elevated from the topside of the base. The supports comprise cooperating counterpart beams which are configured to rest against the carrier beams of the base in the operational state of the roll container.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a logistics system with such a roll container and at least one shelf at least one shelf having a quadrilateral and a pair of short tabs provided to two opposing corners of the frame. The short tabs exhibit a kinked shape and a length along respective longitudinal sides of the frame. The shelf also has a pair of long tabs provided to two opposing corners of the frame that oppose the pair of short tabs. The long tabs exhibit a kinked shape and a length along respective longitudinal sides of the frame that is greater than the length of the short tabs.

Various embodiments of the first aspect may comprise at least one feature from the following itemized list:.

Considerable benefits are gained with aid of the novel proposition. Because the supports may be folded down against the base of the roll container, no disassembly is required for return logistics.

According to one embodiment, the supports also have at least one elongated stacking slot for receiving a plurality of tabs of a respective plurality of shelves in a stacked configuration. The embodiment has the further benefit of facilitating easy stacking of the shelves for return logistics thus improving useability.

In the following certain exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In the present context the expression corner includes but is not limited to the quarter of a quadrilateral object which includes the connection point between two sides of the object.

In the present context the expression kinked shape includes but is not limited to a shape which includes a first portion, which extends in a direction, which has a dominant component in a first Cartesian dimension, a second portion, which extends in another direction, which has a dominant component in a second Cartesian dimension, and a transition between the first portion and a second portion. Examples of kinked shapes include straight angles with sharp, chamfered or round transitions, e.g. shapes resembling letters L or V.

<FIG> illustrates a logistics system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention featuring a roll container <NUM> loaded with five shelves <NUM>. The roll container <NUM> has a base <NUM> that is equipped with casters <NUM> and uprights <NUM>. The base <NUM> has a generally quadrilateral, particularly quadrangular, shape. The example shown in <FIG> features two mutually opposing and relatively short longitudinal sides and two mutually opposing and relatively long transversal sides. The idea of such an elongated rectangular shape is to provide for a container that is relatively wide and shallow for merchandising goods, such as flowers, in small commercial spaces. In the present context the longitudinal side extends in the direction in which the shelves <NUM> are put in and taken out of the roll container <NUM>. Conversely, the customer or other user of the logistics system is intended to be presented with the transversal side. Flowers and other goods are mainly loaded from the long side, but can also be loaded from the short side.

The base <NUM> has a frame <NUM> which defines the shape of the base <NUM> and which delimits a cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may be a simple plate made of plywood, cellular board, etc. The construction of the frame <NUM> may be based on a tubular frame with a mesh infill. On top of mesh a thin plastic sheet may be added and riveted to the mesh. The cover <NUM> preferably includes drainage holes. The castors <NUM> may include fixed, i.e. non-steering, or swivel wheels or a mixture thereof as shown in <FIG>. The fixed castors <NUM> are preferably oriented to wheel the roll container <NUM> in a direction that is parallel to the transversal side, i.e. the long side.

<FIG> illustrates the construction of the roll container <NUM> in greater detail. The uprights <NUM> include two pairs of profiles arranged at opposing ends of the base <NUM> in respect to the transversal sides. In other words the base <NUM> has four corner columns. The uprights <NUM> extend perpendicularly in respect to the base <NUM>. In a general operational state the base <NUM> may be seen as extending horizontally and the uprights <NUM> vertically. The uprights <NUM> include an elongated profile. In the illustrated example the profile has an open side thus resembling the letter C in cross-section. The open side faces the cargo space of the roll container <NUM> that is defined by the base <NUM> and the uprights <NUM>. The uprights <NUM> also include guides <NUM> which, according to the illustrated embodiment, take the form of an elongated groove. The groove pierces through the profile in a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal sides. Connecting both pairs of adjacent uprights <NUM> is a carrier beam <NUM> which also extends along the respective longitudinal side.

The carrier beam <NUM> serves the purpose of bearing the weight of shelves <NUM> through two elongated supports <NUM>. The carrier beams <NUM> are preferably provided with struts <NUM> for positioning and propping the supports. The supports <NUM> are, in other words, supported by the base <NUM> through the uprights <NUM>. Similarly to the uprights <NUM>, the supports <NUM> are feature a pair of standards <NUM> that are preferably joined by connecting elements, such as rungs <NUM> and/or a beam <NUM>. The beam <NUM> is constructed as a counterpart beam to the carrier beam <NUM> of the uprights <NUM>, wherein the carrier beam <NUM> carries the counterpart beam <NUM> of the supports <NUM>. The supports <NUM> are constructed as foldable racks for the shelves <NUM>. To facilitate supporting the shelves <NUM> the standards <NUM> are each made up by a profile equipped with individual slots <NUM> that are provided in a spaced apart configuration along the standards <NUM>. The slots <NUM> are provided on a side of the standard <NUM> that faces transversal side of the roll container. Accordingly the shelves <NUM> may be installed a direction, in which is the longitudinal side extends. In the exemplary embodiment of <FIG> the standards <NUM> include <NUM> slots <NUM> to provide for <NUM> arbitrary shelf positions at respective <NUM> heights. As can be seen from the FIGURES, the plurality of slots <NUM> features two types of slots that are arranged alternately along the support <NUM>. The purpose of the alternating shapes is to help the user to choose the correct height for the shelf <NUM>. The profile of the standard <NUM> may be quadrangular, as depicted in the FIGURES, or any suitable cross-sectional shape.

The supports <NUM> are designed to cooperate with the uprights <NUM> to facilitate folding of the supports <NUM> between an operational state, which is shown in <FIG>, and a folded state, which is shown in <FIG>. The proximal ends of the standards <NUM> are inserted into the receptive profiles of the uprights <NUM>. The proximal ends of the standards <NUM> include a hinge pin <NUM> which runs in the guide <NUM> of the uprights <NUM>. As can be seen from <FIG>, the guide <NUM> is elongated so as allow for the support <NUM> to be translated in respect to the base <NUM>. In the operational state the supports <NUM> are maintained in the upright position by the relatively narrow guide <NUM>, which does not allow translation in a lateral direction, and on the other hand by the preferably matching mating surfaces between the carrier beam <NUM> and the counterpart beam <NUM>.

<FIG> show the folding sequence in greater detail. First the support <NUM> is elevated in respect to the base <NUM> along the guide <NUM> (see arrow in <FIG>). The movement is dictated by the passage of the hinge pin <NUM> in the guide <NUM>. With the counterpart beam <NUM> of the support <NUM> detached from the carrier beam <NUM> of the supports <NUM> preferably past the struts <NUM>, the support <NUM> is free to be pivoted about the hinge provided by the hinge pin <NUM> and the guide <NUM>. For this purpose the end of the guide <NUM> may include an offset recess to maintain the translational position of the hinge pin <NUM> during rotation. The open side of the profile of the uprights <NUM> permits rotation of the support <NUM> in respect to the base <NUM> (see arrow in <FIG>). During or after rotation the support <NUM> is lowered against the base <NUM> (see arrows in <FIG>). The same process is repeated for the opposing support <NUM> to assume the folded state (see <FIG> also shows the construction of the struts <NUM> more clearly. The struts <NUM> may simply take the form of protrusions extending from the carrier beam <NUM> to provide lateral support and positioning aid for the supports <NUM>. The struts <NUM> should be short enough to be cleared by lifting the support <NUM>.

<FIG> show the installation sequence of the shelves <NUM> and the details thereof. The shelves <NUM> are generally planar pieces that are suspended by the supports <NUM> from opposing ends of the roll container <NUM>. The supports <NUM> act as racks with openings <NUM> for receiving the corresponding tabs <NUM>, <NUM> of the shelf <NUM> to a desirable height and orientation. <FIG> shows the insertion of an exemplary shelf <NUM> to the support <NUM>. The shelf <NUM> features a generally quadrilateral frame <NUM> which delimits a cover <NUM>. The frame <NUM> may be made of a metal profiles cut from a sheet and joined together into a periphery. The cover <NUM> may include a plywood, cellular board, cardboard, plastic sheet, etc. The frame <NUM> may exceed the cover <NUM> to provide for a peripheral lip.

The corners of the shelf <NUM> are provided with tabs <NUM>, <NUM> for engaging the support <NUM>. The tabs <NUM>, <NUM> need not be placed at the extreme tips of the corners of the shelf <NUM> but positioning in the near vicinity of the tip is advised for the sake of volumetric efficiency. <FIG> shows that the tabs <NUM>, <NUM> include a kinked shape in that the tab has two portions in an angled orientation with respect to one another. Firstly, the tab <NUM>, <NUM> has a proximal portion, which extends away from the respective longitudinal side of the frame <NUM>. The proximal portion may extend in a right angle in respect to the longitudinal side of the frame <NUM>. The distal portion which extends from the proximal portion along the respective longitudinal side of the frame <NUM>. The distal portion may therefore extend in a right angle in respect to the proximal portion. There is a transition between the portions, which may be a sharp angle, as shown in the FIGURES, or a relieved transition, such as a chamfered or a rounded transition. The tip of the tab <NUM>, <NUM> includes a claw which is a further kink in the shape. The claw may be angled in respect to a dimension which is different to that in respect which the proximal and distal portions are angled in respect to each other. In a practical example the claw may extend downward to provide for a stopper for the shelf <NUM> preventing accidental withdrawal from the support <NUM>.

The shelf <NUM> is made asymmetric in that the tabs <NUM>, <NUM> may have different lengths and be positioned differently from each other. Let us first consider the leading end of the shelf <NUM> which is shown on the right hand side in <FIG> and <FIG>. In this context the expressions leading and trailing refer to the transversal ends of the shelf which either lead or follow the insertion of the shelf into the roll container. The leading end has a pair of tabs <NUM> which are referred to as the long tabs. The proximal portions of the long tabs <NUM> are offset from the leading end. The distal portion of the long tabs <NUM> are relatively long in comparison with the tabs <NUM> which are provided in the trailing end. The tabs <NUM> provided to the trailing end of the shelf <NUM> are referred to as short tabs <NUM>. The proximal portions of the short tabs <NUM> extend from the trailing end. While the proximal portions of the tabs <NUM>, <NUM> may have an equal length, the length of the distal portion of the short tab <NUM> is smaller than that of the long tab <NUM>. During insertion of the tabs <NUM>, <NUM> into the receptive openings <NUM> on the support <NUM>, the claws of the tabs <NUM>, <NUM> protrude through the openings <NUM> to the inside of the profile of the support <NUM>. The length of the tab <NUM>, <NUM> is defined between the distance between the tip of the tab and the transition between the proximal portion and the distal portion.

The difference in tab lengths facilitates adjustment of shelf angle. <FIG> shows the shelf <NUM> in a horizontal orientation. By lifting and pulling the trailing end out to release the short tabs <NUM> from the openings <NUM>, the shelf <NUM> may be tilted up or down. The tilting is enabled by the relatively long tabs <NUM> at the leading end that do not become detached from the support <NUM> even though the trailing end has been released from the respective support <NUM>. <FIG> shows the shelf <NUM> angled down by one opening increment for a slight incline, whereas <FIG> shows the shelf <NUM> angled down by two opening increments for a larger incline. The asymmetric tabs <NUM>, <NUM> also provided for added convenience in that all four tabs need not be inserted at once. Instead, the long tabs <NUM> may be inserted first, whereby the user can focus entirely on aligning the short tabs <NUM> to finish installation.

Let us next turn to the return configuration of the logistics system shown in <FIG>. <FIG> shows the roll container <NUM> loaded with <NUM> shelves <NUM> in a return configuration. The shelves are arranged in three stacks <NUM> that are loaded into the roll container <NUM> on an opposing side compared to the operational loading shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The side of the roll container, toward which the individual openings face, is referred to as the operational configuration side. <FIG> offer a more detailed representation of the opposing return configuration side.

<FIG> shows the return configuration side of the roll container <NUM> being loaded with a shelf <NUM>. As may be seen, the side of the supports <NUM> opposing the individual slots <NUM> has a stacking slot <NUM> for receiving several tabs of several shelves <NUM> is a stacked configuration. The stacking slots <NUM> are elongated along the supports <NUM> to facilitate such a plurality. The exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGURES includes several such stacking slots <NUM> on top each other divided by a neck portion of the profile of the support. Accordingly the exemplary roll container <NUM> may receive three stacks <NUM> of shelves <NUM>. <FIG> shows the first shelf <NUM> of the bottom stack <NUM> being inserted into the stacking slots <NUM>. The insertion into a stacking slot <NUM> is handled similarly to insertion into an individual slot <NUM> in that the claw is first introduced into the opening <NUM>, <NUM> and then dropped until the tab <NUM>, <NUM> makes contact with the profile of the support <NUM>. <FIG> shows the first shelf having assumed the return state on the base <NUM> with the second shelf <NUM> of the stack <NUM> during insertion into the stacking slot <NUM>.

The stacking slots <NUM> serve the purpose of using one roll container <NUM> to return the shelves of several other roll containers back upstream in the supply network or during storage. The other roll containers <NUM> that do not include shelves may be returned in a stacked configuration as well. <FIG> shows two roll containers <NUM> in a folded state (as shown in <FIG>) in a stacked formation. In the stacked formation the frame <NUM> of the base <NUM> of the superposed roll container <NUM> is carried by the carrier beam <NUM> of the roll container <NUM> below. The uprights <NUM> of the superposed roll container <NUM>, on the other hand, are supported by the uprights <NUM> of the roll container <NUM> below. As the uprights <NUM> have a height greater than that of the caster <NUM>, the casters <NUM> may fit into the space between the bases <NUM> of the stacked roll containers <NUM>. <FIG> shows the stacking phase of these folded roll containers <NUM>. It can be seen that the struts <NUM> of the roll container below guide and support the frame <NUM> of the superposed roll container <NUM> so as to align the containers in respect to each other.

The illustrated embodiments are described above as mere examples of how to embody aspects of the invention. Several variants are foreseeable. The construction could be varied, for example, by including several pairs of uprights and thus more than two supports. One could imagine a roll container with three supports for facilitating two columns of shelves either in an operational or return configuration. More than three such supports and columns of shelves are also foreseeable.

The logistics system may also be used by having a first set of shelves in an operational configuration loaded on the operational configuration side spaced apart from each other for merchandising purposes. A second set of shelves could be kept as reserve shelves underneath or on top of the load carrying shelves by loading them to the same roll container from the return configuration side. Alternatively, the supports could include individual slots and at least one stacking slot on the same side.

One can also imagine constructing a roll container with detachable supports instead of folding supports. Alternatively or additionally the base of the roll container may have a square shape instead of the illustrated elongated rectangular shape.

A further foreseeable aspect of the present disclosure involves a roll container roll container which comprises a base <NUM> and two elongated supports <NUM>. The supports are supported by the base <NUM> and which each comprise a plurality of individual slots <NUM> which are provided in a spaced apart configuration along the supports <NUM>. Each one of the plurality of individual slots <NUM> is configured to receive a tab <NUM>, <NUM> of a respective plurality of shelves <NUM> in a spaced apart configuration. The supports <NUM> each comprise at least one elongated stacking slot <NUM>, wherein the at least one stacking slot <NUM> is configured to receive a plurality of tabs <NUM>, <NUM> of a respective plurality of shelves <NUM> in a stacked configuration. In such a foreseeable aspect the folding mechanism between the base <NUM> and the supports <NUM> is optional. If the folding mechanism is omitted, the supports may be attached to the base <NUM> through a simple shape coupling, such as a post with a female shape for receiving the support. The post may be embedded or proud in respect to the base. The aspect may include one or more features from the embodiments described above. Such an aspect would be particularly useful in constructing a roll container with a relatively compact base which may not accommodate the supports in a folded state.

Claim 1:
A roll container (<NUM>) comprising:
- a base (<NUM>), which has a quadrilateral shape and comprises uprights (<NUM>) provided to opposing lateral edges or corners of the base (<NUM>),
- two elongated supports (<NUM>), which are supported by the base (<NUM>), and
- a folding mechanism between the base (<NUM>) and the supports (<NUM>) for turning the supports (<NUM>) between:
∘ an operational state, in which the supports (<NUM>) extend transversally in respect to the base (<NUM>), and
∘ a folded state, in which the supports (<NUM>) extend parallel to the base (<NUM>),
characterized in that:
- the folding mechanism comprises an elongated guide (<NUM>) provided to the uprights (<NUM>) and a hinge pin (<NUM>), which is provided to the supports (<NUM>) and configured to run in the guide (<NUM>) of the upright (<NUM>), which folding mechanism is configured to allow respective translation and rotation between the support (<NUM>) and base (<NUM>) during conversion between the operational and folded state,
- each one of the two elongated supports (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of individual slots (<NUM>) provided in a spaced apart configuration along the supports (<NUM>), wherein each one of the plurality of individual slots (<NUM>) is configured to receive a tab (<NUM>, <NUM>) of a shelf (<NUM>) of a respective plurality of shelves (<NUM>) in a spaced apart configuration;
- the base (<NUM>) comprises carrier beams (<NUM>) connecting both pairs of adjacent uprights (<NUM>) and extending along lateral sides of and elevated from the topside of the base (<NUM>);
- the supports (<NUM>) comprise cooperating counterpart beams (<NUM>), which are configured to rest against the carrier beams (<NUM>) of the base (<NUM>) in the operational state of the roll container (<NUM>).