Stackable transport container

Abstract

The invention relates to a stackable transport container which is adapted, when in a full condition filled with products, to be stacked with other transport containers on top of each other, or, when in an empty condition, to be placed together with other transport containers inside one another. In the left side wall and in the right side wall, respectively, grooves ( 602 a - f ) are formed which respectively have upper openings and lower groove stops. At the outside surface of the left side wall and at the outside surface of the right side wall, respectively, several guide pegs ( 600 a - f ) are formed. In a horizontal direction, the distances between the guide pegs are different from the distances between the upper openings ( 603 a - f ) of the grooves, thus preventing an upper transport container being inadvertently placed inside a lower transport container. Further, the distances between the guide pegs are chosen that placement of an upper container inside a lower container is possible in one direction only.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . Stackable transport container comprising a bottom, a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall and a right side wall to form a receptacle open towards the top; characterized in that in the left side wall and in the right side wall at least two grooves are formed, respectively, which grooves have upper groove openings and lower groove stops;
 that at the lower edge of the outside of the left side wall and at the lower edge of the outside of the right side wall at least two guide pegs are formed, respectively;   that the distances between the guide pegs are different from the distances between the respective upper groove openings;   that the distances between the guide pegs are equal to the distances between the respective lower groove stops;   that the distances between the guide pegs at each of the sides are all different; and   that the distances between the guide pegs are chosen such that a plunge movement of an upper container into a container underneath is possible only in one direction.   
   
   
       29 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , characterized in that in the upper edges of the right side wall and of the left side wall at least two recesses are formed, respectively, and that the distances between the recesses are equal to the distances between the respective guide pegs. 
   
   
       30 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the grooves are inclined relative to the vertical and each have a different slope, curve and shape. 
   
   
       31 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the individual grooves, guide pegs and recesses of the left side wall are each identical to the respective individual opposite grooves, guide pegs and recesses of the right side wall. 
   
   
       32 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the grooves at the inner side of the side walls are formed in the shape of channels. 
   
   
       33 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the grooves extend through the respective side walls, thereby forming slits through the walls. 
   
   
       34 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the outermost ends of the guide pegs are provided with downwardly extending protrusions. 
   
   
       35 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 34 , wherein the downwardly extending protrusions provided at the outermost ends of the guide pegs comprising inwardly inclined surfaces. 
   
   
       36 . Stackable transport container according to one  claim 28 , wherein the grooves have a width that is somewhat greater than the diameter of the guide pegs. 
   
   
       37 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the groove stops lie in a horizontal plane. 
   
   
       38 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 37 , wherein the horizontal plane lies close to the middle of the transport container. 
   
   
       39 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the guide pegs lie in one horizontal plane. 
   
   
       40 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 39 , wherein the horizontal plane lies close to the bottom of the transport container. 
   
   
       41 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the height of the side walls is equal to the height of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       42 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the height of the side walls is greater than the height of the front wall and the rear wall. 
   
   
       43 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the upper surface of the site walls and/or of the front wall and/or of the rear wall being provided with upward extending ribs. 
   
   
       44 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the upper surface of the side walls being provided with a guide groove. 
   
   
       45 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 44 , wherein the guide groove being provided with an inwardly inclined surface. 
   
   
       46 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 28 , wherein the guide pegs being provided with reinforcing ribs. 
   
   
       47 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs being provided being provided at the outer side of the side walls and substantially having the shape of the grooves at the opposite inner side of the side walls. 
   
   
       48 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs being formed by deformation of the side walls adjacent to the guide pegs. 
   
   
       49 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs being formed by increasing the thickness of the material of the side walls adjacent to the guide pegs. 
   
   
       50 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs having different width and thickness. 
   
   
       51 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs having variable width and thickness. 
   
   
       52 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs being formed by protruding channels. 
   
   
       53 . Stackable transport container according to  claim 46 , wherein the reinforcing ribs being formed by impressing of material wherein the grooves are partially formed by the opposite side.