Stacking crate and transporting and/or storage system containing two or more stacking crates

Abstract

A stacking crate having a base, a wall delimiting a receiving space with the base, and a receiving opening delimited by the wall's edge. Extending elements shaped and mounted on the stacking crate move between rest and support positions solely by the force of gravity. In the support position, the elements are positioned to allow a rest face for placement of two stacking crates to rest one on top of the other to form a stacked crate stack. In the rest position, the extending elements allow the two stacking crates to be placed one inside the other to form a nested crate stack. The extending elements move into the support position when the base of the stacking crate is placed on a subsurface. When the edge of the stacking crate is placed on a subsurface, with the receiving opening facing downwards, the extending elements move to the rest position.

1 . A stacking box comprising:
 a base;   a wall starting from the base, extending transverse thereto in a direction, wherein the wall together with the base delimits a receiving space of the stacking box;   a receiving opening delimited by an edge of the wall opposite the base;   extending elements mounted on the stacking box, wherein the extending elements are displaceable back and forth between a rest position and a support position;   wherein when the extending elements are in the support position they provide a rest face for placing the stacking box and an additional, structurally-identical stacking box one on top of the other, thereby forming a stacked box stack;   wherein when the extending elements are in the rest position they enable the stacking box and the additional structurally-identical stacking box to be placed inside one another to form a nested box stack;   wherein the extending elements are designed and mounted on the stacking box such that the extending elements are displaced into the support position driven solely by gravity when the stacking box is placed on the stacking box's base with the base oriented essentially horizontally on a substrate, and with the receiving opening of the stacking box facing essentially vertically upwards; and   wherein the extending elements are displaced into the rest position driven solely by gravity when the stacking box is placed on the stacking box's edge with the receiving opening of the stacking box oriented essentially horizontally on the substrate and with the base of the stacking box oriented essentially vertically upward.   
     
     
         2 . The stacking box according to  claim 1 , wherein the extending elements are arranged displaceably between the support position and the rest position in a region of the edge of the wall of the stacking box such manner that:
 the stacking box's extending elements in the support position project into a region of the stacking box's receiving opening such that the additional structurally-identical stacking box is placed down with the base of the additional structurally-identical stacking box on the stacking box's extending elements located in the support position so to form a stacked box stack; and   the stacking box's extending elements in the rest position expose the region of the stacking box's receiving opening such that the additional structurally-identical stacking box is introduced into the stacking box's receiving opening with the additional structurally-identical stacking box's base entering first into the stacking box's receiving opening so to form a nested box stack, and the additional structurally-identical stacking box is inserted into the receiving space of the stacking box.   
     
     
         3 . The stacking box, of  claim 1 , further comprising plate-like extending elements that are pivotably disposed on the wall of the stacking box in a region of the receiving opening and/or in a region of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The stacking box  claim 1 , wherein the extending elements are mounted on the stacking box pivotably with hinges and are pivotable between the support position and the rest position. 
     
     
         5 . The stacking box  claim 1 , wherein the base and wall are made of a plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The stacking box  claim 1 , wherein the extending elements are made of a metal. 
     
     
         7 . The stacking box of  claim 1 , formed so as to have mirror symmetry to a first and to a second median plane, respectively running orthogonal to the base and perpendicular to one another, or that in a top view from above, are formed with cross sections having point symmetry, respectively with a center of symmetry of the point symmetry forming the center of a cross-section contour. 
     
     
         8 . The stacking box  claim 1 , further comprising supports formed on the wall and/or on the base of the stacking box for supporting the extending elements of the stacking box in the support position. 
     
     
         9 . The stacking box  claim 1 , further comprising centering structures formed on the extended elements of the stacking box, and by counterstructures formed on the stacking box outside of the extended elements wherein the centering structures interact with the counterstructures of the additional structurally-identical stacking box in the stacked state so as to center the stacked additional structurally-identical stacking box in relation to the stacking box located thereunder. 
     
     
         10 . A transport and/or storage system comprising at least two stacking boxes according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The stacking box according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall extends transverse to and circumferentially from the base.