AU704730B2

AU704730B2 - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: AU704730B2
Application number: AU50562/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
Original assignee: Technosearch Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Technosearch Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-04-12
Filing date: 1996-04-10
Publication date: 1999-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-10
Also published as: AU5056296A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

NOTICE

1. The specification should describe the invention in full and the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

2. The specification should be typed on as many sheets of good quality A4 International size paper as are necessary and inserted inside this form.

3. The claims defining the invention must start on a new page. If there is insufficient space on this form for the claims, use separate sheets of paper.

The words "The claims defining the invention are as follows' should appear before claim 1. After the claims the date and the name of the applicant should appear in block letters.

4. This form must be accompanied by a true and exact copy of the description, claims and drawings (if any) and an additional copy of the claims.

(see Pamphlets explaining formal requirements of specifications and drawings) -1II TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: TECHNOSEARCH PTY. LIMITED SActual p nvento r(s) C S I Actual Inventor(s): LADISLAV STEPHAN KARPISEK Sc Robert G. HALLIDAY Address for Service: 44 Ashley Street, Hornsby, N.S.W. 2077 COLLAPSIBLE CO1TAINER invention Title: PN-377 filed 12.0'1.95 Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: The following statement Is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-

I

W _eC 1 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER This invention relates to collapsible containers and in particular to a container having a base with permanently connected side panels which can be folded down onto the base in overlying relationship to provide a consolidated unit.

This invention is a related to and is an improvement on the invention covered in our patent application number 75987/94.

Broadly stated the present invention can be said to provide invention can be said to provide a collapsible container including a four sided base and an upper ""*surface, mounting rails means on opposite sides of said o e .base, mounting edges on the mounting rails spaced above 15 the upper surface of said base, a pair of fold down rectangular primary side panels coupled by coupling means one to each of said mounting rails, a pair of fold down rectangular secondary side panels respectively disposed adjacent the other sides of said base and each coupled by e• oooo 20 more of said coupling means to both of said mounting rails, the couplings means between the side panels and 0 the mounting rails enabling each side panel to move laterally relative to the base, pivotally relative to the base and in a planar manner towards and away from the base upper surface, co-operating first mounting means on 2 said rail mounting edges and bottom edges of said primary side panels the engagement of which by lateral movement of the primary side panels relative to the base will position said primary side panels in an erect condition on the mounting edges of the mounting rails, co-operating second mounting means on said base adjacent said other sides of said base and on bottom edges of said secondary side panels the engagement of which by lateral movement of the secondary side panels relative to said base will position said secondary side panels in an erect condition on said base, and releasable connecting means to connect adjacent end edges of said side panels when erected, the spacing of the said rail mounting edges above the upper surface of said base is substantially equal to the S 15 combined thicknesses of said secondary side panels so that by lateral movements of said secondary side panels the second mounting means is released and then by a combination of pivotal and planar movements of said S. secondary side panels they can be folded down one over 20 the other from an erect condition with the said other secondary side panel overlying the upper surface of said base and underlying said one secondary side panel, and by lateral movements of said primary side panels the first mounting means is released and then by a combination of pivotal and planar movements of said primary side panels they can be folded down one over the other from an erect condition with the said other primary side panel 3 overlying said one secondary side panel and underlying said one primary side panel, the container being characterised by each panel to rail coupling including a peg on the panel permanently engaged in a rail socket defined by wall me-is, said wall means limiting the extent to which the engaged peg can move in any direction within said socket but placing no limitation on the direction of movement of the peg within said socket whilst permitting the lateral and pivotal and planar movement required by said panels in order to be folded down on said base as hereinbefore claimed.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 15 Fig.l is a perspective view of the base of the container according to the invention, Fig.2 is a perspective view of one of the panels from each of two pairs of side panels used in the container, Fig.3 is a perspective view with the base of Fig.1 on 20 which the two paj of side panels are mounted and positioned in the -rected condition, Fig.4 is a detail frl.mentary view showing a side panel mounting to thm: base t- provide the erected condition for the side panel, Fig.5 is a view similar to Fig.4 showing the side panel to base mountint .Iisengaged, Fig.6 is a fragchcfta,ry view showing the relationship of L~ -RI~ 4 the side panel mounting means when the side panel is in the folded down condition, Fig.7 is a perspective view showing the folded down condition of one side panel of a first panel pair, Fig.8 is a perspective view showing both panels of the first panel pair folded down, Fig.9 is a view similar to Fig.8 with one panel of the second panel pair folded down, and is a view similar to Fig.9 showing both panels of the second panel pair folded down.

In Fig.l there is shown a rectangular container base 1 which has two parallel sides 2,3 and a bearer 4 interposed therebetween. The bottom edges of the sides 2,3 and the bearer 4 are connected by several transverse 15 battens 5. There is a floor panel 6 to provide an upper load supporting surface for the base. There is a box S section mounting rail 7 on each of two opposed sides of the base 1. The mounting rails each have an outer skin an inner skin 8 with a mounting face 9 joining the skin 8 20 to the respective sides 2 and 3. The mounting rails 7 each have end legs Sockets 11,12 with defining walls are pressed into (or extend through) the support legs 10 and the inner skins 8 of the mounting rails 7. The sockets are best seen in Figs.4 to 6 and the defining walls of the sockets provide a triangular shape. Although, as will be understood from the following description, the shape can 5 be square or rectangular. It will be noted that in the illustrated form the triangular sockets are of the right angle type with a long vertical dimension and a shorter lateral dimension.

Extending the length of each mounting rail face 9 there is an inwardly directed flange 13 spaced above the mounting face 9 and there are like inwardly directed flanges 14 fixed to the base 1 at the other sides of the base adjacent the ends of the mounting rails. The spacing of the flanges 13 and 14 above the mounting rail faces 9 and the floor panel 6 provide mounting channels.

Two pairs of side panels are permanently coupled to the base 1 by coupling means. The primary side panel pair 15 and 16 are coupled through pegs 19 on the side edges of the panels permanently engaged in the sockets 11. Like pegs 20 on the panels 17,18 are engaged in the sockets 12.

Each side panel is preferably formed from a frame of S" angle iron members with out-turned flanges and an inner 20 cladding sheet 21. It is to be noted that the panels 15,16 are not as tall as the panels 17,18 for reasons that will become clear from the following detailed description.

As will be seen from Fig.2 the panels 17,18 are

S

provided with bolts 41 for engagement in holes 22 in the frames of the panels 15,16.

The container in a folded configuration is shown in 6 and in an erected condition is shown in Fig.3.

Working in reverse from the folded cxondition of Fig.10 to the erected condition of Fig.3 the steps are as shown in Figs.10,9,8,7 and 3.

Specifically, to achieve the conversion from the folded down configuration to the erected configuration the coupling means between the side panels and the base requires the coupling means to allow lateral movement of the side panels relative to the base 1, pivotal movement of the side panels relative to the base 1 and planar movements towards and away from the floor panel 6. How this is achieved is readily understood from a consideration of Figs.4 to 6.

e From Fig.9 it will be seen that in order to erect the 15 side panel 15 the peg 19 of the panel 15 will rotate in the socket 11 as the panel 15 is pivotally raised to the vertical condition and will move in the planar manner vertically so the bottom rail 30 of the panel 15 rests on the mounting rail upper surface 9. The panel 15 is then moved laterally to engage the panel bottom flange 30 in ooo. the mounting means channel defined between the flange 1 and the top 9 of the rail 7. It is to be noted that the limits of peg movement within the sockets are determined by the socket defining walls but the direction of movement is not so defined. This is unlike the arrangement of our earlier patent application number 75987/94 where the direction of possible peg movement is Y C 7 defined by the edges of peg engaged shaped slots or depressions. When the mounting means is engaged the panel 15 is supported in a substantially vertical erected condition.

The panel 16 is then likewise raised to the near vertical erected condition shown in Fig.8.

The side panels 17 and 18 are then similarly sequentially raised and the legs 30 of the bottom rails of the side panels are engaged under the flanges 14 on the floor panel 6.

Fig.6 illustrates the configuration when the side panel 18 is raised. As part of the erection of the panels 17, 18 the 31 legs of the angle material forming the ends of the side panels 17,18 engage in hooking means 15 comprised of the inturned legs 23 of brackets fixed to "the panels 15 and 16.

O .O It follows that with panels sized so that the end to end dimension of the secondary panels 17-18 is ooe substantially equal to the spacing of the panels 15-16 20 when erected and the end to end sizing of the primary o o o, e panels 15-16 is such that they overlie the ends of the side panels 17-18 a neat fitting four sided enclosure can oe be erected on the base 1. The relationship prevents the roo bottoms of the side panels 15-16 moving laterally to disengage from below the flanges 13 on the mounting rails and from divergent movement at the tops by the engagement of the flanges of the uprights of the panels 17, 18 with _R__CC 8 the bracket legs 23.

The side panel connecting means, including the hooks 23 and the legs 31 of the ends of the side panels 17-18, further includes latches in the form of bolts 41 engaged in holes 22 in the ends of the side panels 15-16. The latches 41-22 prevent the panels 17,18 moving inwardly to release the engagement of the legs 31 with the hooks 23.

From the foregoing the complete security of the container can be readily understood.

Where a lid is required a suitable lid can be designed to co-operate with the side panels of the container. Locking means can be provided and to that end the bracket 25 with a hole therein is shown on the top rail of the panel 17 in Fig.3.

15 Sequential folding down of the side panels 15,16,17,18 in pairs is required to achieve the Fig. configuration. To achieve the required folded down relationship the vertical spacing apart of the sockets on the members 10 and the rail inner skins 8 is generally equal to the thickness of a pair of overlying side panels.

The security of the connection of the side panels to the base and the simplicity of the erection and collapsing sequences can be readily seen from the foregoing description and the drawings.

1.

Claims

1. A collapsible container including a four sided base and an upper surface, mounting rails means on opposite sides of said base, mounting edges on the mounting rails spaced above the upper surface of said base, a pair of fold down rectangular primary side panels coupled by coupling means one to each of said mounting rails, a pair of fold down rectangular secondary side panels respectively disposed adjacent the other sides of said base and each coupled by more of said coupling means to both of said mounting rails, the couplings means between the side panels and the mounting rails enabling each side panel to move laterally relative to the base, pivotally relative to the base and in a planar manner towards and 15 away from the base upper surface, co--operating first mounting means on said rail mounting edges and bottom edges of said primary side panels the engagement of which by lateral movement of the primaiy side panels relative to the base will position said primary side panels in an erect condition on the mounting edges of the mounting go rails, co-operating second mounting means on said base adjacent said other sides of said base and on bottom edges of said secondary side panels the engagement of which by lateral movement of the secondary side panels relative to said base will position said secondary side panels in an erect condition on said base, andl releasable connecting means to connect adjacent end edges of said side panels when erected, the spacing of the said rail mounting edges above the upper surface of said base is substantially equal to the combined thicknesses of said secondary side panels so that by lateral movements of said secondary side ianels the second mounting means is released and then y a combination of pivotal and planar movements of said secondary side panels they can be folded down one over the other from an erect condition with the said other secondary side panel overlying the upper surface of said base and underlying said one secondary side panel, and by lateral movements of said "primary side panels the first mounting means is released and then by a combination of pivotal and planar movements of said primary side panels they can be folded down one over the other from an erect condition with the said other primary side panel overlying said one secondary side panel and underlying said one primary side panel, the container being characterised by each panel to rail coupling including a follower on the panel permanently engaged in a rail socket defined by wall means, said wall means limiting the extent to which the enqaqed follower can move in any direction within said socket but placing no limitation on the direction of movement of the follower within said socket whilst permitting the lateral and pivotal and planar movement required by said panels -Nu ~V~ISIB 11 in order to be folded down on said base as hereinbefore claimed.

2. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 wherein each co-operating mounting means comprises tongues means on said side panels and channel means on said mounting rails and said base.

3. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the connecting means comprises hook elements on the end edges of the primary side panels engagable by co-operating portions of the end edges of the secondary side panels to retain the primary side panels in a fixed spaced relationship and latch means to 0* prevent the disengagement of the secondary side panels from said hook elements. 15

4. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spacing apart of the end edges of each secondary side panel is substantially equal to the "o spacing apart of the primary side panels when erected and the spacing apart of the end edges of the primary side panels is such that when the side panels are all erected inner faces of the primary side panels overlie the end edges of the secondary side panels.

A collapsible container as claimed in claim 4 -C 19A~---CIP-"kP- I~ i2 whe rein the latch mans comprises sliding bolts on the secondary side panels which are slidably engagable with apertures in the primary side panels.

6. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the side panels are frames including a top frame member and a bottom frame member and two end frame members, where the frame members are all made of shaped cross-section material and first legs of the frame members lie in the plane of the side member and are covered by a liner sheet fixed to said first legs and the second leg of the bottom frame member of each side panel comprises the tongues of the mounting means whereby the respective side panels are mounted to the base and the mounting channels. 15

7. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 6 when dependent on claim 4 wherein the hook elements of the connecting means engage around the other legs of the "L" shaped material forming the end frame members of the secondary side panels. 20

8. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said socket comprises a depression in a surface of said rail means.

9. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 13 wherein each said socket is an aperture in said rail means.

A collapsible container as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the socket shape defined by said wall means is triangular.

11. A collapsible container as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the socket shape defined by said wall means is substantially rectangular.

12. A collapsible container as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the socket shape defined by said wall means is substantially square.

13. A collapsible container as substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. *00 Dated this 4th day of April, 1996 TECHNOSEARCH PTY. LIMITED By its Patent Attorney ROBERT HALLIDAY 1 ABSTRACT: A collapsible container including a four sided base (1) with rails at two opposed sides of the base raised above a floor panel of the base. Two pairs of fold down panels (15-16,17-18) where the panels of one pair (15-16) are each coupled one to each base rail by pegs on the panel permanently engaged in sockets (11) on the rail and the panels (17,18) of the other pair are each coupled to and extend between the rails by pegs (19) and in sockets (11) in the rails The pegs (19-20) can move within limits imposed by wall means t. defining the sockets (11) without limitation on the direction of movement of the pegs (19-20) within said sockets whilst permitting the lateral and pivotal 15 and planar movement the panels (15,16,17,18) require in order to be folded down on said base and stand erect in interlocked relationship and in engagement with mounting means comprising flanges (31) on the panels (15,16,17,18) and flanges (13,14) on the rails and 20 the base respectively. IP CIB~ey