CA1048423A - Collapsible plastic transport case - Google Patents
Collapsible plastic transport caseInfo
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- CA1048423A CA1048423A CA77276602A CA276602A CA1048423A CA 1048423 A CA1048423 A CA 1048423A CA 77276602 A CA77276602 A CA 77276602A CA 276602 A CA276602 A CA 276602A CA 1048423 A CA1048423 A CA 1048423A
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
A rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth plastic transport case. At least one pair of opposing side walls of the case are adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case.
The other pair of side walls of the case have planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof which are adapted for folding into a position over the case to form a flat top for the case and are foldable, with the top members, to a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case. The case has a rectangular, planar configuration in its collapsed condition to facilitate storage and/or shipping of the case.
A rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth plastic transport case. At least one pair of opposing side walls of the case are adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case.
The other pair of side walls of the case have planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof which are adapted for folding into a position over the case to form a flat top for the case and are foldable, with the top members, to a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case. The case has a rectangular, planar configuration in its collapsed condition to facilitate storage and/or shipping of the case.
Description
lQ48423 This invention relates generally to plastic transport cases, and in particular to a collapsible, integrally-molded, full-depth plastic transport case having side walls and a top which are foldable to a position flat with the bottom of the case 5. in a rectangular, planar configuration for storage and/or shipping of the case.
Collapsible plastic transport cases are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,497,127. Generally speaking, such cases are utilized for the storage and shipment of 10. articles, goods, or products of various kinds, including food stuffs, fruits, vegetables, etc., and are fabricated by molding, in a single unitary operation, from a suitable high impact plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvin~l chloride, or a similar thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic mater-15. ial. The known collapsible plastic transport cases, such asthat described in the aforesaid patent, comprise four upstanding side walls which are hinged to a bottom wall and enable the container to be collapsed to a flat condition to save storage and shipping space and then subsequently be readily assembled into a 20. container without the need for special tools and the like.
These transport cases have the disadvantage, however, that the side walls are foldable outwardly, away from the bottom of the case to their collapsed, flat position. In such a position, the transport case has a cross-like configuration which 25. takes up a considerable amount of space. The dimensions of the collapsed case can be further reduced and even more storage and shipping space saved if the case is constructed so as to have a rectangular, planar configuration when collapsed. The amount of space taken up by the case when it is collapsed is even more if 30. the case is used to transport breakable food stuffs, such as
Collapsible plastic transport cases are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,497,127. Generally speaking, such cases are utilized for the storage and shipment of 10. articles, goods, or products of various kinds, including food stuffs, fruits, vegetables, etc., and are fabricated by molding, in a single unitary operation, from a suitable high impact plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvin~l chloride, or a similar thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic mater-15. ial. The known collapsible plastic transport cases, such asthat described in the aforesaid patent, comprise four upstanding side walls which are hinged to a bottom wall and enable the container to be collapsed to a flat condition to save storage and shipping space and then subsequently be readily assembled into a 20. container without the need for special tools and the like.
These transport cases have the disadvantage, however, that the side walls are foldable outwardly, away from the bottom of the case to their collapsed, flat position. In such a position, the transport case has a cross-like configuration which 25. takes up a considerable amount of space. The dimensions of the collapsed case can be further reduced and even more storage and shipping space saved if the case is constructed so as to have a rectangular, planar configuration when collapsed. The amount of space taken up by the case when it is collapsed is even more if 30. the case is used to transport breakable food stuffs, such as
2.
1~4~423 potato chips and the like, and is provided with a cover for protecting such food stuffs during shipment, since any such cover will extend the length of the side wall to which it is attached and increase the dimensions of the cross-like configuration of 5. the case when the latter is collapsed. The amount of storage and shipping space saved if the latter type of case can be collapsed to a rectangular configuration is, thus, significant.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth 10. unitary plastic transport case which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of heretofore known collapsible transport cases, which provides full protection for articles transported therein, and which is foldable into a position flat with the bottom of the transport case in a rectangular, planar configuration for storage 15. and/or shipping of the case.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded unitary full-depth plastic transport case including a bottom, four upstanding side walls hinged to the bottom, and means for releas-20. ably fastening the side walls together in an upright positionwith respect~-to the bottom. The improvement of the invention comprises at least one pair of opposing side walls of the case being adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case. In addition, the other 25. pair of side walls have planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof adapted for folding into a position over the case to form a flat top for the case. The latter side walls and the top members hinged thereto are foldable to a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case, and the case has 30. a rectangular, planar configuration when the side walls are 1~)484;~3 disposed in their positions flat with the bottom for storage and/or shipping of the case.
More specifically, the invention comprises an inte-grally-molded, unitary plastic transport case for transporting 5. breakable food stuffs and the like in which the pair of side walls of the case adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case each have a height which is no greater than approximately one half the dimension of the bottom disposed therebetween. In addition, the lO. top members hinged to the other pair of side walls each have a width which is no greater than approximately one half the dimension of the bottom disposed between the latter side walls and are foldable over the top of thecase for forming a flat top for the case. In one embodiment of the invention, the top members are 15. hinged to the side walls and the side walls are hinged to the bottom of the transport case by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of plastic along substantially the entire length of the adjoining edges of the side walls, bottom and top members.
20. The side walls of the transport case are movable from a position flat with the bottom thereof to a position perpendicular to the bottom, and the aforesaid fastening means secures the side walls in a position perpendicular to the bottom of the case. The side walls disposed at the longitudinal 25. ends of the case preferably have a height no greater than one half the longitudinal length of the bottom disposed therebetween and are foldable inwardly towards each other over the bottom of the case. The longitudinally lateral side walls are foldable outwardly away from each other into their position flat with and 30. extending away from the bottom of the case.
~)4t~4~3 The bottom and side walls of the case may have a rectangular frame structure supporting an openwork wall construc-tion, and the fastening means comprises an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement including an oblong aperture disposed in one wall 5. of a pair of side walls to be connected and an angled flange mem-ber extending from the other of the walls to be connected which is adapted to be received in and interlock with the aperture.
The apertures of the fastening means are preferably disposed in the side walls disposed at the longitudinal ends of the transport 10. case, with the other of the side walls having the flange members disposed thereon. Additional oblong apertures may be provided on the longitudinal end walls of the transport case at the lateral edges thereof for receiving hook members provided on the longitu-dinally lateral side walls of the case adapted to be received by 15. and interlock with the additional apertures for securing the side walls in their upright position. Integrally-molded cylindrical interlocking members may also be provided on the top members and the bottom of the transport case which are adapted to receive or fit within cylindrical interlocking members disposed on another 20. transport case to facilitate interlocking engagement of a stack of transport cases. The cylindrical members on the top of the case are preferably disposed in rows, one each on the top surface of each of the top members.
These and other features of the invention will be 25. described in greater detail in the following detailed description.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views thereof:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved, collapsible transport case constructed according to the invention, showing 30. the top of the case in its open position;
1~48423 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the transport case, taken along section 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the top of the transport case in its closed position;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the transport 5. case, taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the transport case, taken along section 4-4 of FIG. l;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective end view of one corner of the transport case, partially in cross-section, showing lO. the means used for fastening the side walls of the transport case in an upright position;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded end view of one corner of the transport case, showing the elements of the fastening means illustrated in FIG. 5;
15. FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the transport case, showing the latter in its collapsed position for shipping and/or storage;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the transport case in its collapsed position, taken along section 8-8 of FIG.
20. 7; and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the transport case in its collapsed position, taken along section 9-9 of FIG. 7.
Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIGS. l 25. through 4, there is shown, by way of example, a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded, full-depth unitary plastic transport case, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which is particularly adapted for the transportation of breakable, brittle food stuffs, such as potato chips and the 30. like. The case includes a bottom ll and four upstanding side 6.
1~4~423 walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 hinged to bottom 11 so as to be movable from a position flat with bottom 11 to a position perpendicular to the bottom. Means for releasably fastening adjoining side walls in their position perpendicular to bottom 11 are provided 5. and comprise, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement including oblong apertures 16 disposed at the lateral edges of side walls 12 and 14 and angled flange members 17 extending from the lateral edges of side walls 13 and 15 of the case. Flange members 17 are adapted to be 10. received in and interlock with apertures 16 so as to secure the side walls in their upright position. Further details of such an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement are described in U.S.
Patent No. 3,497,127, previously referred to herein.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, side 15. walls 12 and 14, which comprise the longitudinal end walls of trans-port case 10, are constructed so as to have a vertical height which no greater than approximately one half the longitudinal dimension of bottom 11 disposed between the walls. Such a construction enables side walls 12 and 14 to be folded inwardly towards each 20. other into a position flat with and over the top surface of bottom 11 of the case, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The other side walls of the transport case, in the embodiment illustrated, side walls 13 and 15, have planar top members 18 hinged to their upper edges. These top members have a width which is no greater 25. than approximately one half the width of bottom 11 of the case disposed between the walls and are foldable over the top of the case to form a flat top and provide protection for the food stuffs and the like carried in the case in, for example, cello-phane bags 19. Side walls 13 and 15 and top members 18 hinged 30. thereto are foldable outwardly away from each other into a position 1~484Z3 flat with and extending away from bottom 11.
By constructing the transport case in the manner described above, side walls 12 and 14, as described previously herein, can be folded inwardly towards each other over the top 5. surface of bottom 11 into a position flat therewith, and side walls 13 and 15 and top members 18 can be folded outwardly away from each other into a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case. The case will then have a rectangular, planar configuration which takes up minimal space for storage 10. and/or shipping of the case.
Top members 18 are hinged to side walls 13 and 15, and side walls 12-15 are hinged to bottom 11 of case 10, by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges 20 which are formed by weakened sections of plastic along the adjoining 15. edges of side walls 12-15, bottom 11 and top members 18.
Hinges 20 are integrally-molded with the side walls, bottom and top members of the case and are formed by heating, indenting and subsequently annealing the adjoining wall portions of the transport case, or by any other suitable method. In the embodiment 20. of case 10 illustrated in the drawings, the hinges extend substan-tially along the entire length of the adjoining edges of the side walls, bottom and top members of the case.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the fastening means utilized to secure the side walls of case 10 in an upright 25. position with respect to bottom 11. Flange members 17 extend outwardly from the side walls and are disposed perpendicular thereto. Each flange member 17 includes an L-shaped portion 21 which extends from the flange member at approximately a right angle thereto and fits over edge 22 of aperture 16. Flange 30. members 17 each have a substantially trapezoidal shape and each 1~J4~4Z3 is wider at its vertically upper end than at its vertically lower end and is inclined away from the side wall of the case. Simi-larly, apertures 16 have a substantially trapezoidal shape and each is wider at its vertically upper end than at its vertically 5. lower end. Apertures 16 are also inclined inwardly towards the center of the side walls in which they are disposed, namely, side walls 12 and 14, towards each other and away from the lateral edges of the side walls. As previously stated herein, further details of the flange members and apertures can be found in U.S.
10. Patent No. 3,497,127.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, side walls 12 and 14 disposed at the longitudinal ends of case 10 have only oblong apertures 16 disposed at the lateral edges thereof, with the other side walls-13 and 15 of case 10 having only flange 15. members 17 integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly from the lateral edges thereof.
The fastening means may also include additional oblong apertures 23 disposed in side walls 12 and 14 of the case at the lateral edges thereof, specifically, at the corners of the side 20. walls, and hook-like projection members 24 extending from the edges of the other side walls 13 and 15 of the case. The projection members are adapted to be received by apertures 23 and interlock therewith in a snap-fit type engagement to secure the side walls intheir vertically upright position.
25. Bottom 11 and side walls 12-15 of transport case 10 preferably each have a rectangular frame structure having enlarged beam members 25 disposed about the periphery of side walls 12-15, and at one pair of opposing ends of bottom 11 of the case, whicn support an openwork wall construction 26. Top members 18 also 30. preferably have an openwork wall construction.
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Cylindrical-shaped interlocking members 27 may also he provided on top members 18 and bottom 11, preferably in a linear configuration, one row to each top member, and two corres-pondingly spaced-apart rows on the bottom surface of bottom 11 5. of the case, to enable interlocking of a stack of transport cases.
Members 27 disposed on top members 18 of case 10 are adapted to re-ceive similar members on the bottom surface of another transport case, and members 27 on the bottom of case 10 are adapted to fit within similar members on the top surface of another transport 10. case. Members 27 are integrally-molded with the top members and bottom of the case. Details of the interlocking members may be found in U.S. Patent No. 3,754,676. Flanged apertures 28 are also provided in side walls 12 and 14 to provide carrying handles for the case, and downwardly-extending flanges 29 are disposed on the 15. bottom surface of top members 18 to facilitate closing of the top members over the case in a secure manner.
Transport case 10 is injection-molded in a single, unitary operation from a suitable high impact plastic, such as those previously mentioned herein. Bottom 11, side walls 12-15, 20. top members 18, flange members 17, hinges 20 and all other structural elements of the transport case are integrally-molded and form a unitary transport case structure.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments 25. thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and the drawings are, accord-ingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restric-30. tive sense.
10 .
1~4~423 potato chips and the like, and is provided with a cover for protecting such food stuffs during shipment, since any such cover will extend the length of the side wall to which it is attached and increase the dimensions of the cross-like configuration of 5. the case when the latter is collapsed. The amount of storage and shipping space saved if the latter type of case can be collapsed to a rectangular configuration is, thus, significant.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth 10. unitary plastic transport case which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of heretofore known collapsible transport cases, which provides full protection for articles transported therein, and which is foldable into a position flat with the bottom of the transport case in a rectangular, planar configuration for storage 15. and/or shipping of the case.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded unitary full-depth plastic transport case including a bottom, four upstanding side walls hinged to the bottom, and means for releas-20. ably fastening the side walls together in an upright positionwith respect~-to the bottom. The improvement of the invention comprises at least one pair of opposing side walls of the case being adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case. In addition, the other 25. pair of side walls have planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof adapted for folding into a position over the case to form a flat top for the case. The latter side walls and the top members hinged thereto are foldable to a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case, and the case has 30. a rectangular, planar configuration when the side walls are 1~)484;~3 disposed in their positions flat with the bottom for storage and/or shipping of the case.
More specifically, the invention comprises an inte-grally-molded, unitary plastic transport case for transporting 5. breakable food stuffs and the like in which the pair of side walls of the case adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of the bottom of the case each have a height which is no greater than approximately one half the dimension of the bottom disposed therebetween. In addition, the lO. top members hinged to the other pair of side walls each have a width which is no greater than approximately one half the dimension of the bottom disposed between the latter side walls and are foldable over the top of thecase for forming a flat top for the case. In one embodiment of the invention, the top members are 15. hinged to the side walls and the side walls are hinged to the bottom of the transport case by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of plastic along substantially the entire length of the adjoining edges of the side walls, bottom and top members.
20. The side walls of the transport case are movable from a position flat with the bottom thereof to a position perpendicular to the bottom, and the aforesaid fastening means secures the side walls in a position perpendicular to the bottom of the case. The side walls disposed at the longitudinal 25. ends of the case preferably have a height no greater than one half the longitudinal length of the bottom disposed therebetween and are foldable inwardly towards each other over the bottom of the case. The longitudinally lateral side walls are foldable outwardly away from each other into their position flat with and 30. extending away from the bottom of the case.
~)4t~4~3 The bottom and side walls of the case may have a rectangular frame structure supporting an openwork wall construc-tion, and the fastening means comprises an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement including an oblong aperture disposed in one wall 5. of a pair of side walls to be connected and an angled flange mem-ber extending from the other of the walls to be connected which is adapted to be received in and interlock with the aperture.
The apertures of the fastening means are preferably disposed in the side walls disposed at the longitudinal ends of the transport 10. case, with the other of the side walls having the flange members disposed thereon. Additional oblong apertures may be provided on the longitudinal end walls of the transport case at the lateral edges thereof for receiving hook members provided on the longitu-dinally lateral side walls of the case adapted to be received by 15. and interlock with the additional apertures for securing the side walls in their upright position. Integrally-molded cylindrical interlocking members may also be provided on the top members and the bottom of the transport case which are adapted to receive or fit within cylindrical interlocking members disposed on another 20. transport case to facilitate interlocking engagement of a stack of transport cases. The cylindrical members on the top of the case are preferably disposed in rows, one each on the top surface of each of the top members.
These and other features of the invention will be 25. described in greater detail in the following detailed description.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views thereof:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved, collapsible transport case constructed according to the invention, showing 30. the top of the case in its open position;
1~48423 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the transport case, taken along section 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the top of the transport case in its closed position;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the transport 5. case, taken along section 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the transport case, taken along section 4-4 of FIG. l;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective end view of one corner of the transport case, partially in cross-section, showing lO. the means used for fastening the side walls of the transport case in an upright position;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded end view of one corner of the transport case, showing the elements of the fastening means illustrated in FIG. 5;
15. FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the transport case, showing the latter in its collapsed position for shipping and/or storage;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the transport case in its collapsed position, taken along section 8-8 of FIG.
20. 7; and FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the transport case in its collapsed position, taken along section 9-9 of FIG. 7.
Referring now to the drawings, in particular FIGS. l 25. through 4, there is shown, by way of example, a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded, full-depth unitary plastic transport case, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which is particularly adapted for the transportation of breakable, brittle food stuffs, such as potato chips and the 30. like. The case includes a bottom ll and four upstanding side 6.
1~4~423 walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 hinged to bottom 11 so as to be movable from a position flat with bottom 11 to a position perpendicular to the bottom. Means for releasably fastening adjoining side walls in their position perpendicular to bottom 11 are provided 5. and comprise, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement including oblong apertures 16 disposed at the lateral edges of side walls 12 and 14 and angled flange members 17 extending from the lateral edges of side walls 13 and 15 of the case. Flange members 17 are adapted to be 10. received in and interlock with apertures 16 so as to secure the side walls in their upright position. Further details of such an interlocking bayonet-type arrangement are described in U.S.
Patent No. 3,497,127, previously referred to herein.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, side 15. walls 12 and 14, which comprise the longitudinal end walls of trans-port case 10, are constructed so as to have a vertical height which no greater than approximately one half the longitudinal dimension of bottom 11 disposed between the walls. Such a construction enables side walls 12 and 14 to be folded inwardly towards each 20. other into a position flat with and over the top surface of bottom 11 of the case, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The other side walls of the transport case, in the embodiment illustrated, side walls 13 and 15, have planar top members 18 hinged to their upper edges. These top members have a width which is no greater 25. than approximately one half the width of bottom 11 of the case disposed between the walls and are foldable over the top of the case to form a flat top and provide protection for the food stuffs and the like carried in the case in, for example, cello-phane bags 19. Side walls 13 and 15 and top members 18 hinged 30. thereto are foldable outwardly away from each other into a position 1~484Z3 flat with and extending away from bottom 11.
By constructing the transport case in the manner described above, side walls 12 and 14, as described previously herein, can be folded inwardly towards each other over the top 5. surface of bottom 11 into a position flat therewith, and side walls 13 and 15 and top members 18 can be folded outwardly away from each other into a position flat with and extending away from the bottom of the case. The case will then have a rectangular, planar configuration which takes up minimal space for storage 10. and/or shipping of the case.
Top members 18 are hinged to side walls 13 and 15, and side walls 12-15 are hinged to bottom 11 of case 10, by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges 20 which are formed by weakened sections of plastic along the adjoining 15. edges of side walls 12-15, bottom 11 and top members 18.
Hinges 20 are integrally-molded with the side walls, bottom and top members of the case and are formed by heating, indenting and subsequently annealing the adjoining wall portions of the transport case, or by any other suitable method. In the embodiment 20. of case 10 illustrated in the drawings, the hinges extend substan-tially along the entire length of the adjoining edges of the side walls, bottom and top members of the case.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in detail the fastening means utilized to secure the side walls of case 10 in an upright 25. position with respect to bottom 11. Flange members 17 extend outwardly from the side walls and are disposed perpendicular thereto. Each flange member 17 includes an L-shaped portion 21 which extends from the flange member at approximately a right angle thereto and fits over edge 22 of aperture 16. Flange 30. members 17 each have a substantially trapezoidal shape and each 1~J4~4Z3 is wider at its vertically upper end than at its vertically lower end and is inclined away from the side wall of the case. Simi-larly, apertures 16 have a substantially trapezoidal shape and each is wider at its vertically upper end than at its vertically 5. lower end. Apertures 16 are also inclined inwardly towards the center of the side walls in which they are disposed, namely, side walls 12 and 14, towards each other and away from the lateral edges of the side walls. As previously stated herein, further details of the flange members and apertures can be found in U.S.
10. Patent No. 3,497,127.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, side walls 12 and 14 disposed at the longitudinal ends of case 10 have only oblong apertures 16 disposed at the lateral edges thereof, with the other side walls-13 and 15 of case 10 having only flange 15. members 17 integrally formed therewith and extending outwardly from the lateral edges thereof.
The fastening means may also include additional oblong apertures 23 disposed in side walls 12 and 14 of the case at the lateral edges thereof, specifically, at the corners of the side 20. walls, and hook-like projection members 24 extending from the edges of the other side walls 13 and 15 of the case. The projection members are adapted to be received by apertures 23 and interlock therewith in a snap-fit type engagement to secure the side walls intheir vertically upright position.
25. Bottom 11 and side walls 12-15 of transport case 10 preferably each have a rectangular frame structure having enlarged beam members 25 disposed about the periphery of side walls 12-15, and at one pair of opposing ends of bottom 11 of the case, whicn support an openwork wall construction 26. Top members 18 also 30. preferably have an openwork wall construction.
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Cylindrical-shaped interlocking members 27 may also he provided on top members 18 and bottom 11, preferably in a linear configuration, one row to each top member, and two corres-pondingly spaced-apart rows on the bottom surface of bottom 11 5. of the case, to enable interlocking of a stack of transport cases.
Members 27 disposed on top members 18 of case 10 are adapted to re-ceive similar members on the bottom surface of another transport case, and members 27 on the bottom of case 10 are adapted to fit within similar members on the top surface of another transport 10. case. Members 27 are integrally-molded with the top members and bottom of the case. Details of the interlocking members may be found in U.S. Patent No. 3,754,676. Flanged apertures 28 are also provided in side walls 12 and 14 to provide carrying handles for the case, and downwardly-extending flanges 29 are disposed on the 15. bottom surface of top members 18 to facilitate closing of the top members over the case in a secure manner.
Transport case 10 is injection-molded in a single, unitary operation from a suitable high impact plastic, such as those previously mentioned herein. Bottom 11, side walls 12-15, 20. top members 18, flange members 17, hinges 20 and all other structural elements of the transport case are integrally-molded and form a unitary transport case structure.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments 25. thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and the drawings are, accord-ingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restric-30. tive sense.
10 .
Claims (10)
1. In a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth plastic transport case including a bottom, four upstanding side walls hinged to said bottom, and means for releasably fastening said sidewalls together in an upright position with respect to said bottom, the improvement comprising at least one pair of opposing side walls of said case being adapted for folding into a position flat with and over the upper surface of said bottom and the other pair of said side walls having planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof adapted for folding into a position over said case to form a flat top for said case, said other pair of side walls and said top members being foldable into a position flat with and extending away from said bottom, said case having a rectangular, planar configuration when said side walls are disposed in said positions flat with said bottom for storage and/or shipping of said case.
2. In a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded full-depth plastic transport case for transporting packages of breakable food stuffs and the like, including a bottom, four upstanding side walls hinged to said bottom, and means for releasably fastening said side walls together in an upright position with respect to said bottom, the improvement comprising one pair of opposing side walls of said case each having a height no greater than approximately one half the dimension of said bottom disposed therebetween so that said one pair of side walls are foldable into a position flat with and over the top surface of said bottom, and the other pair of said side walls having planar top members hinged to the upper edges thereof, said top members each having a width no greater than approximately one half the dimension of said bottom disposed between said other pair of side walls for folding into a position over said case and forming a flat top for said case, said other pair of side walls and said top members being foldable into a position flat with and extending away from said bottom, said case having a rectangular, planar configuration when said side walls are disposed in said positions flat with said bottom for storage and/or shipping of said case.
3. The transport case recited in claim 2, wherein said top members are hinged to said side walls and said side walls are hinged to said bottom by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of said plastic along adjoining edges of said side walls, said bottom and said top members.
4. The transport case recited in claim 3, wherein said hinges extend along substantially the entire length of said adjoining edges of said side walls, said bottom and said top members.
5. In a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded unitary full-depth plastic transport case including a bottom, four upstanding side walls hinged to said bottom so as to be movable from a position flat with said bottom to a position perpendicular to said bottom, and means for releasably fastening adjoining ones of said side walls in said position perpendicular to said bottom, the improvement comprising a first pair of opposing ones of said side walls disposed at the longitu-dinal ends of said case having a height which is no greater than approximately one half the longitudinal length of said bottom disposed therebetween so that said first pair of side walls are foldable inwardly towards each other into a position flat with and over the top surface of said bottom and said case further including a top comprising two planar top members hinged to the other pair of side walls of said case, said top members having a width no greater than approximately one half the width of said bottom of said case for folding into a position over said case to form a flat top for said case, said other pair of side walls and said top members of said case being foldable outwardly away from each other into a position flat with and extending away from said bottom, said case having a rectangular, planar configuration when said side walls are disposed in said positions flat with said bottom for storage and/or shipping of said case.
6. The transport case recited in claim 5, wherein said top members are hinged to said side walls and said side walls are hinged to said bottom by six integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of said plastic along substantially the entire length of adjoining edges of said side walls, said bottom and said top members.
7. In a rectangular-shaped, collapsible, integrally-molded unitary full-depth plastic transport case including a bottom, four upstanding side walls each hinged to said bottom by means of integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of said plastic along adjoining edges of said side walls and said bottom, said side walls being movable from a first position flat with said bottom to a second position perpendicular to said bottom, said bottom and said side walls each having a rectangular frame structure supporting an open-work wall construction, and means for releasably fastening adjoining ones of said side walls in said second position perpendicular to said bottom, said means comprising an interlock-ing bayonet-type arrangement including an oblong aperture dispose in one wall of a pair of side walls to be connected and an angled flange member extending from the other of said side walls to be connected and adapted to be received in and interlock with said aperture, the improvement comprising a first pair of opposing ones of said side walls disposed at the longitudinal ends of said case each having a height which is no greater than approxi-mately one half the longitudinal length of said bottom disposed therebetween so that said first pair of side walls are foldable inwardly towards each other into a position flat with and over the top surface of said bottom, each of said first pair of side walls having a pair of said oblong apertures disposed therein at the lateral edges thereof, the other pair of said side walls having a pair of said flange members disposed thereon, and said case further including a top comprising two planar top members each hinged to one of said other pair of side walls by integrally-molded, flexible intervening hinges formed by weakened sections of said plastic along adjoining edges of said side walls and said top members, said top members each having a width which is no greater than approximately one half the width of said bottom of said case for folding into a position over said case to form a flat top for said case, said other pair of side walls and said top members being foldable outwardly away from each other into a position flat with and extending away from said bottom, said case having a rectangular, planar configuration when said side walls are disposed in said positions flat with said bottom for storage and/or shipping of said case.
8. The transport case recited in claim 7, wherein said first pair of side walls each further comprise additional oblong apertures disposed at the lateral edges thereof and wherein said other pair of side walls each include hook members adapted to be received by said additional oblong apertures and interlock there-with for fastening said side walls in said second position.
9. The transport case recited in claim 8, further com-prising a plurality of cylindrical interlocking members inte-grally-molded with said transport case and disposed on said top members and the bottom surface of said bottom, said cylindrical members on said top members of said case being adapted to receive cylindrical members disposed on the bottom of another transport case, and said cylindrical members disposed on the bottom of said case being adapted to fit within cylindrical members disposed on the top of another transport case.
10. The transport case recited in claim 9, wherein said cylindrical members on said top of said case are disposed in two rows, one each on the top surface of each of said top members.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US67895676A | 1976-04-21 | 1976-04-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1048423A true CA1048423A (en) | 1979-02-13 |
Family
ID=24725023
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA77276602A Expired CA1048423A (en) | 1976-04-21 | 1977-04-20 | Collapsible plastic transport case |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1048423A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4508237A (en) * | 1982-04-09 | 1985-04-02 | Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc. | Collapsible container |
| US4630746A (en) * | 1984-02-27 | 1986-12-23 | Fortenberry & Associates, Inc. | Collapsible stackable shipping container |
| US4940155A (en) * | 1988-03-14 | 1990-07-10 | Hewson Kenneth E | Collapsible container |
| CN103950648A (en) * | 2014-04-14 | 2014-07-30 | 昆山市富众网络科技有限公司 | Crab package body |
| CN109018592A (en) * | 2018-07-21 | 2018-12-18 | 无为县辉琴农副产品销售部 | A kind of plastic crate that vegetables use |
| CN110973080A (en) * | 2019-12-20 | 2020-04-10 | 苏州市吴中区光福丰汇锦渔业专业合作社 | Environment-friendly shrimp catching device and manufacturing method thereof |
-
1977
- 1977-04-20 CA CA77276602A patent/CA1048423A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4508237A (en) * | 1982-04-09 | 1985-04-02 | Pinckney Molded Plastics, Inc. | Collapsible container |
| US4630746A (en) * | 1984-02-27 | 1986-12-23 | Fortenberry & Associates, Inc. | Collapsible stackable shipping container |
| US4940155A (en) * | 1988-03-14 | 1990-07-10 | Hewson Kenneth E | Collapsible container |
| CN103950648A (en) * | 2014-04-14 | 2014-07-30 | 昆山市富众网络科技有限公司 | Crab package body |
| CN109018592A (en) * | 2018-07-21 | 2018-12-18 | 无为县辉琴农副产品销售部 | A kind of plastic crate that vegetables use |
| CN110973080A (en) * | 2019-12-20 | 2020-04-10 | 苏州市吴中区光福丰汇锦渔业专业合作社 | Environment-friendly shrimp catching device and manufacturing method thereof |
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