CA1159379A

CA1159379A - Collapsible shipping container

Info

Publication number: CA1159379A
Application number: CA000387276A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Howard B. Carter; Larry Hughes
Original assignee: Bonar Rosedale Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Bonar Rosedale Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1981-10-05
Filing date: 1981-10-05
Publication date: 1983-12-27
Also published as: DE8209245U1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to a collapsible container comprising a bottom wall, and four side walls. The upper portion of each side wall is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis between an erect condition, wherein it extends substantially normal to the bottom wall, and a collapsed condition.
The pivot axis of each side wall is at a different height than the pivot axes of the side walls adjacent to it so that in their collapsed condition the side walls lie substantially parallel to the bottom wall. Fastening means secure the side walls when in the erect condition to form a continuous enclosure around and above the edges of the bottom wall. Each wall is formed of plastics material. Each side wall is of a planar construction and is constructed of two spaced confronting panels interconnected around their edges. Means brace central areas of the two panels of each wall in fixed relation to each other.

Description

3 ~

rhe present invent:ion relates to co]lapsible shipping containers of the type that are t3sual1y car-ried in trucks or freight cars. More particularly there is provided a primarily plastics container which may be easily and quickly erected to receive a load or collapsed into a smal:L space for storage and/or transportati.on, and which may be stably stacked in either its erect and loaded or collapsed condition.
It is desirable to construct shipping containers of plastics material in order to avoid the product contamination that can occur and the maintenance costs involved when wood or metal are used.
: lO It is also desirable to construct a shipping container which is strong enough to be stacked when loaded.
It is further desirable to construct a shipping container which may be easily and quickly collapsed into a small space and stably stacked in this form as wel].
According to the invention there is provided a collapsible container comprising: a base providing a flat rectangular bottom wall; four side walls on said base, each comprising an upper portion pi-votable about a horizontal pivot axis between an erect condition, wherein it extends substantially normal to said bottom wall, and a collapsed condition; said pi-vot axes being all at different heights, the difEerence in he:ight between successively h:Lgher axes being approximately equal to the thickness of a side wall so that in their collapsed condition said side walls lie substantially parallel to said bottom wall; support means projecting vertically :Erom the bottom wall adjacent to the eclge oppos:Lte the s:Lde wal:L having the highest pi.-vot axis so as to :Eorm hori-xontnl f3-lpports oE even he:Lgt1t 011 nt least the fo~1r corners oE said base when fln:Lcl cont~:Lner :I.s :Ln :Lts collapsed cond:Lt:Lon whereby anot}1er conta:Lner may be stnb:Ly f; tacked on tol3, Easten:Lng me~ms :Eor secur:Lng said s:Lcle wallf~ when :Ln sclic ' . ~v '~1 ~lS~3`~

erect condition to form a continuous enclosure around and above the edges of said bottom wall; each said wall being Eormed of plastics material~ each said side wall being of a planar construction and being constructed of two spaced confronting panels interconnected around their edges; and means bracîng central areas of the two panels of each wall in fixed relation to each other.
The base may be provided with a plurality of legs which preferably are disposed so as to permit the tines of a forklift to be inserted under the bottomwall from any of its four edges. The legs may be provided with recesses arranged to cooperate with the upper edges of support means of a container in Lts collapsed condition and with the upper edges of side walls of a container inits erect condition whereby said containers may be stably stacked in either their erect or collapsed condition.
The container is preferably constructed so that there are no loose parts whether the container is in its erect condition or its collapsed condition.
This is advantageous in that loose parts are more likely to be lost or damaged.
The container may be constructed with one side wall hinged horizontally above its pivot axis so that it may be folded outwardly thus facilitating access to the interior of the container when it is in its erect condition.
In drawings which are illustrative of the invention:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodlment of a contalner according to the invention, in its collapsed condition;

~1 2 '; i , ~ss3~7s FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the container in its erect condition;
FIGVRE 3 is a perspective view showing the container in its erect :; .

' :`' ',; ' ' '' ~.

!\ - 2a -,, : ,;

. :. ~ :. . : . . .. , . .:;, .. .
". : - . . . .: :, :
' ' . . . ' . . ' '' ' :: ' ,:: ~:: :
,.,. : ~ , . . . ;

~L~S5~3 f~

condition and showing the underside;
FIGURE ~ is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrat-ing the manner in which the containers stack when they are in their collapsed condition;
FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views showing the container in different partially collapsed conditions;
FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the container with part of one of its side walls opened outwardly;
FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2;
FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view of a lower corner of the container;
- FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 13 is a similar view to that shown in FIGURE 12.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, there is shown a container having a base 10 and four side walls 12, 14, 16 and 18.
The base 10 is formed of plastic material, preferably rotationally moulded polyethylene, and consists of two panels interconnected around their edgesO The upper panel 20 is flat and forms the inside bottom su:rface of the container. The lower panel 22 is deformed outwardly to :Eorm nine legs 24. One leg ,~ ls provided :in the centre o.f the bottom panel and the other legs are providecl at the edges o:f the bott.om panel, the legs being arranged :in three spaced rows, each row having three spacecl apart ~r~ '~ ~

legs. As best showrl in Figure 3, the outer legs are provided with recesses 26. As shown in Figure ll, in order to add strength the space between the upper panel 20 and the lower panel 22 may be filled with foam 23. As shown in Figure 9 in relation to the walls in order to further strengthen the base 10, the lower panel 22 may be deformed towards and joined to the upper panel 20 at discrete locations throughout their area.
Each side wall 12, 1~, 16 and 18 consists of an upper portion 12a, 14a, 16a and 18a, respectively and a lower portion 12b, 14b, 16b and 18b, respectively. The lower edge of the upper portion and the upper edge of the lower portion of each side wall are castellated and interfitting and are pivotally joined together by means of hinge pins 12c, 14c, 16c and 18c.
Each upper portion is therefore pivotable about a horizontal axis between an erect condition in which it extends substantially normal to the base and a collapsed condition in which it lies substantially parallel to the bottom wall.
The hinge pins consist of metal or plastic rods.

The rods are capped on one end with a press fit cap or a washer and nut, are placed through moulded tubes in the base and respective side waLl and are then similarly capped on the other end thereby becoming pivotally secured in place. The ends of the hinge pins are preferabl~ recessed.
As is eviclent ~rom the drawings, the hinge pins are al]
Oe dieferent heigh-t. The difference in height be~ween the lowes-t hinge pin L2c an(l-the next highest pin l~c, betweerl pin L4c ancl 3~3 the next highest pin 16c and between pin 16c and the next highest pin 18c is, in each case, approximately equal to the thickness of a side wall. This permits the side walls to lie substantially flat when they are in their collapsed condition. The upper and lower portions of each side wall are formed of plastics material, preferably rotationally moulded polyethylene, and are formed of two spaced panels joined at their edges. As shown in Figure 9, the outer panel is deformed towards and joined to the inner panel at discrete locations throughout their area. These deformations 27 considerably strengthen the walls; however, as shown in Figure 4, if further strength is desired, the space between the walls may be filled with foam 25.
Opposing walls 16 and 18 are provided on their vertical edges with inwardly projecting flanges 16d and 18d (Figure 7).
Opposing walls 12 and 14 are provided along their vertical edges with grooves 12d and 14d (Figure 8~ which are arranged to cooperate with the flanges 16d and 18d when the con-tainer is in its erect condition.
As best shown in Figure 1 the upper edges 16i and 18i of the lower portions of wal:Ls 16 and 18 are oE equal height.
As shown in Figure 8, the top part 18g of the upper portion of wall 18 is hinged about the lower part 18h of the upper portion of wall 18. This permits the top part 18g to be folded outwardly thereby Eacilita-ting Loading and emptying of the con~ai~er.
~ s best shown in Figllres 2, 12 and 13 recesses 16e llTld 18e ancl qua-rter turn Easte~ers 16f ancl 18E are provicled a~ -the ~15~3L~
edges of walls 16 and 18. Each quarter turn fastener is formed of a wing head 28, a shaft 30~ a transverse pin 32 and spring washers 34. Receptacles are mounted in corresponding walls 12 and 14.
Quarter turn fastener 18f is shown in Figure 13 in its open position. Spring washers 34 hold pin 32 in a retracted position in recess 18L so that it does not interfere with the movement of wall 12.
To close quarter turn fastener 18f as shown in Figure 12 wing head 28 is axially pushed thereby compressing spring washers 34 and pushing pin 32 through the opening in receptacle 18K. Wing head 28 is then turned thereby causing pin 32 to ride up on the ramp portions of receptacle 18K to engage in retaining notches. The quarter turn fastener 18f is held in this closed position by the compression of spring washers 34 and wall 18 is therefore securely connected to wall 12. The construction of the quarter fasteners is well known and need not be described in any further detail.
The container is shown in its erect position in Figure

2. To collapse the container from this condition quarter turn fasteners 16f and 18f are opened, side wall 12 is folcled inwardly as shown in Figure 7, side wall 14 is then folded on top as shown i in Figure 6, side wall 16 is then folded on top as shown in Figure 5, and finally side wall 18 is folded on top as shown in Pigure 1. To erect ~he container this process is si~nply reversed.
I~ wilL there~ore be secn that ~he container may be collapsetl or erec-tt-~d w-ith very li-ttle time or e~-Eort and -that -there are no

3~

loose parts when the container is in its collapsed condition or its erect condition. Because the hinge pins 12c, 14c, 16c and 18c are all arranged at different heights and the difference in height between successively higher hinge pins is equal to the thickness of a side wall, the side walls 12, 14, 16 and 18, when they are in their collapsed condition, lie substantially flat in relation to each other thus permitting the container to be collapsed to a relatively low height.
The containers may be stacked when they are either in their erect condition or their collapsed condition. When one container is stacked on another which is in its erect condition the recesses 26 formed in the outer legs cooperate with the upper edges 12j, 14j, 16j and 18j of the side walls so tha-t the containers are stable when stacked. When a container is stacked upon another container which is in its collapsed condition the recesses 26 in the outer legs of the upper container cooperate with the upper edges 16i, 18i of lower portions 16b and 18b. Since upper edges 16i and 18i are of equal height this permits the containers to be stably stacked.

When in its erect condition the container is quite strong and secure. The quarter turn fasteners 16f and 18f are strong and hold walls 16 and 18 securely in place. The flanges 16d and 18d and the corresponding grooves 12d and 14d interlock to limit the outward swing oE walls 1~ and 14 thcreby aiding in maintining the container in erect condition.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A collapsible container comprising:
a base providing a flat rectangular bottom wall;
four side walls on said base, each comprising an upper portion pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis between an erect condition, wherein it extends substantially normal to said bottom wall, and a collapsed condition;
said pivot axes being all at different heights, the difference in height between successively higher axes being approximately equal to the thickness of a side wall so that in their collapsed condition said side walls lie sub-stantially parallel to said bottom wall;
support means projecting vertically from the bottom wall adjacent to the edge opposite the side wall having the highest pivot axis so as to form hori-zontal supports of even height on at least the four corners of said base when said container is in its collapsed condition whereby another container may be stably stacked on top;
fastening means for securing said side walls when in said erect condition to form a continuous enclosure around and above the edges of said bottom wall;
each said wall being formed of plastics material;
each said side wall being of a planar construction and being constructed of two spaced confronting panels interconnected around their edges; and means bracing central areas of the two panels of each wall in fixed relation to each other.

2. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein said bracing means comprised spacer means which interconnect the two panels of each wall at discrete locations. throughout their area.

3. A collapsible container according to claim 2 wherein said spacer means are integral with one panel of each wall and are bonded to the other panel.

4. A collapsible container according to claim 3 wherein said spacer means are formed by deformations of one panel of each wall towards the other panel.

5. A collapsible container according to claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said base is provided with a plurality of legs;
said legs being disposed so as to permit the tines of a fork lift to be inserted under said bottom wall from any of its four edges;
said legs being provided with recesses;
said recesses being arranged to cooperate with either the upper edges of support means of a container in its collapsed condition, or with the upper edges of side walls of a container in its erect condition, whereby said con-tainers may be stably stacked in either their erect or collapsed condition.

6. A collapsible container according to claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said fastening means are recessed.

7. A collapsible container according to claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein part of the upper portion of one side wall is hinged horizontally above the pivot axis of that wall so that said part may be folded outwardly.

8. A collapsible container according to claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein two opposing side walls are provided with inwardly facing flanges on their vertical edges and the other two side walls have edge portions with grooves to accommodate said flanges when said side walls are in their erect condition whereby said container is strengthened.

9. A collapsible container according to claims 1, 2 or 4 wherein said fastening means are integral with said side walls such that there are no loose parts whether the container is in its erect or collapsed condition.