EP0211116B1 - Récipient de stockage pliable - Google Patents

Récipient de stockage pliable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0211116B1
EP0211116B1 EP19850305500 EP85305500A EP0211116B1 EP 0211116 B1 EP0211116 B1 EP 0211116B1 EP 19850305500 EP19850305500 EP 19850305500 EP 85305500 A EP85305500 A EP 85305500A EP 0211116 B1 EP0211116 B1 EP 0211116B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wall members
side wall
hinge
portions
container
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19850305500
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0211116A2 (fr
EP0211116A3 (en
Inventor
Andrew Gyenge
Michael D. Johnson
John A. Malmanger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
XYTEC PLASTICS Inc
Original Assignee
XYTEC PLASTICS Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by XYTEC PLASTICS Inc filed Critical XYTEC PLASTICS Inc
Publication of EP0211116A2 publication Critical patent/EP0211116A2/fr
Publication of EP0211116A3 publication Critical patent/EP0211116A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0211116B1 publication Critical patent/EP0211116B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/005—Side walls formed with an aperture or a movable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/02—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets
    • B65D19/06—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
    • B65D19/18—Rigid pallets with side walls, e.g. box pallets with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00034—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
    • B65D2519/00069—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00154—Materials for the side walls
    • B65D2519/00174—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
    • B65D2519/00268—Overall construction of the pallet made of one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00288—Overall construction of the load supporting surface made of one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00318—Overall construction of the base surface made of one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00398—Overall construction reinforcements
    • B65D2519/00402—Integral, e.g. ribs
    • B65D2519/00422—Integral, e.g. ribs on the walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00492—Overall construction of the side walls
    • B65D2519/00502—Overall construction of the side walls whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
    • B65D2519/00557—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer without separate auxiliary elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00577—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other
    • B65D2519/00582—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable
    • B65D2519/00587—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable side walls directly connected to each other
    • B65D2519/00592—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable side walls directly connected to each other by means of hinges
    • B65D2519/00597—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable side walls directly connected to each other by means of hinges integrally formed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00636—Connections structures connecting side walls to the pallet
    • B65D2519/00641—Structures intended to be disassembled
    • B65D2519/00646—Structures intended to be disassembled by means of hinges
    • B65D2519/00651—Structures intended to be disassembled by means of hinges integrally formed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00805—Means for facilitating the removal of the load
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00865—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected
    • B65D2519/00875—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected collapsible side walls
    • B65D2519/009—Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected collapsible side walls whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/00935—Details with special means for nesting or stacking
    • B65D2519/00955—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable
    • B65D2519/00965—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when loaded
    • B65D2519/00975—Details with special means for nesting or stacking stackable when loaded through the side walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to collapsible containers, particularly those having pallet-type bases with upright container walls pivoted to the base and adapted to be moved to a folded position on the pallet for return transport in the empty condition.
  • Such containers are designed for fork life handling and are adaptable for a wide variety of general utility purposes ranging from the transport or storage of packaged goods to bulk commodities such as produce and the like.
  • Collapsible containers having foldable side walls for return shipping are well known in the prior art and are subject to a wide range of uses. Such containers range in size from rather larger capacity cargo container units for rail and shipboard handling to rather small lightweight containers designed for such commodities as bakery goods and farm produce. Examples of the latter type of collapsible containers made from moulded flexible plastic with integral hinge structures and snap fitting joints are contained in the Saunders et al U.S. Patents Nps. 3870185 and 3874546 and the Waller U.S. Patent No. 4320845.
  • the containers may be characterised as being rather lightweight small capacity structures and are designed for carrying lightweight fragile or frangible articles such as loaves of bread or egg cartons.
  • GB-A-2,149,757 discloses a stacking and nesting container, particularly a bakery tray, with bails on two opposed side wall top edges that are pivotable between a nesting position when the trays may be nested within each other and a stacking position wherein a like tray may have its bottom supported by the bails of a lower tray, and then entire structure is moulded of synthetic resin material, without metal parts of separate hinge components.
  • the Kardell U.S. Patent No. 4057165 is one such device wherein flexible plastic hinge members permit the side walls to be folded onto the pallet base.
  • the Vande Drink U.K. Patent No. 4235345 and the Te-Chi Hsu U.S. Patent No. 4300695 are further examples of injection moulded collapsible containers usable for general utility purposes.
  • the Te-Chi Hsu Patent is exemplary of injection moulded plastic structures utilising metal hinge pins to accomplish the hinging function between plastic panels. The metal hinge pins are designed to withstand lateral loads and are intended to provide the necessary strength to the structure.
  • U.S. 2,553,607 discloses a collapsible box in which the walls can be folded to a flat overlapping parallel configuration.
  • U.S. 3,985,258 discloses a knock-down plastic container in which the walls are bolted on and can therefore be disassembled.
  • U.S. 4,062,467 discloses a collapsible container having four wall members hinged to upwardly-extending portions at the edges of a base member.
  • One pair of opposite wall members is provided with outwardly-projecting side flanges which are notches to enable these flanges to fit into eyelets formed at the edges of the other part of opposite wall members, to enable the wall members to be fixed in an upright position.
  • EP-A-67,323 discloses a collapsible container comprising:
  • the present invention provides a collapsible container as disclosed in EP-A-67,323 characterised in that in the erect configuration of the container the flanges mate, at least one flange of each mating pair having a groove parallel thereto in which its mating flange is accommodated, whereby loading on the interior of said wall members tends to enhance the engagement between the flanges.
  • Such a collapsible pallet type container may be in the form of a heavy duty, strong container which may be formed entirely by injection moulded plastic techniques and which may in preferred embodiment be designed for nesting when stacked either in the erected of collapsed mode.
  • the side and end walls of the container are pivotally connected to the base by means of integrally moulded snap-fitting hinges, for example.
  • the special structural configuration of the mating side and end walls and the base ensure that no lateral loads are placed on the moulded hinge structures, hence extremely high-level loading interior of the container is possible.
  • Containers having two folding patterns for collapsing the side end walls onto the pallet base are claimed in respective dependent claims, and in both instances nesting type stacking is possible without endangering the hinged joints between the side and end walls and the bottom wall by the added weight of stacking.
  • the container is also designed so as to receive a lid structure of appropriate configuration with none of the lateral forces of the loaded side and end walls being transferred to the lid.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a collapsible container 10 according to the present invention which includes the side walls 11, opposed end walls 12 and a pallet base or bottom wall structure 13.
  • the entire structure of the container is most advantageously formed from a material such as high density polyethylene utilising well known injection moulding processes.
  • the thickness of the side wall, end wall and bottom wall structures may vary and will be determined by the strength and durability requirements for any particular bin or container. It will also be noted that any configuration of ribbing or reinforcing may be provided for the wall members as is well known to prior art.
  • the inside surfaces of the side walls 11, end walls 12, and the bottom pallet wall 13 are smooth and free of obstructions so as to be easily cleaned.
  • One of the end walls 12, as shown in Figure 1 may also be provided with a hinged door or gate 14 to facilitate unloading of the container under certain conditions, if desired.
  • the pallet base 13 includes the bottom wall 16 moulded with ' appropriate strengthening webs 16a integral therewith.
  • the bottom wall 16 is formed in an upwardly convexed curve as seen most clearly in Figures 4 and 5 and extends into the base side and end walls 17 and 18 respectively to which the side wall and end walls 11 and 12 respectively are pivotally attached.
  • the base side walls 17 extend to a higher elevation than the base end walls 18 to permit folding as will presently be described in detail.
  • the pallet base 13 is formed with a support spaced along its length.
  • the inner face of the flange 28 is provided with a plurality of notches 32 also vertically spaced along its length.
  • each side wall 11 comprises a lip member 33 running the length of the wall.
  • the lip 33 is designed to cooperate and interfit with the groove 21 and shoulder 22 of the adjacent base side wall to provide a bearing surface for absorbing the forces-acting against the inner surface of the walls when the container is loaded. As seen most clearly in Figure 3, the lip 33 engages the groove 22 in the base side wall and the bottom surface of the side wall 11 rests vertically on the top edge of the wall 17 when the side wall is erected.
  • the end walls 12 may be identical in detail and are connected to the base end walls 18 by means of hinge members which are identical to those used for the side walls 11. Also a lip 38 is formed on the bottom edge of each wall 12 and cooperates with the groove 23 and shoulder 24 in the manner described with relation to the lip edge 33 of the side walls 11.
  • the vertical side edge of each end wall includes a vertically extending flange 34 which is designed to engage the groove 29 in the adjacent side wall flange when both end and side walls are erected.
  • the flange 34 is provided with a plurality of spaced notches 36 which are vertically spaced so as to receive the webs 31 in the side wall flanges 28.
  • the flange 34 is provided with a plurality of spaced webs, such as the web 37, which engage the notches 32 in the side wall flange 28.
  • This structural arrangement prevents the end walls from pivoting or being forced past the vertical when they are raised against the flanges 28 of the erected side walls. Any force applied to the inside wall surfaces will, of course, enhance the engagement between the wall edges.
  • the engagement between the respective notches and webs on the flanges of the end and side walls serves to lock the two walls together against any relative vertical shifting. This shifting or skewing of the side and end walls normally tends to occur during lifting of the loaded container with a fork lift and may result in severe hinge damage.
  • the hinge member 26 as well as the hinge 27 are moulded integrally with the side and end wall panels obviating the need for any special hardware or removable parts.
  • the hinge structure 26 shown in detail in Figure 8 includes a rectangular hinge body 39 extending from the bottom edge of the associated side wall with the inner face thereof being flush with the inside surface of the associated wall.
  • each of the side walls of the hinge body is provided with an elongated slot 40 which engages a boss or cylindrical protrusion 41 formed on the side walls of a U-shaped opening 42 in the associated base side or end wall.
  • slots 40 are open ended on the inward side thereof to permit insertion into the U-shaped opening into engagement with the bosses 41 in a lateral direction.
  • the hinge body 39 preferably closely conforms to the configuration of the opening 42 so as to substantially close the opening when the side wall is in place.
  • the body 39 also includes a downwardly extending protrusion 43 which engages a shoulder 44 in the bottom of the U-shaped opening 42.
  • the hinge member 26 thus provides a pivot or hinge point about the axis of the bosses 41 when the side wall is folded inwardly.
  • the protrusion 43 and the shoulder 44 prevent the side wall from being pivoted outwardly beyond the vertical and also provide protection for the hinge in the event of any lateral impact on the outside wall of the container.
  • FIG 9 illustrates the second type of hinge 27 utilized in conjunction with the hinge member 26.
  • the hinge member 27 is substantially more complex in its structure and is characterised as a "snap hinge", having the added function of retaining the end and side walls against removal from the pallet base.
  • the hinge structure 27 is also moulded integrally with the side or end wall structure with its inside surface flush with the inside face of the wall.
  • the hinge has a two part body comprising the body members 46 and 47.
  • the body member 46 is similar to one side of the body 39 of the hinge member 26 in that it contains an open ended slot 48 which is designed to receive one of the hinge bosses 49 located in the U-shaped opening 51 in the adjacent base wall.
  • the pivotal axis provided by the bosses 49 coincides with the axis of the bosses 41 of the adjacent hinge structure 26.
  • the hinge body 46 functions in the manner described for the hinge body 39 to provide a hinge point and also includes a protrusion (not shown) for engagement with a shoulder 52 in the opening 51 of the adjacent base wall. This engagement prevents the side wall or end wall from being pivoted beyond the vertical position and also provides impact protection for the associated hinge boss 49.
  • the other body portion 47 has a relatively thin walled shank 53 terminating in a cylindrical hub 54 which is provided with a bore 56 for receiving one of the bosses 49.
  • the body portion 47 also includes a protrusion 57 for cooperating with the shoulder 52 to limit the pivotal movement of the container wall to the vertical position. Since the shank 53 of the hinge body is somewhat flexible, it may be deformed to such an extent as to allow the boss 49 to engage the bore 56 of the hinge member and to snap the remaining part of the hinge into engagement with the oppositely facing boss 49. With the snap hinge 27 in engagement with the bosses 49, the associated container wall is held in removable attachment with the pallet base.
  • each hinge set 26-27 may be provided with an adjacent wall protector structure 58 shown in detail in Figures 3 and 7.
  • the purpose of the wall protector 58 is, or course, to prevent any such lateral shock loads from damaging the hinge members 26 and 27.
  • the base side or end wall has a recess formed therein which provides an upwardly and outwardly directed stop or abutment 59 which engages an integrally formed stop 61 on the associated side or end wall.
  • the stop portion 61 is formed with a groove or slot 62 which receives and acts against the terminal end of the abutment 59 on the base wall.
  • the protrusions 43 and 57 on the hinge members 26 and 27 respectively and the abutment 59 and stop member 61 prevent any lateral shock loads, directed against the outside surfaces of the walls, from being applied to the hinge structures.
  • the protective lips 33 and 38 on the side and end walls 11 and 12 respectively cooperate with the associated shoulders on the base side and end walls to absorb lateral loading on the inside surface of the walls to protect the hinges.
  • the engagement between the interlocking flanges on the mating edges of the ends and side walls serve to absorb the remaining lateral loads applied to the inner faces of the walls as the container is filled thus preventing any loading whatsoever on the hinge members.
  • each end wall may be provided with slide latch structures 63 mounted on each side edge adjacent the upper ends thereof for engagement with the flanges 28 of the side walls 11.
  • the slide latches may be received in suitable openings 64 in the flanges 28 to hold the end walls from collapsing inwardly until the container is filled.
  • Figures 10 and 10A illustrate the details of a slide latch structure which may be used for this purpose. As seen in Figures 10 and 10A, the slider 66 is held in position against the end wall by means of the guides 67 which engage the tabs 68 on the slider and allow the slider to be moved into engagement with the slot 64 in the side wall flange 28.
  • the slider 66 is held against removal in the unlatched position by means of the latch fingers 69 which engage appropriate the depressions in the end wall surface.
  • the latch is held in the engaged position by means of the latch finger 71 which engages a suitable slot 71 a in the end wall.
  • the latch fingers 69 include a flat surface 72 which limits the movement of the slider toward the unlatched position.
  • the latch finger 71 may be provided with an inclined cam surface (not shown) which will serve to hold the slider in the engaged position but permits withdrawal of the slider by virtue of the cam surface in a well known manner.
  • one or both of the end walls 12 may be provided with a suitable door 14 which is connected to the end wall by means of snap hinge connectors 74 which may be identical to the snap hinge 27 shown in Figure 9. It will be understood, of course, that the bottom edge of the hinged door will also be provided with a lip (not shown) for engagement with an appropriate shoulder on the wall 12 to absorb any lateral loads on the door so as to protect the hinge members in a manner previously described. Also the door 14 may be latched to the end wall structure by means of slide latches 76 mounted on the end walls. These latches may be substantially identical in the structure and operation to the slide latch shown in Figures 10 and 10A.
  • top structure may be provided for the container with the proper configuration for engaging the top edges of the erected ends and side walls. Since the lateral loads on the ends and side walls are absorbed by their novel interconnections, there will be no loads applied to the cover structure.
  • Figures 2, 4 and 5 illustrate the manner in which the side and end walls are folded in order to obtain the stackable collapsed container.
  • the slide latches 63 are first moved to the retracted position releasing the ends walls 12 from the side walls 11.
  • the end walls are then folded inwardly to rest on the base structure or bottom wait 16 of the pallet as illustrated in Figure 4. Since the end walls 12 have a height which is greater than half the distance across the bottom wall 16, the walls will overlap as shown in Figure 4.
  • the order in which the end walls are folded is, of course, irrelevant because they are both pivoted at the same height.
  • the next step is to fold each of the side walls 11 inwardly with the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges 28 on each end of each side wall coming to rest on the upper edges of the base end walls 18. With this configuration, no weight or stress is applied to the overlapped previously folded end walls 12. Also, since the base side walls 17 are higher in elevation, the vertical height of the side walls 11 may be designed to be one half of the length of the bottom wall 16 and pallet base as shown in Figure 5. There is therefore no overlapping of the side walls which form a stable platform on which to stack another collapsed or fully erected container.
  • the base end and side walls 17 and 18 are provided with a plurality of notches or openings 77 and 78 respectfully which are aligned with the reinforcing webs of the outside surfaces of the side walls 11 to permit nesting.
  • the peripheral edges of the end and side base walls are inset as at 79 and 81 so as to permit the pallet base to be nested onto the folded side walls of another container.
  • the recessing 79 and 81 also permits a folded or erected container to be nested on top of another erected container.
  • Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention wherein the side and end walls are hinged to the respective base walls at four different elevations providing for a. container of smaller dimensions while preserving the ability to stack the collapsed container with other collapsed or erected containers.
  • the hinge structures and hinge protective features of Figures 1 to 10 embodiment will be utilised in the construction of the container of Figures 11 and 12, the only difference being the manner in which the side and end walls are folded inwardly to collapse the container.
  • the pallet base 113 is provided with a first base end wall 114 and a second base end wall 116.
  • the end wall 117 is pivoted to the base wall 116 at the pivot point 118 and the end wall 119 is pivoted to the base end well 114 at the pivot axis 121.
  • the pivot point 118 is located the approximate thickness of the end walls and webbing above the pivot point 121. With this arrangement, the end wall 119 may be moved to the position shown in Figure 11 lying substantially flat on top of the bottom wall of the pallet. The end wall 117 is then pivoted inwardly so as to rest on top of the end wall 119.
  • the base side walls 122 and 123 provide pivotal attachments for the side walls 124 and 126 respectively.
  • the pivotal attachment 127 for the side wall 126 is located the thickness of a side wall and webbing above the pivot point 128 for the side wall 124, permitting the wall 126 to lie flat on top of the side wall 124 and to be supported thereby.
  • one flange 129 of the side wall 124 engages the top surface of the base end wall 116 for support along its length and the flanges 131 and 132 of the side wall 126 rest on the outside surface of the side wall 124.
  • the base side walls 122 and 123 have corner posts 113 and 134 respectively so as to support the stacked containers without applying any pressure to the folded side walls 124 and 126.
  • the peripheral edge of the pallet base is recessed as at 136 so as to nest between the corner posts 133 and 134.

Claims (11)

1. Récipient de stockage pliable comprenant:
une base (13) formant une paroi de fond (16) du récipient et portant des parties s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) sur ses bords;
une paire d'éléments (11) opposés formant paroi latérale et une paire d'éléments opposés (12) formant paroi d'extrémité, lesdits éléments formant paroi étant fixés de façon pivotante par des moyens formant charnière (26/27) auxdites parties s'étendant vers le haut pour leur permettre de se déplacer d'une configuration depliée à une configuration dépliée dans laquelle des éléments formant paroi adjacents coopèrent mutuellement les uns avec les autres selon leurs bords latéraux adjacents, chacun desdits éléments de paroi latérale (11) comportant sur chacun de leurs bords latéraux une bride (28) s'étendant vers l'intérieur à partir de la face interne de celui-ci selon une longueur substantielle de ce dernier et chacun desdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) comportant une bride (34) selon chacun de ses bords latéraux qui s'étend sur une longueur substantielle de celui-ci et
des configurations (31, 32) en creux et/ou en relief sur lesdites brides (28) desdits éléments formant paroi latérale qui dans la configuration dépliée du récipient coopèrent en complémentarité avec les configurations en relief et/ou en creux (36, 37) des éléments formant paroi latéralé (11) pour empêcher le mouvement longitudinal relatif entre les bords latéraux qui coopèrent mutuellement des éléments formant paroi, caractérisé en ce que dans la configuration dépliée du récipient les brides (28, 34) coopèrent, au moins une bride (28) de chaque paire en coopération comportant une rainure (29) qui lui est parallèle dans laquelle sa bride de coopération (34) vient s'engager de telle sorte que le chargement de l'intérieur desdits éléments formant paroi (11, 12) a tendance à empêcher la coopération entre les brides.
2.'Récipient de stockage pliable tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 1 dans lequel lesdites configurations en creux et/ou en relief comportent une série de pattes transversales (31) s'étendant à travers l'intérieur d'au moins une desdites rainures (29) et une série d'encoches (36) réparties le long de la bride (34) qui viennent reposer à l'intérieur de ladite gorge et coopèrent avec lesdites pattes lorsques le récipient se trouve dans sa configuration dépliée.
3. Récipient de stockage pliable selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2 comportant des moyens formant verrou (63) agissant entre lesdites brides coopérantes (28, 34) pour empêcher le pliage vers l'intérieur desdits éléments formant paroi (11, 12) avant leur installation.
4. Récipient de stockage pliable selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel ladite paroi formant fond (16) comporte une surface interieure convexe (16) destinée à recevoir une charge verticale à l'intérieur dudit récipient.
5. Récipient de stockage pliable selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel:
lesdits moyens formant base (13) comportent des parois support verticales périphériques s'étendant vers le bas à partir de ladite paroi formant fond (16);
lesdites parois formant support comportant des ouvertures multiples (19) qui permettent l'accès à des surfaces de levage situées en dessous de ladite paroi formant fond (16) pour faciliter le levage dudit récipient, lesdites paroi formant support, ladite paroi de fond (12) et lesdits éléments formant paroi étant constitués par un matériau plastique moulé monobloc.
6. Récipient de stockage pliable tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel dans ladite configuration dépliée, les bords du fond desdits éléments de paroi (11, 12) et lesdites parties s'étendant vers le haut (17,18) de ladite base (13) coopèrent mutuellement les unes avec les autres avec des configurations comportant une saillie (43) et un épaulement (44) qui assurent la protection desdits moyens formant charnière (26/27) contre des forces agissant sur les faces des éléments de paroi (11, 12).
7. Récipient de stockage pliable tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel lesdits éléments formant paroi (11, 12) et lesdites parties s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) de ladite base (13) ont des faces internes sensiblement planes et lesdites faces internes des éléments de paroi (11, 12) sont sensiblement dans la même plan que les faces internes desdites parties s'étendant vers le haut dans la configuration dépliée du récipient.
8. Récipient de stockage pliable selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel lesdites parties s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) de la base (13) comportent deux parties de parois latérales (17) de même hauteur sur lesquelles lesdits éléments de paroi latérale (11) sont montés pivotant et deux parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) sur lesquelles lesdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) sont montés pivotant, la hauteur des parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) étant inférieure à la hauteur des parties de paroi latérale (17) et la hauteur des éléments de paroi latérale (11) étant sensiblement égale à la moitié de l'espace existant entre lesdites parties formant paroi latérale (17) de sorte que dans ladite configuration pliée les éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) sont recouverts par les éléments de paroi latérale (11) qui sont supportés par lesdites parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) de façon à se trouver au même niveau les unes par rapport aux autres sans être en contact avec lesdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12).
9. Récipient de stockage pliable selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8 dans lequel lesdites parties s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) de la base (13) comportent des parties de paroi latérales (17) sur lesquelles lesdits éléments de paroi latérales (11) sont montés en pivotement, lesdites parties de paroi latérale ayant une hauteur qui diffère de l'épaisseur approximative des éléments de paroi latérale (11) et le hauteur des éléments de paroi latérale (11) étant plus grande que la moitié de l'espace existant entre lesdites parties de paroi latérale (17), lesdites parties s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) comportant en outre deux parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) sur lesquelles lesdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) sont montés en pivotement, les hauteurs desdites parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) différant l'une de l'autre d'environ l'épaisseur desdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) et étant inférieures aux hauteurs desdites parties de paroi latérale (17), la hauteur desdits éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) étant plus grande que la moitié de l'expace existant entre lesdites parties de paroi d'extrémité (18) de telle sorte que dans la configuration pliée les éléments de paroi latérale (11) viennent se recouvrir les uns les autres dans une configuration parallèle, sur les éléments de paroi d'extrémité (12) qui eux aussi se recouvrent les uns les autres dans une configuration parallèle.
10. Récipient de stockage pliable selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel lesdits moyens formant charnière (26, 27) comportent:
un corps de charnière (39, 46, 47) s'étendant vers le bas à partir du bord de fond dudit élément de paroi (11, 12) et qui est moulé en une seule pièce avec celui-ci, et
une cavité correspondante (42, 51) formée dans la partie associée à la base s'étendant vers le haut (17, 18) de la base (13), ladite cavité comportant des bossages de charnière coaxiaux (41; 49) solidaires de sa paroi latérale,
des moyens pour recevoir le bossage (40; 54) étant prévus sur le corps de charnière étant susceptible de constituer un axe de pivotement pour lesdits éléments formant paroi (11, 12);
des moyens formant épaulement (44; 52) moulés en un seul bloc avec et s'étendant vers le haut à partir du fond de ladite cavité; et
une saillie (43; 57) sur le fond dudit corps de charnière susceptible de venir en contact avec lesdits moyens formant épaulement pour limiter le pivotement de l'élément de paroi (11, 12) dans la direction vers l'extérieur pour venir dans une position verticale dans laquelle le corps de charnière vient coopérer.
11. Récipient de stockage pliable selon la revendication 10 dans lequel ledit corps de charnière (46, 47) comporte un élément de charnière relativement souple (53) qui est susceptible d'être déformé pour amener le corps de charnière en position sur lesdits bossages de charnière (49).
EP19850305500 1985-06-21 1985-08-01 Récipient de stockage pliable Expired EP0211116B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US74781085A 1985-06-21 1985-06-21
US747810 1985-06-21

Publications (3)

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EP0211116A2 EP0211116A2 (fr) 1987-02-25
EP0211116A3 EP0211116A3 (en) 1987-09-30
EP0211116B1 true EP0211116B1 (fr) 1990-01-03

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850305500 Expired EP0211116B1 (fr) 1985-06-21 1985-08-01 Récipient de stockage pliable

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EP (1) EP0211116B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS624048A (fr)
CA (1) CA1246470A (fr)
DE (1) DE3575112D1 (fr)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0211116A2 (fr) 1987-02-25
EP0211116A3 (en) 1987-09-30
JPS624048A (ja) 1987-01-10
DE3575112D1 (de) 1990-02-08
CA1246470A (fr) 1988-12-13

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