EP0281422B1 - Récipient pliable - Google Patents

Récipient pliable Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0281422B1
EP0281422B1 EP88301937A EP88301937A EP0281422B1 EP 0281422 B1 EP0281422 B1 EP 0281422B1 EP 88301937 A EP88301937 A EP 88301937A EP 88301937 A EP88301937 A EP 88301937A EP 0281422 B1 EP0281422 B1 EP 0281422B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
door
projection
side wall
latch member
disposed
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP88301937A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0281422A3 (en
EP0281422A2 (fr
Inventor
Dennis M. Foy
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.)
Ropak Corp
Original Assignee
Ropak Corp
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 Ropak Corp filed Critical Ropak Corp
Publication of EP0281422A2 publication Critical patent/EP0281422A2/fr
Publication of EP0281422A3 publication Critical patent/EP0281422A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0281422B1 publication Critical patent/EP0281422B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00398—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
    • B65D2519/00577—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
    • B65D2519/00611—Connections structures connecting side walls, including corner posts, to each other structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable side walls maintained connected to each other by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
    • 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
    • B65D2519/00656—Structures intended to be disassembled by means of hinges separately 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
    • B65D2519/00661—Structures intended to be disassembled side walls maintained connected to pallet by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
    • 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 invention relates to containers of the type used for packaging and shipping goods in bulk and is collapsible to reduce the space required for them to be shipped after use by stacking the empty compacted containers.
  • This foldable container includes a molded plastic base having four side walls extending vertically upward from each side of the base. The walls are vertically spaced for folding one side wall over the base and another side wall over the former one and into overlapping vertical spaced relationship to one another.
  • the hinges on two of the side walls have an associated link having slots therein for allowing the side wall to move vertically relative to the base for locking and unlocking the walls from one another.
  • the tops of the side walls have projections for coacting with legs extending from the base to relatively position and stack the containers one upon another.
  • the base only has legs extending downwardly and outwardly from it, and no means is provided for guiding the forks of a forked lift into the base for raising and lowering the container assembly.
  • the tops of the side walls must include a projection which coacts with the legs to stack the container assembly on the tops of the side walls only.
  • DE-A-3,500,427 describes a foldable container assembly having the features of the preamble of Claim 1. Such a construction requires manual latching of the door provided in one of the side walls of the container.
  • EP-A-0,211,116 describes a collapsible container which also incorporates manually operable latches similar in operation to those of DE-A-3,500,427.
  • the invention seeks to provide an improved foldable container assembly which facilitates erection of the container in practical situations.
  • the invention provides a foldable container assembly as claimed in Claim 1.
  • a foldable or collapsible container assembly is generally shown at 10 in Figure 1.
  • the assembly 10 includes a base, generally indicated at 12, and a plurality of sides or side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 with at least one side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 extending vertically upwardly from each side of the base 12.
  • the tops 22 of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are all aligned in a horizontal plane as shown in Figure 1.
  • the assembly 10 includes wall hinge means, generally indicated at 24, interconnecting each of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 to the base 12 with the wall hinge means 24 for a first side wall 14, being in a vertically spaced horizontal plane from the wall hinge means 24 for a second side wall 16 for folding the first 14 and second 16 side walls over the base 12 and into overlapping vertically spaced relationship to one another.
  • the wall hinge means 24 includes a series of tongue and grooves along the bottom edge of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and the top edge of the base 12 wherein the tongues of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 are disposed in the grooves of the base 12 and visa versa, as shown in Figure 7.
  • the wall hinge means 24 further includes a series of hinge holes or apertures 26 along the bottom edge of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and the top edge of the base 12 in the tongue and groove arrangement.
  • a rod 28 is disposed in the apertures 26 of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and the base 12 and has a lock washer 30 on each end thereof to secure the tongues in the grooves and to allow pivotal movement of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 relative to the base 12.
  • a rod 28 is disposed in a series of apertures 26 along the bottom edge of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and the top edge of the base 12 to allow pivotal movement of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 relative to the base 12.
  • the rod 28 may be a protruded fiber glass rod with a resin-enriched surface.
  • the resin-enriched surface of the rod prolongs the life of the rod and prevents wear.
  • the rod 28 is essentially unbreakable and is capable of sustaining substantial deformation without failure.
  • the rod 28 resists deformation because the stresses applied to it are isolated due to the tongue and groove arrangement. In other words, each tongue may apply a stress from internal or external forces only over a small cross section of the rod 28.
  • the rod 28 resists the stresses over a small cross section and is substantially rigid as disposed in the hinge means 24. This adds strength to the hinge.
  • the tongue and groove of the hinge means 24 is arranged such that the thickness of the hinge means 24 at the base 12 is greater than the thickness of the hinge means 24 at the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20. More specifically, the tongue and groove of the base 12 may be as much as twice as thick or more than the tongue and groove of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20. This arrangement is much stronger than previous hinges employed in collapsible containers and transforms an area of weakness into a strength.
  • Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the relationships between the apertures 26 in the base 12 and the rod 28 at various points along the tongue and groove hinge means 24.
  • the wall hinge means 24 for the first 14 and second 16 side walls lie in vertically spaced horizontal planes, whereas the wall hinge means 24 for the third 18 and fourth 20 of the side walls are in the same horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the wall hinge means 24 for the second side wall 16.
  • the third and fourth side walls 18, 20 extend from their associated hinge means 24 to the tops 22 thereof a distance less than one half the distance between the wall hinge means 24 for the third and fourth side walls 18, 20. That is to say, the opposing side walls 18 and 20 do not overlap when folded downward, instead lying flat on top of the folded walls 14 and 16 as illustrated in Figure 3.
  • the assembly 10 includes interconnecting means, generally indicated at 32, for releaseably interconnecting the side edge of each side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 to the side edge of the adjacent side wall when in the vertical position.
  • the interconnecting means 32 includes a plurality of vertically spaced lugs 34 disposed along one edge of one side wall and a lug receiving openings 36 disposed along the adjacent edge of the adjacent side wall opposite the spaced lugs 34.
  • the side walls 18, 20 are raised to the vertical position and on either side wall 14 or 16 is directly pivotally rotated about the axis of the rod 28 of the wall hinge means 24 to the vertical position where the lug receiving openings 36 engage the spaced lugs 34.
  • the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are pivoted from the folded position on the base 12 about the axis of the rod 28 to the vertical position and vice versa.
  • the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 have planar interior sheets 30 with ribs generally indicated at 40 extending outwardly therefrom and in spaced relationship with respect to each other.
  • the ribs 40 are disposed closer to one another at the tops 22 of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and at the base 12 to provide greater support to the side walls, 14, 16, 18, 20 near these areas. More specifically, the ribs 40 include horizontal ribs 41 and vertical ribs 43.
  • the horizontal ribs 41 are disposed vertically closer together at the tops 22 and at the base 12 and spaced further apart from one another near the middle of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20.
  • the vertical ribs 43 are disposed horizontally closer together at the tops 22 and at the base 12 and spaced further apart from one another near the middle of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20. Further, a side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 may include diagonal ribs 45 extending diagonally across a portion of the walls 14, 16, 18, 20. Together, the ribs 40, 41, 43 and 45 form a support matrix for providing greater support at the tops 22 of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 and near the base 12 of the container assembly 10 and insures the structural integrity of the assembly 10 under various loading stresses.
  • the assembly 10 includes wall locking means generally indicated at 42, for releaseably locking the side edge of each side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 to the side edge of the adjacent side wall when in the vertical position.
  • the wall locking means 42 includes a latch member 44 connected to at least one edge of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 by a fastening means such as welds 45 and having a projection 46 extending outwardly from one side thereof.
  • the side walls 14, 16, include a latch member 44 connected to both edges or sides of the side walls 14, 16.
  • the wall locking means 42 includes a longitudinal groove or slot 48 along the edge of an adjacent side wall opposite the projection 46 of the latch member 44.
  • the side walls 18, 20 include a longitudinal groove 48 along each side edge of the side walls 18, 20.
  • the latch member 44 also includes a cavity portion 50.
  • a biasing means 52 is disposed in the cavity portion 50 of the latch member 44 for biasing the projection 46 of the latch member 44 into engagement and disengagement with the groove 48.
  • the biasing means 52 comprises a spring 52.
  • the latch member 44 further includes a flange 54 acting as a handle to allow a person to manually actuate the latch member 44 by hand. In operation, the latch member 44 is slideably moved by engaging the flange 54 and moving the latch member 44 along the side wall 14, 16 in a plane substantially parallel to the side wall 14, 16 to move the projection 46 into engagement and disengagement with the groove 48 of the adjacent side wall 18, 20. This is known in the art as a "slam latch".
  • the assembly 10 further includes a door means, generally indicated at 58, disposed in an opening 60 in at least one of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 for opening and closing the opening 60 to allow access to the inside of the container assembly 10 through the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 when the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are in the vertical position.
  • a door means generally indicated at 58, disposed in an opening 60 in at least one of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 for opening and closing the opening 60 to allow access to the inside of the container assembly 10 through the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 when the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are in the vertical position.
  • the door means 58 includes a door 62 disposed within the opening 60 of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and a door hinge means, generally indicated at 64, connected to one, preferably the bottom, edge of the door 62 and the adjacent edge, preferably the bottom, of the opening 60 for allowing pivotal movement of the door 62 relative to the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20.
  • the door hinge means 64 includes a flexible C-shaped member 66 to allow the door 62 to pivot outwardly with respect to the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the flexible C-shaped member has one 66 flange connected to the bottom of the opening 60 and the other flange connected to the bottom of the door 62 to allow the door 62 to be pivotally rotated from a closed position within the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 to an open position outwardly from the container assembly 10.
  • the door 62 When the door 62 is in the fully open position, it extends downwards in a vertical plane which is adjacent the vertical plane of the side wall, 14, 16, 18, 20.
  • the door 62 When the door 62 is in the fully open position, it extends downwardly in a vertical plane which is adjacent the vertical plane of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20.
  • the assembly 10 includes a door locking means, generally indicated at 68, for releaseably engaging the door 62 with the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 in a locked condition to prevent pivotal movement of the door 62 relative to the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and releaseably disengaging the door 62 from the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 in an unlocked condition to allow pivotal movement of the door 62 relative to the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20.
  • the door locking means 68 as shown in Figure 11 is similar to the wall locking means 42.
  • the door locking means 68 includes a latch member 70 mounted on the door 62 and having projections 72 extending outwardly from one side thereof and slideably disposed in a groove 74 of the opening 60.
  • the projections 72 are biased outwardly from the door 62 and into engagement with the groove 74 by a biasing means 73 such as a spring.
  • the spring 73 is disposed between the door 62 and the latch member 70 and exerts a force on the latch member 70 to urge the projections 72 outward.
  • the projection 72 include a chamfer 75 on its inward side nearest to the inside of the container assembly (10) and a flat side 77 which extends parallel to the side wall of the groove 74. Both the chamfer 75 and the flat side 77 are disposed at the distal end of the projection 72 and opposite one another.
  • the door locking means 68 includes a snap-in feature attendant upon closing the door 62 but not upon opening the door 62. The chamfer facilitates the automatic retraction of the projection 72 upon closing the door 62 without manual manipulation of the latch member 70.
  • the door 62 includes a door latch member 70 on each side of the door 62 and a adjacent groove 74 along each side of the opening 60.
  • the disposition of the latch member 70 on either side of the door 62 allows an operator to unlock the door 62 and control the door 62 as it opens without need to readjust or remove his grip on the door.
  • the latch 70 was disposed on a side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 contrary to the subject invention, and the groove 74 located in the door 62, when an operator unlocked the door 62 by manipulating the latch member 70, the door would fall open freely and possibly strike the operator.
  • the operator is less likely to control the door as it opens because his hands are located on the latch 70 of the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 and not on the door 62 of the present invention.
  • the present invention avoids this occurrence.
  • the operation of the door locking means 68 is similar to the wall locking means 42.
  • the opening 60 includes a flange 76 acting as a stop to prevent pivotal movement of the door 62 past the side wall 14, 16, 18, 20 to the inside of the container assembly 10.
  • the base 12 of the assembly 10 is generally convexed with respect to a flat support surface. Said another way, the base 12 is not generally flat or substantially parallel to a flat planner support surface.
  • the base 12 includes a rigid top member 80 and a support means, generally indicated at 82, connected to the top member 80 for supporting the top member 80 upon a support surface and defining channels 84 therein for guiding the forks of a lifting means such as a forked lift into the channels 84 and for inserting the base 12 within the perimeter or opening formed by the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 in the vertical position of another assembly 10 to allow vertical stacking of the container assemblies 10 one upon another.
  • the support means 82 includes a corner support member 86 at each of the four corners of the top member 80 and a perimeter support element 88 near the perimeter of the top member 80 about midway between adjacent pairs of corner support elements 86, and a center support element 90 near the center of the top member 80.
  • support elements 86, 88, and 90 are similar to legs extending downwardly from the top member 80 to space the top member 80 from a support surface.
  • the support means 82 includes a spacer means, generally indicated at 92, for integrally interconnecting the corner support elements 86 and the perimeter support elements 88 and the center support element 90 to form a bottom member similar to the top member 80.
  • the base 12 is similar to a pallet.
  • the spacer means 92 structurally reinforces and supports the support elements 86, 88, 90 and forms a bottom member. Said another way, the spacer means 92 interconnects a corner support element 86 with a perimeter support element 88 and a center support element 90 with the perimeter support element 88 to form a bottom member substantially similar to the top member.
  • the spacer means 92 includes a strip member 94 being defined as a plate.
  • the strip member 94 is substantially the same width as the support elements 86, 88, and 90 to form four rectangular-like openings in the bottom member. Both the top member 80 and strip member 94 include longitudinal slots 96 therein.
  • the strip member 94 includes a flange 98 along one edge thereof extending downwardly and outwardly from the strip member 94 for abutting the interior edge of the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 when the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are in the vertical position for vertically stacking the container assemblies 10 one upon another.
  • the flange 98 of the strip member 94 forms a perimeter similar to the opening formed when the side walls 14, 16, 18, 20 are in the vertical position so that the flange 98 fits inside the opening to prevent movement of the container assembly 10 when vertically stacking the container assemblies 10 upon one another. Accordingly, any combination of folded and unfolded containers may be stacked upon one another.
  • the corner support element 86 and the perimeter support element 88 define a pair of forked channels 84 for receiving and guiding the forks of a forked lift for mechanically raising and lowering the container assembly 10.
  • the corner support elements 86 and the perimeter support elements 88 each have planner exterior side surfaces 100 along the perimeter of the top member 80 and parallel interior surfaces 102 extending diagonally inwardly from the exterior side surfaces 100 to guide the forks of the forked lift in the channels 84.
  • the flange 98 includes a chamfer 104 to guide the forks of the forked lift upwardly into the channels 84.
  • the door 62 when the door 62 is in the fully open position, the door partially blocks the channels 84 and thereby prevents the container assembly 10 from being moved when the door is in the open position.
  • any combination of folded and unfolded containers may be stacked upon one another.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Assemblage de récipient (10) pliable comprenant une base (12) comportant une pluralité de côtés, des parois latérales (14,16,18,20) s'étendant verticalement vers le haut à partir de chaque côté de ladite base et incluant des moyens d'articulation de paroi (24) interconnectant chacune desdites parois latérales à ladite base, au moins une desdites parois latérales incluant en elle une ouverture (60), et incluant une porte (62) disposée dans ladite ouverture de ladite paroi latérale pour ouvrir et fermer ladite ouverture pour permettre l'accès à l'intérieur de l'assemblage de récipient (10) à travers lesdites parois latérales quand lesdites parois latérales sont en position verticale, et des moyens de verrouillage de porte (68) disposés sur ladite porte pour engager de façon libérable ladite porte avec ladite paroi latérale dans une position de verrouillage pour empêcher le mouvement de pivotement de ladite porte relativement à ladite paroi latérale et désengager de façon libérable ladite porte de ladite paroi latérale dans un état de déverrouillage pour permettre le mouvement de pivot de ladite porte par rapport à ladite paroi latérale et lesdits moyens de verrouillage de porte incluant un élément de blocage (70) monté sur ladite porte ayant un prolongement (72) s'étendant vers l'extérieur a partir d'un de ses côtés et une rainure (73) dans ladite ouverture opposée audit prolongement,
    caractérisé en ce que ledit prolongement inclut un chanfrein (75) disposé sur l'extrémité distale dudit prolongement (72), ledit prolongement (72) étant disposé de façon à pouvoir coulisser dans ladite rainure quand ladite porte est dans une position fermée et verrouillée ,
    et des moyens de déviation (73) pour pousser lesdits prolongements dudit élément de blocage en engagement dans ladite rainure quand ladite porte est dans une position fermée et verrouillée, lesdits moyens de déviation et ledit chanfrein sur lesdits prolongements permettant à ladite porte d'être déplacée de sa position d'ouverture et fermée avec un claquement sec en position de fermeture sans manipulation manuelle dudit élément de blocage desdits moyens de verrouillage de porte afin de permettre à ladite porte d'être déplacée d'une position d'ouverture et fermée avec un claquement sec en position de fermeture sans manipulation manuelle de l'élément de blocage des moyens de verrouillage de porte.
  2. Assemblage selon la revendication 1 caractérisé en plus par ledit prolongement incluant un côté plat (77) disposé à l'extrémité distale dudit prolongement opposée audit chanfrein, ledit chanfrein étant disposé à l'extrémité distale dudit prolongement sur son côté dirigé vers l'intérieur le plus proche de l'intérieur de l'assemblage.
  3. Assemblage selon la revendication 1 ou 2 caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de déviation sont un ressort (73) disposé entre ladite porte et ledit élément de blocage.
  4. Assemblage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes caractérisé en ce qu'il inclut des moyens de verrouillage de paroi pour verrouiller de façon libérable le bord latéral de chacune desdites parois latérales au bord latéral de la paroi latérale adjacente si en position verticale.
  5. Assemblage selon la revendication 4 caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de verrouillage incluent un élément de blocage (44) connecté a au moins un bord d'une desdites parois latérales et comportant un prolongement (46) s'étendant vers l'extérieur à partir d'un de ses côtés, et une rainure longitudinale (48) dans le bord d'une paroi latérale adjacente, ledit prolongement étant disposé de façon à pouvoir coulisser dans ladite rainure.
  6. Assemblage selon la revendication 5 caractérisé en ce qu'il inclut des moyens de déviation (52) pour amener ledit prolongement (46) dans ladite rainure (48).
  7. Assemblage selon la revendication 6 caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de déviation (52) comprennent un ressort.
  8. Assemblage selon la revendication 7 caractérisé en ce que ledit élément de blocage (44) inclut un rebord (54) pour actionner ledit élément de blocage.
EP88301937A 1987-03-06 1988-03-04 Récipient pliable Expired - Lifetime EP0281422B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2299687A 1987-03-06 1987-03-06
US22996 1987-03-06

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0281422A2 EP0281422A2 (fr) 1988-09-07
EP0281422A3 EP0281422A3 (en) 1989-02-08
EP0281422B1 true EP0281422B1 (fr) 1992-06-17

Family

ID=21812524

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88301937A Expired - Lifetime EP0281422B1 (fr) 1987-03-06 1988-03-04 Récipient pliable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0281422B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1319118C (fr)
DE (1) DE3871993T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4917255A (en) * 1989-02-24 1990-04-17 J.I.T. Corporation Collapsible container
US5094356A (en) * 1990-11-13 1992-03-10 Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc. Knock down bulk container
FR2686061B1 (fr) * 1992-01-15 1994-03-25 Allibert Manutention Caisse en matiere plastique moulee equipee d'un abattant.
GB2359803B (en) * 2000-03-02 2004-01-14 Paul Anthony Derry Supporting articles within a container
DE10200070B4 (de) * 2002-01-03 2012-03-22 Schoeller Arca Systems Gmbh Klappbehälter mit einem Behälterboden und vier klappbaren Seitenwänden
EP1737737B1 (fr) * 2004-04-19 2010-03-17 Polymer Logistics (Israel) Ltd. Caisse pliable dont les parois sont stockees dans la base de la caisse, et sa methode d'utilisation
DE102008047859A1 (de) * 2008-09-18 2010-04-08 Schoeller Arca Systems Gmbh Großcontainer
CH699872A2 (de) 2008-11-06 2010-05-14 Utz Georg Holding Ag Transport- und Lagerbehälter.
CN102502125B (zh) * 2011-10-24 2013-12-25 上海鸿研物流技术有限公司 可弹性限位的铰链及采用该铰链的运输贮存容器
US8915397B2 (en) 2012-11-01 2014-12-23 Orbis Corporation Bulk container with center support between drop door and side wall
US9708097B2 (en) 2013-11-15 2017-07-18 Orbis Corporation Bulk bin with integrated shock absorber
US9487326B2 (en) 2013-11-26 2016-11-08 Orbis Corporation Bulk bin with panel to panel interlock features
CA2952274A1 (fr) 2014-06-20 2015-12-23 Orbis Corporation Piege de tige de charniere pour conteneur pliable
US10273052B2 (en) * 2015-12-23 2019-04-30 Arena Packaging, Llc Produce shipping container

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3500427A1 (de) * 1985-01-09 1986-07-10 Wolfgang Uwe 4444 Bad Bentheim Friedrich Zusammenklappbarer transportkasten
CA1246470A (fr) * 1985-06-21 1988-12-13 Andrew Gyenge Recipient de stockage pliant

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1319118C (fr) 1993-06-15
DE3871993T2 (de) 1992-12-03
EP0281422A3 (en) 1989-02-08
DE3871993D1 (de) 1992-07-23
EP0281422A2 (fr) 1988-09-07

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