EP2277789A1 - Collapsible container - Google Patents
Collapsible container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2277789A1 EP2277789A1 EP10169254A EP10169254A EP2277789A1 EP 2277789 A1 EP2277789 A1 EP 2277789A1 EP 10169254 A EP10169254 A EP 10169254A EP 10169254 A EP10169254 A EP 10169254A EP 2277789 A1 EP2277789 A1 EP 2277789A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wall
- walls
- container
- collapsible container
- base
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
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
- B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
- B65D11/18—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected
- B65D11/1833—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected 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
- B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
- B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
- B65D21/06—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together with movable parts adapted to be placed in alternative positions for nesting the containers when empty and for stacking them when full
- B65D21/062—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together with movable parts adapted to be placed in alternative positions for nesting the containers when empty and for stacking them when full the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates
Definitions
- Collapsible crates are well known.
- Four walls each connected via a hinge to a base are selectively movable about the hinge between a use position, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base.
- Various latch mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use position.
- Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so that another, non-collapsible, nestable container can be supported thereon.
- One such collapsible crate includes end walls each having a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position.
- the nestable containers can be supported on the supports when the supports are in the support position.
- the weight of the nestable container placed carelessly onto the supports may be sufficient to deflect the upper portion of one end wall of the collapsible crate outwardly.
- the deflection of the one end wall may be sufficient so that the opposite end of the nestable container may not be aligned on the opposite support and may consequently fall into the collapsible container.
- a container having a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a base.
- the walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
- Interlocking portions such as hooks, extend outwardly from upper edges of the end walls, above the supports. The hooks interlock with edges of the side walls to prevent the upper ends of the end walls from deflecting outwardly.
- Each end wall 18 has a support 20.
- the support 20 is pivotably and slidably mounted to the end wall 18 and movable between a retracted position and a support position.
- the support 20 is shown in Figure 1 pivoted to the support position, where it projects into the interior of the container 10 where it can support another container stacked thereon.
- the end walls 18 are collapsible onto the base 12, and the side walls 14 are collapsible onto the end walls 18, as shown in Figure 2 .
- Figure 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of a container 10. The remainder of the container 10 would be symmetric.
- the supports 20 include lateral projections 26 projecting into arcuate channels 22 formed in each side wall 14. The lateral projections 26 of the supports 20 move in the arcuate channels 22 as the end walls 18 are collapsed onto the base 12.
- the lateral projections 26 include downward projections that slide behind vertical ribs 24 adjacent the arcuate channels 22.
- Figure 4 is an exterior view of the corner of the container 10 of Figure 3 .
- the side walls 14 include interlocking portions 32 that interlock with complementary portions 34 on the end walls 18 below the supports 20.
- the end walls 18 further include upper interlocking portions 36 received in openings 38 in the side walls 14 above the supports 20.
- the end walls 18 are collapsible onto the base 12 (and the side walls 14 are collapsible onto the end walls 18, although the order could be reversed).
- Figure 6 is an interior view of one of the end walls 18, with the support 20 removed.
- the end walls 18 include hinge pin receivers 40 for slidably and pivotably receiving the hinge pins of the support 20. As shown, the upper interlocking portions 36 project outwardly from the end walls 18.
- Figure 7 is an exterior view of the end wall 18 showing one of the interlocking portions 36.
- the interlocking portion 36 includes a laterally projecting portion 37 and a vertically oriented, rearwardly projecting portion 39 for being received in the openings 38 in the side walls 14, as shown in Figure 4 .
- the laterally projecting portion 37 and rearwardly projecting portion 39 form a hook.
- the upper interlocking portions 36 received in openings 38 in the side walls 14 above the supports 20 prevent the upper portions of the end walls 18 from being deflected outwardly by a container stacked on the supports 20. This helps ensure that the upper container is properly stacked on the supports 20.
- Figure 8 shows the end wall 18 with the support 20.
- the support 20 may be equally as high (or higher) than the interlocking portions 36, but the interlocking portions 36 should be higher than the supports 20 when the supports are in the support position.
- Figures 9 and 10 show the side wall 14. As shown, the side walls 14 include a lip 42 projecting inward. The openings 38 are formed in the lips 42.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Stackable Containers (AREA)
- Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
Abstract
A container (10) includes a plurality of walls (14,18) extending upwardly from a base (12). The walls (14,18) are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base (12). Interlocking portions (36), such as hooks, extend outwardly from upper edges of the end walls (18), above supports (20). The hooks interlock with edges of the side walls (14) to prevent the upper ends of the end walls (18) from deflecting outwardly.
Description
- Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls each connected via a hinge to a base are selectively movable about the hinge between a use position, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base. Various latch mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use position.
- Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so that another, non-collapsible, nestable container can be supported thereon. One such collapsible crate includes end walls each having a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position. The nestable containers can be supported on the supports when the supports are in the support position. However, when the nestable container is loaded, the weight of the nestable container placed carelessly onto the supports may be sufficient to deflect the upper portion of one end wall of the collapsible crate outwardly. The deflection of the one end wall may be sufficient so that the opposite end of the nestable container may not be aligned on the opposite support and may consequently fall into the collapsible container.
- It is therefore desirable to provide an improved collapsible crate which addresses the above described problems and/or which more generally offers improvements or an alternative to existing arrangements.
- According to the present invention there is therefore provided a collapsible container as described in the accompanying claims.
- In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a container having a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a base. The walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Interlocking portions, such as hooks, extend outwardly from upper edges of the end walls, above the supports. The hooks interlock with edges of the side walls to prevent the upper ends of the end walls from deflecting outwardly.
- The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which:
-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the present invention in an assembled upright position; -
Figure 2 shows the container ofFigure 1 in a collapsed position; -
Figure 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of the container ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 4 is an exterior view of the quarter of the container ofFigure 3 ; -
Figure 5 is the interior view ofFigure 3 with the end wall collapsed; -
Figure 6 is an interior view of one of the end walls, with the support removed; -
Figure 7 is an exterior view of the end wall ofFigure 6 showing one of the interlocking portions; -
Figure 8 shows the end wall ofFigure 6 with the support; -
Figure 9 is an exterior view of the corner of the side wall ofFigure 3 ; -
Figure 10 is an interior view of the corner of the side wall ofFigure 9 ; -
Figure 11 shows the quarter of the container ofFigure 3 as the end wall is being collapsed; -
Figures 1-11 show acollapsible container 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.Figure 1 shows thecontainer 10 in an upright, assembled, use position. Thecontainer 10 includes abase 12, upstanding side walls 14 (or long walls) and upstanding end walls 18 (or short walls). Theside walls 14 andend walls 18 are pivotably connected along long and short edges of thebase 12, respectively. - Each
end wall 18 has asupport 20. Thesupport 20 is pivotably and slidably mounted to theend wall 18 and movable between a retracted position and a support position. Thesupport 20 is shown inFigure 1 pivoted to the support position, where it projects into the interior of thecontainer 10 where it can support another container stacked thereon. - The
end walls 18 are collapsible onto thebase 12, and theside walls 14 are collapsible onto theend walls 18, as shown inFigure 2 . -
Figure 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of acontainer 10. The remainder of thecontainer 10 would be symmetric. Thesupports 20 includelateral projections 26 projecting intoarcuate channels 22 formed in eachside wall 14. Thelateral projections 26 of the supports 20 move in thearcuate channels 22 as theend walls 18 are collapsed onto thebase 12. Thelateral projections 26 include downward projections that slide behindvertical ribs 24 adjacent thearcuate channels 22. -
Figure 4 is an exterior view of the corner of thecontainer 10 ofFigure 3 .
Theside walls 14 include interlockingportions 32 that interlock withcomplementary portions 34 on theend walls 18 below thesupports 20. Theend walls 18 further include upper interlockingportions 36 received inopenings 38 in theside walls 14 above thesupports 20. - As shown in
Figure 5 , theend walls 18 are collapsible onto the base 12 (and theside walls 14 are collapsible onto theend walls 18, although the order could be reversed). -
Figure 6 is an interior view of one of theend walls 18, with thesupport 20 removed. Theend walls 18 includehinge pin receivers 40 for slidably and pivotably receiving the hinge pins of thesupport 20. As shown, the upper interlockingportions 36 project outwardly from theend walls 18. -
Figure 7 is an exterior view of theend wall 18 showing one of the interlockingportions 36. The interlockingportion 36 includes a laterally projectingportion 37 and a vertically oriented, rearwardly projectingportion 39 for being received in theopenings 38 in theside walls 14, as shown inFigure 4 . The laterally projectingportion 37 and rearwardly projectingportion 39 form a hook. The upper interlockingportions 36 received inopenings 38 in theside walls 14 above thesupports 20 prevent the upper portions of theend walls 18 from being deflected outwardly by a container stacked on thesupports 20. This helps ensure that the upper container is properly stacked on thesupports 20. -
Figure 8 shows theend wall 18 with thesupport 20. In the retracted position, thesupport 20 may be equally as high (or higher) than the interlockingportions 36, but the interlockingportions 36 should be higher than thesupports 20 when the supports are in the support position. -
Figures 9 and10 show theside wall 14. As shown, theside walls 14 include alip 42 projecting inward. Theopenings 38 are formed in thelips 42. - As shown in
Figure 11 , when theend wall 18 is collapsed onto thebase wall 12, the interlockingportion 36 and thelateral projection 26 are received in thearcuate channel 22 down to thebase 12. - In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.
Claims (15)
- A collapsible container (10) comprising:a base (12);a plurality of walls (14,18) extending upward from the base (12), the plurality of walls (14,18) movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base (12);at least one support (20) pivotable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container (10) to a support position, the first wall (14) including an interlocking portion (32,36) projecting laterally outward from the first wall (14;18), the interlocking portion (32,36) interlocking with a complementary interlocking portion (34,38) on a second wall (18;14) of the plurality of walls (14,18) when the first wall (14;18) and the second wall (18;14) are in the upright position.
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 1 wherein the interlocking portion (36) is farther from the base (12) than the support (20) when the support (20) is in the support position.
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the interlocking portion (36) includes a laterally projecting portion (37) and a rearwardly projection portion (39) projecting toward an exterior of the container (10) from a lateral end of the laterally projecting portion (37).
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 3 wherein the rearwardly projecting portion (29) is vertically elongated.
- The collapsible container (10) of any preceding claim wherein the complementary interlocking portion (38) is a vertically elongated opening (38).
- The collapsible container (10) of any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion (36) and the complementary interlocking portion (38) prevent an upper edge of the first wall (18) from deflecting outwardly.
- A collapsible container (10) comprising:a base (12);a plurality of walls (14,18) extending upward from the base (12), the plurality of walls (14,18) movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base (12);at least one support (20) pivotable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container (10) to a support position, the first wall (18) including a hook (36) projecting laterally outward from the first wall (18), the hook (36) received in an opening (38) in a second wall (14) of the plurality of walls (14,18) when the first wall (18) and the second wall (14) are in the upright position.
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 7 wherein the hook (36) is farther from the base (12) than the support (20) when the support (20) is in the support position.
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 7 or 8 wherein the hook (36) includes a laterally projecting portion (37) and a rearwardly projection portion (39) projecting toward an exterior of the container (10) from a lateral end of the laterally projecting portion (37).
- The collapsible container (10) of claim 9 wherein the rearwardly projecting portion (39) is vertically elongated.
- The collapsible container (10) of any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the opening (38) is a vertically elongated opening.
- The collapsible container (10) of any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the hook (36) and the opening (3 8) prevent an upper edge of the first wall (18) from deflecting outwardly.
- The collapsible container (10) of any preceding claim wherein the first wall (18) is a short wall and wherein the second wall (14) is a long wall, wherein the first wall is collapsible directly onto the base (12) and the second wall (14) is collapsible onto the first wall (18).
- The collapsible container (10) of any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion or hook (36) are received in an arcuate channel (22) in the second wall (14) as the first wall (18) is collapsed onto the base (12).
- The collapsible container (10) of any preceding claim wherein the second walls (14) further comprise interlocking portions (32) the interlock with complementary portions (34) on the first walls (18) when the first wall (18) and the second wall (14) are in the upright position.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US22488209P | 2009-07-12 | 2009-07-12 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2277789A1 true EP2277789A1 (en) | 2011-01-26 |
Family
ID=42942161
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP10169254A Withdrawn EP2277789A1 (en) | 2009-07-12 | 2010-07-12 | Collapsible container |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110006057A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2277789A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2709622A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MX2010007643A (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110049144A1 (en) * | 2009-08-27 | 2011-03-03 | Koefelda Gerald R | Collapsible crate |
ITUA20164692A1 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2017-12-27 | Seko Spa | FOLDING SHELF FOR STORAGE |
US10065763B2 (en) | 2016-09-15 | 2018-09-04 | Arena Packaging, Llc | Wall latching system |
US11597557B2 (en) | 2018-10-04 | 2023-03-07 | Rehrig Pacific Company | Reconfigurable beverage crate |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0962396A1 (en) * | 1998-06-05 | 1999-12-08 | Sergio Tontarelli | Plastic moulded crate provided with folding sides |
EP1785360A1 (en) * | 2005-11-02 | 2007-05-16 | LINPAC Materials Handling Limited | Collapsible container |
EP2072413A2 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-06-24 | Rehrig Pacific Company | Collapsible container |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2528551A (en) * | 1944-10-30 | 1950-11-07 | Allen R Ross | Shipping box and crate |
US4720013A (en) * | 1986-08-28 | 1988-01-19 | Bradford Company | Nestable and stackable tray |
US7017766B2 (en) * | 2003-03-10 | 2006-03-28 | Rehrig Pacific Company | Collapsible container with side wall latching capability |
US20050194382A1 (en) * | 2004-03-04 | 2005-09-08 | B. Ignacio V. | Unlocking means for sidewalls of rigid foldable or collapsible boxes |
-
2010
- 2010-07-12 CA CA2709622A patent/CA2709622A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-07-12 EP EP10169254A patent/EP2277789A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-07-12 MX MX2010007643A patent/MX2010007643A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-07-12 US US12/834,056 patent/US20110006057A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0962396A1 (en) * | 1998-06-05 | 1999-12-08 | Sergio Tontarelli | Plastic moulded crate provided with folding sides |
EP1785360A1 (en) * | 2005-11-02 | 2007-05-16 | LINPAC Materials Handling Limited | Collapsible container |
EP2072413A2 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-06-24 | Rehrig Pacific Company | Collapsible container |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
MX2010007643A (en) | 2011-01-24 |
US20110006057A1 (en) | 2011-01-13 |
CA2709622A1 (en) | 2011-01-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
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AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME RS |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20110720 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20120419 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20120830 |