EP2338803B1

EP2338803B1 - A collapsible container

Info

Publication number: EP2338803B1
Application number: EP10171140.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Christopher Cope; John Stringer
Original assignee: Linpac Allibert Ltd
Current assignee: Schoeller Allibert GmbH
Priority date: 2007-09-13
Filing date: 2008-09-15
Publication date: 2018-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-15
Also published as: GB0717892D0; EP2036825A1; ES2606403T3; GB2452750B; ES2692330T3; EP2338803A1; EP2338803B8; GB2452750A; DE202008017658U1; EP2036825B1

Description

The present invention relates to a container, and, more particularly, to a collapsible container for consumer-products that has an easily releasable locking mechanism.
Collapsible containers are well known for use in the transport and display of consumer products. Typically, the containers are formed of plastics material and comprise a base, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and a pair of opposed end walls. Both the sidewalls and end walls are hinged to the base at the lower edges thereof, so that the container can be collapsed into a substantially flat position when not in use.
In the container disclosed in eo-pending UK Patent application No GB0710088.6 , the end walls are collapsed by releasing an engagement between the sidewalls and end walls, folding the end walls inwardly by sliding the upper edges of the end walls in arcuate guide channels formed in the inner faces of the sidewalls until the end walls overlie the base, and then folding the sidewalls inwardly to overlie the end walls.
WO 00/68099 describes a portable container comprising a locking mechanism to connect adjacent side walls. The locking mechanism comprises a pair of bolts which are displaceable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and the bolts are actuated by means of a bolt actuating member located on a side wall. Document WO 00/68099 discloses a collapsible container in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. WO 2005/102852 describes a locking system for a container which comprises a lock lever arm rotatable about a pivot axis and a latch interacting with a lock recess. The lock lever are is biased into engagement with the lock recess for releasably attaching a wall section to the container.
Various mechanisms are known to provide lockable engagement between the sidewalls and end walls of collapsible containers when in the assembled or erect position. However, known mechanisms can be unreliable or awkward to use, and may require two hands to be used for the release of each end wall. This can make collapsing the containers time-consuming, and may cause irritation to users.
Accordingly, an improved locking mechanism is desired, which provides reliable locking engagement between the sidewalls and end walls of a collapsible container when in the assembled position, but which is more easily released than known mechanisms.
According to a first aspect, the present invention provides collapsible container having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls and a base, the container including a latching mechanism for providing locking engagement between the sidewalls and end walls , the latching mechanism comprising a latching member; biasing means for biasing the latching member in an extended engaged position in which the latching member provides locking engagement between a side wall and an end wall of the container, and an actuator operable against the biasing means, to move the latching member to a retracted disengaged position in which the latching member is released so as to disengage said sidewall and end wall; wherein the actuator further comprises a rotatable lever which, when rotated, causes retraction of the latching member and the locking engagement is provided between an end wall and both sidewalls.
The biasing means is configured to bias the latching member in an extended position, and the actuator is operable against the biasing means, to move the latching member to a retracted position.
In one embodiment, the actuator is operable to release the end wall from the side wall simultaneously.
Preferably, the latching member is operable between engaged and disengaged positions by rotational movement.
Preferably, the actuator is configured to operate as an espagnolette.
Preferably, a latching member is mounted on at least one end wall of a collapsible container. The actuator may be mounted above, below or adjacent an aperture in each end wall which defines a handle opening. In this way, the actuators may be easily and simultaneously operated by a user to collapse a container, immediately after handling the container, such as lifting it from one position to another.
In an embodiment, the container is configured so that, when extended, at least one end of the latching member is received in a complementary recess in an adjacent sidewall of the container. Preferably, both ends of the latching member are received in complementary recesses in the opposed sidewalls of the container.
In one embodiment, the actuator is located towards the centre of an end wall, and latching bar extends from either side thereof. Other methods for connecting the actuator to the latching bar, to enable retraction thereof, are possible and contemplated.
Preferably, the actuator is located towards the centre of an end wall and latching bar extends form either side thereof.
Preferably the biasing means comprises at least one leaf spring, which is compressed against its biasing action by operation of the actuator. For example, the leaf spring may be compressed against a surface of the end wall.
Other preferred and optional features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying claims.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a related unclaimed container having a latching mechanism;
Figure 2A is a perspective view, Figure 2B is a schematic, lateral cross sectional view along line A-A and Figure 2C is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 1 in an engaged or extended position, with the container assembled;
Figure 3A is a perspective view, Figure 3B is a schematic, lateral cross sectional view along line A-A and Figure 3C is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 1 in a disengaged or retracted position, with the container assembled;
Figure 4A is a perspective view, Figure 4B is a schematic, lateral cross sectional view along line A-A and Figure 4C is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 1 in a disengaged or retracted position during collapse of the container;
Figures 5A and 5B are schematic and detailed cross sectional views, along lines A-A and B-B respectively, of the latching mechanism when the container is in the collapsed position;
Figure 6A is an end view, Figure 6B a perspective view and Figure 6C a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of a latching mechanism of the present invention in an engaged or extended position, with the container assembled;
Figure 7A is an end view, Figure 7B is a perspective view and Figure 7C is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 6 in a disengaged or retracted position, with the container assembled;
Figure 8A is a perspective view and Figure 8B is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 6, actuated in a disengaged or retracted position during collapse of the container;
Figure 9A is a perspective view and Figure 9B is a detailed cross sectional view along line B-B of the latching mechanism of Figure 6, released to a retracted position during collapse of the container;

In some of the drawings, for ease of illustration, only parts of a container, and corresponding latching mechanism, are shown and described below. It will be appreciated that the parts not illustrated have a similar or equivalent configuration and operate in a similar manner to the parts shown. In different embodiments, like features have been accorded the same of similar reference numerals.
Figure 1 illustrates a related unclaimed container 10. The container 10 comprises a rectangular base 12, a pair of opposed sidewalls 14 and 16, and a pair of opposed end walls 18 and 20. Sidewalls 14 and 16, and end walls 18 and 20, are each pivotally mounted by hinges 24, at their lower edges, to the base 12.
Container 10 is typically formed by injection moulding from a suitable plastics material, with a pattern of openings 26 in the base 10 and walls 14 to 20 to minimize the weight of the unfilled container 10. A handle opening 28 is provided in a central, upper area of each side wall 14 and 16 and end wall 18 and 20, for use in carrying the container 10. As the skilled person will appreciate, the shape, configuration and dimensions of the container 10, including the relative proportions and thicknesses of the base 12 and walls 14 to 20 are chosen according to the design requirements. The base 12 and walls 14 to 20, and other parts of container 10, are typically moulded as separate parts and assembled together by snap-fit connection or otherwise.
Container 10 is collapsible from an assembled or erect configuration, as shown in Figure 1, in which a latching mechanism 22 secures the side walls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 in locking engagement, to a collapsed position (not shown) in which the end walls 18, 20 are fully folded to overlie the base 12, and the side walls 14, 16 are folded to overlie the end walls 18, 20 so that the container 10 is substantially flat. In particular, the latching mechanism 22 is manually operated by a user to release the end walls 18, 10 from engagement with the side walls 14, 16 so as to permit the end walls to be folded inwardly, by pivoting each end wall about its respective hinge 24 which connects to the base thereof Once the end walls 18, 20 are fully collapsed to overlie the base 12, the side walls 14, 16 may be folded inwardly to overlie the end walls 18, 20.
As illustrated further in Figures 2 to 5, the latching mechanism 22 comprises a latching member formed as a latching bar 32 mounted substantially horizontally on an end wall 20 18, 20 of the container 10, and adapted so that, in an extended position, its respective ends 34, 36 are received and engaged in corresponding complementary recesses 44, 46 formed on the inner faces of the opposed sidewalls 14 and 16. The latching mechanism 22 further comprises a depressable button 30, associated with, and in particular integrally formed with, the latching bar 32. When the button 30 is pushed inwardly, the latching bar 32 is retracted, such that its respective ends 34, 36 are disengaged from the complementary recesses 44, 46 as described in more detail below.
Figure 2A, 2B and 2C show the latching mechanism 22 in a first, extended position, in which the latching mechanism provides locking engagement between the sidewalls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 of container 10. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2A, a depressable button 30 is mounted in a central aperture in an upper portion of an end wall 18, immediately above a corresponding handle opening 28. The latching bar 32, only half of which is shown in Figures 2A, 2B and 2C, extends laterally from each side of button 30, and is formed integrally therewith of a resiliently deformable material. In particular, the button 30 has a front 30a and sides 30b, 30c which project toward the inner surface of end wall 18, and the latching bar 32 extends substantially orthogonally from the sides 30b, 30c for an initial or central portion 32'. Furthermore, the latching bar 32 is adapted to extend within end wall 18 between a plurality of abutments or projections 42, 42' formed in the end wall 18, which provides a guide path for the latching bar 32 as it moves between the extended position and a retracted position.
Significantly, the latching bar 32 is shaped with a kink 48 or deformation which conforms around a projection 42' at a location between the operating button 30 and the end 34 thereof The kink 48 is adapted to slide over projection 42' to change the orientation of a section 32" of the latching bar between the central portion 32' and projection 42'. The section 32" of the latching bar defines an angle θ to the vertical (parallel to the end wall), as shown in Figure 2A and discussed further below.
In addition, a biasing member 50 comprising a resiliently deformable leaf spring 52 is provided adjacent the ends 34, 36 which serves to bias the latching bar 32 in the extended position, as shown in Figure 2C. The spring 52 is formed from a cut-out central part of the latching bar 32, adjacent its end 34, and is curved inwardly so that it extends behind a vertically extending rib 18' on the interior surface of the end wall 18 as shown in Figure 2C. The abutment the spring 52 against of the rib 18' effects a biasing action on the latching bar 32 into the extended position.
When the operating button 30 is positioned in its normal, resting position, as shown most clearly in Figure 2A, the leaf spring 52 holds the end 34 of latching bar 32 in engagement with the recess 44 of the end wall, to thereby securely lock together the sidewall and end wall. It will be appreciated that the recess may be defined by any appropriate moulded shape in the side wall, and thus may take a variety of forms, according to design requirements. For example, the recess 44 may comprise a gap behind a projecting rib from the side wall that provides sufficient space to accommodate an end 34 of the latching bar 32.
Figure 3A, 3B and 3C show the latching mechanism 22 in a second, retracted position, in which the latching mechanism is operated to release the locking engagement between the sidewalls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 of container 10. (Note that Figure 3B shows a slightly different, non preferred, unclaimed configuration for the spring 52 and end 34 of the latching bar 32). In particular, button 30 is depressed inwardly, as shown by arrow A, and this in turn increases the angle θ, and the length of the section 32" of the latching bar 32 between the central portion 32' and the projection 42', as shown in Figure 3A. Thus, the action of depressing button 30 pulls the latching bar 32 towards the centre of the end wall, against the biasing action of leaf spring 52 which moves further inwardly behind rib 18', so as to retract the end 34 thereof from the recess 44 in the side wall as shown in Figure 3C.
The latching mechanism 22 is thus disengaged, and the sidewalls 14, 16 and 25 end walls 18, 20 are released from locking engagement. This allows the container 10 to be collapsed. In particular, as shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 4C, the end 34 of the latching bar 32 slides over an abutment 56 in the sidewall whilst the button 30 remains depressed, so that the end wall may be folded inwardly over the base of the container, by pivoting about lower hinge 24. During this stage, there remains a biasing force against leaf spring 52, as shown in Figure 4C.
Once the end wall 18 has been fully collapsed to overlie the base 18 of the container, as shown in Figures SA and 5B the button 30 is released, as shown by arrow B. The latching bar 32 then returns to the extended position, under the biasing force of leaf spring 52. The projecting end 34 of latching bar 32 is accommodated in a large indentation 58 formed in the side wall, but is not lockingly engaged therein. It will be appreciated that the button 30 may be released whilst collapsing the end wall, once the ends of the latching bar 34, 36 are positioned for alignment with the indentation 58. In addition, it will be appreciated that if the recess 44 is defined by a rib projecting from the internal surface of the side wall which has a generally flat configuration, no indentation 58 is required,. Instead the extended end 34 of the latching bar is accommodated inside the side wall, in front of the rib.
As the skilled person will appreciate, the latching mechanism of the above-described unclaimed embodiment is convenient to use. In particular, it is possible for a user to hold the container at it ends using respective handle openings, and to release the latching mechanism by simply depressing the buttons on each end wall using just the thumb. Thus, the user can simply and easily release both ends of the container simultaneously, using only one hand for each end. Conveniently, it is unnecessary for the user to change the position of his or her hands, to collapse the container, immediately after lifting or moving the container using the handles provided in the end walls. Whilst the latching bar of the container 10 is configured with a kink to allow a change of orientation of the latching bar, and thus enable its retraction and extension, it will be appreciated that other forms of connecting the button to a main portion of the latching bar, enabling corresponding movement, are possible and contemplated. However, advantageously the kink allows the latching mechanism to be formed in one piece, instead of separate components which require assembly.
Figures 6 to 9 show the present invention, which is similar to the above-described container 10, but differs in the manner of operation of the latching mechanism. In particular, the latching mechanism is configured as an espagnolette, to allow operation of the latch by rotation.
In particular, the latching mechanism 122 comprises a latching member formed as a latching bar 132 mounted on an end wall 118, 120 of a container 110, and adapted so that, in an extended position, its respective ends 134, 136 are received and engaged in corresponding complementary recesses 144, 146 formed on the inner faces of the opposed sidewalls 114 and 116. The latching mechanism 122 further comprises a rotatable lever or knob 130, associated with the latching bar 132 for effecting operation of the latching mechanism. Specifically, when lever 130 is rotated from a horizontal position, the latching bar 132 is retracted, such that its respective ends 134, 136 are disengaged from the complementary recesses 144, 146 in the sidewalls 114, 116 of the container 110 as described in more detail below.
Figure 6A, 6B and 6C show the latching mechanism 122 in a first, extended position, in which the latching mechanism provides locking engagement between the sidewalls 114, 116 and end walls 118, 120 of container 110. As shown in Figure 6A, a rotatable lever 130 is mounted in a central aperture in an upper portion of an end wall 118, immediately above a corresponding handle opening 128. In particular, the lever 130 has a central axle 131, about which it may be rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction, and is shaped for gripping by hand at the underside thereof. A latching bar 132 extends along the length of end wall, each side of lever 130, and is pivotally connected thereto by espagnolette rods 132'. The lever 130, rods 132' and latching bar 132 may be formed in separate parts from the same resiliently deformable plastics material as the container, and assembled together.
As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, when the latching bar 132 is in the extended position, the lever 130 is in a neutral position in which the lever 130 is level about its axle 131, and the rods 132', on either side thereof, extend substantially horizontally, i.e. parallel to the base 112 of the container 110. Each rod 132' of the espagnolette is pivotally mounted by respective hinges 133 to the lever 130 at its proximal end and to the latching bar 132 at its distal end. The latching bar 132 is mounted within the interior of the end wall, in a manner that enables it to slide laterally, as described in more detail below, without significant movement in other directions. In the extended position of the latching mechanism, as illustrated in Figure 6, the latching bar is biased by a biasing member comprising a resiliently deformable leaf spring 152 adjacent the ends 134, 136 of the latching bar 132, so that the ends 134, 136 are engaged in complementary recesses 144, 146 in the sidewalls of the container, as shown in Figure 6C. Spring 152 has a similar configuration and operation to the spring 52 of the above-described unclaimed embodiment, and so will not be further described herein.
Thus, when the lever 130 is positioned in a neutral position, as shown most clearly in Figure 6A, the leaf spring 152 holds the ends 134, 136 of latching bar 132 in engagement with the recesses 144, 146 of the end wall, (the boundary of recesses are illustrated by dashed lines), to thereby securely lock together the end wall 118 and the sidewalls 114, 116. It will be appreciated that many other arrangements for biasing the latching bar 132 are possible.
Figure 7A, 7B and 7C show the latching mechanism 122 in a second, retracted position, in which the latching mechanism is operated to release the locking engagement between the sidewalls 114, 116 and end walls 118,120 of container 110. In particular, lever 130 is rotated about axle 131, such that the rods 132' are pivoted about their hinges 133 so that they extend at an angle θ to the vertical, as shown in Figure 7A. This shortens the distance d between the lever 130 and the distal end of rod 132' as shown by dashed line in Figure 7A. Thus, the action of rotating lever 130 pulls the latching bar 132 towards the centre of the end wall 118, against the biasing action of leaf spring 152, so as to retract the ends 134, 136 thereof from the recesses 144, 146 in the side walls as shown in Figure 7C.
The latching mechanism 132 is thus disengaged, and the sidewalls and end walls are released form locking engagement. This allows the container 110 to be collapsed. In particular, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B the end 134 of the latching bar 132 slides over the interior of in the sidewall whilst the lever 130 remains rotated, so that the end wall 118 may be folded inwardly over the base 112 of the container 110, by pivoting about its lower hinge 124. During this stage, there remains a biasing force against leaf spring, as shown in Figure 8B.
The lever 130 may be released whilst the end wall is folded, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B. In particular, as shown in Figure 9A, upon release of lever 130, the lever 130 and portions 132' return to their neutral position, thus extending the latching bar 132 which is accommodated in a large indentation 158 formed in the side wall during and following collapse of the end wall 118 to overlie the base 112.
As the skilled person will appreciate, the latching mechanism of the present invention is also convenient to use. In particular, it is possible for a user to hold the container at it ends using respective handle openings, and to release the latching mechanism by simply rotating the underside of lever 130. Thus, the user can simply and easily release both ends of the container simultaneously, using only one hand for each end. Conveniently, it is unnecessary for the user to significantly change the position of his or her hands, to collapse the container, immediately after lifting or moving the container using the handles provided in the end walls.
As the skilled person will appreciate, many variations and modifications can be made to the described embodiment, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A collapsible container (110) having a pair of opposed side walls (114, 116) and a pair of opposed end walls (118) and a base (112), the container (110) including a latching mechanism (122) for providing locking engagement between the sidewalls (114, 116) and end walls (118), the latching mechanism (122) comprising:
a latching member (132); characterised in that it further comprises biasing means for biasing the latching member (132) in an extended engaged position in which the latching member (132) provides locking engagement between a side wall (114, 116) and an end wall (118) of the container (110), and

an actuator operable against the biasing means, to move the latching member (132) to a retracted disengaged position in which the latching member (132) is released so as to disengage said sidewall (114, 116) and end wall (118); wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable lever (130), which, when rotated, causes retraction of the latching member (132) and the locking engagement is provided between an end wall (118) and both sidewalls (114, 116).
A container (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is operable to release the end wall (118) from the side walls (114, 116) simultaneously.
A container (110) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latching member (132) is operable between engaged and disengaged positions by rotational movement.
A container (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to operate as an espagnolette.
A container (110) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a latching member (132) is mounted on at least one end wall (118) of the container (110).
A container (110) as claimed in claim 5, wherein an actuator is mounted above, below or adjacent an aperture in the at least one end wall (118) which defines a handle opening.
A container (110) as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the container (110) is configured so that, when extended, at least a part of the latching member (132) is received in a complementary recess in an adjacent side wall (114, 116) of the container (110).
A container (110) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latching member (132) comprises a latching bar, and the container (110) is configured so that, when extended, respective ends of the latching bar are received in complementary recesses (144, 146) in the opposed side walls (114, 116) of the container (110).
A container (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuator is located towards the centre of an end wall (118), and latching bar extends from either side thereof.
A container (110) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is located in a substantially central portion of an end wall (118).
A container (110) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means (150) comprises at least one leaf spring (152), which is compressed against its biasing action by operation of the actuator.
A container (110) as claimed in claim 11, wherein operation of the actuator compresses the leaf spring against a surface of the end wall (118).
A latching mechanism (122) for a container (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.