GB2094271A

GB2094271A - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: GB2094271A
Application number: GB8133256A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-11-19
Filing date: 1981-11-04
Publication date: 1982-09-15
Also published as: DE3143977A1; GB2094271B; FR2494223A1; IT8125192A0; DE8132397U1; JPS6318583Y2; JPS5786932U; IT1139810B

Abstract

A collapsible box-like container consists of four sides (1, 1', 2, 2') connected to one another in a hinge-like manner, and a base (5) having grooves (7, 7') which fit over ribs (6, 6') projecting upwardly from lips (4, 4') which in turn project inwardly from the four sides (1 1', 2, 2'). The base (5) is held in place by latches (12) and corresponding slots (8) and by latches (11) and corresponding slots (9), and is secured to side (2) by rings (16, 16'). The container can be folded when the base (5) is disposed in an upright position the base (5) being provided with depressions (13, 13') for receiving the hinges (3) when the container is folded. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collapsible container This invention relates to a collapsible container such as a collapsible container for fruit, the container being made of cardboard such as corrugated cardboard.

A conventional collapsible container consists of four sides whose vertical edges are joined in a hinge-like manner, and a base disposed in the plane formed by the bottom edges of the four sides when such a container is not in use, The base is detached and removed as one separate unit and the hinged sides are folded as another separate unit.

Thus, it is impossible to handle the two units of the container as a compact inseparable unit when the container is not in use, i.e. when it is folded.

According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible container including riband-groove joining means between the bottom edges of the sides of the container and the four edges of the base of the container, and at least one latch-and-slot securing means for securing the base of the container in place.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made, by way of exam ple, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rectangular container of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 1, with the base thereof disposed in an upright position; and Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the container shown in Fig. 1, when folded.

Referring to Fig. 1, side 1 and opposite side 1' are joined to adjoining sides 2 and 2' by means of hinged joints 3 and 3', and base 5 is placed. on a rectangular ledge formed by four lips, two of which, namely lips 4 and 4', are marked, projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the sides 1, 1 R, 2 and 2'. When the container is in use, the weight of the contents of the container is borne by the ledge.

To the basic design of a conventional container as described above, the following improvements are made in accordance with the invention. Referring to the drawings, ribs 6 and 6' project upwardly from the lips 4 and 4'. Two more ribs project upwardly from the other two lips, and thus a complete rectangular rib is formed on the rectangular ledge formed by the lips. A rectangular groove corresponding to the rectangular rib and consisting of four grooves, two of which, namely grooves 7 and 7', are shown, is formed on the bottom face of the base 5. The grooves 7 and 7' fit onto the ribs 6 and 6'. The configuration of the grooves determines the configuration of the ribs, and vice versa. Thus, a riband-groove joint joins the bottom edges of the sides to the edges of the base in a structurally stable manner.

In a conventional folding container, the base is simply placed on a ledge formed by four lips projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the sides. In this construction, the sidewise pressure caused by the weight of the contents of the container tends to push the sides outwardly, thus causing the base to fall downward.

Along one edge of the top of the base 5, two latches 1 2 in the shape of inverted L are provided. Two more latches 11 are provided along the opposite top edge of the base 5.

Along the bottom edges of the two sides 2 and 2', four slots 8 and 9 are provided to receive the latches 1 2 and 11. The shapes of the latches 11 and 1 2 and of the slots 8 and 9 are so determined that each resulting latchand-slot combination secures the base 5 in place. The inverted L shaped latches are also used as handles when the base 5 is lifted.

Two slots 10 along the top edge of the side 2 receive the latches 1 2 when the base 5 is swung up. Slots 1 4 facilitate handling of the container.

In the top surface of the base 5, a depression or channel 1 3 is formed. A depression or channel 13' is provided in the bottom surface of the base 5. When the base is folded up and the sides are collapsed inward, the depression or charnel 1 3 receives the protruding parts of one hinged joint. Likewise, the depression or channel 13' receives the protruding parts of another hinged joint. The folded or collapsed container having the base between the folded or collapsed sides is shown in Fig. 4, which is a plan view from above of the folded or collapsed container. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the base 5 is disposed between the sides 1" and 2 on the one hand and the sides 2' and 1 on the other hand.The protruding parts of the hinged joint 3' are received by the depression or channel 13, and the projecting parts of the hinged joint 3 are received by the depression or channel 1 3'. Also seen in Fig. 4 are the grooves 7 and 7' which fit into the ribs formed on the bottom edges of the sides 1 and 1'.

Referring to Fig. 1, one edge of the base 5 is secured to the bottom edge of the side 2 by two rings 16 and 16' passing through holes 1 5 and 15'. Thus, the base is kept from slipping out from between the folded sides when the box is folded.

It can thus be seen that the container shown in the drawings, when not in use, can be folded and, when folded, can be handled as a compact one-piece unit.

1. A collapsible container including riband-groove joining means between the bottom

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Collapsible container This invention relates to a collapsible container such as a collapsible container for fruit, the container being made of cardboard such as corrugated cardboard. A conventional collapsible container consists of four sides whose vertical edges are joined in a hinge-like manner, and a base disposed in the plane formed by the bottom edges of the four sides when such a container is not in use, The base is detached and removed as one separate unit and the hinged sides are folded as another separate unit. Thus, it is impossible to handle the two units of the container as a compact inseparable unit when the container is not in use, i.e. when it is folded. According to the present invention, there is provided a collapsible container including riband-groove joining means between the bottom edges of the sides of the container and the four edges of the base of the container, and at least one latch-and-slot securing means for securing the base of the container in place. For a better understanding of the invention, reference will now be made, by way of exam ple, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a rectangular container of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 1, with the base thereof disposed in an upright position; and Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the container shown in Fig. 1, when folded. Referring to Fig. 1, side 1 and opposite side 1' are joined to adjoining sides 2 and 2' by means of hinged joints 3 and 3', and base 5 is placed. on a rectangular ledge formed by four lips, two of which, namely lips 4 and 4', are marked, projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the sides 1, 1 R, 2 and 2'. When the container is in use, the weight of the contents of the container is borne by the ledge. To the basic design of a conventional container as described above, the following improvements are made in accordance with the invention. Referring to the drawings, ribs 6 and 6' project upwardly from the lips 4 and 4'. Two more ribs project upwardly from the other two lips, and thus a complete rectangular rib is formed on the rectangular ledge formed by the lips. A rectangular groove corresponding to the rectangular rib and consisting of four grooves, two of which, namely grooves 7 and 7', are shown, is formed on the bottom face of the base 5. The grooves 7 and 7' fit onto the ribs 6 and 6'. The configuration of the grooves determines the configuration of the ribs, and vice versa. Thus, a riband-groove joint joins the bottom edges of the sides to the edges of the base in a structurally stable manner. In a conventional folding container, the base is simply placed on a ledge formed by four lips projecting inwardly from the bottom edges of the sides. In this construction, the sidewise pressure caused by the weight of the contents of the container tends to push the sides outwardly, thus causing the base to fall downward. Along one edge of the top of the base 5, two latches 1 2 in the shape of inverted L are provided. Two more latches 11 are provided along the opposite top edge of the base 5. Along the bottom edges of the two sides 2 and 2', four slots 8 and 9 are provided to receive the latches 1 2 and 11. The shapes of the latches 11 and 1 2 and of the slots 8 and 9 are so determined that each resulting latchand-slot combination secures the base 5 in place. The inverted L shaped latches are also used as handles when the base 5 is lifted. Two slots 10 along the top edge of the side 2 receive the latches 1 2 when the base 5 is swung up. Slots 1 4 facilitate handling of the container. In the top surface of the base 5, a depression or channel 1 3 is formed. A depression or channel 13' is provided in the bottom surface of the base 5. When the base is folded up and the sides are collapsed inward, the depression or charnel 1 3 receives the protruding parts of one hinged joint. Likewise, the depression or channel 13' receives the protruding parts of another hinged joint. The folded or collapsed container having the base between the folded or collapsed sides is shown in Fig. 4, which is a plan view from above of the folded or collapsed container. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the base 5 is disposed between the sides 1" and 2 on the one hand and the sides 2' and 1 on the other hand.The protruding parts of the hinged joint 3' are received by the depression or channel 13, and the projecting parts of the hinged joint 3 are received by the depression or channel 1 3'. Also seen in Fig. 4 are the grooves 7 and 7' which fit into the ribs formed on the bottom edges of the sides 1 and 1'. Referring to Fig. 1, one edge of the base 5 is secured to the bottom edge of the side 2 by two rings 16 and 16' passing through holes 1 5 and 15'. Thus, the base is kept from slipping out from between the folded sides when the box is folded. It can thus be seen that the container shown in the drawings, when not in use, can be folded and, when folded, can be handled as a compact one-piece unit. CLAIMS

1. A collapsible container including riband-groove joining means between the bottom edges of the sides of the container and the four edges of the base of the container, and at least one latch-and-slot securing means for securing the base of the container in place.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, including a depression in the upper surface of the base and a depression in the lower surface of the base, these depressions each being intended to receive protruding portions of a hinge between adjacent sides of the container when the container is folded.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including at least one slot for receiving the latch of the latch-and-slot securing means when the container is folded.

4. A container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, including one or more rings securing one edge of the base of the container to one side of the container.

5. A collapsible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.