GB2140779A

GB2140779A - Collapsible containers

Info

Publication number: GB2140779A
Application number: GB08315096A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Pask
Original assignee: HORTICULTURAL CONTAINERS LIMIT
Current assignee: HORTICULTURAL CONTAINERS LIMIT
Priority date: 1983-06-01
Filing date: 1983-06-01
Publication date: 1984-12-05
Also published as: GB2140779B; GB8315096D0

Abstract

A collapsible container 1 comprises a base 2, an integral first pair of opposite side walls 3 and 4 and a second pair of opposite side walls 5 and 6. The walls 3 and 4 are connected with the base 2 by respective hinge lines 7 and 8 and a median crease line 9 extends from the free edge of one wall 3 through the base 2 to the free edge of the opposite wall 4, intersecting the hinge lines 7, 8 at apertures 13. Further crease lines 10 and 11 extend from the respective hinge lines 7 and 8 into the walls 3 and 4 to intersect the crease lines 9 at apertures 12 so that each end wall 3 and 4 has a triangular area 3a, 4a defined by the hinge line 7 or 8 and the further crease lines 10 and 11. The container 1 may be collapsed by folding the walls 3, 4 and base 2 inwardly about the crease lines to lie between the remaining walls 5, 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collapsible containers The invention relates to collapsible containers.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible container comprising a base and first and second pairs of opposite side walls, the walls of one pair being substantially parallel and substantially at right angles to the walls of the other pair, the base and one pair of opposite side walls having respective creases, the arrangement being such that the base and the walls of the one pair of opposite side walls can be collapsed towards the interior of the container between the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls which walls are drawn together so that they are substantially parallel and adjacent in the collapsed condition of the container.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible container comprising a base, a first pair of opposite side walls and a second pair of opposite side walls, the first pair of opposite side walls being substantially at right angles to the second pair of opposite side walls and being hinged to the base by respective hinge lines, a crease line extending from the free edge of one wall of the first pair of opposite side walls through the base and through the second wall of the first pair of opposite side walls to the free edge thereof, the crease line lying in a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the second pair of opposite side walls, and further crease lines extending obliquely from the respective hinge lines into the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls and intersecting (or a continuation thereof intersecting) the crease line whereby to form a triangular configuration with the respective hinge lines in the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls, the arrangement being such that the container can be collapsed to iie substantially flat with the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls substantially parallel and adjacent by collapsing the base and the walls of the first pair of opposite side walls into the interior of the container about the respective hinge and crease lines.

The base and the first pair of opposite side walls may be integral and may comprise a rectangular blank, for example of plastics, profile plastics sheet or board such as carton board.

Containers embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first container according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the container of Fig. 1 is made; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the container of Fig. 1 when collapsed, to a smaller scale than Fig. 1; Figure 4 is an end view of the container of Fig. 1 when collapsed, again to a smaller scale than Fig. 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of an upper edge of the container of Fig. 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of container according to the invention; and Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the container of Fig. 6 is made.

In the drawings, like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings there is shown a collapsible container 1 comprising a base 2 and an integral first pair of opposite side walls 3 and 4 and a second pair of opposite side walls 5 and 6 the walls of the respective pairs of side walls 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 being mutually substantially parallel with the walls of one pair being substantially at right angles to the walls of the other pair. The walls 3 and 4 are connected with the base 2 by respective hinge lines 7 and 8 and there is a crease line 9 which is a median line of the blank and extends from the free edge of one wall 3 through the base 2 to the free edge of the other wall 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls.There are also further crease lines 10 and 11 which extend from the respective hinge lines 7 and 8 into the respective walls 3 and 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls, to intersect with the crease line 9 so that each end wall 3 and 4 has a triangular area 3a, 4a defined by the hinge line 7 or 8 and the further crease lines 10 and 11. In the embodiment shown, the further crease lines 10 and 11 and the crease line 9 intersect at a through aperture 1 2 and the crease line 9 and hinge lines 7 and 8 intersect at a further aperture 1 3 which extends into the base 2.

The blank also has hinged edge 14 and end flaps 1 5 which in the assembled container 1 are folded round to provide anchorages for the walls 5 and 6 of the second pair of opposite side walls, which in the embodiment shown each comprises a separate wooden lattice secured as by stitching to the flaps 14, 1 5. The upper or free edge of each wall 3 and 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls also has a batten 16, in this case of wood, secured as by stitching, the stitching being over only half the length of the batten as shown (Fig. 5) so that the free end 1 7 of the batten 1 6 can be sprung behind the edge of the adjacent wall 5 or 6 of the second pair of opposite side walls, so providing rigidity in the erected container 1.In the embodiment shown, the stitched ends of the respective battens 1 6 are aligned diagonally.

To collapse the container 1 from the erected condition shown in Fig. 1 to the collapsed condition of Figs. 3 and 4, the free ends 1 7 of the battens 1 6 are released from their adjacent walls 5 and 6, and the base 2 and walls 3 and 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls are folded inwardly towards the interior of the container 1 between the walls 5 and 6 of the second pair of opposite side walls. As the base 2 collapses (upwardly as viewed in Figs. 1 and as seen in Figs. 3 and 4) the walls 3 and 4 fold inwardly and the triangular areas 3a and 4a also fold to configure to and accommodate the adjacent area of the base 2 which they overlie.This inward collapsing draws the walls 5 and 6 of the second pair of opposite side walls together so that they are substantially parallel and adjacent, being separated by only the thickness of the folded base 2 and walls 3 and 4. The collapsed area of the container is no more than the area of an individual side wall 5 or 6 (Fig. 3). During collapsing, the battens 1 6 move with their respective side walls 3 or 4 to lie, in the fully collapsed position of the container 1, alongside and inwardly of the side wall 5 or 6 adjacent the end which is stitched.

To erect the container 1 again, it is merely necessary to push the base 2 and walls 3 and 4 out, to the Fig. 1 position, and to re-engage the free ends 1 7 of the battens 16 behind the walls 5 and 6 to rigidify the container 1.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the embodiment of container 100 shown therein is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 5, and has hinges 7 and 8 and creases 9, 10 and 11 similar to that of these figures so that the container 1 is collapsed in a similar way, so the description thereof will not be repeated. The second embodiment 100 differs from the first.1 in that the blank (Fig. 7) has flaps 101 on the free edges of the walls 3 and 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls, separated by slots 102 from flaps 14, and which have crease lines 103. The free edges or tops of the walls 3 or 4 of the first pair of opposite side walls can be folded inwardly to provide a flange 105 (Figs.

6) or outwardly to provide a double thickness of material at the respective upper edges which are thereby strengthened. The crease lines 103 allow for collapsing of the container. The flanges 105 of Fig. 6 provide a bearing, for stacking.

In the container 100, the aperture 1 3 is omitted.

In both embodiments, the blank may be made of plastics, corrugated or profiled board such as extended plastics board or sheet, or carton board which may or may not be treated with a water resistant or water repellant material. Also, the wooden lattice side walls 5 and 6 may be made of any other suitable material, and may be integral with the blank rather than separate as shown, in which case they could be hinged by respective hinge lines to side edges thereof at right angles to the hinge lines.

The containeres shown may be used for horticultural produce, and may be readily collapsed for storage or transport.

Claims

1. A collapsible container comprising a base and first and second pairs of opposite side walls, the walls of one pair being substantially parallel and substantially at right angles to the walls of the other pair, the base and one pair of opposite side walls having respective creases, the arrangement being such that the base and the walls of the one pair of opposite side walls can be collapsed towards the interior of the container between the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls which walls are drawn together so that they are substantially parallel and adjacent in the collapsed condition of the container.

2. A collapsible container comprising a base, a first pair of opposite side walls and a second pair of opposite side walls, the first pair of opposite side walls being substantially at right angles to the second pair of opposite side walls and being hinged to the base by respective hinge lines, a crease line extending from the free edge of one wall of the first pair of opposite side walls through the base and through the second wall of the first pair of opposite side walls to the free edge thereof, the crease line lying in a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the second pair of opposite side walls, and further crease lines extending obliquely from the respective hinge lines into the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls and intersecting (or a continuation thereof intersecting) the crease line whereby to form a triangular configuration with the respective hinge lines in the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls, the arrangement being such that the container can be collapsed to lie substantially flat with the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls substantially parallel and adjacent by collapsing the base and the walls of the first pair of opposite walls into the interior of the container about the respective hinge and crease lines.

3. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the base and the first pair of opposite side walls being integral and comprising a rectangular blank.

4. A collapsible container according to Claim 3, the crease line being a median crease line and there being a through aperture at the point of intersection of the median crease line and the further crease lines.

5. A collapsible container according to Claim 4, the free edges of each wall of the first pair of opposite side walls having hinged edge and end flaps which provide anchorages for the walls of the second pair of opposite side walls.

6. A collapsible container according to Claim 5, the walls of the second pair of side walls each comprising a wooden lattice.

7. A collapsible container according to Claim 6, the wooden lattices each being secured by stitching to the flaps.

8. A collapsible container according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, the free edge of each wall of the first pair of opposite side walls being reinforced by a batten secured over substantially half the length thereof to the respective wall.

9. A collapsible container according to any of Claims 6 to 8, the flaps on the walls of the first pair of opposite side walls being separated from those walls by respective slots and having crease lines.

10. A collapsible container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A blank for a collapsible container according to any preceding claims, comprising a base and a first pair of opposite side walls hinged to the base by respective hinge lines, a crease line extending from the free edge of one wall of the first pair of opposite side walls through the base and through the second wall of the first pair of opposite side walls to the free edge thereof, the crease lines lying in a plane spaced from and substantially parallel to the lateral edges of the blank, and further crease lines extending obliquely from the respective hinge lines into the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls and intersecting (or a continuation thereof intersecting) the crease line whereby to form a triangular configuration with the respective hinge lines in the respective walls of the first pair of opposite side walls.