GB2323588A - Collapsible structure with interlocking faces and securing means - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible structure 1 such as a packing case, cabinet or coffin, comprises a plurality of faces 2, 3, 4, each having peripheral interlocking tongues and grooves, and securing means such as wrapping bands 6 to strengthen the structure. The securing means may consist of one or more bands or lengths of tape made of metal, plastic or nylon, a plastic bag or heat-shrinkable film, or brackets secured to adjacent faces for instance by nails, staples, screws or adhesive. The faces may be made from wood, plastics, fibre board or the like. Opposite faces of the structure may have apertures which receive the tongues of an internal supporting member which may be U-shaped (see fig 5).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSIBLE STRUCTURES Field of the Invention This invention relates to collapsible structures, and in particular to box-like structures.

Background to the Invention Packing cases are usually constructed specifically to enclose the product which is to be transported in them. They are commonly made from a plurality of planks of wood joined together by cross-members and corner posts. The making of packing cases is a relatively skilled and time consuming job. Furthermore, the transportation of packing cases when empty is particularly inefficient, since the assembled cases occupy a considerable volume but are light in weight.

Packing cases which have been made up occupy a considerable amount of space when assembled. In a factory, space is valuable resource and to have space filled with empty boxes represents waste.

It is known to manufacture collapsible boxes which are often used as packing cases. One known collapsible box has walls which are joined together by hinges. Another known collapsible box uses specially formed brackets to connect the walls together. These collapsible boxes are heavy and therefore difficult to move about and also the latter of the two types of box described has separate parts which can easily be lost and render assembly and disassembly of the box time-consuming.

Other attempts at manufacturing collapsible boxes have relied on the use of rebate joints. However, rebate joints require the walls of the box to be thicker, and therefore heavier, than is required simply to provide for the rebates. This is disadvantageous particularly where packing cases are concerned, because it means that unnecessary excess weight is being carried.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a crate which overcomes these disadvantages.

Many items of furniture, such as cabinets and wardrobes, are sold in "flat-pack" form. Usually these types of furniture can be assembled and disassembled. Often components of the item of furniture are joined by brackets, rather than joints, causing the resulting assembled structure to lack strength and rigidity. Furthermore, each time these structures are disassembled and subsequently re-assembled, the strength and rigidity of the structure tends to decrease.

In cases of natural disaster, accident or war, there is often a need to move dead bodies. Such events often occur in regions which are inaccessible, and therefore ease of transport of the containers in which dead bodies are to be moved is a serious logistical issue. It would be desirable to produce a coffin which is easy to transport to the scene of the event, and which would be easy to assemble.

It would be advantageous to be able to provide a collapsible structure which is cheaper to produce, quicker and easier to assemble, and lighter in weight than known collapsible structures.

Summary of the Invention The invention provides a collapsible structure comprising a plurality of faces, the periphery of each face being provided with a plurality of cut away portions and between the cut away portions tongues, wherein when the collapsible structure is assembled the cut away portions of one face interlock with the tongues of adjacent faces, and wherein at least one securing means is provided to prevent the assembled structure from collapsing.

Advantageously, the securing means is wrapped around the assembled structure.

The securing means may be in the form of a metal, plastics, or nylon band, and preferably a plurality of such bands are wrapped around the structure. More preferably at least one band is wrapped around each axis of the structure. Alternatively, the structure may be wrapped in a plastics bag which is then heat-shrunk around the structure, or in a continuous length of film, which may be plastics film.

In one embodiment of the invention the or each securing means is attached to adjacent interlocking faces of the structure. The securing means may be a bracket, or a length of metal, nylon or heavy duty plastics tape secured to adjacent interlocking faces. Securing may be by stapling, nails, screws, adhesion etc.

The faces may be made from wood, plastics, composite materials, or any other suitably light weight material. Advantageously, the faces are made of plywood, or alternatively fibre board may be used.

A sealant may be introduced between the interlocking tongues and cut away portions, and the sealant may be a glue.

In one embodiment of the invention at least two opposing faces are provided with apertures with which tongues of an internal member may interlock. The internal member may be so shaped as to accommodate the shape of an item placed within the assembled structure, and the internal member may be substantially "U" shaped. The internal member may comprise a number of sections, and a part of one or more of the sections may be adapted to the shape of the article to be carried in the structure.

To make a larger structure, it may be necessary to use a plurality of sections to form each face. Sections may be attached one to another to form a flat face in the same way faces are attached one to another. However, it would be necessary to provide means to prevent joined sections from being separated. Such means may be provided by locking members having cut away portions and tongues along at least one edge of the said locking member, the tongues interlocking with apertures in the sections.

In one embodiment of the invention a face comprises a plurality of interlocking sections, each section having tongues and cut away portions, each section further comprising at least one aperture, and a connecting member provided with tongues and cut away portions adapted to interlock with the apertures of at least two sections forming the face.

The connecting member may be an internal member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the structure is a packing case, whilst in another embodiment of the invention the structure forms an item of furniture.

In another embodiment of the invention, the structure forms a coffin.

Since the parts of structures according to the invention occupy very little space when assembled, packing cases according to the invention in particular could be carried in a vehicle ready for immediate use. This would be economical and enable quicker response to customers' demands for packing cases than current methods permit.

The structure of the invention is particularly advantageous because it is completely collapsible, yet does not require heavy or additional components in order to provide for collapsibility. The structure does not require skilled labour or specialist tooling to assemble. Due to the relatively small amount of space occupied by structures according to the invention, when collapsed factory space can be used much more efficiently than is presently possible. Furthermore, the structures can be transported efficiently since the weight to volume ratio of the collapsed structure is substantially that of its component parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is an isometric projection of a packing case according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded isometric projection of some components of the packing case shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of a face forming the end of the packing case shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of a face which may be used as a base or top face of the packing case shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is an end view of an internal member for use in a packing case according to the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of a top face for use in conjunction with the internal member shown in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a schematic representation of components of another structure according to the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a packing case according to the invention. Side faces 2 are connected to end faces 3 and top and bottom faces 4.

As can be best seen from Figures 2 to 4, the end faces 3 are provided with cut away portions 11 which result in tongues 10 being formed. Top and bottom faces 4 are similarly provided with cut away portions 9 resulting in tongues 8. Side faces 2 are likewise provided with cut away portions 13 resulting in tongues 12.

Figures 1 and 2 best show how the tongues and cut away portions of one face are arranged to interlock with the tongues and cut away portions of adjacent faces.

The cut away portions and tongues are advantageously so dimensioned as to provide a close fit so that when assembled the packing case is substantially rigid.

Assembling the case 1 is a simple task which requires the joining together of the side, end, top and base faces. The case 1 may be assembled but for one face before the item to be carried is put in place in the case, or the base face 4 may be placed on a surface, the item to be carried placed on the base face 4 and then the rest of the case may be built around the item to be carried.

Once the side, end, top and bottom faces 2, 3, and 4 respectively have been assembled, straps 5, 6, and 7 are wrapped around the case 1.

The purpose of the straps is to prevent any of the faces of the case 1 from falling outwards (the interlocking tongues and cut away portions prevent the case from collapsing inwards). Such straps are well known in the art and can be made from different materials, the material being chosen to suit the particular need. For example the straps 5, 6, and 7 may be made from nylon, plastics material or steel.

The contents of the packing case 1 may be removed by first removing straps 5, 6, and 7, and then disassembling the whole case, or by removing one or more of straps 5, 6, and 7 and then removing the item contained in the case.

Figure 5 shows an internal member 14 comprising legs 17 and connecting member 18. Internal member 14 is placed half way along the length of the packing case 1. Legs 17 and curved connecting member 18 provide a space in which the contents of the packing case, e.g. an engine may be located. The dimensions of legs 17 and connecting member 18 may be chosen according to the item to be carried and may serve to support the said item. Where it is desired to create two discrete compartments in a case 1, this can be achieved by providing top and bottom faces 22 and side faces 2 having apertures and an internal member of the same shape and configuration as end faces 3.

Figure 6 shows a top face 22 which is provided with cut away portions 19. Tongues 16 of internal member 14 interlock with the cut away portions 19 provided in top face 22. The side faces of a packing case fitted with an internal member as shown in Figure 5 would also be provided with cut away portions to interlock with the tongues 16 of legs 17.

The primary function of internal member 14 is to strengthen the packing case to which it is fitted.

Figure 7 shows a section 33 and an integral member 30. When a packing case similar to that shown in Figure 1 is constructed integral member serves to strengthen the case. However, where it is desirable to increase the size of a side face beyond the size of one section 33, two sections 33 can be joined together along their edges provided that tongues 34 and cut away portions 35 are suitably configured. In order to provide rigidity to the join sections 33 an integral member 30 is fitted to the two sections 33. To achieve this, the lower two tongues 32 interlock with the upper two apertures 36, whilst the upper tongue 32 of integral member 30 interlocks with the lower aperture 36 of the adjoining section 33.

In one embodiment of the invention, the internal member extends across the width of the packing case to form a false or raised floor. In the side or end faces, at spaced apart locations and beneath the internal member, apertures are provided. The apertures are so shaped and located as to permit the forks of a forklift truck or a pallet lifter to pass therethrough, thus enabling the case to be easily moved from one location to another.

The structure of the invention need not necessarily be used as a packing case. Furniture, e.g. cabinets, shelving units, may be made according to the invention. In such embodiments of the invention at least one face would be omitted, and the edge of the other faces which would usually interlock with the omitted face would not be provided with cut away portions. Internal members could be used to provide shelves or partitions.

Claims (23)

Claims

1. A collapsible structure comprising a plurality of faces, the periphery of each face being provided with a plurality of cut away portions and between the cut away portions tongues, wherein when the collapsible structure is assembled the cut away portions of one face interlock with the tongues of adjacent faces, and wherein at least one securing means is provided to prevent the assembled structure from collapsing.

2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein the securing means is wrapped around the assembled structure.

3. A structure according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the securing means is in the form of a metal, plastics, or nylon band.

4. A structure according to Claim 3, wherein a plurality of bands is wrapped around the structure.

5. A structure according to Claim 3, wherein at least one band is wrapped around each axis of the structure.

6. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein the structure is wrapped in a plastics bag, or in a continuous length of film which is then heat-shrunk around the structure.

7. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein the or each securing means is attached to adjacent interlocking faces of the structure.

8. A structure according to Claim 7, wherein the securing means is a bracket, or a length of metal, nylon or heavy duty plastics tape secured to adjacent interlocking faces.

9. A structure according to Claim 7, wherein the securing means is fastened to adjacent interlocking faces by staples, nails, screws, or adhesive.

10.A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the faces are made from wood, plastics, or composite materials.

11.A structure according to Claim 10, wherein the faces are made of plywood, or fibre board.

12. A structure according to any preceding claim, further comprising a sealant introduced between the interlocking tongues and cut away portions.

13. A structure according to Claim 12, wherein the sealant is glue.

14. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein at least two opposing faces are provided with apertures with which tongues of an internal member may interlock.

15. A structure according to Claim 14, wherein the internal member is so shaped as to accommodate the shape of an item placed within the assembled structure.

16. A structure according to Claim 15, wherein the internal member is substantially "U" shaped.

17. A structure according to any of Claims 14 to 16, wherein the internal member comprises a number of sections.

18. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein a face comprises a plurality of interlocking sections, each section having tongues and cut away portions, each section further comprising at least one aperture, and a connecting member provided with tongues and cut away portions adapted to interlock with the apertures of at least two sections forming the face.

19.A structure according to Claim 18, wherein the connecting member is an internal member.

20.A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the structure is a packing case.

21.A structure according to any of Claims 1 to 19, wherein structure is an item of furniture.

22. A structure according to any of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the structure is a coffin.

23.A structure substantially as shown in, or as described with reference to, the drawings.