GB2333284A

GB2333284A - A container wall

Info

Publication number: GB2333284A
Application number: GB9800837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Allan Norman Reardon
Original assignee: CTR PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: CTR PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-01-15
Filing date: 1998-01-15
Publication date: 1999-07-21
Also published as: GB9800837D0

Abstract

A collapsible wall structure for a collapsible container comprises a plurality of panel elements (30) and a plurality of panel linking elements (20) selectively connectible and disconnectible with the panel elements for making up a desired container wall configuration. The linking elements (20) include a hinge arrangement (50) which enables the relative angular disposition of adjacent panel elements (30) coupled thereby to be selected and also enables the panel elements to be folded flat against each other.

Description

DESCRIPTION A CONTAINER WALL The present inventions relates to a collapsible wall structure for use in forming the wall of a collapsible container, and in particular to the design and configuration of the components from which container walls can be formed.

Storage containers are used widely, both industrially and domestically. In many situations, it is desirable for such containers to be both stackable and collapsible when not in use.

One known type of storage container, presently sold under the trade mark "MPS" by Paul Corbett Company Ltd, comprises four rectangularly disposed side walls integrally linked by flexible plastics hinges, each side wall being symmetrically tabbed at top and bottom. The bottom tabs locate in respective apertures formed in the upper surface of support legs of a moulded plastics pallet. The container (side wall and pallet) may be stacked, in which case the top set of tabs may support a pallet whilst forming a retaining collar around its legs. Two opposed side walls of the container are provided with vertical, medially located flexible hinges such that, when the lower tabs are removed from the apertures provided in the pallet, the walls may be collapsed in a concertina fashion for storage.

Another container, presently sold in the UK under the Registered Trade Mark 'Walther Falt Box, comprises a rectangular, substantially planar base and a rectangular frame disposed directly above.

Longitudinal side walls are hinged to the frame and base and are also hinged along their horizontal medial position. The lateral side walls are hinged to the frame. To collapse the container, the lateral side walls are rotated about their hinges to form a top surface of the collapsed configuration, whilst the container's lateral side walls collapse inwardly about the medial hinges. The container may optionally be provided with a detachable lid and may be stacked by simply placing one container atop another.

However, although these storage containers are collapsible when not in use, their integral wall design means that it is not possible to enlarge or reduce the container size or change its configuration to meet requirements; instead it is necessary to use a new container. This is both inefficient and costly.

There is therefore a need for a container wall design comprised of components which are of simple construction and which may be combined to produce container walls of varying shapes, sizes and configurations.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a collapsible wall structure for use in forming the wall of a collapsible container, comprising a plurality of panel elements and a plurality of panel linking elements selectively connectible with the panel elements for making up a desired container wall configuration, the linking elements including a hinge means which enables the relative angular disposition of adjacent panel elements coupled thereby to be selected.

Preferably, the panel elements and panel linking elements are adapted to be selectively interconnectable by means of interengageable male and female projections and sockets.

For example, the linking elements can carry one or more projections on each side respectively cf said hinge means for engagement with corresponding shaped recesses in said panel elements. Alternatively, the projections could be carried by the panel elements for engaging in corresponding shaped recesses in the panel linking elements.

By virtue of the hinge means in the panel linking elements, the latter elements can, for example, couple adjacent panel elements at right angles whereby to form the corners of a rectangular container wall structure or can connect two adjacent panel elements side to side in a planar configuration to build up the straight sides of a rectangular container wall structure.

Preferably, the hinge means in the panel linking elements is formed integrally therewith and interconnects two side arm portions carrying the means of engagement with the panel elements.

In a most preferred arrangement, the hinge means comprises an elongate rectangular spine portion which is coupled along its two longitudinal edges to said two side arms by respective hinge portions.

As a result of the latter arrangement, the width of the spine portion enables the arm portions, and any panel elements connected thereto, to be folded flat against each other, even if they carry minor protuberances as described hereinafter.

Advantageously, the arm portions of the panel linking elements carry respective, laterally displaced depending leg portions. Such leg portions can be disposed and dimensioned such as to enable (a) the assembled container wall to be supported off the ground to enable a fork lift to be inserted therebeneath, (b) the assembled container wall to be mounted on a conventional pallet whereby the pallet forms the floor of the container and is itself engageable by a fork lift, and (c) the assembled container wall to be stacked on top of a similar container wall for forming a container wall of greater height.

The wall panel elements preferably include lateral flanges protruding from one edge region which, when the panel elements and panel linking elements are interconnected to form a container wall, extend inwardly of the assembled wall for providing a ledge on which a separate base panel structure can be supported.

The provision of said spine portion in the hinge means of the panel linking enables these lateral edges to be accommodated when a container wall structure is collapsed by folding about its corner hinges.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the side and above of one embodiment of a container wall according to the present invention fitted to a pallet to form a container; FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front and side of a hinged linking section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, with the two arms of the hinge in planar relationship; FIG. 3 is a perspective view from behind and to the side of the hinged linking section shown in Fig.

2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the front of the linking section as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which the arms of the hinge are in orthogonal relationship; FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front and side of a wall panel of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view from behind and to the side of the wall panel shown in Fig. 5.

Referring principally to Figure 1, a container wall 10, of square cross section when viewed in plan, comprises eight identical linking sections 20 (see also Figs. 2 to 4) linking eight identical wall panels 30 (see Figs. 5 and 6).

Referring to Figs. 2 to 4, each linking section 20 comprises two upright, substantially rectangular arms 40, each symmetrically hinged along an upright side about a central rectangular spine 50.

The arms 40 are ribbed on one face to provide rigidity. Each arm 40 is provided with an integral depending leg 60 and two tongues 70 protruding from the non-hinged opposed sides of the arms 40. Each tongue 70 is provided with a co-directional, horizontal flange 80 on its upper and lower edges and a resiliently sprung flange 90 protruding from its vertical planar surface.

Referring to Figs 5 and 6, each panel 30 is substantially rectangular and planar in basic structure, although ribs are provided on one face for structural rigidity. Each opposed upright edge of each panel 30 is provided with three vertically disposed upright rectangular sockets 100. An aperture 110 is provided in a common wall of the top and bottom sockets. Protruding from the upper edge of each panel is a vertical, ribbed flange 120 and on the lower edge is provided a channel 130. A further horizontal flange 140 is provided running along the bottom edge of the side which is to form the interior of a perimeter wall (see Fig. 6) when assembled.

A linking section 20 is attached to a panel 30 by inserting the flanged tongues 70, provided on an edge of arm 40, into the top and bottom sockets 100 on the edge of a wall panel 30. The dimensions of each flanged tongue 70 and socket 100 is such that the upper and lower flanges 80 and the vertical surface of the tongue fit snugly in a socket 100. As the tongue 70 is inserted into a socket 100, the resilient flange 90 is compressed until it reaches the aperture 110, provided in the side of the socket 100, at which point it springs into the aperture 110, locking the linking section 20 in place. The linking section can be released manually by pressing the flange 90 out of the aperture 110.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the base of a container is provided by a pallet 150 and a plurality of wall panels 30 and linking sections 20 (eight of each in this example) are dimensioned and interconnected so that, in the configuration shown, the bottom edge of the assembled container wall thus formed lies adjacent the edge of the upper surface of the pallet 150.

The dependant legs 60, two on each linking section 20, are shaped to extend over and abutt the sides 160 of the pallet, so securing the container wall 10 thereon.

Alternatively, instead of using a pallet, a base may be provided by a panel or a plurality of cooperating panels (not shown), which is, or are, settable on the inwardly facing flanges 140 provided on the wall panels 30. However, additional support for the base may then be required. If the base is constructed of more than one panel, these may be linked by any suitable attachment means know to the skilled person, for example, each may be provided with a tongue and groove to couple with an adjacent panel.

In this embodiment, the elongate rectangular spine 50 is hinged to the adjacent arms 40 along both of its longitudinal edges at 51a,51b so that the arms 40 and any panels 30 connected thereto can be folded flat against one another despite the inward facing flanges 140 provided on the wall panels 30.

The container wall may comprise a plurality of layers (not shown) of which one is illustrated in Fig. 1. It is preferred that each layer is identical.

Each layer is positioned in edge on relationship. In this way the flange 120, protruding from the upper edge of each panel 30 in a lower layer, will locate in a channel 130 provided in the bottom of the vertically adjacent panel 30 in the upper layer, preventing slippage of the upper layer relative to the lower.

Further stability will be provided by the legs 60, depending from the linking sections 20 of the upper layer, which are configured to abutt the side of the outer wall of a vertically adjacent linking section 20.

As alternatives, other suitable types of securing means will be obvious to the skilled person. For example, a resilient latch member may be provided on one component which can be pushed against a spring loading to attachably locate in a vertically adjacent component.

The spring loading ensures that the latch does not extend beyond the lower, or upper, edge of the component when not in use.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. All the features of the specific embodiment are interchangeable with any other features mentioned in the specification. For example, the panels and linking sections can be releasably engaged by means of flanges provided on the panels which locate in sockets provided in the linking sections.

Claims

1. A collapsible wall structure for use in forming the wall of a collapsible container, comprising a plurality of panel elements and a plurality of panel linking elements selectively connectible and disconnectible with the panel elements for making up a desired container wall configuration, the linking elements including a hinge means which enables the relative angular disposition of adjacent panel elements coupled thereby to be selected.

2. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel elements and panel linking elements are adapted to be selectively interconnectable by means of interengageable male and female projections and sockets.

3. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel linking elements carry one or more projections on each side respectively of said hinge means for engagement with corresponding shaped recesses in said panel elements.

4. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel elements carry one or more projections for engaging in corresponding shaped recesses in the panel linking elements.

5. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the hinge means in the panel linking elements is formed integrally therewith and interconnects two side arm portions carrying the means of engagement with the panel elements.

6. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hinge means comprises an elongate rectangular spine portion which is coupled along its two longitudinal edges to said two side arms by respective hinge portions.

7. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the arm portions of the panel linking elements carry respective, laterally displaced depending leg portions.

8. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said leg portions are disposed and dimensioned such as to enable the assembled container wall to be supported off the ground to enable a fork lift to be inserted therebeneath.

9. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said leg portions are disposed and dimensioned such as to enable the assembled container wall to be mounted on a conventional pallet whereby the pallet forms the floor of the container and is itself engageable by a fork lift.

10. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said leg portions are disposed and dimensioned such as to enable the assembled container wall to be stacked on top of a similar container wall for forming a container wall of greater height.

11. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said leg portions are disposed and dimensioned such as to enable the assembled container wall to be supported off the ground to enable a fork lift to be inserted therebeneath, the assembled container wall to be mounted on a conventional pallet whereby the pallet forms the floor of the container and is itself engageable by a fork lift, and the assembled container wall to be stacked on top of a similar container wall for forming a container wall of greater height.

12. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the wall panel elements include lateral flanges protruding from one edge region which, when the panel elements and panel linking elements are interconnected to form a container wall, extend inwardly of the assembled wall for providing a ledge on which a separate base panel structure can be supported.

13. A collapsible wall structure as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said projections carry laterally projecting, resilient tongues and said recesses carry apertures, the arrangement being such that as a projection is being inserted into a recess, the tongue or the projection is compressed until it reaches the aperture in the recess, whereupon the tongue springs into the aperture to lock the associated parts together, release of the parts being achievable by manually pressing the resilient tongue out of the aperture.

14. A collapsible container comprising an erected collapsible wall structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13.

15. A collapsible wall structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

16. A collapsible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.