NL1044216B1 - Method of folding a container - Google Patents

Abstract

Een container 100, omvattende een bodem 101, langszijwanden, eindzijwanden 104, 105, scharnieren om de eindzijwanden aan de bodem te verbinden, een dak 106 en 5 verbindingselementen 110, 111 welke de eindzijwanden 104, 105 en het dak 106 verbinden, de container is inklapbaar en kan zich in ingeklapte of uitgeklapte toestand bevinden en in deze toestanden getransporteerd worden. De verbindingselementen 110, 111 tussen het dak 106 en de eindzijwanden 104, 105 verzorgen 10 een beweging van de eindzijwanden 104, 105 als het dak 106 van positie veranderd wordt. Deze verbindingselementen 110, 111 blijven aan de structuur verbonden tijdens het in- en uitklapproces en bevinden zich aan de buitenzijde van de container 100 als deze zich in uitgeklapte toestand begeeft. De verbindingselementen 110, 111 bevinden zich in verticale of bijna verticale stand in de uitgeklapte toestand. 15 1044216

Description

Method of folding a container

Abstract

Acontainer, comprising a base, longitudinal sidewalls, end sidewalls, hinges for connecting the end sidewalls to the base, a root and connecting members between the end sidewall and the roof, the container being foldable between folded and unfolded configurations; wherein the container further comprises connecting members between the roof and the end sidewalls, these connecting members create a movernent of the end sidewalls when the position of the roof is changed.

The connecting members remain connected to the container structure during the folding and unfolding operations and are positioned on the outside of the structure in vertical or near vertical position in the unfolded state.

Description Technical Field

This invention relates to a foldable container comprising a base, a roof, longitudinal sidewalls, end sidewalls, and linkages between the end side walls and the roof.

Background

A typical shipping container tends 10 be shipped empty when there is no cargo for the backhaul of the journey. This results in shipping mostly air in this backhaul. Storage containers are alse moved without any cargo to the location where the storage is required. And when moving temporary buildings a large volume of air is transported.

Containers as disclosed in NL1017159 can be folded to reduce the volume when empty, thus allowing for more efficient transport. Figures 1 to 4 show the steps in folding this container 1. The container comprises a base 2, longitudinal sidewalls 3, end sidewalls 4, and a roof 5. The longitudinal sidewalls 3 and the end sidewalls 4 are hinged to the base 2 such that they may rotate about the hinges and fold onto the base 2. The roof 5 is connected to the end sidewalls 4 via rigid connecting members 8, each of which is connected via a first hinge to a respective end sidewsll 4 and via a second hinge to the roof 5.

The connecting members 8 may thus pivot about each end, allowing for lifting of the roof 5, pivoting motion of the walls 4 beneath the roof 5 and then lowering of the roof 5 onto the folded walls 4, as illustrated particularly in figure 4. The connecting members allow a connection to be maintained between the side walls 4 and the roof 5, during the process of folding the walls.

The connecting members 8 are approximately half the length of the height of the end sidewall 4; therefore the roof 5 has to be raised 10 a certain height before the roof can be lowered again to facilitate the folding motion. This results in the fact that the folding operation can only be done by a mäthine which has a minimum lifting range of approximately one-and-a-half times the height of the container.

The connection members are positioned inside the cargo area whan in the unfolded state, reducing the interior space and thus the volume available for cargo.

This invention seeks to address the above mentioned disadvantages of the container according to

NL1017159.

Brief summary of the Invention itis an object of the invention to further develop the known foldable container and improve on the required range of motion of the roof needed for the folding procedure and to reduce the tirnitation on internal volume reduction.

These and other objects of the invention are realized by embodying the foldable container in accordance with one or more of the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fora better understanding of the invention, and to show possibilities of how the invention can be carried into effect, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a foldable container according to the prior art

Figure 5 ijlustrates the step in the folding process where one of the longitudinal sidewalls is being folded

Figure 6 illustrates the container where the first longitudinal sidewall has been folded and the % second longitudinal sidewall is being folded

Figure 7 illustrates the connecting members which connect the roof to the end sidewalls

Figures 8 to 9 illustrate the movement of the end sidewalls when the roof is being lowered

Figure 10 Hhuistrates the folded position of the container

Figure 11 illustrates a connecting member which can vary in overall length within a pre-set range

Detailed Description : With reference to figuras 5 to 10, a foldable container is indicated at 100, The container 100 is generally a cuboidal shape comprising a base 101, longitudinal sidewalls 102, 103, end sidewalls 104, 105, a roof 106 and connecting members 110, 111. The container defines an interior space enclosed hy the base 100, longitudinal sidewalls 102, 103, end sidewalls 104, 105 and roof 106 when in the unfolded configuration.

The longitudinal sidewalls 102, 103 are hinged to the base 101 in such a way that they fold onto the base 101.

The end sidewalls 104, 10% are hinged to the base 101 in such a way they fold onto the base 101 and on top of the before folded longitudinal sidewalls 102, 103.

The foldable container of the invention further comprises connecting members 110 and 111 which connect the roof 106 to the end sidewalls 104 and 105. These connecting members are positioned on the outside of the Interior space described by the container, Inthe unfolded configuration the connecting members 110, 111 are in a vertical or near vertical position.

The connecting members 110, 111 translate a vertical movement of the roof into a movement of the end sidewall 104, 105 generating a rotation around its hinge in the base 101, Figures 7 to 10 show the movement of the end sidewalls 104, 105 relative to the movement of the roof 106. it should be noted that the connecting member 116, 111 will allow a certain amount of lifting of the roof 106 without generating a motion in the end sidewalls 104, 105,

The required range of vertical motion of the roof 106 to go from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration is approximately the difference between the unfolded height and the folded height.

All substructures 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 110 and 111 remain connected with their previously described connections during folding operations for both the folding as the unfolding procedure.

Substructures 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 remain intact during the folding operations; no hinges or partitions are needed within the mentioned substructures.

The connecting members 110, 111 are rotatably connected to the end sidewalls 104, 105 on one end and on their opposite end the connecting members 110, 111 are rotatably connected to the root 106.

The rotatable connection between the end sidewalls 104, 105 and the connecting members 110, 111 can be done by using a hinge. The rotatable connection between the roof 106 and the connecting members 110, 111 can be done by using a hinge,

For the connecting members 110, 111 flexible elements are used since the load is primarily in tension during the folding and unfolding procedure, The roof 106 supports a portion the weight of the end sidewalls 104, 105 via the connecting members. In other words a portion of the weight of the end sidewalls 104, 105% is suspended by the roof 106 via the connecting members 110, 111. : 30 This flexible element can be a chain, a cable or any other type of flexible element linking to end points which can he loaded in tension.

In figures 5 to 10 connecting members 110, 111 are pictured on all four corners of the container.

This is one possible configuration of the connecting members. 11 is also possible to use one connecting member on the end sidewall 104, 105. A combination of one connecting member on one of the end sidewalls 104, 105 and twa [or more) on the opposite end sidewall is also possible for this invention.

It is desirable to have some movement of the roof 106 without a direct movement of the end 5 sidewall 104, 105; the roof can be lifted slightly before the end sidewall is actuated. This objective can be met by giving a tolerance in the connection between the end sidewail 104, 105 and the connecting member 110, 111 and/or by giving a tolerance in the connection between the connecting member 110, 112 and the roof 106. The tolerance can be achieved by using an oval shaped hole or by having a hole that is significantly larger than the pin going through the hole.

Another way of achieving this tolerance is by using a flexible element for the connecting member 110, 111 which has a larger length than the distance between the connection points on the end sidewall 104, 105, and the roof 106. A tensioning spring can be used to remove the slack in the flexible member when in the stored position; folded or unfolded configuration.

The connecting member 110, 111 in this invention is intentionally placed on the extarior of the container 100. When the connecting members 110, 111 are placed at the corners of the vertical members of the end sidewalls 104, 105 it might be vulnerable to damages, A recess in the vertical member of the end sidewall 105 can be created to protect the connecting member 110, 111 from damages.

The sidewalls 102, 103, 104, 105, both longitudinal sidewalls 102, 103 and/or end sidewalls 104, 105 can be fitted with one or multiple doors which gives access to the interior space of the container. if the connecting member 110, 111 is a flexible slement, the position where the connecting member 110, 111 is rotatably connected to the roof 106 can be altered in the folded or unfolded configuration to aid the folding or unfolding process. This can be achieved by creating multiple connection points in the roof 106.

In a similar manner it is possible to create multiple connection points on the end sidewalls 104, 105 to allow the alteration of the connection point of the connecting member 110, 111 in either the folded or unfolded configuration.

if the connecting member 110, 111 is a rigid element alteration of the connection points is : possible by changing the connection points on both the end sidewall 104, 105 and on the roof 106. & The connecting members 110, 111 can be made in such a manner that the length is fixed over a pre-set range, Figure 11 illustrates a possible option where the length of the connecting member 110, 111 is L at its lowest value and L+ x at its bighest value. By adding this possible elongation {x) of the connecting member 110, 111 movement of the roof is possible without direct movement of the end sidewalls. it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described hersin, Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.

Prior art

NL1017159

Claims (6)

Conclusions CLAIMS 1. A collapsible container comprising a bottom, a roof, side walls, and end side walls rotatably attached to the bottom, characterized in that a flexible connecting element rotatably attached to the end side wall and on the other side of the connecting element rotatably attached to the roof connected. This connecting element is located outside the internal volume defined by the container in the unfolded state. The connecting element has a certain degree of tolerance in the hinged connection so as to allow movement of the roof without a direct movement of the end walls. A collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element . is attached to the roof and to the end side wall by means of a hinge. A collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that one connecting element is used per end side wall, A collapsible container according to Claim 1, characterized in that more than one connecting element is used per side wall. A collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the degree of tolerance in the connections of the connecting element can be reduced by a tensioned spring. A collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element can change its length by a predetermined amount.