NZ214060A - Collapsible container on pallet base - Google Patents

Description

2 14060 Corr.pieta Spadfication Filed: .'.V&D Class: ... 86.5Qlfi [ l?r/ j£, '"'"' Publication Date: .... 3 .Q.MAR ,1988 P*0* Journal, Ho; . - i 4HCWTW5 e\: PATENTS FORM NO. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER" P, WE ZEON KASEI CO.LTD. a company of Japan of 6-9-7 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, hereby declare the invention, for which i/we pray that a patent may be granted to-ne/us, and the method by vdiich it is to be performed/ to be particularly described in and by the following statement — 1— {caUouJecJ p=>age. Ic*.

ZK-^/"A/Z 214060 specification 1. title of the invention \ bu¥l£siPp%ontainer 2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to \?n11r-np / containers, and particularly to a container which can be assembled and disassembled easily and in a short time, can be disassembled into a small-bulk style when sending ' J it back, and can be repeatedly used for any number of times.

Heretofore, for the containers of this kind, integrated boxes have been often used. However, these boxes are suffered from repeated usability, workability, storability, etc. To improve these disadvantages, a separatelyVbuilt-up /type or a folding type has been proposed. However, the former type involves disadvantages in cumber-someness in assembly, workability and the like whereas the latter type involves disadvantages in strength, ^ reusability and the like.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages noted above and provides a >built-up/container, which has expediency afforded by the folding type as well as strength afforded by the separately^built>-uT<' type, has high efficiency - la- V 214060 provided for a storage space, and can be easily disassembled after use into a small-bulk style to be suitable for sending back the container. 3. summary of the invention The present invention to achieve the above-described object is concerned with a container capable of being easily assembled and disassembled, the container comprising a quadrilateral pallet formed from a wooden plate, plastic or metal plate and the like, a bottom frame attached to the pallet, a bottom plate placed on the upper surface of the pallet surrounded by the bottom frame, side plates in the form of a square incorporated into each bottom frame to form a box on the pallet, and a lid member fitted into the side plates.

In such a 'built up 'container, even the bottom plate, the side plates and the lid member can be formed from a wooden plate, and plastic or metal plate. Four courner portions of the box constructed by incorporating the side plates therein can be strengthened by longitudinal metal frames. For these metal frame and bottom frame, angles and L-shaped material formed of aluminum, aluminum alloy or iron or steel can be used without modification.

Moreover, in the ^built—ttp-'container according to the present invention, it is possible to completely 2 140 >- prevent the side plates from being slipped out of the bottom frame due to the vibrations produced during trans-portion. In assembly, prefabricated side plates may merely be incorporated in the form of a square into a pallet with a bottom frame prepared in advance, and the assembled structure may be erected. A partly damaged part of the container can be easily replaced. Thus, it is economical because of avoidance that the entire container becomes unusable due to the partial damage as encountered in conventional containers of this kind. In addition, the corner portions of the container considered to be weak may be protected by the metal frame to increase the strength. Furthermore, the side plates or the like may be stacked on the pallet, whereby the container may be managed and sent back in its flat condition.

A. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS a'-built up The drawings show embodiments of a >-built—trp-container in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container when a lid is open.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a corner portion of a bottom frame and a lower portion of a longi-tudinal frame.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper 2 1406 n corner portion of the container.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective views, respectively, showing in order the steps of assembling the container.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view showing an angle frame provided to strengthen each corner portion of a bottom frame and a side plate.

N- 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION •i In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes " a wooden quadrilateral pallet. This pallet 1 is constructed such that the desired number of wooden deck boards 3,4 are lined by means of nails or screws on upper and lower side: of three crossbeams arranged equally spaced apart. | Spac< s are formed between the crossbeams 2 are formed so I so t at forks of a fork-lift may be inserted therein. It | is t be noted that the construction of the pallet 1 is not | lim. ed to the aforesaid configuration but various other coni ructions may be employed.

On the upper surface of the pallet 1 are provided > | .! botto: frames 5 formed of angle steel fixed along four sides of the pallet 1 as shown in FIG. 4. A bottom plate 6 is placed, as shown in FIG. 5, on the pallet internally of the bottom frame 5. This bottom plate 6 has a size adjusted to the upper surface of the pallet surrounded by the bottom frame 5, the bottom plate 6 being used merely by being t • i 214060 ~\ ^ * I \ I inserted into the bottom frame and then placed on the pallet.

Reference numerals 7 denote four side plates.

Metal frames 8, 9 are fitted in and mounted on one side end and upper end of each of the side plates 7, 7 longitudinally and laterally, respectively. The metal frame 8 on one side end is provided to strengthen corner portions of a box formed by incorporating the side plates 4, 4. Where the metal frame 8 having an L-shape section is used, one side 8a of the metal frame 8 may be used as a metal frame on the side end of the adjoining side plate 7. It is to be noted that the metal frame 8 can be of an inverted U-shape section as well as the metal frame 9.

A lid member indicated at 10 is fitted externally of an upper edge of each of the side plates 7, 7 to block an opening of the box formed by incorporating the side plates 7, 7. The lid member 10 is also suitably used according to the contents and uses.

The side plates 7 may be prevented from being slipped out of the bottom frame 5 by boring at least one through-hole 11 in the corner portion of the bottom frame 5, projecting a projection 12 fitted into the through-hole 11 at a position corresponding to the side plate 7, and fitting the projection 12 into the through-hole 11 to lock the side plate 7 to the bottom frame 5 when - 2 14060 X assembled, as shown in FIG. 3.

The side plates may be prevented from being spread opened each other by the provision of a catch 13 over the side plates adjacent to the corner portions of the upper edges of the side plates each other. The shape of the catch 3 is not particularly limited but a known shape can be employed. (See FIG. 3) Further, means for increasing the strength of the c ntainer to prevent the side plates 7 from being slipr d out of the bottom frame 5, for example, an angle frar constructed as described below may be provided.

The angle frame 21 is composed of an L-plate 22 it the form of an L-shape in plane which is positioned highez than the bottom frame 5, an inwardly oriented hook plate 23 approximately vertially crossing one end of the L-plate, a vertical inserting groove 25 at least at the end edge of the hook plate, and a support plate 24 fixed to the L-plate 22. The inserting groove 25 and a placing groove 26 are provided between the support plate and the hook plate along the end of the support plate and between the lower portion of the support plate and the bottom portion of the bottom plate, respectively. The angle frame 21 is positioned to be higher than the bottom frame 5, as shown in FIG. 8, to thereby erect the side plates in a stabilized manner. The lateral length of the L-plate - 6 2 14060 22 is necessary to be at least the length in which the length of the projection 12 is added to the thickness of the side plate .

The support plate 24 can be of the structure which has a function as a stopper to prevent the side plate 7 from being deviated upwardly due to vibrations or the like j produced during the transportation, by the provision of the projection 12 provided on the metal frame 8 on the side end. The support plate 24 can be of a plate or a block.

The inserting groove 25 is provided to receive the aforesaid projection when the side plates 7 are erected at a fixed position. Therefore, it is necessary to have the groove width which corresponds to the width of a diameter i of the projection.

The placing groove 26 is provided in which the inserted projection is fitted in position. A space is required so that the projection may be easily slidably moved within the groove even after loaded so that the side plates 7 may be inclined outwardly when the side plates 7 are erected The hook plate 23 has the depth approximately corresponding to the length of the projection 12 and is fixed to one end of the L-plate 22. The inserting groove 25 is formed between the hook plate 23 and the support plate 24 as previously mentioned whereby providing even a function as a so-called folding container. The angle frame has the o •tag* 2 14060 \ i 4 « 1 ■<> height which is at least the total of thicknesses of four side plates 7 whereby the side plates may be erected in a stabilized manner as described above. When not in use or after use, the side plates 7 may be placed within the bottom frame , and the side plates 7 may be moved up and down along the inserting groove 25 to be fallen inwardly. Since the projection is anchored in the groove, these side plates are never deviated in all directions even by the vibrations or the like. Thus, it is necessary to tie the pallet, the side plates and the like by use of ropes or the like as encountered in the so-called separately ^builL up"Container. In use, the side plates may be merely erected in position, thus providing a function of the foldl-.g type which has sufficient strength or the like witho t use of connectors such as hinges.

It is to be understood that when the bottom framt having the angle frame according to the present inver. .on are used, projections are respectively provided on the lower portions of both side ends of the subject side plates.

Moreover, after used, four side plates are stacked and encased within the bottom frame , and therefore, the container is very compact and occupies less space for its storage and send-back. / x\\*-06

Claims (8)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A collapsible container comprising a pallet, a bottom frame fixed to an upper peripheral surface of said pallet, a bottom plate placed on the upper surface of the pallet and surrounded by said bottom frame, an angle frame including an L-shaped plate member with an inwardly directed return or hook plate which forms a vertical insertion groove between said hook plate and said L-shaped plate member, and a plurality of generally square side plates incorporated and stood upright internally of said bottom frame.

2. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 wherein a strengthening metal frame is provided at each corner portion formed by each side plate, the strengthening metal frame being attached to vertical edges of said side panels, the lower end of the strengthening frame fitting inside the bottom frame.

3. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one through-hole is bored in a corner portion of a vertical part of the bottom frame, and a projection fitted into said through-hole is provided at a corresponding position of at least one of the side plates.

4. A collapsible container according to Claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein a support plate is fixed to the L-shaped plate member at a level near the bottom of the hook plate, the support plate extending parallel to the /^-upright arm of the L-shaped member and forming there-ll beneath a locating groove, the locating groove being connected to the bottom of the vertical insertion groov

5. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 wherein the side plates are connected to each other by means of a clip for prevention of spread-opening.

6. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 wherein a box formed by the side plates is closed by a lid member.

7. A collapsible container according to Claim 1 wherein the height of the side plates enables them when demounted to be placed on the bottom plate and within the bottom frame.

8. A collapsible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ZEON KASEI CO.LTD - 10 -