WO2000047482A1

WO2000047482A1 - Collapsible crate and associated connecting means

Info

Publication number: WO2000047482A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2000/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gilroy Clements Mcalpine; Alexander John Bronkhorst
Original assignee: Gilroy Clements Mcalpine; Alexander John Bronkhorst
Priority date: 1999-02-09
Filing date: 2000-02-09
Publication date: 2000-08-17
Also published as: IL144785A0; BR0008096B1; CA2362282C; NZ513459A; US6749077B1; ATE332848T1; AP1474A; HK1040682A1; AU767702B2; AP2001002227A0; BR0008096A; CN1340016A; CA2362282A1; OA11830A; DE60029306T2; CN1167585C; IL144785A; DE60029306D1; ES2267500T3; AU2884800A

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible container (10) comprising a base panel (11); opposed side wall panels (13) and opposed end wall panels (12), the side wall panels (13) and end wall panels (12) being movable to an upright position relative to the base panel (11) so as to define corner zones at their junctions; and corner posts (25) releasably connecting adjacent side wall panels (13) and end wall panels (12) where they adjoin one another in the upright position, each corner post (25) having connecting formations (26, 28) for receiving and connecting the side wall panels (13) and end wall panels (12) thereto. The invention also extends to corner post (25) suitable for a container (10) formed of sheet material so as to define corner zones at a junction between side wall panels (13) and end wall panels (12) of the container (10); to a blank of sheet material for a collapsible container (10); and to a method of erecting a collapsible container (10).

Description

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER

AND ASSOCIATED CONNECTING MEANS

Technical Field

This invention relates to a collapsible container and to connecting means for use in

association therewith.

Background Art

Collapsible containers of various designs are available on the market. They are

particulady useful for the conveyance of produce such as fruit and vegetables, but are

not confined to the conveyance of produce. Collapsible containers generally suffer

from a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage is that they tend to be relatively

complicated in their construction, which makes them relatively expensive to

manufacture. In addition, collapsible containers can be difficult and t-ime-consuming

to erect, which often leads to user resistance to these types of containers. A further

disadvantage is that, once erected, many of these types of containers lack rigidity so

that they are relatively easily deformed through handling and stacking, often resulting

therein that conveyed goods are damaged.

Object of the Invention

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel collapsible

container, which seeks to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages, or which at

least will provide a useful alternative to prior art containers. A further object of the invention is to provide a container, which can be of a relatively thin wall material yet

capable of being stacked.

Disclosure of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a collapsible container comprising

a base panel;

opposed side wall panels and opposed end wall panels, the side wall panels and end

wall panels being movable to an upright position relative to the base panel so as to

define corner zones at their junctions; and

corner posts releasably connecting adjacent side wall panels and end wall panels where

they adjoin one another in the upright position, each corner post having connecting

formations for receiving and connecting the side wall panels and end wall panels

thereto.

According to the invention there is also provided a comer post suitable for a

container formed of sheet material so as to define corner zones at a junction between

side wall panels and end wall panels of the container, the corner post comprising

connecting formations for receiving and connecting the side wall panels and end wall

panels thereto.

The connecting formations of the corner post may be adapted to interconnect with

the side wall panels in the form of a snap fit. Each corner post may comprise at least one set of flanges, the set of flanges

comprising a pair of parallel flanges between which a side wall panel is received.

According to one form of the invention, each comer post may comprise a tubular

member having two sets of flanges directed at substantially right angles to one

another. Each pair of flanges may comprise an outer flange and an inner flange

Each outer flange may have integral lugs which engage in corresponding apertures

formed in the side wall panels. The lugs on the outer flange may be located opposite

corresponding apertures provided on the inner flange.

-Alternatively, each outer flange may include at least one engaging formation adapted

releasably to engage a slotted aperture formed in the inner flange. ^• The engaging

formation may protrude through a corresponding aperture formed in the side wall

panels before locating in the slotted aperture of the inner flange.

According to an alternative form of the invention the comer post may comprise

an outer post section which is adapted to mate with an outer surface of the corner

zone;

an inner post section which is adapted to mate with an inner surface of the corner

zone; and connecting means adapted to couple together the outer post section and the inner

post section, so as to sandwich sheet material at the corner zone between these

sections.

The connecting means may comprise engagement formations on the outer post

section or on the inner post section, which mate with corresponding engagement

formations on the inner post section or outer post section respectively.

The engagement formations may comprise tongue formations on the outer post

section or inner post section, which are adapted to pass through apertures in the sheet

material and which are adapted to engage the inner post section or outer post section

as the case may be. Particularly, the tongue formations may extend from the inner

post section and may be adapted to engage in apertures in the outer post section.

More particularly, for engagement purposes the tongue formations may define lateral

hook or barb elements that engage the outer post section.

The corner post also may include inter engaging tongue and groove formation at the

upper ends of the post sections, with the inner post section preferably defining a

downwardly directed groove formation and the outer post section an upwardly

directed tongue formation. Each corner post may include stacking means adapted releasably to engage

complementarily dimensioned stacking means on a corresponding comer post when

two containers according to the invention are stacked upon one another. Particularly,

the stacking means may be a downwardly depending foot formation defined by the

outer post section, with the inner post section being adapted to engage such foot

formation, for example in spigot and socket fashion.

In one form of the invention, the stacking means may be an integral spigot located at

one end of a corner post and adapted to be received in a socket formed in an opposite

end of a corresponding corner post when two containers are stacked upon one

another. In another form of the invention, the spigot may be in the form of an

expanding barb adapted to pass through the base of the container and to lock within

the socket.

The side wall panels and end wall panels may be connected to the base panel by any

suitable hinge means such as ringlets, crease lines, perforations, film hinges or the like.

The container further may include at least two connectable roof panels adapted

releasably to engage one another. Particularly, one roof panel may include a number

of slotted apertures for receiving complimentarily dimensioned lip formations

extending from the other roof panel. Also included within the scope of the invention is a blank of sheet material for a

collapsible container, the blank comprising

a base panel;

opposed side wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel; and

opposed end wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel, the side wall panels

and end wall panels being hingeable to an upstanding position relative to the base

panel so as to define corner zones at their junctions, the arrangement being one

wherein the side wall panels and end wall panels are provided with apertures at the

corner zones, the apertures being adapted to receive fastening means for corner posts

therethrough.

The invention is further directed to a collapsible container including the corner post

of the invention and the blank disclosed above.

Further included within the scope of the invention is a method of erecting a

collapsible container comprising the steps of

providing the container blank and the corner posts in accordance with the invention;

folding the side wall panels and end wall panels of the blank into an upstanding

position relative to the base so that their ends meet to define comer zones; and

releasably connecting corner posts to the side wall panels and end wall panels so as to

clamp the sheet material at each corner zone there between. Brief Description of Drawings

Without limiting the scope thereof, the invention will now be described by way of

examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which -

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the

invention with the container in an erected condition;

Figures 2 illustrate parts of the container of Figure 1;

and 3

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container according to another embodiment of

the invention with the container in an erected condition;

Figures 5 illustrate parts of the container of Figure 4;

and 6

Figures 7 . illustrate erection and collapsing of the container of Figure 4;

to 9

Figure 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a corner post in accordance

with yet a further embodiment of the invention in a disassembled form;

Figure 10A is a schematic exploded perspective from below of the corner post in

Figure 10;

Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of the corner post in Figure 10 in an

assembled form;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a blank of a container in accordance with one

embodiment of the invention; and Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of a container illustrated in Figure 12 in

an assembled form and including the corner posts of Figure 10.

Specific embodiment of the invention

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a container according to the invention is generally

designated by reference numeral 10 and comprises a base panel 11, a pair of opposed

end wall panels 12 and a pair of opposed side wall panels 13. The base panel 11, end

wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 may be of any suitable material such as

polypropylene, high density polyethylene, polycarbonate or even board material such

as fluted paper board or fluted polymeric board.

The container 10 optionally may include two connectable roof panels 30a, 30b

wherein one roof panel 30b includes a number of slotted apertures for receiving lip

formations 31 extending from roof panel 30a.

The end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 are foldable relative to the base panel

11 with the end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 being attached to the base panel

by any suitable connection means including ringlets, crease lines, perforations, film

hinges or the like.

The container 10 includes a corner post 25 at each co er joining adjacent end wall

panels 12 and side wall panels 13 where they adjoin one another in an upright position. Apart from joining the side wall panels 13 with the end wall panels 12, the

corner posts 25 also act as weight bearing members. As a result, the base panel 11,

end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 can be of thin wall sheet material, thus

saving materials costs.

In this embodiment of the invention, the corner post 25 comprises a tubular member

16 and three sets of flanges directed at substantially right angles to one another and

integrally formed with the tubular member 16. Each set of flanges comprises a pair of

parallel flanges 26, 28 between which an end wall panel 12 or a side wall panel 13, as

the case may be, is received. Each pair of flanges 26, 28 comprises an outer flange 28

and an inner flange 26.

Each outer flange 28 includes an engaging formation including a rib 29a directed at a

right angle to the outer flange 28, and an arrowed head 29b configured releasably to

protrude through slotted aperture 27 provided in the end wall panel 12 or a side wall

panel 13 so as to engage the inner flange 26 in a snap fit fashion.

The container 10 of the invention is fully collapsible in that the four corner posts 25

may be removed and the container 10 laid out in a flat condition, whereafter the end

wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 may be folded inwardly relative to the base

panel 11 to form an easily transportable unit. In this embodiment of the invention, each comer post 25 has an integral spigot 21 at

its upper end which is receivable in a socket (not shown) formed in the lower end of a

corresponding corner post 25 when two containers are stacked on one another.

Reference is now made to Figures 4 to 9. In this embodiment of the invention, a

container according to the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 40.

The container again includes end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 which are

foldable relative to a base panel 11. In this embodiment of the invention the end wall

panels 12 and side wall panels 13 are attached to the base panel 11 by means of

ringlets 41 extending through apertures 51 peripherally located in the end wall panels

12, side wall panels 13 and the base panel 11.

The container 40 has a corner post 42 at each corner joining adjacent end wall panels

12 and side wall panels 13 where they adjoin one another in an upright position. Each

corner post 42 comprises a tubular member 43 having two sets of parallel flanges 44

directed at right angles to one another and formed integrally with the tubular member

43. Each set of flanges 44 consists of an outer flange 44a and an inner flange 44b,

between which an end wall panel 12 or side wall panel 13, as the case may be, is held.

It is a feature of the invention that the end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 are

connected to the corner post 42 by way of a snap fit. It is achieved in this

embodiment of the invention by the provision of a series of spaced lugs 45 on each outer flange 44a, which align with and project into apertures 46 on each inner flange

44b. Corresponding apertures 47 are provided along each lateral edge of each of the

end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13.

Thus, when a corner piece 42 is connected to corresponding panels 12, 13, the lugs 45

snap into engagement with the apertures 47 in the end wall panels 12 and side wall

panels 13 respectively. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 7 where two panels 12,

13 are raised to a vertical position and a corner post 42 is positioned above the

resultant corner and snapped into engagement with the panels 12, 13 by downward

displacement of the corner post 42.

The container 40 of this embodiment of the invention is fully collapsible in that the

four corner posts 42 may be removed and the container laid out in a flat condition as

illustrated in Figure 8, whereafter the end wall panels 12 and side wall panels 13 again

may be folded inwardly to form an easily transportable unit as shown in Figure 9.

Each corner post 42 has an integral spigot 48 at its lower end which is receivable in a

socket 49 formed in the upper end of a corresponding corner post when two

containers of the invention are stacked on one another. Each spigot 48 is slotted as

indicated by numeral 50. The slots are designed to fit on to the upper free end of an

end wall panel 12 or side wall panel 13, as the case may be, when containers 40 are cross-bonded, that is to say when two containers are located on one another at right

angles to their normal, orthogonal stacking position.

Reference is now made to Figures 10 to 13, which illustrate yet a further emboα-iment

of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, there is provided a comer post

60 for a collapsible container 61, wherein the container 61 again comprises a base

panel 11, a pair of opposed side wall panels 13 and a pair of opposed end wall panels

12, the side wall panels 13 and end wall panels 13 meeting at corner zones 61a of the

container 61.

The corner post 60 of the invention comprises an inner post section 62, which is

adapted to nest within a corner zone 61a, and an outer post section 63 which fits over

the outer surface of the corner zone 61a, with connecting means being provided to

couple the inner post section 62 and the outer post section 63 together with sheet

material of the side wall panels 13 and end wall panels 12 at the corner zones 61a

being sandwiched between these post sections 62, 63.

In the arrangement illustrated, the connecting means comprises a plurality of tongue

elements 64 provided on one of the post sections 62, 63, in this case the inner post

section 62, and which extend through apertures 71 in the sheet material 12, 13 and

engage in slots 65 in the outer post section 63. For engagement purposes, the tongue

elements terminate in hook formations 64a which engage behind the slots 65. Alternatively, the tongue elements 64 could terminate in expanding barbs or other

suitable locking means.

The comer post 60 of the invention further provides a foot formation 66 which

protmdes below the surface of the base panel 11 of the container 61 to act as a

surface engaging means or as a stacking formation which is adapted to nest within a

corner of an underlying container. Thus for example, the foot formation 66 could

extend from the lower extremity of the outer post section 63. With such an

arrangement the inner post section 62 will preferably define a spigot formation 67

which is adapted to mate with a corresponding aperture 66a defined adjacent the foot

formation 66 to act as a further engagement means between the outer and the inner

post sections 62, 63. In the arrangement illustrated, the spigot formation 67 includes

an expanding barb arrangement for purposes of locking the spigot formation 67

within the aperture 66a.

Both the inner and outer post formations 62, 63 are therefor of generally V-shaped

cross-section and will preferably include reinforcing ribs as required, such as that

shown at 68.

The inner and outer post section 62, 63 are further coupled together by means of

mating tongue and groove formations 69, 70 provided at the upper extremities of the

post sections 62, 63. In the arrangement illustrated, a groove formation 70 is defined by the inner post section, and is adapted to receive a corresponding tongue formation

69 defined at the extremity of the outer post section 63.

As mentioned above, the corner post of the invention is in particular designed for use

in erecting and strengthening a collapsible container, and a blank for such a container

is shown in Figure 13. The blank comprises a base panel 11, a pair of opposed side

wall panels 13 which are hinged to the base panel 11 along a crease line 12a, and two

opposed end wall panels 12 also hinged to the base panel 11 along a crease line 13a.

Thus, in a collapsed configuration, the side wall panels 13 and the end wall panels 12

can be folded into positions overlying the base panel 11 for storage or transport

purposes. In its erected configuration, the side wall panels 13 and end wall panels 12

will be folded to extend upwardly at right angles from the base panel 11 so that the

ends of these panels meet at four corner zones 61a.

Once the panels 12, 13 of the container have been folded as above, the corner post of

the invention will be erected in each corner zone 61a to lock the container in its

erected position. In such an erected position, the tongue elements 64, which lock the

comer post sections 15, 16 to one another, will pass through apertures 71 (Figure 12)

in the sheet material of the container. The spigot formation 67 on the inner post

section 62 will also pass through an aperture 11a in the base panel 11 as spigot

formation 67 engages within the aperture 66a. Many other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the

spirit or scope of the invention defined in the claims. For example, it will be

appreciated that many different ways may be used to connect the corner posts of the

container to the side wall panels. These may include providing slots in a comer post

into which the side wall panels are fitted, flanges with studs on to which the panels are

clipped, bulbous formations on the ends of the panels which snap into suitably

shaped recesses in the corner posts, and interconnecting formations joined by pins or

the like. The invention is directed to a corner post, a collapsible container utilizing the

corner post as well as a blank adapted for forming the container of the invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible container characterized in comprising

a base panel;

opposed side wall panels and opposed end wall panels, the side wall panels and

end wall panels being movable to an upright position relative to the base panel

so as to define comer zones at their junctions; and

corner posts releasably connecting adjacent side wall panels and end wall panels

where they adjoin one another in the upright position, each corner post having

connecting formations for receiving and connecting the side wall panels and

end wall panels thereto.

2. A corner post suitable for a container formed of sheet material so as to define

corner zones at a junction between side wall panels and end wall panels of the

container, the corner post characterized in comprising connecting formations

for receiving and connecting the side wall panels and end wall panels thereto.

3. A corner post according to claim 2 characterized therein that the connecting

formations of the corner post are adapted to interconnect with the side wall

panels in the form of a snap fit.

4. A comer post according to claim 2 characterized therein that each comer post

comprises at least one set of flanges, the set of flanges comprising a pair of

parallel flanges between which a side wall panel is received.

5. A corner post according to claim 4 characterized therein that each pair of

flanges comprises an outer flange and an inner flange.

6. A corner post according to claims 4 or 5 characterized therein that each comer

post, comprises a tubular member having at least two sets of flanges directed at

substantially right angles to one another.

7. A corner post according to claim 6 characterized therein that each outer flange

has integral lugs which engage in corresponding apertures formed in the side

wall panels.

8. A comer post according to claim 7 characterized therein that the lugs on the

outer flange are located opposite corresponding apertures provided on the

inner flange.

9. A comer post according to claim 6 characterized therein that each outer flange

includes at least one engaging formation adapted releasably to engage a slotted

aperture formed in the inner flange.

10. A corner post according to claims 3 or 9 characterized therein that the engaging

formation protrudes through a corresponding aperture formed in the side wall

panels before locating in the slotted aperture of the inner flange.

11. A corner post according to claim 2 characterized therein that the corner post

comprises

an outer post section which is adapted to mate with an outer surface of the

corner zone;

an inner post section which is adapted to mate with an inner surface of the

corner zone; and

connecting means adapted to couple together the outer post section and the

inner post section, so as to sandwich sheet material at the corner Zone between

these sections.

12. A corner post according to claim 11 characterized therein that the connecting

means comprise engagement formations on the outer post section or on the

inner post section, which mate with corresponding engagement formations on

the inner post section or outer post section respectively.

13. A corner post according to claim 12 characterized therein that the engagement

formations comprise tongue formations on the outer post section or inner post

section, which are adapted to pass through apertures in the sheet material and which are adapted to engage the inner post section or outer post section as the

case may be.

14. A corner post according to claim 13 characterized therein that the tongue

formations extend from the inner post section and are adapted to engage in

apertures in the outer post section.

15. A corner post according to claim 13 characterized therein that for 'engagement

purposes the tongue formations define lateral hook or barb elements that

engage the outer post section.

16. A corner post according to claim 11 characterized therein that the corner post

include inter engaging tongue and groove formations at the upper ends of the

post sections, with the inner post section preferably defining a downwardly

directed groove formation and the outer post section an upwardly directed

tongue formation.

17. A corner post according to claim 2 characterized therein that each corner post

includes stacking means adapted releasably to engage complementarily

dimensioned stacking means on a corresponding corner post when two

containers according to the invention are stacked upon one another.

18. A corner post according to claim 17 characterized therein that the stacking

means is an integral spigot located at one end of a corner post and adapted to

be received in a socket formed in an opposite end of a corresponding comer

post when two containers are stacked upon one another.

19. A corner post according to claims 17 and 18 characterized therein that the

stacking means is a downwardly depending foot formation defined by the outer

post section, with the inner post section being adapted to engage such foot

formation, for example in spigot and socket fashion.

20. A corner post according to claim 18 characterized therein that the spigot is in

the form of an expanding barb adapted to pass through the base of the

container and to lock within the socket.

21. A collapsible container according to claim 1 characterized therein that the side

wall panels and end wall panels are connected to the base panel by any suitable

hinge means such as ringlets, crease lines, perforations, film hinges or the like.

22. A collapsible container according to claim 1 characterized therein that the

container further includes at least two connectable roof panels adapted

releasably to engage one another.

23. A collapsible container according to claim 22 characterized therein that one

roof panel includes a number of slotted apertures for receiving complimentarily

dimensioned lip formations extending from the other roof panel.

24. A blank of sheet material for a collapsible container, the blank comprising

a base panel;

opposed side wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel; and

opposed end wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel, the side wall

panels and end wall panels being hingeable to an upstanding position relative to

the base panel so as to define corner zones at their junctions, the arrangement

being one wherein the side wall panels and end wall panels are provided with

apertures at the corner zones, the apertures being adapted to receive fastening

means for corner posts therethrough.

25. A collapsible container including the corner post of the invention and the blank

as set out in the aforementioned claims.

26. A method of erecting a collapsible container comprising the steps of

providing the container blank and the corner posts in accordance with the

invention;

position relative to the base so that their ends meet to define corner zones; and releasably connecting corner posts to the side wall panels and end wall panels

so as to clamp the sheet material at each corner zone there between.

27. A collapsible container substantially as herein illustrated and exemplified with

reference to the accompanying drawings-

28. A comer post suitable for a container formed of sheet material substantially as

herein illustrated and exemplified with reference to the accompanying

drawings.

29. A blank of sheet material for a collapsible container substantially as herein

illustrated and exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings.

30. A method of erecting a collapsible container substantially as herein illustrated

and exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings.