Folding container
AssigneeCompact Container Systems, LLC
InventorsNORMAN KENDALL, ERIC RICHARD LARSON, THOMAS K. CHURBUCK, ROBERT J. KRAFT, RICHARD ROSMARIN, DAVID H. ROWE, JAMES K. WILLIAMS, JOSHUA J. KRAFT
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foldable shipping container adjustable between an unfolded condition in which said container is suitable for use as a cargo container, and a folded condition for when said container is not being used to store or ship cargo. The foldable shipping container having ways for controlling the rate at which the panels collapse.
Claims27
A foldable container adjustable between an unfolded condition and a folded condition comprising:
- a roof panel and an opposing base panel;
- a front panel and an opposing door panel, the front panel and the door panels hingedly connected to only the roof panel;
- a right side panel and opposing left side panel, the right side panel and the left side panel each comprising a single, unitary, one-piece wall extending between the roof panel and the base panel, the left and right side panels hingedly connected to the base panel;
- at least one spring mechanism coupled to the right side panel comprising:
- a compression spring positioned under the base panel;
- a cable extending from the right side panel, through the compression spring, and secured to a cap positioned proximate an end of the compression spring;
- a compression tube extending through a portion of the compression spring and in contact with the cap and the compression spring;
- and, at least one spring mechanism coupled to the left side panel comprising:
- a compression spring positioned under the base panel;
- a cable extending from the left side panel, through the compression spring, and secured to a cap positioned proximate an end of the compression spring;
- a compression tube extending through a portion of the compression spring and in contact with the cap and the compression spring;
- wherein a lowering of the left side panel and the right side panel towards the base panel causes the cable of the spring mechanism to pull on the cap and compression tube in a direction compressing the compression spring.
A spring mechanism for controlling a folding of a panel of a folding container comprising:
- a compression spring secured under a base panel of the folding container;
- a cable extending from the panel, through the compression spring, and secured to a cap positioned proximate to an end of the compression spring;
- and,
- a compression tube extending through a portion of the compression spring and in contact with the cap and the compression spring.
A foldable container adjustable between an unfolded condition and a folded condition comprising:
- a roof panel and an opposing base panel;
- a right side panel and opposing left side panel, the right side panel and the left side panel each comprising a single, unitary, one-piece wall extending between the roof panel and the base panel, the left and right side panels connected to the roof panel;
- a front panel and an opposing door panel, the front panel and the door panels hingedly connected to only the base panel;
- at least one spring mechanism coupled to the front panel comprising:
- a compression spring positioned under the base panel;
- a cable extending from the front panel, through the compression spring, and secured to a cap positioned proximate an end of the compression spring;
- a compression tube extending through a portion of the compression spring and in contact with the cap and the compression spring;
- and,
- at least one spring mechanism coupled to the door panel comprising:
- a compression spring positioned under the base panel;
- a cable extending from the door panel, through the compression spring, and secured to a cap positioned proximate an end of the compression spring;
- a compression tube extending through a portion of the compression spring and in contact with the cap and the compression spring;
- wherein a lowering of the front panel and the door panel towards the base panel causes the cable of the spring mechanism to pull on the cap and compression tube in a direction compressing the compression spring.
A foldable container adjustable between an unfolded condition and a folded condition comprising:
- a roof panel and an opposing base panel;
- a front panel and an opposing door panel, the front panel and the door panels hingedly connected to the roof panel;
- a right side panel and opposing left side panel, the left and right side panels hingedly connected to the base panel;
- and,
- one or more panel support systems coupled to the right side panel and to the left side panel.
A foldable container adjustable between an unfolded condition and a folded condition comprising:
- a roof panel and an opposing base panel;
- a front panel and an opposing door panel, the front panel and the door panels hingedly connected to the base panel;
- a right side panel and opposing left side panel, the left and right side panels connected to the roof panel;
- one or more panel support systems coupled to the front panel and to the door panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.