US 4,062,467 A · Collapsible transport container

Abstract

A collapsible treatment container has a rectangular elongated base whose outer edge is formed at the rim provided with hinges on which pivot a pair of opposite side walls and another pair of opposite end walls. The side walls and end walls are both centrally formed with stiffening ribs terminating at their bottom in abutments engageable with formations on the base so as to prevent pivoting of these walls beyond an erected position perpendicular to the base, but allowing them to be collapsed and flattened down over the base. The end walls are formed with two spaced sockets and the side walls have tongues of projections engageable with the sockets so as to rigidly lock the assemblies together. The sockets at each corner of the assembly are so arranged and constructed that the tongue or tongues closer to the hinge are engaged in their respective socket or sockets before the other so as to insure easy assembly of the structure. Between the two sets of sockets and tongues there is provided a resilient latch that holds the structure together when erected.

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Claims2

Dependent claims

In a transport container comprising:

a rectangular base plate having four edges and an upstanding rim extending around said edges;
a respective wall along each of said edges mounted on said base plate, said walls being provided in two pairs of opposite walls and being reversibly swingable from an erect position in which said walls are perpendicular to said base plate to recumbent positions wherein said walls overlie said base plate and lie upon one another;
arcuate grooves formed on inner faces of the walls of one pair and a pair of outwardly projecting pins formed on the edges of the walls of the other pair guided in said grooves to enable outward swinging of the walls of said other pair along said one pair after the latter have been swung into their erect positions;
respective mating latch formations along the angularly adjoining edges of said walls for engagement when the walls of said other pair are swung into their erect positions;
and
respective hinges swingably mounting each of said walls to said base plate with the hinge axes of said one pair being disposed above the hinge axes of said other pair;
the improvement wherein:
one wall of each of the angularly adjoining edges is formed with a pair of sockets located respectively above and below said latch formations;
the other wall of each of the angularly adjoining edges is formed with a pair of projections located other than said pins respectively above and below said latch formations matingly engageable with the respective sockets of the first mentioned wall of each of the angularly adjoining edges;
said sockets and projections at each of the angularly adjoining edges being disposed one above the other;
said sockets and projections are so constructed and arranged that, at each of the angularly adjoining edges, the lower projection is received in its socket before the upper projection is received in its socket as said other pair of walls are swung into their erect positions;
said latching formations at each of the angularly adjoining edges are spaced above the respective lower projection and socket and below the respective upper projection and socket;
and
said latching formations at each of the angularly adjoining edges are so constructed and arranged as to engage subsequent to the entry of the respective lower projection and its socket but prior to the entry of the respective upper projection into its socket as the walls of said other pair are swung into their erect positions.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,777 words

Summary879 words

#The present invention relates to a collapsible transport container. More particularly this invention concerns a container which can be collapsed from a box shape in which it is usable to transport produce or the like into a flat shape allowing it to be returned to the sender taking up a minimum amount of space.

#A transport container is known which has a generally rectangular base plate on which are hinged four wall panels that can be pivoted from a flattened position up into an erect position extending generally perpendicular to the base plate. The walls are held in place relative to each other by various forms of latches and guide formations.

#Such transport containers are rarely sufficiently rigid to transport relatively heavy materials. In addition they are frequently difficult to set up and tend to fall into the collapsed position when empty. Furthermore their production cost is frequently relatively high and they readily invite pilferage as they come apart easily. Another disadvantage is that it is relatively difficult to stack such containers so as to form a rigid assembly both with the containers erected and filled, or empty and collapsed.

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport container according to the present invention;

#FIGS. 2 and 3 are large scale views corresponding to the details indicated by arrows II and III, respectively, of FIG. 1;

Detailed description765 words

#As shown in FIG. 1 a transport container according to the present invention comprises a generally planar base plate 1 and a pair of side walls 2 and end walls 3 hinged thereon. The walls 2 and 3 are connected via hinges 5 each comprising a central eye 5a' formed on the respective edge of the base 1 and a pair of outer eyes 5a" flanking this eye 5a'. A pintle 5b passes the eyes 5a' and 5a" of each hinge 5. The base plate 1 is formed with an upwardly and downwardly extending rim 6 on which the eyes 5a' are formed.

#Each of the side walls 2 is connected at each of its lateral edges with a respective one of the end walls 3 by means of a lower latch 4' and an upper latch 4". Each lower latch 4' is comprised of two relatively long projections 4a' formed on the wall 2 and two sockets 4b' carried on the walls 3 and receiving the projections 4a'. The upper latches 4" are formed by a single relatively short projection 4a" receivable within complementary sockets 4b" on the wall 3. The relative lengths of the projections 4a' and 4a" insure that as the wall 2 is swung up the projections 4a' will start to seat within the sockets 4b' before the projection 4a". In this manner a very neat and easy assembly is assured.

#Between the latches 4' and 4" there is provided a resiliently deformable ridge 12 receivable behind a similar ridge or rib 11 carried on the corresponding lateral edge of the wall 2. When assembled as shown in FIG. 3 the rib 11 passes over the rib 12, deforming the latter, and thereby locks the two walls 2 and 3 in place relative to each other. This structure insures that the container will remain erect even when empty, but that a force from outside can disconnect the two walls 2 and 3 when desired.

Collapsible transport container

Life of this patent

Collapsible transport container

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims2

Description1,777 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,777 words