Collapsible container
Collapsible container comprising a bottom element (11) with openings (21) at the corners for disengagable attachment of two opposite gable walls (12, 13). The gable walls are connected to or are associated with supporting pillars (24) which are provided with slit shaped openings (31) for disengagable mounting of longitudinally arranged sidewall elements (14, 15) which have projecting hooks (28, 29) with notches (30) for engagement with the slit-shaped openings. Openings (39-44) are arranged in the bottom element (11) for disengagable attachment of a transversal partition wall (36). The sidewall elements (14, 15) each have a height dimension (A) which is one half of the width of the bottom element (11). The distance (B) between two sidewall elements (14, 15) is less than the depth of the notch (30) in the hooks (28, 29). The corner posts (22) of the gable walls (12, 13) are manufactured with a tubular profile with attachment slit openings (31) facing inwards, for attachment of shelves (33). The collapsible container also includes supporting pillars or side posts (16, 17) with a projecting flange in both sideward directions, these flanges being provided with slit-shaped openings (42) for attachment of shelves (33).
The present invention relates to a collapsible container as described in the introductory part of claim 1.
BACKGROUNDMany embodiments of collapsible type containers are known. The objective of foldable containers is to reduce the volume for storage and returned empties. At the same time, the requirements for strength and the ability to withstand impact is still high. For containers to be used for transport purposes under difficult conditions (e.g. on bumpy roads, for air freight transportation, or as loads hanging under helicopters), the strength requirements are especially high. This has led to the need for a new type of container which combines high strength and reduced space demand. Part of the required improvement can be obtained through use of higher quaity materials. In addition it is necessary to find better solutions with respect to design.
OBJECTIVEThe main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved collapsible container, which takes little space and at the same time is able to be built with high strength. It is a particular objective to provide a container which is as versatile as possible with regard to its partitioning and assembly. Furthermore the container needs to be capable of being divided into several compartments with shelves and partition walls. In addition it must be lockable to prevent axcess by unauthorised persons.
THE INVENTIONIn a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible container as outlined in the introductory part of claim 1 wherein the side wall elements have a height which is one half of the width of the bottom element, whereas the distance between two side wall elements is less than the depth of the notches in the attachment hook elements, the corner posts of the gable walls being manufactured as tubular profiles with attachment slit openings facing inwards, for the attachment of shelves, while the supporting pillars or side posts are provided with an outwards projecting flange in both sideward directions, which flange is being furnished with slit-shaped openings for the attachment of the shelves.
This combination of elements provides a container with several advantages over known containers. It requires little space for storage and transportation when empty. It prevents unwanted removal of the side wall elements as the different parts are mutually locked. It provides good versatility with respect to partitioning with partition walls and attachment of shelves. In a combination with use of high quality steel, it provides a container which is very stable and able to resist various types of strain, e.g during air freight transportation and as a load carried underneath a helicopter.
Further beneficial features are defined by the dependent claims 2-8.
In the following the invention is further described by reference to a preferred embodiment where:
The bottom element 11 is designed with longitudinal girders 18, traversal girders 19 at the ends and supporting paws 20 which provide an aperture for a forktruck. The dimensions of the bottom element may be, for example, 210×100 cm, however, other dimensions may be used according to a convenient regulation. In practice such containers are dimensioned to fit conveniently with other transportation equipment, e.g. within larger freight containers, lorries and planes.
At each corner is arranged an extending support furnishing 21 in the shape of an angular guide (
The sidewall elements 14 A-C and 15 A-C are manufactured as modules with rectangular frame tubes 26 and wire grids 27. At each end, adjacent to the corners, are arranged two extending hooks 28, 29 of a plastic material (
The supporting pillars 16, 17 have slit openings for attachment of shelves 33 as shown in FIG. 5. The shelves 33 have flanges 34 projecting on opposite sides, which at its ends are extended to hook-shaped elements 35 for attachment. Regarding the positioning of the notches, the same applies here as described above.
The container according to
The side wall elements are designed with a width, i.e. a height extent in a mounted condition, which is one half of the width of the bottom element. This means that the space is optimally utilized when returning and storing empty containers.
Another advantage with this container design is that all elements can be lifted and positioned into place or disengaged by one person alone. This means greater versatility during handling, since two people are not required. This again means that the time for assembly and the personnel costs involved with the use of the container according to that of the invention, is significantly reduced compared to that of previously known containers.
It is advantageous that the corner posts are disengagably attached to the bottom element, for example with disengagable bolts 51 which can withstand the weight of the container. In this way, the container can be lifted with equipment that is arranged to engage with hooks or the like in the upper region of the gable walls. In addition there may be formed a slit opening 50 (
The container according to the invention is assembled in a way that locks the different parts together mutually. With an appropriate lock that blocks lifting of the uppermost sidewall elements, the entire structure will be locked against opening.
Claims
1. Collapsible A collapsible container comprising:
- two opposite gable walls having corner supporting pillars;
- a bottom element (11) with openings (21) extending supporting furnishings at the corners for disengagable attachment of the two opposite gable walls (12, 13),;
- a plurality of longitudinally arranged sidewall elements;
- wherein the gable walls are connected to or are associated with corner supporting pillars (24) which are provided with slit-shaped openings (31) for disengagable mounting of the longitudinally arranged sidewall elements (14, 15);
- which have projecting hooks (28, 29) with notches (30) in the sidewall elements for engagement with the slit-shaped openings, and of the corner supporting pillars;
- wherein attachment openings (39-44) are arranged in the bottom element (11) for disengagable attachment of a transversal partition wall (36), characterised in that;
- wherein the sidewall elements (14, 15) each have a height dimension (A) which is substantially about one half of the width of the bottom element (11),;
- the vertical distance (B) between two the top of a lower sidewall elements (14, 15) and the bottom of an adjacent upper sidewall element is less than the depth of the notch (30) in the hooks (28, 29), whereby the lower sidewall is prevented from being removed without first removing the upper sidewall element;
- the corner posts (22) supporting pillars of the gable walls (12, 13) are manufactured with a tubular profile with have attachment slit-shaped openings facing inwards, for attachment of shelves (33),; and
- the container includes side supporting pillars or side posts (16, 17) with a projecting flange in both sideward directions, said flanges being provided with slit-shaped openings 31 for attachment of shelves (33).
2. Container The container according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the side and corner supporting pillars (16, 17, 22) have attachment slit openings at an upper end for arrangement of shelves (33) constituting covering elements (lids).
3. Container The container according to claim 2 characterised in that wherein the bottom element (11) has attachment openings (39-44) for accommodate supporting pillars for transversal partition walls for the partitioning of the container into four sections.
4. Container The container according to claim 2 characterised in that wherein each partition wall comprises two side and supporting pillars (16, 17) and a wall element (36) which can be attached to these.
5. Container The container according to claim 2 characterised in that wherein the total collapsed height of the container is one quarter of its height as erected.
6. Container The container according to claim 2 characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
7. Container The container according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the bottom element (11) has attachment openings (39-44) for accommodate supporting pillars for transversal partition walls for the partitioning of the container into four sections.
8. Container The container according to claim 7 characterised in that wherein each partition wall comprises two side supporting pillars (16, 17) and a wall element (36) which can be attached to these.
9. Container The container according to claim 7 characterised in that wherein the total collapsed height of the container is one quarter of its height as erected.
10. Container The container according to claim 7 characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
11. Container The container according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein each partition wall comprises of two side supporting pillars (16, 17) and a wall element (36) which can be attached to these.
12. Container The container according to claim 11 characterised in that wherein the total collapsed height of the container is one quarter of its height as erected.
13. Container The container according to claim 11 characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
14. Container The container according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the total collapsed height of the container is one quarter of its height as erected.
15. Container The container according to claim 14, characterised in that a wherein the extending support furnishing (21) at each corner of the bottom element (11) provides support for an empty container to be stacked.
16. Container The container according to claim 15 characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
17. Container The container according to claim 14 characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
18. Container The container according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the gable walls are disengagably attached to the bottom element in such a way that the weight can be transferred to the gable walls.
19. Container The container according to claim 18, characterised in that wherein the sidewall elements engage with elements (23) which project up from the bottom element the extending support furnishings, so that the corner posts (24) supporting pillars become locked to the bottom element.
20. A collapsible container comprising:
- two opposite gable walls having corner supporting pillars;
- a bottom element with extending support furnishings at the corners for disengagable attachment of the two opposite gable walls;
- a plurality of longitudinally arranged sidewall elements;
- wherein the corner supporting pillars are provided with slit-shaped openings for disengagable mounting of the sidewall elements;
- projecting hooks with notches in the sidewall elements for engagement with the slit-shaped openings of the corner supporting pillars;
- a transversal partition wall;
- wherein attachment openings are arranged in the bottom element for disengagable attachment of the transversal partition wall;
- wherein the sidewall elements each have a height dimension which is about one half of the width of the bottom element;
- the vertical distance between the top of a lower sidewall element and the bottom of an upper sidewall element is less than the depth of the notch in the hooks, whereby the lower sidewall is prevented from being removed without first removing the upper sidewall element;
- one or more shelves;
- wherein the corner supporting pillars of the gable walls have attachment slit-shaped openings facing inwards, for attachment of the shelves; and
- the container includes side supporting pillars with a projecting flange in both sideward directions, said flanges being provided with slit-shaped openings for attachment of the shelves.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 17, 2002
Date of Patent: Dec 26, 2006
Inventors: Svein Rene (N-3124, Tonsberg), Christoffer Worsoe (N-7053, Ranheim)
Primary Examiner: Stephen Castellano
Attorney: Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP
Application Number: 10/273,025
International Classification: B65D 6/24 (20060101);