Container

Abstract

A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position, where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to collapsible crates and more particularly to a collapsible crate with support members for supporting another container thereon.

Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls each connected via a hinge to a base are selectively movable about the hinge between a use position, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base. Various mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the comer to selectively lock the crate in the use position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible container having a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.

The supports may be formed on short end walls of the container, such that the supports and end walls can be collapsed onto the base and the long side walls can be pivoted onto the end walls. In this manner, the supports are protected from damage during shipping of the containers in the collapsed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, with the walls in the upright position and the supports in the support position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with a second container supported thereon.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the support in the retracted position.

FIG. 7 illustrates the container of FIG. 6 with the wall being pivoted toward the collapsed position.

FIG. 8 illustrates the container of FIG. 6 with the wall in the collapsed position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates the container of FIG. 8 with the side wall collapsed onto the end wall.

FIG. 10A is an exterior perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 showing a latch that could be used to connect adjacent walls.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with the walls in the upright position and the supports in the support position.

FIG. 12 illustrates the container of FIG. 11 with a second container supported thereon.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the supports of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of the container of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, with the support in the vertical position.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16, with the support in the fully retracted position.

FIG. 18 illustrates the container of FIG. 17 with the wall being pivoted toward the collapsed position.

FIG. 19 illustrates the container of FIG. 17 with the wall in the collapsed position.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a container 10 includes a base 12 having upstanding side walls 14 (or long walls) and upstanding end walls 18 (or short walls). The side walls 14 and end walls 18 are pivotably connected along long and short edges of the base 12, respectively. The side walls 14 and, end walls 18 are movable between the upright position shown and a collapsed position on the base 12.

Each end wall 18 has a support 20 (or flap) pivotably mounted to an upper portion thereof. The supports 20 are shown in FIG. 1 pivoted to a support position generally perpendicular to the end walls 18 and projecting into the interior of the container 10. In the support position, laterally-extending tabs 21 are supported on the side walls 14.

The interiors of the side walls 14 each include an upper frame portion 22 protruding into the container 10. A pair of curved channels 24 is formed through each upper frame portion 22. The interiors of the side walls 14 each further include a lower frame portion 26 having a pair of channels 28 formed therethrough. A recess 30 is defined between the upper frame portion 22 and the lower frame portion 26. The base 12 includes a pair of side upstanding portions 32 to which the side walls 14 are pivotably attached. Each side upstanding portion 32 includes a pair of channels 34 formed on an interior thereof. The channels 24, 28 and 34 are aligned with one another in a manner that will be explained below. The base 12 further includes a pair of end upstanding portions 36 to which the end walls 18 are pivotably attached.

Referring to FIG. 2, with the supports 20 in the support position, another container 100 can be supported on the supports 20 of the container 10.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of the container 10 of FIG. 1. The support 20 includes a stop member 38, such as an elongated rib projecting outwardly from a bottom edge of the support 20. The support 20 further includes an interlocking feature 40, such as an elongated rib extending upwardly from an upper edge of the support 20. As shown, the tab 21 of the support 20 is received in a recess 44 at the upper edge of the side wall 14 when the support 20 is in the support position. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the tab 21 does not align with the channels 24, 28 or 34 when the support 20 is in the support position. The end wall 18 includes a handle 42 formed therein.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3. The end wall 18 may be pivotably connected to the base 12 via a hinge including a hinge member 48 integral with the end wall 18 and a hinge pin 50 integral with the base 12.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3. The support 20 is pivotably connected to an upper portion of the end wall 18 via a hinge including a hinge member 54 integrally molded with the support 20 and a hinge pin 56 integrally molded with the end wall 18.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the support 20 in the retracted position (i.e. retracted from the interior of the container 10). In the retracted position, the support 10 is pivoted upwardly until the stop member 38 abuts the upper edge of the end wall 18, thereby preventing further movement. In the retracted position, the support 20 does not project into the interior of the container 10 and is generally parallel to the end wall 18, extending upwardly from the upper edge of the end wall 18. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the tab 21 includes a recess 58 on its underside that receives a projection 60 adjacent the recess 44 in the side wall 14 so that the tab 21 interlocks with the side wall 14.

FIG. 7 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 6 with the end wall 18 being pivoted toward the collapsed position. With the support 20 in the retracted (upright) position, as the end wall 18 is pivoted downwardly, the tab 21 of the support 20 passes through the channel 24 in the upper frame portion 22, through the recess 30, through the channel 28 in the lower frame portion 26 and through the channel 34 in the side upstanding portion 32 of the base 12. FIG. 8 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 6 with the end wall 18 in the collapsed position. The tab 21 of the support 20 is received in the channel 34 in the side upstanding portion 32 of the base 12. The end wall 18 and support 20 lie flush with the base 12. The other end wall 18 (not shown) collapses similarly and the end walls 18 do not overlap each other. The side walls 14 can then be collapsed onto the end walls 18. The supports 20 are flush with the end walls 18 and protected by the side walls 14.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 9-9 of FIG. 6. As shown, the hinge member 54 of the support 20 includes a projection 64 that interacts with a projection 66 on the end wall 18 to form a detent that retains the support 20 in the retracted, upright position. The hinge member 54 extends into a cavity 70 formed at the upper inner edge of the end wall 18. The projection 66 is formed on a lower surface of the cavity 70. The stop member 38 of the support 20 abuts the upper edge of the end wall 18 to prevent further rotation.

FIG. 10 illustrates the container 10 of FIG. 8 with the side wall 14 collapsed onto the end wall 18. FIG. 10A is an exterior perspective view of the container 10 showing a latch 72 that could be used to connect adjacent walls 14, 18. Although for clarity they have not been illustrated in the other FIG. herein, it is known that collapsible containers, such as the collapsible container 10 (and the collapsible container 110, below), have latches connecting adjacent walls in the upright position. The latches can be manual latches 72 as shown in FIG. 10A, or knock-down latches. The latch 72, or any other sort of latch, could also be used in the container 110 described below.

FIG. 11 illustrates a container 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The container 110 includes a base 112 having upstanding side walls 114 (or long walls) and upstanding end walls 18 (or short walls). The side walls 114 and end walls 118 are pivotably connected along long and short edges of the base 112, respectively. The side walls 114 and end walls 118 are movable between the upright position shown and a collapsed position on the base 112.

Each end wall 118 has a support 20 pivotably mounted to an upper portion thereof. The supports 120 are shown in FIG. 11 pivoted to a support position generally perpendicular to the end walls 118 and projecting into the interior of the container 110. Each support 120 includes an elongated rail 123 and a pair of arms 125 extending perpendicularly from the rail 123. In the support position, laterally-extending ends 121 of the rail 123 are supported on the side walls 114.

The interiors of the side walls 114 each include an upper frame portion 122 protruding into the container 110. A pair of curved channels 124 is formed through each upper frame portion 122. The. interiors of the side walls 114 each further include a lower frame portion 126 having a pair of channels 128 formed therethrough. A recess 130 is defined between the upper frame portion 122 and the lower frame portion 126. The base 112 includes a pair of side upstanding portions 132 to which the side walls 114 are pivotably attached. Each side upstanding portion 132 includes a pair of channels 134 formed on an interior thereof. The channels 124, 128 and 134 are aligned with one another. The base 112 further includes a pair of end upstanding portions 136 to which the end walls 118 are pivotably attached.

FIG. 12 illustrates the container of FIG. 11 with the second container 100 supported thereon.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of one of the supports 120 of FIG. 11. Each support 120 includes the elongated rail 123 and the pair of arms 125 extending perpendicularly from the rail 123. A slot 127 is formed on the underside of the rail 123 adjacent each end 121. Each of the arms 125 includes an integral pivot pin 129 at an end of the arm 125 opposite the rail 123. Each of the arms 125 includes a shoulder 131 spaced away from the rail 123.

FIG. 14 is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of the container 110 of FIG. 11. As shown, the end 121 of the support 120 is received in a recess 144 at the upper edge of the side wall 114 adjacent the channel 124 when the support 120 is in the support position. The end 121 of the rail 123 does not align with the channels 124, 128 or 134 when the support 120 is in the support position. The end wall 118 includes a handle 142 formed therein.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14. The end wall 118 may be pivotably connected to the base 112 via a hinge including a hinge member 148 integral with the end wall 118 and a hinge pin 150 integral with the base 112.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to that of FIG. 14, with the support 120 in the vertical position. In FIG. 16, the support 120 has been pivoted about pivot pin 129 from the support position shown in FIG. 16 to the vertical position. The rail 123 is spaced above an upper edge of the end wall 118, with the arm 125 fully extended. The pivot pin 129 is pivotably and slidably connected to a channel 170 in the end wall 118. An upwardly projecting rib 160 is adjacent the recess 144 in the upper edge of the side wall 114 for interlocking with the slot 127 in the end 121 of the rail 123.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to that of FIG. 16, with the support 120 in the fully retracted position. The arm 125 is inserted into the channel 170 in the end wall 118 until the shoulder 131 abuts the upper edge of the end wall 118, leaving the rail 123 and the end 121 of the rail 123 a known distance from the upper edge of the end wall 118.

In this position, the end wall 118 can be pivoted to the collapsed position as shown in FIG. 18. As the end wall 118 is being pivoted toward the collapsed position, the end 121 of the rail 123 passes through the channel 124, the recess 130, the recess 128 and the recess 134 until the end wall 118 lies on the base 112, as shown in FIG. 19. FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view take along line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in any of the occurrences above, the hinge members and hinge pins could be reversed and formed on opposite parts.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a base having opposed long edges and opposed short edges;

a first wall pivotably mounted to one of the opposed short edges of the base;

an adjacent wall adjacent the first wall, the support supported by the first wall and the adjacent wall in the support position; and

a support pivotably mounted to the first wall and pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base, the support pivotable between a support position and a retracted positions, wherein the support includes a laterally-extending projection, the projection contacting the adjacent wall to support the support in the support position, wherein the adjacent wall includes a channel on an interior surface thereof, the projection disposed in the channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base toward a collapsed position on the base.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is a flap pivotable between the retracted position generally parallel to the first wall and the support position generally transverse to the first wall.

3. (canceled)

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is a flap having a lower end pivotably attached to an upper portion of the first wall, wherein the support is pivotable between the retracted position generally parallel to the first wall and the support position generally transverse to the first wall.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the first wall and the support are collapsible onto the base when the support is in the retracted position.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel is an upper channel through an upper frame portion, the interior surface of the adjacent wall further including a lower channel through a lower frame portion and a recess between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, the projection passing through the upper channel, the recess and the lower channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base.

9. The container of claim 4 wherein the support includes a stop member contacting the first wall and limiting pivoting motion of the support relative to the first wall when the support is in the retracted position.

10. The container of claim 4 wherein the support extends upward from an upper edge of the first wall when the support is in the retracted position.

11. The container of claim 1 further including a hinge pivotably connecting the support to the first wall.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the support includes a locating feature projecting upwardly from the support when the support is in the support position.

13. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is pivotably and slidably mounted to the first wall.

14. A container comprising:

a base;

a first wall mounted to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position;

a second wall adjacent the first wall and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on top of the first wall; and

a flap mounted to an upper end portion of the first wall, the flap movable between a first position supported on the second wall and a second position extending upwardly from an upper edge of the first wall.

15. The container of claim 14 wherein the flap and the first wall are movable to the collapsed position when the flap is in the second position.

16. The container of claim 14 wherein the flap is generally parallel to the first wall when the flap is in the second position.

17. A container comprising:

a base;

a first wall mounted to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position;

a second wall adjacent the first wall and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position, the second wall including a channel on an interior surface thereof, and

a support mounted to an upper end portion of the first wall and including a laterally-extending portion, the support movable between a first position where the laterally-extending portion is supported on the second wall and a second position where the laterally-extending portion of the flap can pass through the channel of the second wall as the first wall is pivoted to the collapsed position.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the support is slidable and pivotable relative to first wall.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the support is at least partially retractable into the first wall.

20. The container of claim 17 wherein the support is at least partially retractable into the first wall.

21. The container of claim 17 wherein the channel is an arcuate channel.

22. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel is an arcuate channel.

23. The container of claim 1 wherein the channel includes an upper opening into which the projection is received as the first wall is pivoted from an upright position toward the collapsed position.

24. The container of claim 1 wherein the projection does not extend through the adjacent wall.

25. The container of claim 14 wherein the support includes a stop member contacting the first wall when the support is in the second position and preventing further pivoting motion of the support relative to the first wall.

26. The container of claim 1 wherein the adjacent wall is collapsible onto the first wall when the first wall is in the collapsed position on the base.