Locking collapsible container

Abstract

A collapsible container movable between an erect position and a collapsed position includes a bottom having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls pivotally connected thereto. The top ring extends around a top edge of the container and a lid is mounted on the top ring to form a cover for the container. One end of the lid, the top of an associated end wall and an associated end bar of the top ring each contain through holes therein which are aligned with each other to receive removable locking means therein to lock the container in an erect position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible container and, more particularly, to a collapsible container for holding goods which is movable between a collapsed and an erected position and which has a locking feature which secures the container when in an erected position.

2. Description of the Related Art

Collapsible containers for storing and transporting goods are in wide use. The collapsible containers may be used to hold goods for shipping and/or storage when in an erect position and advantageously also may be moved to a collapsed position when not in use. Examples of known collapsible containers are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,953 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,979. Another collapsible container is shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0104230.

It is important in connection with collapsible containers that they be able to be maintained in an erect position when in use and that they be secured against unauthorized access. While the containers shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,9553 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0104230 contain locking features that maintain the containers in an erect position when in use, a need still exists for a collapsible container having an improved locking feature to maintain the container in an erect position when in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible container which is movable between a collapsed position and an erect position and which includes means for securely locking the container in an erect position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible container which includes a removable locking means inserted through aligned holes in a lid, a top ring and an end wall.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible container wherein the side walls and end walls are foldable inwardly when the container is in a collapsed position and which walls are maintained in an upright position when the container is in an erect position and wherein a break away rivet is used to securely lock the walls in the erect position.

The present invention achieves the above and other objects by providing a collapsible container movable between an erect position and a collapsed position and which includes a bottom, a pair of opposed end walls pivotally connected to opposite ends of the bottom and a pair of opposed side walls pivotally connected to opposite sides of the bottom. Each side wall includes an upper section and a lower section pivotally connected together lengthwise at an intermediate portion of the side wall. A top ring extends around a top edge of the container and the upper edges of the side walls and end walls are pivotally connected thereto. A lid is mounted on the top ring and forms a cover for the container. Aligned holes are formed in the lid, the top ring and an upper edge of one of the end walls which, when the container is in an erect position, form aligned holes through which a removable locking means is inserted to lock the container in the erect position. The locking means may be a break away rivet made of a brittle plastic or a tie made of a suitable material such as metal. The container preferably is made of a suitable plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the following detailed description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container of the present invention showing the container in an erect position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded end elevational view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a container of the present invention showing a breakaway rivet locking the container in an erect position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the middle of FIG. 1 of the container of the present invention and FIG. 5A is a blown up view of an end portion of FIG. 5 showing the locking feature of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the container of the present invention showing an end wall partially erected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Shown in the drawings is a collapsible container 10 having a bottom 12, two opposed end walls 14 and 16 and two opposed side walls 18 and 20. A rectangular top ring 22 extends all the way around the upper edge of the container. A lid 24 is mounted on the top ring to form a cover for the container. The container is movable between an erect position as shown in FIG. 1 and a collapsed position (not shown). The container may be constructed of a suitable plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

As shown in FIG. 2, side wall 18 is comprised of an upper section 30 and a lower section 32 connected together intermediate of the side wall by a suitable hinge means 34. Upper section 30 is hingedly connected to top ring 20 by a suitable hinge connection 36 and lower section 32 is hingedly connected to bottom wall 12 by suitable hinge connection 38. The side wall 18 is constructed so that it may pivot or collapse inwardly when the container is moved to a collapsed position. Opposite side wall 20 is of the identical construction as side wall 18.

End wall 14 is hingedly connected at its bottom or lower edge to an end of the bottom 12 by suitable hinge means 40 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Opposite end wall 16 similarly is hinged at its lower edge to the opposite end of the bottom 12. Both end walls are hingedly connected so as to fold inwardly when the container is being collapsed.

The top ring 22 is constructed of two opposed end bars 42 and 44 and two opposed side bars 46 and 48. The two end bars and the two side bars are connected together at their ends to form the rectangular top ring 22 which is adapted to fit all the way around the top edges of the end walls and side walls.

A significant feature of the invention resides in a removable locking means extending through aligned holes in the lid, one end wall and one end bar of the top ring to lock the walls in an upright position when the container is fully erected. The locking means also provides an additional level of security in that it provides an indication as to whether the container has been tampered with.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 5A and 6, the right hand end of the lid 24 is provided with a through hole 52 at the center thereof. End bar 42 is provided with a through hole 54 in the middle thereof which extends through the top of the end bar into an access opening 58 in the end bar 42. The bottom 60 of access opening 58 is angled downwardly and outwardly as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A.

The top of end wall 14 is provided with a tab 62 spaced from the top of the end wall. The tab is provided with a through hole 56. The tab 62 fits over the top of the end bar 42 of the top ring when the container is in an erected position as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5 and in FIG. 5A. The hole 52 in the lid, the hole 56 in the top edge of the end wall 14 and the hole 54 in the end bar 42 of the top ring are all aligned so that when the container is erected, the three through holes for an opening which extends all the way through from the top of the lid 52 into the access area 58 of the end bar 42.

A removable locking means 66 is inserted through the aligned holes 52, 54 and 56 to lock the container in an erect position. The form of locking means shown in the drawing is a break away rivet having a handle 68 on the top and a bottom having prongs 70 thereon for engagement with the bottom of the hole 54 in the end bar 42. The break away rivet is preferably constructed of a brittle plastic or a nylon and one commercially available and is well known in the art. Alternatively, the locking means 66 may be a metal or plastic string tie. When a break away rivet is used as the locking means 66, the handle portion 68 is pulled and the handle portion breaks off from the lower body of the rivet containing the prongs 70. The bottom half of the rivet then falls into the access area 58 and slides along the angled bottom 60 thereof and falls clear of the container.

The container is designed so that a plurality of the containers may be stacked one upon the other when in an erected position. For this purpose, the lid 24 of the container has a depressed central area 72 to accommodate a bottom support portion 74 of the container.

To move the collapsible container of the present invention from an erect position to a collapsed position, the locking means 66 is removed from the holes in the lid 24, end wall 14 and end bar 42 of the top ring 22. The end walls 14 and 16 are then folded inwardly to lie flat on the bottom 12. The side walls 18 and 20 are then both folded inwardly so that the side walls and the top ring are lowered to rest on top of the folded in end walls. The collapsed containers then take up much less space when being shipped or stored.

The use of a single locking means such as a break away rivet which locks the top 24, end wall 14 and end bar 42 of top ring 22 together provides greater security in preventing the container from collapsing than is possible with other collapsible containers currently in use. Moreover, the use of a breakaway locking means such as a rivet not only provides an easy way for releasing the sides for folding but also provides a visual indication of any tampering with the container in an attempt to open the container.

Numerous other modifications and adaptations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and thus, it is intended by the following claims, to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible container movable between an erect position and a collapsed position, said container comprising:

a) a bottom;

b) a pair of opposed side walls;

c) a pair of opposed end walls;

d) a top ring extending around a top edge of said container, said top ring comprising two opposed end bars and two opposed side bars;

e) a lid mounted on said top ring to form a cover for said container;

f) a first through hole formed in a top of one of said end walls;

g) a second through hole formed in an end bar of said top ring positioned over said one end wall and aligned with said first through hole;

h) a third through hole formed in an end of said lid positioned over said one end wall and aligned with said first and second through holes; and

i) a removable locking means inserted through said first, second and third through holes to lock said container in an erect position.

2. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a break away rivet.

3. A collapsible container according to claim 2 which further comprises a rivet access area having a bottom surface angled downwardly in said end bar having said third hole therein whereby a break away rivet once broken may fall clear of said container.

4. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein said locking means is a tie.

5. A collapsible container according to claim 1 wherein said end walls and side walls are pivotally connected to said bottom and said side walls also are pivotally connected to said top ring and wherein each of said side walls comprises an upper section and a lower section pivotally connected together lengthwise at an intermediate portion of said side wall.

6. A collapsible container movable between an erect position and a collapsed position, said container comprising:

a) a bottom;

b) a pair of opposed end walls pivotally connected to opposite ends of said bottom;

c) a pair of opposed side walls pivotally connected to opposite sides of said bottom;

d) each said side wall comprising an upper section and a lower section pivotally connected together lengthwise thereof;

e) a top ring comprising two opposed end bars and two opposed side bars;

f) each said upper section of a side wall being pivotally connected to a side bar of said top ring;

g) a lid mounted on said top ring to form a cover for said container;

h) a first through hole formed in a top of one of said end walls;

i) a second through hole formed in an end bar of said top ring positioned over said one end wall and aligned with said first through hole;

j) a third through hole formed in an end of said lid positioned over said one end wall and aligned with said first and second through holes; and

k) a break away rivet inserted through said first, second and third through holes to lock said one end wall, said top ring and said lid together.

7. A collapsible container according to claim 6 which further comprises a rivet access area having a bottom surface angled downwardly in said end bar having said third hole therein whereby a break away rivet once broken may fall clear of said container.