COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted below a lip formed on an upper edge of the wall. The support is pivotable between a deployed position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. A torsion member biases the support toward the deployed position. A latch deploys the support as the wall is moved toward the upright position.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/016,236, filed Dec. 21, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe 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 latch mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use position.
Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so that another container can be supported thereon. One such crate includes end walls each having a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a collapsible container having a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted by a hinge below an upper end thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where it can support another container thereon and a retracted position against the wall. In the support position, the lateral ends of the support are supported on the long walls. A torsion member biases the support toward the support position, such that when the support is forced into the retracted position, it will automatically return to the support position.
In the example described below, the torsion member engages the wall adjacent the one to which it is mounted, such that the torsion member only biases the support toward the support position when the walls are in the erect position.
In another feature of the present invention, a latch formed adjacent the base wall moves the support to the support position as the wall is moved from the collapsed position to the erect position.
In the particular embodiment shown, the supports are 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. Alternatively, the supports could be formed on the long walls (or on equally-sized walls).
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:
Each end wall 18 has a support 20. The support 20 is pivotably mounted at its lower edge to a position spaced below an upper edge of the end wall 18. The support 20 is shown in
The interiors of the side walls 14 each include an upper frame portion 22 protruding into the container 10. A curved channel 24 is formed through each upper frame portion 22 adjacent the end wall 18. The interior of each side wall 14 further includes a lower frame portion 26 having a channel 28 formed therethrough below each curved channel 24. 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 channel 34 formed on an interior thereof, below each channel 28. The channels 24, 28 and 34 are aligned with one another and with the tabs 21 on the supports 20, so that the end walls 18 can be pivoted to the collapsed position prior to the side walls 14 being collapsed, such that the side walls 14 are collapsed onto the end walls 18, as shown in
The side wall 14 further includes an inwardly projecting member 48 having a recess 50 formed therein. The recess 50 includes an upper abutment surface 52 and a mating surface 54.
In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. For example, in any of the occurrences above, the hinge members and hinge pins could be reversed and formed on opposite parts. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise indicated in the claims.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a base;
- a first wall pivotably mounted relative to the base;
- a second wall pivotably mounted relative to the base, adjacent the first wall; and
- a support pivotably mounted to the first wall, the support pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base between a deployed position and a retracted position, a torsion member biasing the support toward the deployed position.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the torsion member is at least substantially coaxial with the axis.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the torsion member is integrally molded with the support.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein an engagement portion of the torsion member engages the second wall, such that the second wall prevents rotation of the engagement portion of the torsion member.
5. The container of claim 1 further including a latch moving the support from the retracted position to the deployed position as the first wall is moved from a collapsed position on the base toward an erect position.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the latch is formed integrally with the base.
7. The container of claim 5 wherein the latch is deflected outwardly by the support when the first wall is moved from the erect position toward the collapsed position.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is received in the first wall in the retracted position.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the support moves into the interior of the container from the retracted position to the deployed position.
10. A container comprising:
- a base;
- a first wall pivotably mounted relative to the base; and
- a second wall pivotably mounted relative to the base, adjacent the first wall; and
- a support movably mounted to the first wall, the support movable between a deployed position and a retracted position, the support protruding into the interior of the container more in the deployed position than in the retracted position, the support including a torsion member biasing the support toward the deployed position.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein the torsion member is integrally molded with the support.
12. The container of claim 11 wherein the torsion member engages the second wall, such that the second wall inhibits rotation a portion of the torsion member.
13. The container of claim 12 wherein the torsion member is twisted by movement of the support to the retracted position.
14. A container comprising:
- a base;
- a first wall pivotably mounted relative to the base and movable between a collapsed position and an upright position;
- a second wall pivotably mounted relative to the base, adjacent the first wall;
- a support pivotably mounted to the first wall, the support pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base between a support position and a retracted position; and
- a latch moving the support from the retracted position to the deployed position as the first wall is moved from the collapsed position toward the upright position.
15. The container of claim 14 wherein the latch is formed integrally with the base.
16. The container of claim 14 wherein the latch is deflected outwardly by the support when the first wall is moved from the erect position toward the collapsed position.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 15, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2009
Inventor: William P. Apps (Alpharetta, GA)
Application Number: 12/014,234
International Classification: B65D 6/18 (20060101);