COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER

Abstract

A container includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a base. The walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Interlocking portions, such as hooks, extend outwardly from upper edges of the end walls, above the supports. The hooks interlock with edges of the side walls to prevent the upper ends of the end walls from deflecting outwardly

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/224,882 filed Jul. 12, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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, non-collapsible, nestable container can be supported thereon. One such collapsible crate includes end walls each having a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position. The nestable containers can be supported on the supports when the supports are in the support position. However, when the nestable container is loaded, the weight of the nestable container placed carelessly onto the supports may be sufficient to deflect the upper portion of one end wall of the collapsible crate outwardly. The deflection of the one end wall may be sufficient so that the opposite end of the nestable container may not be aligned on the opposite support and may consequently fall into the collapsible container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container having a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a base. The walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Interlocking portions, such as hooks, extend outwardly from upper edges of the end walls, above the supports. The hooks interlock with edges of the side walls to prevent the upper ends of the end walls from deflecting outwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one embodiment of the present invention in an assembled upright position.

FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exterior view of the quarter of the container of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is the interior view of FIG. 3 with the end wall collapsed.

FIG. 6 is an interior view of one of the end walls, with the support removed.

FIG. 7 is an exterior view of the end wall of FIG. 6 showing one of the interlocking portions.

FIG. 8 shows the end wall of FIG. 6 with the support.

FIG. 9 is an exterior view of the corner of the side wall of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an interior view of the corner of the side wall of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows the quarter of the container of FIG. 3 as the end wall is being collapsed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-11 show a collapsible container 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the container 10 in an upright, assembled, use position. The container 10 includes a base 12, 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.

Each end wall 18 has a support 20. The support 20 is pivotably and slidably mounted to the end wall 18 and movable between a retracted position and a support position. The support 20 is shown in FIG. 1 pivoted to the support position, where it projects into the interior of the container 10 where it can support another container stacked thereon.

The end walls 18 are collapsible onto the base 12, and the side walls 14 are collapsible onto the end walls 18, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of a container 10. The remainder of the container 10 would be symmetric. The supports 20 include lateral projections 26 projecting into arcuate channels 22 formed in each side wall 14. The lateral projections 26 of the supports 20 move in the arcuate channels 22 as the end walls 18 are collapsed onto the base 12. The lateral projections 26 include downward projections that slide behind vertical ribs 24 adjacent the arcuate channels 22.

FIG. 4 is an exterior view of the corner of the container 10 of FIG. 3. The side walls 14 include interlocking portions 32 that interlock with complementary portions 34 on the end walls 18 below the supports 20. The end walls 18 further include upper interlocking portions 36 received in openings 38 in the side walls 14 above the supports 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the end walls 18 are collapsible onto the base 12 (and the side walls 14 are collapsible onto the end walls 18, although the order could be reversed).

FIG. 6 is an interior view of one of the end walls 18, with the support 20 removed. The end walls 18 include hinge pin receivers 40 for slidably and pivotably receiving the hinge pins of the support 20. As shown, the upper interlocking portions 36 project outwardly from the end walls 18.

FIG. 7 is an exterior view of the end wall 18 showing one of the interlocking portions 36. The interlocking portion 36 includes a laterally projecting portion 37 and a vertically oriented, rearwardly projecting portion 39 for being received in the openings 38 in the side walls 14, as shown in FIG. 4. The laterally projecting portion 37 and rearwardly projecting portion 39 form a hook. The upper interlocking portions 36 received in openings 38 in the side walls 14 above the supports 20 prevent the upper portions of the end walls 18 from being deflected outwardly by a container stacked on the supports 20. This helps ensure that the upper container is properly stacked on the supports 20.

FIG. 8 shows the end wall 18 with the support 20. In the retracted position, the support 20 may be equally as high (or higher) than the interlocking portions 36, but the interlocking portions 36 should be higher than the supports 20 when the supports are in the support position.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the side wall 14. As shown, the side walls 14 include a lip 42 projecting inward. The openings 38 are formed in the lips 42.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the end wall 18 is collapsed onto the base wall 12, the interlocking portion 36 and the lateral projection 26 are received in the arcuate channel 22 down to the base 12.

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.

Claims

1. A collapsible container comprising:

a base;

a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base;

at least one support pivotable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container to a support position, the first wall including an interlocking portion projecting laterally outward from the first wall, the interlocking portion interlocking with a complementary interlocking portion on a second wall of the plurality of walls when the first wall and the second wall are in the upright position.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the interlocking portion is farther from the base than the support when the support is in the support position.

3. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the interlocking portion includes a laterally projecting portion and a rearwardly projection portion projecting toward an exterior of the container from a lateral end of the laterally projecting portion.

4. The collapsible container of claim 3 wherein the rearwardly projecting portion is vertically elongated.

5. The collapsible container of claim 4 wherein the first wall is a short wall and wherein the second wall is a long wall, wherein the first wall is collapsible directly onto the base and the second wall is collapsible onto the first wall.

6. The collapsible container of claim 4 wherein the complementary interlocking portion is a vertically elongated opening.

7. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the interlocking portion and the complementary interlocking portion prevent an upper edge of the first wall from deflecting outwardly.

8. A collapsible container comprising:

a base;

a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base;

at least one support pivotable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container to a support position, the first wall including a hook projecting laterally outward from the first wall, the hook received in an opening in a second wall of the plurality of walls when the first wall and the second wall are in the upright position.

9. The collapsible container of claim 8 wherein the hook is farther from the base than the support when the support is in the support position.

10. The collapsible container of claim 9 wherein the hook includes a laterally projecting portion and a rearwardly projection portion projecting toward an exterior of the container from a lateral end of the laterally projecting portion.

11. The collapsible container of claim 10 wherein the rearwardly projecting portion is vertically elongated.

12. The collapsible container of claim 10 wherein the hook and the opening prevent an upper edge of the first wall from deflecting outwardly.