COLLAPSIBLE CRATE
A collapsible crate includes a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges. The side edges are longer than the end edges. A pair of opposed side walls are pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Each of the pair of opposed side walls include a handle opening therethrough. A pair of opposed end walls are pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
In the case-ready meat, seafood and poultry industries, fluids may leak from packages during transit. The leaked fluids may contaminate other products, the trucks and other equipment carrying the packages.
SUMMARYA collapsible crate includes a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges. The side edges are longer than the end edges. A pair of opposed side walls are pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Each of the pair of opposed side walls includes a handle opening therethrough. A pair of opposed end walls are pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
The base may further include opposing upstanding side flanges along the side edges of the base and upstanding end flanges along the end edges of the base. The side walls may be pivotably connected to the upstanding side flanges and the end walls may be pivotably connected to the upstanding end flanges. In the disclosed embodiment, the upstanding end flanges are taller than the upstanding side flanges.
The base may include a center channel between a pair of support platforms. An upper portion of at least one of the pair of opposed side walls may be receivable in the center channel when moved to the collapsed position.
The side walls may each include a panel member recessed outward of an upper frame. The upper frame may be received in the center channel when the first side wall is in the collapsed position.
The base may include a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base. The drag rail may define channels on an upper surface of the base adjacent the side edges and the end edges. There may be interruptions in a center of the drag rail along side edges of the base below the side edges.
The collapsible crate may be a small collapsible crate relative to a large collapsible crate. The small collapsible crate may be stacked on the large collapsible crate. The large collapsible crate may include a large base, a pair of long walls pivotably connected to the large base, and a pair of short walls pivotably connected to the large base. Handle openings are formed through the short walls of the large collapsible crate. The small collapsible crate can be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on one of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.
A second small collapsible crate identical to the small collapsible crate may be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the other of the short walls of the large collapsible crate. The end walls of the small crate may not have handle openings therethrough, to reduce ventilation of the small crate.
A collapsible crate 10 according to one embodiment is shown in
Each of the side walls 14 includes an upper frame member 26 and a lower frame member 27. A substantially planar panel member 28 extends from the upper frame member 26 to the lower frame member 27. The panel member 28 is recessed toward the exterior of the crate 10 relative to the upper frame member 26 and the lower frame member 27. The side walls 14 each include a handle opening 30 formed through the panel member 28 just below the upper frame member 26. Each side wall 14 and end wall 16 is injection molded as a single plastic part.
Note that in
The small collapsible crate 10 can be stacked on the large collapsible crate 50 with the end edges of the base 12 of the small collapsible crate 10 supported on the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and one of the side edges of the base 12 of the small collapsible crate 10 supported on one of the short walls 56 of the large collapsible crate 50. The drag rail 42 of the crate 10 is received between the long walls 54 of the large collapsible crate 50 and inward of the proximate short wall 56.
As shown in
The handle openings 30 of the crates 10 are on the same sides as the handle openings (in the short walls or end walls) of the second crate 50. To reduce ventilation through the small crates 10, there are no handle openings through the end walls 16.
In
In the case-ready meat, seafood and poultry industries, it is desirable to contain fluids that may leak from packages during transit. In order to achieve maximum fluid retention, the base 12 of the collapsible crate 10 has multiple channels 36, 38, 40 along both the length and width of the crate 10. The perimeter drag rail 42 also promotes fluid drainage and retention, as the channels 38, 40 extend partially into the drag rail 42 (increasing the volume of the channels 38, 40). There are no openings through the base 12.
The perimeter drag rail 42 also serves additional purposes aside from fluid retention. The size and location of the drag rail 42 allows the crates to interlock when column stacked, either erected or collapsed, and also assist in transferring the load when slide stacking crates. The crates 10 can also be cross stacked and the interruptions 43 in the length of the drag rail 42 assist in interlocking the crates when cross stacked.
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 crate comprising:
- a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges, wherein the side edges are longer than the end edges;
- a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, each of the pair of opposed side walls including a handle opening therethrough; and
- a pair of opposed end walls pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.
2. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes opposing upstanding side flanges along the side edges of the base and upstanding end flanges along the end edges of the base, wherein the side walls are pivotably connected to the upstanding side flanges and the end walls are pivotably connected to the upstanding end flanges, wherein the upstanding end flanges are taller than the upstanding side flanges.
3. The collapsible crate of claim 2 wherein the base includes a center channel between a pair of support platforms, and wherein an upper portion of at least one of the pair of opposed side walls is received in the center channel when moved to the collapsed position.
4. The collapsible crate of claim 3 further including a center ridge in the center channel.
5. The collapsible crate of claim 3 wherein the pair of opposed side walls includes a first side wall, the first side wall including a panel member recessed outward of an upper frame, wherein the upper frame is received in the center channel when the first side wall is in the collapsed position.
6. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base, wherein the drag rail defines channels on an upper surface of the base adjacent the side edges and the end edges.
7. The collapsible crate of claim 6 further including interruptions in a center of the drag rail along side edges of the base below the side edges.
8. The collapsible crate of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drag rail projecting downward at a periphery of the base, wherein the drag rail defines channels on an upper surface of the base outward of a pair of support platforms.
9. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the collapsible crate is a small collapsible crate, and the small collapsible crate is stacked on a large collapsible crate, wherein the large collapsible crate includes a large base, a pair of long walls pivotably connected to the large base, and a pair of short walls pivotably connected to the large base, wherein handle openings are formed through the short walls of the large collapsible crate, wherein the small collapsible crate can be stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the small collapsible crate supported on one of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.
10. The small collapsible crate and large collapsible crate of claim 9, wherein a second small collapsible crate identical to the small collapsible crate is stacked on the large collapsible crate with the end edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the long walls of the large collapsible crate and one of the side edges of the base of the second small collapsible crate supported on the other of the short walls of the large collapsible crate.
11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the end walls of the small crates do not have handle openings therethrough.
12. In combination:
- a first crate including a base having opposed side edges and opposed end edges, wherein the side edges are longer than the end edges, the first crate including a pair of opposed side walls pivotably connected to the side edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, each of the pair of opposed side walls including a handle opening therethrough, the first crate including a pair of opposed end walls pivotably connected to the end edges of the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base; and
- a second crate having a base have opposed long edges and opposed short edges, the second crate including a pair of opposed long walls pivotably connected to the long edges and a pair of opposed short walls pivotably connected to the short edges, each of the pair of opposed short walls including a handle opening therethrough, wherein the opposed side edges of the first crate are approximately the same length as the opposed short edges of the second crate and wherein the opposed long edges of the second crate are approximately twice the length of the end edges of the first crate.
13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the first crate is stacked on the second crate.
14. The combination of claim 13 wherein a third crate identical to the first crate is also stacked on the second crate.
15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the first crate is stacked on the second crate with the end edges of the base of the first crate supported on the long walls of the second crate and one of the side edges of the base of the first crate supported on one of the short walls of the second crate.
16. The combination of claim 15 wherein the end walls of the first crate do not have handle openings therethrough.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 7, 2021
Publication Date: Mar 24, 2022
Inventors: Daniel Vincent Sekowski (Loganville, GA), Jon P. Hassell (Atlanta, GA), William P. Apps (Alpharetta, GA)
Application Number: 17/468,034