Abstract: A stackable knock down box is provided for the bulk transportation and storage of fresh produce such as fruit. The box comprises a base pallet, and six side wall panels which are hinged together to define a composite side wall enclosure which can be folded into a stack. A number of drop-away base clip arrangements are provided for releasably holding the composite side wall enclosure to the base pallet in both its erected and folded conditions. The box can be stacked in both the erected and folded conditions, and includes a number of panel aligning inserts located at the upper edge corners of the side walls. Each panel aligning insert is formed with an angled contact face which slopes downwardly and outwardly. A number of complemental panel aligning formations are formed within pedestals on the pallet, and have an angled contact face which slopes upwardly and inwardly.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a crate subassembly including four side units, and each side unit has a top cord, a bottom cord, and vertical cords extending between and secured to the top and bottom cords. The top cord and bottom cord of each side unit extend substantially parallel to each other, and each side unit further includes a diagonal cord extending from and connected to the top and bottom cords. Connector plates are located to connect the respective adjacent vertical cords of each side unit, as well as to secure each side unit cord. When it is desired to form a crate, and by simply separating opposing side units, the subassembly is opened. When opening, the connector plates on the inner surface of the subassembly flex, or bend, and the connector plates have sufficient rigidity so that once opened, the subassembly does not close on itself during handling. With the subassembly in the open condition, the subassembly is readily secured to a pallet using, for example, screws.

Abstract: A cleated crate having opposing side panels and opposing end panels, hingedly connected together pairs of opposing inner and outer hinges which define corners in the crate. Each hinge comprises a pair of members having trapezoidal shapes in cross-section which defines a neck surface and an opposing shoulder surface and an oblique surface and an opposing back surface. The elongated members in the inner hinges are disposed in mirrored relation with the necks side-by-side and the oblique surfaces defining a V-shaped channel on a side of the hinge. The members are secured together by a pair of U-shaped staples driven into the butt ends. The members pivot to a second position for bringing the oblique surfaces into bearing contact. The elongated members in the outer hinges are disposed in mirrored relation with the distal edges of the members defined by the respective oblique surface and the shoulder surface in touching contact. The oblique surfaces define a V-shaped channel on a side of the hinge.

Abstract: A hinged-corners unitary collapsible wood cleated crate for packaging heavy goods with a tubular body engaged to a base and top frame. The tubular body is formed of a pair of opposing side frames and a pair of opposing end frames, which frames each have a pair of horizontal rails connected to a pair of vertical side slats at respective overlapping aligned distal ends. Each frame includes at least one diagonal cross-member extending between and attached to the pair of horizontal rails. The side frames and the end frames join together in alternating spaced-apart sequence by a plurality of hinge plates that interconnect one of the pair of vertical slats in one of the side frames with one of the pair of vertical slats in an adjacent end frame. The hinge plates are planar sheets of a weather-resistant material, which are scored to allow the tubular body to knock-down for storage and shipping, and unfold to form a volumed body for packaging heavy goods held on a base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleated crate for packaging, storing, and shipping heavy articles. The cleated crate includes a base frame for supporting an article to be packed, a pair of wing-end frames that define ends and side portions of the cleated crate. The wing-end frames comprise a pair of hinge corners each having a pair of spaced apart cleats attached to a fibreboard plate with a score along an axis. The fibreboard plate folds on the score to define a corner post of the cleated crate. A portion of the side of the cleated crate is defined by a side member and a support member attached to one of the pairs of cleats on the fibreboard plate. Elongate members connect two hinge corners together to define a wing-end frame. A pair of wing-end frames are positioned and attached to opposite ends of a base frame or pallet. Intermediate connectors rigidly connect on opposite sides to aligned hinge corners at the opposite ends of the cleated container.

Abstract: A collapsible storage cabinet having a set-up, operating position and a collapsed, storage position. The cabinet includes a pair of side portions, a rear portion formed by a pair of hinged rear panels, a front portion including two hinged doors, and a top portion. Each side portion includes a vertical front leg and a vertical rear leg with a side panel extending therebetween. The rear panels forming the rear portion are hingingly attached to the rear legs such that the rear panels are perpendicular to the side portions when the cabinet is in the operating position and are parallel to the side portions when the cabinet is in the storage position. Each door is reversibly hingingly attached to a front leg such that the doors may be pivoted inwardly when the cabinet is in the storage position, and pivoted outwardly when the cabinet is in the operating position. Each of the doors has a vertical groove therein into which is received an edge of the corresponding front leg when the door is in a fully opened position.

Abstract: An improved pallet box having four sidewall assemblies and a floor assembly is disclosed. The sidewall assemblies are all joined together by means of two hinge connectors joined together by mating loops and fixed to the reinforcing cleats of each joined sidewall assembly.

Abstract: A packing case molded from plastic materials comprises two side walls including two half-walls rotatably connected to each other by tenon/mortise joint and hinge elements, two end walls rotatably connected to the adjacent side walls by tenon/mortise joint and hinge elements, and two cover plates removeably intersecting with said connected walls, thereby to form a foldable container which can easily pack or unpack without need of any external means, and can be folded into a collapsed form that is easily recovered for further use.

Abstract: A permanent, reusable, open skeletal-type crate that is permanently erect or collapsible. The crate is constructed to hold an inexpensive tray that is disposable. The tray in turn holds any desired number of individual containers of fluid or otherwise. In the preferred form the crate is collapsible and possesses hinged bottom end pieces that are slidable as allowed by a slot in a bottom strap. The erect crate may receive a tray holding the fluid or other containers with the crate and the tray constituting a system that is delivered to a retail outlet or alternatively the tray with its contents is deposited in the retail outlet. The crate has exceptional stacking strength with special corner posts. However, the crate is weak in the side to side direction and the end to end direction to eliminate uses that are prevelant with present milk crates.

Abstract: A collapsible container side wall for use with a material support pallet. The container side wall has a front panel, a rear panel and two side panels, the latter panels being interconnected between opposed end edges of the front and rear panels by a respective hinge connection. Each of the side panels has two panel sections interconnected to each other by a transverse hinge located intermediate the front and rear panels and extending parallel to the hinge connections at the end edges of the front and rear panels. The transverse hinge of one of the two side panels is offset laterally from the transverse hinge of the other side panel whereby the panel sections can fold inwardly with one side panel on top of the other between the front and rear panels with these latter panels collapsing towards each other. Retention means is provided in the lower edge of the container side wall to prevent lateral displacement of the container side wall when positioned about a peripheral area of the pallet.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fastening device for use in collapsible containers of the kind comprising on one hand a wall portion including a plurality of walls which are interconnected by means of hinges, on the other at least one sheet portion detachably connected to the wall portion, e.g. a bottom or a lid, at least one locking mechanism being associated with the sheet portion or alternatively the wall portion, the locking mechanism comprising one or a plurality of locking members which are each movable between a locking position inside a recess of the wall portion or alternatively the sheet portion and a releasing position outside the recess, wherein the locking members are arranged to press the sheet portion and wall portion against each other by a wedging action on the introduction of the locking members into the recesses.