Receptacles – Sectional – Folding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-02-06
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Sectional
Folding
C220S004290, C220S004280, C206S600000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182849
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the field of shipping, storage and delivery of materials. In particular, the invention is directed to a box for storing objects and materials which is capable of being stacked while filled and then collapsed for convenient storage and return shipping when not filled.
Various materials and objects require special packaging when shipping. These objects can be too small to carry efficiently by themselves or may be too delicate to survive the travails of shipping unprotected. This can be particularly true when the objects are transported as freight in trains, planes or ships. Due to the nature of these vehicles, a certain amount of jostling is unavoidable. Further, skilled laborers are required to load these vehicles. Consequently, convenient packaging will reduce the loading and unloading time, thus reducing overall costs.
While it is important to provide sturdy packaging for transported objects, these containers can themselves create difficulties. In particular, the containers often must be returned via the same vehicles. Although the vehicles are capable of carrying the weight of a great number of empty containers, the large size of the containers requires a large amount of storage space, restricting the number of containers which can be returned and resulting in the inefficient use of storage space on a return trip.
Various containers have been developed over the years in an effort to provide a collapsible container for different materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,951 is directed to a container for bulk flowable materials. An octagonal-shaped cardboard sleeve is attached to a bottom end cap. The adjacent panels of the sleeve are connected along elongate edges. A tubular inner member which is designed to withstand the pressure of the contained material is inserted inside the octagonal sleeve. A top end cap is attached to the top of the sleeve.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,927,026 is directed to pallet box. Side walls of a container are hinged to the surface of a pallet. A tubular cardboard sleeve is positioned about the side walls and maintains the container shape. The container can be formed by criss-crossing panels attached to the pallet.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,178,275 is directed to an eight-sided columnar container for supporting bulk materials in sacks. An eight-sided collapsible sleeve is mounted to pallet. Tabs are positioned along the bottom edge of each side of the container. Alternating tabs are bent inward or outward. The sacks of materials are disposed within the sleeve and a cap may be positioned on top of the sleeve.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,441,154 is directed to a integrated paperboard container and pallet system. The wall portion of the container has a polygonal-shaped interior cavity. At least one tab is formed at the bottom of one of the walls. The deck portion has a planar member with an upper side forming a floor surface and a lower side forming a support surface. Edges are mounted to the planar member and have the same polygonal shape as the wall portion. Openings are positioned in the planar member to receive any tabs. The planar member is designed to be mounted to a pallet, if desired. The wall portion can be folded when it is not attached to the planar member.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,511,080 is directed to interlocking end closure flaps on collapsible eight-sided receptacle. The receptacle is formed of a single blank of foldable sheet material. The flaps positioned along the bottom edges of the receptacle fold over to form the bottom of the container.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,269,414 is directed to an intermediate bulk container. The side walls of the container are made of a rigid material and are hinged to the base using one- or two-directional hinges. Sealing strips or separate bags are provided to prevent any leaking of material through the hinge. The bottom panel of the container may be ramped to direct the flow of material from the container. A cutting means can be provided at the exit of the container to allow for opening any internal bag holding the material.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,253,763 is directed to a collapsible container. The walls of the container are mounted by long, horizontal hinges attached to the walls. This container can be palletized.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 5,507,392 is directed to a pallet container with adapter frame. A hinged support insert is provided that folds upon itself using both internal and external hinges. The container may be provided with a plastic, sloped bottom.
None of these patents fully address the problems resolved by the instant invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of an aspect of the instant invention to provide a collapsible container which is sturdy enough to carry substantial loads and yet can be folded into a space-saving, self contained configuration for later use.
It is another object of an aspect of this invention to provide a collapsible container which can be stacked for efficient storage and transportation.
It is another object of an aspect of this invention to provide a container which allows access to the stored materials from a side panel without endangering the structural integrity of the container.
It is another object of an aspect of this invention to provide a materials container which can be used repeatedly despite heavy cargo weights and rough handling.
In accord with one aspect of the invention, a folding box is provided including a bottom panel having a rear edge, a left edge, a right edge and a front edge. A lip extends along the edges of the bottom panel. The lip is composed of a rear lip attached to the rear edge, a left lip attached to the left edge, a right lip attached to the right edge and a front lip attached to the front edge. A rear panel is permanently hinged to the rear lip. The rear panel has a left edge and a right edge. A rear left side panel is permanently hinged to the rear panel along the left edge of the rear panel. A front left side panel is permanently hinged to the rear left side panel along an edge distal to the rear panel. A rear right side panel is permanently hinged to the rear panel along the right edge of the rear panel. A front right side panel is permanently hinged to the rear right side panel along an edge distal to the rear panel. A front panel has a left edge and a right edge. The front panel's left edge is permanently hinged to the front left side panel along an edge distal to the rear left side panel. The front panel's right edge is permanently hinged to the front right side panel along an edge distal to the rear right side panel.
Certain implementations of this aspect of the invention provide that; a door is mounted to the front panel which can be selectively opened to provide access to the interior of the box; the door comprises a left door hinged to the front panel proximate to the front panel's left edge and a right door hinged to the front panel proximate to the front panel's right edge, wherein the left door and the right door are movable from a closed position in which the left door and the right door abut, to an open position in which the right door and the left door are apart; the left side panels have a total length that is less than the length of the rear panel and the right side panels have a total length that is less than the length of the rear panel, such that the left side panels and the right side panels can be folded inward against the rear panel; a lid is selectively attached to the lip, the lip and the lid are sized to enclose the front panel, the rear panel and the side panels when the panels are folded closed against the bottom panel; flanges are mounted to the lid proximate to its side edges and the side panels of the box are disposed in the flanges; channels are mounted to the bottom panel distal to the lips; top tabs are mounted to the top of the lid, which top tabs are sized to engage the channels; a front tab is mounted to the front lip and defines a front cavity, which front cavity is sized to receive the front panel in snug fit.
In accord with yet another aspect of the
Castellano Stephen
Tencza Jr. Walter J.
LandOfFree
Collapsible box does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Collapsible box, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Collapsible box will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2571694