Receptacles – Sectional – Folding
Patent
1998-12-23
2000-02-29
Moy, Joseph M.
Receptacles
Sectional
Folding
220659, 220669, 220675, B65D 724
Patent
active
060298405
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a collapsible container for transport and storage.
Containers made from different materials such as wood, metal, plastic etc. are frequently used. One problem with such containers are that they often demand the same transport volume when returned to the source as when delivered with goods.
An alternative to the return transport is a so-called one way package which is disposed of after delivery.
Another common way to solve the problem is to provide the package with a so-called nesting function. This means that empty containers are partly placed in one another, by providing the containers with sloping sides.
Yet another way to solve the problem is to dismantle or fold the sides of the container. The mostly known side dismantling is the pallet and pallet collar. An example of commonly used containers with foldable sides is the collapsible pallet container. The sides are here made foldable by attaching their respective lower end to the bottom part via a hinge.
A disadvantage with this type of container is that the load carrying ability is radically impaired when compared to solid, non-collapsible containers. This is mainly due to the fact that the corner parts, on non-collapsible containers taking up around 80% of the weight from above, are parted on collapsible containers. Since these load carrying corners are parted on collapsible containers, this will have to be compensated for by adding reinforcing ribs on the sides. This will, besides added weight, also cause difficulties when cleaning the container due to the number of small pockets that are formed between the ribs.
According to the present invention is it possible to manufacture a collapsible container where the above mentioned disadvantages are avoided. The invention relates to a collapsible container for transport and storage, comprising a bottom part and inwards foldable side walls. The parts are manufactured by injection moulding of a thermoplastic material. The invention is characterised in that the side walls are movably connected to the bottom part by hinges. The hinges are formed by a number of lower hinge-parts which are manufactured in one piece together with the bottom part and a number of upper hinge-parts which are manufactured in one piece together with the foldable side walls. Two side walls, placed on opposite sides, preferably the two long-side walls are provided with an inwards angled edge at each of their two ends. The edges connect with the adjoining side walls, preferably the short-side walls, when in an upright position. The inwards angled edges are provided with a number of coupling devices which are intended to interact with corresponding couplings placed at the ends of the adjoining side walls so that the side walls can be locked together in an upright position. At least two opposite side walls, suitably the long-side walls, preferably all four side walls, are provided with a hollow channel-like reinforcing profiles which stretches along at least three sides of each of the side walls, wherein one of the sides always is a the upper side. The reinforcing hollow profiles will hereby constitute an effective replacement for the reinforcing rib profiles that normally are used, whereby a lighter and more hygienic design is achieved. The hollow profiles can suitably be achieved by substantially filling the mould with molten thermoplastic material from an injection nozzle. The molten thermoplastic material is then allowed to solidify somewhat on the surface closest to the inner walls of the mould cavity. A pressurised gas is thereafter injected through an intake suitably placed at one end of the profile. The gas is allowed to flow into the still molten plastic in the core of the profile wherein a cavity is formed in the profile. The still molten plastic is hereby ejected from of the mould cavity. A container of this type can suitably be made from a polymer material from the group, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polystyrene, acryle-butadiene-styrene, poly-alkylene-terephthalate or the like.
Suitab
REFERENCES:
patent: 3658035 (1972-04-01), Harris
patent: 4674647 (1987-06-01), Gyenge et al.
patent: 4775068 (1988-10-01), Reiland et al.
patent: 4917255 (1990-04-01), Foy et al.
patent: 5515987 (1996-05-01), Jacques et al.
patent: 5746341 (1998-05-01), Olson
Moy Joseph M.
Perstorp AB
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