Collapsible container

Receptacles – Sectional – Folding

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C220S001500, C220S006000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06398054

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a multi-purpose collapsible container adapted for storing, transporting, and displaying produce items and other goods.
BACKGROUND ART
Collapsible containers and crates are commonly used to transport and store a variety of items. Such crates are typically formed of injection molded plastic and are frequently adapted to receive perishable food items, such as produce. When assembled, such containers are rectangular in shape, and have a flat base surrounded by four upstanding flat side panels which are joined to the flat base. When the containers are not in use, the collapsible feature of the containers allows the containers to be folded or otherwise reduced in size, thereby providing a desired compact size when storage space is minimal.
In such collapsible containers, side wall edges are normally joined in the corners. However, for an assembled container during use, this corner system results in a less rigid container due to the corners being subjected to torsional and other bending forces during use. Accordingly, the corners are commonly a focal point of stress in containers of this type.
Moreover, the base of the container is subject to a relatively large amount of load when the container is filled and may frequently be lacking in the area of stability and strength. Because these containers often stack on top of others or may have other loads exerted on their upstanding panels, the side panels may also require enhanced strength. Typically, when a rectangular container is collapsed inwardly, first the long walls are collapsed and then the short walls are collapsed on top of the long walls. Because there exists a gap between the short walls when folded, a container stacked thereupon is not fully supported in the area of the gap. Also, because one container rests upon the walls of another container, any transfer of top load forces is transferred through the walls, which may reduce the durability of the container. Other containers may fold the short walls first and the long walls second, but this configuration requires a reduced long wall height, because for ideal nesting conditions with other containers, the long walls in this type of container should not overlap when folded.
Further, containers are also shipped on pallets and are commonly strapped together to secure them during shipping and transport on the pallets. Such palletizing of the containers is often done automatically by machinery which may improperly position the straps, or subject the containers to unnecessary stress.
The improved container should be capable of stacking with similar containers when assembled and nested with similar containers when folded. The container should also have a sturdy construction and load-bearing properties. The container should avoid the durability concerns of nesting a container to rest solely on the walls of the container therebelow. The container should also accommodate the palletizing procedures when containers are strapped together.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible container which has improved strength and top loading stability.
Moreover, it is an object according to the present invention to provide a collapsible display container which is cost effective to manufacture and efficient to assemble.
Further, it is another object according to the present invention to provide a collapsible display container which is capable of nesting with the like containers when in a collapsed position, and is also capable of stacking with like containers when in the assembled position.
It is another object according to the present invention to provide a container that has a bottom which is robust and has a design which is sufficiently able to support the load placed therein.
It is still another object according to the present invention to provide a collapsible container which minimizes corner stress concentration.
It is yet a further object according to the present invention to provide a collapsible container which is adapted to be palletized and which is able to have improved durability during the placement of the pallet straps.
It is still further another object according to the present invention to provide a collapsible container which avoids the durability concerns of nesting a container to rest solely on the walls of the container therebelow, allowing it to nest on other portions of the container besides the walls.
In carrying out the above objects, features and advantages according to the present invention, provided is a collapsible container including a base having a first pair of opposed upstanding members and a second pair of opposed upstanding members, and also including a first pair of opposed side walls each pivotably attached to the base and orientable between an assembled position and a second position. Each of the first pair of opposed side walls has a recess which mates with and receives a corresponding one of the first pair of opposed upstanding members when in the assembled position. The container further receives a second pair of opposed side walls each pivotably attached to a corresponding one of the second pair of opposed upstanding members and also orientable between an assembled position and a second position. The base includes a first and second pair of opposed edges to which the first pair of opposed side walls and the second pair of opposed side walls are pivotably attached to a corresponding edge. When the first and second pair of opposed side walls are oriented in the second position, they are oriented in one of an inwardly folded orientation and an outwardly folded orientation.
In one embodiment, the base has a raised portion which extends between one of the first and second pairs of opposed side walls. The base may also include a plurality of upstanding corner members each having a recess formed therein for receiving a mating wall portion extending outwardly from the lateral edge of the first pair of opposed side walls, for enhancing the strength of the container. In another embodiment, the container may also include a plurality of recesses adapted to align and receive a palletizing strap therein. Each of the first pair of opposed side walls includes a latch member disposed thereon for latching the first and second pairs of opposed side walls when oriented in the assembled position. Accordingly, each of the second pair of opposed side walls includes a pair of opposed lateral flanges inwardly depending therefrom and formed integral therewith, the lateral flange having a latch receiver formed therein. The latch receiver also includes an aperture and a flexible latch spring member which has a latch release member actuable by a user.
According to the present invention, when the container is in assembled position and the second position, each lateral flange of the second pair of opposed side walls is substantially co-planar with the first pair of upstanding opposed members of the base. The first pair of opposed side walls includes a pair of opposed lateral edges, each lateral edge having a latching member attached thereto, such that when the container is oriented in an assembled position, each lateral flange abuts an adjacent lateral edge so that each aperture receives a corresponding latching member which is fastened into position by the latch spring member. This forms a secure attachment between the first and second pairs of opposed side walls. To return the container to a collapsed position from the assembled position, each latch release member is actuated by the user in order to release the latching member fastened therein. Preferably, the pairs of opposed upstanding members are centrally disposed along the length of the base. The pair of opposed upstanding members have a polygonal shape, and may particularly have a trapezoidal shape.
In another embodiment according to the present invention, the collapsible container is orientable in an inwardly folded position and is adapted to receive the base of at least one other container thereupon in a nesting orientation when the collaps

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