Special receptacle or package – With pallet feature – Knockdown or collapsible type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-05-22
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
With pallet feature
Knockdown or collapsible type
C220S004340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234315
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to collapsible containers generally and in particular to the connections between the base and side panels of collapsible containers allowing the side panels to fold down over each other and the base.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Collapsible containers of many forms are known. One form has a base with coupled side panels which can be folded down to overlying relationship one with the others and all in overlying relationship with the base. A particular form of this type of container is disclosed in Australian patent 694001.
In that patent application there is disclosed a collapsible container having two side panel pairs where the panels of each pair lie at opposite sides of a rectangular base. The panels are all permanently connected to a base, each by two links, to permit the side panels to be lowered to the collapsed condition from an upstanding condition. In the upstanding condition the side panels are maintained by engagement of panel bottom flanges with channels on the base. By the use of coupling means the side panels when upstanding are interconnected to form an enclosure.
The links in a preferred form disclosed in Australian patent 694001 each have an elongated body with parallel end spigots respectively permanently engaged in a bearing means fixed to the base and in a slot of a saddle member fixed to a panel. This arrangement works well but does not allow removal of a side panel from the base. For thorough cleaning of the container after use it is desirable to have one, if not all, of the side panels demountable from the base.
The present invention addresses this need in a manner which will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF INVENTION
Broadly, the present invention provides a collapsible container including a four sided base, four side panels connected respectively to the four sides of the base each by a pair of links allowing the side panels to be folded down from an erect position upstanding from the base into overlying relationship with each other and the base, the links of at least one side panel being releasable links allowing said one side panel to be demounted from the base, each releasable link includes a body with a first spigot and a second spigot with the spigots substantially parallel and extending in the same direction away from the body, the first spigots of said releasable links are respectively permanently engaged in bearing means on said base in a manner allowing the first spigots to pivot in said bearing means and to move in said bearing means in a direction aligned with the axis of pivoting of said first spigots, the second spigots of said releasable links are respectively engaged in tracks of said one side panel in a manner allowing said second spigots to pivot in said tracks and move along said tracks in a direction lateral to the axis of pivoting of said second spigots and to be axially withdrawn from said tracks, and biassing means for each of said releasable links to bias said first spigots to inner positions in said bearing means corresponding with engaged positions for said second spigots in said tracks, said second spigots being disengaged from said tracks to allow demounting of said one side panel from said base by axial movement of said first spigots towards outer positions in said bearing means against said biassing means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6019226 (2000-02-01), Zajdlik et al.
Fidei David T.
Schindler Edwin D.
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