Receptacles – Sectional – Folding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-14
2001-04-03
Pollard, Steven M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Sectional
Folding
C220S009200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209743
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to collapsible containers, and in particular to containers having a base and four panels permanently coupled to the base and able to fold down, from an erected condition where the panels are upstanding from the base, into a stack of overlying panels which overlie the base.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
A typical container of the above type is illustrated in Australian patent 694001. That container there are two side panels and two end panels and each panel is made up of a rectangular frame with a lining sheet over the frame to provide a smooth inner face for the panel. For hygienic reasons the lining sheet is usually of made of plastic. The plastic sheeting is of substantial thickness, about 6 mm, to provide the strength required to cover the openings in the panel frame, however, as with many plastics, lining sheet expands substantially when heated. Containers of the type under consideration are often exposed to conditions, such as strong sunlight, which can result in the plastic undergoing considerable expansion and buckling (inward bulging) between the fasteners whereby the plastic sheeting is fixed to the panel frame.
The erection of the panels of a container of the above form is a two step operation. First, the side panels (which are the uppermost pair in the stack of panels on the base) are erected and then the end panels are erected. Because the length of the end panels is substantially equal to the spacing apart of the side panels when erected anything which reduces that spacing will hinder, if not prevent, erection of the end panels. It has been found heat from the sun on a collapsed container can cause buckling of the plastic sheeting of the panels to the extent that it is impossible to erect the end panels of the container. This invention has been devised to address the foregoing problem.
BROAD STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
A collapsible container having a base and two side panels and two end panels with all of the panels coupled to the base in a manner allowing the panels to be folded down over each other and the base, each of said side panels has an inner surface with two marginal zones upstanding from said inner surface at ends of the side panel and running substantially the full length of each of said ends, the spacing between corresponding raised zones of the side panels when upstanding from the base at opposite sides of the base is substantially equal to the length of the end panels between ends of the end panels.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2756894 (1956-07-01), Phillips
patent: 4735330 (1988-04-01), Hoss
patent: 5370256 (1994-12-01), Fourie et al.
patent: 5622276 (1997-04-01), Simmons
patent: 5730307 (1998-03-01), Karpisek
patent: 1005892 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 4823496 (1996-10-01), None
Pollard Steven M.
Schindler Edwin D.
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