Special receptacle or package – With pallet feature – Knockdown or collapsible type
Patent
1990-01-17
1991-10-15
Sewell, Paul T.
Special receptacle or package
With pallet feature
Knockdown or collapsible type
220 7, B65B 1906
Patent
active
050566679
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an improved collapsible or folding container for the storage of goods, and is particularly concerned with an improved collapsible pallet cage of the type having a pallet base, a pair of opposed end panels hinged with respect to the base for folding inwardly thereonto, a pair of opposed side panels hinged also with respect to the base for folding inwardly thereonto, and a lid or top panel arranged to be supported on the upper edges of said side and end panels when the cage is erected so as to close off the top end of the pallet cage, the cage (or container), when in an erected position, being of substantially parallelepiped box shaped form, whilst when in its collapsed position, the side and end panels lie in a flat condition on top of the pallet base with the top or lid panel disposed above or on top of the end panel remote from the pallet base.
Collapsible storage containers comprising a front, rear and side wall panels which are either permanently or releasably hinged to the pallet base so that they fold down to a collapsed condition or can be removed from the pallet base and stacked for transport of the container in a folded down condition, are of course well known. Generally, it is considered undesirable for the side and end wall panels to be removably hinged to the pallet base and the need has existed for a collapsible pallet container which enables the side and end wall panels to be simply and quickly folded between their collapsed and erected positions-without, for example, having to individually bodily lift the panels prior to or during the folding of same--refer Australian Patent Specification No. 49913/72. It will be appreciated that, in certain cases, the weight of the panels can be quite considerable to the extent that the collapsing and erecting of prior pallet cannot be carried out by a single person--or if so, certainly without considerable physical strain being exerted.
A further problem with known pallet containers stems from the manner in which the panels are fastened when in their erected condition. For example, many employ "loose" removable components or items such as bolts
uts, latches and/or clips which can be readily lost and which require the use of a spanner or similar tool in order to disengage or remove same (when the container is being collapsed for example).
A still further problem is that the prior art latch arrangements are prone to disengage easily, for example during transport of the container, and generally do not impart sufficient rigidity to the erected structure. A still further problem is that the latches and clips are often located so that they project into the interior of the erected container and hence there is a likelihood of the goods or products stored in the container being damaged.
A still further disadvantage with prior art collapsible containers/cages is that they cannot be readily and easily accessed when the container is in its erected condition and packed with goods or products, or for example when the containers are stacked one on top of the other when in their loaded condition. In some cases, the lid or top panel of the container needs to be lifted initially prior to being able to fold down the front panel or gate. Consequently with containers in a stacked condition, it has not been possible to gain access (for the purpose of inspection), to the interior of a loaded container when another container is stacked on top thereof. Furthermore, even with the container standing alone, it has not been possible to access the interior of the container without having to lift the lid or top panel before being able to fold down the front panel or gate.
It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible storage container which is of very simple design construction, may be constructed to any size, and which allows the side and end wall panels thereof to be simply and quickly folded between their collapsed and erected positions without any significant physical effort.
It is a further object of the present inventio
REFERENCES:
patent: 3542234 (1970-11-01), Bonomi
patent: 4221296 (1980-09-01), Fell et al.
patent: 4339047 (1982-07-01), Johansson et al.
patent: 4662532 (1989-05-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4735330 (1988-04-01), Hoss
patent: 4735331 (1988-04-01), Keenan et al.
patent: 4817824 (1989-04-01), La Fleur et al.
Australian Patent Abstract (Crypal Pyt. Ltd.), 81097/82, 9/9/82.
Ackur, Jr. Jacob K.
Rees Operations Pty. Ltd.
Sewell Paul T.
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