Receptacles – Sectional – Folding
Patent
1995-11-15
1997-05-27
Moy, Joseph M.
Receptacles
Sectional
Folding
220 6, B65D 2500
Patent
active
056323921
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a foldable container, capable of being folded down compactly when empty.
BACKGROUND ART
A conventional transfortable container, which is typically used for containing and transporting materials, such as beverages, alcoholic liquors and fruits etc., requires much costs and spaces in transforting and storaging thereof due to maintaining the original volumn and shapes even when empty. Therefore, there have been proposed various kinds of foldable containers.
For example, DE 41 09 151 discloses a square, transportable container having a base onto which four side walls flap down when the container is empty. The first pair of facing side walls lie directly on the base and the second pair of opposite side walls rest on the first pair. The hinge axes of the side walls are positioned at different heights above the base. The side walls standed up are connected together by hook mechanism provided on them to form box shape of the container. The hook mechanism has disadvantages that locking and unlocking operation thereof is inconvenient and time-consuming and the cost therefor is relatively high.
Another fold able container is disclosed in EP 443 327 A2. This container has a construction basically similar to that of the container disclosed in DE 41 09 151, but the connection mechanism between adjacent side walls comprises L-shaped edge connecting elements of U-shape in section having fillets engaging with recesses on the top faces of the side walls. The connecting elements engage with both of the adjacent side walls to secure them integrally. However, because the connecting elements are separated from the container body, it is easy to miss the connecting elements when the container is folded down and the connecting using them is relatively inconvenient.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved foldable container which does not possess the disadvantages of the prior arts, but which provides better manipulatability of folding and unfolding and good stiffness in standing-up state.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an improved foldable container comprising: a base having a substantially rectangular shape; a first pair of opposing side walls, which are hingedly mounted at one pair of opposing edges of the base to pivot between a folded position lying on the base and a standing-up position; a second pair of opposing side walls, which are hingedly mounted at one pair of opposing edges of the base to pivot between a folded position lying on the first pair of opposing side walls and a standing-up position and includes flanges extending from both side end regions of the second pair of side walls toward the first pair of opposing side walls; and connecting means for providing toothed engagements between the flanges of the second pair of side walls and the corresponding lateral end regions of the first pair of side walls in the standing-up position.
The connecting means may have protrusions on the first side walls and corresponding receiving recesses on the flanges engaging formfittingly each other to provide the toothed engagements. Preferably, the protrusions and receiving recesses engage each other wedgewisely to facilitate their engagements. The protrusions may have substantially trapezoidal shape or T-shapes in plan.
For maintaining the standing-up state of the container, provision may be made means for locking the engagements between the first pair of side walls and the second pair of side walls in the standing-up position. The locking means may comprise a pin passing through the protrusions and the flange engaged with the protrusions together. Alternatively, the locking means may advantageously comprise a stopper resiliently protruding on the inner surface of on the first pair of side walls to prevent the first pair of side walls from pivoting toward the folded position. Here, the stopper has an inclined surface for allowing the stopper to be retracted by contacting with the end edge of the s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3987945 (1976-10-01), McDowell
patent: 4940155 (1990-07-01), Hewson
patent: 5125524 (1992-06-01), Hosoda et al.
patent: 5195644 (1993-03-01), Schmid
patent: 5279438 (1994-01-01), Cesano
patent: 5282542 (1994-02-01), Mo
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