Receptacles – Sectional – Folding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-25
2001-09-18
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Sectional
Folding
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290081
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a container which is intended to hold produce such as fruit and vegetables. The container is relatively flat for storage and unfolds to an open position for use. More particularly the invention relates to a latch for such a container.
Containers of the type which fold for storage and which unfold or open for use in holding produce are well known. Usually the containers are composed of moulded plastic for lightness and ease in cleaning and are provided with a number of slots for aeration of their contents. The containers have a number of panels which are interconnected by hinges which allow the panels to lie relatively flat when the container is folded for storage. Latches interlock the panels when the container is open or unfolded for use.
A shortcoming of many such containers is that the latches are difficult or inconvenient to operate. Many such latches stick and will not open unless the latch is pushed while the panels are rocked from side to side. Frequently, considerable force is required to move the panels sufficiently for the latch to open. In applying such force, the panels or hinges may break or be severely damaged.
Another shortcoming of other containers is that the latches are located where they are inconvenient to reach. Still other container have latches which are complicated of construction and expensive to manufacture.
An object of this invention is to provide a latch which is conveniently located. The latch may be located near the handle of the container so that a person carrying the container may reached the latch conveniently after he has put the container down.
Another object of the invention is to provide a latch which is easy to operate. Pressure on the latch causes it to operate and such pressure is easy to apply. Movement of the panels from side and side is not required to make the latch open.
Broadly described, the latch of the invention is for use in a collapsible container having a base and a number of panels pivotal between a closed position lying in apposition to the base and an open position in which the panels are upright and define an enclosure. The container is upstanding when open and when the panels extend vertically upward from the base. The latch is provided for interlocking adjacent panels. The latch has a slider which is slidable vertically when the container is upstanding and which slides between latch-locking and latch-unlocking positions. The latch further has a catch which is movable horizontally when the container is upstanding and which moves from a locking position for locking adjacent panels to an unlocking position in which the panels are free to pivot to the closed position. The latch has means for converting vertical movement of the slider to horizontal movement of the catch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3888379 (1975-06-01), Folberth
patent: 4735330 (1988-04-01), Hoss
patent: 5632392 (1997-05-01), Oh
patent: 5746342 (1998-05-01), Jacques et al.
patent: 5853099 (1998-12-01), Lessard
patent: 6170689 (2001-01-01), Flesher et al.
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Castellano Stephen
LandOfFree
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