U.S. patent application number 11/658200 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for container.
Invention is credited to Michael James Warwick.
Application Number | 20070199934 11/658200 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35033549 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Warwick; Michael James |
August 30, 2007 |
Container
Abstract
The invention provides a container formed of a synthetic
plastics material. The container includes a base having a plurality
of sides. A side wall is connected to each side of the base via a
hinge arrangement for displacement between a collapsed condition,
and an erect condition in which the side walls extend upwardly from
the base such that at least part of each side wall abuts against
the base at a position spaced inwardly from an edge of the base.
This arrangement ensures that loads are transmitted between the
side walls and the base at positions spaced inwardly from the edges
of the base. The container also includes locking means for locking
the side walls in their erect condition. The invention further
provides a container blank from which the container can be
formed.
Inventors: |
Warwick; Michael James;
(Johannesburg, ZA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLARQUIST SPARKMAN, LLP
121 SW SALMON STREET
SUITE 1600
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
35033549 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658200 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
July 14, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB05/52342 |
371 Date: |
January 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/007 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 19, 2004 |
ZA |
2004/5728 |
Claims
1. A container formed of a synthetic plastics material which
includes a base having a plurality of sides; a side wall connected
to each side of the base via a hinge arrangement for displacement
between a collapsed condition, and an erect condition in which the
side walls extend upwardly from the base such that at least part of
each side wall abuts against the base at a position spaced inwardly
from an edge of the base so that loads are transmitted between the
side walls and the base at positions spaced inwardly from the edges
of the base; and locking means for locking the side walls in their
erect condition.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 , in which the locking means
is releasable to permit the container to be collapsible.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the base has four
sides with adjacent sides being perpendicular to one another, the
container including four side walls.
4. A container as claimed in claim 3, in which the base is
rectangular having two long sides and two short sides.
5. A container as claimed in claim 4, which includes a stiffening
element connected to an operatively upper edge of each of at least
some of the sidewalls.
6. A container as claimed in claim 5, in which a stiffening element
is connected to each side wall connected to a long side of the
base.
7. A container as claimed in claim 6, in which each stiffening
element includes an elongate intermediate member having spaced
apart longitudinally extending inner and outer edges, the
intermediate member being hingedly connected along the outer edge
to the operatively upper edge of the associated side wall and
extending inwardly therefrom, an inner member which is connected to
the outer edge of the intermediate member and extends downwardly
therefrom adjacent an operatively inner surface of the associated
side wall, and complementary retaining formations on the inner
member and on the side wall which engage to retain the stiffening
element in position.
8. A container as claimed in claim 7, which includes, hingedly
connected to an operatively upper edge of each side wall connected
to a short side of the base, a transverse panel which is provided
with engagement formations which engage with complementary
engagement formations on the intermediate members thereby to
connect the stiffening elements together.
9. A container as claimed in claim 4, in which each side wall
connected to a short side of the base has opposed side edges which
extend between corresponding ends of the operatively upper and
lower edges and to each of which is hingedly connected a support
member which extends adjacent to and provides support to an end
portion of the adjacent side wall connected to a long side of the
base.
10. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the
base and the side walls is provided with spaced apart locating
protrusions which are receivable in complementary recesses in the
other of the base and the side walls.
11. A container as claimed in claim 10, in which the locating
protrusions protrude operatively upwardly from a peripheral ridge
on the base, the ridge being spaced inwardly from the edges of the
base, the side walls having complementary downwardly open socket
formations within which the locating protrusions are snap-lockingly
receivable, the socket formations having lower edges which abut
against the peripheral ridges and through which vertical loads are
transmitted between the side walls and the base.
12. A container blank for forming a container as claimed in claim
1.
13. A container blank which includes: a base panel having a
plurality of sides; a side wall panel connected to each side of the
base panel via a hinge arrangement for displacement between a
collapsed condition, and an erect condition, the hinge arrangements
being configured so that when in an erect condition, the side wall
panels extend upwardly from the base panel and lower edges of the
side wall panels abut against the base panel at positions spaced
inwardly from edges of the base panel; and locking means for
locking the side wall panels in their erect conditions.
14. A container blank as claimed in claim 13, which is formed as a
unitary moulding of a synthetic plastics material.
15. A container formed of a synthetic plastics material which
includes a base having a plurality of sides; a side wall connected,
via a hinge arrangement, to each side of the base for displacement
between a collapsed condition and an erect condition in which it
extends upwardly from the base, each side wall having an
operatively upper edge and an operatively lower edge; locking means
for locking the side walls in their erect condition; and a
stiffening element connected to the operatively upper edge of each
of at least some of the side walls.
16. A container as claimed in claim 15, in which the locking means
is releasable to permit the container to be collapsible.
17. A container as claimed in claim 15, in which the base has four
sides with adjacent sides being perpendicular to one another, the
container including four side walls.
18. A container as claimed in claim 17, in which the base is
rectangular having two long sides and two short sides.
19. A container as claimed in claim 18, in which each side wall
connected to a long side of the base has a stiffening element
connected to the upper edge thereof.
20. A container as claimed in claim 19, in which each stiffening
element includes an elongate intermediate member which is hingedly
connected along an edge thereof to the operatively upper edge of
the associated side wall and extends inwardly therefrom, an inner
member which is connected to an opposed longitudinal edge of the
intermediate member and extends downwardly therefrom adjacent an
operatively inner surface of the associated side wall, and
complementary retaining formations on the inner member and on the
side wall which engage to retain the stiffening element in
position.
21. A container as claimed in claim 20, which includes, hingedly
connected to an operatively upper edge of each side wall connected
to a short side of the base, a transverse panel which is provided
with engagement formations which engage with complementary
engagement formations on the intermediate members thereby to
connect the stiffening elements together.
22. A container as claimed in claim 18, in which each side wall
connected to a short side of the base has opposed side edges which
extend between corresponding ends of the operatively upper and
lower edges and to each of which is hingedly connected a support
member which extends adjacent to and provides support to an end
portion of the adjacent side wall.
23. A container blank for forming a container as claimed in claim
15.
24. A container blank which includes a base panel having a
plurality of sides; a side wall panel connected to each side of the
base panel, each side wall having an operatively upper edge and an
operatively lower edge whereby it is connected to the associated
side of the base panel for displacement between a collapsed
condition and an erect condition in which it extends upwardly from
the base panel; locking means for locking the side wall panels in
their erect conditions; and a stiffening element connected to the
operatively upper edge of each of at least some of the side wall
panels.
25. A container blank as claimed in claim 23, which is formed as a
unitary moulding of a synthetic plastics material.
Description
[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a container. It also relates to a
blank for a container.
[0002] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
container formed of a synthetic plastics material which
includes
[0003] a base having a plurality of sides;
[0004] a side wall connected to each side of the base via a hinge
arrangement for displacement between a collapsed condition, and an
erect condition in which the side walls extend upwardly from the
base such that at least part of each side wall abuts against the
base at a position spaced inwardly from an edge of the base so that
loads are transmitted between the side walls and the base at
positions spaced inwardly from the edges of the base; and
[0005] locking means for locking the side walls in their erect
condition.
[0006] The locking means may be releasable to permit the container
to be collapsible.
[0007] The base may have four sides with adjacent sides being
perpendicular to one another, the container including four side
walls. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base is
rectangular having two long sides and two short sides.
[0008] The container may include a stiffening element connected to
an operatively upper edge of each of at least some of the
sidewalls. Preferably, a stiffening element is connected to each
side wall connected to a long side of the base.
[0009] Each stiffening element may include an elongate intermediate
member having spaced apart longitudinally extending inner and outer
edges, the intermediate member being hingedly connected along the
outer edge to the operatively upper edge of the associated side
wall and extending inwardly therefrom, an inner member which is
connected to the outer edge of the intermediate member and extends
downwardly therefrom adjacent an operatively inner surface of the
associated side wall, and complementary retaining formations on the
inner member and on the side wall which engage to retain the
stiffening element in position. Hence, the intermediate member, the
inner member and an upper portion of the associated side wall
essentially form a box section.
[0010] The container may include, hingedly connected to an
operatively upper edge of each side wall connected to a short side
of the base, a transverse panel which is provided with engagement
formations which engage with complementary engagement formations on
the intermediate members thereby to connect the stiffening elements
together and thereby further improve the structural integrity of
the container.
[0011] Each side wall connected to a short side of the base may
have opposed side edges which extend between corresponding ends of
the operatively upper and lower edges and to each of which is
hingedly connected a support member which extends adjacent to and
provides support to an end portion of the adjacent side wall
connected to a long side of the base.
[0012] At least one of the base and the side walls may be provided
with spaced apart locating protrusions which are receivable in
complementary recesses in the other of the base and the side walls.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the locating protrusions
protrude operatively upwardly from a peripheral ridge on the base,
the ridge being spaced inwardly from the edges of the base, the
side walls having complementary downwardly open socket formations
within which the locating protrusions are snap-lockingly
receivable, the socket formations having lower edges which abut
against the peripheral ridge and through which vertical loads are
transmitted between the side walls and the base.
[0013] The invention extends to a container blank for forming a
container of the type described above.
[0014] According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a container blank which includes:
[0015] a base panel having a plurality of sides;
[0016] a side wall panel connected to each side of the base panel
via a hinge arrangement for displacement between a collapsed
condition, and an erect condition, the hinge arrangements being
configured so that when in an erect condition, the side wall panels
extend upwardly from the base panel and lower edges of the side
wall panels abut against the base panel at positions spaced
inwardly from edges of the base panel; and
[0017] locking means for locking the side wall panels in their
erect conditions.
[0018] The container blank may be formed as a unitary moulding of a
synthetic plastics material.
[0019] According to yet another aspect of the invention there is
provided a container formed of a synthetic plastics material which
includes
[0020] a base having a plurality of sides;
[0021] a side wall connected, via a hinge arrangement, to each side
of the base for displacement between a collapsed condition and an
erect condition in which it extends upwardly from the base, each
side wall having an operatively upper edge and an operatively lower
edge;
[0022] locking means for locking the side walls in their erect
condition; and
[0023] a stiffening element connected to the operatively upper edge
of each of at least some of the side walls.
[0024] The locking means may be releasable to permit the container
to be collapsible.
[0025] The base may have four sides with adjacent sides being
perpendicular to one another, the container including four side
walls. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the base is
rectangular having two long sides and two short sides.
[0026] Each side wall connected to a long side of the base may have
a stiffening element connected to the upper edge thereof.
[0027] Each stiffening element may include an elongate intermediate
member which is hingedly connected along an edge thereof to the
operatively upper edge of the associated side wall and extends
inwardly therefrom, an inner member which is connected to an
opposed longitudinal edge of the intermediate member and extends
downwardly therefrom adjacent an operatively inner surface of the
associated side wall, and complementary retaining formations on the
inner member and on the side wall which engage to retain the
stiffening element in position.
[0028] The container may include, hingedly connected to an
operatively upper edge of each side wall connected to a short side
of the base, a transverse panel which is provided with engagement
formations which engage with complementary engagement formations on
the intermediate members thereby to connect the stiffening elements
together and further improve the structural integrity of the
container.
[0029] Each side wall connected to a short side of the base may
have opposed side edges which extend between corresponding ends of
the operatively upper and lower edges and to each of which is
hingedly connected a support member which extends adjacent to and
provides support to an end portion of the adjacent side wall.
[0030] The invention extends to a container blank for forming a
container of the type described above.
[0031] According to still another aspect of the invention there is
provided a container blank which includes
[0032] a base panel having a plurality of sides;
[0033] a side wall panel connected to each side of the base panel,
each side wall having an operatively upper edge and an operatively
lower edge whereby it is connected to the associated side of the
base panel for displacement between a collapsed condition and an
erect condition in which it extends upwardly from the base
panel;
[0034] locking means for locking the side wall panels in their
erect conditions; and
[0035] a stiffening element connected to the operatively upper edge
of each of at least some of the side wall panels.
[0036] The container blank may be formed as a unitary moulding of a
synthetic plastics material.
[0037] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.
[0038] In the drawings:
[0039] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a container in
accordance with the invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a container blank in accordance
with the invention;
[0041] FIG. 3 shows a sectional elevation taken at III-III in FIG.
2;
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a sectional elevation taken at IV-IV in FIG.
2;
[0043] FIG. 5 shows a sectional elevation taken at V-V in FIG.
2;
[0044] FIG. 6 shows a sectional elevation taken at VI-VI in FIG.
2;
[0045] FIG. 7 shows a plan view of another container blank in
accordance with the invention;
[0046] FIG. 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of a side wall and
a stiffening element forming part of the container blank of FIG. 7;
and
[0047] FIG. 9 shows, on an enlarged scale, the connection of a side
wall to the base of the container blank of FIG. 7.
[0048] In FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers
generally to a container in accordance with the invention. The
container 10 is made of a synthetic plastics material, typically
polypropylene. More specifically, the container may be formed of a
polypropylene mixture comprising 50% high flow copolymer and 50%
homopolymer.
[0049] The container 10 includes a rectangular base 12 having four
sides, longitudinal side walls 14 and lateral side walls 16 which
extend upwardly from the base 12.
[0050] The container 10 is formed from a blank 18 (FIGS. 2 to 6)
which is formed as a unitary moulding of the synthetic plastics
material.
[0051] As can best be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the blank 18
includes a rectangular base panel 20 having longitudinal sides 22
and lateral or transverse sides 24.
[0052] The base panel 20 includes an outer planar portion 26 and an
inner planar portion 28 which is generally H-shaped. The inner
planar portion 28 lies in a plane which is parallel with and which
is spaced operatively upwardly from the plane in which the outer
planar portion 26 lies. The inner and outer planar portions 28, 26
are connected together by inclined planar portions 30 some of which
are provided with holes 32 therethrough. Naturally, the shape and
arrangement of the holes 32 may vary. An upstanding peripheral
ridge 34 is provided adjacent to and inwardly from the operatively
outer edge of the outer planar portion 26. The ridge 34 is
interrupted by a centrally disposed recess 36 in each of the
longitudinal sides 22 and a pair of recesses 38 in each of the
transverse sides 24.
[0053] A plurality of protrusions 40 protrudes upwardly from the
peripheral ridge 34 parallel with and spaced inwardly from the
sides 22, 24.
[0054] The blank 18 further includes longitudinal side wall panels
42 and lateral wall panels 44, 46. Each panel 42, 44, 46 is
connected to the associated side 22, 24 of the base panel 20 by
means of a hinge 48 which is formed by a zone of reduced rigidity,
which permits displacement of the panels 42, 44, 46 from a
collapsed condition (shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 of the drawings) in
which they extend generally coplanar with the base panel 20 and an
erect condition (shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings) in which they
extend generally perpendicular to the base panel 20 and from the
side walls 14, 16.
[0055] Each side wall panel 42 has an operatively lower edge 50
whereby it is connected via the hinge 48 to the base panel 20, an
operatively upper edge 52 which is parallel with the lower edge 50
and side edges 54 which extend between corresponding ends of the
upper and lower edges 50, 52. An elongate intermediate member 56
has spaced apart longitudinally extending inner and outer edges 57,
59. The inner edge 57 is connected via a hinge 58 to an operatively
upper edge 52 of each side wall panel 42 (FIG. 6). An inner member
60 is connected via a hinge 62 to the outer edge 59 of the
intermediate member 56, the hinges 58, 62 being parallel. Four
pairs of clip formations 64 are provided on the inner member 60 at
longitudinally spaced apart positions and are snap lockingly
engageable in complementary holes 66 provided in the panels 42, as
described in more detail herebelow.
[0056] Parallel grooves or flutes 68 extend between the operatively
lower and upper edges 50, 52 of the side wall panels 42. A
plurality of downwardly open longitudinally spaced apart socket
formations 70 is provided adjacent the operatively lower edges 50
of the side wall panels 42 the protrusions 40 being receivable in
the socket formations 70 as described in more detail herebelow.
[0057] Similarly, each of the lateral side wall panels 44, 46 has
an operatively lower edge 72 and parallel upper edge 74, the lower
edge 72 being connected to a transverse side 24 of the base panel
20 via a hinge 76. A transverse panel 78 is connected via a hinge
80 to the operatively upper edge 74 of each side wall panel 44, 46.
Each lateral side wall panel 44, 46 has side edges 81 extending
between adjacent ends of the operatively lower and upper edges 72,
74 and a generally rectangular support member 82 is connected to
each side edge 81 by a hinge 84.
[0058] Each of the side wall panels 42, 44, 46 and transverse
panels 78 is provided with a plurality of holes 86 therethrough.
The difference between the side wall panels 44 and 46 being that
the side wall panel 46 includes a central region 88 in which no
holes are provided to enable a label or the like to be affixed
thereto, in use
[0059] As with the side wall panels 42, the panels 44, 46 are
provided with downwardly open socket formations 70 in which the
protrusions 40 are receivable. Similarly, the support members 82
are provided with downwardly open socket formations 70 which engage
with protrusions 40 as described in more detail herebelow.
[0060] A pair of stiffening ribs 90 of channel-section is provided
in each of the panels 44, 46, the ribs being parallel with the side
edges of the panels in register with the recesses 38. An
operatively upper end of each of the ribs 90 is in the form of a
head 92 which protrudes beyond the operatively upper edges 74 of
the panels 44, 46.
[0061] In use, in order to form the blank 18 into the container 10,
the support members 82 are displaced about the hinges 84 relative
to the panels 44, 46 in the direction of arrow 85 (FIG. 3) such
that they extend perpendicularly thereto. The panels 44, 46 are
then displaced relative to the base panel 20 about the hinges 76 in
the direction of arrow 87 (FIG. 4) until they extend generally
perpendicular to the base panel 20. In this position, the
protrusions 40 parallel with the sides 24 are received
snap-lockingly in the socket formations 70 of the panels 44, 46.
Further, the four outermost protrusions 40 parallel with the sides
22 are received in the socket formations 70 of the support members
82. Lower edges of the socket formations abut against the ridge
34.
[0062] The side wall panels 42 are then displaced into their erect
condition by displacing them about the hinges 48 in the direction
of arrow 89 (FIG. 6) until they are perpendicular to the base panel
20. In this position, the protrusions positioned inwardly of the
four outer protrusions are received in the socket formations 70 of
the panels 42 thereby serving to retain the panels 42 in their
erect condition.
[0063] The intermediate member 56 is then displaced about the hinge
58 in the direction of arrow 91 until it is perpendicular to the
associated panel 42. The inner member 60 is then displaced in the
direction of arrow 94 until it is perpendicular to the intermediate
member 56. The clip formations 64 are inserted into the holes 66
with which they engage snap lockingly. In this regard, a hole 96 is
provided in each of the support members 82 which, in the erect
condition of the panels, are in register with the outermost holes
66 in the panels 42 and through which the outermost pairs of clip
formations 64 extend.
[0064] Subsequently, the transverse panels 78 are folded inwardly
in the direction of arrows 98 about the hinges 80. Each transverse
panel 78 is provided with two pairs of clip formations 100 which
engage snap lockingly with complementary holes 102 in the
intermediate members 56.
[0065] It will be appreciated, that when the container 10 is
formed, the side walls 14, 16 extend upwardly from the base 12 at
positions spaced inwardly from the edges of the base. Further, as
mentioned above, lower edges of the socket formations 70 abut
against the ridge 34. This results in any vertical loads which
result, e.g. from stacking of a plurality of the containers 10 one
on top of the other, being transmitted through the side walls and
the base at a position spaced inwardly from the edge of the base
and hence not through the hinges 48 thereby improving structural
integrity and reducing the risk of failure of the hinges 48.
[0066] Further, the intermediate members 56, inner members 60 and
upper portion of the side walls 44 together form generally
box-shaped stiffening elements 104 which extend for substantially
the entire length of the upper edge of each side wall 14 thereby
improving the rigidity thereof. The rigidity of the container 10 is
further improved by the provision of the support members 82 and the
transverse panels 78. The heads 92 of the ribs 90 which protrude
above the upper edges of the side walls 16 serve as locating
formations which are receivable in the recesses 38 to locate one
container on top of another.
[0067] If desired, the clip formations may be releasable to permit
the container 10 to be collapsible.
[0068] Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings, in
which reference numeral 110 refers generally to another container
blank in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise
indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to
designate similar parts.
[0069] A container similar to the container 10 can be formed from
the blank 110 in the same manner described above.
[0070] The main structural difference between the container blank
110 and the container blank 18 is in the form of the clip formation
64 and the complementary holes 66.
[0071] As can best be seen in FIGS. 8 of the drawings, each of the
holes 66 has a wide portion 112 and a narrow portion 114. The clip
formations 64 are configured such that they are receivable in the
hole 66 through the wide portion 112 and are then displaced into
the narrow portion 114 where they are held captive.
[0072] As can best be seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings, of the four
holes 66 provided in each of the panels 42, two are arranged with
the narrow portion 114 positioned outwardly of the wide portion 112
and the other two are positioned with the narrow portion 114
positioned inwardly of the outer portion 112. This arrangement
reduces the risk that the clip formations 64 will become disengaged
from the holes due to loads to which a container formed from the
blank 110 will be subjected in use.
[0073] The Inventor believes that the container will be
particularly suitable for use in the transportation of agricultural
produce such as fruit and vegetables.
[0074] Currently, such produce is transported in corrugated
cardboard containers which have the disadvantage that when exposed
to moisture the strength thereof is considerably reduced which
results in crushing of the containers and damage to the contents
thereof. Further, when the containers reach a required destination,
e.g. a shop, the contents must be unpacked therefrom and
transferred to a display rack.
[0075] In contrast, the Inventor believes that the container in
accordance with the invention will not be adversely affected by
exposure to moisture. Further, the entire container can be
positioned on a display rack thereby avoiding the need to transfer
the produce from the container. By enabling the container to be
collapsible, it can be reused several times with transport costs
being reduced to a minimum by collapsing the container into its
blank form as shown in the drawings. Further, the container blank
is designed to be nestable to maximize the number of blanks that
can be transported in a given volume thereby reducing the cost
associated therewith.
* * * * *