U.S. patent application number 11/975831 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for folding container with adjustable height.
This patent application is currently assigned to INNOLUX DISPLAY CORP.. Invention is credited to Feng-Ju Kao.
Application Number | 20080093428 11/975831 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39316983 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080093428 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kao; Feng-Ju |
April 24, 2008 |
Folding container with adjustable height
Abstract
An exemplary folding container (20) includes a main body (22).
The main body includes four fixed sidewalls (221), four folding
sidewalls (222), and a bottom wall. The four fixed sidewalls, the
bottom wall, and optionally the four folding sidewalls
cooperatively form a receptacle. A size of the receptacle is
adjustable according to a selected position of the four folding
sidewalls.
Inventors: |
Kao; Feng-Ju; (Miao-Li,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG;FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Assignee: |
INNOLUX DISPLAY CORP.
|
Family ID: |
39316983 |
Appl. No.: |
11/975831 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 7/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/00 20060101
B65D005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 20, 2006 |
TW |
95138828 |
Claims
1. A folding container comprising: a main body, the main body
comprising four fixed sidewalls, four folding sidewalls, and a
bottom wall; wherein the four fixed sidewalls and the bottom wall,
and optionally the four folding sidewalls, cooperatively form a
receptacle, a size of the receptacle being adjustable according to
a selected position of the four folding sidewalls.
2. The folding container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the four
folding sidewalls are hingedly connected to the four fixed
sidewalls.
3. The folding container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the
folding sidewalls comprises two folding portions, the folding
portions being hingedly connected to each other, and a lower one of
the folding portions being hingedly connected to a respective one
of the fixed sidewalls.
4. The folding container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a cover, the cover comprising a cover body and four blocking
portions, the four blocking portions being at four corners of the
cover body respectively.
5. The folding container as claimed in claim 4, further comprising
a base, wherein the main body is provided on the base.
6. The folding container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the main
body and the base are integrated together as a single body.
7. The folding container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the main
body and the base separate parts attached together.
8. The folding container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main
body further comprises a metal frame, the metal frame comprising: a
first set of support members extending vertically along
substantially an entire height of the fixed sidewalls; and a second
set of support members extending horizontally along a perimeter of
the bottom wall.
9. The folding container as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the
blocking portions comprises a right-angled structure.
10. The folding container as claimed in claim 9, wherein a height
of the blocking portion is greater than a thickness of the cover
body.
11. The folding container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the four
fixed sidewalls are made from aluminum.
12. The folding container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
folding sidewalls are made from magnetized iron.
13. A folding container comprising a main body, the main body
defining a box having a top opening, a size of the box being
changeable by manual adjustment of movable portions of the main
body.
14. The folding container as claimed in claim 13, further
comprising a cover, wherein the cover covers the opening of the
box.
15. The folding container as claimed in claim 13, wherein the main
body comprises: four fixed sidewalls; four folding sidewalls, each
of the folding sidewalls being hingedly connected to a
corresponding one of the fixed sidewalls; and a bottom wall
adjoining bottoms of the fixed sidewalls; the fixed sidewalls and
the bottom wall, and optionally the folding sidewalls,
cooperatively forming five sides of the box.
16. The folding container as claimed in claim 13, further
comprising a base below and integrated with the main body, the base
comprising a top surface, the main body comprising: four fixed
sidewalls; and four folding sidewalls, each of the folding
sidewalls being hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the
fixed sidewalls; wherein the fixed sidewalls and the top surface of
the base, and optionally the folding sidewalls, cooperatively form
five sides of the box.
17. The folding container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the main
body further comprises a metal frame, and the metal frame
comprises: a first set of support members extending vertically
along substantially an entire height of the fixed sidewalls; and a
second set of support members extending horizontally along a
perimeter of the bottom wall.
18. The folding container as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of
the folding sidewalls comprises at least two folding portions, the
folding portions being hingedly connected to each other.
19. The folding container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the fixed
sidewalls are made from aluminum.
20. The folding container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
folding sidewalls are made from magnetized iron.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to containers, and
particularly to a folding container used for transporting or
shipping products such as liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
[0002] A process of fabricating an LCD generally includes forming
an LCD panel (known as a cell process), and assembling the LCD
panel with other parts such as driving integrated circuits, printed
circuit boards, etc. (known as a module process). The cell process
and the module process are typically performed at different
locations; for example, at factories in different districts of a
country or even in different countries. This is because the module
process is generally labor-intensive. Therefore after the cell
process, the LCD panels are typically transported or shipped to
another district or country where labor costs are more
favorable.
[0003] Referring to FIG. 8, a typical container 10 includes a main
body 12, a cover 13 and a base 11. The main body 12 has a top
opening (not labeled). The cover 13 covers the opening of the main
body 12. The cover 13 includes a cover body 131, and four blocking
portions 132 respectively disposed at four corners (not labeled) of
the cover body 131. Each of the blocking portions 132 has a
right-angled structure, and has a height greater than a thickness
of the cover body 131. The main body 12 is placed on a top surface
of the base 11.
[0004] The container 10 is designed for containing LCD panels with
a fixed same size. That is, a cubage of the container 10 is fixed.
Thus, when LCD panels with different sizes need to be transported
or shipped, different containers 10 with different sizes are
needed. This adds to the overall cost of assembly of the LCD
panels.
[0005] What is needed, therefore, is a container that can overcome
the above-described problems.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one embodiment, a folding container includes a main body.
The main body includes four fixed sidewalls, four folding
sidewalls, and a bottom wall. The four fixed sidewalls, the bottom
wall, and optionally the four folding sidewalls cooperatively form
a receptacle. A size of the receptacle is adjustable according to a
selected position of the four folding sidewalls.
[0007] Other advantages and novel features will become more
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, all
the views are schematic.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a folding container
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
folding container including a cover and four folding sidewalls,
each folding sidewall including two folding portions, and showing
the cover lifted off.
[0009] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the folding
portions folded down.
[0010] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the cover
attached.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the folding container of FIG. 1
without the cover, showing 17-inch LCD panels accommodated in the
folding container.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the folding container shown in
FIG. 4, also showing the cover.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the folding container shown in
FIG. 2 but without the cover, showing 22-inch LCD panels
accommodated in the folding container.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the folding container shown in
FIG. 6, also showing the cover.
[0015] FIG. 8 is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe
preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a folding container 20 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The folding
container 20 includes a main body 22, a cover 25, and a base
21.
[0018] Referring also to FIG. 2, the main body 22 includes four
fixed sidewalls 221, four folding sidewalls 222, a metal frame 225,
and a bottom wall (not labeled). Each folding sidewall 222 includes
two folding portions 223 hingedly connected to each other. Each of
the fixed sidewalls 221 is hingedly connected to a lower folding
portion 223 of the corresponding folding sidewall 222. Each of the
folding portions 223 can be pivoted outward and down, and pivoted
outward and back up again. The folding sidewalls 222 can be folded
down by pivoting down either an upper one of the folding portions
223 only, or pivoting down the lower folding portion 223 (which
takes the upper folding portion 223 with it). The folding sidewalls
222 can be returned to their original upright position by pivoting
up the respective folding portion 223. When the folding sidewalls
222 are in the upright position, the fixed sidewalls 221, the
folding sidewalls 222, and the bottom wall cooperatively form a
large receptacle (not labeled). The large receptacle has an opening
(not labeled) at a top thereof. When only the upper folding
portions 223 are folded down, the fixed sidewalls 221, the lower
folding portions 223, and the bottom wall cooperatively form an
intermediate-sized receptacle (not shown). The intermediate-sized
receptacle has an opening (not shown) at a top thereof. When both
folding portions 223 are folded down, the fixed sidewalls 221 and
the bottom wall cooperatively form a small receptacle (not
labeled). The small receptacle has an opening (not labeled) at a
top thereof.
[0019] The metal frame 225 is arranged at respective junctions of
the fixed sidewalls 221 and the bottom wall, to provide structural
support for the folding container 20. In detail, the metal frame
225 includes a first set of support members (not labeled) extending
vertically along substantially the entire height of the fixed
sidewalls 221, and a second set of support members (not labeled)
extending horizontally along a perimeter of the bottom wall. Each
of the first set of support members joins two corresponding
adjacent fixed sidewalls 221. Each of the second set of support
members joins the bottom wall and a corresponding adjacent fixed
sidewalls 221. Thus, the fixed sidewalls 221 and the bottom wall
are interconnected by the metal frame 225. In the illustrated
embodiment, the metal frame 225 has a one-piece construction. The
fixed sidewalls 221, the frame 225, the bottom wall, and the
folding sidewalls 222 essentially constitute the main body 22.
[0020] The main body 22 is disposed on a top surface of the base
21. The main body 22 and the base 21 can be integrated together in
a one-piece construction, or be separate parts attached together or
simply stacked together. Generally, the metal frame is made from
iron (Fe). The fixed sidewalls 221 can be made from aluminum (Al).
The folding sidewalls 222 can be made from magnetic materials, such
as magnetized iron.
[0021] The cover 25 includes a cover body 251 and four blocking
portions 252. The cover body 231 and the opening of the main body
22 have a same rectangular shape. The four blocking portions 252
are respectively disposed at four corners (not labeled) of the
cover body 251. Each blocking portion 252 has a right-angled
structure. A height of the blocking portion 252 is slightly greater
than a thickness of the cover body 251. Thus the blocking portion
252 slightly protrudes vertically beyond the thickness of the cover
body 251. In the illustrated embodiment, the blocking portion 252
protrudes both above and below the cover body 251.
[0022] The cover 25 covers the opening of the main body 22 when the
folding container 20 is being used transport or ship products such
as LCD panels. The blocking portions 252 abut the folding portions
223 respectively, that the cover 25 is securely attached on the
main body 22.
[0023] Before the LCD panels are loaded into the folding container
20, they are usually prepackaged with buffer materials such as
expanded polypropylene (EPP). Further or alternatively, the LCD
panels may be stacked up with buffer materials therebetween.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, this shows all the folding portions 223
folded down. In one embodiment, the folding sidewalls 222 are made
from magnetized material, and the metal frame 225 is made of iron.
Thus, when the folding portions 223 hingedly connected to the main
body 22 are pivoted outward, magnetic force is generated between
the folding portions 223 and the metal frame 225. Furthermore, when
an angle between each of the folding portions 223 and the metal
frame 225 is small enough, the folding sidewalls 222 snap sideward
and are attached onto the metal frame 225 due to the effects of the
magnetic force. With all the folding portions 223 folded down, a
height of the main body 20 is at its smallest. The small receptacle
of the folding container 20 is suitable for containing LCD panels
with small sizes. Referring also to FIG. 3, this shows the cover 25
attached on the main body 22 of the folding container 20. The
blocking portions 252 of the cover 25 are engaged between the
folding sidewalls 222 and the fixed sidewalls 221.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, these show all the folding
portions 223 folded up in their original upright positions. A
plurality of 17-inch LCD panels is accommodated in the large
receptacle of the folding container 20. A height of each fixed
sidewall 221 is equal to 480 millimeters (mm). A height of each
folding portion 223 is equal to 120 mm. A height of the base 21 is
equal to 160 mm, and a height of the cover body 251 is 30 mm. The
main body 22 can accommodate a lower group of LCD panels packaged
together, and an upper group of LCD panels packaged together. Each
group includes 19 packed LCD panels. That is, the main body 22 can
accommodate as many as 38 packed LCD panels.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, these show all the folding
portions 223 folded down. A plurality of 22-inch LCD panels is
accommodated in the small receptacle of the folding container 20.
The main body 22 can accommodate one group of LCD panels packaged
together. Each group includes 18 packed LCD panels.
[0027] In summary, the receptacle of the folding container 20 can
be changed according to, different sizes of LCD panels to be
accommodated therein. Therefore, the one same folding container 20
can occupy a minimum amount of space whenever it is used to
transport or ship LCD panels of any of various sizes. That is, the
folding container 20 is a cost effective way to transport or ship
LCD panels of varying sizes.
[0028] Further or alternative embodiments may include the
following. In one example, each folding sidewall 222 can include
only one, or three or more, folding portions 223. In another
example, the base 21 is integrated with the main body 22. In such
case, the bottom wall of the main body 22 can be omitted. That is,
the top surface of the base 21 adjoining the main body 22 functions
as the equivalent of the bottom wall.
[0029] It is believed that the present embodiments and their
advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and
it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or
sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples
hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary
embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *