U.S. patent application number 11/755181 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for collapsible container.
Invention is credited to William P. Apps, Daniel Barbalho.
Application Number | 20080296308 11/755181 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39616139 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080296308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barbalho; Daniel ; et
al. |
December 4, 2008 |
COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
Abstract
A container for shipping, displaying and selling items, such as
flower bulbs, includes a base to which four walls are hingeably
connected, such that the walls can be collapsed onto the base. A
front wall is a substantially open frame, providing access to the
interior of the container. A rear wall, opposite the front wall, is
hingeably connected to the base. The front wall and rear wall are
latchable to a pair of opposed side walls, which are also hingeably
attached to the base.
Inventors: |
Barbalho; Daniel; (Atlanta,
GA) ; Apps; William P.; (Alpharetta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
39616139 |
Appl. No.: |
11/755181 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/666 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/1833
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/666 |
International
Class: |
B65D 8/04 20060101
B65D008/04 |
Claims
1. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a plurality of walls
hingeably connected to the base, such that the walls can be pivoted
between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base,
wherein at least one of the walls has a frame circumscribing an
opening.
2. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the opening in the
at least one of the walls is more than 2/3 of the wall by area.
3. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the opening in the
at least one of the walls is approximately 4/5 of the wall by
area.
4. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the at least one of
the walls includes a lower frame member and an upper frame
connected by opposed side frame members to circumscribe the
opening.
5. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the at least one of
the walls is reinforced.
6. The collapsible container of claim 5 wherein the at least one of
the walls is of a reinforced material.
7. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the at least one of
the walls is a front wall and wherein the front wall is of a
material different from a remainder of the plurality of walls.
8. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the opening in the
at least one of the walls is more than 2/3 of the wall by area.
9. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the opening in the
at least one of the walls is approximately 4/5 of the wall by
area.
10. The collapsible container of claim 1 further including a
divider movable between an upright position and a collapsed
position on the base.
11. The collapsible container of claim 10 wherein the divider is
pivotably connected to the base.
12. The collapsible container of claim 10 wherein the at least one
of the plurality of walls includes a front wall, the plurality of
walls further including a pair of opposed side walls and an end
wall, the divider generally transverse to the front wall when in
the upright position.
13. The collapsible container of claim 12 wherein the divider and
the pair of opposed side walls are collapsible onto the base and do
not overlap one another.
14. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the at least one
of the walls is a front wall and wherein the base includes a pair
of opposed, upstanding side flanges to which a pair of the
plurality of side walls are hingeably attached, such that the front
wall pivots about an axis lower than axes about which the side
walls pivot.
15. The collapsible container of claim 14 wherein the plurality of
walls further includes a rear wall pivotably mounted to an
upstanding rear flange, shorter than the side flanges.
16. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a pair of side
walls and a rear wall pivotably connected to the base such that the
side walls and rear wall can be pivoted between an upright position
and a collapsed position; and a substantially open front wall
hingeably connected to the base, such that the front wall can be
pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position, the
front wall molded of a material different from the side walls and
the rear wall.
17. The collapsible container of claim 16 wherein an opening in the
front wall is more than 2/3 of the front wall by area.
18. The collapsible container of claim 17 wherein the opening in
the front wall is approximately 4/5 of the front wall by area.
19. The collapsible container of claim 17 wherein the front wall
includes a lower frame member and an upper frame connected by
opposed side frame members to circumscribe the opening.
20. A collapsible container comprising: a base; a pair of side
walls and a rear wall pivotably connected to the base such that the
side walls and rear wall can be pivoted between an upright position
and a collapsed position; a substantially open front wall hingeably
connected to the base, such that the front wall can be pivoted
between an upright position and a collapsed position; and a divider
movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the
base.
21. The collapsible container of claim 20 wherein the divider is
pivotably connected to the base.
22. The collapsible container of claim 21 wherein the divider is
generally transverse to the front wall when in the upright
position.
23. The collapsible container of claim 22 wherein the divider and
the pair of opposed side walls are collapsible onto the base and do
not overlap one another.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a collapsible
container.
[0002] Currently some flower bulbs are packed in plastic nets which
are then placed in corrugated cardboard boxes. The corrugated boxes
in turn are placed on a wooden display.
[0003] The wooden displays are shipped to the stores for sale of
the flower bulbs. Once the flower bulbs are sold, the wooden
displays are discarded. The displays are heavy and occupy a great
deal of space. The wooden displays and the cardboard boxes are not
reused.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a plastic, reusable,
collapsible container in which flower bulbs (or other items) can be
shipped and displayed. The container includes a base and a pair of
opposed side walls hingeably attached to the base. A rear wall is
hingeably attached to the base opposite a front wall. The front
wall is a substantially open frame which is hingeably attached to
the base. The opening through the front wall displays the contents
of the container and provides access to the contents of the
container even when the containers are stacked. Because the front
wall is just a frame, the front wall is optionally made from a
different material from the rest of the container. In particular,
the front wall may be made from a stiffer material.
[0005] These and other features of the application can be best
understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container in an
assembled position.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a top view of the container of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is front view of the container of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the container of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a first step in collapsing the container
of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a second step in collapsing the container
of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in
the collapsed position.
[0013] FIG. 8 illustrates the container of FIG. 1 with a similar
container stacked thereon.
[0014] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a
container.
[0015] FIG. 10 illustrates the process of collapsing the container
of FIG. 9.
[0016] FIG. 11 illustrates the container of FIG. 9 in a collapsed
position.
[0017] FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the container of
FIG. 9 showing the attachment of optional runners.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] A container 10 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-8. Referring to FIG. 1, the
container 10 includes a base 12 having intricately molded
upstanding side flanges 14 and upstanding rear flange 16 extending
upwardly from three of the four edges of the base 12. A front wall
18 is hingeably connected to the remaining edge of the base 12.
Side walls 20 are hingeably connected to upper edges of the
upstanding side flanges 14. A rear wall 22 is hingeably connected
to an upper edge of the rear flange 16. The rear flange 16 is
shorter than the side flanges 14, and the front wall 18 is
pivotable about an axis that is lower than the rear wall 22 and the
side walls 20.
[0019] The front wall 18 is a substantially open frame having an
opening defined by a lower frame member 24, side frame members 26
and an upper frame member 28.
[0020] The side walls 20 are connected to the rear wall 22 and
front wall 18 by latches 30. Suitable latches 30 are used in known
collapsible containers. The side walls 20 include openings for
handles 34. Locating members 36 may protrude upwardly from upper
edges of the front wall 18 and rear wall 22 to interlock with
complementary recesses (not shown) in the bottom of the base 12.
This improves the stacking of similar containers 10.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the opening in the front wall 18 is
preferably more than 2/3 of the area of the front wall 18 and in
the embodiment shown is approximately 4/5 of the area of the front
wall 18. Because of the large opening in the front wall 18, it may
be desirable to form the front wall 18 of a different material from
the rest of the container 10. For example, the front wall 18 may be
made from a stiffer material than the rest of the container 10. For
example, the front wall 18 may be molded from glass-reinforced
polypropylene or glass-reinforced nylon, while the remainder of the
container 10 is molded from polypropylene or high-density
polyethylene.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the container 10 can be collapsed
when empty to reduce the necessary space for storing and shipping
the empty containers. In a first step, shown in FIG. 5, the front
wall 18 is collapsed onto the base 12. Because the front wall 18
has its axis closest to the base 12 in order to maximize the size
of the opening in the front wall 18, it must be pivoted first onto
the base 12. As shown in FIG. 6, the rear wall 22 is collapsed on
top of the front wall 18. As shown in FIG. 7, the side walls 20 are
then collapsed on top of the front wall 18 and rear wall 22. The
side walls 20 do not stack on one another.
[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates the container 10 with a similar container
10' stacked thereon. In the assembled position, the side walls 20,
front wall 18 and rear wall 22 (FIG. 1) support the base 12' of the
upper container 10'. The interiors of the containers 10, 10' are
accessible through the opening in the front walls 18, 18' even when
stacked. Again, the front wall 18 may optionally be molded of a
stiffer, stronger material so that it can support the upper
container 10' when loaded. Although only one container 10' is shown
stacked on the container 10, at least four loaded containers could
be stacked on the container 10.
[0024] In use, the container 10 can be loaded with items, such as
flower bulbs, and shipped to the store in the container 10. In the
store, multiple containers 10 can be stacked, displaying the flower
bulbs for sale. Customers can access the flower bulbs inside the
containers 10 for purchase. When empty, the containers 10 are
collapsed and returned to the warehouse and reused.
[0025] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an alternate container 110 according
to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the container 110
includes a base 112, hingeably connected side walls 120, a
hingeably connected rear wall 122 and a hingeably connected,
substantially open front wall 118.
[0026] In this embodiment, the base 112 is twice as wide as the
base 12 of FIGS. 1-8, as are the front wall 118 and rear wall 122.
Also, the front wall 118 is hingeably connected to an upstanding
front flange 119, such that its pivot axis is higher than the pivot
axes of the side walls 120, which are hinged as low as possible.
This is to accommodate a divider 121 which is also hingeably
connected to the base 112, approximately midway between the side
walls 120, and generally perpendicular to the front wall 118 and
the rear wall 122. The divider 121 may be latched to the front wall
118 by a latch 131, which as shown may be a simple recess. The
divider could alternatively or additionally be latched to the rear
wall 122 (not shown). The divider 121 assists in supporting a
similar container (not shown) stacked on container 110.
[0027] As in the first embodiment, the front wall 118 is
substantially open, preferably more than 2/3 open and in this
embodiment approximately 4/5 open, by area. The front wall 118 may
be molded of a stiffer material than the rest of the container 110,
and the front wall 118 and the rest of the container 110 may be the
same materials as in the first embodiment. The rear wall 122 is
hingeably connected to an upper edge of a rear flange 116.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 10, in order to save space when the
container 110 is empty, the side walls 120 and divider 121 are
first collapsed onto the base 112, without overlapping one another.
The rear wall 122 and front wall 118 are then collapsed onto the
base 112 (more specifically, onto the side walls 120 and divider
121), as shown in FIG. 11.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 12, optional runners 150 can be attached to
the underside of the base 112. The runners 150 would only be
attached to the lowermost container 110 in a stack of similar
containers. The runners 150 include feet extending downward to
define openings for receiving the prongs of a fork-lift or
lift-truck. Smaller runners (not shown) could also be attached to
the container 10 of FIGS. 1-8.
[0030] The container 110 is used similarly to the first container
10. Items, such as flower bulbs, are shipped to the store in a
stack of containers 110. Stacks of containers 110 are displayed in
a store, where customers can access the flower bulbs through the
opening in the front wall 118. When empty, the containers 110 can
be collapsed and returned to the warehouse for reuse.
[0031] With respect to the container 10 and the container 110, the
front wall 18, 118 could alternatively be reinforced by a separate
reinforcement instead of, or in addition to, using reinforced
material. For example, a reinforcement rod (metal, glass filled
Nylon, etc) could be attached to or insert-molded in the upper
frame member. Alternatively, a reinforcement ring could be added
around the entire front wall 18, 118.
[0032] Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed, a worker
of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain
modifications would come within the scope of the claims. For that
reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their
true scope and content.
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