U.S. patent application number 12/372782 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-20 for collapsible container.
Invention is credited to Mauricio D. Cavalcante.
Application Number | 20090206149 12/372782 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40640782 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090206149 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cavalcante; Mauricio D. |
August 20, 2009 |
COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
Abstract
A container includes a plurality of walls extending upward from
a base. At least one support is movable between a retracted
position and a support position. At least one magnet urges the
support into one of the retracted position and the support
position.
Inventors: |
Cavalcante; Mauricio D.;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
40640782 |
Appl. No.: |
12/372782 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61029393 |
Feb 18, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.08 ;
220/7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/1833 20130101;
B65D 2313/04 20130101; B65D 21/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117.08 ;
220/7 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/36 20060101
B65D005/36; B65D 8/14 20060101 B65D008/14 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a base; a plurality of walls extending
upward from the base, the plurality of walls including a first wall
and a second wall; a support mounted to the first wall and movable
relative to the first wall between a retracted position and a
support position; and at least one magnet on at least one of: the
first wall, the second wall and the support; the at least one
magnet urging the support toward one of the retracted position and
the support position.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet urges
the support toward the support position.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet is on
the first wall.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet is on
the second wall.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet is on
the support.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls are
collapsible onto the base.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet is a
magnetized portion of the at least one of: the first wall, the
second wall and the support.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the support is partially
supported on the second wall in the support position.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet
includes a first magnet on the support and a second magnet on the
first wall.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein the at least one magnet
includes a first magnet on the support and a second magnet on the
second wall.
11. A method for operating a container including the steps of: a)
moving a support between a support position in which another
container could be supported thereon and a retracted position,
wherein the support extends into a mouth of the container in the
support position; b) urging the support contrary to a magnetic
field during said step a); and c) releasing the support after said
step b) to permit the support to be moved by the magnetic field
toward one of the support position and the retracted position.
12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of collapsing
a plurality of walls of the container onto a base of the container.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/029,393, filed Feb. 18, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to collapsible
crates and more particularly to a collapsible crate with support
members for supporting another container thereon.
[0003] Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls each connected
via a hinge to a base are selectively movable about the hinge
between a use position, in which the wall is generally
perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base.
Various latch mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent
walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use
position.
[0004] Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so
that another container can be supported thereon. One such crate
includes end walls each having a support that is partially
supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a collapsible container
having a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one
wall has a support pivotably mounted by a hinge below an upper end
thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where
it can support another container thereon and a retracted position
against the wall. In the support position, the lateral ends of the
support are supported on the long walls. At least one magnet is
provided in either one of the walls or the support (or both) to
urge the support toward the support position. For example, like
poles of magnets in the wall and in the support will permit the
support to be forced into the retracted position, such as when the
wall is collapsed onto the base or when moved by automated handling
equipment, and will return the support to the support position when
the wall is upright and the support is released by automated
handling equipment.
[0006] In the particular embodiment shown, the supports are formed
on short end walls of the container, such that the supports and end
walls can be collapsed onto the base and the long side walls can be
pivoted onto the end walls. Alternatively, the supports could be
formed on the long walls (or on equally-sized walls).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a
collapsed position.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one end of one of the side
walls of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of one end of one of the
supports of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the end of the support
of FIG. 4.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of the container of
FIG. 1 with the support in the support position.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an interior perspective view of the container of
FIG. 1 with the support in the retracted position.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an interior view, with a sidewall broken away,
showing another container supported on the support of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 9 is an interior view of an alternate container.
[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates the container of FIG. 9 with the support
in the retracted position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container 10. The
container 10 includes a base 12, upstanding side walls 14 (or long
walls) and upstanding end walls 18 (or short walls). The side walls
14 and end walls 18 are pivotably connected along long and short
edges of the base 12, respectively.
[0018] Each end wall 18 has a support 20. The support 20 is
pivotably mounted at its lower edge to a position spaced below an
upper edge of the end wall 18. One of the supports 20 in FIG. 1 is
shown pivoted to a support position, where it projects into the
interior of the container 10 and where it can support another
container stacked thereon. The supports 20 each include a tab 21
projecting from each side into the adjacent side wall 14. The end
walls 18 each include a lip 25 protruding inwardly from the
uppermost edge above the support 20.
[0019] The end walls 18 each include magnets 27 that are polarized
like adjacent magnets 29 in the supports 20. The magnets 27, 29 are
aligned such that they urge the supports 20 away from the end walls
18 into the support position. The magnets 27, 29 could be separate
magnets attached to, or insert molded with the end walls 18 and
supports 20. Alternatively, the magnets 27, 29 could be
electromagnets, or magnetized portions of the end walls 18 and
supports 20, if magnetic additives such as metal flakes, powder or
fibers were added to the plastic of which the end walls 18 and
supports 20 are molded. Although the supports 20 are urged toward
the support position, they can still be forced into the retracted
position by automated handling equipment or when the end walls 18
are moved the collapsed position on the base 12, as shown in FIG.
2.
[0020] Referring again to FIG. 1, the interiors of the side walls
14 each include an upper frame portion 22 protruding into the
container 10. A curved channel 24 is formed through each upper
frame portion 22 adjacent the end wall 18. The interior of each
side wall 14 further includes a lower frame portion 26 having a
channel 28 formed therethrough below each curved channel 24. A
recess 30 is defined between the upper frame portion 22 and the
lower frame portion 26. The base 12 includes a pair of side
upstanding portions 32 to which the side walls 14 are pivotably
attached. Each side upstanding portion 32 includes a channel 34
formed on an interior thereof, below each channel 28. The channels
24, 28 and 34 are aligned with one another and with the tabs 21 on
the supports 20, so that the end walls 18 can be pivoted to the
collapsed position prior to the side walls 14 being collapsed, such
that the side walls 14 are collapsed onto the end walls 18, as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates one end of one of the side walls 14. The
other end would be similar, as would the other side wall 14. Each
end of the side wall 14 includes a latch 36. At the top of the
curved channel 24 is a rail 38 spaced inwardly into the container
10. The rail 38 includes a step 40 having a substantially vertical
leading face 42. The leading face 42 forms a stop that prevents the
support 20 (FIG. 1) from being knocked back into the retracted
position when another container is stacked thereon. The step 40
requires the support 20 to be lifted prior to being retracted,
although this can happen easily when there is no weight on the
support 20.
[0022] FIG. 3 also shows three alternate magnets 27a-c that could
be used instead of, or in addition to, the magnets 27 in FIG. 1 in
the end wall 18. The side wall 14 includes an inwardly projecting
member 48 to which a magnet 27a could be secured. Magnet 27b
illustrates another alternate location on the side wall 14 which
could be used to urge the support 20 (FIG. 1) into the support
position. Magnet 27c illustrates an alternate location where the
magnet 27c would be opposite in polarity to an appropriately placed
magnet in the support 20, such that the magnet 27c would attract
the support 20 into the support position. Again, any of the magnets
27a-c could be attached, integrally molded or formed from
magnetized portions of the side wall 14. Placing the magnets 27a-c
in the side wall 14 would mean that they are not adjacent the
support 20 when the walls 14, 18 are in the collapsed position
(FIG. 2).
[0023] FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and rear perspective views,
respectively, of one of the supports 20. The support 20 includes a
flange 46 projecting downwardly from the tab 21. Hinge pins 60 are
integrally molded with the support 20 in this example. Multiple
alternate locations for the magnets 29, 29a-b, are shown. The
magnets 29, 29a-b would be used with corresponding magnets 27,
27a-b respectively on the end wall 18 or side wall 14. Magnet 29b
on the support would also be used with the magnet 27c on the side
wall 14. The magnets 29, 29a-b could be attached, insert-molded or
magnetized portions of magnetic filler. The magnets 27, 27a-c, 29,
29a-b would be symmetrically placed on the other end of the end
wall 18 and on the other end wall 18. More than one set of paired
magnets could also be used at several of the disclosed (or other)
locations.
[0024] In any arrangement, the magnets urge the support 20 toward
the support position as shown in FIG. 6, but permit the support 20
to be forced into the retracted position as shown in FIG. 7, such
as when the wall 18 is collapsed onto the base 12 or when moved by
automated handling equipment, and will return the support 20 to the
support position when the wall 18 is upright and the support 20 is
not restrained by automated handling equipment. Alternatively, the
magnets could be used to retain the support 20 in the retracted
position.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 8, when the support 20 is in the support
position, another container 100 can be supported on the support
20.
[0026] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another container 110 with a different
support 120 configuration. FIG. 9 shows a bottom perspective view
of the interior corner of the container 110. The end wall 118
includes a plurality of openings 124 formed in a plurality of
brackets 126. The support 120 includes a plurality of arms 128 (one
shown in this view), each having a hinge pin 130 formed at a lower
end thereof. The hinge pins 130 are received in the brackets 126
and are captured in the openings 124 of the brackets 126. The hinge
pins 130 are pivotable and slidable within the openings 124 in the
brackets 126. The hinge pins 130 slide to the upper end of the
openings 124 when the support 120 is in the support position 120.
The arms 128 extend at an angle inwardly and upwardly from the
hinge pins 130, such that the support 120 extends further into the
interior of the container 110. The end of the support 120 includes
a tab 132 projected downwardly behind a rail 134 adjacent the
channel 122. The tab 132 interlocks with the rail 134 to prevent
the side wall 114 from deflecting outward such that the support 120
would slip off the side wall 114 when a load is placed on the
support 120. A magnet 129 in the support 120 repels a corresponding
magnet 127 in the end wall 118. The other locations and
configurations of magnets described above could also be used.
[0027] FIG. 10 illustrates the support 120 moved to the retracted
position within the end wall 118. The side wall 114 includes an
upper rib 50 providing an upper contact surface that contacts the
support 120 as the support 120 is moved toward the retracted
position. As the support 120 is moved toward the retracted
position, the arm 128 is pivoted outwardly and the support 120
contacts the upper rib 150, which causes the hinge pin 130 to slide
downward within the vertically elongated openings 124. As the
support is moved into the retracted position, the magnets 127, 129
repel one another, so the support 20 will return to the support
position automatically upon release. Any of the magnet locations
disclosed above, or other locations, could be used in this
embodiment as well.
[0028] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and
jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are
considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention.
However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced
otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without
departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on
method steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and
do not signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise
indicated in the claims.
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