U.S. patent application number 12/869811 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for collapsible crate.
Invention is credited to Mauricio D. Cavelcante, Gerald R. Koefelda.
Application Number | 20110049144 12/869811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42953731 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110049144 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koefelda; Gerald R. ; et
al. |
March 3, 2011 |
COLLAPSIBLE CRATE
Abstract
A container includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly
from a base. The walls are movable between an upright position and
a collapsed position on the base. Supports are pivotably mounted to
the end walls. Ends of the supports are received in arcuate
channels in the side walls. A tab or other projection downward from
the base is aligned with arcuate channel to engage the
spring-loaded fingers on a dolly.
Inventors: |
Koefelda; Gerald R.;
(Sunningdale, GB) ; Cavelcante; Mauricio D.;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Family ID: |
42953731 |
Appl. No.: |
12/869811 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61237668 |
Aug 27, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 11/1833 20130101;
B65D 2303/00 20130101; B65D 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/18 20060101
B65D006/18 |
Claims
1. A collapsible container comprising: a base having a pair of
opposed upstanding side members, at least one of the side members
including a vertical channel, the base including a downward
projection aligned with the vertical channel; a plurality of walls
extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls movable
between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base,
the plurality of walls including a first wall and an adjacent
second wall; and at least one support pivotably mounted to the
first wall and movable from a retracted position toward an interior
of the container to a support position, the support including an
end received in the vertical channel as the first wall is collapsed
onto the base.
2. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the downward
projection is a tab or rib.
3. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the downward
projection is spaced inwardly from the exterior periphery of the
base.
4. The collapsible container of claim 1 further including a
plurality of drag feet extending downward from the base.
5. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the second wall is
pivotably mounted to the at least one of the side members, the
container further including at least one rib on an exterior of the
second wall, the rib including a recess formed therein to
accommodate the downward projection of an identical container
stacked thereon when the plurality of walls of the container are
collapsed on the base.
6. The collapsible container of claim 5 wherein the second wall
includes an arcuate recess on an interior surface thereof to
accommodate the support when the first wall is moved to the
collapsed position, the second wall including an opening formed
through the arcuate channel to accommodate the downward projection
of the identical container stacked thereon when the container is in
the collapsed position.
7. The collapsible container of claim 1 on a dolly having a
spring-biased finger projecting upward from a deck, the collapsible
container supported on the deck and partially compressing the
finger, the downward projection abutting the finger to prevent the
container from sliding off the dolly.
8. A collapsible container comprising: a base having a pair of
opposed upstanding side members, the side members each including a
pair of vertical channels, the base including a downward projection
aligned with at least one of the vertical channels; a plurality of
walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls
movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto
the base, the plurality of walls including a pair of opposed side
walls pivotably mounted to the upstanding side members and a pair
of opposed end walls; and a support pivotably mounted to each of
the end walls and movable from a retracted position toward an
interior of the container to a support position, each opposing end
of each support received in one of the vertical channels as the end
wall is collapsed onto the base.
9. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the downward
projection is a tab or rib.
10. The collapsible container of claim 9 wherein the downward
projection is spaced inwardly from the exterior periphery of the
base.
11. The collapsible container of claim 10 further including a
plurality of drag feet extending downward from the base.
12. The collapsible container of claim 10 wherein each side wall
includes at least one rib on an exterior surface, the rib including
a recess formed therein to accommodate the downward projection of
an identical container stacked thereon when the plurality of walls
of the container are collapsed on the base.
13. The collapsible container of claim 12 wherein the side walls
each includes an arcuate recess on an interior surface thereof to
accommodate the ends of the supports when the end walls are moved
to the collapsed position, the side walls including an opening
formed through at least one arcuate channel to accommodate the
downward projection of the identical container stacked thereon when
the container is in the collapsed position.
14. The collapsible container of claim 13 on a dolly having a
spring-biased finger projecting upward from a deck, the collapsible
container supported on the deck and partially compressing the
finger, the downward projection abutting the finger to prevent the
container from sliding off the dolly.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/237,668 filed Aug. 27, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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.
[0003] Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so
that another, non-collapsible, nestable container can be supported
thereon. One such collapsible crate includes end walls each having
a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in
the support position. The nestable containers can be supported on
the supports when the supports are in the support position. Ends of
the supports are received in arcuate channels in the adjacent walls
to permit the end walls to be collapsed.
[0004] The collapsible crates may be stacked on a dolly having
spring-loaded locking fingers designed to interlock with recesses
on some containers stacked thereon. On some dollies, the
spring-loaded locking fingers are aligned with the collapsible
crate in a location where a recess cannot be provided. In
particular, the spring-loaded locking fingers are aligned with the
arcuate channels in the adjacent walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a container having a end
walls and side walls extending upwardly from a base. The walls are
movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the
base. Supports are pivotably mounted to the end walls. Ends of the
supports are received in arcuate channels in the side walls. A tab
or other projection downward from the base is aligned with arcuate
channel to engage the spring-loaded fingers on a dolly.
[0006] The container may further include at least one rib on an
exterior of the side wall. The rib may include a recess formed
therein to accommodate the downward projection of an identical
container stacked thereon when the container is in a collapsed
position with the plurality of walls collapsed on the base
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to one
embodiment of the present invention in an assembled upright
position.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 in a collapsed
position.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of a quarter of the
container of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an interior view of one of the end walls.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exterior view of the quarter of the container
of FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a section view of the container of FIG. 2 in a
collapsed position with the base of an identical container stacked
thereon.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a section view through a portion of the container
of FIG. 1 adjacent an alignment finger on a dolly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] A collapsible container 10 according to one embodiment of
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The collapsible container
10 includes a base 12, collapsible side walls 14 (or "long walls")
and collapsible end walls 18 (or "short walls"). The side walls 14
are pivotably connected to upstanding side members 16, which are
integrally molded with the base 12 and extend upwardly along the
side edges of the base 12. Each end wall 18 includes a support
member 20 pivotably and slidably connected thereto by arms 24.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the end walls 18 and side wall 14 are
collapsible onto the base 12 for convenient shipping and storage
when empty.
[0018] A quarter view of the collapsible container 10 is shown in
FIG. 3. The collapsible container 10 would be symmetric about the
section lines. Each of the support members 20 includes a support
portion 21 extending between opposite ends 22, which protrude
outwardly relative to the arms 24. Each side wall 14 includes an
arcuate channel 30 adjacent each end wall 18. The end 22 of the
support member 20 is received in the associated channel 30. The
channel 30 extends from an upper portion of the side wall 14 to a
vertical channel 34 through the upstanding portion 16.
[0019] In FIG. 3, the support member 20 is shown in the support
position. In FIG. 4, the support member 20 is shown pivoted to a
retracted position.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an exterior view of the container 10 showing the
bottom of the base 12. As shown, the base 12 includes a plurality
of feet 38 (or a drag rail) protruding downwardly. Aligned at least
partially with the channel 34 through the upstanding portion 16 is
a downward projection, such as an alignment rib or tab 40
projecting downwardly from the base 12. The alignment rib 40 is
arranged to abut a spring-biased finger or button (which may be
spring biased and retractable) on a dolly or other support surface,
to prevent the container 10 from sliding relative to the dolly or
support surface.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, the side wall 14 includes some recesses
to accommodate the alignment rib 40. For example, the exterior
surface of the side wall 14 may include vertical ribs 42, 44 which
overlap an exterior surface of the arcuate channel 30. An opening
46 is formed through the surface of the arcuate channel 30 and a
recess 48 is formed through one of the vertical ribs 44.
[0022] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the collapsed container 10 with the base
12' of an identical container 10' stacked thereon (walls of the
upper container 10' removed for clarity). As shown, when stacking
collapsed containers 10, 10', the alignment rib 40' of the upper
container 10 is received in the opening 46 through the surface of
the arcuate channel 30 and the recess 48 through the rib 44. This
permits the containers 10, 10' to stack stably when in the
collapsed position.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a section view through a portion of the container
10 on a dolly 60. The dolly 60 includes a plurality of alignment
fingers 62 (one shown) each biased upwardly by a spring 64 to
prevent the container 10 from sliding off the dolly 60. The base 12
of the container 10 partially compresses the finger 62 into the
deck of the dolly 10 and the rib 40 abuts an inner surface of the
finger 62 to help keep the container 10 in position on the dolly
10. The container 10 may include such a rib 40 aligned with each of
the vertical channels 34 in the upstanding members 16, and the ribs
40 may each engage a different spring-loaded finger 62 in the
manner shown in FIG. 9.
[0024] 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.
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