Description of Prior Art Reusable containers are widely used for the transport and storage of commercial and agricultural products. In most instances, the products are unpacked from the containers at their destination, and the containers are transported back to the departure location for re-use.

Specifically, re-useable containers have a number of requirements. Firstly, they are required to be durable so that they can be reused. Secondly, the containers are required to be collapsible, in order to reduce the cost of transporting the containers back to the departure location. Thirdly, it is preferable that the containers be stackable in both their assembled and disassembled configurations for ease of transportation and loading. Fourthly, it is desirable that the container be adapted to be assembled and disassembled without requiring any specialized equipment or tools, as these may not always be readily

available. The assembly and disassembly must not be a complicated or time- consuming operation. Fifthly, when delicate or valuable products are being transported, the containers must be rigid and lockable in their assembled configuration. In addition to this, the containers must be of regular shape to allow stable stacking and packing of the containers.

The containers that are available presently, require specialized tools for assembly and disassembly, which is also complicated and time-consuming. In addition, small clips are used, which may be easily lost. Other containers currently in use include hinged containers, which may be folded up into the base of the container. A disadvantage of this configuration is that if one of the panels is damaged, the whole sub-assembly is rendered useless. Further, small clips are required to hold the assembled container together. These clips may be lost, and assembly/disassembly is time consuming and requires the use of tools.

Another type of collapsible container known in the art has non-perpendicular side panels, which widen towards the top of the container to allow the containers to stack inside one another in a nestled formation. The disadvantage of these container types is that full containers cannot be stacked in a stable fashion.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible container that overcomes or at least partially alleviates some of the problems outlined above.

Disclosure of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a collapsible container comprising: a base formation; two opposed end panels ; two opposed side panels ; engagement formations located proximate the vertical edge of each side panel which are adapted to engage complementary engagement formations located proximate the vertical edges of each end panel ; and first engaging means for releasably locking the base formation to the side panels and/or end panels when the side panels and end panels are engaged.

The container may further include a frame member locatable around the top edge of the assembled container.

Also according to the invention the container may include second engaging means for releasably engaging and locking the frame member to the end panels and/or side panels, when the side panels are engaged with the end panels.

The engagement formations may be in the nature of a tongue and groove arrangement. The groove of each tongue and groove formation may be cut into the side and/or end panels or it may be a separate channel member attached to

the side and/or end panels by attachment means. The attachment means may be screws or nails.

The container may further include a lid panel, which may be receivable in the frame member. The lid panel or frame member may be adapted to enable the lid panel to be locked in the frame member.

The first or second engaging means may be a spigot and socket formation, or any other hooking mechanism. Preferably, the first engaging means comprises a lug protruding from the side panel and a slot, located in the base formation, for receiving the lug. The second engaging means is preferably a lug formation protruding from the side panel adapted to engage a ridge on the frame member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the side and end panels are substantially rectangular in shape.

The base formation may be adapted for loading by means of a forklift. The base formation may comprise a load receiving portion, as well as transverse support members positioned so that the forks of a forklift may be inserted between them.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described below, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a collapsible container according to the invention, having end panels and frame member removed; Figure 2 is a perspective view the collapsible container of Figure 1, in an assembled arrangement, with the frame member removed and showing a close-up of the second engaging means; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the collapsible container of Figure 1 and 2, including the frame member, during assembly of the container; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible container of Figures1, 2 and 3 with the frame member included but with the lid portion removed and showing a close-up of the second engaging means.

Detailed Description of Drawings

With reference to the drawings, a collapsible container according to the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The container 10 consists of a base formation 12; two opposed end panels 14a, 14b; two opposed side panels 16a, 16b; and first engaging means for releasably locking the base formation 12 to the side panels 16 and end panels 14.

Engagement formations in the form of tongue and groove formations are provided to engage adjacent side panels 16a, 16b and end panels 14a, 14b.

The tongue and groove formations comprise grooves in the form of channel members 18 located proximate the vertical edges of each side panel 16a, 16b.

Each channel member 18 is adapted to receive an edge of an end panel 14a or 14b.

The container further includes a rectangular frame member 20 locatable around the top edge of the assembled container 10. The frame member 20 includes two oppositely disposed lips 22a, 22b extending generally horizontally and inwardly from the two major sides of the frame member 20.

The container 10 further includes a lid panel 24, which is receivable in the frame member 20. In this embodiment, the lid panel 24 is secured to the frame member 20.

Second engaging means is provided for releasably engaging and locking the side panels 16 and end panels 14 to the frame member 20, when the side panels 16 and end panels 14 are engaged.

The first and second engaging means are in the form of spigot and socket arrangements. The first engaging means consists of a first set of lugs 26a, 26b protruding from each respective side panel 16a, 16b and a slot 28a, 28b, located in the base formation 12, for receiving the lug 26a, 26b therein.

The second engaging means comprises a second set of lug formations 30a, 30b protruding from each respective side panel 16a, 16b. The second set of lugs 30a, 303 are receivable in ridges 32a, 32b provided below the lips 22a, 22b on the frame member 20.

The base formation 12 is adapted for loading by means of a forklift. The base formation 12 comprises a horizontal portion 40, as well as transverse support members 42 positioned so that the forks of a forklift may be inserted between them.

In use, the base formation 20 is located on a suitable flat surface. The side panels 16 are engaged with the base formation 12 by inserting the lugs 26 into the sockets 28 provided in the base formation 12. The frame member 20 is

positioned above the upper edge of the side panels 16 and the lugs 30 are inserted into the ridges 32 by pressing the side panels 16 outwardly towards a generally vertical position from a slightly inwardly inclined position.

The end panels 14 are assembled by inserting the vertical edges of the end panels 14 into the channels 18. By inserting the end panels 14, the first and second set of lugs 26,30 on the side panels 16 are locked into the sockets 28 and ridges 32 on the base formation 12and frame member 20, respectively.

The container is now locked in an assembled state and is ready for packing.

It is envisaged that the collapsible container will be robust and durable so that it can be reused; rigid and lockable in its assembled configuration; fully collapsible such that the base formation, frame member, side and end panels can be stacked in a substantially planar configuration; and simple and quick to assemble without requiring any specialized equipment or tools.

The invention is not limited to the precise details as described in this embodiment. For example, the frame member 20 may be adapted to enable the lid panel 24 to be releasably secured thereto; the first and second engaging means may be provided in the form of any hooking mechanism; and the side panels need not be rectangular in shape.