The invention relates to a crate of multiple uses, regular or foldable or dismantable, that is useful for the packaging and transportation of agricultural and industrial products, meat, bakery products, etc..

To date there are several reusable crates, regular or foldable or dismantable, which are available in various dimensions. Since they are being transported stacked onto euro-pallets, their dimensions (length and width) are sub-multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the latter (80 cm x 120 cm); it has therefore been established that the length and width dimensions of the crates have to be 60 cm x 40 cm and 40 cm x 30 cm. In this way mixed pallets may be provided with a large crate underneath a pair of small crates and vice versa. Peaches, grapes, cups containing various fruits are being packed in crates of the same length and width but of varying heights, namely having a height of 10 cm for peaches, of 1 1 cm for grapes, of 14 cm for the cups. A separate mold is used for the cast production of each one of these variably dimensioned crates, whereby the cost of such molds, as well as the costs associated with the overall management of such different sizes of crates in the supply chain is high.

The advantage of this invention is that in the crate of multiple uses, regular or foldable or dismantable, including the crate that is dismantable and foldable at the same time, at least two opposite vertical sides are constructed in a manner that allows variation of the height thereof so as to satisfy varying specific requirements. That is, while as mentioned herein above up to date three different sizes of crates are required for packing peaches, grapes and cups, the present invention requires only a single crate with two opposite sides having a height that can vary in the range of 10-14 cm. It therefore follows that a small number of crates having sides with variable height can adequately cover the needs of packaging for most products, since hitherto the crates being used have heights within a range of 10 cm to 25 cm.

Fig. 1 shows a plastic crate with an adjustable height according to the invention with the height set at a maximum value,

Fig. 2 shows the same with an adjustable height according to the invention with the height set at a minimum value,

Fig. 3 shows the crate with an adjustable height according to the invention the crate being dismantable and foldable at the same time.

Fig. 4 shows the crates of adjustable height, which are being dismantled and folded, stacked one above the other according to the invention. In the specification following hereinbelow, descriptions refer to a quarter or half of the crate due to the symmetry thereof.

Some of the embodiments of the invention are described below.

Fig. 1 shows a plastic crate of multiple uses A, regular or foldable or dismantable, which is constituted by the vertical sides B, C, D, E, and the base F, wherein all vertical sides or at least two opposing sides of the four vertical sides, e.g. side C and similarly the opposing side B are provided with vertically extending sliding channels C2, C3, C4.

A plastic component M is fitted onto this side, such plastic component M consisting of a horizontally extending bar Ml that constitutes the top of side C and similarly of side B of the crate, a pair of vertical extensions M2 and M3 emanating from such plastic component M and adapted to slide within channels C2 and C3 of side C respectively. The sliding channels C2 and C3 are open at the top thereof and extensions M2 and M3 are adapted to slide within these channels in a manner that ensures that component M can move in the vertical direction only. A groove M5 ^' is provided at the middle and underneath the horizontally extending bar Ml, such groove being adapted to receive a correspondingly formed protrusion M5 provided at the top of the plastic surface M4, thereby forming a hinged connection that allows a slight rotation of surface M4 within channel C4. Protrusions M6, M7, M8 are provided longitudinally along the surface M4, as shown in Fig. 1.1 that is a detail of Fig. 1 , one of these protrusions M6, M7, M8 being inserted within the horizontally extending bar CI of side C at each particular instant thereby defining the new height of the crate. Bar CI is a Π-section rotated by 90° so that the protrusions M6, M7, M8 are being inserted within the gap thereof. A projection M9 with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped is provided onto the surface M4 at the opposite side of that with the protrusions. One side of projection M9 abuts onto side C and plays a dual role: a) it operates as a spring that exerts a constant pressure onto M4 so that any protrusion that has been selected to be locked within the Π-section of CI can be released only after exercising an opposite force onto M4, and b) it determine the exact position of the slots to facilitate the person who sets the height of the crate, since such slots adapted to nest projection M9 are being provided at the proper height onto side C and at the side thereof that abuts onto the projection M9. In this way the practitioner has a sense of the position chosen to stabilize the mechanism M. The crate has a maximum height at position M6, whereas a total of four different heights can be chosen for the crate being depicted, the shortest being obtained at the initial setting and the other three being determined by the number of protrusions being provided.

The mechanisms M may be mutually connected together so as to jointly move upwardly or downwardly. The mechanism M might also comprise additional desired protrusions that can be inserted within corresponding channels of side C, such protrusions having the same functional role as that of protrusions M2, M3, M4 or the role of simply averting the falling of products outside the crate. Fig. 2 shows the plastic crate for multiple uses A having the minimum height. From the position wherein the crate had the maximum height whereby the sides of surfaces M4 with the plastic components M of sides B and C were being pushed towards the interior of the crate, these are being slightly rotated around the hinged connection of protrusion M5 within the groove M5', thereby unhooking the protrusion M5 from bar CI of side C and allowing sliding of the plastic components M within the channels of sides B and C respectively until they terminate therein.

Fig. 3 shows the plastic crate for multiple uses A wherein the two opposite sides B and C thereof have a variable height, whereas the other two vertical sides D and E and the base F thereof result from a unitary surface of any material that can be cut and folded so as to form the crate or they may be cast and be pivotally connected together with a film or other connecting methods. Extensions BE, BF, BD, and CE, CF, CD of a rectangular parallelepipedal shape are respectively provided onto the vertical sides B and C in which the plastic component M is being embedded. An additional plastic mechanism K of an inverted Π-section is also provided with Kl and K3 being the vertical sides and K2 the horizontal side thereof. Kl is parallel to the parallelepiped CE, K2 is parallel to CF and K3 to CD and accordingly Kl is parallel to BE, K2 to BF and K3 to BD.

The mechanism K, as shown in Fig. 3.1 that depicts a detail of Fig. 3, abuts the inner surface of side of C, and similarly of side B, and in the present embodiment it is being rotated around axis K4 that is located at the upper end of Kl and is perpendicular thereto and around axis K5 that is located at the upper end of K3 and is perpendicular thereto. These axes penetrate corresponding holes K4' and K5 ' provided onto CE and CD respectively so as to allow rotation of at least 90 degrees of K in relation to the side C, to enable disassembly of the crate in the manner that will be described hereinafter. At least two protrusions K6 and K7, perpendicular to K2 extend in the direction of C, such two protrusions K6 and K7 having a length such that they may in each case not to protrude from side C, while corresponding holes K6 ^' and K7 ^' are provided at the positions of K6 and K7 on side C such that to allow insertion therein of the abovementioned protrusions when the mechanism K abuts onto the side C. An appropriately shaped and sized hole is provided at the end of protrusions K6 and K7, where in this embodiment such hole is provided in a horizontal direction. Onto the same side C and at the outer surface thereof another plastic mechanism Z that is shown in Fig. 3.2, a detail of Fig. 3 is provided such mechanism being appropriately incorporated in side C without protruding therefrom. Mechanism Z consists of a plastic ring Zl with angular extensions Z2 and Z3 and a horizontally extending pin Z4 which is being inserted within the hole of protrusion K6 of mechanism K. Another symmetrical mechanism Z is provided at the other end of the same plastic side, such mechanism having a pin that is being inserted within the hole of protrusion 7. In this way the mechanism K is held securely against the side C. The dimensions of ring Zl and the distance between the two mechanisms Z which lie on the same side are such as to accommodate the thumb in one mechanism and the middle finger of a practitioner in the other, so that when the mechanisms are being pulled they may lead to projections Z2 and Z3 being deformed so that pin Z4 is being withdrawn from the hole of the protrusion 6 and the other pin is withdrawn from the hole of the projection K7, thereby releasing the mechanism K and allowing rotation thereof around axes 4 and K5 to dismantle the crate. When the external force acting onto the two mechanisms Z is removed, then extensions Z2 and Z3 which were bent tend to return to their original position thereby leading to pins Z4 being inserted within the holes of the protrusions K6 and K7 respectively. Mechanism K might be provided with more than two protrusions and corresponding pins holding them depending on the forces being exerted on and within the crate.

The single surface that forms the two vertical sides D and E and the basement F of the crate has an initial shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and is being cut to the desired dimensions or it may have the desired dimensions if it is composed of discrete molded surfaces which are connected together, such surface being provided with folds/hinges so as to form surfaces El, E2 on side E, corresponding surfaces Dl, D2 on side D and surfaces Fl , F2 on the basement F, as shown in figure 3.3 that depicts a detail of Fig. 3. Sides E and D are rotated towards the interior of the crate and perpendicularly to the basement F around an axis with the corresponding fold/hinge S2. The surfaces El, Fl, Dl on one side and E2, F2, D2 on the other side are rotated towards the interior of the crate, more than 135° in one case and more than 90° in another case, as will be explained immediately below, around an axis of rotation of the corresponding fold/hinge SI thereof. In the section of the groove being formed by (CD, C, K3) as shown in Fig. 3.4 that depicts a detail of Fig. 3, identical grooves being further formed by (CE, C, Kl), (CF, C, K2), (BE, B, Kl), (BF, B, K2), (BD, B, K3), the groove consisting of a triangle with vertices Kl l, K12, K13 and with a right angle whose sides are the intersection of a portion of side C and the perpendicular to this CD, wherein the side (K12, K13) of the triangle abuts side C. The side of the triangle (K13, Kl 1) is being extended by a few millimetres, and the distance of point K12 from CD depends on the maximum thickness of the material to be used for the manufacture of E, F, D, whereas the distance of the point where the extension of side ( 13, Kl l) ends from CD should be greater than twice the thickness D or than the thickness of D plus the thickness of D2 in case it differs in this part, the angle being formed by the sides of the triangle (Kl 1, K12) and ( 12, K13) being greater than 10°, and with the length of D2 being less than the length of side (Kl 1, K12) so that the portion D2 of side D, due to its tendency to return to its. original position, would hook into this groove by the extension of side (K13, Kl 1), so that finally the surfaces El , Fl , Dl on one side and E2, F2, D2 on the other would permeate the grooves being formed onto the sides B and C to be entrapped therein and thereby forming the crate,

The crate might also be formed without mechanism K initially abutting sides B and C, but being inclined with respect to them at an angle of more than 90° degrees. In this case the intersection of the groove being formed by (CD, C, K3) as shown in Fig. 3.5, which is identical to the grooves being formed by (CE, C, Kl), (CF, C, K2), (BE, B, Kl), (BF, B, K2), (BD, B, K3), the mechanism K is formed by a right angled triangle with vertices K21, K22, K23 and by a rectangle with tops K21, K24, K25 , K26 and a right angle whose sides are the intersection of a portion of side C and the perpendicular therein CD, wherein the side (K22, K23) of the triangle abuts side C. The distance between the side (K24, K25) from CD is equal to the thickness of D, and the distance of the side (K25, K26) from C is equal to the thickness of the portion D2 of side D, wherein the crate is in this case being formed after first having El , Fl, Dl, on the one side and E2, F2, D2 abutting side B and side C respectively, thereafter rotating the mechanism K up to the point of bringing K to abut sides B and C, respectively, to have El, Fl, Dl and E2, F2, D2 entrapped within the grooves and thereafter have the mechanisms K immobilized by the mechanisms Z so that crate A is ultimately being formed,

Onto the surface out of which the two vertical sides D, E and the basement F of the crate are being formed, there are provided folds/hinges S3 onto the basement F of the crate, folds hinges S4, S5, S6 onto the vertical sides E and D thereby forming the surface F3 onto the basement F, the surfaces E3, E4, E5, E6, E7 onto side E and the corresponding surfaces D3, D4, D5, D6, D7 onto the side D. The angle formed in between the folds/hinges S4, S5 is 45°. The distance in between the folds/hinges SI and S4 is equal to or greater than the length of the perpendicular drawn from the end of the extension of side (K13, Kl l) of the triangle and ending at side C in the first case and in the second case it is equal or greater than the length of the side (K21 , K22). The distance in between the folds/hinges S3 and S4 is analogue to the above so that the surfaces E5 and E7 will abut each other and the parallelepiped N l of mechanism N as will be explained hereinafter abuts F when the crate is being folded.

After the crate has been formed, exerting pressure onto surfaces E7 and D7 towards the interior of the crate around the axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges S2 provided on either side of the basement F, results in the crate being unfolded since surfaces E5 and E6 of side E follow, and similarly the corresponding surfaces of D, which however move in the opposite direction to that of E7 around the axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges S4, S5 for one of them and S4, S6 for the other. Sides B and C also follow, which are rotated towards the interior of the crate around the axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges S3 provided on either side of the basement F. Eventually E5 and E6 get to the point where their exterior surface abuts the exterior surface of E7 of side E, while it is in this way that sides B and C are becoming parallel to the basement F of the crate.

In this embodiment the fixation of the folding box so that it may retain its shape after being formed, is being performed as follows. Sections E7 and D7 of the sides E and D respectively are provided with vertically extending gaps N4', N5', a mechanism N being adapted to slide within these gaps, mechanism N having the shape of a Π-section with unequal vertical sides N 1 and N2 and a horizontal side N3, as shown in Fig. 3.6 that is a detail of Fig. 3. The internal surface of the parallelepiped Nl abuts the internal surface of side E and the internal surface of N2 abuts the external surface thereof, with the distance between them being equal to or greater than the material thickness of E5, E6, E7 and the length of N2 being less than Nl . The protrusions N4 and N5 are shaped in the form of a mushroom and provided in the parallelepiped Nl having a body with a height greater than the thickness of E7, being adapted to move within the notches N4' and N5' of E7 so that when the crate has been formed, mechanism N slides until the interior of the parallelepiped N3 abuts the upper part of E5, E6, E7, thereby restraining them from being folded. In this way the crate is being appropriately formed and fixed with a single motion and the adjustment of the height thereof follows when necessary. The length of mechanism N is such that it may allow the unobstructed folding of the crate.

The folding of the crate of a large height is being effected after the plastic components M on sides B and C slip into their original position, which is that where the crate has the minimum height. Thereafter, the mechanisms N, which are located on the sides D and E of the crate A are being lifted, so that the bottom of the parallelepiped N2 of mechanism N reaches a height higher than that of the sides D and E and then pressing D7 and E7 towards the interior of the crate leads to the latter being folded as described hereinabove.

The choice of the shape of mechanism K, i.e. of the manner in which the crate is being formed, has more to do with the material from which sides D, E and the basement F of the crate are being made, as well as with the speed and the cost of construction of the machine employed in the forming process, since in both cases the method of disassembling the crate is the same. Fig. 4 shows plastic crates for multiple uses, having an adjustable height and being dismantable in a folded condition, one on top of the other, according to the invention, wherein sides B and C of crate A are shown, whereupon are being mounted the mechanisms M that provide adjustment of the height of the crate and mechanisms Z that securely fix mechanism K in position.

The crates are provided with openings with a scope of saving material and ventilation of the products contained therein. They are further provided with notches that serve as handgrips, notches and protrusions that serve as supports when mixed pallets comprising crates sized 60x40 cm and crates sized 40x30 cm are being made, so as to provide hooking of the crate when closed, mutual hooking of the crates when these are stacked one above the other when they are fi lled and when they are folded, thereby creating rigid pallets. Where the word plastic is encountered, it is to mean all molded plastics, i.e. materials which can be cast and vice versa.