SCHIA JON OLAV (NO)
| EP0659650A1 | 1995-06-28 | |||
| US0621044A | 1899-03-14 | |||
| FR2172047A1 | 1973-09-28 | |||
| GB1261883A | 1972-01-26 | |||
| US1032622A | 1912-07-16 | |||
| US5323921A | 1994-06-28 |
| 1. | A collapsible transport container, crate or similar for transporting and possibly storing fresh food such as fruit, vegetables or meat or for transporting and possibly storing other foods, goods or objects, which container comprises a crate piece (1), consisting of a base (2), sides (3,4,5,6) and preferably a lid (13), characterised in that at least two of the sides (3,4,5,6) of the container are divided into two parts, the first part (b) is hinged (at 7) to the base (2) of the container while the second part (a) is hinged (at 8) to the first part (b), the height of the first part (b) is equivalent to at least the thickness, twice the thickness or three times the thickness of the sides of the container, depending on how and in which sequence the sides of the container are folded down when it is collapsed. |
| 2. | A collapsible container in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the crate piece (1) is produced by blow moulding. |
| 3. | A collapsible container in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the lid (13) is provided with a handle (14) and snap locks (15,16,17) and that, in addition to being used in connection with transport and storage, the lid is designed to hold the crate piece together when collapsed. |
| 4. | A collapsible container in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the snap locks, preferably two on each long side, comprise a locking lug (15) with a hole (14) which is designed to be threaded over a locking tooth (17,19) on the crate piece. |
There are a large number of prior art types of collapsible containers in which the sides are hinged to the base of the container and can be folded either inwards or outwards to reduce the volume of the container on the outward or return journey when the container is not used to transport goods. When transporting empty containers in either direction, it is particularly important that the containers are easy to collapse, take up a minimum of space and stack neatly when several containers are placed on top of each other.
US patent specification no. 1.242.160 describes a collapsible cage in which the sides are hinged to the base and are designed to be folded inwards over the base. In this solution, which is preferably made of metal, the material thickness of the walls is so small and the play in the hinges between the base and the sides is so large that the cage can be completely folded up with the long sides over the short sides of the cage.
This prior art, collapsible solution is possible because the cage is produced from metal which has a relatively high strength and which thus allows the use of thin sides with high rigidity.
For other construction materials such as thermoplastic materials of the type HDPE, PVC or similar, the wall thickness must be greater in order to achieve sufficient rigidity and strength. However, with large wall thicknesses, it will not be possible to fold up or collapse the container as shown in the US patent.
The present invention describes a solution with a transport container, crate or similar which makes it possible to fold up or collapse the container completely, regardless of the wall thickness. In particular, it describes a portable container of thermoplastic material for reuse which can be collapsed to form a small, compact, flat unit which is suitable for stacking, for example for return on pallets.
The present invention is characterised in that at least two of the sides of the container are divided into two. The first part is hinged to the base of the container while the second part is hinged to the first part. The height of the first part is equivalent to at least the thickness, twice the thickness or three times the thickness of the sides of the crate, depending on how and in which sequence the sides of the container are folded down when it is collapsed.
The dependent claims 2-4 define advantageous features of the present invention.
The present invention will now be described in the following in further detail using examples and with reference to the attached drawings, where Fig. 1 shows a crate piece in accordance with the present invention flat and folded out.
Figs. 2 and 3 show, in somewhat larger scale, the same piece assembled as a crate, seen from the long side and short side of the crate respectively.
Fig. 4 shows an enlarged detail along the line A-A in Fig. 2 of the corner lock of the crate.
Fig. 5 shows the crate piece collapsed to form a small, portable, stackable unit.
As stated above, the present invention concerns collapsible crates or containers with relatively thick walls. The present invention is particularly suitable for crates or containers which are produced from blow-moulded pieces of plastic material such as HDPE or PVC. Fig. 1 therefore shows such a piece 1, comprising a base 2 and sides 3,4 5 and 6 which are hinged to the base part 2 at the hinge parts 7, which consist of thinner material parts in the crate. The special feature of the present invention is that the sides 3,4,5 and 6 consist of two parts, a first part b which is hinged to the base 2 (at 7) and a second part a which is hinged to the first part b at the hinge part 8.
With this two-part hinge solution for the sides, the crate piece can be completely collapsed to form a small, portable, stackable unit as shown in Fig. 5.
In the example shown here, the crate is collapsed by side 6 first being folded in over the base 2, the other long side 4 being folded in over side 6 with the break point along the hinge part 8, and the short sides then being folded in over side 4 with the break point at their respective hinge parts 8. The first parts b of the sides have a height which is equivalent to the thickness of the side (s) which is (are) already folded in over the base of the crate. It should be noted here that the height of each side will also depend on the sequence in which the sides are folded in over the base or the previous side. The most important aspect is that the break point, i. e. the hinge part 8 of the two side parts a, b, is located on top of the base or the last side folded over.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the crate piece 1 assembled as a transport crate ready for use to transport goods. In this assembled position, the corners of the crate are held together by a simple, releasable locking connection which is shown in greater detail in enlarged scale along the line A-A in Fig. 4. The locking connection 9 comprises a tongue and groove connection in which a locking tongue 11, which extends perpendicularly out from the long side 6, is designed to be passed through a groove (slot-shaped opening) which is arranged in a protruding locking lug 10 in the short side 3,5.
The crate 1 also has a lid 13 with a handle 14 which can be twisted upwards and which can be used to carry the crate when it is assembled. The lid can expediently be fixed to the crate using a simple snap lock connection comprising, preferably for each long side, locking lugs 15 with holes 16 to receive a locking tooth 17.
This lid can also, as shown in Fig. 5, be used to hold together and carry the crate piece when it is collapsed. In such case, the lid can be fastened, using the same locking lugs 15, to other locking teeth 19 on the crate piece. Moreover, the lid can also, in a method according to the prior art, be provided with pockets 18 for the storage of cooling elements, for example for the transport of fresh produce.