Crate with collapsible wall

• US 10,472,129 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Original Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Inventors: Meers, Ryan C., Smyers, Justin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirsch, Andrew T
• Application Number:
  US15/062,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20160185487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/184 and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0209 stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position B65D21/0234, B65D21/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0212 Containers presenting local stacking elements protruding from the upper or lower edge of a side wall, e.g. handles, lugs, ribs, grooves B65D21/0211, B65D21/0215, B65D21/023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0233 Nestable containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/062 the movable parts being attached or integral and displaceable into a position overlying the top of the container, e.g. bails, corner plates covers B65D21/064
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/086 Collapsible or telescopic containers B65D1/0292 and B65D21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/005 Side walls formed with an aperture or a movable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents B65D5/16, B65D7/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/32 for eggs

Abstract

A crate, such as for transporting egg cartons or other items, includes a base, opposed side walls and a rear wall extending upward from the base. A front wall opposite the rear wall is selectably moveable between a closed position and a retracted, open position. In the retracted position, access to the interior of the crate is provided. In one embodiment, the front wall includes a plurality of pivotably connected sections, such that the front wall can be retracted to provide access to the interior.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a base having a planar support surface for supporting goods thereon and an integral upstanding front portion; and

a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls including a pair of opposed walls and a first wall, the pair of opposed walls pivotable between an upright position generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed position on the base, the pair of opposed walls extending upward from opposed edges of the base to a first height less than a distance between the opposed edges of the base, such that the opposed walls fit on the base when in the collapsed position, the first wall including a plurality of sections movable between an extended upright position and a retracted position, wherein the first wall in the extended upright position is substantially the same height as the first height of the pair of opposed walls and wherein the first wall in the retracted position is substantially shorter than the first height of the pair of opposed walls, the plurality of sections including a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein the first section is pivotably connected to the second section, the second section pivotably connected to the third section, wherein in the retracted position a lowermost surface of the second section is below an uppermost surface of the upstanding front portion, wherein each of the plurality of sections in the retracted position is in an upright position to provide an opening into the container.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sections are movable to the extended upright position at least partially closing the opening into the container.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein two of the plurality of sections are pivotable and slidable relative to one another to move between the extended upright position and the retracted position.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the two of the plurality of sections are not pivotable relative to one another when in a first relative position, and are pivotable relative to one another when slid relative to one another from the first relative position to a second relative position.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of sections includes a connector for connecting to one of the opposed walls.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position generally parallel to the base.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the first wall includes a projection connecting to an adjacent one of the plurality of walls, wherein the projection projects in a plane parallel to the first wall, the adjacent one of the plurality of walls include a recess for accommodating the projection as the first wall is collapsed onto the base while the adjacent one of the plurality of walls is upright.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the first wall is in the retracted, upright position and wherein a similar container is stacked on the container, supported by the plurality of walls other than the first wall.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls, other than the first wall, are integrally molded with the base.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein in the retracted position the lowermost surface of the second section extends below a plane defined by the planar support surface of the base.

12. A container comprising:

a base having a pair of opposed side edges, the base further including a front edge opposite a rear edge, the front edge including an upstanding front portion projecting upward relative to a planar support surface of the base, the base further including a pair of opposed upstanding side portions projecting upward relative to the planar support surface;

a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the upstanding side portions of the base and hingeably connected to the upstanding side portions, wherein the side walls have a first height, and wherein the side edges of the base are separated by a distance larger than the first height; and

a front wall extending upward from the upstanding front portion of the base and hingeably connected to the upstanding front portion, the side walls and the front wall movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, the front wall including a plurality of sections movable relative to one another between an extended position in which the plurality of sections are the same height as the first height of the side walls and a retracted position in which the plurality of sections are shorter than the first height of the side walls, the plurality of sections including a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section pivotably connected to the second section, the second section pivotably connected to the third section, wherein the first section and the second section have lowermost edges adjacent one another when the plurality of sections are in the retracted position, wherein the plurality of sections in the retracted position are in an upright position.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the plurality of sections are securable to one another in the retracted position.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the front wall includes a plurality of projections outward from at least one of the plurality of sections in a direction parallel to at least one section, and wherein the plurality of projections connect to the side walls.

15. The container of claim 12 wherein the second section is translatable and rotatable relative to the third section.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein the second section is connected to the third section by a hinge including a hinge pin slidable within an elongated hinge receiver.

17. The container of claim 12 wherein the third section is hingeably connected to the upstanding portion.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the first section and the second section are in front of the third section and the upstanding portion when in the retracted position.

19. The container of claim 18 wherein the first section includes a latch for selectively securing the front wall in the upright position.

20. The container of claim 19 wherein the second section includes a latch member for engagement in the upright position.

21. A container comprising:

a base having a planar support surface capable of supporting goods thereon, the base having a pair of opposed side edges, the base further including a front edge opposite a rear edge, the front edge including a front upstanding portion projecting upward relative to the planar support surface, the side edges each including a side upstanding portion projecting upward relative to the planar support surface, wherein the side upstanding portions are taller than the front upstanding portion;

a pair of opposed side walls hingeably connected to the side upstanding portions at each side edge, wherein the side walls have a first height, and wherein the side edges of the base are separated by a distance larger than the first height; and

a front wall extending upward from the front edge of the base and hingeably connected to the upstanding portion, the side walls and the front wall movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, the front wall including a plurality of sections movable relative to one another between an extended position in which the plurality of sections are the same height as the first height of the side walls and a retracted position in which the plurality of sections are shorter than the first height of the side walls, the plurality of sections including a first section, a second section, and a third section, the first section pivotably connected to the second section, the second section pivotably connected to the third section, wherein the plurality of sections in the retracted position are in an upright position, wherein the first section and the second section are in front of the third section and the front upstanding portion when in the retracted position.