Collapsible container with reduced deflection

• US 20010038011A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schoeller Allibert Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Mark Hillis
• Inventors: Hillis, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 6,484,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/1833 whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel B65D11/186 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/18 made wholly or mainly of plastics material
• 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 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00174 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00208 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00348 contact surface of other form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00358 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00422 on the walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00427 on the lid or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00502 whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00587 side walls directly connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00651 integrally formed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00711 removable lid or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00805 : Means for facilitating the removal of the load
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00875 : collapsible side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00965 : when loaded
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0099 : single dismountable pallet element, e.g. for replacement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00995 : detachable elements of the side wall, i.e. not the whole wall

Abstract

A collapsible, foldable container with reduced deflection and increased strength and convenience is provided. A door can be provided in the lower portion in one or more of the sidewalls, opening upward and outward without unduly loading the door hinges. A latch is provided to hold the door in the open configuration engageable by slamming open and disengaging by jerking close. In one embodiment, the base of the container includes a plate having ribbing extending upwardly therefrom. When a smooth-bottomed surface is desired, a plate may be installed on top of the upwardly extending ribbing. Ribbing on the bottom surface and/or sidewall surfaces can include close-loop or circular ribs with integral ribbing extending radially therefrom. Preferably, containers are configured so that they can be stacked, one upon the other, either with or without a top or lid. Preferably, the lid, when provided, avoids pooling of liquids such as rainwater by having a domed-shape and by providing channels in a peripheral ridge. Sagging in the components of the container can be at least partially avoided by providing ribbing in regions extending from the center of the bottom of the container towards peripheral portions, preferably corners.

Claims

1. A collapsible container usable for holding bulk material, comprising:

a base having a plurality of linear edges;

a plurality of sidewalls, each having a lower edge, and an opposite upper edge and coupled to one of said linear edges along said lower edge so as to be movable between an upright position and a collapsed position, at least a first of said plurality of sidewalls having an opening formed in the lower portion thereof, said opening extending to said lower edge, without extending to said upper edge, said opening having a top edge, two side edges, and a bottom edge;

a door, substantially defining a plane, configured to fit substantially within said opening and pivotally connected to said top edge of said opening so as to permit pivoting from a closed configuration, outward and upward toward an open configuration; and

a latch, configured to couple said door to said base in said closed configuration.

2. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising a latch coupling said door to one of said side edges of said opening.

3. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said door, in said open configuration is positioned above said opening, substantially parallel with said first sidewall.

4. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 1

, further comprising a hold-open latch configured to hold said door in said open configuration.

5. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein said hold-open latch includes a retaining surface, contacting and holding said-door in said open position and a camming surface configured to permit engagement of said retaining surface with said door by slamming said door against said camming surface.

6. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 5

, wherein said retaining surface is sloped with respect to said plane of said door to permit said door to be disengaged from said hold-open latch by pulling said door outward and downward.

7. A collapsible container, as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein said hold-open latch is pivotable between an operating configuration extending outward from said first sidewall, and a stored configuration, without extending outward from said first sidewall.

8. A container comprising:

a bottom wall and four sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom;

ribbing extending vertically from, and integral with, said bottom wall in a plurality of regions of said bottom wall, said plurality of regions including a central region of said bottom wall and regions extending continuously from said central region to said four corners of said bottom wall;

wherein a plurality of areas of said bottom wall between said plurality of regions are free from said ribbing.

9. A container comprising:

a bottom wall having an upward-extending rim defining four rim edges, each rim edge having a substantially continuous upwardly-extending lip;

four sidewalls, each pivotally connected to one of said rim edges to permit movement from a collapsed configuration to an upright configuration, each having a lower sidewall edge, each lower sidewall edge having a substantially continuous downwardly-extending lip configured to contact and to be inwardly-positioned with respect to the corresponding upwardly-extending lip.

10. A container comprising:

a bottom wall and four sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom;

a ribbing pattern formed integrally with at least one of said bottom wall and four sidewalls, said ribbing pattern including at least one closed-shape rib an a plurality of ribs integral with and radiating from said closed-shape rib.

11. A container, as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein said closed-shape rib defines a circle.

12. A container, as claimed in

claim 11

, wherein said plurality of ribs include at least two straight parallel ribs.

13. A container comprising:

a bottom wall and four sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom;

a plurality of ribs extending vertically upward from and integral with said bottom wall.

14. A container, as claimed in

claim 14

, further comprising a plate positioned over said plurality of ribs.

15. A container comprising:

a bottom wall and four sidewalls extending upwardly therefrom, each sidewall having an upper edge, said upper edges defining a container interior rim;

a cap configured to fit over the upper edges of said sidewalls, said cap having an upwardly convex upper surface and having a ridge formed around the periphery thereof, said ridge including at least one channel to permit fluid to pass therethrough, said ridge defining a ridge interior rim.

16. A container, as claimed in

claim 16

, wherein said bottom wall has a lower surface configured to fit within either of said container interior rim or said ridge interior rim wherein a plurality of unlidded containers can be stacked and a plurality of lidded containers can be stacked.