COLLAPSIBLE CRATE OR BOX

• US 3,613,931 A
• Filed: 06/09/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Schifferle
• Original Assignee: Peter Schifferle
• Inventors: Schifferle, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Raphael H.
• Application Number:
  US04/831,348
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 217/69,65,12,15 16/150 220/24H,31S
• US Class Current: 217/12.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 9/12 collapsible, e.g. with all parts detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 9/32 Details of wooden walls; Connections between walls other container details B65D23/00, B65D25/00; connections between walls and non-removable lids or covers B65D43/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Abstract

There is disclosed a collapsible crate or box including a bottom panel, sidewall panels and connecting strip means for connecting adjacent ends of adjacent side panels to one another and for connecting the side panels to the bottom panels. One face of all the panels is provided with grooves extending parallel to and in close proximity to the edges of the panels and each connecting strip means includes two channel-shaped strips disposed at an angle of 90* with respect to each other and having resilient legs and being narrowed at their mouths for cooperation with the grooves in the panels when the latter are inserted within the channels. Further, at least those connecting strip means associated between the sidewall panels and the bottom panel constituting hinge-forming connecting strip means and including a flexible web interconnecting the two channel-shaped strips of such connecting strip means.

Claims

1. A collapsible crate or box including a bottom panel, side panels and connecting strip means for connecting the side panels to one another and the side panels to the bottom panel, all said panels having grooves in one face thereof extending parallel to and in close proximity to all the respective edges of said panels, said connecting strip means each including two channel shaped strips having parallel legs with said strips being disposed with the channels opening in directions which are at an angle of approximately 90* with respect to one another in the assembled condition and said legs being so shaped that the channels defined thereby are narrowed at their mouths and at least those connecting strip means that connect the side panels to the bottom panel constituting hinge-forming connecting strip means including a flexible web extending between and interconnecting the two channel shaped strips of such hingeforming connecting strip means and the legs of said hinge-forming connecting strip means being resilient, said flexible web including means defining a narrow bending location including an elongated depression in one side of said web, the web at said depression having a thickness less than one-half the thickness of the adjacent web portions, the depression side of said bending location of said web which is subjected to tensile stress during a bending movement forming a gradually curving surface having a concave and convex portions when said web is in an unbent condition, the opposite side of said web, which is subjected to compression during a bending movement, being substantially planar when unbent, said bending portion thus being displaced from a plane central to said sides of said web, said web being bendable through 180* to place said channels in said 90* relationship.

2. A collapsible crate or box as claimed in claim 1, said flexible web being of the same material as the associated channel-shaped strips.

3. A collapsible crate or box as claimed in claim 1, said flexible web being of a different material than the associated channel-shaped strips.

4. A collapsible crate or box as claimed in claim 1, said flexible web comprising a synthetic plastic web of high flexibility characteristics.