Folding containers
First Claim
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1. A folding container, comprising:
- a generally rectangular container base on which goods may be loaded;
corner posts articulated to each corner of the base for movement between a folded-down position, in which the corner posts lie substantially flat on the base, and an erect position, in which the corner posts extend substantially vertically upwards for supporting a superimposed container or stack of containers;
each corner post having a projecting heel portion formed with a first locking abutment surface thereon;
said base having a second locking abutment surface thereon which confronts, and is spaced by a gap from, said first locking abutment surface when said corner post is in said erect position;
said first locking abutment surface, when said corner post is swingably moved away from its erect position toward said folded-down position, being moved initially towards said second locking abutment surface along an arcuate path so as to swing clear and move past said second locking abutment surface; and
lock means positionable in the gap between the first and second locking abutment surfaces and being subject to compressive forces imposed thereon for blocking movement of the corner post away from its erect position toward said folded-down position, said lock means comprising a locking member which is slidable into said gap for substantially filling said gap when the corner post is in its erect position so that the locking member blocks movement of the corner post towards its folded-down position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A folding container has a base for carrying goods and end walls with corner posts articulated to the base by pins. Each corner post has a heel which just clears a bridge member above its arcuate path of movement. To lock each corner post upright, a locking member can be slid into the gap between the bridge member and the heel parallel to the axis of articulation to transmit compression forces directly from the heel portion to the bridge member.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A folding container, comprising:
- a generally rectangular container base on which goods may be loaded;
corner posts articulated to each corner of the base for movement between a folded-down position, in which the corner posts lie substantially flat on the base, and an erect position, in which the corner posts extend substantially vertically upwards for supporting a superimposed container or stack of containers;
each corner post having a projecting heel portion formed with a first locking abutment surface thereon;
said base having a second locking abutment surface thereon which confronts, and is spaced by a gap from, said first locking abutment surface when said corner post is in said erect position;
said first locking abutment surface, when said corner post is swingably moved away from its erect position toward said folded-down position, being moved initially towards said second locking abutment surface along an arcuate path so as to swing clear and move past said second locking abutment surface; and
lock means positionable in the gap between the first and second locking abutment surfaces and being subject to compressive forces imposed thereon for blocking movement of the corner post away from its erect position toward said folded-down position, said lock means comprising a locking member which is slidable into said gap for substantially filling said gap when the corner post is in its erect position so that the locking member blocks movement of the corner post towards its folded-down position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a generally rectangular container base on which goods may be loaded;
Specification