Collapsible container with an unbroken top wall

• US 6,422,409 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carrimor SrL
• Original Assignee: Carrimor SrL
• Inventors: Kofod, Bent
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/864,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20010035411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 220/811, 220/812, 220/813, 220/6, 220/7, 220/4.28
• US Class Current: 220/7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/18 collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/26 with all parts hinged together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/126 by rigid element, e.g. lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/526 with detachable side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 9/14 with all parts hinged together
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 15/0213 comprising a cooling grate
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 2015/0233 with gas, e.g. air, supply to the grate
• CPC Class Codes: F28C 3/16 the particulate material forming a bed, e.g. fluidised, on vibratory sieves

Abstract

A collapsible container includes a base frame, four side sections pivotally connected to the side edges of the base frame, and a top wall The top wall is formed as an unbroken wall extending in the raised position of the container between the top edges of the side walls. The top wall closes the container. The top wall is connected to one of the side walls in such a way that it in a combined pivoting and displacing movement can be guided back and forth between the closed position and a position in which the top wall is hanging down along the exterior of the side wall in the upright position.

Claims

1. Collapsible container for transporting a load comprising:

at least one base section having four side edges;

a first, second, third and fourth side section, each of which having top edges and being pivotally connected to one of side edges of the base section along each top edge,

a top section which is pivotally connected to the first side section,

wherein the base, sides and top sections are pivotally associated with each other for movement between a first position in which they are in rows extending substantially parallel across each other, and a second position in which they jointly define a chamber for containing a load,

and wherein the top section is constructed as an unbroken top wall which in the second position extends between the top edges of the side sections, the top wall being adapted to both pivot and displacing move when it is guided between its second position and a third position in which the top wall extends substantially parallel to the first side section in the second position of this side section, the top wall is connected to the first side section by means of at least one guide rod pivotally connected at one end to the first side section and at the other end to an area at the side of the top wall that adjoins the top side of the first side section when the top wall and the first side section are in their second position.

2. The collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the base section is rectangular.

3. The collapsible container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one slide associated with the top wall, said slide extending in the same direction as the movement of the top wall when it is guided between its second and third position, and a pivoting guide is pivotally mounted topmost on the first side section for displaceably accommodating said slide.

4. The collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein a guide rod is pivotally placed substantially in the middle of each of the upright sides of the first side section in the second position and an angular pivoting guide is pivotally placed topmost on each of these sides for each displaceably accommodating a slide constructed on the top wall.

5. The collapsible container according to claim 4, wherein the slide is constructed in the form of a projecting flange, and the corresponding pivoting guide has an angular cross-section having two legs, one leg of the pivoting guide extending across the flange while the other leg is pivotally connected to the upright side bar of the first side wall in the second position.

6. The collapsible container according to claims 5, wherein the pivotal engagement of the at least one guide rod with the top wall takes place by an axle journal constructed on the guide rod and pivotally journaled in a bearing in form of a U-shaped clamp placed on the underside of the top wall and having a greater length than the transverse size of the axle journal.

7. The collapsible container according to claim 5, wherein at least one catch is placed on the top wall, said catch engaging with an area topmost on the first section in the second position of the top wall and fixing the top wall in relation to this, and at least one second catch is placed topmost on at least one of the other side sections, said catch engaging with the top section and fixing this in relation to the respective side section.

8. The collapsible container according to claim 7, wherein the at least one catch on at least one of the two side sections extends transversely in the direction in which the top wall is moving when it is guided between the second and third position and is formed as a hook that in the second position is extends up through a slot made in the projecting flange of the top wall.

9. The collapsible container according to claim 8, wherein the slot extends obliquely outwardly in relation to the direction in which the top wall is moving when it is guided from the third to the second position.

10. Collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein a lock is placed on the top wall and lock fittings are placed topmost on the opposite side of the first side section, and the lock and lock fittings are adapted to engage each other in the second position in such a way that the lock fittings are pulled in towards the lock when activated.