Portable container with integral folding mechanism
First Claim
1. A foldable container comprising elongate base means, elongate roof means oriented in a plane substantially parallel to and vertically spaced from said base means, first and second elongate opposing and vertically oriented side wall means disposed between said base means and said roof means, first and second elongate vertically oriented and opposing end wall means disposed between said base means and said roof means and oriented in vertical planes substantially normal to said first and second side wall means, hinge means connecting an end section of each of the first and the second side wall means to said base means for the pivotable sequential displacement of the first side wall means and the second side wall means towards said base means and into folded locations adjacent to and overlying the base means, further hinge means connecting a lower end section of each of the first and second end wall means to said base means for providing rotational axes for the angular displacement of the first and second end wall means in a first direction towards one another during container folding, movable connecting means coupling an upper end section of each of the first and second end wall means to said roof means and movable with respect thereto for the simultaneous angular displacement of the first and second end wall means and the connected roof means in said first direction towards said base means and into substantially parallel locations overlying and adjacent to the first and second side wall means, and reversible drive means supported by said roof means and connected to an upper end section of each of said first and second end wall means for simultaneously angularly displacing the first and second end wall means along said movable connecting means in said first direction.
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Abstract
A foldable portable container provided with an integral mechanical mechanism for folding or unfolding the container is described. The integral mechanical drive mechanism is utilized to simultaneously angularly displace the opposing container end walls and the container roof attached thereto to fold or unfold the portable container.
38 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A foldable container comprising elongate base means, elongate roof means oriented in a plane substantially parallel to and vertically spaced from said base means, first and second elongate opposing and vertically oriented side wall means disposed between said base means and said roof means, first and second elongate vertically oriented and opposing end wall means disposed between said base means and said roof means and oriented in vertical planes substantially normal to said first and second side wall means, hinge means connecting an end section of each of the first and the second side wall means to said base means for the pivotable sequential displacement of the first side wall means and the second side wall means towards said base means and into folded locations adjacent to and overlying the base means, further hinge means connecting a lower end section of each of the first and second end wall means to said base means for providing rotational axes for the angular displacement of the first and second end wall means in a first direction towards one another during container folding, movable connecting means coupling an upper end section of each of the first and second end wall means to said roof means and movable with respect thereto for the simultaneous angular displacement of the first and second end wall means and the connected roof means in said first direction towards said base means and into substantially parallel locations overlying and adjacent to the first and second side wall means, and reversible drive means supported by said roof means and connected to an upper end section of each of said first and second end wall means for simultaneously angularly displacing the first and second end wall means along said movable connecting means in said first direction.
Specification