AU602229B2

AU602229B2 - An improved folding container

Info

Publication number: AU602229B2
Application number: AU20527/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James Deane Coogan
Original assignee: FOREST PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA Pty
Current assignee: FOREST PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA PTY Ltd
Priority date: 1987-08-06
Filing date: 1988-08-05
Publication date: 1990-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-05
Also published as: AU2052788A

Description

60 2229Fom1 CO1MMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 197 -12 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Pribrity: ReWlAqd Art: Class Int. Class 4 NarhG of Applicant: Add ,is of Applicant: Actual Inventor: TO BE CaM I.ETED BY APPLICANT N A L P -AL -1:T A C K A C l N G P T Y L D I t Ti t 0 A C k I I e 101-105, Bedf\imf' Street Gillman-j4 St' te- oV3 Sou-L'h -Australi-&- Commonwealth of Australia JAMES DEANE COOGAN Address for Service: Complete Specification Care of R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia for th Invenion enitled:PATET T2A0,DL t'.*IA for he ivenion ntited:& Dtll'z "AN IMPROVED FOLDING CONTAINER" -5 AUG SOUTN1- AU$TRALIA Is a llatlon of this invention, Including the, nest method of performing It 1k~c6 9s. 05 i *0 qtOQ *00

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This invention relates to an improved folding container for the storage of goods, and is particularly concerned with an improved storage container of th e type having a pallet base, a pair of opposed end panels hinged with respect to the base, for folding inwardly onto the base, and a pair of opposed side panels hinged also with respect to the base for folding inwardly onto the base, whereby Ci~e container can assume an erect position in which it is of substantially parallelpiped box-shaped form and a collapsed position wherein the end panels olie over respective floor portions of the base, and the side panels overlie the end panels.

It is of course well known to provide demountable storage containers comprising side wall panels which 15. are either permanently or releasably hinged to the pallet base so that they fold flX wn to a collapsed condition or removed from the pallet base and~ stacked for transport of the container in a folded dJown condition. Generally, it is considered undesirable for th-e side wall panels 20. to be removably hinged to the pallet base and the need has existed for a collapsible pallet container which enables the side wall panels to be simply and quickly folded between their transport and erected positions without, for example, having to individually bodily lift the panels prior to or during the f'olding of same.

A further problem with prior art pallet containers resides in the manner of fastening the panels when in their erected condition and for ex~ample,, some have 0 II '4 040 0 -2 Ij employed latches and/or clips but these are not generally satisfactory in that they tend to disengage easily and ji generally do not impart sufficient rigidity to the erected structure. A still further problem is that the S 5. clips and latches tend to project into the interior of 4l the erected container and as a result are likely to i damage the products stored in the container.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved folding pallet container which is of very simple design construction and which allows the side wall panels to be simply and quickly folded between 0ct their collapsed and erected positions.

It is a further object of th3 present invention to provide an improved folding pallet container wherein the adjacent side wall panels can be conveniently locked together when in their erected condition by means of a latching mechanism which is unlikely to disengage duringuse, e.g. due to vibration, does not project or protrude by any significant amount into the interior of the erected container, does not possess any "loose" component parts which need to be removed or unfastened from the pallet walls, and which will not interfere with the stowage of the container, that is when it is in its folded down or collapsed ccndition.

3- 1 -4 1? I1 i In one aspect of this invention therefore, there is provided an improved folding storage container of the tbovementioned type having a pallet base, a pair of opposed end panels hinged with respect to the base for folding inwardly onto the base, and a pair of opposed side panels hinged also with respect to the base for folding inwardly onto the base, whereby the container can assume an erect position in which it is of substantially parallelpiped box-shaped form and a collapsed position wherein the end panels lie over respective floor portions of the base, and the side panels overlie the end panels, each said panel being provided with a pair of battens or stud members each secured to and extending across its inner face at a respective side thereof, the Improvements comprising a stub corner post fixed vertically at each of the four corners of the pallet base, wherein each of the folding end panels is hingedly connected by means of a pair of pivot pins each supported by one of its said battens or stud members and an adjacent said stub post, while each of the folding side panels is hinged by means of a pair of hinge members each connected between one of its said battens or stud members and on adjacent said stub post, the horizontal hinge axis for each of the end panels being at right angles to and spaced a short distance below the horizontal hinge axis for each of the side panels, skirting boards secured to and extending between respective pairs of corner posts with each of the skirting boards projecting upwardly above the floor of the pallet base, wherein the lower edge of each said panel when in its erect position is supported by a respective said skirting board, and further wherein the top of each stub corner post terminates in a

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-4 ir' IyIa 4 c horizontal bearing surface for supporting the lower end cf a respective said batten or stud member of said side panels (when said side panels are in their erect position).

Preferably, the height of the skirting boards extending along the front and rear ends of the pallet base are slightly greater than the height of the skirting boards extending along the sides of the base. However, the skirting board height may 1 be the same throughout in some instances.

Preferably, the hinge connection between each of the side panels and the respective stub corner posts comprises a butt hinge which has its leaves respectively attached to corresponding flush inner faces of the side panel and the associated stub corner post, the horizontal hinge pin being located approximately level with the 154 4A upper bearing surface of the stub corner post. The hinge connection for each of the end panels preferably comprises a hinge pin extending at right angles to the axis of the butt hinge pin and supported by a respective stub corner post intermediate its upper and lower ends.

Preferably, the shape and dimensions of the horizontal bearing surfaces for supporting the battens I} or studs of the side panels are the same as the lower end faces of the battens. Prefer,. ly, the outer surface ILO of the batten is flush with the marginal surface of the side panel.

4 *0 In a preferred embodiment, each oE the panels comprises a plurality of horizontally extending timber planks in aligned edge to edge relationphip, each of the planks extending between and secured at its ends to vertical battens located on the inner face of the panel, the lowermost plank of each of the panels being ff11 arranged so that its lower edge svirface bears against or is contiguous with the corresponding~ skirting board on the pallet base, so that any load cn or applied to the panel is transmitted directly to the skirting board and in turn the base rather than to its hi,,iged connection, or borne by the panel solely.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved latching mechanisms for releasably latching together ad~jacent panels at the upper corners of the container# wl,;in in an et~ected condition, the latching mechanism co~iprising a substantially Ii '0011 00 0 I t to to 0 1 0 000 t 0~0 0000 00 0 1 00 Cl inverted L-shaped latch member carried by each of the -vertical battens of the end panels and being mounted for sliding up and down movement (relative to the panels) between a locked position wherein the horizontal leg of the latch member lies contiguous with and extends acr(oss the end faces of the juxtaposed vert.cal battens of a respective pair of adjacent panels, the horizontal leg terminating in an inturned flange which is received with a recess formed in the end face of the batten of tf, side 0. panel, in which position the panels are locked against inward folding movement, and an unlocked position wherein the latch membe. has its horizontal leg and said flange lifted clear of the end facrns of said battens to thereby permit the end panel to be swung inwardly towards its collapsed condition, and releasable locking means for releasably locking the latch member in its locked position.

In a preferred arrangement, the vertical leg of the latch member is provided with an elongate 0. longitudinally extending slot wh4Xi co-opgrates with a locating bolt to guide the latch member vertically between its locked and unlocked positiono. Preferably the latch member is formed of strip mectal and has its horizontal leg located in a recess formed in the end 5. faces of the battens so that Its upper surface is substantially flush with the end f~aces of the battens.

In order to more fully explain the present invention, two embodiments are described hereunder in '2 2 6some further detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a storage pallet (with its front panel in the collapsed condition) according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with all panels erect, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pallet in its collapsed condition, IilsO.FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the latching mechanism according to the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hinge connnections between adjacent panels and the pallet base, FIG. 6 is a view sinilar to FIG. 2 of a storage pallet according to a second embodiment of this invention, FIG. 7 is a view of the pallet of FIG. 6 in its £collapsed condition, and FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latching mechanism between adjacent panels according to the second embodiment.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 1 to 5, there is shown a stor~age pallet 10 having a rectangular base 11 which is supported at each of its four corners by stub corner posts 12, the base 11 being oI$ timber 7construction and having a plurality of longitudinally extending timber beams 13 which support a plurality of transversely extending timber planks 14 which form the floor of the base 11. The pallet 10 has a pair of folding end panels 17 and a pair of folding side panels 18, the length of the side panels being greater than that of the end panels. The panels 17, 18 are formed of timber construction and comprise a plurality of horizontally extending timber planks 17', 18' 0 "o0. respectively in edge to edge relationship secured to and 00 0 a extending between a pair of vertical timber battens 19, 0 O 0 .a 0 20 respectively, one at each side of the corresponding 4 o 0o panels, 17, 18 on their inner faces. The battens 19, 0 00 in this embodiment are of rectangular cross-sectional 0 015. shape.

o 0 47 0 00 The pallet base 11 is also provided with two pairs 00 of upwardly projecting peripheral skirting boards 23, 0 0 00, S 00 24 extending between the corner posts 12, the height of the front and rear skirting boards 23 being slightly o 20. higher than that of the skirting boards 24 extending L along the sides of the base 11. Each of the panels 17, I 18 is arranged so that when in its erect position, the lower edge surface of its lowermost timber plank 17', 18' abvts the upper edge surface of the associated skirting board 23, 24, whereby any load applied to the panel 17, 18 is transmitted directly to the skirting board 23, 24, and little weight is carried by the panel itself or its hinge connection.

8 In this embodiment, each of the side panels 18 is hingedly connected to the base 11 by means of a pair of butt hinges 25 each of which has its pair of hinge leaves secured respectively to the aligned inner faces of the batten 20 and the stub corner post 12, with the hinge pin 26 being approximately horizontally aligned with the junction between the batten 20 and the post 12. Each of the end panels 17 is hingedly mounted for inward swinging movement about an axis which is at right o 0 joo0. angles to the pivot axis of the hinged connection for 0 the side panels 18, the hinge axis for the end panels o 9 9 17 being slightly below the hinge axis for the side panels 18. In this embodiment, each of the end panels o 0 17 is hingedly connected by means of a horizontal hinge bolt 29 which is supported by a respective stub corner 99 0 o* 00 post 12 and a corresponding batten 19 near its bottom 09 9 0 9 end.

.0 0. The mounting of the panels 17, 18 is arranged #o that the pair of end panels 17 can be firstly folded 2 0. inwardly so as to lie flat on the pallet base 11 with each covering a litt.e less than half of the pallet base 11, following which the two side paneLs 18 can be folded inwardly so as to overlie respective portions of both end panels 17, there being a slight gap between the free outer ends of the side panels 18 when in their fully folded down condition. When in the collapsed condition, the panels 17, 18 form an approximateiy flat package, with the battens 20 of the side panels 18 lying flat 9 1 'Against the upper edge surface 23' of the skirting boards 23, whereby any external load applied to the panels is transmitted to and borne by the pallet base 11.

Each corner of the pallet container 10 has a panel fastening or latching mechanism 30 to secure the respective pair of panels 17, 18 together at the corner so that the whole assembly is hold securely in its erected condition. Each latching device 30 comprises a vertically movable inverted L-shaped latch member 31 0,110L0 formed of strip metal and attached to the batten 19 on the end panel 17 with its vertical leg lying ontiguous with the inner side face of the batten 19, and the horizontal leg 33 extending across the horizontally alge pe end faces of the adjacent. battens 19, 20 of ajamitpanels 17, 18 respectively, the end of the horizontal leg 33 terminating in a downturned tongue or f- 35 which engages in a recess or groove 36 which, in this embodiment, is formed between the main body portion of the side panel 18 and the batten 20. With the latch member 31 engaged in its locked positiont the pair of panels 17, 18 are interlocked and restrained against any inward folding movement. pIreferablyi the horizontal 4 log 33 of the latch member 31 I~s located in a shallow recess formed in the end faces of the battens 19, 20 go that the upper surface of the horizontal loU 33 Is f lush with the corresponding outter end surfaces of the battens 19, In order to lock the latLch member 31 in its locked position, there is provided a pivotal catch w, is contiguous with and approximately parallel to the vertical leg 32 of the latch member 31? the catch also being formed from strip metal and supported by a pivot pin 38 which is carried by the batten 19 and located in a vertically extending slot (not shown) formed in the vertical leg 32 of the latch member 31, the pivot pin 38 serving as a guide to guide the latch member 31 for vertical movement between its locked and unlocked positions. The lower end of the catch 37 is formed with an out-turned flange 40 which, when the catch is in its locked position, abuts against a similarly formed oatturned flange 41 at the lower end of the vertical leg 32 of the latch member 31, the engajemont of the two outturned flanges 40, 41 constituting a stop for preventing any upward vertical movement of the latch member 31. The catch 37 is released by simply rotating it so as to disengage the two flanges 40, 41 whoreafter tho latt:h 2 member 31 can be lifted vertically to thereby dlsenUage locking tcngue 35 from its recess 36. The slot formed in the vertical leg 32 of the latch member 31 permits such vertical movement. The latch 31 is held securely in place by means of a cover plate 42 which is fastened to the batten 19.

Th, connection made by each of the latches -i1between the panels 17, 18 (at each of the four corners of the pallet) imparts great rigidity to the container, and the latching mechanism is designed against accidental disengagement. Furthermore, the design construction of the latch mechanism is such that it does not protrude or project by any significant amount into the interior of the pal.let container which might otherwise result in damage to the goods being stored therein.

In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 6 to 8, the pallet CL0. container i substantially the same as that shown in QIGs. 1 to 5 and the same item numbers are used to denote corresponding parts. It will be noted that the skirting boards 23, 24 all have the same height and have their o 0 upper edges flush with the upper end surfaces of the corner posts 12. Also, the pivoted catch 37 is displaced to one side of the vertical leg 32 of the latch 31 (thereby avoiding the need to have a slot in the leg 32) and bottom flange 41 is inclined so that when the catce 37 is in its locked position, the frictional engagement a 4 O. between the flanges 40, 41 is such that any accidental diiolodgement of the catch is minimised. Again, the vertical leg of the latch is preferably located in i shallow recess formed in the batten side wall to minimise the amount by which the latch mechanism projects into the inLerioC oE the pallet.

A brief consideration of the abovedescribed embodiments will indicate that the inen -,on provides -12- Ii i for a vastly improved timber pallet container which is I of extremely simple design and can be simply and quickly folded between its erected and collapsed conditions.

In addition, when in its collapsed condition the pallet container is able to be readily stacked for transport purposes.

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Claims

1. An improved folding storage container of the type having a pallet base, a pair of opposed end panels hinged with respect to the base for folding inwardly onto the base, and a pair of opposed side panels hinged also with respect to the base for folding inwardly onto the base, whereby the container can assume an erect position in which it is of substantially parallelpiped box-shaped form and a collapsed position wherein the end panels lie over respective floor portions of the base, and the side panels overlie the end panels, each said panel being provided with a pair of battens or stud members each secured to and extending across its inner face at a respective Sside thereof, the improvements comprising a stub corner post S. fixed vertically at each of the four corners of the pallet base, wherein each of the folding end panels is hingedly Ogca connected by means of a pair of pivot pins each supported by one of its said battens or stud members and an adjacent said stub post, while each of the folding side panels is hinged by means of a pair of hinge members each connected between one of its said battens or stud members and on adjacent said stub 20 post, the horizontal hinge axis for each of the end panels being at rich% angles to and spaced a short distance below the Shorizontal hinge axis for each of the side panels, skirting boards secured to and extending between respective pairs of corner posts with each of the skirting boards projecting upwardly above the floor of the pallet base, wherein the lower edge of each said panel when in its erect position is supported by a respective said skirting board, and further wherein the S, 14 top of each stub corner post terminates in a horizontal bearing surface for supporting the lower end of a respective said batten or stud member of said side panels (when said side panels are in their erect position).

2. An improved folding storage container according to claim 1 wherein the upper edge surfaces of the skirting boards extending along the front and rear ends of the pallet base are located in a pane slightly above the plane containing the upper edge surfaces of the skirting boards extending along the sides of the pallet base. 3, An improved folding storage container according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the horizontal bearing surface of each stub corner post is rectangular in plan and is identical in shape and dimensions to the lower end wall of a respective said batten which is supported thereby.

4. An improved folding storage container according to any preceding claim wherein thbe outer surface of the batten is flush with the marginal surface of the side panel. An improved folding storage container according to any preceding claim wherein, with the panels in their erect position, the battens of adjacent panels are in face to face relationship, and have their inner marginal surfaces flush with one another. 5 0r^ I6. An imp~roved folding storage container according, to claim U further comprising a latching mechanism for releasably latching together aajacent panels at the upper corners of the container j when ini its erect position, said latching mechanism comprising a substantially inverted L-shaped latch member carried by each 1 of the battens of said end panels for slidable up and down movement (relative to said battens) between a locked position wheretin the horizontal leg of the latch member lies contiguous with and extends across the end faces of the juxtaposed battEns of a respective pair of adjacent panels, in which position the panels are locked against inward folding movement, and an unlocked position wherein the latch member has its horizontal leg lifted clear of the end faces of said battens to thereby permit the end panel to be swung inwardly towards its collapsed position, and releasable locking means for releasably locking the latch member in its locked position.

7. An improved folding storage container according to claim 6 wherein said horizontal leg of the latch member terminates in an in-turned flange which is receivable within a recess formed in the end face of the batten of saik, side panel. W i8. An improved fol'iing st.orage container according to either claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said latch member is formed of strip metal and has its horizontal and vertical legs located in recesses Pormed in the end and side faces respectively of the battens whereby its outer surface is substantially flush with ,-the corresponding surfaces of the battens. 't v C-16-

9. An improved folding storage container according to either claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said releasable locking means comprises a pivotal catch member carried by the batten of the end panel for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the vertical leg of the latch member. An improved folding storage container according to claim 9 I wherein said catch member is formed of strip metal and lies approximately contiguous with the vertical leg of the latch member.

11. An improved folding storage container according to either claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said catch member terminates at its free end in a flange formation which, when the catch member is in its locked position, frictionally engages against a correspondingly shaped flange formation at the free end of th., vertical leg of the latch member.

12. An improved folding storage container according to any preceding claim wherein each of the panels comprises a plurality of horizontally extending timber planks in aligned edge to edge relationship, each of the planks extending between and secured at its ends to respective pairs of said battens located on the inner face of the panel, the lowermost plank of each of the panels being arranged so that its lower edge surface bears against or is contiguous with the corresponding skirting board on the pallet base so that any load on or applied to the panel is transmitted directly to the skirting board and in turn the base. -17 1 'I J I

13. An improved folding storage container substantially as hereinbefore described and is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 or FIGS. 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 5th day of July 1990 FOREST PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys R K MADDnRN R ASSOCIATES i~?~jf~t I i