GB2105683A

GB2105683A - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: GB2105683A
Application number: GB08127923A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Eric Betteley
Original assignee: Stakapal Ltd
Current assignee: Stakapal Ltd
Priority date: 1981-09-16
Filing date: 1981-09-16
Publication date: 1983-03-30
Also published as: GB2105683B

Abstract

A container for handling by means of fork lift trucks has wall panels (1, 4) which are collapsible to overlie the base panel (9), in which configuration the container can be stored or used as a flat panel. The wall panels (1, 4) are pivotable on attached pivot pins (14, 16) which rotate in and are movable vertically in slots (15, 17) in L-section corner members (8) secured to the base panel (9), the pins (14) extending from the end wall panels (1) passing through open-ended elongate slots in the side wall panels (4). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collapsable container The invention relates to containers adapted for handling by means of fork lift trucks and other devices which support the item being carried from below. Such containers will hereinafter be referred to as "of the kind set forth".

Known containers of the kind set forth in which articles may be stored or transported comprise a base panel and four wall panels which are rigidly upstanding from the base panel. However, containers with upstanding wall panels waste considerable space when stored empty and can only be used as walled containers and not conventional open pallets.

According to our invention a container of the kind set forth comprises a base panel and in addition rigid wall panels which are pivotably movable between an erected position in which the wall panels are upstanding and a collapsed position in which the wall panels are disposed in substantially horizontal planes overlying the base panel. This construction has the advantage that when the wall panels are pivoted into the collapsed position the container forms a substantially flat pallet which can be used or stored as such.

The wall panels are preferably arranged to pivot into their collapsed position in order of opposed pairs of wall panels so that the panels form an even stack in the collapsed position. There are preferably four wall panels, these being two side panels and two end panels, the end panels being so dimensioned that they may be collapsed first without overlying each other so that each side panel can be folded flat.

The container is also provided with four corner members of height less than those of the wall panels and upon which the base panel is rigidly mounted, the wall panels being pivotably connected to the corner members.

The wall panels, in addition to being pivotably movable, are preferably vertically movable with respect to the corner members. In a preferred embodiment the means enabling the vertical motion of the wall panels is unitary with the means enabling the pivotal motion. Conveniently this is achieved in one construction by slidable and rotatable pin and slot connections between the wall panels and the corner members. In one construction pivot pins attached to or projecting from the wall panels are slidable longitudinally and are rotatable in vertically disposed slots of the corner members.

In the erected position, the ends of the side panels are preferably located between the edges of the end panels and the corner members, which are preferably of L-shaped cross-section.

In one embodiment, the end panels are located in the erected position by locating pins extending from the end panels through open-ended slots in the corner members. In a second embodiment the end panels are located in the erected position by brackets extending from the end panels and slidingly embracing the corner members.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, partly in section, of a container according to the present invention, in an erected position; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the container shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the container shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic enlargement of the part of Figure 1 marked "X"; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic enlargement of the part of Figure 2 marked "Y"; Figure 6 is a view from the direction "A" shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic end elevation of a second embodiment of the present invention corresponding to that shown in Figure 2; Figures 8 and 9 are views of the second embodiment corresponding to those shown in Figures 5 and 6 respectively: and Figure 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a container of the type shown in Figure 1 in its collapsed position.

The collapsable pallet-type container illustrated in the drawings has sides made up from frames of tubular steel or other rigid material. A pair of opposed end panels 1 each comprise a steel frame 2 supporting a sheet 3 which may be of card or other board, or sheet plastic material depending on the application of the container. Similarly a pair of opposed side panels 4 each comprise a frame 5 with sheet 6 intermediately supported by the spar 7.

The end and side panels 2 and 4 are supported by means described below by four corner members 8 of angle section each comprising a pair of upright flanges which are disposed at right angles to each other.

A base panel 9 of similar construction to the end and side panels 1 , 2 is rigidly mounted between the corner members 8 to provide a bottom from the container.

Each of the corner members 8 has a foot 10 upon which the container rests, either on the floor or on top of a second similar container for which purpose the feet 10 may be specially adapted. The respective sizes of the corner members 8 and feet 10 are selected such as to provide a space between the base panel and the lower extremity of the feet 10 in order that the container is suitable for handling by fork like truck and similar equipment.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6, each panel 1 is attached to the appropriate corner members by means of four pins. Two locating pins 11 are fixed to the frame 2 of each panel 1 and project outward therefrom. The locating pins 11 have enlarged heads which serve to retain the panel 1 against its weight by bearing an outer face of the corner member 8, the pins being positioned in open-ended slots 13 in the corner member 8.

Each end panel 1 is further attached to corner member 8 by two pivot pins 14 projecting from the lower part of the frame 2 in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction of projection of the locating pins 1 .The pivot pins 14 are free to rotate and longitudinally slide in first vertical slots 1 5 of the corner members 8, and have enlarged heads.

Each side panel 4 is retained to corner members 8 by two pivot pins 1 6 projecting from the lower part of the frame 5 which are free to rotate and longitudinally slide in second vertical slots 1 7 of corner members 8, and have enlarged heads. The side panels 4 do not carry locating pins, but rather are located in the erected position between the end panels 1 and the corner members 8.

When the container is to be stored, and it is necessary that the container occupy as small a space as possible, or when the container is to be used on a conventional flat pallet, it may be collapsed by carrying out the following series of operations.

Firstly the end panels 1 are collapsed by lifting the panels 1 in their vertical planes until the locating pins 11 are clear of the slots 12. Such vertical movement is permitted by the sliding motion of the pivot pins 1 4 in their respective slots 15. When pins 11 are clear of the slots 12, the end panel 1 is pivoted about the pivot pins 14 to lie in contact with and parallel to the base panel 9. The end panels 1 are dimensioned so as to fit over the base panel in the collapsed position without overlying each other.

Secondly, the side panels 4 are collapsed by lifting them in their vertical planes, which movement is facilitated by the sliding movement of the pivot pins 1 6 or their respective slots 17. When the side panels 4 are sufficiently clear of the collapsed end panels 1, they may be pivoted about the pivot pins 1 6 to lie in contact with and parallel to the collapsed end panels 1 as shown in Figure 10.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a modification in the container wherein the locating pins 11 of the end panels 1 are replaced by brackets 11 a which slidingly embrace the corner members 8a (which have no open ended slots) to maintain the end panels 1 upright. To collapse the end panels 1, vertical motion of the panels is necessary until the brackets 1 a disengage the tops of the corner member 8a, from which position the end panel 1 can be pivoted as previously described.

In this manner, a pallet type container may be collapsed without the use of tools and without having to remove fixing pins or catches.

Claims

1. A container of the kind set forth comprising a base panel and in addition rigid wall panels which are pivotally movable between an upright position in which the wall panels are upstanding and a collapsed position in which the wall panels are disposed in substantially horizontal planes overlying the base panel.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the wall panels are arranged to pivot into their collapsed positions in order of opposed pairs of wall panels.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there are four wall panels, these being two side panels and two end panels.

4. A container according to Claim 3 wherein the end panels are so dimensioned that they may be collapsed first without overlying each other.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein there are provided four corner members upon which the base panel is rigidly mounted.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the corner members are of L-shaped cross-section.

7. A container according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein each corner member is provided at its lower end with a foot.

8. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the feet are adapted to facilitate stacking on top of a second similar container.

9. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the wall panels are pivotally connected to the corner members.

10. A container of the kind set forth substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 9 wherein the heights of the corner members are less than those of the wall panels.

11. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 10 wherein the wall panels are vertically movable with respect to the corner members.

12. A container according to Claim 11 wherein the means enabling vertical motion of the wall panels relative to the corner members is unitary with the means enabling pivotal motion of the wall panels.

1 3. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 12 wherein there are provided pin and slot connections between the wall panels and the corner members.

14. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 13 wherein pivot pins attached to or projecting from the wall panels are slidable longitudinally and are rotatable in vertically disposed slots of the corner members.

1 5. A container according to any of Claims 5 to 1 4 wherein, in the erected position, the ends of the side panels are located between the edges of the end panels and the corner members.

16. A container according to any of Claims 5 te 1 5 wherein the end panels are located in an erected position by locating pins extending from the end panels through open-ended slots in the corner members.

17. A container according to Claim 16 wherein the locating pins have enlarged heads which, in the erected position, bear against the outer faces of the corner members.

18. A container according to any of claims 5 to 1 5 wherein the end panels are located in an erect position by brackets extending from the end panels and slidingly embracing the corner members.

19. A container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the wall panels comprise rigid frames which support sheet material.

20. A container according to Claim 19 wherein the frames are made of tubular steel, and the sheet made up of carboard or similar material.

21. A container of the kind set forth substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 11-2-82 Superseded claims 1-21 New or amended claims

1. A container of the kind set forth comprising a base panel of rectangular outline having four corners, a corner member upstanding from each corner of the base panel and comprising a pair of flanges disposed substantially at right angles to each other, first and second oppositely arranged side panels, and first and second oppositely arranged end panels, in which the panels are hingedly movable between upstanding erected positions defined by abutment of the panels against pairs of corner members and collapsed positions in which the panels are superimposed upon the base panel, the end panels in the erected positions being disposed between the side panels and against which the ends of the end panels abut to prevent movement of the side panels into their collapsed positions, and in which the side panels are hingedly connected at opposite ends between respective pairs of corner members by first pin and slot connections which co-operate betweeen the ends of the side panels and the adjacent flanges of the comer members, and the end panels are also hingedly connected at opposite ends between respective pairs of corner members by means of second pin and slot connections which co-operate between the ends of the end panels and the adjacent flanges of the corner members, the said second pin and slot connections incorporating pins which extend between the end panels and the said adjacent flanges with the pins extending through the side panels themselves.

2. A container according to Claim 1, in which the first pin and slot connections comprise pins rigidly projecting from the ends of the side panels, and elongate slots in the said adjacent flanges in which the pins are rotatably and slidably received, and the pins of the second pin and slot connections project rigidly from the ends of the end panels and are slidably and rotatably received in elongate slots in the said adjacent flanges, the pins extending through open-ended elongate slots in the side panels.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each corner member is provided at its lower end with a foot.

4. A container according to Claim 3 wherein the feet are adapted to facilitate stacking on top of a second similar container.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the end panels are located in the erected position by locking pins extending from the end panels through open-ended slots in the corner members.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the locating pins have enlarged heads which, in the erected position, bear against the outer faces of the corner members.

7. A container according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the end panels are located in the erected position by brackets extending from the end panels and slidingly embracing the corner members.

8. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the wall panels comprise rigid frames which support sheet material.

9. A container according to Claim 8 wherein the frames are made of tubular steel, and the sheet made up of cardboard or similar material.