US3198372A

US3198372A - Metal packing case for transport of fruit

Info

Publication number: US3198372A
Application number: US151252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Witrant Roger Ludovic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-11-15
Filing date: 1961-11-09
Publication date: 1965-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-03
Also published as: FR1273689A; ES271957A1; LU40815A1; GB956882A; CY305A; BE610233A; DE1411604A1

Description

Aug. 3, 1965 R. WITRANT 3,198,372

METAL PACKING CASE FOR TRANSPORT OF FRUIT Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1965 R. WITRANT 3,198,372

METAL PACKING CASE FOR TRANSPORT OF FRUIT Filed Nov. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,11%,372 METAL PACKKNG CASE FQR TRANSPORT 0 FRUIT Roger Ludovic Witrant, 4 Ave. do ltOpera, Paris, France Filed Nov. 9, 19611, Ser. No. 151,252 Claims priority, application France, Nov. 15, 1965), 843,987, Patent 1,273,689 14 Ciairns. (Cl. 220-6) The present invention relates to metal packing cases.

The present invention has for an object to provide a metal case of large size (about 1.20 m. X 1.05 m. x 0.70 m.), particularly suitable for the transport of fruit and having the essential advantage of being foldable on itself without it being necessary for any of its faces to be detached from its adjacent faces for such purpose. The return of the empty case folded into a very small built is thus made possible without involving any difficulties of dismantling and risk of loss of parts.

The packing case according to the invention is essentially characterized in that two of the opposite lateral faces of the parallelepiped rectangle which it forms are capable of pivoting about their upper or lower sides so as to fold back either against the bottom or against the lid of the case, and substantially parallel to the latter; this folding-back of two of the opposite faces forming the case permitting the articulated parallelogram constituted in profile by the other four faces, to be flattened until the lid and the bottom are only separated by the thickness of the lateral faces previously folded back, the four faces thus capable of being flattened being pivotally attached to each other for that purpose so that they pivot about their common edges.

In accordance with one form of embodiment of the invention, the said opposite faces can be folded back under the lid and are constituted by panels having no connection with the panels which form the adjacent faces, at the upper sides of which are articulated flanges welded on tubes which are capable of pivotal movement about their axes and which join together in pairs the upper angles of the panels forming the faces adjacent to the said foldable panels. The pivotal movement of the flanges andthe tubes to which they are rigidly fixed, about the axes of the latter, accompanied by the pivoting of the panels with respect to the flanges on which they are articulated, enables the lower sides of these panels to be placed in position and fixed on the corresponding sides of the bottom of the case, the disengagement of the said lower sides being effected only by a pivotal movement of the panels and the flanges in the opposite direction, it being possible to prevent this pivotal movement by any appropriate locking device which tends to hold the foldable panels and the flanges on which they are pivoted in the same vertical plane.

In accordance with a form of construction of the invention, this locking device is obtained by means of arms with which the flanges are provided, and which prevent pivotal movement by coming into abutment against the lid of the case when the said lid is closed.

Other particular features of the container according to the invention will become apparent during the course of the folding-back operation illustrated in FIG. 1 has been carried out.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one form of construction of the case according to the invention.

"ice

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in accordance with FIG. 3, showing one of the lateral folding panels ready to be folded-back, the lid not being shown.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show details of construction of the case of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further form of construction of the lower parts of the folding lateral panels.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative form of the locking device for the folding lateral panels.

FIG. 9 is a partial view in cross-section, showing a form of construction of the mounting of the lid on the upper tubes of the non-folding panels, and also shows how the lower face of the bottom of a case can come into position on the upper face of the lid of another case.

With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the two opposite lateral panels A and A of the case are capable of pivoting towards the interior of the case, about the edges :1 and a At the end of the folding back movement, when the panels A and A are located at A' and A practically in contact with the lid E, the other four panels forming the case, namely the panels B, C, D, E (FIG. 2), form a parallelogram articulated about the edges, b, c, d, e, which can be flattened in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2, until the lid comes into the position E, substantially in contact with the bottom C.

The folding-back of the panels A and A such as illustrated in FIG. 1, takes place towards the interior of the case, and in their final position, the said panels then come into position under the lid. It is however possible to fold the panels towards the exterior of the case, the panels then carrying out a pivotal movement of 270 about the edges a and a This method of folding-back will again be found in one of the forms of construction of the case which will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a form of embodiment of the case in accordance with the invention.

Ona bottom 1 constituted, for example, by a frame of metal sections supporting a thin metal sheet, are erected two panels 2 which form two opposite faces of the case.

These panels are formed by a frame 3 having two intermediate uprights 4 and 5 and comprising vertical members 6 of sheet metal curved to a U-profile, the extremities of which are welded on the upper and lower tubes of the frames 3 and are suitably flattened for that purpose (FIG. 6). The lower tubes of the frames 3 are pivoted on lugs 7 fixed to the bottom. 1, while the extremities of the upper tubes of the said frames are mounted on pivots provided on supports constituted of iron. squares, as shown in FIG. 5.

On these same squares, further pivots, arranged at right angles with respect to the first, receive the extremities of two tubes 9 which thus join together in pairs the upper corners of the frame 3.

When considered in profile, it can be seen that the articulated parallelogram formed by the bottom 1, the panels 2 and the tubes 9 which join together the upper corners of these latter, is deformable in the same manner as are the panels B, C, D, E, shown in FIG. 2.

On the tubes 9 are welded flanges 19 which are also articulated on the upper tubes of the frames 11, these being also provided with U-section bars of sheet metal, the frames and the bars forming the panels 12.

The lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11 are provided with small forks 13 which, in the normal position, are mounted astride angle-irons or the like, arranged on the edge of the bottom 1.

The lid 14 is constituted by a frame of metal sections provided, like the other panels, with U-sect ion bars of sheet metal. This lid pivots, by any appropriate means, about the upper tube of one of the frames 3, and when it is closed, forms an abutment for arms with which the upper parts of the flanges til are provided.

When the case is in the normal position, that is to say not folded, this being this position shown in FIG. 3, the lateral panels 2 are in a vertical position and the articulated parallelogram which they form with the bottom and the lid is prevented from being deformed, in the same way as described above for the panels B, C, D, E of FIG. 2, by virtue of the presence of the lateral panels 12 which prevent any pivotal movement of the panels 2 about the axes of the lower tubes of their frames 3. Thus, the case has perfectly satisfactory characteristics of rigidity and strength.

When the lid is raised, the arms 15 are no longer in abutment against the lid, and in consequence, the flanges It and the tubes 9 to which they are welded can turn about the pivots of the squares 8.

It can be seen that by applying to the upper tubes of the frames 11 an oblique tractive pull from the bottom upwards, it is possible to cause the tubes 9 and the flanges in which are rigidly fixed to them to pivot about their axes. The forks 13 are thus freed from the angle-irons on which they are astride (FIG. 4). The panels 12 can from that moment he completely folded-back underneath and against the lid 14.

The lateral panels 2, the lid 14 and the base It can then be folded-back by deformation of the parallelogram which they form, as has already been described above and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2.

In accordance with a further form of embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 7, the lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11 are not provided, as in the form of the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5, with vertically directed forks, but with members 13a arranged in the line of extension of the lower horizontal tubes of the frames 11, the extremities of these members being shaped as a quarter of a circle. In addition, the lugs '7, rigidly fixed to the bottom 1, and on which are pivoted the lower tubes of the frames 3, have in this form of construction a width wlL'ch substantially exceeds the diameter of the said lower tubes.

When it is desired to close the case, the horizontal lower tubes of the frames 11 are engaged behind the lugs 7 and the quadranhshaped extremities of the members 13a come to fit against the cylindrical form of the lower portions of the vertical tubes of the adjacent frames 3. Thus, the lower parts of the frames 11 are prevented from moving away laterally, on the one hand towards the interior of the case by the abutment of the members 1311 against the vertical tubes of the frames 3, and on the other hand towards the exterior of the case by the presence of the lugs 7. Only a pivotal movement of the panels 12, causing an upward movement of the lower tubes of the frame II, is capable of freeing these latter.

It will be observed that according to this form of embodiment, the folding-back of the panels 12 cannot be effected by pivoting towards the interior of the case. In

fact, the members 13a coming into abutment against the vertical tubes of the frame 3 prevent the panels 12 from being able to pivot towards the interior. The foldingback is then carried out in the following manner: the

lid 14 is raised; the panels 12 and the flanges It) undergo a pivotal movement of 270 towards the exterior about the tubes 9, until they arrive at a position substantially parallel to the bottom of the case, the members 13a then coming into abutment against the upper horizontal tubes 3 of the panels 2;; the lid 14 is then re-closed and holds the panels in position.

In this form of embodiment of the invention, it can be seen that the locking of the panels 12 in the position of use of the case cannot be effected, by reason of the method of folding-back towards the exterior which has just been described, by the abutment of the arms 15 against the closed lid. Consequently, in accordance with this form of construction of the packing case, the locking of the panels 12 in the position of use is obtained by the simple action of locking means including bars 259 which slide in rings 2i welded to the tubes 9, and, which in the locking position, pass into the clasps 22 welded to the upper horizontal tubes of the frames 11, or to the vertical tubes with which the panels 12 are provided in their centres, for that purpose.

In accordance with the invention, the packing case is designed so that it can be handled by means of lifting trucks or push-plate conveyors.

To this end, the frame of the metal section which forms the bottom, rests on four feet 36 of punched fiat steel strip, which serve on the one hand as feet for the case and enable air to circulate under it, and on the other hand as guides intended to receive the forks of the lifting truck.

In order to permit easy stacking of the cases according to the invention, their lids are provided, directly above the feet 16 and on each of the sides, with four supporting members constituted by flat strips 17 each edged by two angle-irons 18 joining them together in pairs and giving the said supporting members a trapezoidal profile which permits their lateral positions to be observed by the operator and thus facilitates the correct placing of the cases, one on top of the other (FIG. 3).

In accordance with a further form of construction which is illustrated in FIG. 9, the iron strips 17 forming the supporting members take the form of dished plates, the bottoms of which rest directly on the upper tubes of the frames 3 of the panels 2, and the edges 19 of which are located at the level of the upper portion of the tubes 9 and the metal sheets forming the lid 14. Thus the feet 16 of a case which is placed on top of another case are housed in the said dished plates, which eliminates all risk of slipping, even in the case of sea transport.

In accordance with a particular form of construction, the steel sheet forming the bottom 1 is provided with perforations suitably spaced apart so as to provide the best possible ventilation for the packed fruit. These perforations are preferably provided in greater numbers in the central portion of the bottom 1 than on its periphery so as to ensure better ventilation of the bottom layers.

Finally, this bottom can with advantage be provided on its surface with a series of juxtaposed spherical caps produced by punching, the dimensions of which are appropriate to those of the fruit for which the packing case is intended. Thus the fruit of the bottom layer, fitting into the shapes of these caps, will be protected from deformation and crushing caused by the weight of the upper layers. Independently of the advantages indicated above, which are due to the fact that the packing case is easily folded, it should be observed on the one hand that the case according to the invention ensures perfect ventilation of the fruit carried, and on the other hand that the various panels of which it is composed, and which are assembled together without the use of any keying or bolting system, can be very easily dismantled and separated from each other when it becomes necessary to replace any one of them.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible container adapted for storing material comprising a bottom, a pair of opposite side panels having upper and lower edges, means pivotally supporting the side panels at the lower edges thereof to the bottom, an upper frame, means pivotally supporting the side panels at the upper edges thereof to the upper frame and permitting collapsing of the side panels by concurrent pivotal movement of each of the side panels at their respective edges, a further pair of opposite side panels for said container, means supporting the further side panels from the upper frame for free pivotal movement about axes extending perpendicular to the first said axes, and means for detachably securing said further side panels at the lower edges thereof to said bottom and thereby provide stability for said container, the latter means being released with said further side panels pivotally moved a limited amount with respect to said upper frame whereby said further side panels may be further pivoted in either direction and the first said side panels may be collapsed, the container further comprising a lid pivotally connected to one of the first said side panels for closing the container, and means associated with said further side panels for contacting said lid withthe latter closing the container to prevent pivotal movement of said further side panels whereby said lid must be first raised before said further side panels can be pivotally moved.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means supporting said further side panels from the upper frame comprises flanges having one end pivotally connected to said further side panels at the upper edges thereof and an opposite end pivotally connected to the upper frame.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for detachably securing said further side panels to said bottom comprises a fork adapted for being mounted astride an angle iron on said bottom.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first said side panels include a peripheral frame, said means for securing the further side panels to said bottom comprising lugs on said bottom extending upwardly beyond the lower edge of the further side panels thereby preventing pivotal movement of the latter in one direction and members secured to said further side panels at the lower edges thereof for contacting the frame of the first said side panels to prevent pivotal movement of the further side panels in the other direction, the lower edge of the further side panels being free of the lugs with said further side panels slightly raised by being pivotally moved with respect to said flanges which, in turn, are pivotally moved.

5. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper frame comprises a pair of parallel tubes each having opposite ends, a support at each of the ends of the tubes and a pair of pivots on each said support facing in perpendicular direction and respectively pivotally supporting the first said side panels at the upper edge thereof and the parallel tubes for rotation about their own axes.

6. A collapsible case comprising a rectangular bottom having bounding edges, a pair of opposite, side panels having upper and lower edges, each side panel respectively extending along opposite edges of the bottom, a pair of tubes extending above the other of the edges of the bottom, a support located above each corner of the rectangular bottom and including a pair of pivots respectively pivotally supporting the tubes and the first said side panels at the upper edges thereof, lugs secured to the bottom and supporting the first said side panels at the lower edges thereof for pivotal movement where'- by the side panels, tubes and bottom constitute a collapsible assembly in which the side panels may respectively fold in the same direction to a position where the side panels are substantially coplanar with the bottom, a pair of further side panels each of which has upper and lower edges, said panels extending opposite one another along the other of the edges of said bottom, a pair of flanges rigidly secured to each tube for pivotal movement therewith, said flanges being pivotally connected to the upper edges of the further side panels and constituting a hinge therefor, means at the lower edges of the further side panels for preventing relative movement of the further side panels with respect to said bottom, the latter means being effective to maintain the further side panels erect to confer stability to the aforementioned collapsible assembly, said latter means being releasable, to permit free pivotal movement of the further side panels as well as collapsing of said assembly, by pivotal movement of the flanges and the tubes secured thereto, and means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of the tubes with respect to said supports.

'7. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, comprising a lid pivotally connected to one of the first said side panels at the upper edge thereof for opening and closing the case.

8. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means releasably preventing pivotal movement of the tubes comprises arms projecting from said flanges and contacting the lid with the latter closed.

9. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means releasably preventing pivotal movement of the tubes comprises a ring fixed on each tube, a bar slidable in said tube and a clasp on each of the further side panels for accommodating a corresponding bar therein.

10. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means for preventing relative movement of the further side panels with respect to the bottom comprises a fork adapted for being mounted astride an angle iron on said bottom.

11. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first said side panels include a peripheral frame, wherein the means for preventing relative movement of the further side panels with respect to the bottom comprises lugs on said bottom extending upwardly beyond the lower edge of the further side panels thereby preventing pivotal movement of the latter in one direction and members secured to said further side panels at the lower edges thereof for contacting the frame of the first said side panels to prevent pivotal movement of the further side panels in the other direction, the lower edge of the further side panels being free of the lugs with said further side panels slightly raised by being pivotally moved with respect to said flanges which, in turn, are pivotally moved along with said tubes about said supports.

12. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 7 comprising feet on the bottom constituted of punched flat strips defining guides adapted for accommodating the forks of lifting trucks, supporting members in the shape of dished plates on the lid vertically above said feet and adapted for receiving the feet of another case to thereby permit stacking of the cases one on top of another.

13. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bottom is provided with perforations.

M. A collapsible case as claimed in claim 6, wherein said bottom is provided with concave spherical caps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

Examiners.

Claims

1. A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR STORING MATERIAL COMPRISING A BOTTOM, A PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE PANELS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER EDGES, MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE SIDE PANELS AT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF TO THE BOTTOM, AN UPPER FRAME, MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING THE SIDE PANELS AT THE UPPER EDGES THEREOF TO THE UPPER FRAME AND PERMITTING COLLAPSING OF THE SIDE PANELS BY CONCURRENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF EACH OF THE SIDE PANELS AT THEIR RESPECTIVE EDGES, A FURTHER PAIR OF OPPOSITE SIDE PANELS FOR SAID CONTAINER, MEANS SUPPORTING THE FURTHER SIDE PANELS FROM THE UPPER FRAME FOR FREE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT AXES EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR TO THE FIRST SAID AXES, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS AT THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF TO SAID BOTTOM AND THEREBY PROVIDE STABILITY FOR SAID CONTAINER, THE LATTER MEANS BE ING RELEASED WITH SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS PIVOTALLY MOVED A LIMITED AMOUNT WITH RESPECT TO SAID UPPER FRAME WHEREBY SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS MAY BE FURTHER PIVOTED IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE FIRST SAID SIDE PANELS MAY BE COLLAPSED, THE CONTAINER FURTHER COMPRISING A LID PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE FIRST SAID SIDE PANELS FOR CLOSING THE CONTAINER, AND MEANS ASSOCITATED WITH SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS FOR CONTACTING SAID LID WITH THE LATTER CLOSING THE CONTAINER TO PREVENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS WHEREBY SAID LID MUST BE FIRST RAISED BEFORE SAID FURTHER SIDE PANELS CAN BE PIVOTALLY MOVED.