Title: Collapsible bin
Abstract: A collapsible bin includes a lid and a box. The lid defines a lid plane and includes a flange extending in a plane parallel to the lid plane, the flange including an opening. The box includes a wall a channel with a flange contact surface and a bolt moveable in a direction perpendicular to the lid plane between securing and non-securing positions. When the bolt is in the securing position and the lid is positioned with the flange in the channel the bolt is positioned in the opening to restrict movement of the lid in a direction parallel to the lid plane and the flange engages the flange contact surface upon pressure on the lid in a direction away from the wall. A plurality of lid securing members releasably secure the lid to the wall.
Patent Number: 7,004,344 Issued on 02/28/2006 to Fulton, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Fulton; Michael Wayne (Balzac, CA);
Weatherill; Darrell Robert Paxton (Kelowna, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
Tolko Industries Ltd. (British Columbia, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
344687 |
| Filed:
|
August 20, 2001 |
| PCT Filed:
|
August 20, 2001
|
| PCT NO:
|
PCT/CA01/01185
|
| 371 Date:
|
February 21, 2003
|
| 102(e) Date:
|
February 21, 2003
|
| PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO02/18217 |
| PCT PUB. Date:
|
March 7, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
220/4.31; 220/324 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
B65D 6/26 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
220/428,431,345.2
206/600
217/12.R,13,62
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4809851 | Mar., 1989 | Oestreich et al.
| |
| 5261550 | Nov., 1993 | Karpisek.
| |
| 5597084 | Jan., 1997 | Parasin.
| |
| 6073768 | Jun., 2000 | McCord et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 284745 | Sep., 1963 | AU.
| |
| 0727359 | Feb., 1996 | EP.
| |
| 9515308 | Nov., 1995 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Castellano; Stephen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shlesinger, Arkwright & Garvey LLP
Parent Case Text
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/229,180
filed Aug. 29, 2000 entitled COLLAPSIBLE BIN.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible container comprising:
(a) a lid comprising:
(i) a pair of side edges connected to rear and front edges;
(ii) a flange connected to the lid adjacent the front edge, the flange extending
in a plane parallel with a lid plane defined by the lid, the flange including an
opening therein;
(b) a box comprising:
(i) a front wall and a plurality of side walls which when joined together form
an assembled box with a cavity between the walls;
(ii) a channel in a first region of the front wall having a flange contact surface;
(iii) a bolt moveable in a direction perpendicular to the lid plane between a
securing position and a non-securing position; and
(iv) when the lid is positioned in a first position adjacent the walls covering
the cavity with the flange positioned in the channel, the bolt may be moved to
the securing position by positioning the bolt in the opening to restrict movement
of the lid in a direction parallel to the lid plane whereby the flange engages
the flange contact surface upon pressure on the lid in a first direction away from
the cavity to restrict movement of the lid in the first direction;
(c) A plurality of lid securing members releasably securing the side and rear
edges to adjacent side walls.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flange comprises a connection portion
for connecting the flange to the lid attached to an extension portion extending
in a plane parallel with the lid plane, the extension portion includes the opening
therein, the extension portion extends into the channel when the lid is positioned
adjacent the walls in alignment with the bolt to enable the bolt to extend through
the opening when the bold is in the securing position.
3. The container of claim 2 wherein a lateral joining portion extends between
the connection portion and extension portion to join those portions together, the
joining portions extending generally perpendicular to the lid plane thereby positioning
the extension portion in spaced paralleled alignment with the lid plane.
4. The container described in claim 3 wherein the front wall further comprises
a reinforcement section positioned between the top edge of the front wall and the
channel and wherein the flange contact surface is connected to the reinforcement section.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the lid further comprises a stop positioned
to align the lid with respect to the box in the first position and to align the
opening with the longitudinal axis of the bolt to permit the bolt to be moved into
the opening when the bolt is moved to the securing position.
6. The container as described in claim 5 wherein one or more lid securing members
include the stop integral therewith.
7. The container as described in claim 5 wherein the stop contacts the side wall
located opposite the cavity to the front wall to align the lid in the first position.
8. The containers as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of lid securing
members comprise lid alignment means to align the side edges of the lid with the
top of the side walls of the box.
9. The container of claim 1 further comprising a base member extending about
the bottom of the walls at the bottom of the cavity.
10. The container of claim 8 wherein the base member comprises a pallet.
11. The container as described in claim 8 further comprising base securing members
releasably securing the base member to the side walls and the front wall.
12. The container as described in claim 9 further comprising base securing members
releasably securing the base member to the side walls and the front wall.
13. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the bolt has a first end which
engages the flange contact surface when the bolt is in the securing position.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein the bolt further comprises a bolt securing
lever which releasably secures the bolt in the securing position.
15. The container of claim 14 wherein the bolt further comprises a lock which
locks the bolt in the securing position.
16. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the lid further comprises reinforcement
members along its side edges and along its rear and front edges.
17. The container as described in claim 16 wherein the reinforcement members
on the side edges align the side edges with corresponding side walls of the box
when the lid is positioned adjacent both side walls.
18. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the front wall further comprises
a cavity dimension to accept the bolt therein such that the bolt is completely
contained within the cavity without protruding beyond the outer face of the front wall.
19. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the number of side walls is
3 and which when jointed together with a front wall form a square or rectangular
assembled box.
20. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the bolt is moved toward the
lid to move the bolt into the securing position and away from the lid to move the
bolt in the non-securing position, when the lid is positioned in its first position.
21. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the plurality of lid securing
members comprise a plurality of lid contact members connected to side edges and
rear edges of the lid and a plurality of box securing members connected to the
plurality of side walls and wherein the lid contact members and box securing members
are engaged with one another when the lid is in the first position and not engaged
with one another when the lid is in a second position.
22. The container as described in claim 21 wherein the lid is moveable with respect
to the box in the direction of the lid plane toward the front edge to move between
a second position where the lid may be separated from the box and the first position
wherein the lid securing members secure the siding rear edges to adjacent side
walls and the flange is positioned in the channel.
23. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the channel is longitudinally
shaped with a longitudinal axis parallel with the lid plane and wherein the flange
comprises a longitudinal channel contact surface for engaging the flange contact
surface upon pressure on the lid in the first direction.
24. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the lid is moveable with respect
to the box in the direction of the lid plane between a second position in which
the bolt and the flange opening are not in alignment and the lid securing members
are not engaged with one another and the first position in which the flange extends
into the channel, the flange opening is aligned with the bolt and the lid securing
members are engaged with one another.
25. The container as described in claim 1 wherein when the lid is in the second
position the lid is removable from the box.
26. The container as described in claim 23 wherein when the lid is in the first
position and the bolt is moved to its secured position in the flange opening the
lid is prevented from movement from the first position and the first and second
engagement members prevent movement of the lid in the first direction away from
the edges.
27. The container as described in claim 1 wherein the front wall further comprises
a reinforcement plate adjacent the bolt.
28. The container as described in claim 27 wherein the reinforcement plate includes
a plate channel aligned with the channel and dimensioned to receive the flange therein.
29. The container as described in claim 28 wherein the flange plate further comprises
the flange contact surface.
30. The container as described in claim 29 wherein the reinforcing plate comprises
a relatively larger bolt supporting portion positioned to reinforce the bolt and
the region adjacent the bolt and a flange contact surface supporting portion positioned
to reinforce the flange contact surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to collapsible shipping and storage bins, and more specifically
to improvements to collapsible shipping and storage bins making them less susceptible
to breakage and lid separation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention a collapsible container includes a lid and
a box. The lid includes a pair of side edges connected to rear and front edges
and a flange connected to the lid adjacent the front edge, the flange extending
in a plane parallel with a lid plane defined by the lid, the flange including an
opening therein. The box includes a front wall and a plurality of side walls which
when joined together form an assembled box with a cavity between the walls, a channel
in a first region of the front wall having a flange contact surface, a bolt moveable
in a direction perpendicular to the lid plane between a securing position and a
non-securing position. When the bolt is in the securing position and the lid is
positioned in a first position adjacent the walls covering the cavity with the
flange is positioned in the channel, the bolt is positioned in the opening to restrict
movement of the lid in a direction parallel to the lid plane and the flange engages
the flange contact surface upon pressure on the lid in a first direction away from
the cavity to restrict movement of the lid in the first direction. A plurality
of lid securing members are also provided releasably securing the side and rear
edges to adjacent side walls.
In another embodiment of the invention the flange comprises a connection portion
for connecting the flange to the lid attached to an extension portion extending
in a plane parallel with the lid plane, the extension portion includes the opening
therein, the extension portion extends into the channel when the lid is positioned
adjacent the walls in alignment with the bolt to enable the bolt to extend through
the opening when the bold is in the securing position.
In a further embodiment a lateral joining portion extends between the connection
portion and extension portion to join those portions together, the joining portions
extending generally perpendicular to the lid plane thereby positioning the extension
portion in spaced paralleled alignment with the lid plane.
In another embodiment the front wall includes a reinforcement section positioned
between the top edge of the front wall and the channel and wherein the flange contact
surface is connected to the reinforcement section.
In yet another embodiment the lid includes a stop positioned to align the lid
with respect to the box in the first position and to align the opening with the
longitudinal axis of the bolt to permit the bolt to be moved into the opening when
the bolt is moved to the securing position.
In another embodiment the plurality of lid securing members comprise a plurality
of lid contact members connected to side edges and rear edges of the lid and a
plurality of box securing members connected to the plurality of side walls and
wherein the lid contact members and box securing members are engaged with one another
when the lid is in the first position and not engaged with one another when the
lid is in the second position.
In another embodiment the lid is moveable with respect to the box in the direction
of the lid plane toward the front edge to move between a second position where
the lid may be separated from the box and the first position wherein the lid securing
members secure the side and rear edges to adjacent side walls and the flange is
positioned in the channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Aspects of the present invention are illustrated, merely by way of example,
in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the lid of the container
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top side of the lid of the container;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base of the container of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exterior of the left side of the container;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interior of the back side of the container;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exterior of the back side of the container;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the interior of the front wall of the container;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the exterior of the front wall of the container;
FIG. 9
a is a front detail view of the bolt and flange securing system
of the container in the secured position;
FIG. 9
b is a front detail view of the bolt and flange securing system
of the container in the unsecured position;
FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view taken along line 10—10
of FIG. 9
a;
FIG. 11
a is a perspective view of the base and left side wall of the
container in spaced relation;
FIG. 11
b is a close-up perspective view of the left side wall and base
of the container;
FIG. 11
c is a section view taken along line 11
c—11
c
of FIG. 11
b;
FIG. 11
d is a perspective view of the left side wall and base of the container;
FIG. 11
e is detailed view of FIG. 11
d;
FIG. 11
f is a section view taken along line 11
f—11
f
of FIG.11
e;
FIG. 11
g is a perspective view of the left side wall and base of the container;
FIG. 11
h is a detailed view of FIG. 11
g;
FIG. 11
i is a section view taken along line 11
i—11
i
of FIG. 11
h;
FIG. 12
a is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
side walls and base of the container;
FIG. 12
b is a detailed view of FIG. 12
a;
FIG. 12
c is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
side walls and base of the container;
FIG. 12
d is a detailed view of FIG. 12
c;
FIG. 12
e is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
walls and base of the container;
FIG. 12
f is a detailed view of FIG. 12
d;
FIG. 12
g is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
walls and base of the container;
FIG. 12
h is a detailed view of FIG. 12
f;
FIG. 13
a is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
side walls and front wall and base of the container;
FIG. 13
b is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
side walls and front wall and base of the container;
FIG. 13
c is a perspective view of the left side, right side and rear
side walls and front wall and base of the container;
FIG. 14
a is a perspective view of the container, with the assembled box
and lid of the container;
FIG. 14
b is a detailed view of FIG. 14
a;
FIG. 14
c is a section view taken along line 14
c—14
c
of FIG. 14
b;
FIG. 14
d is a perspective view of the assembled box and the lid of the container;
FIG. 14
e is a detailed view of FIG. 14
d;
FIG. 14
f is a section view taken along line 14
f—14
f
of FIG. 14
d;
FIG. 14
g is a perspective view of the assembled box, base and the lid
of the container;
FIG. 14
h is a detailed view of FIG. 14
g;
FIG. 14
i is a section view taken along line 14
i—14
i
of FIG. 14
h;
FIG. 14
j is a detailed view of FIG. 14
d showing the bolt and flange
securing system;
FIG. 14
k is a perspective view from the rear of the assembled container;
FIG. 14
l is a detailed perspective view of a rear corner of the container
of FIG. 14
k; and
FIG. 14
m is a section view taken along line 14
m—14
mof
FIG. 14
l.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring initially to FIG. 14
g, assembled container
22 is
depicted. Container
22 is made up of base member
24, back side wall
26 (shown better in FIG. 13
c), left side wall
28, right side
wall
30 (shown in FIG. 13
c), lid
32 and front wall
34.
Assembled container
22 forms a generally cube-shaped cavity
36 (FIG.
13
c) between base
24, walls
26,
28,
30 and
34
and lid
32. Lid
32 is in its first position with the lid covering
the cavity and adjacent walls
26,
28,
30 and
34.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 lid
32 includes inner face
38
which covers the upper portion of the cavity when container
22 is assembled
and outer face
40 which forms the upper and outer periphery of assembled
container
22. Four reinforcing members
42 are positioned generally
adjacent the outer periphery of lid
32 to provide reinforcement to lid
32.
Members
42 are positioned adjacent left edge
44 and right edge
46
and are offset from rear edge
48 and front edge
50 of lid
32.
As depicted in FIG. 14
d reinforcing member
42 adjacent edge
48
is positioned to permit positioning of lid
32 on walls
26,
28,
30 and
34 in an offset manner with all members
42 within cavity
36 in close proximity with corresponding walls
26,
28,
30
and
34. This positions lid
32 in its second position. This permits
proper positioning of lid
32 adjacent these walls slideable between its
second and first positions in a forward direction (i.e. in the direction of arrow
56 of FIG. 14
g) to engage the lid side engagement members
52
(FIGS. 1 and 14
g) and the lid rear engagement members
54 (FIG. 1)
as will be described in more detail below.
Referring to FIG. 1, flange
58 is attached to face
38 adjacent
front edge
50 of lid
32. Flange
58 includes relatively longer
securing section
62 connected to lateral connecting section
64 which,
in turn, is attached to extension section
66. Extension section
66
is generally in a parallel plane with the plane of securing section
62 and
both are in the same plane as the lid plane defined by lid
32. Extension
section
66 includes opening
68 extending through extension section
66.
Engagement members
52 are identical to engagement members
54
and both members
52 and
54 include relatively longer securing sections
70 attached to lateral connecting section
72 which, in turn, are
attached to extension sections
74 extending in the same direction as securing
section
70, lying in a plane parallel with securing sections
70 and
overlying sections
70. As seen best in FIG. 14
c lid side engagement
member
52 is countersunk into lid
32 to provide a smooth outer face
40. Connecting section
72 is dimensioned in length such that extension
section
74 forms a gap
76 of predetermined width slightly greater
than the thickness of corresponding side wall engagement members
78 to enable
sections
72 to engage with corresponding members
78, as is described
in more detail below.
Referring to FIG. 1, lid rear engagement members
54 are countersunk
into inner face
38 to provide a generally smooth surface. Preferably, engagement
members
80 (FIG. 6) are oriented with respect to engagement members
54
such that slots
82 are aligned with extension section
74 when lid
32 is positioned on walls
26,
28,
30 and
34.
This reduces the number of unique hardware components required for manufacture
of container
22 as members
54 may then be identical to members
52.
Base
24 is depicted in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment, base
24
comprises a pallet having a plurality of parallel reinforcing bottom boards
84
connected to three parallel-spaced support skids
86 extending in a perpendicular
direction as compared to the longitudinal axis of boards
84. Base panel
88 extends over most of the region between the outer opposed support skids
86 and outer boards
84, accept for a gap region
90 on each
side of base panel
88 adjacent each outer support skids
86. A plurality
of L-shaped front support members
92 are positioned along front edge
94
of panel
88 with extension members
96 extending upwardly with the
inner face of extensions
96 coplanar with edge
94. Similarly, a pair
of L-shaped rear support members
98 are positioned adjacent the rear edge
100 of panel
88. Extensions
102 extend upwardly with inner
faces of extensions
102 generally coplanar with rear edge
100. Preferably,
front support members
92 are identical to rear support members
98
to reduce the number of hardware components required for manufacture of container
22. A pair of rear attachment members
105 are countersunk into panel
88 adjacent the outer ends of rear edge
100. Attachment members
105
are preferably identical to lid rear engagement members
54 and attachment
members
105 are dimensioned to enter corresponding slots
104 of lower
rear wall engagement members
106 which are identical to rear wall engagement
members
80. Lower rear wall engagement members
106 are best seen
in FIG. 6.
Base
24 also includes a plurality of side support members
108
countersunk into lower face of panel
88 and sandwiched between outer support
skids
86 and panel
88. Members
108 include extensions
110
extending upwardly with the inner face of extension
110 generally coplanar
with outer edges
112 of outer slids
86. Support members
108
may be dimensioned identical to support members
92 and
98 to facilitate
construction of container
22 by minimizing the number of unique hardware
pieces required for assembly.
Base
22 further includes four attachment members
114 generally
adjacent each corner of base
24 attached to and countersunk to be flush
with outer faces
112 of outer skids
86. Attachment members
114
are L-shaped similar to support members
108 except that extensions
116
of members
114 are shorter than extensions
110. Attachment members
114 are positioned on skids
86 to provide a gap generally equal to
the thickness of left and right wall lower engagement members
118 (FIG.
4) with left wall
28 being the mirror image of right wall
30 to permit
lateral extensions
142 to be positioned between extensions
116 and
outer support skids
86.
Left side wall
28 will now be discussed with reference to FIG. 4. As
discussed above, right side wall
30 is the mirror image of left side wall
28. Wall
28 includes top edge
120, front edge
122,
bottom edge
124 and rear edge
126. Front and rear edges
122
and
126 include three L-shaped engagement members
128 attached to
the exterior face
130 of left side wall
28. Engagement members
128
are positioned with extension
132 extending in a direction to lie in spaced
parallel relation with respective edges
122 and
126. Preferably,
members
128 are dimensioned identical to attachment members
114 to
reduce the number of unique hardware components required for manufacture of container
22. Base members
134 of engagement members
128 may be attached
to the exterior face
130 of left side wall
28 attached thereto by
means of screws or bolts
136. Left and right lower engagement members
118
are attached to the interior face
131 (FIG. 12
g) of wall
28
and may also be countersunk into that face. Lower engagement members
118
include lateral extension
142 extending over edge
124 in spaced relation
and contained within respective front and rear edge scallop sections
144.
Extension
142 is generally in coplanar alignment with non-scalloped portions
146 of edge
124 and members
118 are positioned toward the
front sections
144 in the direction of edge
122.
Similarly, upper engagement members
138 are attached to the interior
face
131 (FIG. 12
g) of wall
28 and countersunk into that face.
Lateral extension
140 extends over respective front, middle and rear upper
scalloped portions
148 and is oriented in spaced parallel relation with
the edge of scalloped portions
148 in general coplanar alignment with non-scalloped
portions
150 of edge
120. Engagement members
138 are positioned
adjacent the front portion of middle and rear scalloped members
148, that
is toward front edge
122. Rear scallop portion
148, adjacent to edge
126, is smaller than middle and front scallop portions
148 and engagement
member
138 is oriented generally over rear scalloped portion
148.
Lower engagement members
118 are identical to upper engagement members
138.
Bottom edge
124 includes three indented portions
152 extending
inwardly from non-scalloped portions
146 a distance less than the distance
of indent of scalloped sections
144. Indented portions facilitate sliding
of wall
28 along gap
90 of base
24 without interference from
members
108.
Back side wall
26 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 5 which depicts
the interior face
162 of wall
26 and FIG. 6 which depicts the exterior
face
170 of wall
26. Back side wall
26 includes top edge
152,
left edge
154, right edge
156 and bottom edge
158. Six L-shaped
guide members
160 are attached to the interior face
162 of wall
26
and may be countersunk into face
162. Guide members
160 include lateral
extension
164 extending toward the interior of the container when assembled
in general coplanar alignment with left and right edge
154 and
156.
Left and right edges
154 and
156 include three indented regions
166
which are positioned such that extensions
132 of engagement members
128
(FIG. 4) may extend through indented region
166 when wall
26 is positioned
adjacent rear edge
126 with top edge
152 of wall
26 raised
slightly above top edge
120 of left side
28 and right side
30
(as depicted in FIG. 12
c).
Guide members
160 may be dimensioned identical to attachment member
114 and
128 to further reduce the number of unique components required
to for container
22.
A pair of rear lid engagement members
80 having slots
82 are positioned
adjacent edge
152 and positioned to engage extension section
74 of
lid
32 (FIG. 1) when lid
32 is positioned above cavity
36
to cover top edges
120,
152 and
168 of an assembled container
22. Lower rear wall engagement members
106 are positioned adjacent
bottom edge
158 with slots positioned to engage with extensions
103
of attachment members
105 (FIG. 3) when wall
26 is positioned above
base
88 when container
22 is assembled, as best depicted in FIGS.
12
c and
12e. Preferably, members
80 are identical to
members
106.
Members
80 include indented regions
171 which facilitate movement
of securing sections
70 past top edge
152 on movement of lid
32
in the direction of arrow
56 (FIG. 14
g) from its second position,
depicted in FIG. 14
d to its first position as depicted in FIG. 14
g. Outer
face
170 includes six capsule-shaped indented regions
172 which provide
hand grips for manual manipulation of wall
26 to facilitate assembly and
disassembly of wall
26 when container
22 is assembled or disassembled.
Front wall
34 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 7 which depicts
the interior face
174 of wall
34 and FIG. 8 which depicts the exterior
face
186 of wall
34. Interior face
174 includes six L-shaped
guide members
176 which are dimensioned and positioned in the same manner
as guide members
160 of wall
26 Members
114,
128,
160
and
176 are identical in shape. Wall
34 further includes upper edge
168, left edge
180, right edge
182 and bottom edge
184.
Left and right edges
180 and
182 each include three indented regions
178 in positioned and dimensioned in an identical manner to indented regions
166 of wall
26. This permits extensions
132 on the front edges
122 of left and right side walls
28 and
30 to extend through
indented regions
178 when front wall
34 is positioned adjacent edges
122 when edge
168 is slightly above edge
120 as depicted in
FIG. 13
b. Outer face
186 includes six capsule-shaped indented regions
188 positioned similarly to indented regions
172 of wall
26
for the same purposes as described above with respect to regions
172.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 14
j wall
34 further includes opening
192 extending through wall
34 at an upper and central region of wall
34 adjacent edge
168. Lid securing member
190 is attached
to face
174 to cover opening
192. Member
190 includes base
member
194 extending behind opening
192 connected to perpendicular
extension
196 extending generally over upper indent
198 and upper
part of opening
192 in coplanar alignment with edge
168.
Referring to FIGS. 9
a, 9b, 10 and
14j,
lid securing member
190 is shown in detail. Upper guide
200 and
lower guide
202 are attached to support plate
204 which is attached
to base member
194 to extend into opening
192. Slotted guide
206
is also attached to plate
204 in longitudinal axial alignment with and between
guides
200 and
202. Bolt
208 extends longitudinally between
guides
200 and
202 and is movable along the longitudinal axis of
guides
200 and
202 between a secured position (shown in FIG. 9
a)
and an unsecured position (shown in FIG. 9
b). Bolt
208 includes lateral
extension
210 with knob
212 attached to the outer periphery of extension
210. Extension
210 is positioned in an intermediate region along
bolt
208 such that on rotation of bolt
208 in the secured position,
extension
210 moves between a gap
214 between upper guide
200
and slotted guide
206, as depicted in FIG. 9
a. Referring to FIG.
9
b when bolt
208 is in the unsecured position bolt
208 may
be rotated along with extension
210 within gap
216 between lower
guide
202 and slotted guide
206. Slotted guide further includes slot
218 dimensioned to permit extension
210 to move through slot
218
when bolt
208 is moved between its secured position (FIG. 9
a) and
its non-secured position (FIG. 9
b).
Lower guide
202 includes a pair of opposed openings
221 (FIG.
8) which are aligned with one another and positioned below the bottom
220
of bolt
208 when bolt
208 is in the secured position and extension
210 is rotated so that knob
212 contacts plate
204, as depicted
in FIG. 9
a.
When bolt
208 is in the secured position the upper end
226 extends
through opening
68 in extension section
66.
Lock
222 having C-shaped locking member
224 may be extended through
openings
221 in lower guide
202 to be positioned below bottom
220
to lock bolt
208 in its secured position depicted in FIG. 9
a.
Referring to FIG. 9
b, when bolt
208 is in its unsecured position
extension
210 is positioned within gap
216 and upper end
226
of bolt
208 is positioned below opening
68. This permits extension
section
66 to be moved from slot
227 when lid
32 is moved
in a direction toward back wall
26. When bolt
208 is in the secured
position extending within opening
68 extension section
66 may not
be moved toward back wall
26 and lid
32 may not be moved in a direction
parallel to the lid plane. Furthermore, upwardly directed pressure applied on lid
32 in a first direction away from cavity
36, that is opposite to
the direction of arrow
262 in FIG. 14
d, will cause extension
66
to be raised upwardly until it contacts flange contact surface
228 thereby
preventing further movement of lid
32 in a direction away from cavity
36,
that is in the first direction.
Referring to FIG. 10, bolt
208 is shown in its secured position
with extension section
66 extending through slot
227. As discussed
previously, extension section is connected to connecting section
64 which,
in turn, is connected to securing section
62 rigidly attached to lid
32
and positioned on lid
32 such that extension section
66 extends through
slot
227 when lid
32 covers cavity
36 and upper edges
120,
152 and
168 in the first position of lid
32.
Assembly of Container
The assembly of
22 will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 11
a
through
14m.
Referring initially to FIGS. 11
a, 11b and
11c,
boards
84, skids
86 and base panel
88 are positioned on
a floor or other supporting surface with base panel
88 on top. Front end
230 of panel
88 includes four identical front support members
92
and rear end
232 includes a pair of inner rear support members
98
(FIG. 3) and a pair of outer attachment members
105 (FIG. 3) which can assist
in determining the front end
230 from the back end
232 of base panel
88.
Left side wall
28 is positioned adjacent the left side
234 of
panel
88, the left side identified by facing the front end
230 of
container
22. Panel
28 is lowered in the direction of arrow
77
to a position where non-scalloped portions
146 rest on upper face
87
of left outer support beam
86 within gap
90, as depicted in FIG.
11
d with front edge
122 extending beyond front end
230 of
base
88. Referring to FIGS. 11
b and
11c, lower engagement
members
118 include extension
142 extending in spaced parallel relation
with scallop sections
144. Scallop sections
144 provide sufficient
clearance to permit non-scalloped portions
146 to rest on face
87
without interference from extension
142.
Referring to FIGS. 11
e and
11f, attachment members
114 extend into scalloped regions
144 when wall
28 is positioned
as viewed in FIG. 11
d. Attachment member
114 includes extension
116
which extend in spaced parallel relation over upper face
87 in the region
of gap
90.
Referring to FIGS. 11
g, 11h and
11i, wall
28 is then moved in the direction of arrow
236 rearwardly toward
rear end
232 of base
88. This positions extensions
116 and
142 in engagement with a portion of extension
116 extending over
a portion of extension
142 as depicted in FIG. 11
i. Extensions
110
act to support wall
28 in its positions as depicted in FIGS. 11
d and
11g by sandwiching wall
28 between extension
110 and
left edge
238 of base
88. Wall
28 remains in an upright position
as depicted in FIG. 11
g without further support.
Right side wall
30 is the mirror image of left side wall
28 and
right side of base
88 is a mirror image of the left side of base
88.
Wall
30 is attached to base
88 in the same manner as wall
28
and is depicted in its assembled position in FIG. 12
a.
Referring to FIG. 12
a, wall
30 is shown in position connected
to base
88 and supported in an upright position. As depicted in FIG. 12
a
walls
28 and
30 are positioned in a forward position to enable
sufficient room for back wall
26 to be positioned against rear edges
126
and resting on base
88 without interfering with extensions
103. Back
wall
26 is aligned with rear edges
126 in the direction of arrow
240 in a position where upper edge
152 is slightly higher than upper
edges
120 to enable extensions
132 to pass through corresponding
indented regions
166 so that back wall
26 is positioned against rear
edges
126, as depicted in FIG. 12
c. Extensions
132 are positioned
from edges
126 a distance slightly greater than the width of wall
26.
Referring to FIGS. 12
e and
12f, wall
26 may then be
lowered in the direction of arrow
242 until lower edge
158 rests
on base
88. Upper edge
152 is then positioned the same as upper edges
120. Extensions
103 are then aligned with slots
104, although
extensions
103 are not yet positioned within slots
104. Extensions
132 contact outer face
170 of wall
26 to connect walls
28
and
30 to wall
26.
Referring to FIG. 12
g, wall
26 is then moved in the direction
of arrow
244, wall
30 is moved in the direction of arrow
248
and wall
26 is moved in the direction arrow
246. This causes extension
103 to enter slot
104 until engagement member
106 contacts
the inner face of extension connector
252. Face
170 is then generally
in coplanar alignment with rear edge
254 of base
88. Face
170
is also contacted by extensions
96 to prevent further movement of wall
26
in the direction of arrow
246 and to support wall
26 on base
88.
Referring to FIGS. 13
a and
13b, front wall
34
is positioned against front edges
122 of walls
28 and
30 by
aligning wall
34 so that extensions
132 pass through indented regions
178 and moving wall
34 in the direction of arrow
256. Wall
34 is positioned with securing member
190 facing outwardly. Upper
edge
168 is thereby positioned above upper edges
120 in a manner
similar to that of back wall
26.
Referring to FIG. 13
c, wall
34 may then be lowered in the
direction of arrow
258 until lower edge
184 rests on base
88
supported adjacent edge
184 by extensions
96 of support members
92.
Extensions
132 contact outer face
250 of wall
34 to secure
wall
34 against edges
122. When in the position depicted in FIG.
13
c, upper edges
152, side edges
120 and front edge
168
are in coplanar alignment.
Referring to FIG. 14
a, lid
32 is then positioned above walls
26,
28,
30 and
34. Lid
32 is positioned such
that extension section
66 is positioned adjacent front wall
34 and
lid rear engagement members
54 are positioned adjacent back wall
26.
Referring to FIG. 14
d, lid
32 is lowered in the direction
of arrow
262 into the second position until it rests on edges
120
of walls
28 and
30 and edge
152 of wall
26 in an offset
manner with an opening
264 into cavity
36 adjacent front wall
34.
Reinforcement members
42 are positioned within cavity
36 (see FIG.
1) and extension sections
74 are positioned adjacent to outer face
170
of wall
26. In this offset or second position extension members
74
are positioned within scalloped portion
148 to permit lid
32 to rest
on edges
120 and
152. Note, as depicted in FIG. 6, that the ends
of the upper edge
152 are indented at indented region
260 which provides
clearance for extension sections
74 to be moved over wall
26 if necessary
to properly position rear reinforcement member
42 against inner face
162
of wall
26 (FIG. 13
a). As well, in that offset position extension
members
74 adjacent left and right edges
44 and
46 are positioned
within scalloped portions
148 of edges
120.
Referring to FIGS. 14
g through
14m, lid
32
is then moved in the direction of arrow
56 to its first position, that is
until front edge
50 overlies upper edge
168 in coplanar alignment
with face
174. This movement causes extension sections
74 adjacent
rear edge
48 to move into slots
82 and also extension members
74
on left and right edges
44 and
46 to engage lateral extensions
140
as depicted in FIG. 14
i. Movement of lid
32 in the direction of arrow
56 also moves extension section
66 into slot
227 with opening
68 in alignment with bolt
208. This is depicted in greater detail
in FIGS. 9
a, 9b and
14j. Members
80 include
indented regions
171 which facilitate movement of securing sections
70
past top edge
152 on movement of lid
32 in the direction of arrow
56 (FIG. 14
g) to the first position.
Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9
b, bolt
208 is moved upwardly through
opening
68 and bolt
208 rotated so that lateral extension
210
rests on slotted guide
206, as depicted in FIG. 9
a to secure bolt
208 in opening
68 in its secured position. If it is desired to lock
lid
32 in place, locking mechanism
224 of lock
222 may be
extended through opening
221 below bottom
220. This locks lid
32
to walls
26,
28,
30 and
34.
Wall
34 is rigidly secured to lid
32 by means of bolt
208
through hole
68 preventing movement of lid
32 in a direction opposite
to that of arrow
56. Upward movement of lid
32 in the first direction
(that is opposite to the direction of arrow
262 of FIG. 14
d) is also
prevented by extension section
66 contacting flange contact surface
228
(FIGS. 9
a, 9b and
10). Lid
32 is secured to
sides
28 and
30 by extension
140 secured against extension
74 as depicted in FIG. 14
i. Lid
32 is rigidly secured to back
wall
26 by means of extension sections
74 adjacent rear edge
48
extending into slots
82. As well, as discussed above, base
88 is
rigidly attached to walls
26,
28,
30 and
34. Walls
28 and
30 are attached to base
88 by means of extensions
116
contacting extensions
142. Wall
26 is connected to base
88
by means of extensions
103 extending into slots
104. Front wall
34
is connected to base
88, and upward movement of wall
34 prevented
by lid
32 being rigidly secured to edges
120,
152 and
168
and as walls
26,
28 and
30 are rigidly connected to base
88.
In order to disassemble container
22, the above steps are repeated in
reverse order.
*
