Title: Collapsible storage or shipping box
Abstract: A collapsible shipping/storage box has a rectangular floor, a pair of parallel side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor, and a pair of parallel end walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor between the side walls and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor. A rigid annular top frame has side members at upper edges of the side walls and end members at upper edges of the end walls. Respective pivots or hinges are provided between the upper edges of the side walls and the side members. Latches secure the upper edges of the end walls to the end members only in the erect positions of the end walls.
Patent Number: 6,913,161 Issued on 07/05/2005 to Schäfer
| Inventors:
|
Schäfer; Gerhard (Neunkirchen, DE)
|
| Assignee:
|
Fritz Schafer GmbH (Neunkirchen, DE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
677812 |
| Filed:
|
October 2, 2003 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Feb 01, 2003[DE] | 203 01 545 U |
| Current U.S. Class: |
220/6; 220/7; 220/4.28 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B65D 008/14 |
| Field of Search: |
220/6,7,15,428,433,434,429,642,646,650,666,669,729,315,345.1,345.2,345.4,351,268,266
217/14,15,46
229/117.07,198.1
206/300,15
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 1488418 | Mar., 1924 | Frederick.
| |
| 3796342 | Mar., 1974 | Sanders et al.
| |
| 3870185 | Mar., 1975 | Sanders et al.
| |
| 4062467 | Dec., 1977 | Friedrich.
| |
| 4804082 | Feb., 1989 | Stein.
| |
| 4863056 | Sep., 1989 | Inayama.
| |
| 4913302 | Apr., 1990 | Stonier.
| |
| 5038953 | Aug., 1991 | Radar.
| |
| 5064068 | Nov., 1991 | Sheng.
| |
| 5429261 | Jul., 1995 | Machino.
| |
| 6230916 | May., 2001 | Bradford et al.
| |
| 6364096 | Apr., 2002 | De Baets et al.
| |
| 6467843 | Oct., 2002 | Rossborough.
| |
| 6616003 | Sep., 2003 | Polenta.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 05319032 | Dec., 1993 | JP.
| |
| 06024440 | Feb., 1994 | JP.
| |
| 06247445 | Sep., 1994 | JP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Castellano; Stephen
Assistant Examiner: Grosso; Harry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dubno; Herbert, Wilford; Andrew
Claims
1. A collapsible shipping/storage box comprising:
a rectangular floor;
a pair of parallel side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and movable
between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions
close to and generally parallel with the floor;
a pair of parallel end walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor between
the side walls and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor
and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor;
a rigid annular top frame having side members at upper edges of the side walls
and end members at upper edges of the end walls;
respective pivots between the upper edges of the side walls and the side members;
means for latching securing the upper edges of the end walls to the end member
only in the erect positions of the end walls, the means for latching including
projections extending from the upper edges of the end walls and each formed with
a hole,
respective horizontally projecting tubularly hollow pins on the end members of
the top frame fittable in the holes in the erect positions of the end walls, and
seats formed in end members of the top frame, complementary to the projections,
and receiving the projections in the erect position.
2. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 1, further comprising
a cover overlying the top frame; and
formations releasably securing the cover to the top frame.
3. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 2 wherein the formations
include L-shaped lugs on the cover and respective seats formed in the top frame,
the cover and lugs being movable longitudinally between a holding position with
the lugs hooked by the lugs to the top frame and the cover fitting snugly on the
top frame and an offset position with the lugs displaceable into and out of the
seats and the cover partially offset from the top frame.
4. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 3 wherein the cover
has weakened tamper-indicating regions at which the lugs are attached to the cover.
5. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 1 wherein the holes
have beveled edges.
6. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 1 wherein the pivots
include upwardly projecting pivot tabs on the upper edges of the side walls and
downwardly open seats in which the tabs are pivoted on the side members of the
top frame.
7. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 1 wherein the side walls
each include a top panel having the respective upper edge and a bottom panel hinged
to the floor, each top panel also having a lower edge hinged to an upper edge of
the respective bottom panel.
8. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 4 wherein the pivots
include upwardly projecting pivot tabs on the upper edges of the side walls and
downwardly open seats in which the tabs are pivoted on the side members of the
top frame.
9. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 4 wherein the side walls
each include a top panel having the respective upper edge and a bottom panel hinged
to the floor, each top panel also having a lower edge hinged to an upper edge of
the respective bottom panel.
10. A collapsible shipping/storage box comprising:
a rectangular floors;
a pair of parallel side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and movable
between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions
close to and generally parallel with the floor;
a pair of parallel end walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor between
the side walls and movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor
and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with the floor;
a rigid annular top frame having side members at upper edges of the side walls
and end members at upper edges of the end walls;
respective pivots between the upper edges of the side walls and the side members;
means for latching securing the upper edges of the end walls to the end members
only in the erect positions of the end walls, the means for latching including
inwardly open projections extending from the upper edges of the end walls and
each formed with a hole,
respective horizontally projecting pins on the end members of the toy frame fittable
in the holes in the erect positions of the end walls, and
seats formed in end members of the top frame, complementary to the projections,
and receiving the projections in the erect position.
11. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 10 wherein the seats
are downwardly open.
12. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 10 further comprising
a cover overlying the top frame; and
formations releasably securing the cover to the top frame.
13. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 12 wherein the formations
include L-shaped lugs on the cover and respective seats formed in the top frame,
the cover and lugs being movable longitudinally between a holding position with
the lugs hooked by the lugs to the top frame and the cover fitting snugly on the
top frame and an offset position with the lugs displaceable into and out of the
seats and the cover partially offset from the top frame.
14. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 10 wherein the pivots
include upwardly projecting pivot tabs on the upper edges of the side walls and
downwardly open seats in which the tabs are pivoted on the side members of the
top frame.
15. The collapsible shipping/storage box defined in claim 10 wherein the side
walls each include a top panel having the respective upper edge and a bottom panel
hinged to the floor, each top panel also having a lower edge hinged to an upper
edge of the respective bottom panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage or shipping box. More particularly
this invention concerns such a box that can be collapsed when not in use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A standard storage/shipping box as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,467 has a
rectangular
floor, a pair of parallel side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and
movable between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed
positions close to and generally parallel with the floor, and a pair of parallel
end walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor between the side walls and movable
between erect positions projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions
close to and generally parallel with the floor. When erected the side and end walls
fit together to form a fairly stable upwardly open box that can be provided with
a removable cover. The pivots of the side and end walls are offset so that, for
example, the end walls can be folded in to lie flatly atop the top face of the
floor and the side walls can then be folded into lie flatly atop the folded-in
end walls, forming a very compact package that can be sent back to the supplier
for reuse.
In German utility model 92 03 114 based on French patent 2,673,910 of A. Triadu
the side walls each include a bottom panel hinged to the floor and a top panel
having a lower edge hinged to an upper edge of the respective bottom panel. Thus
the side walls can be collapsed inward, making it possible for the box to be elongated
parallel to the side walls and of a height greater than its width.
The problem with both of these boxes is that they are not strong enough. When
stacked it is possible, if one of the walls is tipped, for the box to collapse
and damage its contents. Furthermore, lifting the box by hand holes, normally in
the end walls, means the entire weight of the box and its contents are borne by
the hinges connecting the end walls to the floor of the box. Finally such boxes
are often difficult to move between the set-up condition in which they can hold
objects to be shipped or stored, and the collapsed condition in which they are
shipped or stored when empty. Another disadvantage of the known boxes is that,
when equipped with a cover, they can still be opened and closed without leaving
any evidence of such tampering.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible
storage/shipping box.
Another object is the provision of such an improved collapsible storage/shipping
box which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which is easy to set
up and collapse, yet which is very strong and stable when set up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A collapsible shipping/storage box has a rectangular floor, a pair of parallel
side walls having lower edges pivoted on the floor and movable between erect positions
projecting upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally
parallel with the floor, and a pair of parallel end walls having lower edges pivoted
on the floor between the side walls and movable between erect positions projecting
upward from the floor and collapsed positions close to and generally parallel with
the floor. In accordance with the invention a rigid annular top frame has side
members at upper edges of the side walls and end members at upper edges of the
end walls. Respective pivots or hinges are provided between the upper edges of
the side walls and the side members. Latches secure the upper edges of the end
walls to the end members only in the erect positions of the end walls.
Such a top frame greatly stabilizes the box since it is connected both to the
side and end walls. The connection to the end walls via the latches is only effective
when the box is erected, but then it ensures that, if for instance the box is lifted
by hand holes in the top frame, force is transmitted between the top frame and
the box floor via all four of the box walls. When the box is collapsed, the top
frame sits on the folded-in side and end walls.
According to the invention a cover overlies the top frame, and formations
releasably securing the cover to the top frame. These formations include L-shaped
lugs on the cover and respective seats formed in the top frame. The cover and lugs
are movable longitudinally between a holding position with the lugs hooked by the
lugs to the top frame and the cover fitting snugly on the top frame and an offset
position with the lugs displaceable into and out of the seats and the cover partially
offset from the top frame. Thus the cover clips itself to the top frame which is,
according to the invention, one piece so that the cover is solidly mounted in place.
The cover has weakened tamper-indicating regions at which the lugs are attached
to the cover. Thus if the cover is pried open, the lugs will break and leave obvious
evidence of tampering.
The latches include projections extending from the upper edges of the end walls
and each formed with a hole and respective horizontally projecting pins on the
end members of the top frame fittable in the holes in the erect positions of the
end walls. Thus the pins automatically fit into the holes when the end walls are
erected, making setting-up of the box a very simple process. The end members of
the top frame are formed with seats complementary to the projections and receiving
the projections in the erect position. To facilitate fitting of the pins to the
holes, the holes have beveled edges. The pins are tubularly hollow and each of
the projections is inwardly open and the seats are inwardly and downwardly open.
The pivots in accordance with the invention include upwardly projecting pivot
tabs on the upper edges of the side walls and downwardly open seats in which the
tabs are pivoted on the side members of the top frame. These tabs can be dove-tail
or T-shaped and their seats are complementary, so that a solid load-bearing pivot
connection is formed between each side wall and the respective side member of the
top frame. The side walls each include a top panel having the respective upper
edge and a bottom panel hinged to the floor, and each top panel also has a lower
edge hinged to an upper edge of the respective bottom panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily
apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying
drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box according to the invention in erected
condition with its cover installed;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box with its cover removed;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the box with its cover and top frame removed;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the box with its cover removed and its end walls
folded down;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box without its cover cover and partly collapsed;
FIG. 6 is a view like FIG. 5 but with the box completely collapsed;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail views from inside and outside of portions of the end walls;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the top frame;
FIG. 10 is a detail view from inside of the top frame;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are detail views from inside and outside of an upper corner
of the box as in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 13 is a perspective view from underneath of the box cover.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
As seen in FIGS. 1 through 6 a box
1 according to the invention basically
comprises a rectangular floor or base panel
2, a pair of short and parallel
end walls
3, a pair of long and parallel side walls
4 each formed
by a top panel
4a and a bottom panel
4b hinged together
at
9, a rigid and one-piece top frame.
10, and a cover
5.
All these parts are made of rigid molded plastic. The floor
2 is surrounded
by a rectangular bottom frame
8 of the same size and overall shape as the
top frame
10. The end walls
3 are hinged at
6 and the side
walls
4 at
7 on they bottom frame
8, the pivot axis of the
hinges
6 being below that of the hinges
7. The panels
4a
and
4b are hinged together at
9 so that they can be folded
in half and collapsed inward.
The upper side panels
4a have upper edges
11 provided with
upwardly projecting dovetail or T-shaped formations
12 fitting in complementary
formations or seats
13 of the long side members of the frame
10.
The pivot formations
12 and
13 permit the panels
4a to
swing through
90′ relative to the frame
10 while remaining
solidly fixed to the frame
10.
As shown in FIGS. 7 through 11, latches
14 between the end walls
8
and end members of the frame
10 are comprised of upwardly extending and
inwardly open U-shaped projections
17 on the upper edges of the end walls
3 and inwardly open and outwardly closed complementary seats
15 of
the frame
10. In addition the frame
10 is formed at each of the seats
15 with an inwardly projecting tubular latch pin
16 that engages
in a respective horizontally throughgoing hole
18 in the respective projection
17, the holes
18 being beveled at
19 to allow easy fitting
of the pins
16 to them. Furthermore upwardly projecting ribs
17a
on the upper edges of the end walls
3 can snap into unillustrated downwardly
open seats of the frame
10.
When the pins
16 are fitted to the holes
18, the top frame
10
is locked to the end walls
3 also, so that the entire box
1 can be
lifted by the top frame
10 with force being transmitted to all the walls
3 and
4. The end walls
3 fit between the side walls
4
in the erected position of FIGS. 1-3 so that when they are raised they prevent
inward buckling of the side walls
4 at the hinges
9 and make the
erect box very strong.
It is possible to collapse the box
1 by first pivoting the end walls
3
inwardly on their hinges
6 from the FIG. 2 position to the FIG. 4 position
in which they lie on the floor
2. Then the side walls
4 are folded
inward by pushing in their centers at the hinges
9 as shown by FIG. 5, thereby
dropping the frame
10, until it sits atop the frame
8 as shown in
FIG.
6.
The box
1 is erected by opposite action. Starting from the position of
FIG. 6, the top frame
10 is lifted through the position of FIG. 5 until
each of the panels
4a is coplanar with the respective panel
4b.
Then the end walls
3 are swung up between the side walls
4. This
action snaps the ribs
17a into the frame
10 and fits the pins
16 into the holes
18, locking the frame
10 vertically to the
end walls
3.
The cover
5 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is basically rectangular and formed
around its two long edges with downwardly projecting L-shaped lugs
22 engageable
through holes
20 in an upper edge
21 of the top frame
10.
Once the lugs
22 are engaged through these holes
20, the entire cover
5 can be shifted longitudinally, that is parallel to the side walls
4,
slightly so as to lock the lugs
22 to the frame
10 and align the
cover congruently on the top frame
10. The lugs
22 are attached at
weakened tamper-indicating regions
23 to the cover
5 so that, if
the cover
5 is forcibly pried up away from the frame
10, the lugs
22 will break off and offer unmistakable proof of tampering. Thus the cover
5, once it is fitted in place, need merely be secured by a padlock, seal,
or even a tape prohibiting it from sliding longitudinally on the frame
10
to effectively close the box
1 and make it impossible to open without leaving proof.
*
