Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOLDABLE CRATE
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
The present disclosure concerns collapsible crates.
BACKGROUND ART
References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed
subject matter are listed below:
- US 7,861,878
- US 8,511,506
- US 9,016,492
- US 9,540,138
Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as
meaning
that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently
disclosed subject
matter.
BACKGROUND
US 7,861,878 discloses a fastening device for folding boxes, the folding boxes
including a bottom and four lateral walls coupled in jointed fashion to the
edges of that
bottom, two opposite walls having each fastening devices for ensuring the
unfolding of
the box, the device in general including a vertically displaceable central
piece and some
lateral bolts with horizontal displacement for fastening the lateral walls via
their adjacent
edges. The folding device includes elastic spring elements which link the
central control
piece with the pairs of bolts, at the same time, the spring elements, in the
rest position,
maintain the bolts in the engagement and fastening position of the bolts,
while for the
release position of the bolts the spring elements pull the bolts towards the
release position
against the resistance of the elastic elements.
US 8,511,506 a transport case 1 with hinged side parts made of plastic is
provided,
whereby the height of the hinged side parts is greater than centimeters or the
permissible
load of the transport case is greater than 16 kg, and wicket-shaped hollow
stiffening strips
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are present in the hinged side parts. The stiffening strips formed by
injection of liquid
have a surface roughness that is less than 10 micrometers.
US 9,016,492 discloses a crate includes a bottom, two end walls, and two side
walls. The end walls and the side walls are configured to be foldable with
respect to the
bottom. The end walls and the side walls comprise respective latch elements
engaging
with each other to form a latch when the end walls and the side walls are in
the unfolded
state. A latch release mechanism is provided at the respective end walls or at
the
respective side walls, wherein the latch release mechanism and/or the latch
elements on
the respective walls are configured to be movable so as to extend at least
partly above an
upper edge of the crate for releasing the latch.
US 9,540,138 relates to a plastic collapsible storage and transport container
comprising a bottom part with four collapsible sidewalls arranged in an
articulated
manner on the bottom part. Two opposing first sidewalls can be detachably
engaged with
the two other opposing second sidewalls The container also comprises a cover
and means
for sealing the cover to the container in a fixed manner. The bottom part
formed by a
bottom frame and a bottom plate comprises at least two inwardly open and
outwardly
closed recesses along each frame side, said recesses having lateral boreholes
extending
parallel to the frame sides of the bottom frame. Said recesses are used to
receive molded
parts formed on the first and second sidewalls, provided with lugs extending
parallel to
the lower edges of the sidewalls. Said lugs can be inserted into the lateral
boreholes of
the recess and rotated therein in such a way that they form a hinge-type
connection
between the bottom part and the sidewalls. The cover is formed by two cover
halves
connected to opposite sidewalls of the container by means of cover hinges.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
According to the present disclosure there is provided a collapsible crate
comprising a base member, a front wall pivotally articulated along a bottom
edge thereof
to a front edge of the base member, a back wall pivotally articulated along a
bottom edge
thereof to a back edge of the base member, a first side wall pivotally
articulated along a
bottom edge thereof to a first side edge of the base member and a second side
wall
pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a second side edge of the
base
member; and a locking mechanism disposed at a top portion of each of the side
walls,
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configured for arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and neighboring
side edges
of the front wall and back wall, respectively; said crate configurable between
an erect
position at which the four walls are disposed upright, and a collapsed
position at which
the four walls are disposed parallel over the base member.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a
collapsible crate comprising a base member, a first side wall pivotally
articulated along a
bottom edge thereof to a first side edge of the base member, and a second side
wall, facing
the first side wall, and pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to
a second side
edge of the base member; a front wall pivotally articulated along a bottom
edge thereof
to a top edge of a raised front segment extending at front edge of the base
member, and a
back wall, facing the front wall, and pivotally articulated along a bottom
edge thereof to
a top edge of a raised back segment extending at back edge of the base member;
and a
locking mechanism disposed at a top portion of each of the side walls,
configured for
arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and neighboring side edges of
the front
wall and back wall, respectively; said crate configurable between an erect
position at
which the four walls are disposed upright, and a collapsed position at which
the four walls
are disposed parallel over the base member.
The terms 'side wall', !front wall' and 'back wall' are used for sake of
convenience
only, and it is appreciated that the side walls can constitute the front wall
and back wall,
respectively, and vice versa, mutatis mutandis.
According to a particular configuration of the disclosure, the locking
mechanism
comprises a locking bar pivotally along its longitudinal axis and extending
within a
locking bar receiving groove disposed across a top portion of a side wall; the
locking bar
comprising at each end a radially projecting locking tab extending beyond a
side edge
portion of the side wall, and a locking bar manipulation portion for rotatably
manipulating
the locking bar about a longitudinal axis thereof, between a locked position
and an
unlocked position;
each of the front wall and the back wall comprises at a top side edge portion
a
locking tab arresting portion configured with locking tab path and a locking
tab
obstruction arrangement, wherein at an erect position an opening of the
locking tab path
extends opposite the locking tab;
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and wherein at the locked position the locking tab is obstructed and prevented
from displacing through opening of the locking tab path, and at the unlocked
position the
locking tab is free to displace through the opening of the locking tab path.
Any one or more of the following features, designs and configuration can be
applied to any one or more of the aspects and embodiments of the present
disclosure,
separately or in various combinations thereof:
= The side walls are of equal height, and the front wall is shorter than
the
back wall, however wherein at the erect position the four walls extend to the
same
height, with an equally leveled, coextending, continuous top edge;
= At the erect position the top edge of the side walls and the front wall
and
the back wall coextend;
= At an erect position the side walls are disposed between the back wall
and
the front wall;
= The raised back segment can be higher than the raised front segment,
= The thickness of the base member plus thickness of a side wall plus
thickness of the back wall plus thickness of the front wall can equal the
height of
raised back segment,
= The thickness of base member plus thickness of a side wall plus thickness
of front wall can equal the height of the raised front segment;
= The raised front segment can have the same height as the raised back
segment, wherein the height of the front wall plus the height of the back wall
is
equal or lesser than width of side walls,
= At the collapsed position the first side wall and second side wall can be
disposed coplanar over the base member,
= At the collapsed position the back wall and the front wall can overlay
each
other and overlay the side walls;
= At the collapsed position the back wall and the front wall can be
disposed
coplanar over the side walls, wherein height of front wall plus the height of
back
wall is equal or lesser than width of side walls,
= The front side wall is shorter than the back side wall and the raised
front
segment is longer than the raised back segment;
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= The height of the front side wall plus the height of the raised front
segment
is equal to the height of the back wall plus the height of the raised back
segment;
= The crate can have a rectangle shape;
= The crate can be made of molded plastic material;
= The width of the crate can be equal or greater than double the height of
a
side wall;
= The crate can be stacked over like crates at an erect position and at a
collapsed position;
= A carrying handle can be disposed at a top portion of at least a pair of
opposing walls;
= Side edges of the front wall and the back wall can be configured with a
longitudinal lip, whereby at the erect position the longitudinal lips overlap
over a
neighboring side edge of a neighboring side wall;
= A cross section of the locking tab has a first axis and a second axis
intersecting said first axis, wherein the first axis is longer than the second
axis,
and wherein at the locked position said second axis faces the opening of the
locking tab path (i.e., along the locking tab path) and at the unlocked
position said
second axis faces the opening of the locking tab path;
= The first axis is disposed at about 900 with respect to said second axis;
= The manipulation portion of the locking bar is a handle-like portion
laterally extending from the bar and disposed external to an outside surface
of the
side wall;
= At the locked position said handle-like portion extends substantially
flush
against the outside surface of the side wall;
= Said handle-like portion can be configured with a gripping portion,
wherein at the locked position said gripping portion extends within a carrying
handle opening of the crate;
= At the locked position the locking bar can be arrested, to thereby
prevent
unintentional displacement from the locked position;
= The locking bar can be arrested at the locked position by a snap-lock
arrangement;
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= The snap-lock arrangement can be configured between the handle-like
portion and the carrying handle opening of the crate;
= At the unlocked position said handle-like portion projects laterally from
the outside surface of the side wall;
= The locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises at least one locking
tab obstructing member projecting into the locking tab path;
= The locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises a first locking tab
obstructing member and a second locking tab obstructing member, facing one
another;
= An entrance into the locking tab path can be configured with one or more
gliding surfaces to facilitate smooth displacement of the locking tab into the
locking tab arresting portion;
= The diameter of the locking bar can be less than the width of the opening
of the locking tab path;
= The width of the locking tab can be similar or lesser than a diameter of
the
locking bar;
= The length of the locking tab along the first axis can be greater than
the
height of the arresting portion;
= Portions of the locking bar can be configured with a round cross section;
= The locking bar can be snapingly received within the locking bar
receiving
groove at the top portion of the side wall;
= At the locked position the manipulation portion of the locking bar can
merge with a portion of the carrying handle, whereby it facilitates for
carrying the
crate;
= The locking bar is configured for simultaneous locking a side wall with
the neighboring back wall and front wall;
= An interconnecting arrangement can be configured between the side edges
of the two side walls, and the respective neighboring side edges of the back
wall
and front wall.
= The interconnecting arrangement can be a plurality of lateral L-shaped
projections from edges of the side walls, outwardly facing, and configured for
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arresting within respective openings disposed along side edges of the
back/front
walls upon displacing the respective side wall into an erect position;
= The side edges of the back wall and the front wall can be configured with
a longitudinal laterally projecting edge, wherein at the erect position said
edge
bears over an edge portion of the neighboring side wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and
to
exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be
described, by
way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in
which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a crate according to an example of the
disclosure,
at an erect position;
Fig. 2A is a section along line 2A ¨ 2A in Fig. 1;
Fig. 2B is a section along line 2B ¨ 2B in Fig. 1;
Fig. 2C is a local section along line 2C ¨ 2C in Fig. 2A, illustrating a hinge
coupling of the first side wall at an erect position;
Fig. 2D is a local section along line 2D ¨ 2D in Fig. 2A, illustrating a hinge
coupling of the back wall at an erect position;
Fig. 2E is a local section same as Fig. 2C, however at a collapsed position;
Fig. 2F is a local section same as Fig. 2D, however at a collapsed position;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion marked 3 in Fig. 2A, with a back
wall of
the crate removed for sake of clarification;
Fig. 4A is a left side perspective view of the crate of Fig. 1, however with a
front
wall and a left side wall removed;
Fig. 4B is an enlargement of a top right corner of the back wall, illustrating
a
locking tab arresting portion according to an example of the disclosure;
Figs. 5A-5B are a front (inside) perspective view and a rear (outside)
perspective
view, respectively, of a locking bar according to an example of the
disclosure;
Fig. 6A is an enlarged outside corner view, of the portion marked 6A in Fig.
1;
Fig. 6B is an inside corner view, in direction of arrow Z in Fig. 4A,
illustrating
the locking mechanism at a locked position thereof;
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Fig. 6C is a section along line 6C ¨ 6C in Fig. 6A, illustrating the locking
mechanism at a locked position thereof;
Fig. 6D is an exploded view of the portion seen in Fig. 6A;
Fig. 6E is a local section along line 6E ¨ 6E;
Figs. 7A-7B correspond with Figs. 6B and 6C, respectively, however
illustrating
the locking mechanism at an unlocked position thereof;
Fig. 8A illustrates a right-side portion of the crate of Fig. 1, with the
front wall
and back wall removed, and the locking bar at an unlocked position;
Fig. 8B is a section along line 8B ¨ 8B in Fig. 8A, with a base member of the
crate
removed;
Fig. 8C is an enlargement of the portion marked 8C in Fig. 8B;
Fig. 9A illustrates the crate of Fig. 1, at a fully collapsed position;
Fig. 9B is a section along line 9B ¨ 9B in Fig. 9A;
Fig. 9C is a planar view of Fig. 9B;
Fig. 9D is a section along line 9D ¨ 9D in Fig. 9A;
Fig. 9E is a planar view of Fig. 9D;
Figs. 10A-10C are consecutive steps illustrating displacing the locking bar
between a locked position and an unlocked position; and
Figs. 11A-11F are consecutive steps illustrating collapsing a crate according
to
the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Attention is first directed to Figs. 1-4A, directed to a collapsible crate
according
to an example of the present disclosure, said crate generally designated 10.
The crate 10
has a rectangle shape and its components are made of molded plastic material.
The crate 10 comprises a base member 12 with four side walls articulated
thereto
and upwardly extending therefrom at an erect position - namely, a first
(right) side wall
14, a second (left) side wall 16, a back wall 18 and a front wall 20.
Integrally extending at a back edge of the base member 12 there is a raised
back
segment 24 of height Sb, and integrally extending at a front edge of the base
member 12
there is a raised front segment 26, wherein the raised back segment 24 is
higher than the
raised front segment 26 of height Sf (Sb > Sf), as will be discussed
hereinafter.
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As can be seen, best in Figs. 2C and 2E, the side walls 14, 16 are pivotally
articulated with base member 12 along a side edge of the base member 12,
through hinge
portions 28 integral with a bottom edge of the side walls 14 and 16, and hinge
portions
30 integral with side edges of the base member 12, thus omitting an axle type
hinge,
though other hinging arrangements are possible (not shown). Likewise, and as
best seen
in Figs. 2D and 2F, the back wall 18 is pivotally articulated along a top edge
of the raised
back segment 24 through hinge portions 34 integral with a bottom edge of the
back wall,
and hinge portions 35 integral with side edges of the raised back segment 24.
The front
wall 20 (best seen in Fig. 9A) is pivotally articulated along a top edge of
the raised back
segment 26 through hinge portions 36. The embracing hinge portions 28 and 34
are open,
whereby the respective walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 can be detached from the base
member
12.
As can further be seen in Figs. 2D and 2F, the hinge arrangement of the back
wall
18 and the front wall 20 is such that at the erect position a bottom, outside
facing inverted
L-shape portion 40 of the back/front wall 18, 20 bears over an upright
shoulder portion
42 extending from the raised back segment 24. This arrangement supports the
walls 18
and 20 at an upright position and prevents their pivotal displacement over 90
.
It is noted that the side walls 14 and 16 are of equal length, and the front
wall 20
is shorter than the back wall 18, however wherein at an erect position the
four walls extend
to the same height, with an equally leveled, coextending, continuous top edge
19.
Accordingly, and as can be seen in Fig. 2B, the height difference between the
height hb
of back wall 18 and height lir of the front wall 20 is equal to the difference
between height
Sb of the raised back segment 24 and height Si of the raised front segment 26
(hb-hf=Sb-
St).
Each of the four walls is configured with an opening 33, serving as a carrying
handle for transporting the crate.
Attention is now directed to Figs. 6A, 6D, 6E and 8A, illustrating an
interconnecting arrangement between the side edges 45 of the two side walls 14
and 16,
and the respective neighboring side edges 47 of the back wall 18 and front
wall 20.
Accordingly, the side edges 45 are configured with lateral L-shaped
projections 48,
outwardly facing, and configured for arresting within respective openings 50
disposed
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along side edges 47 upon displacing the respective side wall into an erect
position, as will
be discussed hereinafter.
Also noted (best Figs. 6A, 6C-6E and 7B), side edges 47 of the back wall 18
and
the front wall 20 are configured with a longitudinal laterally projecting edge
54, wherein
at the erect position said edge 54 bears over an edge portion 45 of the
neighboring side
wall.
As mentioned hereinabove, the four walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 are pivotally
articulated to respective portions of the base member 12, wherein said walls
are
displaceable between an erect position (Figs. 1 to 4A and 10A to 10C), and a
fully
collapsed position (Figs. 9A to 9E and 11F).
For retaining the crate 10 at an erect, stable position, a locking mechanism
is
provided and configured for arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and
neighboring side edges of the front wall and back wall, respectively.
Accordingly there is
provided a locking bar 60 (seen isolated in Figs. 5A and 5B) comprising
cylindrical
portions 67 snapingly received within a locking bar receiving groove 65
disposed across
a top portion of each of the side walls 14 and 16. The locking bar 60
comprises at each
end thereof a radially projecting locking tab 66, extending beyond a side edge
portion 45
of the side wall 14, 16, and a handle-shaped locking bar manipulation portion
68 for
rotatably manipulating the locking bar about a longitudinal axis thereof,
between a locked
position and an unlocked position. The locking tab 66 has a first axis Xi and
a second
axis X2 (Figs. 5A, 5B, 6C and 7B) intersecting said first axis Xi, wherein the
first axis is
longer than the second axis (Xi > X2). The locking bar 60 is rotatable over
the longitudinal
axis about at least 90 between a locked position, and an unlocked position,
as will be
discussed hereinafter.
Respectively configured at a top side edge portion 47 of each of the back wall
18
and the front wall 20 there is a locking tab arresting portion 70 configured
with locking
tab path (along arrow 72) and a locking tab obstruction arrangement, namely a
top wall
obstruction 76 and a bottom ridge 78, with gliding surfaces 82 to facilitate
smooth
displacement of the locking tab 66 into the locking tab arresting portion 70.
The distance
D at the locking tab path between the obstruction members 76 and 78 is greater
than the
length of X2, though lesser than the length of axis Xi (X2 >D> Xi).
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The arrangement is such that at an erect position an opening of the locking
tab
path 72 extends opposite the locking tab 66 and wherein at the unlocked
position (Figs.
7A and 7B) the locking tab 66 is disposed horizontally, i.e., the first axis
Xi is disposed
horizontally, wherein the locking tab 66 is free to displace along the locking
path 72
through the opening and into the locking tab arresting portion 70. However, at
the locked
position (Figs. 6B and 6C) said first axis Xi of the locking tab 66 intersects
the locking
tab path 72, wherein once received within the locking tab arresting portion 70
the locking
tab 66 is prevented from displacement away as it is obstructed by the
obstruction members
76 and 78.
Furthermore, the locking bar 60 can be arrested at the locked position by a
snap-
lock arrangement comprising ridges 83, 85 (at the manipulation handle portion
68) and
87, snapingly arrestable by corresponding ridges at the side wall for distinct
displacement
of the locking bar 60, and wherein the ridge 85 is arrested within the opening
33 (carrying
handle) by lip 89 thereof (Fig. 3), for arresting the locking bar 60 at the
locked position.
Noticeably, at the locked position the manipulation handle portion 68 of
locking bar 60
merges within the opening 33 of the side wall, such that it constitutes part
of the carrying
handle when the crate is displaced.
Figs. 9A to 9E illustrate the crate 10 according to the present disclosure at
a
collapsed position, wherein the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 16
are disposed
coplanar and flush over a top face 13 of base member 12, the front wall 20
resting flat
and flush over the side walls 14 and 16, and the back wall 18 resting flat and
flush over a
portion of the front wall 20, wherein the walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 and the base
12 are
partially disposed.
If, however, the height of front wall plus the height of back wall would be
equal
to or less than the width of the side walls (not shown) than the front wall
and back wall
could extend coplanar over the side walls 14 and 16, at the collapsed
position.
It is seen that thickness of the base member 12 plus thickness of a side wall
14,
16 plus the thickness of the back wall 18 plus thickness of the front wall 20
is equal to
the height Si) of raised back segment 24, and the thickness of base member 12
plus the
thickness of a side wall 14, 16 plus thickness of the front wall 20 is equal
to height Sf of
the raised front segment 26.
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Figs. 10A-11F exemplify consecutive steps for erecting/collapsing the crate 10
of
the present disclosure. Taking for example that the crate 10 is at its erect,
locked position
(Figs.10A and 11A), a first step is unlocking the locking mechanism by
pivotal/swinging
displacing the locking bar manipulation portion 68 outwards, in direction of
arrow 90
(Figs. 10B and 10C), overcoming the snaping ridge 78. By doing so, the locking
tab 66
displaces into the unlocked position (Figs. 7A and 7B) facilitating collapsing
the side
walls 14 and 16 towards one another in direction of arrow 94 (Figs. 11B to
11C) until
they rest coplanar, flush over the base member 12 (Fig. 11D). Then, front wall
20 is
pivotally collapsed in direction of arrow 96 (Fig. 11E) until it comes to rest
flush over the
side walls 14 and 16, followed by pivotally collapsing of the back wall 18 in
direction of
arrow 98 (Fig. 11E) until it comes to rest flush over the front wall 20,
wherein the crate
assumes flat, compact position (Fig. 11F).
Erecting the crate 10 takes place in a reverse sequence of operations
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