Abstract:
A thermally insulating transportation box, including a base part, two longitudinal side parts, two transverse side parts and at least one top part, which parts bound a transportation space and are produced from a thermally insulating material. The longitudinal side parts and the transverse side parts are pivotably mounted on the base part about pivot axes which each run parallel to the base part, so that they can be folded open from a folded-together arrangement, which extends parallel to the base part, into an arrangement which is perpendicular to this and in which they bound the transportation space, and the transportation space can subsequently be closed by the at least one cover part.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a thermally insulating shipping container including a bottom piece, two longitudinal side pieces, two transverse side pieces and at least one cover piece, which enclose a shipping chamber and are made of an insulating material. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Thermally insulating shipping containers are known and are extensively used, for example, for shipping temperature-sensitive foods, such as frozen food, or also for shipping warm food. For the purpose of efficient and cost-effective production, along with good thermal insulation properties, such shipping containers are often integrally produced from a molded particle foam on the basis of a polyolefin, such a polypropylene, so-called EPP, or also on the basis of polystyrene, so-called EPS. 
     However, in connection with known shipping containers, it has been found to be disadvantageous that, because of their integrally one-piece manufacture, they are very bulky when not in use and thus require a large shipping volume. 
     On the other hand, shipping containers are known which do not have a thermally insulating function and which, when not in use, can be folded in a space-saving manner. However, the folding mechanisms employed cannot be transferred to the previously discussed thermally insulating shipping containers, because the hinged connections, which customarily comprise hinged shafts and hinged bearings for the foldable connection of the individual parts, cannot be applied to or embodied as foamed EPP or EPS parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of this invention is to provide a thermally insulating shipping container of the type mentioned above but which has good insulation properties and occupies only a small volume when not in use, is easy to manufacture and has a large carrying capacity and stability in the unfolded state. 
     To attain the object, this invention relates to a thermally insulating shipping container having characteristics described in this specification and in the claims. 
     In accordance with this invention, the longitudinal side pieces and the transverse side pieces are pivotably maintained on the bottom piece around respective pivot axes, which extend parallel with respect to the bottom piece, so that they can be unfolded from a folded orientation, which extends parallel with respect to the bottom piece, into an orientation which is perpendicular to it, in which they enclose the shipping chamber and in which the shipping chamber can be subsequently closed by the at least one cover piece. Thus, in accordance with this invention, a bottom piece is proposed as a central element, on which the longitudinal and transverse side elements are pivotably fastened or maintained, such as all connecting elements required for this can be integrated into the bottom piece and correspondingly in the longitudinal and transverse side pieces, which leads to a particularly sturdy shipping container in the unfolded state. 
     In one embodiment of the shipping container in accordance with this invention, the bottom piece has a right-angled bottom area, wherein a corner protrusion, whose top projects upward, is formed in each corner area of the bottom piece. On its sides facing the longitudinal and transverse side pieces, each one of the corner protrusions has integrally molded hinge elements, which can be brought into an operational connection with correspondingly formed hinge elements of the longitudinal and transverse side walls. Accordingly, the corner protrusions of the bottom piece provide holding and pivotable linkage of the longitudinal and transverse side pieces at the bottom piece. Also, the corner protrusions can also be used as stops for the longitudinal and transverse side pieces brought into an unfolded position, for example placed perpendicularly with respect to the bottom piece, so that further unfolding is prevented by a stop against the corner protrusions, and a dimensionally stable shipping container is created. 
     In order to continue to be able to produce the thermally insulating shipping container in accordance with this invention with an efficient mode of production from a molded particle foam, the hinge elements are preferably integrally molded in the bottom piece and the longitudinal or transverse side walls. 
     In one embodiment of this invention, the longitudinal and transverse side walls are in the form of spherical heads or universal ball joint-shaped heads, which are maintained, pivotable around the hinge axes, in correspondingly embodied ball sockets provided, for example, in the area of the corner protrusions. However, the opposite arrangement is also possible, such as the ball sockets are integrally molded in the longitudinal and transverse side walls, while the corresponding spherical heads seated therein are molded in the bottom piece, preferably in the area of the corner protrusions. It is thus possible to omit additional parts, such as hinge shafts, which possibly require different materials. 
     It is also possible to provide heads in the shape of a truncated cone and corresponding linkage recesses in place of heads in the shape of a universal ball joint. 
     Not employing other materials does not only make sense from the viewpoint of economy of manufacture, because in this case additional assembly steps are saved. Further, the omission of additional materials makes possible recycling of only one type, or the easy disposal of a no longer required shipping container in accordance with this invention. 
     In one embodiment of this invention, the at least one cover piece can be placed on top of the unfolded longitudinal and transverse side pieces for closing the shipping chamber at the top. The shipping container in accordance with this invention has additional stiffening by the cover piece which, in the unfolded orientation of the longitudinal and transverse side pieces, can be placed on top of it, so that its sturdiness in the unfolded state approaches that of a shipping container formed in one piece. 
     Two cover pieces are provided in another possible embodiment of this invention, which together provide the closure at the top of the shipping chamber. Particularly advantageously, it is possible to provide pivotable fixation of each cover piece on one of the transverse side pieces, so that the cover pieces are not only connected with the further parts of the shipping container in accordance with this invention in a way in which they cannot be lost, but that, in the folded state of the transverse side pieces, they can also be folded in a space-saving manner above or below the transverse side pieces in a parallel orientation with respect to the latter. 
     Here, the cover pieces can be maintained, pivotable around hinge axes, on the transverse side pieces by linkage heads held in hinge elements in the form of hinge recesses, wherein the hinge elements are respectively integrally molded in the cover pieces and the transverse side pieces. For example, the linkage heads can have the shape of universal ball joints or truncated cones. In this way, the shipping container in accordance with this invention also makes do without additional hinge pieces, such as shafts, bushings, and the like and can be produced true-to-type, for example by known molded foam methods, in a single work step. 
     Within the framework of this invention, exterior carrying handles can be on the longitudinal and/or transverse side walls of the shipping container in accordance with this invention, to cause the user to carry and handle the shipping container in accordance with this invention, along with its possibly considerable filling weight, at defined locations which are particularly suitable for the transfer of force. 
     In accordance with a suggestion of this invention, it is possible to provide attachment strips, which respectively protrude at the top from the bottom piece, between two adjoining corner protrusions used for the hinged holding of longitudinal or transverse side walls, which strips are provided on their sides facing the respective corner protrusions with corresponding hinge elements, such as with the corner protrusions. Accordingly, the hinge elements are used to come into operational connection with correspondingly formed hinge elements of the longitudinal or transverse side walls, so that a particularly large degree of stability is achieved by this dual joint connection, and the longitudinal and transverse side walls are prevented from being released in an undesired manner from the hinge connection, even if a large load is absorbed inside the shipping container. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of this invention, the longitudinal side walls are equipped with means for the snap-in reception of the transverse side walls in the unfolded orientation. Accordingly, if the shipping container in accordance with this invention is raised into its position of use by successively occurring unfolding of the longitudinal side walls and the transverse side walls, further increased stability is achieved by the snapped-in reception of the unfolded transverse side walls between the longitudinal side walls, wherein this snapped-in orientation of the longitudinal and transverse side walls can only be cancelled by a definite use of force, but is safe from accidental folding. 
     Also, the longitudinal and/or transverse side walls can be embodied with insertion strips which, in the unfolded orientation, are arranged at the top and can be inserted into corresponding insertion grooves formed at the bottom of at least one cover piece, so that the at least one cover piece can be positively attached to the top of the longitudinal and transverse side walls arranged in the unfolded orientation, and the cover piece is not only maintained secure against loss, but a positive connection, which increases the stability of the shipping container, is also achieved. 
     Other snap-in and locking options of the at least one cover piece on the longitudinal and transverse side walls arranged in an unfolded orientation are also possible within the framework of this invention. Within the framework of this invention, it is also possible to maintain the cover piece pivotably on the longitudinal and transverse side walls, wherein in such embodiments the cover piece can be of several pieces. 
     For arranging the shipping container in accordance with this invention and its individual parts as a compact unit also in the folded state, and to protect it from damage, the height of the corner protrusions extending in height above the bottom surface of the bottom piece is preferably of such a size, that at least the lateral side walls and the longitudinal side walls can be received in a parallel orientation with respect to the bottom piece between these corner protrusions. In this orientation the upper edge of the corner protrusions terminates flush with the cover piece placed on the longitudinal and transverse side walls. 
     The shipping container of this invention can preferably be produced from a molded particle foam, known per se, which has a particularly good thermal insulating effect and has a predominantly closed-cell foam structure, on the basis of a polyolefin, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or on the basis of polystyrene. However, other material selections are also possible within the framework of this invention. 
     However, it is preferable if the shipping container is made of molded foam particles of an apparent density of at least 30 kg/m 3 , wherein the wall thickness of the bottom piece, the longitudinal and transverse side pieces and the cover piece should be in the range between 15 to 35 mm, preferably 25 to 30 mm. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the shipping container in accordance with this invention, if from molded parts, containing hollow chambers, on the basis of thermoplastic materials, can be produced in a cost-effective manner, and can have a great insulating effect because of their hollow chambers that are extremely sturdy. In such embodiment of the shipping container in accordance with this invention of molded parts, wall thicknesses of approximately 0.5 to 2 mm are preferably provided, if the molded parts are made of polypropylene. Such molded parts can be produced, for example, by a blow-molding method, wherein the hinge elements can also be integrally molded. 
     Also, the surfaces of the shipping container in accordance with this invention can have a liquid-proof coating, for example a foil, which is placed into the tool during the molded foam process and is integrally connected with the molded foam particles and that then forms the surface of the produced molded parts. A shipping container in accordance with this invention, produced from such surface-coated parts, can be easily washed off if dirty and, with an appropriate shaping of the bottom piece, can also form a leak-proof catch basin for liquid possibly exiting the materials shipped in the shipping chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further embodiments and details of this invention will be explained in greater detail in view of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the shipping container in accordance with this invention, in the unfolded state; 
         FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of the shipping container in accordance with  FIG. 1 , in the folded state; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom piece of the shipping container, in accordance with  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of the transverse side piece of the shipping container in accordance with  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the transverse side piece in accordance with  FIG. 3   a  in a further perspective representation; 
         FIG. 4  shows a longitudinal side piece of the shipping container in accordance with  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cover piece of the shipping container in accordance with  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , in a perspective view; 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view from above on the shipping container with the cover pieces removed; 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of two shipping containers stacked on top of each other, each in the unfolded state, in accordance with  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of two shipping containers stacked on top of each other, each in the folded state, in accordance with  FIG. 1   b;    
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the bottom piece of a shipping container in accordance with this invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a transverse side piece of a shipping container in accordance with this invention; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the shipping container in accordance with this invention with pieces in accordance with  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A thermally insulating shipping container is represented in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , which includes a bottom piece  1 , two longitudinal side pieces  2 , two transverse side pieces  4  and a two-piece cover piece  6   a ,  6   b , which can be placed, parallel with the bottom piece  1 , on the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2 ,  4 , so that in the position of use a shipping chamber is enclosed. 
     The thermally insulating effect of the shipping container is a result of the above mentioned pieces being produced from a thermally insulating material, for example EPP of an apparent density of at least 30 kg/m 3  and a wall thickness of preferably 25 to 30 mm and with a predominantly closed-cell foam structure. 
     The shipping container represented in the drawing figures during non-use can be folded together in a space-saving manner, as shown in  FIG. 1   b , and can be unfolded for use, as will be explained in greater detail in this specification and as shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
     The basis, or the basic element of the shipping container is the bottom piece  1 , whose details are shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The bottom piece  1  has a rectangular bottom area  10 , wherein an upwardly projection corner protrusion  11  is molded in each corner area of the bottom piece  10 . 
     Two attachment strips, shaped in the manner of stair steps and projecting from the top and identified by the reference numeral  12 , can be seen between adjoining corner protrusions  11  along oppositely located edge areas of the bottom piece  10 . The edge areas of the bottom piece  10  containing the attachment strips  12  face the longitudinal side pieces  2 , the closer details of one of which are shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Now, in order to assure a foldable or unfoldable orientation of the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2  and  4  on the bottom piece  1 , such as shown in  FIG. 1   a  or  1   b , each corner protrusion  11  of the bottom piece  1  has hinge elements in the form of spherical or half-shell-shaped linkage recesses, which can also be called ball sockets  14 ,  15 , on its sides facing the longitudinal or transverse side pieces  2 ,  4 . Here, the ball sockets identified by the reference numeral  14  face the longitudinal side wall  2 , for example they are molded in the corner protrusions  11  in the direction of the attachment strips  12  of the bottom piece  1 , while the ball sockets identified by the reference numeral  15  face the transverse side walls  4  and are molded at right angles with respect to the ball sockets  14  in the corner protrusions  11 . 
     One essential characteristic of these hinge elements in the form of ball sockets  14 ,  15  is that they are integrally molded in the corner protrusions  11 , so that the one-piece manufacture of the bottom piece  1 , such as shown in  FIG. 2 , of the shipping container by a molded foam process of expanded polypropylene particle foam or expanded polystyrene (EPP or EPS) is made possible without requiring additional materials or individual parts. 
     For being pivotably held on the bottom piece  1  embodied in this way, the longitudinal side walls  2 , such as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , are embodied with a hinge strip  24  which, in the unfolded orientation, is arranged on the underside and extends past or beyond the lateral face  20 . Corresponding to the ball sockets  14  provided for this, half-shell-shaped or universal ball joint-shaped spherical heads  240 , which project from the corner protrusions  11  and can be inserted into oppositely located ball sockets  14  of adjoining corner protrusions  11  parallel with an attachment strip  12 , are integrally molded on the hinge strip  24  at the two front ends of the hinge strip  24  on the underside. Therefore the longitudinal side pieces  2 , together with their hinge elements in the form of spherical heads  240 , can also be produced in one piece, for example by a molded foam process. 
     In the same way, the transverse side pieces  4  shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are embodied with a hinge strip  44  which, in the unfolded orientation, projects on the underside past the lateral face  40  and has a lesser width, which again has half-shell-shaped spherical heads  440  as hinge elements on its two front ends, which can be inserted into correspondingly provided ball sockets  15  between two adjoining corner protrusions  11  of the bottom piece  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the ball sockets  15  used for receiving the spherical heads  440  of the transverse side pieces  4  can be arranged with respect to the bottom area  10  of the bottom piece at a greater height than the ball sockets  14  used for receiving the spherical heads  240  of the longitudinal side pieces  2 , and thus as can be seen in  FIG. 1   b , can arrange the two longitudinal side pieces  2  on the bottom area  10  in a folded orientation, such as extending parallel with respect to the bottom piece  1  and its bottom area  1 Q, and to also arrange thereon the two transverse side pieces  4 , also in a parallel orientation with respect to the bottom area  10  of the bottom piece  1 . Then it is possible to place the cover pieces  6   a  or  6   b , visible in  FIG. 5 , on this arrangement of transverse side pieces  4  and longitudinal side pieces  2 , wherein the height of the corner protrusions  11  is preferably selected so that they then terminate flush with the top of the folded-up transverse side pieces  4 , and the transverse side pieces  4  and the longitudinal side pieces  2  are received between the corner protrusions  11 . In this folded orientation, the shipping container in accordance with  FIG. 1   b  needs only little storage space. 
     If used in accordance with its purpose, for example to enclose a shipping chamber in which temperature-sensitive material can be shipped, the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2 ,  4  are placed into a folded-open position, which can be seen in  FIG. 1   a . First, starting with the folded state in accordance with  FIG. 1   b , the transverse side pieces  4  with the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b , which are fastened on them in a manner yet to be described, are raised into a vertical position. In the process, unfolding takes place around a pivot axis S 4 , which is defined by the hinge elements in the form of the ball sockets  15  and the spherical heads  440  and extends at right angles in relation to the pivot axis S 2  of the longitudinal side pieces  2 . 
     Now the longitudinal side pieces  2  can be reached, which are accessible above the bottom piece  1  and are in the folded-up orientation, such as extending parallel with the bottom area  10 . Because of their pivotable seating between the ball sockets  14  of the corner protrusions  11  and the spherical heads  240 , they are now raised on the hinge strips  24  of the side pieces  2  around a pivot axis identified by S 2  into an orientation extending vertically with respect to the bottom area  10  of the bottom piece  1 , in which, with a contact protrusion  2   a  on their underside, they come into contact with the respective attachment strip  12 , so that they assume an exactly right-angled orientation with respect to the bottom piece  1 . 
     It is understood that the respective heights of the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2 ,  4  in the unfolded state should be matched, i.e. should be identical, and the heights should be selected so that the oppositely located longitudinal side walls  2  or transverse side walls  4  can be folded completely over the bottom piece  1 . 
     After the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2 ,  4  thus designed are brought into their unfolded orientation, such as extending vertically with respect to the bottom area  10  of the bottom piece  1 , the shipping container in accordance with  FIG. 6  can be filled and, following this, the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  can be placed on the top edge areas of the side pieces  2 ,  4 , in order to close the shipping chamber inside the shipping container. For this purpose, the longitudinal side walls  2  have top insertion strips  21  along their edge areas which are on top in the unfolded orientation, which strips positively engage correspondingly designed grooves  61  on the underside of the cover piece  6 , in the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  as shown in  FIG. 1   b . A shipping container unfolded in this way and plugged together by positive connections has extremely high sturdiness and stability and can be used for shipping even heavy sensitive materials. 
     Moreover, all performed positive locking processes and also the pivot movements are reversible, i.e. following its use the shipping container can again be folded into its folded, space-saving orientation as shown in  FIG. 1   b , and is therefore suitable for repeated or returnable use. 
     Although it would be possible to only provide a single cover piece which can be applied and removed, the shipping container preferably has a multi-section cover piece, comprising two cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b , wherein the two cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  each cover approximately one-half of the shipping chamber in the interior of the shipping container and together cover it on the top in the orientation shown in  FIG. 1   a.    
     Also, the two cover pieces  6   a ,  6  are pivotably held on the horizontal edge of the transverse side pieces  4  which lie on top in the folded-open state of the transverse side pieces  4 . 
     For this purpose, each pair of transverse side pieces  4 , whose greater details can also be seen in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  and which, in their folded-open state, lie on top, has hinge receptacles  400 , which are each spaced apart by an interspace  400   a.    
     Linkage recesses  401  are integrally formed out of the facing inner surfaces of the respective pairs of hinge receptacles  400  which, for defining an insertion channel, are upwardly widened in the shape of a step or in the shape of a ramp, which is indicated by the reference numeral  401   a.    
     Correspondingly, the two cover pieces, for example the cover piece  6   b  shown in  FIG. 6 , have a hinge element  63 , which is integrally molded on the cover piece  6   b  and fits into the interspace  400   a  and on whose two sides facing the linkage recesses  401  protruding linkage heads  630  of a truncated-cone shape are molded, so that, without the addition of separate hinge elements, a pivotable seating of the two cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  on the transverse side pieces  4  can be provided by the integral shaping of the hinge elements formed in this way. A ramp-shaped flattening  630   a  is provided for easy introduction of the linkage heads  630  into the linkage recesses which, together with the insertion channels  401   a , makes possible the easy attachment and, if required, also the removal, of the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b.    
     The hinge connection realized in this process between the transverse side pieces  4  and the respective cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  defines pivot axes S 6  parallel with respect to the pivot axes S 4  of the transverse side pieces  4 , which assure the pivotability of the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  by at least 270°. 
     Because of this great pivot angle it is not only possible, as shown in  FIG. 1   a , to place the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  on the upper edge area of the longitudinal and transverse side pieces  2 ,  4  for closing the shipping chamber, but also to fold them open for access to the shipping chamber which is made easier by forming out grip recesses  64  on the top of the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b.    
     If, for the purpose of returning or because of non-use, the shipping container thus designed, as shown in  FIG. 1   b , first, following the folding open of the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b , folding of the longitudinal side pieces  2  into an orientation extending parallel with respect to the bottom piece  1  is provided in the already explained way by the pivotable seating of the transverse side pieces  4  around the pivot axis S 2  on the bottom piece  1 . Thereafter, the two cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  are brought out of their position represented in  FIG. 7   a  into a parallel position with respect to the transverse side pieces  4 , which are still in the unfolded state, on the two facing outsides of the same and, as a result of their already mentioned pivotable seating around the pivot axis S 4 , subsequently the transverse side pieces  4  are brought into their position which is shown in  FIG. 1   b , in which they come to rest in a space-saving manner parallel with the previously folded-in longitudinal side pieces  2  and the bottom piece  1 . The cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b  rest above and parallel with the transverse side pieces  4 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  2 , in an edge area between the corner protrusions  11  facing the transverse side pieces  4 , the bottom piece  1  has a raised attachment edge  110 , which assures an exact right-angled placement of the transverse side pieces  4  in the folded-open state. 
     In order to urge the user to grasp the shipping container at the transverse side pieces  4  connected in this way in a positive manner with the bottom piece  1 , the carrying handles identified by the reference numeral  43  are integrally molded on the outside of the transverse side pieces  4  between the respective hinge receptacles  400 . Finally, the representation of the longitudinal side piece  2  in accordance with  FIG. 4  shows the forming of snap-in pins  26  which, in the folded-open state of the longitudinal side pieces  2 , engage corresponding recesses  420  in the transverse side pieces  4  and assure a great sturdiness of the shipping container, such as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  6 . 
     Because the bottom piece  1 , of the above explained embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 2 , has an edge running around the top, formed by the attachment strips  12 ,  110 , it is also used as a catch basin for liquid possibly exiting the shipped material in the shipping chamber. With an appropriate dimensioning of the encircling edge it is possible, for example, to assure a capacity of 1 l of liquid or more inside the bottom piece  1 . 
     It is a substantial characteristic of the shipping container that all individual pieces, including their functional elements, in particular the hinge elements, can be molded integrally from a particle foam without the use of separate individual parts, which makes possible a shipping container which is true-to-type and cost effective, but is extremely sturdy. Here, all linkage heads used can have the shape of a truncated cone or universal ball joint, and all linkage recesses a shape matching this. 
     Finally, the bottom piece  1  also has outside recesses  110   a  which are designed corresponding to the hinge connections between the transverse side pieces  4  and the cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b , so that several shipping containers can be stacked on top of each other, secure against slipping, in the unfolded state, see  FIG. 7 , as well as in the folded state, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     A further possible embodiment of the shipping container is shown in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , wherein like elements have the same reference numerals as in the previously represented and described embodiments and will not be separately explained in what follows, provided this is not necessary for understanding this invention. 
     The shipping container represented in its position of use in  FIG. 11  has a bottom piece  1  represented in greater detail in  FIG. 9  and is equipped, as in the previously described embodiments, with an upwardly projecting corner protrusion  11  in each corner area. 
     In the area used for the pivotable fastening of a transverse side piece  4 , a fastening strip  110 , which upwardly projects past or beyond the bottom piece  1 , is formed between the facing corner protrusions  11  and the hinge elements, identified by the reference numeral  15 , in the corner protrusions, which strip, at the two ends located opposite the two corner protrusions  11 , itself has corresponding hinge elements  15   a , which are integrally molded and which correspond in their configuration to those of the recesses  15  in the corner protrusions  11 . The respective insertion opening  15   b  for a hinge element of the transverse side piece  16  to be received in it, and which is shown in  FIG. 10  by reference numerals  440 , extends parallel with respect to the bottom area  10  of the bottom piece  1  and is identified by the reference numeral  15   b.    
     As shown in the overview in accordance with  FIG. 11 , each transverse side piece  4 , which also has the carrying handles  43  for carrying the shipping container, is doubly held on both sides of each formed-on hinge strip  44  by appropriately projecting hinge elements  440  in the corresponding hinge receptacle  15  or  15   a  of a corner projection  11  or fastening projection  110  and, in the folded-open position shown in  FIG. 11 , cannot be removed out of the receiving position, even in case of large loads arranged inside the shipping container. Thus, it is possible also with this embodiment to ship large loads inside the shipping container without the danger of the hinge connection between the bottom piece  1  and the transverse side piece  4  being overwhelmed. 
     As shown in the embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 11 , the recesses  22   a  are cut into the longitudinal side pieces  2 , which are used as opening aids for the two cover pieces  6   a ,  6   b.    
     A further functionality of the represented shipping container corresponds to the exemplary embodiment previously described in detail by  FIGS. 1   a  to  8 , so that it is possible to omit further functionality explanations to prevent repetitions. 
     It is understood that, in place of producing them from particle foam, each one of the previously explained embodiments of the shipping container in accordance with this invention can also be produced, for example, from molded parts made of a thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which have hollow chambers, are therefore especially light and at the same time thermally insulating. Such hollow-chambered molded parts can for example be produced in accordance with a blow-molding method, such as now known for producing panel parts for the automobile industry and the like.