Abstract:
A volumetric efficient collapsible and tamper proof container for protecting goods contained therein during transportation and storage. The container comprises six walls perpendicularly and hingedly mounted to each other to define a cubic space therein. Long and short elongated pins are passed through openings in knuckle extensions on the sides of the walls and they are cooperatively disposed to offset each opposite tubular member to permit the coaxial alignment of the respective through openings. Locking tubular members are used to keep one or more of the long pins in place. The long pins keep the shorter pins in place. Seal members are used to prevent the removal of one or more of the long pins that are keeping the short pins in place. The other long and short elongated pins are kept in place with locking tubular members that can only be removed when the walls are flat on a common plane.

Description:
OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending of PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/CR03/00001, filed on Sep. 4, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a tamper proof collapsible container, and more particularly, to such a collapsible container that is volumetrically efficient for its transportation and storage.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Several designs for collapsible containers have been designed in the past. None of them, however, discloses a simple design that utilizes a minimum number of elements to assemble while retaining its functions.  
         [0006]     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to the German patent No. 144916 issued to Publio Duranti-Valentini on Jul. 18, 1901 for a collapsible container for transportation. However, it differs from the present invention because the present invention includes the use of coaxially aligned knuckles that are integrally built to the panels. The German patent, on the other hand, teaches the use of separate knuckles (see  FIGS. 1 and 9 ) that require the use of fastening members to secure them to the panels. Second, the German patent discloses the use of pin assemblies, like in the present invention, but it does not disclose through openings that lockingly receive locking tubular members to keep the pin assemblies in place. The pin assemblies in the German patent are kept in place by using pin members of four different dimensions and shapes (b; F and the short and long pins) while the present invention only uses short and long pins. Additionally, the pin assemblies in the German patent have releasably mounted heads kept in place with locking clips, which make a difference with the pin assemblies of the present invention. Third, the present invention cannot be tampered with unless the security seal is broken. Also, the tubular members cannot be removed while the container is assembled. It requires disassembly of the top long pins (breaking the security seals) first before it can remove the vertical pins. Locking tubular members can only be pushed through to remove them when adjoining walls are in the same plane. When assembled, the locking tubular members are flush with the wall surface. Therefore, the locking pin cannot be removed from the outside. This facilitates the logistics for security, transporting and storing the containers when not in use. If the container disclosed in the German patent is disassembled, the pieces will be loose and require separate handling. With the present invention, a user can keep the panels of a disassembled container joined together. This feature constitutes a logistic advantage for storage, transportation and reassembly operations.  
         [0007]     Another difference not shown in the German patent reference is that the present invention provides for plugs and cavities that are used to stack the containers vertically. In sum, the different features of the present invention resolve logistic problems with the storage and transportation of these containers that were not even considered by the German patentee, let alone disclosed in his 1903 patent.  
         [0008]     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a collapsible container that is volumetrically efficient for its transportation and storage.  
         [0010]     It is another object of this invention to provide a collapsible container that includes substantially identical square walls perpendicularly disposed with respect to each other requiring a minimum of components and tools for assembly.  
         [0011]     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a container that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.  
         [0012]     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  represents a top view of the collapsible container subject of this application, disassembled.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows the container represented in  FIG. 1  with the bottom wall hingedly mounted to the lateral walls and cover wall hingedly mounted to one of the lateral walls.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates the container shown in the previous figures being assembled.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3   a  shows the assembly represented in the previous figure showing how the pins are introduced.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a representation of two containers in isometric views showing their alignment for stacking up using pin members to secure them in place.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4   a  is a detail representation of one of the corners of the container, taken from portion  4   a  in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view of one of the lateral walls with an elongated pin assembly and a locking tubular member mounted thereto.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged isometric view of locking tubular member.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged isometric view of one of the four long pin members.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged isometric view of one of the short pin members.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a detail view of one of the seal wire members used with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes bottom wall  20 , lateral walls  30 ;  40 ;  50 ; and  60 , and top wall  70  perpendicularly mounted to each other and held in place with elongated pin assemblies  80  and  180  and kept in place with locking tubular members  90 . An interior space is defined for housing goods that are protected during storage and/ or transportation.  
         [0026]     Walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70  are preferably identical and square. Bottom wall  20  has four straight longitudinal sides  21 ;  22 ;  23  and  24 , lateral walls  30 ;  40 ;  50  and  60 , as well as top wall  70  also have similar sides labeled as  31 ;  32 ;  33 ;  34 ;  41 ;  42 ;  43 ;  44 ;  51 ;  52 ;  53 ;  54 ;  61 ;  62 ;  63 ;  64 ;  71 ;  72 ;  73  and  74 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . Top wall  70  also has at least two depressed portions  75  and  76  that provide space for through openings  571  and  573 . Walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70  can be solid or include openings, depending on its intended contents and application. Walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70  define an internal space when they are perpendicularly disposed with respect to each other, as best seen in  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0027]     Knuckle extensions  121 ;  121 ′;  122 ;  122 ′;  123 ;  123 ′;  124 ;  124 ∝;  131 ;  131 ′;  132 ;  132 ′;  133 ;  133 ′;  134 ;  134 ′;  141 ;  141 ′;  142 ;  142 ′;  143 ;  143 ′;  144 ;  144 ′  151 ;  151 ′;  152 ;  152 ′;  153 ;  153 ′;  154 ;  134 ′;  161 ;  161 ′;  162 ;  162 ′;  163 ;  163 ′;  164 ;  164 ′;  171 ;  171 ′;  172 ;  172 ′;  173 ;  173 ′;  174  and  174 ′ are associated with each side for walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70 , as best seen in  FIG. 1 . The knuckle extensions associated with a particular side are substantially identical in the preferred embodiment and coaxially aligned. They are separated from each other with complementing spaces that cooperate to receive knuckle extension from contiguous walls that are brought in coaxial alignment to permit pin assemblies  80  and  180  to go through. As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 3   a,  knuckle extensions  121 ;  121 ′;  122 ;  122 ′;  123 ;  123 ′;  124 ;  124 ′;  131 ;  131 ′;  132 ;  132 ′;  133 ;  133 ′;  134 ;  134 ′;  141 ;  141 ′;  142 ;  142 ′;  143 ;  143 ′;  144 ;  144 ′  151 ;  151 ′;  152 ;  152 ′;  153 ;  153 ′;  154 ;  134 ′;  161 ;  161 ′;  162 ;  162 ′;  163 ;  163 ′;  164 ;  164 ′;  171 ;  171 ′;  172 ;  172 ′;  173 ;  173 ′;  174  and  174 ′ include longitudinal through openings  221 ;  221 ′;  222 ;  222 ′;  223 ;  223 ′;  224 ;  224 ′;  231 ;  231 ′;  232 ;  232 ′;  233 ;  233 ′;  234 ;  234 ′;  241 ;  241 ′;  242 ;  242 ′;  243 ;  243 ′;  244 ;  244 ′  251 ;  251 ′;  252 ;  252 ′;  253 ;  253 ′;  254 ;  234 ′;  261 ;  261 ′;  262 ;  262 ′;  263 ;  263 ′;  264 ;  264 ′;  271 ;  271 ′;  272 ;  272 ′;  273 ;  273 ′;  274  and  274 ′ that cooperative receive pin assemblies  80  therethrough. As best seen in  FIG. 2 , knuckle extensions  121 ;  122 ;  123 ;  124 ;  131 ;  132 ;  133 ;  134 ;  141 ;  142 ;  143 ;  144 ;  151 ;  152 ;  153 ;  154 ;  161 ;  162 ;  163 ;  164 ;  171 ;  172 ;  173  and  174  include transversal through openings  321 ;  322 ;  323 ;  324 ;  331 ;  332 ;  333 ;  334 ;  341 ;  342 ;  343 ;  344 ;  351 ;  352 ;  353 ;  354 ;  361 ;  362 ;  363 ;  364 ;  371 ;  372 ;  373  and  374  that permit locking tubular members  90  to go through.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , locking tubular member  90  has a longitudinal slot  92  that permits its temporary compression when it is inserted inside a transversal through opening. Member  90  has cooperative dimensions to fit flush with the surface of the knuckle extensions. In this manner, members  90  can only be removed by pushing them in when bottom wall  20 , top wall  70  or lateral walls  30 ;  40 ;  50  and  60  are in the same plane. If perpendicularly disposed, members  90  cannot be pushed or pulled out.  
         [0029]     Collapsible container  10  includes short pins  80  and long pins  180 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , four long pins are mounted to the junction of walls  20  with  50 ;  20  with  30 ;  50  with  70  and  30  with  70 . For the other junctions of collapsible container  10 , short pins  80  are used. As shown in  FIG. 8 , short pin assembly  80  includes wider portions  87  and  89  adjacent to the ends of  81  and  83 , respectively. Slots  86  and  88  permit ends  81  and  83  to go through, so wider portions  87  and  89  cammingly compress when one of them is going through coaxially aligned knuckle members and expand once it exits. Once pin  80  is mounted to coaxially aligned knuckle members, wider portions  87  and  89  expand preventing any further longitudinal movement. In  FIG. 7 , the details of long pin assemblies  180  can be seen. In the preferred embodiment slots  186  and  188  at ends  181  and  183 , respectively, permit a user to rotate pin assembly  180  to align its transversal through hole  182  with the corresponding opening of the knuckle members. Long pin assembly  180  includes wider portions  187  and  189  adjacent to the ends of  181  and  183 , respectively. Slots  186  and  188  also permit ends  181  and  183  to go through, so wider portions  187  and  189  cammingly compress when one of them is going through coaxially aligned knuckle members and expand once they exit. Once pin  180  is mounted inside coaxially aligned knuckle members, wider portions  187  and  189  expand preventing any further longitudinal movement, as best shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0030]     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a locking tubular member  90  is used to keep pin  180  in place. In the preferred embodiment, member  90  has a longitudinal slot  92  that permits its resilient compression to snuggly fit transversal through hole  182  and corresponding transversal through openings  321  or  333 ;  323  or  351 ;  331  or  371  and  353  or  373  thereby keeping the perpendicularly mounted walls at a fixed position and locking pin  180  in place.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , cavities  421 ;  422 ;  423 ;  424 ;  431 ;  432 ;  433 ;  434 ;  441 ;  442 ;  443 ;  444 ;  451 ;  452 ;  453 ;  454 ;  461 ;  462 ;  463 ;  464 ;  471 ;  472 ;  473  and  474 , are located in the corners of walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70 , respectively. As best seen in  FIG. 4 , pins  521 ;  522 ;  523  and  524  are removably mounted to cavities  421 ;  422 ;  423  and  424  of bottom wall  20  and extend perpendicularly outwardly and are receivable within cooperating cavities  471 ;  472 ;  473  and  474  of top wall  70  on the lower collapsible container  10 . When containers  10  are stacked on top of each other, the interlocking action of pins  521 ;  522 ;  523  and  524  and cavities  471 ;  472 ;  473  and  474  reduce lateral movements enhancing the integrity of the resulting structure. Optionally, additional pins could be cooperatively mounted to lateral walls to reduce movement between the horizontally contiguous containers  10 .  
         [0032]     To assemble container  10 , a user starts with bottom wall  20  on a horizontal supporting surface and positioning lateral walls  30 ;  40 ;  50  and  60  adjacent to sides  21 ;  22 ;  23  and  24 , respectively. Then, top wall  70  is placed adjacent to one of the lateral walls, for example, adjacent to side  42  of wall  40 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Two short pins  80  are passed through longitudinal through openings  222 ;  222 ′  244  and  244 ′ and  224 ;  224 ′  262  and  262 ′ hingedly connecting bottom wall  20  to lateral walls  40  and  60 . Two long pins  180  are passed through longitudinal through openings  221 ;  221 ′  233  and  233 ′ and  223 ;  223 ′  251  and  251 ′ hingedly connecting bottom wall  20  to lateral walls  30  and  50 . Then, top wall  70  is hingedly mounted to lateral wall  40  by passing one short pin  80  through openings  242 ;  242 ′  274  and  274 ′. Next, a user brings the lateral walls to a perpendicular relationship with the bottom walls and inserts locking tubular members  90  through transversal opening  321  or  333  and through transversal opening  323  or  351 , locking long pins  180 . Then, four short pins  80  are passed through openings  232 ;  232 ′;  241 ;  241 ′ and  243 ;  243 ′;  252 ;  252 ′ and  254 ;  254 ′;  263 ;  263 ′ and  234 ;  234 ′;  261 ;  261 ′ thereby ensuring that lateral walls  30 ;  40 ;  50  and  60  will stay in perpendicular relationship with respect to bottom wall  20 , as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 3 a. The cubic block is ten formed by bringing through openings  272  and  272 ′ in coaxial alignment with through openings  264  and  264 ′ and passing another short pin  80  therethrough. Finally, two long pins  180  are passed through aligned longitudinal through openings  231 ;  231 ′  271  and  271 ′ and  253 ;  253 ′  273  and  273 ′ connecting top wall  70  to lateral walls  30  and  50 .  
         [0033]     Seal wire member  500  is inserted through openings  571  and  573 , through openings  371  and  373  and transversal holes  182  of pin assemblies  180 .  
         [0034]     Once collapsible container  10  reaches its destination, the receiver brakes seal wire members  500 , remove long pins  180  from the top wall, removes pin  80  from through openings  272 ;  272 ′;  264  and  264 ′ and empty its merchandise. Then, the receiver removes the four short pins  80  from through openings  232 ;  232 ′;  241 ;  241 ′ and  243 ;  243 ′;  252 ;  252 ′ and  254 ;  254 ′;  263 ;  263 ′ and  234 ;  234 ′;  261 ;  261 ′ so walls  20 ;  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70  return to the same plane as shown in  FIG. 2 . Removed pins  80  and  180  are inserted to the knuckle extensions of walls  30 ;  40 ;  50 ;  60  and  70 . At this disposition, several collapsible containers  10  can be more efficiently stacked to return them to its original place.  
         [0035]     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.