Container

A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably and slidably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall. As the wall is pivoted to the upright position, the support is automatically deployed into the support position by its engagement with the channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to collapsible crates and more particularly to a collapsible crate with support members for supporting another container thereon.

Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls each connected via a hinge to a base are selectively movable about the hinge between a use position, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base. Various mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collapsible container having a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably and slidably mounted to an upper end portion thereof. The support is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base to its collapsed position, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.

When the wall is pivoted from the collapsed position to its upright position, the portion of the support engages the channel on the interior of the adjacent wall. As the wall is pivoted upwardly, the channel causes the support to move from the retracted position toward the support position automatically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1illustrates a container10according to the present invention. The container10includes a base12having upstanding side walls14(or long walls) and upstanding end walls18(or short walls). The side walls14and end walls18are pivotably connected along long and short edges of the base12, respectively. The side walls14and end walls18are movable between the upright position shown and a collapsed position on the base12.

Each end wall18has a support20pivotably and slidably mounted to an upper portion thereof. The supports20are shown inFIG. 1pivoted to a support position generally perpendicular to the end walls18and projecting into the interior of the container10. Each support20includes an elongated rail23(or support portion) and a pair of arms25extending perpendicularly from the rail23. In the support position, laterally-extending ends21of the rail23are supported on the side walls14.

The interiors of the side walls14each include an upper frame portion22and a lower frame portion26protruding into the container10. A recess30is defined between the upper frame portion22and the lower frame portion26. A curved frame portion35extends in a curved path from the upper frame portion22to the lower frame portion26. A curved channel24opens at an upper edge of the side wall14and is defined through the upper frame portion22, curved frame portion35and the lower frame portion26.

The base12includes a pair of side upstanding portions32to which the side walls14are pivotably attached. Each side upstanding portion32includes a pair of channels34formed on an interior thereof. When the side walls14are upright, the channels24are aligned with the channels34. The base12further includes a pair of end upstanding portions36to which the end walls18are pivotably attached.

FIG. 2illustrates the container ofFIG. 1with a second container100supported thereon. The second container100includes a pair of recesses102into which are received the rails23of the supports20.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of one of the supports20ofFIG. 1. Each support20includes the elongated rail23and the pair of arms25extending perpendicularly from the rail23. A slot27is formed on the underside of the rail23adjacent each end21. Each of the arms25includes an integral pivot pin29at an end of the arm25opposite the rail23. Each of the arms25includes a shoulder31spaced away from the rail23.

FIG. 4is an interior perspective view, partially broken away, of the container10ofFIG. 1. As shown, the end21of the support20is received at an upper end of in the channel24when the support20is in the support position. The slot27in the end21of the support20receives a wall69adjacent the channel24. The pivot pin29is pivotably and slidably connected to a channel70in the end wall18. The end wall18includes a handle42formed therein.

FIG. 5illustrates the container10with the end wall18in the collapsed position. The end wall18and support20(which is partially retracted into the end wall18) lie flat on the base12. The end21of the support20is aligned with the channel24in the side wall14. As shown inFIG. 6, in this position, the arms25of the support20are mostly retracted into the channels70in the end wall18. The end wall18is pivotable about a hinge including a hinge member48integrally molded with the end wall18and a hinge pin50integrally molded with the base12.

FIG. 7is a view similar to that ofFIG. 5, with the end wall18being pivoted toward the upright position. The end21of the rail23is captured in the channel24, with the slot27beginning to engage a wall adjacent the channel24. When the support20reaches the end of the channel24as shown inFIG. 8, the rail23ceases moving with the end wall18. The rail23remains at the top of the channel24as the end wall18is pivoted to the upright position. This final movement (and/or manual movement of the arms25) causes the hinge pin29to slide upwardly in the channel70of the end wall18, until the hinge pin29snaps into place at the top of the channel70in the position shown inFIG. 4. Simultaneous rotation of the support20causes the slot27to fully engage the wall adjacent the channel24, thereby improving the amount of load that the rail23can support.

To collapse the end wall18again, the support20is first pivoted to the vertical position as shown inFIG. 9. In this position, the hinge pin29of the support20is at the top of the channel70in the end wall18and the rail23is spaced high above the upper edge of the end wall18.

The support20is then pressed downwardly, causing the arm25to be inserted into the channel70in the end wall18until the shoulder31of the arm25abuts the upper edge of the end wall18as shown inFIG. 10. In this position, substantially all of the support20, more particularly, substantially all of the arm25, is retracted into the end wall18, as shown inFIG. 11. The container10can be used in this configuration to store and transport goods when the support20is not needed to support the other container100(FIG. 2).

If the user wants to collapse the container10again, the end wall18can be pivoted downwardly from the position shown inFIG. 10. As the end wall18is pivoted downwardly, the end21of the support20automatically locates in the channel24as shown inFIG. 7until the end wall18is collapsed onto the base12as shown inFIG. 5.