Frame and pallet coaming box

A frame and a pallet coaming box, the frame (100) comprising: two long side plates (10) and two groups of short side plates (20) opposite thereto, each group of short side plates (20) comprising two short side plates (21, 22), wherein the two short plates (21, 22) are capable of being folded over each other, and the long side plates (10) and the short side plates (21, 22) that are next to each other are capable of being folded over one another; one of the two short side plates (21, 22) being provided with at least one first engaging portion (211), and the other short side plate being provided with a second engaging portion (221) matching the first engaging portion; a locking device (30) being further arranged between the two short side plates (21, 22), the locking device (30) comprising an operating member (31), a locking member (32), and a locking structure (33) matching the locking member (32); the locking member (32) being mounted on a short side plate (21, 22), the locking structure (33) being arranged on the other short side plate (21, 22), and the operating member (31) operatively driving the locking member (32) to mutually lock or separately unlock with the locking structure (33) so as to lock or unlock the two short side plates (21, 22). The frame minimizes outward deformation of side plates caused by engagement, and improves stability of containers during loading, transporting or stacking.

FIELD

The present application relates to a logistics transportation unit, in particular to a frame and a pallet coaming box.

BACKGROUND

The existing large-scale folding containers generally have specifications such as 1200×1000×1000 and 1220×1220×1170, and so on. Their sizes are relatively large. In order to be suitable for loading different kinds of cargos and different heights and to be easy taking cargos out containers, and the height of the containers to be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of the height of the side plates of the containers, the long and short side plates are usually connected to be foldable inwards to form a flat structure, and to be unfoldable outwards to form a roughly rectangular container that is used as a unit. When loading more cargo capacity, this unit can be stacked upwards again, stacking four to five layers in order to get more volume. However, the side plates of the existing container are hinged in a single manner, and the hinge joint between the short side plates is not effectively locked, so that the short side plates are weak in resistance to deformation due to external forces or cargo tension, which will not only cause hidden dangers in the transport of goods, but also result in the lack of an effective stacking limit for the units superimposed on the upper floors. The reliability of the containers is low.

Taking the EP2500290A1 and EP0218320A1 two patents as examples, the hinge of the short side plates are achieved by separated hinge shaft and hinge part, ie, the independent hinge shaft cooperates with the hinge link or the hinge axis integrated with the side plate cooperates with the separated link, and during the folding operation, they are deformed to evade through the elasticity of the plastic itself. At the same time, during the unfolding of the container, the inner wall of the container is easily deformed due to the tension of the goods, and even the plastic hook is detached. The stacking on the container is also lack of effective support and limitations, so that the container has a large potential safety hazard, easy to be damaged and inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a frame to solve the problems existing in the above background art.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a frame is provided. The frame comprises two long side plates and two groups of short side plates opposite thereto, each group of short side plates comprising two short side plates, the two short side plates are capable of being folded over each other, and the long side plates and the short side plates that are next to each other are capable of being folded over one another, wherein one of the two short side plates is provided with at least one first engaging portion, and the other of the two short side plates is provided with a second engaging portion matching the first engaging portion, and a locking device comprising an operating member, a locking member, and a locking structure matching the locking member is further provided between the two short side plates, wherein the locking member is mounted on one of the short side plates, the locking structure is provided on the other one of the short side plates, and the operating member operatively drives the locking member to mutually lock or separately unlock with the locking structure so as to lock or unlock the two short side plates.

Preferably, one of the two short side plates is provided with a plurality of the first engaging portions spaced apart from one another, and the other of the two short side plates is provided with a plurality of the second engaging portions; a hinge mounting portion is provided between the second engaging portions, and the hinge mounting portion is inserted between two first engaging portions, and the locking member is provided at the same height as the second engaging portions.

Preferably, the locking member is a locking tongue, the locking structure is a locking hole, and the operating member operatively drives the locking tongue to extend into or exit from the locking hole, so as to lock or unlock the two short side plates.

Preferably, the operating member and the locking member are integrally formed.

Preferably, the front end of the first engaging portion is provided with a first inclined surface, and the front end of the locking tongue is provided with a second inclined surface that cooperates with the first inclined surface, and when the two short side plates moves from the folded state to the unfolded state, the locking tongue can freely move into the locking hole through the cooperative guiding action of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.

Preferably, the two short side plates include a first short side plate and a second short side plate, wherein the first engaging portion and the locking hole are provided on the first short side plate, and the second engaging portion is provided on the second short side plate, and the operating member is movably mounted on the second short side plate.

Preferably, a recess is provided on an inner side of the second short side plate, and the second engaging portion is provided in the recess and extend integrally toward inside of the frame from the recess, and a locking tongue mounting hole is formed on a side wall of the recess facing the first short side plate.

Preferably, the first short side plate and the second short side plate are connected by a hinge, and a plurality of locking tongue mounting hole are provided along height direction of the second short side plate, and a hinge mounting portion is provided between each two of the tongue mounting holes.

Preferably, an opening is provided on the first short side plate to cooperate with the hinge mounting portion, and a first hinge hole is provided at the bottom of the first engaging portion, and a second hinge hole is provided on the hinge mounting portion, and the hinge includes a first hinge shaft and a second hinge shaft, wherein the first hinge shaft is rotatably mounted in the first hinge hole, and the second hinge shaft is rotatably mounted in the second hinge hole.

Preferably, after the first short side plate and the second short side plate are connected by the hinge, the hinge and the operating member are located within the outer surface of the first short side plate and the second short side.

Preferably, the operating member is integrally formed with the locking tongue, and the operating member comprises lugs and a return spring disposed behind the locking tongue, and the second short side plate is provided with lug mounting holes that cooperates with the lugs; the operating member and the locking tongue are mounted on the second short side plate by snapping the lugs into the lug mounting holes and inserting the locking tongue into the tongue mounting hole.

Preferably, each of two ends of the operating member are provided with a protrusion respectively and the second short side plate is provided with a baffle, and when the operating member is installed on the second short side plate, the baffle restricts the operating member in a direction perpendicular to the second short side plate.

Preferably, the operating member further includes a handle, and both ends of the handle are provided with a limiting portion, and an end surface of the limiting portion is provided with a rotating shaft; the second short side plate is provided with a shaft mounting hole for accommodating the rotating shaft, and the side of the operating member integrally protrudes two protruding blocks provided with a sliding slot matched with the limiting portion, so that the locking tongue is rotationally driven by the handle through cooperation of the rotating shaft and the sliding slot.

Preferably, the operating member further includes a return spring, and the return spring is disposed behind the locking tongue.

Preferably, the operating member is provided with lugs and the first short side plate is provided with lug mounting holes that is cooperated with the lugs, and the lugs are inserted into the lug mounting hole so as to mount the locking tongue on the second short side plate.

Preferably, the adjacent long side plate and the short side plate are connected by a second hinge, which comprises a long side plate hinge shaft provided on the long side plate and hooks and protrusions provided on the short side plate; upper end portion of the long side plate hinge shaft has a side surface including a curved portion and a planar portion, and when the long side plate is perpendicular to the short side plate, the planar portion is perpendicular to end of the protrusions, and when the long side plate is folded relative to the short side plate, the planar portion is parallel to the end of the protrusions, and the hook is used to cooperate with side surface of the long side plate hinge shaft.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a pallet coaming box is provided. The pallet coaming box comprises a pallet and the above frame, wherein the frame is mounted on the pallet.

The frame of the present invention is provided with unlocking devices which may be manually operated at the hinges of two short side plates. When the frame is unfolded and used, the adjacent short side plates can be kept relatively parallel to minimize the deformation of the side plates which are subjected to the tension of the goods, and also increase the effectiveness and reliability of the support and limit when another frame is stacked thereon. During use, the side plates are easy to fold, and the engaging portion of the short side plate can effectively limit the displacement of the side plates when being unfolded, so as to minimize the outwards deformation of the side plates due to the seizure, and improve the reliability of container for loading and transportation or stacking on one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, so that the purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not to limit the scope of the invention, but merely to illustrate the true spirit of the technical solutions of the present invention.

The frame of the present application generally comprises two long side plates and two groups of short side plates opposite thereto, and each group of short side plates comprises two short side plates, wherein the two short side plates are capable of being folded over each other, and the long side plates and the short side plates that are next to each other are capable of being folded over one another. One of the two short side plates is provided with at least one first engaging portion, and the other short side plates is provided with a second engaging portion matching the first engaging portion. A locking device comprising an operating member, a locking member, and a locking structure matching the locking member is further arranged between the two short side plates, wherein the locking member is mounted on a short plate, and the locking structure is disposed on another short plate and the operating member operatively drives the locking member to mutually lock or separately unlock with the locking structure so as to lock or unlock the two short side plates.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference toFIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a frame100in an unfolded state according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a perspective view of the frame100in a folding process according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a perspective view of the frame100in a folded state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the frame100of the present invention includes two opposing long side plates10and two opposing groups of short side plates20. Each group of short side plates20includes two short side plates21,22. The two short side plates21,22belonging to the same group can be folded over each other, and the long side plate10and the short side plate21or the long side plate10and the short side plate22in adjacent positions can be folded with each other.

FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of a long side plate10and a group of short side plates20, andFIG. 5is an exploded perspective view of a group of short side plates20. As shown inFIGS. 4-5, a plurality of first engaging portions211are disposed on the short side plate21, and a plurality of second engaging portions221engaged with the first engaging portions211are disposed on the short side plate22. A locking device30is further provided between the short side plates211and221.

The locking device30includes an operating member31, a locking member32, and a locking structure33that cooperates with the locking member32. In this embodiment, the locking member32is a locking tongue, and the locking structure33is a locking hole, wherein the locking tongue32is integrally formed with the operating member31and is mounted on the short side plate22. The locking hole33is disposed on the short side plate21(as shown inFIG. 5, in this embodiment, the locking hole33is specifically disposed on the first engaging portion211), and the operating member31can be operated to bring the locking tongue32to engage into the locking hole33or withdraw from locking hole33to lock or unlock the short side plates21,22.

As shown inFIGS. 4-5, the first engaging portions211integrally protrude from the short side plate21to the short side plate22. An opening212, which is used to cooperate with a hinge mounting portion223provided on the short side plate22, is provided between the first engaging portions211. In particular, when the first engaging portion211and the second engaging portion221are engaged with each other, the hinge mounting portion223protrudes into the opening212. A first hinge hole213is provided at the bottom of the first engaging portion21, and the first hinge hole213is used to mate with the hinge40, which will be described in detail below.

Front end of the first engaging portion211is provided with a first inclined surface2111, and front end of the locking tongue32is provided with a second inclined surface321that is matched with the first inclined surface. When the two short side plates21,22are moved from the folded state to the unfolded state, the locking tongue32can freely extend into the locking hole33through the cooperative guiding action of the first inclined surface2111and the second inclined surface321.

A recess222is formed in the inner side of the second short side plate22, and the second engaging portion221is disposed in the recess222and integrally protrudes from the recess222into the inside of the frame. When the short side plate21and the short side plate22mutually engage with each other, the second engaging portion222is engaged in the first engaging portion211in a direction perpendicular to the short side plate21. A locking tongue mounting hole224, which is used to receive the locking tongue32, is provided on the sidewall of the recess222facing the short side plate21. This will be described in detail below.

A hinge mounting portion223is provided between the second engaging portions221. When the first engaging portion211and the second engaging portion221are engaged with each other, the hinge mounting portion223is inserted between two first engaging portions211(i.e., in the opening212). The locking tongue32is disposed in the locking tongue mounting hole224. The locking tongue mounting hole224has the same height as the second engaging portion221. The hinge mounting portion223is provided with a second hinge hole225, which engages with the hinge40, so that the short side plate21and the short side plate22are connected through the hinge40.

As shown inFIG. 4, the hinge40includes a first hinge shaft41and a second hinge shaft42. The first hinge shaft41is rotatably mounted in the first hinge hole213, and the second hinge shaft42is rotatably mounted in the second hinge hole225.

As shown inFIGS. 4-5, the operating member31includes lugs311and a return spring312. The return spring312is disposed behind the locking tongue32. The second short side plate22is provided with lug mounting holes226that match with the lugs311. The operating member31and the locking tongue32are mounted on the second short side plate22by snapping the lugs311into the lug mounting holes226and inserting the locking tongue32into the locking tongue mounting hole224.

In this embodiment, each of the two ends of the operating member31is provided with a protrusion313. The second short side plate is provided with a baffle227. When the operating member31is mounted on the second short side plate22, the operating member31is stopped by the baffle227in a direction perpendicular to the second short side plate22.

When assembling, the first hinge shaft41of the hinge40is mounted in the first hinge hole213on the short side plate21, and the second hinge shaft42of the hinge40is mounted in the second hinge hole225on the short side plate22, and thus the first short side plate21and the second short side plate22are connected by the hinge40. The first hinge shaft41is rotatable in the first hinge hole213, and the second hinge shaft42is rotatable in the second hinge hole225, so that the short side plate21and the short side plate22can be folded over each other by the rotation of the first hinge shaft41and the second hinge shaft42.

FIGS. 1A-1Bare enlarged views of part A inFIG. 1, in whichFIG. 1Ashows a state in which two short side plates are locked to each other, andFIG. 1Bshows an unlocked state. As shown inFIGS. 1-1B, when the first short side plate21and the second short side plate22are engaged with each other, the first engaging portion211is engaged with the second engaging portion221, and the hinge mounting portion223protrudes into the opening212. The operating member31is mounted on the second short side plate22, and the protrusions313at both ends thereof are restricted by the baffles227in the direction vertical to the second short side plate22, and the lugs311are snapped into the lug mounting hole226. The locking tongue32is received in the locking tongue mounting hole224and extends into the locking hole33so as to lock the short side plate21and the short side plate22to each other.

As shown inFIG. 1A, when the operating member31is driven to slide rearward so that the tongue32is driven to withdrawn from the locking hole33, the first short side plate21and the second short side plate22are unlocked from each other. As the first engaging portion211and the second engaging portion221can only limit the position of the first short side plate21and the second short side plate22in a direction parallel to the short side plate, the first short side plate21and the second short side22may be folded over each other when unlocked so as to be folded into a folded state as shown inFIG. 3.

FIGS. 2A to 2Care enlarged views of part B ofFIG. 2, andFIGS. 4A to 4Bare enlarged views of parts C and D ofFIG. 4, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 2A-2CandFIGS. 4A-4B, the adjacent long side plate10and the short side plate22are connected by a second hinge50, which includes a long side plate hinge shaft51provided on the long side plate10and hooks52and protrusions53provided on the short side plate22. The side surfaces of the upper end of the long side plate hinge shaft51include a curved portion511and a planar portion512. When the long side plate10is perpendicular to the short side plate22, the flat portion512is perpendicular to the end of the protrusion53, and when the long side plate10is folded relative to the short side plate22, the flat portion512is parallel to the end of the protrusion53. The hook52is used to cooperate with side surface of the long side plate hinge shaft51.

When being unlocked, the operating member31is laterally moved, that is, the operating member31is moved in the direction parallel to the short side plate22, the locking tongue32is separated from the locking hole of the short side plate31, and the short side plates21,22are folded inwards. The opposite short side plates21,22are operated to fold in this way accordingly and finally the side plates are folded into a flat structure as shown inFIG. 3.

During installation, the long and short side plates are parallel to each other, and the long side plate hinge shaft51is embedded in the short side plate hinge mounting groove54. The inclined guide of the long side plate hinge shaft51and the hook52urges the hook52to retreat outward, and the hook52locks the long side plate hinge shaft51in the hinge groove, and at the same time the short side plate rotates to 90 degree with respect to the long side plate, the hinge shaft protrusion cooperates with the short side plate protrusion to limit the mutual disengagement of the long side plate and the short side plate when they are substantially vertical.

The frame according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 6-7B. The main difference between the present embodiment and the previous embodiment is that, in this embodiment, unlocking is achieved by rotating the handle, and in the previous embodiment, unlocking is achieved by sliding the operating member. Therefore, in the place that is not described in detail in this embodiment, refer to the relevant description of previous embodiment.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of a group of short side plates20of another embodiment, wherein the short side plate21and the short side plate22are in a locked state.FIGS. 6A-6Bare enlarged views of the part E inFIG. 6, andFIG. 7Ais an exploded perspective view of a group of short side plates20inFIG. 6.FIG. 7Bis an enlarged view of a portion ofFIG. 7A.

As shown inFIGS. 6-7B, the operating member31A further includes a handle34. Both ends of the handle34are provided with a limiting portion341respectively. The end surface of the limiting portion341is provided with a rotating shaft342. The second short side plate22is provided with a shaft mounting hole228for receiving the rotating shaft342, and two protruding blocks314are integrally protruded from the side surface of the operating member31A. The protruding block314is provided with a sliding slot315engaged with the limiting portion341, so that the handle34rotatably drive the locking tongue32through the cooperation of the rotating shaft342and the sliding slot315.

Similar to the first embodiment, the operating member31further includes a return spring312, which is disposed behind the locking tongue32.

When unlocking, the handle34is turned outwards, and the rotating shaft342rotates in the shaft mounting hole228of the short side plate22, and the limiting portion341is back against the sliding slot315, so that the locking tongue32force the return spring312to yield under dragging of the limiting portion341, and the locking tongue32is eventually unlocked by moving toward the end of the short side plate22.

FIG. 8is a perspective view of the pallet coaming box of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 8, according to another aspect of the present invention, a pallet coaming box300is also provided. The pallet coaming box300includes the above-mentioned frame100and the pallet200. The frame100is mounted on the pallet200. Preferably, a plurality of limiting flanges101are provided on the frame100, and a plurality of frames100can be stacked on the pallet200through the limiting flanges101.

The frame of the present invention is provided with unlocking devices which may be manually operated at the hinges of two short side plates. When the frame is unfolded and used, the adjacent short side plates can be kept relatively parallel to minimize the deformation of the side plates which are subjected to the tension of the goods, and also increase the effectiveness and reliability of the support and limit when another frame is stacked thereon. During use, the side plates are easy to fold, and the engaging portion of the short side plate can effectively limit the displacement of the side plates when being unfolded, so as to minimize the outwards deformation of the side plates due to the seizure, and improve the reliability of container for loading and transportation or stacking on one another.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, while it is to be understood that, after reading the above teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make various modifications or amendments to the present invention. These equivalent forms still fall into the scope limited by appended claims of the present application.