Collapsible container comprising a container base and four collapsible lateral walls

The invention relates to a collapsible container having a container base and four collapsible walls. The catch mechanism for the lockable lateral walls in their upright assembled condition is a resilient pivotable lock member contained within a recess of the lateral wall having a projecting tongue latching member that cooperates with opposing ramps of a locating lug located on the adjacent wall member to lock the adjacent walls to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP/03/00006 filed on Jan. 2, 2003, which claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 102 00 070.0 filed on Jan. 3, 2002.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a collapsible container according to the preamble of claim1.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Collapsible containers of this type are widely used in trade because the containers can be reduced in size simply by folding the walls inwards on top of each other towards the base, while providing ample transport and receiving volume when the lateral walls are folded outwards into an upright position. Containers of this kind have a container base that is usually rectangular, to which are hinged the edges of the collapsible lateral walls, by articulated hinges or by integrally molded-on film hinges. When in the folded out or upright position, the lateral walls are interconnected by a snap-in catch, with appropriate snap locks on one pair of opposing lateral walls engaging behind corresponding latches on the other pair of opposing lateral walls. However, releasing the catch on this type of collapsible container in order to convert the collapsible container from its service condition with upright lateral walls into the collapsed position with folded-down lateral walls is often problematic. Depending on the design of the collapsible container, folding the lateral walls upwards towards the snap-in catch in order to form the collapsible container is often awkward also, for those who are unfamiliar with the catch mechanism, it is frequently difficult to accomplish. Moreover, some containers give the impression of being very unstable when assembled, because the snap-in catch is not sturdy. Often, the lateral walls of the assembled container are not held firmly by the snap-in catches and therefore remain wobbly. When handled, these assembled collapsible containers are rickety and often collapse by accident, which is of course extremely annoying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a collapsible container with lateral walls that can be folded upwards into an upright position, which ensures that the container's upright-folded lateral walls are interconnected by very sturdy snap-in catches and which permits simple releasing and locking of the lateral walls in their collapsed and upright-folded positions, especially for large collapsible containers.

According to the invention, the catch members are configured as pivoting locks mounted in opposing side walls. Each pivoting lock is expediently shaped as a circular-sector component and mounted on two opposite laterals walls. A pivoting lock of this kind immediately conveys to a non-specialist how to actuate the locking and release mechanism, namely by appropriate rotary movement of the pivoting lock. It is also easy to convey this information visually to the user of the collapsible container, for example by means of an arrow painted on the pivoting lock or otherwise applied thereto.

The pivoting locks are preferably mounted on the short lateral walls of the container. When the lateral walls are to be collapsed, these short walls are folded towards the base first, and then the long lateral walls are folded down onto the collapsed short walls. The pivoting locks are conveniently mounted at the two upper edges of the short lateral walls, in particular at the two upper corner areas of the lateral walls.

Rotation of the pivoting lock is accomplished via a pivot pin which simultaneously serves as a connecting member for mounting the pivoting lock on the lateral wall.

To this end, the pivoting lock is configured with a pivot pin provided with latches. The pivot pin of the pivoting lock is engaged in a corresponding bushing in the lateral wall. In the engaged position, the pivoting lock can then be rotated about the axis of the pivot pin to unlatch the lateral wall for folding the wall towards the base. Of course, it is also possible to configure the pivot pin on the longer lateral wall with the bushing also mounted on the longest lateral walls.

The locking mechanism works via projecting locking tongues configured on the pivoting lock and engaging behind corresponding locating lugs located on the longest lateral walls, on the adjacent side of the corner. The pivoting lock is opened against a pretensioning spring, which, as the pivoting lock is opened, is pressed against a stop and thus pretensioned. When the pivoting lock is then released, the locking tongue extends again automatically and the pivoting lock moves into its rest position. Releasing the lateral walls for folding purposes thus only necessitates manually rotating the pivoting lock, which is easily accomplished by gripping a grip member on the pivoting lock and swinging the grip member upwards; simultaneously with the rotary movement, the lateral walls can be collapsed inwards. According to another configuration or embodiment of the locking mechanism, the opening movement can also ensue by swinging the grip member sideways or downwards; here too, the lateral walls can be collapsed inwards substantially simultaneously. When the pivoting lock is thereafter released, the spring pretensioning force causes it to return to its starting or rest position, in which the locking tongues are extended. If the collapsible container is to be converted from its collapsed condition to its service condition with upright walls, it is merely necessary to fold the two long lateral walls upwards, followed by the two short lateral walls. The locking tongues are pressed in automatically when the ramp surfaces on the front of the locking tongues ascend the ramp surfaces located on the locating lugs, during this motion the springs become pretensioned. As soon as the locking tongues have moved behind the locating lugs, locking of all of the lateral walls ensues automatically. This is because the pivoting lock is rotated by the spring tensioning force that has built up, and the locking tongues are extended to engage behind the locating lugs. Suitable detent members are expediently attached to the lateral walls on the other side of the corner, resulting in a sturdy snap interlocking connection between the collapsible lateral walls, which accordingly do not wobble. The invention is characterized by very easy handling as far as releasing and locking the lateral walls in upright position, and it also guarantees very secure snap connections between the walls, which prevent wobbling of the lateral walls. Actuation, that is, opening and closing, of the collapsible container also ensues automatically by appropriate actuation on the part of the user of the collapsible container, by gripping the pivoting locks and rotating them to release the locking tongues and in turn the lateral walls can then be collapsed inwards onto the base. To assemble the container in its service form, it is only necessary to fold the lateral walls upwards. Locking of the lateral walls to form sturdy, snap-in connections ensues automatically, without the need for manual operation of the pivoting locks, ascent ramps or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the pivoting lock member is designated generally by the reference numeral1. The pivoting lock member1is accommodated in a first collapsible lateral wall2, which, in the embodiment illustrated, is one of the short lateral walls of a rectangular container made up of four collapsible lateral walls. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the collapsible lateral walls are hinged via suitable hinge joints or molded-on film hinges to the base of the container and can be folded inwards, one above the other. To do this, first the opposing short lateral walls2are folded inwards onto the container base, then the two long lateral walls, which are likewise opposite each other and are adjacent to the short lateral walls2, are folded inwards, on top of the folded-down short lateral walls2, onto the base. The second lateral walls, also referred to here as long lateral walls, are denoted by the reference numeral3.

To accommodate the pivoting lock member1, the first collapsible lateral wall2is provided with a corresponding complementary recess4. This is especially apparent fromFIG. 4. When inserted into the recess4, the pivoting lock member1is advantageously mounted within the recess4such that it is substantially flush with the short lateral wall2and does not project beyond the exterior surface thereof. For mounting, the pivoting lock member1is configured with a pivot pin5that has a latch6at its free end. In the embodiment illustrated, two opposing, flare-shaped latches6are provided. Via this pivot pin5, the pivoting lock member1can be inserted and locked in a bushing7configured within the recess4in the first collapsible lateral wall2. To accomplish the insertion of the pivoting lock member1into the complementary recess4, the pivot pin5is provided with a through radial slot8, so that, when the pivot pin5is being inserted into the bushing7, the pivot pin5can be pressed together to some extent. As soon as the latches6have been pushed through the bushing7, the pivot pin5expands again on account of the elastic restoring forces. The pivoting lock member1is thus releasable by reversing this procedure, but is at the same time firmly and sturdily locked with the first collapsible lateral wall2in which it is nevertheless rotatably mounted.

As is apparent, the pivot pin5/bushing7connection described here forms the pivot center for the pivoting lock member1. As is best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the pivoting lock member1is configured as a circular-sector-shaped component, the center of which is formed by the centrally disposed pivot pin5. For purposes of actuation, the pivoting lock member1is provided, behind a grip recess9, with a grip member10within a grip ledge. The pivoting lock member1is additionally configured with a projecting locking tongue11, which, in the locked position illustrated inFIG. 1, engages behind a locating lug12on the adjacent long lateral wall3on the other side of the corner (seeFIG. 5). As best seen inFIG. 3andFIG. 5, both the projecting locking tongue11and the inwardly-projecting locating lug12on the adjacent long lateral wall3have an inclined ascent ramp or ramp surface13and14respectively, which have matching gradients. Locking ensues on account of two contacting surfaces, namely the surface X on the long lateral wall3(FIG. 5) and the surface Y on the pivoting lock member1or its projecting locking tongue11(FIG. 2). In the locked position illustrated inFIG. 1, the pivoting lock member1is pretensioned by a pretensioning spring15which, in the embodiment described, is either molded integrally with the pivoting lock member1or is otherwise mounted thereon. In this embodiment, the pretensioning spring15is configured as an arcuate flexible tongue. This pretensioning spring15interacts with a stop16on the first or short lateral wall2. As shown inFIG. 4, this stop16is configured as a U-shaped molding which projects into the recess4. Once again, the stop16is expediently molded integrally with the short lateral wall2. When the pivoting lock member1is in the installed position, the free end of the pretensioning spring15abuts the stop16. In the locked position, the two surfaces X and Y abut against each other, and the short and long lateral walls2,3are held in the upright position. By opening the pivoting lock member1, rotating it counterclockwise as shown inFIG. 1in the direction of arrow17the two surfaces X and Y rotate away from each other to allow the short and long lateral walls2,3to be collapsed. On account of its previously described pretension, the pretensioning spring15springs into its rest position. During closing of the short and long lateral walls2,3, the rotary movement is generated automatically by the ramp surfaces14and13by lifting the grip member10to move the projecting locking tongue11away from the locating lug12. By way of the rotary movement one defines, so to speak, the position of a “surface”, as a result of which a form closure is created. To release the pivoting lock member1from the position illustrated inFIG. 1, the grip member10is rotated about the pivot pin5in the direction of arrow17; as a result, the pretensioning spring15is tensioned against the stop16. With this opening movement in the direction of arrow17, the projecting locking tongue11is released from its locking position behind the locating lug12, so that the first short lateral wall2can be collapsed inwards onto the base of the container. If one lets go of the grip member10here, the pivoting lock member1moves in the opposite direction of arrow17, i.e., in the engaging position of the projecting locking tongue11, because of the spring tension that has built up. This does not hinder the opening movement, however, because the short lateral wall2has already collapsed down towards the base, and the projecting locking tongue11has already passed over the locating lug12.

If the container is to be assembled again, the short and long lateral walls2,3are snapped into locking position. The two short lateral walls2are folded upwards; shortly before the upright position, the ramp surfaces13of the projecting locking tongues11reach the inclined ascent ramp14of the respective locating lug12, causing the pivoting lock member1to rotate automatically in the direction of arrow17. As a result, the projecting locking tongues11pass behind the locating lugs12and then, on account of the spring tension, engage. This happens because while the projecting locking tongues11are ascending the locating lugs12via the ramp surfaces13and14, the respective pivoting lock member1is swiveled in the direction of arrow17, thereby pretensioning the pretensioning spring15so that, after passing over the locating lugs12, the pivoting lock members1, which are preferably mounted at the two upper edges, i.e., at the two upper corner areas of the two first, oppositely disposed short lateral walls2, can be moved—thanks to the pretensioning spring15—into the snap-in position behind the locating lugs12. This configuration ensures a very secure snap connection for the assembled short and long lateral walls2,3, these being snapped very easily into locking position by folding the opposing short lateral walls2into the upright position. The pivoting lock members1need not be actuated to do this.

To limit the movement of the pivoting lock member1, an arcuate guide element18, in the form of an oblong hole, is configured within the recess4, into which guide element18a catch member19configured on the pivoting lock member1or mounted thereon engages. The ends of the oblong guide element18thus limit the movement of the pivoting lock member1.

The pivoting lock member1is expediently coupled with a safety catch that prevents the pivoting lock member1from opening and thus prevents the first collapsible lateral walls2from accidentally collapsing when several containers are in stacked position. The safety catch is expediently configured as an upwardly projecting locking pin30located on the upper edge of the pivoting lock member1, approximately at the position indicated by20, and in particular being configured integrally with the pivoting lock member1. When the pivoting lock member1moves in the direction of arrow17, thus releasing the locking mechanism, the locking pin30moves upwards out of a corresponding opening32at the upper edge of the first collapsible lateral wall2. However, the movement of the locking pin30is blocked by the base of the container stacked above the container in question, so that the pivoting lock member1of a stacked container cannot be rotated in the direction of arrow17and thus opened.

In order to ensure that the assembled or upright short and long lateral walls2,3are securely locked in position, the second lateral walls3are expediently provided with detent members against which the upright first collapsible lateral walls2abut. This arrangement prevents the latter from swinging further outwards. To this end, as is seen inFIG. 5, detent ridges21are configured immediately behind the locating lug12. It is useful here if the detent ridge21has an opening28, for example a slot, so that the position of the pivoting lock member1is apparent from the exterior. This is easier if the projecting locking tongue11has different colors. Additional detent members22and23with groove-like recesses24and25are configured at the upper and lower edges of the long lateral wall3. When the container is assembled, corresponding flexible elements26and27on the first short lateral wall2move into these groove-like recesses24and25, thus ensuring sturdy and reliable snap-in connections between the upright short and long lateral walls2,3. This is of substantial importance for customer acceptance of collapsible containers of this kind.

The pivoting lock members1are expediently of integral configuration, being made, in particular, of plastic, and engaging as a single component in the complementary recess4in the first collapsible lateral wall2. This facilitates both the production process and use. The advantage of the pivoting lock member1consists in that a catch mechanism is provided which is very easy to operate and which permits secure locking and releasing even of large containers, especially large containers measuring 60×80 cm or more. Just a single action and a single operation, namely gripping and rotating the pivoting lock member1using the grip member10, are required to release and simultaneously collapse the short and long lateral walls2,3in the direction of the base. The short and long lateral walls2,3also engage automatically with each other when they are folded upwards to assemble the container, which is of substantial importance for customer acceptance of this catch mechanism and of the collapsible containers. This system simultaneously guarantees a very sturdy container configuration of upright, mutually engaged lateral walls.