Foldable container

An object and bulk material holding container having a floor attached to corner units for supporting upright walls. The corner units have enclosed pockets for receiving lower ends of the posts joined to the walls. Cooperating notch and tabs on the posts and corner units function in conjunction with the lower ends of the posts to hold the walls in generally upright positions. Foldable gates extend adjacent posts. The gates can be folded down onto the top of the floor along with the walls to place the container in a collapsed storable condition. In one form the floor has laterally movable extensions that are locked in selected positions to change the width of the floor.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
Containers for bulk materials and objects are the subject matter of the 
invention. The containers include a box-like structure having upright side 
and end walls that fold down over a floor to provide a compact and 
portable unit. 
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
Wood and metal boxes are used to store and transport objects and bulk 
materials in industrial and commercial applications. The boxes are open 
top containers having a floor unit permanently attached to upright, side 
and end walls. The corners of the containers may be reinforced with 
upright legs which support the containers on a supporting surface or the 
ground. The floor unit may be elevated above the support surface to enable 
forklift vehicles to move the container and stack it on top of another 
container. Empty containers are either stored or shipped to a location 
where they can be reloaded. The containers occupy considerable space which 
is a disadvantage during storage and empty shipping. Containers have been 
provided with removable side and end walls which allow them to be taken 
apart for storage and shipping. The separate side and end walls can be 
lost or damaged. Considerable time and labor are used to take these 
containers apart and put them back together. Containers have been 
constructed with folding end walls and drop gates mounted on floor units. 
The end walls and gates are hinged to a floor unit so that they can be 
folded down onto the top of the floor unit. Releaseable locks associated 
with corner assemblies are used to hold the end walls in a generally 
upright position. The folding container of this invention is an 
improvement of the prior art folding containers. 
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a container with upright walls having posts 
mounted on corner means attached to a base or floor unit. The walls of the 
container are adapted to be folded down in a generally flat position on 
top of the floor unit so that they can be stored and shipped in a 
relatively confined space. Each corner means has generally upright walls 
providing an open top enclosed pocket. The posts include lower ends that 
are adapted to be confined within the pockets. Cooperating means on the 
posts and corner means hold the posts in upright positions. The posts are 
movably connected to the corner units to allow a limited upright movement 
sufficient to move the lower ends from the pockets and release the 
cooperating means. The raised walls are free to be moved to folded 
positions on the top of the floor unit. 
In one embodiment of the container, corner means are attached to a 
generally rectangular floor assembly supported on the ground with skids. 
The container has end walls having generally upright posts. Each post has 
a lower end locatable in an open top enclosed pocket in a corner means. 
Each corner means has notches for receiving tabs on a post to retain the 
post in the generally upright position. Upright side walls are releasably 
connected to the posts to complete a box-like container. The side walls 
are connected to the posts with releasable latch means which in 
cooperation with the side walls retain the posts in assembled relation 
with their corner means. The latch means can be disconnected from the 
posts to allow the side members to be folded down onto the top of the 
floor unit. The end walls can be raised to move the lower ends of the 
posts out of the pockets and release the tops from the notches to allow 
them to be folded down on top of the folded side walls. The entire 
container is folded into a relatively flat condition which allows for 
compact storage and shipping. 
Another embodiment of the container has a floor assembly joined to corner 
means for accommodating generally upright posts. The posts have lower ends 
located within open top enclosed pockets for each corner unit. Cooperating 
tab and notch structures retain the posts in generally upright positions. 
The floor assembly has laterally movable extensions which can be locked in 
selected lateral positions to alter its width. The lateral extensions can 
be moved to an in or contracted position. The posts can be folded down on 
top of the floor unit to provide a compact folded container.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the container of the invention 
indicated generally at 20 for supporting objects, bulk materials and the 
like. Container 20, as shown in FIG. 1, is a open top box structure. FIG. 
2 shows the container 20 in its folded position for storage and transport. 
Container 20 has a base unit 21 attached to end walls 22 and 23. Side walls 
or gates 24 and 26 extend between end walls 22 and 23 to form the box-like 
structure. Base unit 21, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a pair of 
longitudinal side rails or beams 27 and 28 and transverse end members 29 
and 31. As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of cross beams 32 and 33 extend between 
and are joined to side rails 27 and 28. A pair of longitudinal beams 34 
and 36 extend between and are secured to cross beams 32 and 33. An open 
mesh rod floor 37 is secured to side rails 27 and 28 and end members 29 
and 31. Floor 37 comprises a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinal 
rods 38 and a plurality of laterally spaced transverse rods 39. The floor 
can be solid or slotted wood, sheet metal, or the like. Base unit 21 has 
corner units 41, 42, 43, and 44 joined to adjacent ends of side rails 27 
and 28 and end members 29 and 31. As shown in FIG. 4, stacking plugs 46, 
47, 48, and 49 are secured to the bottom of each of corner units 41-44 
respectively. Base unit 21 has a pair of skid bars 51 and 52 for 
supporting the container on floor 53. As shown in FIG. 6, skid bar 52 
extends between the corner units 42 and 44 below end member 29. An upright 
post 54 connects the midsection of skid bar 52 to end member 29. 
Referring to FIG. 6, end wall 22 is mounted on corner units 41 and 43 and 
extends in a generally upright direction. End wall 22 has a pair of 
upright posts or columns 56 and 57 and an upright wall 58. Wall 58 extends 
between posts 56 and 57 and is secured thereto. Wall 58 is a metal sheet 
member having a plurality of horizontal reinforcing ribs 59. As shown in 
FIG. 8, the lower portion of wall 58 has a downwardly directed transverse 
lip 60 located adjacent the inside of the upper edge of an upright wall 61 
secured to the top of end member 29. Returning to FIG. 1, the top of posts 
56 and 57 are reinforced with collars 63 and 66 surrounding holes 64 and 
67. End wall 23 is identical in construction to end wall 22. End wall 23 
has a pair of upright posts or tubular columns 69 and 71 mounted on corner 
units 42 and 44. An upright wall 72 extends between posts 69 and 71. 
Opposite ends of wall 72 are secured by welds or the like to posts 69 and 
71. The top of posts 69 and 71 have holes 70 and 70A. The plugs on the 
bottom of similar size second container are adapted to fit into the holes 
in the top of posts 56, 57, 69 and 71 to facilitate the stacking of the 
second container on top of container 20. 
Corner units 41-44 are identical in structure. The following description is 
directed to corner unit 41. Referring to FIGS. 5 to 12, corner unit 41 is 
a generally U-shaped structure having an upright back 73, upright side 
flanges 74 and 75, and an upright front wall 76 secured together to form a 
generally upright enclosed pocket 77. The top of pocket 77 is open. Outer 
side flange 74 has a gusset portion attached to side rail 27. The lower 
end of post therefor 57 fits or telescopes into pocket 77 through the open 
end thereof. The bottom of corner unit 41 has a flat plate 78 attached to 
back 73, flanges 74 and 75, wall 76 and plug 46. When the lower end of 
post 56 is in pocket 77, the bottom of the post rests on plate 78. The 
side walls of post 56 are located close to the inside of back 73, flanges 
74 and 75, and wall 76 to restrict lateral, front, and rear horizontal 
movements of post 56 and stabilize the upright position of post 56. Post 
56 is an elongated square tubular member that fits into a square pocket 
77. Other cross sectional shapes as rectangular or circular can be used 
for the post and structure providing pocket 77. 
As shown in FIG. 9, side flanges 74 and 75 have upright aligned slots 79 
and 81 partially covered with plates 82 and 83 secured to the outside of 
side flanges 74 and 75. A pair of spring biased locking members 84 and 85 
extend through a transverse hole 90 in the lower end of post 63. The 
opposite ends of locking members 84 and 85 fit into slots 79 and 81. A 
compression spring 95 located between locking members 84 and 85 biases the 
locking members in opposite outward directions. The outer ends of locking 
members 84 and 85 slide on the inside surfaces of plates 82 and 83 to 
allow upright movement of post 57. Plates 82 and 83 function as stops to 
hold locking members 84 and 85 in hole 90 and assembled relation with the 
lower end of post 57. Slots 79 and 81 are elongated generally upright 
direction which allows post 57 to be moved upwardly relative to corner 
unit 41. When post 57 is in the up position, as shown in broken lines in 
FIG. 9, locking members 84 and 85 project through the opposite ends of 
hole 90 and engage portions 57B of the wall of post 57 which prevents 
locking members 84 and 85 from being pushed out of hole 90. The outer ends 
of locking members 84 and 85 engage the top edges of slots 79 and 81 in 
post 57 to prevent unintentional separation of post 57 from corner unit 
41. The upper ends of slots 79 and 81 have sizes that permit locking 
members 84 and 85 to turn thereby allowing post 57 to be folded down 
adjacent floor 37. When posts 56 and 57 and associated end wall 22 are in 
the down or folded position locking members 84 and 85 prevent end wall 22 
from separating from corner units 41 and 43. Posts 69 and 71 have similar 
locking members that cooperate with corner units 42 and 44 to retain end 
wall 23 in assembled relation with corner units 42 and 44. 
The upper ends of side flanges 74 and 76 have V-shaped notches 86 and 87 in 
general vertical alignment with slots 79 and 81. Tabs 88 and 89 are 
secured to opposite sides of post 57 by welds or the like. Each tab 88 and 
89 has the generally V-shape or taper with downwardly converging side 
edges that fit with a wedge fit into a notch. Tabs 88 and 89 in 
cooperation with pocket 77 for the lower end of post 57 hold post 57 in a 
generally upright position. Post 56 has a pair of tabs 91 and 92 secured 
to opposite sides thereof that fit into generally V-shaped notches in the 
top of corner unit 43. Posts 56 and 57 cooperating with corner units 41 
and 43 hold end wall 22 in a generally upright position. End wall 23 can 
be folded to a generally horizontal position on top of floor 37. End wall 
23 is initially raised as indicated by arrow 93 in FIG. 12. This moves 
tabs 88, 89, 91, 92 from the respective notches in corner units 41 and 43. 
End wall 22 can be swung to a down position as shown in FIG. 2. 
Side walls 24 and 26 are folding or drop gates that are identical in 
structure. The following description is limited to side wall 22 as shown 
in FIG. 5. Side wall 24 has a lower section 96 and an upper section 97 
extended between posts 56 and 71. Lower section 96 comprises a plurality 
of laterally spaced upright rods 98 joined to a plurality of laterally 
spaced horizontal rods 99 to provide a mesh or grid-work gate. A 
horizontal bottom rod 101 extends through a plurality of inverted U-shaped 
hinge members 102, 103, 104, 105 secured to the top of side rail 27. A 
horizontal flat plate 106 is secured to the top rod 98 forming the top of 
lower section 96. Side wall 24 can be pivoted to a down or folded position 
adjacent the top of floor 37. Releasable latches or retainers 108 and 109 
on posts 57 and 71 hold lower section 96 in a generally upright position. 
Retainers 108 and 109 are identical in structure. The following 
description is limited to retainer 108. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, 
retainer 108 comprises an upright bracket 111 having an upright groove or 
slot 112. Bracket 111 is a generally U-shaped member that is secured by 
welds or the like to the side of post 57. Groove 112 faces the end of side 
wall 24. A pin 113 is secured by welds or the like to the end of plate 106 
facing bracket 111. Referring to FIG. 14, the lower section 96 of side 
wall 24 can be raised to remove head 114 from pocket 116 as indicated by 
arrow 117. This also releases retainer 109 on post 71. As shown in FIG. 7, 
hinge members 102-105 have elongated upright pockets that allow rod 101 to 
have limited upright movement. This movement is sufficient to allow pin 
113 and its head 114 to be removed from pocket 116 of bracket 111. 
Upper section 97 has rod-grid structure comprising a plurality of laterally 
spaced upright rods 118 joined to a plurality of vertically spaced 
horizontal rods 119. The bottom rod 121 fits through a plurality of hinge 
members 122, 123, 124, and 125 secured to the top of plate 106. Hinge 
members 122-125 are generally inverted U-shaped members having a passage 
for accommodating rod 121. A pair of releasable latches 126 and 127 are 
secured to the upper opposite corners of the upper section 97. Latches 126 
and 127 are identical in structure and function to hold the upper section 
97 in a generally upright position between posts 57 and 71. Latches 126 
and 127 also limit the upright movement of side wall 24 and hold the end 
walls in upright locking relation with corner units 41 and 43. Latch 126 
has a block 128 secured to the upper end of post 57. As shown in FIGS. 16 
and 17, block 128 has a hole 129 facing the upper section 97 of side wall 
24. A plate 131 is secured to the upper corner of the upper section 97. A 
lock bolt 132 is slidably mounted on plate 131 with a pair of generally 
U-shaped ears 134 and 136. A U-shaped handle 133 secured to bolt 132 is 
used to facilitate the longitudinal movement of bolt 132 from a lock 
position as shown in FIG. 15 to a release or unlock position. When bolt 
132 is in the lock position its end projects into hole 129 in block 128. 
Pin 128 limits upward movement of post 57 as wall 28 is connected to side 
beams 27. Side wall 28 when locked in the upright position retains posts 
57 and 71 in their upright locked positions on corner units 41 and 42. 
Side wall 26 performs the same function for posts 56 and 69. When bolt 132 
is moved in the direction of arrow 135 it is released from bracket 128. 
This allows upper section 97 to pivot downward to a folded position 
adjacent floor 37. Lower section 96 is raised to release retainers 108 and 
109. The entire side wall 28 can then be folded to a flat position 
adjacent the top of floor 37. Side wall 26 is folded adjacent the top of 
floor 37 in a similar manner. The folded containers, as seen in FIG. 2, 
can be stacked for efficient storage thereof. 
Container 20 is normally used in its erected position shown in FIG. 1. The 
side walls 24 and 26 are retained in their upright positions with 
retainers 108 and 109 and releasable locks 126 and 127. End walls 22 and 
23 are held in the upright positions by corner units 41, 43, 42 and 44 
respectively. The container 20 is folded to its collapsed position as 
shown in FIG. 2 without disassemblying any of its components in minimum of 
time and labor. This is accomplished by releasing latches 126 and 127 of 
the side walls 24 and 26. The upper sections of the side walls are folded 
in a downward position adjacent the inside of the lower sections of the 
side walls. The side walls 24 and 26 are then raised to release them from 
retainers 108 and 109. Each entire side wall can then be folded down onto 
the top of floor 37. 
End walls 22 and 23 are folded to their down positions as shown in FIG. 2. 
The end walls 22 and 23 are raised until the bottom ends thereof clear 
pockets 77 in the corner units. Locking members 84 and 85 will move to the 
upper portions of the slots 79 and 81 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 9. 
Spring 95 biases the locking members 84 and 85 in outward directions so 
that the end walls cannot be removed from corner units 41 and 43. End 
walls 22 and 23 can then be pivoted or moved downwardly into their flat 
folded positions. Locking members 84 and 85 retain the end walls 22 and 23 
in assembled relation with their associated corner units when they are in 
the folded position. 
The end walls 22 and 23 can be removed from their associated corner units. 
Locking members 84 and 85 can be moved inwardly to released positions. 
This allows the lower ends of the posts to be moved upwardly out of the 
corner units. A new end wall can be readily inserted into the corner 
units. 
Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, there is shown a modification of the 
container of the invention indicated generally at 200. Container 200 in 
the erected position has upright end walls 202 and 203 joined to opposite 
ends of a base unit 201. The width of the base unit 201 can be expanded to 
accommodate wide objects. As shown in FIG. 19, container 200 can be 
collapsed by folding end walls 202 and 203 onto the top of base unit 201 
to facilitate its transportation and storage. 
Base unit 201, as shown in FIG. 20, has a pair of longitudinal side beams 
204 and 206 located on opposite sides of a longitudinal center beam 207. A 
plurality of cross beams 208, 209, 211 and 212 extend between beams 204, 
206, 207, and form therewith a generally rectangular frame structure. As 
shown in FIG. 21, ground engaging runners 213 and 214 secured to opposite 
ends of beam 204 serve as supports that engage the ground or floor 216 for 
base unit 201. Additional runners can be secured to beams 204, 206, and 
207. 
Returning to FIG. 20, base unit 201 has side extension units 217 and 218 
adapted to be located in outward opposite lateral positions to increase 
the width of base unit 201. Extension unit 218 has a longitudinal side 
rail 219 and a pair of laterals arms 221, 222, 223, and 224. Arms 221-224 
are longitudinally spaced along the length of rail 218 and slidably fit 
into the ends of transverse beams 208, 209, 211, and 212. FIG. 23 shows 
the sliding relationship between arm 222 and beam 209. Returning to FIG. 
20, extension 218 is held in a fixed position with respect to longitudinal 
beam 206 with releasable lock pins indicated generally at 226, 227, 228, 
and 229. The lock pins are identical in construction. The following 
description is limited to lock pin 226. As shown in FIG. 23, arm 222 has a 
side wall 231 with a hole 232. A block 233 is secured to the outside of 
beam 209. Block 233 has a hole 234 accommodating lock pin 236. Pin 236 
extends through hole 232 to prevent longitudinal movement of arm 222 
relative to beam 209. Releasable holding structure, such as a locking clip 
(not shown) can be used with the outside end of pin 236 adjacent an eye 
238 to lock pin 236 in assembled relation with block 233. A cable assembly 
239 is used to retain eye 238 and pin 236 in assembled relation with base 
unit 201. 
Extension unit 217 is identical in structure to the extension unit 218. 
Unit 217 has a longitudinal rail 241 joined to a plurality of arms 242, 
243, 244, and 245. Arms 242-245 are slidably accommodated in the ends of 
the cross beams 208, 209, 211, and 212 respectively. Releasable lock pins 
246, 247, 248, and 249 hold the arms in a selected position relative to 
cross beams 208, 209, 211 and 212. 
A floor 251 comprising a wire mesh is located over and secured to the 
lontitudinal beams 204, 206, and 207 and cross beams 208, 209, 211, and 
212. The floor 251 can be a wood plank floor in lieu of the wire mesh. 
As shown in FIG. 20, corner units indicated generally at 252, 253, 254, and 
255 are joined to the corners of the bottom unit 201. The corner units 
252-255 are substantially identical in structure to the corner unit 41 
shown in FIGS. 5 to 12. Each corner unit has laterally spaced upright side 
walls joined to a front wall and a rear wall. A transverse gusset plate 
270 is secured to one side wall. These walls surround a open top enclosed 
pocket in the lower portion of the corner unit. The upper ends of the side 
walls have notches for accommodating tabs on posts 262, 263, 263A, and 
264A. The lower ends of posts 262, 263, 263A and 264A when in upright 
positions telescope into the pockets and the tabs fit in the notches in 
the side walls to retain the upright positions of the posts. As shown in 
FIG. 21, a cross end beam 256 is joined to corner units 253 and 255. A 
similar cross beam 260 extends between corner units 252 and 254. Plugs 257 
and 258 secured to the bottoms of corner units 253 and 255 are used for 
stacking the container on additional containers. A transverse runner 259 
is located between corner units 253 and 255 below end beam 256. Runner 257 
is joined to an upright central post 261 attached to the middle of end 
beam 257. Runner 259 has a generally flat bottom surface adapted to 
support the container on the floor 216. 
End wall 202 has upright columns or posts 262 and 263 mounted in the 
upright assembled relation with corner units 253 and 255. A cross member 
264 is joined to the mid-sections of posts 262 and 263. The lower ends of 
posts 262 and 263 are movably attached to corner units 253 and 255 with 
releasable locking members (not shown). The structure of locking members 
is shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
An extender assembly indicated generally at 266 is located across the upper 
ends of posts 262 and 263. Extender assembly 266 comprises a generally 
horizontal box beam 267 extended between and secured to the upper ends of 
posts 262 and 263. A first plate 268 is slidably located in one end of 
beam 267. Plate 268 has a plurality of holes 269 to allow for lateral 
adjustment of plate 268 relative to post 262. A lock pin 271 shown in FIG. 
23, used to hold plate 268 in fixed relation relative to post 262. Lock 
pin 271 extends through a hole 272 in a bar 273 secured to the side of 
cross member 267. Releasable holding structure, such as a lock clip (not 
shown) associated with pin 271 holds pin 271 in assembled relation with 
bar 273. 
A second bar 276 is slidably accommodated in the opposite end of cross 
member 267. Bar 272 has a plurality of holes allowing for selected lateral 
adjustment thereof. A plate 278 secured to cross member 267 accommodates a 
lock pin 279 used to move bar 276 in its selected position relative to 
column 263. End wall 203 has the same structure as end wall 202. The parts 
of wall 203 that corresponds to wall 202 have the same reference numbers 
with the suffix A. 
In use, container 200 is erected by locking end walls 202 and 203 in 
upright positions on their respective corner units. The end walls 202 and 
203 are pivoted in an upright position adjacent opposite ends of container 
200. The corner units 253 and 255 hold the end wall 202 in an upright 
position. The corner units 252 and 254 hold the end wall 203 in an upright 
position. Each post has a pair of tabs 281 that fit into generally 
V-shaped grooves 282 in an associated corner unit to releasably lock the 
end wall in the generally upright position onto base unit 201. Extension 
units 217 and 218 can be moved to their out positions by initially 
releasing lock pins 226-229 and 246-249. When the extension units 217 and 
218 are in their desired positions, the lock pins 226-229 and 246-249 are 
replaced. Container 200 is ready to be loaded with cargo or objects to be 
shipped. 
Container 200 can be reverted to its collapsed storage position by folding 
end members 201 and 202 down against the top of the base unit. This is 
accomplished by elevating the end walls 202 and 203 thereby releasing the 
locking tabs from the corner units. The end walls 202 and 203 can then be 
pivoted toward each other adjacent the top of base unit 201, as shown in 
FIG. 19. Extension units 217 and 218 are moved to their in positions. This 
is achieved by removing lock pins 227-229 and 246-249 and sliding arms 217 
and 218 into the ends of the cross beams 208, 209, 211, and 212. Lock pins 
227-229 and 246-249 are then reinserted into their respective holes 
thereby holding the extension units 217 and 218 in their in positions. 
While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of the 
container of the invention it is understood that changes in the structures 
including the base unit, end walls, and corner units may be made by those 
skilled in the art without departing from the invention.