Collapsible container

This invention discloses a collapsible container, comprising a base and two pairs of opposite side walls. The side walls are provided with one or more movable portions extending from the bottom of the side walls. The base is provided with one or more opening pockets, wherein the side walls are disposed in the corresponding opening pockets on the base via the movable portions. A hinge device is provided between the movable portions and the opening pockets. The hinge device comprises: hinge holes provided in the movable portions of the side walls; a guiding device provided in the opening pockets of the base; and a connecter provided with hinge pins and a sliding device to be engaged with the guiding device. The sliding device of the connecter is movable up and down in vertical direction along the guiding device in the opening pockets. The hinge pins are disposed in the hinge holes and are rotable around the hinge pins. When folded, the side walls of the collapsible container according to this invention will not inclined relative to the base. In addition, the collapsible container of the invention can be detached or folded in any consequences without tool.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a collapsible container, in particular a hinge structure of the collapsible container.

BACKGROUND

The empty containers or boxes with fixed side walls need considerable storage space. Therefore, the existing container comprises collapsible side walls to reduce the corresponding volume in unloaded status. Most of these collapsible containers comprise a base in form of rectangular plate structure, wherein the collapsible side walls are coupled to the edges of the base by hinges. When the side walls are in unfolded position, the side walls are coupled to each other via interlocking buckle engagement, wherein engaging latches on one pair of opposite side walls are engaged to the engaging hooks on the other pair of opposite side walls.

For many containers, the side walls are configured to be higher than half of the width of the base, thus the opposite side walls will be overlapped when they are folded towards each other. Therefore, the side wall which is folded later will extend beyond the edge of the side wall which is folded first and will be not parallel to the base but angled. In other word, the side wall folded later is in an inclined position. When a plurality of containers are stacked one above another, corresponding bending movement of the upper side wall positioned angularly occurs, which will cause a damage or deform over time. For such containers, another defect is that several collapsed containers can not be stacked in a stable way.

In order to overcome these defects, the side walls are connected to the shaft with different heights on the sides of the base, so that the side walls are connected to the base at different heights, wherein the side walls connected at lower positions are folded firstly, then the side walls connected at higher positions are folded subsequently, and when two side walls are in folded positions, they are arranged parallel to the base.

However, the height of the opposite side walls are different, which increases the cost of manufacturing and maintaining. Further, the workers must pay more attention during the operation which will affect the efficiency to some extend, since the folding work should be executed sequentially. It needs a more advanced alternative solution to solve this problem.

SUMMARY

The object of this invention is to provide a collapsible container which can be assembled and disassembled without tool and can be folded in any consequences.

In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a collapsible container, comprising a base and two pairs of opposite side walls, characterized in that:

each of the side walls is provided with one or more movable portions extending from the bottom of the side walls, and the base is provided with one or more opening pockets, wherein the side walls are positioned in the corresponding opening pockets on the base via the movable portions;

a hinge device is provided between the movable portions and the opening pockets, wherein the hinge device comprises: hinge holes provided in the movable portions of the side walls; a guiding device provided in the opening pockets of the base; and a connecter provided with hinge pins and a sliding device to be engaged with the guiding device; wherein,

the connecter is movable up and down in vertical direction along the guiding device in the opening pockets via the sliding device, and the hinge pins are disposed in the hinge holes and enable the side walls to be rotated around the hinge pins.

Preferably, according to the collapsible container of the invention, an interlocking device is disposed between at least one side wall and the base, so that the interlocking device prevents the side wall from moving in vertical direction relative to the base when the side wall is in erected status relative to the base, and the interlocking device between the side wall and the base is releasable through the rotation of the side wall around the hinge pins.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sliding device on the connecter is a through hole in the center thereof; the hinge pins are located perpendicular to the axis of the through hole on one or two sides of the connecter; and the guiding device in the opening pockets of the base is a vertical cylinder capable of passing through the through hole, so that the connecter is movable along the axis of the cylinder.

According to anther embodiment of the invention, the sliding device of the connecter is a straight wall disposed on one end of the connecter; the hinge pins are located at the other end of the connecter and perpendicular to the straight wall; and the guiding device in the opening pocket is a straight slot perpendicular to a plane of the base, wherein the straight wall is slidable along the straight slot, so that the connecter is movable along the straight slot.

Preferably, the opening pockets in the base are provided with lateral shoulders with a lateral distance H2from the end surface thereof to the axis of the hinge pin; wherein a distance from the external edge of the movable portion of the side wall disposed in the opening pocket to the axis of the hinge pin is larger than H2.

Preferably, the movable portion is provided with a recess at the lower portion thereof; the hinge hole is an arc profile disposed at the root of the recess; and a narrowed segment is provided between the arc profile and an opening of the recess, so as to prevent the hinge pin from easily dropping off after entering into the recess.

Preferably, the interlocking device comprises ledges provided on the two sides of the movable portion and grooves on the base for engaging with the ledges, so as to restrict a movement of the side wall in vertical direction relative to the base when the side wall is in erected status.

Preferably, the movable portion is provided with an inclined ramp, when connected, the vertical distance from the ramp to the axis of the hinge pin of the connecter is no greater than the vertical distance H2from the axis of the hinge pin to an end surface of the shoulders on the base.

Preferably, the movable portion is provided with a slot at a bottom end on one side thereof, and the base is provided with a baffle, wherein the slot allows the baffle of the base to be received therein when the side walls are erected, so as to restrict the side walls from moving inwardly when suffering external force.

Preferably, the collapsible container is IBC.

When folded, the side walls of the collapsible container according to this invention will not inclined relative to the base. In addition, the collapsible container of the invention can be detached or folded in my consequences without tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with the reference to the drawing in the following, in order to more clearly understand the purpose, the features and advantages of the present invention. 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 substantive spirit of the technical solution of the present invention.

FIG. 1shows a perspective structural view of a general collapsible container. As shown inFIG. 1, a collapsible container100comprises a base1, two pairs of side walls2and3, and locks4for maintaining the side walls2and3in erected positions. When the container are transported in unloaded status, the locks4between side walls2and3are unlocked, then the side walls2and3are folded towards the interior of the container, so that the height of the container is reduced significantly and the transportation cost is saved.

FIGS. 2-7show the structure of connection between the side wall and the base according to the first embodiment of this invention. As shown inFIGS. 2-5, the side walls2and3are provided with one or more movable portions31at the bottom thereof. The side walls2and3can be disposed in one or more corresponding opening pockets11in the base1via one or more movable portions31. Then, the side walls2and3and the base1are interconnected via the hinge device between the opening pockets11and the movable portions31. The hinge device comprises a connecter6with a through hole62(round, square, and the like) in the center thereof and hinge pins61perpendicular to the axis of the through hole62on two or one sides of the connecter. The movable portions31of the side walls are provided with holes for receiving the hinge pins on the connecter6, so that the side walls can be rotated around the hinge pins. The base1is provided with a vertical cylinder12in an opening pocket11which can pass through the through hole62of the connecter, so that the connecter is movable along the central axis of the cylinder12, i.e. in vertical direction.

The specific structure of the connecter6shown itsFIG. 3. The connecter is provided with a circular through hole62and a hinge pin61on each side thereof. The two hinge pins61are coaxial and perpendicular to the axis of the through hole62.

FIG. 4shows a perspective structural view of the connection portion between the base and the side walls. As shown, inFIG. 4, the base1is provided with opening pockets11and11a. Each of the opening pockets11and11ais provided with grooves13on two sides thereof. Each of the opening pockets11is provided with a cylindrical pin12inside thereof. The cylindrical pin can pass through the hole62of the connecter6, so that the connecter6is movable along the axis of the cylinder pin12. The opening pocket11ais provided with lateral shoulders14on the top thereof and a baffle15on the bottom thereof. It shall be noted that, the relative arrangement of the opening pocket11and the opening pocket11acan be changed. For example, inFIG. 4, the left opening pocket can be an opening pocket11a, and the middle one can be an opening pocket11.

FIGS. 5-7show the structure of the connection portion on the side walls, whereinFIG. 7is a partial section view. As shown inFIGS. 5-7, the bottom of the side wall3has movable portions31and31aextending therefrom with a ledge33at each side thereof. The ledge33can be cooperated with the groove13on the base1. That is, the ledges33can enter into the groove13when the side walls3are in erected status, so as to restrict a vertical movement of the side wall3relative to the base1in such status. The side of movable portion31is provided with a slot35in the central portion thereof for receiving the cylinder pin12and with a recess32in the lower portion thereof. The specific structure of the recess32is shown in the sectional view ofFIG. 7. The recess has an are profile321at the root for accommodating the hinge pin62of the connecter. A narrowed segment322is provided between the profile321and the opening of the recess32, so that the hinge pin62in the recess32can not drop off easily.

The movable portion31ais provided with an inclined ramp34and a recess36above the ramp34. When connected, the vertical distance H1from the ramp34to the axis of the hinge pin62of the connecter6is no greater than the vertical117from the axis of the hinge pin62to the end surface of the shoulder14on the base1(seeFIG. 11). In addition, as shown inFIG. 7, the movable portion31ais provided with a slot37at the bottom end on the other side. The slot37allows the baffle15to be received therein when the side walls2and3are erected (seeFIG. 11), so as to restrict the side walls2and3from moving inwardly when suffering external force.

The cooperation among the side walls2and3, the base1and the connecter6is shown inFIG. 8. It shall be noted that, the hinge pins61of the connecter6can be mounted in the recess32of the side walls3in many ways, for example, through interference fit by pressing the hinge pins61into the recess32due to the flexibility of the plastic member, or forming a ramp on the hinge pin61at the non-working angle position with a width less than the width of the narrowed segment322, or dividing the hinge pin61into separate components so that they can be inserted laterally. The purpose of the above solutions is that the side walls2and3can be rotated relative to the connecter6and the connecter6is interconnected with the side walls2and3when the side walls are in working position. Likewise, the shapes of the holes62in the connecter6and the cylinder pin on the base1can vary in practice, such as square, oval, and the like. The side walls can also be connected to the base1by various means such as consequent assembling or inserting inserts, as long as side walls2and3can move relative to the base1up and down in non-erected status and maintain connection with the base1in a certain movement distance.

FIGS. 9 and 10show the positions in the base1of the movable portions31of opposite side walls2and3in different folding sequences. Taking the side wall2as an example, both earlier and later folding sequences allow it overlaps with the base1flatly and snugly. The difference is that the movable portion of the side wall2which is folded later in the base1offsets upwardly a distance by about the thickness of one side wall.

Other thanFIGS. 9 and 10,FIG. 11shows the relationship among features during the rotation of the side walls relative to the base. Taking the side wall3as an example, it is known that the above structure enables the movable portion31to move up and down in the opening pocket11of the base1. The side wall3can be rotated around the hinge pins61of the connecter6, as shown in figures. Assuming the distance from the ramp34on the movable portion31to the axis of the hinge pins61is set as 7 mm, and the vertical distance from the end surface on the shoulders14of the opening pocket11to the axis of the hinge pins61is set as 7.5 mm, then when the side wall3is rotated by a certain angle for example 60 degrees, the ramp34is substantially in an erected status, enabling the movable portion31to avoid the shoulders14. If it is required to detach the side wall3, the base1is disconnected with the side wall by only pulling the side wall3upwardly further so that it can be disengaged from the opening pocket11. When the side wall3is normally rotating within other angle range, the shoulders14can always restrict the movable portions31from leaving the opening pockets11in the base1, so as to ensure the connection between the side wall3and the base during folding and unfolding. The ledges33can be received in the grooves13when the side wall3is in erected status, so as to restrict the side wall3from moving in vertical direction relative to the base1. Further, the ledges33can be disengaged from the grooves13by only rotating the side wall3inwardly. The recess36can engage with the shoulders14in the same way, so as to improve the locking strength between the side wall3and the base1in vertical direction.

FIGS. 12-17show the structure of connection between the side wall and the base according to the second embodiment of this invention. As shown inFIGS. 12-17, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment lies in that, the structure enabling the movable portions31of the side wall3to move up and down in the opening pockets11of the base1is varied as a straight wall72provided on a connecter7and a straight slot16provided on the base (the corresponding structures in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2-7are the hole62and the cylindrical pin11). The straight wall72can be inserted into the straight slot16and moves up and down along it. The straight wall72is provided on one end of the connecter7, and the hinge pins71are provided on the other end of the connecter7and perpendicular to the straight wall72. The remaining features are the same, and the description thereof is not described again.

It should be noted that, in the above embodiments, the engagement structure between the connecter and the opening pocket of the base can employ other engagement structures other than the hole-cylinder pin and the straight wall-straight slot, provided that the connecter can moves up and down in vertical direction in the opening pockets of the base. Indeed, it can works provided that the opening pockets of the base are provided with guiding device, and the connecters are provided with sliding device engaging with the guiding device, enabling the sliding device on the connecter to move up and down in vertical direction along the guiding device in the opening pockets.

When folded, the side walls of the collapsible container according to this invention will not inclined relative to the base. In addition, the collapsible container of the invention can be detached or folded in any consequences without tool.

This invention is suitable for large containers, especially large collapsible transferring containers. The large container herein is a container with volume over 800 L.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be understood that after reading the foregoing teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make various modifications of the present invention or modifications. These equivalents are within the scope of the appended claims.