Shipping container for packing units

Abstract: Foldable shipping container for individual packing units which has a plurality of side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) integrally connected to a bottom section (12). The plurality of side walls are foldable, in one direction, with respect to the bottom section so as to be movable from a common plane with the bottom section to a position which is substantially normal to the bottom section. The bottom section is provided with a plurality of recessed regions (30) on a first side or interior section of the container and a plurality of protrusions (32) which extend from a second side of the bottom section. The protrusions and recesses are concentric to one another to assist in the stacking or nesting of the individual containers, in both their unfolded and folded configurations. The wall sections of the foldable container are connected to the bottom section by hinged folding line (18, 20, 26, 28) which permits movement of the walls in a single, predetermined direction. A channel (34) is provided along the exterior of each of the walls of the container which receives a device (36) for securing and holding the sections in their position which is substantially normal to the bottom section.

Description: The present invention relates to a shipping container in which a plurality of individual packing units may be easily transported, according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a shipping container, disclosed in DE-A-3046954, both before and after use in the transporting of the packing units, may be folded and unfolded so as to facilitate storage and reuse. Shipping containers have been utilized in which individually packed units are transported within the shipping container. An example of such a container is US-A-3,841,477. Therein, a outer container for packing units is disclosed in which the outer container comprises a substantially rectangular sheet of relatively rigid material. The sheet is provided with two parallel folding lines which are placed at a distance from one another and are parallel with opposite parallel edges of the sheet. The provision of two parallel folding lines effectively divides the sheet into three sections, i.e., a base section and two lateral sections. The lateral sections are set up by folding the sections about the parallel folding lines so as to form a U-shaped container. Individual packing units are then tightly packed onto the base area and held between the lateral sections of the container. Notches are provided in edge portions of the lateral sections so as to receive one or more cords or bands which are arranged around the lateral sections so as to maintain the lateral sections in the folded position and to tightly secure the individual packing units within the outer container. An additional example of a container is disclosed in US-A-3,561,595. Therein, a tape cartridge holder is provided which has a floor member with opposing and hingedly connected flap-type side walls. The side walls are connected, through the hinge, to the floor portion and extend across the floor and upwardly to terminal edge portions. Cut-outs are provided along an upper section of each of the sidewalls so as to receive a resilient arrangement which is provided to connect the flap walls and to hold them together in an assembled and upright manner. The container also includes opposite partial end walls of a truncated, triangular shape. The opposite edges of the end walls further define the container area when in a raised position. When assembled, the container provides side walls which slope inwardly toward the area defined by the raised side and end wall panels. Accordingly, a base area is provided which is larger than the open area defined and bounded by the upraised side and end portions. This particular arrangement permits the elastic member, holding the side walls together, to be expanded so that the individual units packed therein can move relative to one another so as to more clearly expose each of the units for view when packed in the container. Another example of such a holder or container is US-A-466,384. Therein an account book holder is provided in which a bottom section and two side walls which can be folded up from the bottom and secured in place by a cord member. A single end wall section is provided which is connected to each of the side wall sections. The end wall section is hinged to the bottom section so as to close one end of the container. However, a fastening arrangement in the form of a cord is connected to both side wall sections so that the end wall section may be displaced from its fully upright position. In the alternative, the cord member would permit the end wall section to be retained in a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the bottom wall section while permitting the side wall sections to be moved outwardly, i.e., to a position defining an oblique angle with respect to the bottom wall section. This arrangement permits the side walls to be displaced from their substantially perpendicular position so as to allow easy access and to the contents of the holder and permit the contents of the holder to move relative to one another. Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping container for a plurality of individual packing units which overcomes the drawbacks of the above-discussed containers so as to permit the plurality of shipping units to be conveniently and neatly packaged for shipment and removal from the shipping container and which permits the shipping container to be neatly stackable, along with a plurality of other containers, in either its folded or unfolded configuration. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to prevent dirt or other particles from accumulating in the bevelled hinge connections between base and side wall when the container known from DE-A-3046954 is in its unfolded state. The foregoing object is achieved by providing a foldable shipping container for individual packing units as defined in claim 1. The wall sections of the foldable container are connected to the bottom section by hinged folding line which permits movement of the walls in a single, predetermined direction. A channel is provided along the exterior of each of the walls of the container which receives a device for securing and holding the sections in their position which is substantially normal to the bottom section, i.e., the container being in a folded state and provided with the plurality of individual packing units. In a preferred embodiment the wall portions of the unit are provided with a groove which extends along the length of the side walls and which is adapted to receive a top section slidable within the groove so as to define a closed container of predetermined volume. The top section can be provided with an arrangement to either slide directly into the grooves of the walls or be provided with mating and corresponding groove sections so as to further facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the top section from the grooved walls. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a top view of the shipping container in an unassembled configuration; Fig. 2 is an end view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view of the shipping container in a partially assembled state with individual packing units assembled therein; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled shipping container; Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the assembled shipping container; Fig. 6 is a side sectional view of the shipping container in a partially disassembled condition; Fig. 7 is a further embodiment of the shipping container in a partially disassembled condition; Fig. 8 is a side view of a plurality of unfolded stacked crates as shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 9 is a side view of a plurality of stacked crates when in a folded position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally indicates the shipping container in an unfolded, unassembled state. A bottom section, on which individual packing units will be supported, is indicated at 12. Side walls 14 and 16 are connected to the bottom section along folding lines 18 and 20 which also define hinges. End walls 22 and 24 are connected to the bottom section 12 along folding lines 26 and 28 which define hinges. A plurality of recesses, four in number as shown in Fig. 1, are indicated at reference numeral 30. The recesses 30 are provided in the bottom wall section 12. The recesses 30 are located axially inwardly of the folding lines 18, 20, 26 and 28. Protrusions 32, shown in Fig. 2, extend from the bottom wall section 12 in a downwardly direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. The protrusions 32 are concentric with the recesses 30. The recesses 30 and protrusions 32 will be described in more detail below. The foldable shipping container is also provided with a channel arrangement 34 in each of the side and end walls 14, 16, 22 and 24. The channel is indicated at reference numeral 34. The channel 34 receives a strap arrangement 36 when the side and end walls are in a raised position so as to secure the side and end walls in the raised position and permit the foldable container 10 to serve as a shipping container. The strap 36 is secured by a heat seal arrangement 38 along an exterior side 40 of the side walls and end walls. A top edge portion of each of the side walls 14, 16 and end walls 22, 24 is identical with one another. Accordingly, for purposes of this description, only one top edge portion will be discussed. A top edge portion of end wall 16 is provided with a groove 42. Between the groove 42 and the top edge 44 of the wall, a tongue portion 46 is defined. The groove 42 and tongue 46 of each of the side walls is provided along an interior portion 48 of each of the side and end walls, respectively. The interior 48 refers to the location of the side and end walls when the side and end walls sections 14, 16, 22 and 24 are in a raised and secured position so as to form the assembled shipping container. The arrangement of Fig. 3 shows the shipping container 10 in a partially assembled state in which individual packing units 50 have been packed in the shipping container 10 so as to be positioned and supported by the bottom wall section 12. Therein, end wall section 22 is shown in its raised position which is substantially normal to the bottom wall section 12. Side walls 14 and 16 are shown in a partially raised position from that depicted in Fig. 1. A top lid 52 is shown and is adapted to be received in the groove 42 provided in the side walls. When each of the side walls 14, 16, 22 and 24 are in the raised, i.e., substantially normal position to the bottom wall 12, the top 52 is inserted into the groove and tongue arrangement 42, 46 so as to secure the plurality of individual packing units 50 in the foldable shipping container. With reference to Fig. 4, an assembled shipping container is shown in which the exterior side walls 40 are held in the assembled position by a securing means 36 received in the channel 34. The top 52 is shown in greater detail and in an assembled position with respect to the side walls. Therein, it can be seen that the top 52 is also provided with a groove 54 and lip portions 56 and 58. The lip portion 58 extends over the top edge 44 of the side walls and the lip 56 extends over the top edge 44 of the end wall 24. The groove 54 is defined therebetween and receives the tongue section 46 of the side walls. Accordingly, an interlocked top 52 is provided so as to enclose the plurality of individual packing units 50 contained within the assembled shipping container. In order to facilitate handling of the shipping container, handle arrangements are provided are in the form of openings 60 in the end walls. Fig. 5 shows a side view, in cross section, of the assembled and filled shipping container. Therein, it can be seen that for ease of assembly of the top 52 to the shipping container, a gradually tapering slot 60 is provided along the interior side wall portion 48. The gradually tapering slot 60 is mated with a mating gradually tapering extension 62 of the lip portion 56. With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, the shipping container may be disassembled so as to provide ease of access to the individual packing units 50 which were packed inside during shipment. Therein, it can be seen that the individual packing units 50 are originally packed in the assembled shipping container in an upside down orientation. Accordingly, when the shipping container is to be emptied of its contents, it is inverted in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7. If the top wall 52 is desired to be retained as a base support element for the individual packing units, it may be placed on any type of support platform and the securing strap 36 is removed by breaking the heat seal 38. Upon removal of the securing strap 36, the wall sections, shown in Fig. 6 as walls 14 and 16, may be partially folded away from their normal position with respect to the bottom section 12 and the integral foldable container as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be lifted off the plurality of individual packing units 50 as supported on the top shelf section 52. In the arrangement of Fig. 7, the foldable container is again inverted, in this arrangement, the securing strap is not removed. Instead, the top shelf 52 is slid through the tongue and groove arrangement described in conjunction with Figs. 4 and 5 so as to open the assembled packing container and permit the individual packing units 50 to drop out of the shipping container in an upright position. With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the foldable shipping containers of the present invention can be stacked and nested upon one another without relative movement therebetween when being shipped in a filled or packed condition or when being returned in an unfolded condition. More specifically, Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which the unfolded shipping containers 10 are nestled, one on the other, with the protrusions 32 extending into the concentric recesses 30 provided in the bottom wall section of the shipping container. Such an interlocked arrangement will permit a plurality of unfolded shipping containers to be stacked on a pallet or other convenient moveable storage arrangement so as to be shipped in a neatly packaged arrangement. Further, the protrusions also cooperate with the embodiment of Fig. 3 in which a top section 52 is slid directly into the groove arrangement 42. When such a sliding top arrangement, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, is utilized, the protrusions 32, being axially spaced inwardly from the interior of the side walls are snugly received therein. Further, as the sliding top 52 is displaced a distance from the top edge 44 which corresponds to the tongue section 46, the protrusions 32 are received within the space defined by the tongue section 46 and above the top of the lid or top section 52. From the foregoing arrangement, it can be seen that a returnable and foldable container is provided which may be continually reused for the transport of individual packing units. The returnable container may be manufactured of injected molded plastic (polypropylene, polyethylene or similar material). The shipping container 10 is of one piece construction in which the side and end walls are connected to a bottom wall section by a hinge arrangement. The hinge arrangement is provided so as to permit the side and end walls to only bend in a direction substantially normal to the bottom wall section 12. The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing application. The invention which is intended to be protected herein should not, however, be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: A foldable shipping container for packages (50) wherein the container (10) has a rectangular base (12) and four side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) hingedly connected to the base (12) along each of the four sides of the base (12) by a, bevelled hinge (18, 20, 26, 28) the base and four side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) being formed of molded plastic material and being formed integrally with each other, characterized by the bevelled hinge (18, 20, 26, 28) being arranged so that the bevelled sides of the hinge engage each other when the side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) are folded outwardly to lie in a common plane with the base, the side walls having bevelled edges to form the corners of the container (10) when the side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) are folded upwardly and the side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) having channels (34) along the outside surface (40) of the side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) for receiving a strap (36) to hold the side walls together in an upright position. A foldable shipping container for packages according to claim 1, wherein said strap (36) as securing means encircles said side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) and has first and second ends connected by a heat seal (38). A foldable shipping container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two (14, 16) of said side walls each have groove (42) in the interior side which extends substantially the length of said side walls (14, 16). A foldable shipping container according to claim 3, wherein all of the four side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) each have a groove (42) in said interior side which extends for substantially the length of said side walls (14, 16, 22, 24). A foldable shipping container according to one of the claims 1 - 4, wherein a top section (52) is provided in said groove (42) so as to define a closed container (10) of predetermined volume. A foldable shipping container according to one of the claims 1 - 5, wherein cut-out areas are provided in at least one of said side walls (14, 16, 22, 24). A foldable shipping container according to one of the claims 5 or 6 wherein said top section (52) includes a tongue portion (56) received in said groove (42), a lip portion (58) extending over an edge (44) of said side walls (14, 16) opposite said folding line and a gap (54) defined between said tongue portion (56) and said lip portion (58) to receive an extension (46) of said side walls (14, 16). A foldable shipping container according to one of the claims 1 - 7, wherein the base (12) has protrusions (32) at each corner on its outer surface and recesses (30) on its inner surface, said recesses (30) and said protrusions (32) being substantially concentric so as to permit a first foldable container to be stacked with at least a second foldable container also provided with said substantially concentric recesses (30) and provisions (32). A foldable shipping container according to claim 8, wherein said protrusions (32) are positioned axially inwardly of said folding lines (18, 20, 26, 28) so as to permit said protrusions (32) to be positioned axially inwardly of each of said side walls (14, 16, 22, 24) when said side walls are in said position substantially normal to said bottom section (12).

Inventors: MOROVSKIS HARIJS BRUNO, MOROVSKIS, HARIJS BRUNO
Applicants: TETRA ALFA HOLDINGS, TETRA ALFA HOLDINGS S.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D6
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D6, B65D21