COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER

Abstract: A collapsible container (10) includes a container body which includes a plurality of body members (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30), at least some of which are hingedly connected together by lockable hinge mechanisms (66, 70, 74, 76) so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state. The lockable hinge mechanisms (66, 70, 74, 76) include locking means for locking the container body in its erect state and its collapsed state.

Description: COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER THIS INVENTION relates to a collapsible container. For the purposes of this specification, the word "container" should be construed to mean a reusable container of the type having a predetermined or standard size and shape used for the transport of commercial goods or cargo, typically by sea, but also by rail or by road, in accordance with a concept commonly referred to as containerisation. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by lockable hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, the lockable hinge mechanisms including locking means for locking the container body in its erect state and its collapsed state. The body members may include a top, a base opposed to the top, and opposed sides which extend between the top and the base to form an orthogonal or boxed construction when the body is in its erect state and which are collapsed inwardly, so that the top and the base are displaced towards each other, when the body is in its collapsed state. Thus, the container of the invention will have a body which can relatively easily be changed, or collapsed, from an erect or operative configuration in which it can be used, to a collapsed or inoperative configuration, in which it can, for example, be stored or transported, and vice versa. At least one of the lockable hinge mechanisms may be an erect state lockable hinge mechanism which includes a link part and body parts which are pivotally linked to the link part and which is adjustable between an extended state in which the container body is in its erect state and a folded state in which the container body is in its collapsed state, and erect state locking means for locking the erect state lockable hinge mechanism in its extended state thereby locking the container body in its erect state. The erect state locking means may include openings in the link parts and the body parts which are in register when the or each said hinge mechanism is in its extended state so that inserting a locking member to extend through the registering openings of the or each said hinge mechanism locks the or each said hinge mechanism in its extended state. The locking member may be a locking pin. The locking pin may be tapered to facilitate easy insertion and withdrawal of the locking pin from the openings. The body members may include side panels and the erect state lockable hinge mechanisms may hingedly connect the side panels to one another. The collapsible container may include collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms which are arranged so that at least two of the said hinge mechanisms are adjacent one another when the container body is in its collapsed state and collapsed state locking means for locking the said pair of hinge mechanisms together thereby locking the container body in its collapsed state. The collapsed state locking means may include openings in the pairs of collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms which are in register when the container body is in its collapsed state so that inserting a locking member to extend through the registering openings locks the said hinge mechanisms together. The locking members may be locking pins as hereinbefore described. The body members may include side panels, a top and a base and the collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms may hingedly connect the side panels to the top and to the base. The container body, in the collapsed state, in top plan view and in bottom plan view, may resemble the container body in the erect state in top plan view and in bottom plan view. Further, in side view, the container body in the collapsed state may be flatter or slimmer by about 30 - 35% compared with the container body in the erect state, ie the body may have a height in its collapsed state of about 30 - 35% of its height in its erect state. The hinge mechanisms will thus be arranged so that appropriate hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members, when the container body is in its erect state, causes displacement of the top relatively towards the base and appropriate hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members when the container body is in its collapsed state causes displacement of the top relatively away from the base. More particularly, each side member may include an upper and a lower side panel and the hinge mechanisms may be arranged so that, when the container body is collapsed, the upper and lower side panels are displaced foldingly and inwardly so that the body collapses concertina-fashion with the top being displaced towards the base. The body members may include upper and lower side panels, the upper side panels having lower engagement portions and the lower side panels having upper engagement portions, which upper and lower engagement portions are engaged when the container body is in its erect state, and sealing means for providing a seal between the upper and lower engagement portions when the container body is in its erect state to prevent ingress of water into the container. Each upper and lower engagement portion may be a profiled portion, the profiled portions being shaped so that, in their engaged state, a generally vertically oriented channel-shaped gap is defined between the profiled portions, the sealing means being provided by a deformable sealing member located sealingly in the gap. The profiled portions may be shaped so that the generally vertically oriented channel-shaped gap extends between a pair of generally horizontal channel-shaped gaps extending respectively outwardly from the inside of the container body and inwardly from the outside of the container body. Instead, each upper and lower engagement portion may be a profiled portion, the profiled portions being shaped so that, in their engaged state, a generally horizontally oriented gap is defined between the profiled portions, the sealing means being provided by a deformable sealing member located sealingly in the gap. The lockable hinge mechanisms may include removable hinge pins so that, by removal of the hinge pins, the hingedly connected body members can be disconnected from one another. The hinge pins may, for example, be provided with screw threads for screw-threaded engagement with an extraction device having a complementary screw thread for extraction of the screw pins. The hinge mechanisms may include bushes in which the hinge pins are received or receivable. Typically, the bushes will be of Vesconite (trade name) or of Nylon (trade name) The container may include removable doors. Thus the container body may include releasable or disconnectable door hinges by which the or each door is connected or connectable to the container body when it is in its erect configuration. The door hinges may include tapered hinge pins. The container body may have opposed ends with a pair of doors at each of its ends. The container body may include attachment means for attaching a lifting mechanism to the body or for securing two container bodies together. The attachment means may include slots opening into cavities in the container body, of the type used with twist locks for lifting or interlocking conventional shipping containers. The invention extends, further, to a collapsible container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, at least some of the body members being engagement members which are engaged when the container body is in its erect state, and sealing means for providing a seal between the engagement members in their engaged state, when the container body is in its erect state, to prevent ingress of water into the container. The engagement members may be upper and lower side panels as hereinbefore described. The container body may include lockable hinge mechanisms as hereinbefore described. The invention extends to a container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body parts, at least some of which are connected together by releasable connection means so that, by releasing the releasable connection means, the body parts can be disconnected from one another so that the container body can be disassembled. The releasable connection means may include hinge mechanisms, having removable hinge pins. The invention extends to a container assemblage, which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by lockable hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, the lockable hinge mechanisms including locking means for locking the container body in at least one of its erect state and its collapsed state and at least one door which is mountable on the body in its erect state. The or each door may be receivable within the container body in its collapsed state. Thus, in its collapsed state, the container body may define an opening or cavity which is large enough to permit the door or doors to be received within the opening or cavity. The container body may be as hereinbefore described. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a collapsible container in accordance with the invention comprising a container body and four doors with one of the doors shown removed and positioned alongside the container body and two doors shown stowed inside the container body; Figure 2 shows the container body of Figure 1 in a partially collapsed state; Figure 3 shows the container body of Figure 1 in a fully collapsed state; Figure 4 shows a side-view of the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 shows an end-view of the container of Figure 1 with two doors in position; Figure 6 is an exploded view of the container of Figure 1 ; Figures 7 - 9 are sectional side-views of sealing arrangements of the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 1 0 shows the positions of the sealing arrangements of Figures 7 - 9 on the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 1 1 is a sectional end-view of the container of Figure 1 in its collapsed state; Figure 1 2 shows a detail of Figure 1 1 ; Figure 1 3 shows a hinge pin of the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 14 shows a door hinge of the container of Figure 1 ; Figures 1 5 - 28 are enlarged views of components of the hinge , mechanisms of the container of Figure 1 ; Figure 29 shows a partly exploded view of part of the container of Figure 1 in an extended configuration; Figure 30 shows the part of Figure 29 in a folded configuration; Figure 31 shows a side view of three of the containers of Figure 1 in their collapsed states and stacked on top of one another; Figure 32 shows an end view of the stacked containers of Figure 31 ; Figure 33 shows a three-dimensional view of the container of Figure 1 from below; Figure 34 shows a sectional view of a rubber seal used on the container of Figure 1 ; Figures 35 - 37 are sectional side-views, similar to Figures 7 - 9, of other embodiments of sealing arrangements of the container of Figure 1 ; and Figure 38 shows the positions of the sealing arrangement of Figures 35 - 37 on the container of Figure 1 . Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 0 generally indicates a collapsible container in accordance with the invention. In Figure 1 the container 1 0 is shown in its erect state. In Figures 2 and 3 the container 1 0 is shown, respectively, in a partly collapsed state and in its fully collapsed state. Referring in particular to Figure 6, which is an exploded view, the container 1 0 consists of a top 1 2, a base 1 4, a left upper side panel 1 6, a right upper side panel 1 8, a left lower side panel 20, a right lower side panel 22 and four doors 24, 26, 28 and 30. These parts of the container are of steel and are of welded construction. The top 1 2 consists of a rectangular frame 32 surrounding a rectangular roof portion 34. The roof portion 34 is a profiled sheet member of corrugated construction having laterally extending strengthening ridge formations 35. The frame 32 includes two shorter end frame members 32.1 , 32.2 and two longer side frame members 32.3, 32.4. Block-shaped reinforcing structures or corner blocks 38 which are integral with the frame 32 are located at the corners of the frame 32. Downwardly extending side portions 40, 42 extend from the longer frame members 32.3, 32.4 and each forms an upper part of the side of the container 10 as can be seen, in particular, in Figure 1 . Downwardly directed hinge components 44, which are described in further detail below, are located at the corners of the frame 32 and downwardly directed hinge components 46, also described in further detail below, are located in the middles of the longer frame members 32.3, 32.4. The hinge components 44, 46 are partly covered by plates 45, 47 respectively which are also integral with the frame. The base 14 consists of a frame 50 surrounding a floor 52. The frame 50 includes two shorter end frame members 50.1 , 50.2 and two longer side frame members 50.3, 50.4. Each side frame member 50.3, 50.4 forms a bottom part of a side of the container 1 0, as can be seen in particular in Figure 1 . The longer frame members 50.3, 50.4 are profiled members which are each provided with six spaced apart vertically extending strengthening formations 53. They are also provided with openings 50.5 each positioned about one third way from an end of the frame member fcr accommodating the lifting members of a forklift truck as can be seen, in particular, in Figure 33. The longer frame members 50.3, 50.4 include strengthening end members 50.6, 50.7 integral with the frame 50 and the corner blocks 50.8, 50.9 and a central strengthening strut formation 50.10. Hinge components 54 which are described in further detail below are located at the ends of the larger frame members 50.3, 50.4 and hinge components 56 which are also described in further detail below are located on the central reinforcing strut formations 50.1 0. The floor 52 consists of a plurality of spaced apart cross members 60, as can be seen in Figure 33, which are covered with longitudinally extending floor boards 62. A cross piece 64 partly overlaps the shorter frame member 50.2 and ends of the floor boards 62 as can be seen, in particular, in Figure 1 . This cross piece allows a fork lift truck to be driven into the container 10 in its erect state. The left upper side panel 1 6 includes two upright reinforcing end members 1 6.1 , 1 6.2 and an upright central reinforcing member 1 6.3. Profiled panel members 1 6.4, 1 6.5 extend between the reinforcing members 1 6.1 , 1 6.3 and 1 6.3, 1 6.2. Each profiled panel member 1 6.4, 1 6.5 includes longitudinally extending reinforcing ridge-shaped formations 1 6.6 of rectangular profile each having a width of about 1 1 2mm and a vertically extending ridge formation 1 6.7. Hinge components 64, 70, as described in further detail below are integral with the upper and lower ends of the reinforcing end members 1 6.1 , 1 6.2 and hinge components 68, 66, also described in further detail below, are integral with the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the central reinforcing member 1 6.3. The left lower side panel 20 resembles the left upper side panel 1 6 and the same numbers, but now prefaced with a 20 instead of a 1 6, are used to indicate the same or similar features of the panels 20 and 1 6. Hinge components 70, 74 both as described in further detail below, are integral with the upper and lower ends respectively of the reinforcing end members 20.1 , 20.2 of the side panel 20 and hinge components 66, 76 also described in further detail below are integral with the upper and lower ends respectively of the central reinforcing member 20.3. The right upper and right lower side panels 1 8, 22 are identical to the left upper and left lower panels 1 6, 20 and, for clarity, the components of these panels have not been numbered in Figure 6. In Figure 6, the lower right side panel 22 is shown connected to the base 14. The doors 24, 26, 28, 30 resemble doors of the type normally used on conventional shipping containers. The door 24 includes a frame comprising longer upright members 24.1 , 24.2 and shorter cross members 24.3, 24.4 surrounding a door panel 24.5. The door panel 24.5 is of profiled construction ' having laterally extending upper, middle and lower inwardly directed reinforcing formations 24.1 3 (Figure 1 ) and a centrally located longitudinally extending formation 24.14 between the middle and lower formations 24.1 3. Conventional latch bars 24.6, 24.7 are secured to the frame members 24.3, 24.4 and the panel 24.5 and each is provided with a conventional latch handle 24.8, 24.9. The longer frame member 24.1 includes four hinges 24.1 0. Referring to Figure 14, each hinge 24.10 includes a broadly S-shaped member 24.1 1 having an open-ended cylinder formation 24.1 2 at one end for accommodating hinge pins 90 secured to the reinforcing end members 1 6.2, 1 8.2, 20.2, 22.2 as can be seen in particular in Figure 1 . The doors 26, 28, 30 resemble the door 24 and, for clarity, have not been numbered in the drawings. In its assembled state, as depicted in Figure 1 , the top 1 2, base 14 and side panels 1 6, 1 8, 20, 22 are held together by hinge mechanisms comprising the hinge components referred to above and described in further detail below. Reference is now also made to Figures 1 5 - 28, which show the components of the hinge mechanisms. The top 1 2 is secured to the left upper side panel 1 6 and the right upper side panel 1 8 by coupling of the hinge components 44, 46 of the top 1 2 with the complementary hinge components 64, 68 respectively of the left and right upper side panels 1 6, 1 8. The hinge component 46 is shown in Figures 1 7 and 18. It consists of a hollow, rectangular block-shaped part 46.1 with an open end and a closed end and a rectangular coupling part 46.2 projecting from the closed end. The component 46 is of cast construction and the block-shaped part is hollow to reduce the material use and the mass of the component 46. The part 46.1 has an upper face 46.1 0 and a lower face 46.3. The connecting part 46.2 has an upper face 46.4 which is co-planar with the upper face 46.10 of the block- shaped part and a lower face 46.5 which stands proud of the face 46.3 being separated from it by a curved shoulder 46.6. A cylindrical hinge pin opening 46.7 extends through the connecting part adjacent the block-shaped part 46.1 . The end of the connecting part 46.2 remote from the block-shaped part 46.1 has a bevel 46.9 extending from the face 46.4. The block-shaped part 46.1 has dimensions of about 260 x 140 x 50mm and the coupling part 46.2 has dimensions of about 105,5 x 56 x 60mm. The hinge components 44 (not shown on an enlarged scale in the drawings) resemble the hinge component 46 and whenever reference is made to a part of the hinge component 44, the same numbers are used as for the component 46 but prefaced with a 44 instead of a 46. The component 44 differs from the component 46 in that the dimensions of the block-shaped part are about 240 x 1 70 x 50mm and the dimensions of the coupling part are about 1 1 3 x 70 x 60mm. Each hinge component 44 further includes a locking pin opening (which can be seen in Figure 6), with an oval profile, spaced from the hinge pin opening 44.7 towards the end of the coupling part 44.2. The hinge pin opening is about 49mm from the locking pin opening. The hinge component 68 of the left upper side panel is shown in Figures 1 9 and 20. The component 68 includes a hollow rectangular block-shaped part 68.1 with an open end and a closed end and a pair of coupling parts 68.2, 68.3 projecting from the closed end. The block-shaped part has an upper face 68.4, separated by a shoulder 68.5 from co-planar upper faces 68.6, 68.7 of the coupling parts 68.2, 68.3, and a lower face 68.8 which is co-planar with lower faces 68.9, 68.10 of the coupling parts 68.2, 68.3. The ends of the coupling parts 68.2, 68.3 have curved parts 68.1 1 , 68.1 2 extending from the faces 68.9, 68.10, as can be seen in particular in Figure 20, and a bevelled lower edges 68.1 5 extending from the faces 68.6, 68.7. Registering hinge pin openings 68.1 3, 68.14 extend through the coupling parts 68.2, 68.3. The block-shaped part 68.1 has dimensions of about 140 x 1 60 x 50mm and the coupling parts 68.2, 68.3 have dimensions of about 108 x 60 x 41 mm each and are about 58mm apart. The hinge components 64 (not shown on an enlarged scale in the drawings) resemble the component 68 and differ from it only in that the block- shaped part has dimensions of about 1 70 x 1 60 x 50mm and the coupling parts have dimensions of 1 08 x 60 x 49mm and are about 72mm apart. Again, whenever reference is made to a part of the component 64, the numbers used for the component 64 are the same as those used for the component 68 but prefaced with a 64 instead of a 68. When the top 1 2 is connected to the left upper sided panel 1 6, the connecting parts 44.2, 46.2 of the components 44, 46 are received between the coupling parts 64.2, 64.3 and 68.2, 68.3 of the hinge components 64, 68 with hinge pins 71 (Figure 6) extending through the hinge pin openings 64, 1 3, 64.1 4 and 68.1 3, 68.14. The base 14 is secured to the left and right lower side panels 20, 22 by coupling of the hinge components 54, 56 of the base with the hinge components 74, 76 respectively of the left and right lower side panels 20, 22. The hinge components 54 are shown in Figures 21 and 22. The components 54 resemble the components 68 and the same numbers, but prefaced with a 54 instead of a 68, are used to indicate the same or similar features of the components 54 and 68. The components 54 differ from the components 68 in that the block-shaped part 54.1 has dimensions of about 1 70 x 1 60 x 50mm and the coupling parts 54.2 and 54.3 have dimensions of about 1 06 x 42 x 60mm and are about 86mm apart. The components 54 further differ from the components 68 in that the hinge pin openings 54.1 3, 54.1 4 are close to the block-shaped part, being about 31 mm away in the part 54 and about 71 mm away in the part 68, and the coupling parts 54.2, 54.3 have locking pin openings 54.1 6, 54, 1 7 respectively, the opening 54.1 6 extending partway through the coupling part 54.2 and the opening 54.1 7 extending fully through the part 54.3. The openings 54.1 6, 54.1 7 are spaced about 56mm from the openings 54.14, 54.1 3 towards the ends of the coupling parts 54.2, 54.3. It should also be noted that the hinge component 54 shown at the near end in Figure 6 has hinge pin openings as depicted in Figures 21 and 22 whilst the hinge component shown at the far end in Figure 6 has hinge pin openings which extend fully through the coupling part 54.2 and partly through the coupling part 54.3, in other words, one can be regarded as a "left-handed" component and the other as a "right-handed" component. The hinge components 56 (not shown on an enlarged scale in the drawings) resemble the hinge components 54 and differ from them in that the locking pin openings are absent, the dimensions of the block-shaped part are 140 x 1 69 x 50mm and the dimensions of each coupling part are 106 x 1 69 x 50mm, and the coupling parts are 72mm apart. Again, whenever reference is made to a part of the hinge component 56, the numbers used for the component 54 are used but prefaced with a 56 instead of a 54. The hinge components 74 of the lower side panels 1 8, 20 are shown in Figures 27 and 28. The components 74 resemble the components 46 of Figures 1 7 and 1 8 and the same numbers, but prefaced with a 74 instead of a 46, are used to depict the same or similar features of the components 74 and 46. The components 74 differ from the components 46 in that the block- shaped part 74.1 has dimensions of about 1 62 x 170 x 50mm and the connecting part 74.2 has dimensions of about 84 x 106 x 60mm. The component 74 further differs from the component 46 in that the hinge pin opening 74.8 is spaced from the block-shaped part 74.1 by about 76mm in the component 74 and about 35,5mm in the component 46. The hinge component 76 is shown in Figures 25 and 26. The component 76 resembles the component 74 of Figures 27 and 28 and the same numbers, but prefaced with a 76 instead of a 74, are used to indicate the same or similar features of the components 76 and 74. The component 76 differs from the component 74 in that the block- shaped part 76.1 has dimensions of about 140 x 1 62 x 50mm and the connecting part 76.2 has dimensions of about 106 x 70 x 60mm. When the base 14 is connected to the lower left and right side panels 1 8, 20, the connecting parts 74.2, 76.2 of the hinge components 74, 76 are received between the coupling parts 54.2, 54.3 and 56.2, 56.3 of the hinge components 54, 56 with hinge pins extending through the registering hinge pin openings 54.1 3, 54.14 and 74.8 of the hinge components 54, 74 and through the corresponding registering hinge pin openings 56.1 3, 56.1 4 and 76.8 in the hinge components 56, 76. The upper and lower left and right side panels 1 6, 20 and 1 8, 22 are secured together in the same way by coupling of the hinge components 66 and 70 of the upper side panels 1 6, 1 8 to the identical hinge components 66 and 70 of the lower side panels 20, 22 by means of links 80, 82 respectively. The hinge component 66 is shown in Figures 23 and 24. The component 66 resembles the component 68 of Figures 1 9 and 20 and the same numbers, but prefaced with a 66 instead of a 68, are used to indicate the same or similar features of the components 66 and 68. The component 66 differs from the component 68 in that the block-shaped part has dimensions of about 1 70 x 100 x 50mm and the coupling parts 66.2, 66.3 have dimensions of about 1 05 x 60 x 94mm and are about 84mm apart. The component 66 further differs from the component 68 in that it has locking pin openings 66.1 5, 66.1 6 in the coupling parts 66.2, 66.3 spaced inwardly about 42.5mm from the hinge pin openings 66.1 3, 66.14. The hinge pin opening is about 64mm from the block-shaped part 66.1 . The hinge component 66 further differs from the component 68 of Figures 1 9 and 20 in that it includes a shelf-like part 66.1 7 extending between the coupling parts 66.2, 66.3 below the locking pin openings 66.1 5, 66.1 6. The link 80 is shown in Figures 1 5 and 1 6. It consists of a block-shaped body having an upper side with an upper side face 80.1 and a lower side 80.2. The upper side face 80.1 is flat with a rectangular profile. The lower side 80.2 has a similar rectangular profile but consists of a flat raised central face 80.3 and lower side faces 80.4 separated by curved shoulders 80.5. The link 80 has end faces 80.6 separated from the side faces 80.4 by curved shoulders 80.7. The link 80 further has left and right side faces 80.8, 80.9 extending between the upper side face 80.1 and the faces 80.3, 80.4. Hinge pin openings 80.10, 80.1 1 extend through the link 80 from the side face 80.8 to the side face 80.9 approximately below the shoulders 80.5 and locking pin openings 80.12, 80.1 3 also extend through the link from the side face 80.8 to the side face 80.9 below the side faces 80.4. The side face 80.1 has dimensions of about 186 x 80mm. The distance from the raised central face 80.3 to the side face 80.1 is about 60mm and from the side faces 80.4 to the side face 80.1 is about 50mm. The openings 80.10, 80.1 1 are about 60mm apart and the openings 80.1 2, 80.1 3 are about 42.5mm from the openings 80.1 0, 80.1 1 . The hinge components 70 and their links 82 resemble the hinge components 66 and the links 80. Again, the numbers used to indicate parts of the hinge components 70 and links 82 are the same as those used for the components 66 and links 80 but prefaced with 70 and 82 respectively instead of 66 and 80. The hinge components 70 (not shown on an enlarged scale in the drawings) differ from the components 66 only in that the dimensions of the block-shaped part are about 1 40 x 1 00 x 50mm and the dimensions of the coupling parts are about 1 05 x 60 x 35,5mm and are about 70mm apart. The links 80 (also not shown on an enlarged scale in the drawings) differ from the • links 82 only in that the width of the block-shaped body is 68mm instead of 82mm. In an embodiment of the invention, the links 80,82 are provided with grub screws for securing the hinge pins in their openings. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the links 80,82 are provided with circumferentially extending grooves on the faces 80.6, 80.8, 80.9 with an O-ring or rubber seal provided in the groove for sealing the hinge mechanisms which link the upper and lower side panels 1 6, 1 8, 20, 22 to prevent ingress of water into the container 1 0. When the upper and lower side panels 1 6, 20 and 1 8, 22 are connected together, the links 82 are partly received between the coupling parts 70.2, 70.3 of each of the hinge components 70 on the upper and lower panels 1 6, 20 and 1 8, 22 and the links 80 are partly received between the corresponding parts of the hinge components 66 on each of the upper and lower side panels 1 6, 20 and 1 8, 22 with hinge pins (which can be seen in the drawing of Figure 6 and on an enlarged scale in Figures 29 and 30) extending through the registering hinge pin openings of the hinge components 66, 70 and links 80, 82. When the container 1 0 is in its erect state, as depicted in Figure 1 , locking pins 86 (Figures 29 and 30) are inserted through the registering locking pin openings of the hinge components 70, 66 and the links 82, 80, thereby locking the container it its erect state. Removal of the locking pins allows the upper and lower side panels 1 6, 1 8, 20, 22 to fold inwardly, as shown in Figure 2, until the container 10 is in its fully collapsed state as depicted in Figure 3. As can be seen in Figure 2 and in Figure 30, as the container 10 collapses, the coupling parts 44.2, 46.2 of the hinge components 44, 46 on the top 1 2 of the container are aligned with the hinge components 54, 56 on the base 14 of the container 1 2 and, in the fully collapsed state, as depicted in Figure 3, the coupling parts 44.2, 46.2 are received between the coupling parts 54.2, 54.3 and 56.2, 56.3 with the locking pin openings 44.8, 46.8 of the hinge components 44, 46 in register with the locking pin openings 54.1 6, 54.1 7 and 56.1 6, 56.1 7 of the hinge components 54, 56. Inserting locking pins 86 through the registering locking pin openings then locks the container 1 0 in the collapsed state. The locking pins are about 1 50mm long and taper from a diameter of about 1 9mm at one end to a diameter of about 1 6mm at the other. The tapering shape allows the locking pins 86 to be relatively easily withdrawn even when they are rusted. Figure 29 shows, on an enlarged scale, the reinforcing end members 1 6.2, 20.2, the hinge components 44, 64, 70, 74, 54 and the link 82 in an extended state. The drawings also show hinge pins 71 and locking pins 86 aligned with the hinge pin and locking pin openings of the hinge components (as described above) and the links. Each hinge pin 71 is provided with a three part bush 88 which is optionally of Nylon (trade name) or Vesconite (trade name) . Each hinge pin 71 further includes a threaded recess (not shown) at one of its ends which is engageable with a complementary threaded withdrawal mechanism for withdrawing the hinge pin from the hinge pin openings. Thus, by withdrawal of the hinge pins (which is made relatively easy by the presence of the bushes 88) the collapsible container can be disassembled. The bushes allow the hinge pins 71 to be withdrawn relatively easily even when the container 1 0 has become rusted. Figure 30 shows the reinforcing end members and hinge components of Figure 29 in a folded state as they would be in the collapsed state of the container 1 with a locking pin 86 shown aligned with the locking pin openings of the hinge components 54, 44 to lock the container 1 in its collapsed state. Figures 31 and 32 show three of the containers 1 0, each in its collapsed state, stacked one on the other. In this embodiment of the invention, the corner blocks 38, 50.8, 50.9 are provided with cavities (not shown) with slotted openings for receiving twist locks for attaching a lifting mechanism to the container or for securing stacked containers together. Figures 7 - 9 show, on an enlarged scale, details of sealing arrangements of the side panels of the container of the invention. Figure 8 shows the downwardly extending side portion 40 of the top 1 2 of the container 1 and one of the reinforcing ridge formations 1 6.6 of the upper side panel 1 6. As can be seen in Figure 8, the lower part of the side portion 40 is profiled with an inwardly extending part 40.1 connected to a channel-shaped part 40.2. The upper part of the ridge formations 1 6.6 is also profiled with an inwardly extending part 1 6.7, generally parallel with the part 40.1 connected to a generally S-shaped part 1 6.8. An elongate opening with an S-shaped cross-section is thus formed between the side portion 40 and the upper side panel 1 6. A deformable rubber seal shown in sectional end view in Figure 34 is located in the opening between the inwardly extending part 40.1 and the channel-shaped part 40.2 and the S-shaped part 1 6.8 to prevent ingress of water. As can be seen in Figure 34, the rubber seal includes a tubular part 92 with an oval profile and a V-shaped part 94 extending from a side of the tubular part 92. In use, the tubular part 92 is located between the S-shaped part 1 6.8 at the end of the ridge formation 1 6.6 and the inwardly extending part 40.1 and the channel shaped part 40.2 and the V-shaped part 94 extends over and is secured to the channel-shaped part 42. Figure 7 shows the frame member 50.3 of the base 14 and the lowermost reinforcing ridge-shaped formation 20.6 of the lower side panel 20. As can be seen in Figure 7, the bottom of the formation 20.6 is profiled in the same way as the lower part of the side portion 40 described above, having an inwardly directed part 20.7 and a channel-shaped formation 20.8. The frame member 50.3 has an inverted L-shaped upper profile with an outwardly directed flange part 50.1 2 on which is mounted an inverted channel member ' 50.1 3. An elongate opening with an S-shaped cross-section is thus formed between the frame member 50.3 and the lower side panel 20. A deformable rubber seal, as described above, is located in the opening with the tubular part 92 between the inwardly directed part 20.7 and the channel-shaped formation 20.8 and the inverted channel member 50.1 3 with the V-shaped part 94 extending over and secured to the channel-shaped formation 20.8 to prevent ingress of water into the container 10 as described above. Figure 9 shows the lower part of the upper side panel 1 6 and the upper , part of the lower side panel 20. As can be seen in Figure 9, the lower part of the lowermost reinforcing ridge-shaped formation 1 6.6 of the upper side panel 1 6 is profiled with an inwardly extending part 1 6.1 0 connected to an upwardly directed generally Z-shaped part 1 6.1 1 . The uppermost reinforcing ridge- shaped formation 20.6 of the lower side panel 20 is profiled with an inwardly extending part 20.10, generally parallel with the part 20.1 0 connected to an inverted U-shaped part 20.1 1 . An opening with an S-shaped cross section is thus formed between the upper and lower side panels 1 6, 20. A deformable rubber seal, as described above, is located in the opening with the tubular part 92 between the U-shaped part 20.1 1 and the inwardly extending part 20.10 and the Z-shaped part 1 6.1 1 and the inwardly extending part 1 6.10 with the V-shaped part 94 extending over and secured to the part 1 6.1 0 to prevent ingress of water into the container 1 as described above. Referring in particular to Figures 1 and 1 3, the doors 24, 26, 28, 30 are hung on hinge pins 90. Each hinge pin 90 composes a rectangular block- shaped base 90.1 and an upwardly directed pin portion 90.2. The total length of the hinge pin is about 1 70mm, the pin portion being about 60mm long, and the base has a cross-section of about 40 x 30mm. The pin portion 90.2 tapers from a diameter at the base of about 1 9mm to a diameter at the top of about 1 4mm. The pin portion 90.2 is offset on the base 90.1 having a centre which is about 10mm from one longer side and about 20mm from the other longer side, and equidistant between the shorter sides. The tapering pin portions 90.2 allow easy removal and replacement of the doors 24, 26, 28, 30 even when the pins and hinges have rusted. The insides of the larger frame members 50.4 of the base 14 are provided with recesses 50.1 5 (Figure 1 ) with pins 50.1 6 extending across the recesses 50.1 5. The recesses 50.1 5 are spaced to receive the hinges 24.10. 26.1 0, 28.1 0, 30.10 of the doors 24, 26, 28, 30 as can be seen in particular, in Figure 1 , with the hinges 24.10, 26.10, 28.10, 30.1 0 received beneath the pins 50.1 6 when the doors 24, 26, 28, 30 are stowed in the container 10 before it is collapsed. The pins 50.1 6 also serve as anchors or lashing rings for securing belts or ropes when the container is in its erect state for securing cargo loaded into the container 1 0. Figures 35 - 37 show, on an enlarged scale, details of other embodiments of sealing arrangements of the side panels of the container of the invention. Figure 36 shows the downwardly extending side portion 40 of the top 1 2 of the container 1 and one of the reinforcing formations 1 6.6 of the upper side panel 1 6. In this embodiment of the invention the lower part of the side portion 40 is profiled with an inwardly extending portion 40.10 and upwardly extending portion 40.1 1 so that the bottom of the side portion 40 has a U- shape profile. The upper part of the ridge formation 1 6.6 has an inwardly extending slightly concave part 1 6.10 connected to a downwardly extending part 1 6.1 1 , generally parallel with the part 40.1 1 . A rubber seal 96 is located between the bottom of the side portion 40 and the top of the side panel 1 6 as can be seen in Figure 36. The rubber seal 96 has an upper channel-shape portion in which the bottom of the side portion 40 and the two parts 40.10, 40.1 1 are received and a bulbous portion with a generally convex profile which is received against the concave part 1 6.10. The rubber seal 96 is secured to the bottom of the side portion 40. Figure 35 shows the side frame member 50.3 of the base 14 and the lowermost reinforcing ridge-shape formation 20.6 of the lower side panel 20. In this embodiment of the invention the lower end of the ridge-shape formation 20.6 has an inwardly extending slightly upwardly concave part 20.10 connected to an upwardly directed part 20.1 1 . In this embodiment the inverted channel member 50.1 3 of the embodiment depicted in Figure 7 is absent and a rubber seal 98 is secured to the outwardly directed flange part 50.1 2 of the frame member 50.3. The rubber seal 98 is secured to the flange part 50.1 2 and has an upwardly convex profile which is received against the concave profiled part 20.10 as can be seen in the drawing. Figure 37 shows the lowermost reinforcing ridge formation 1 6.6 of the upper side panel 1 6 and the uppermost reinforcing ridge formation 20.6 of the lower side panel 20. As can be seen in the drawings, the sealing arrangement depicted in Figure 37 closely resembles the sealing arrangement depicted in Figure 36. The lower part of the ridge-shape formation 1 6.6 has an inwardly extending portion 1 6.1 2 attached to an upwardly directed portion 1 6.1 3 and the upper part of the ridge-shape formation 20.6 has an inwardly extending downwardly concave part 20.1 3 attached to a downwardly directed part 20.14. A rubber seal 100 is located between the upper panel 1 6 and the lower panel 20. A rubber seal 100 is positioned between the upper and lower panels 1 6, 20 as can be seen in the drawing. The rubber seal 1 00 has an upwardly directed channel formation in which the lower end of the ridge-shape formation 1 6.6, the inwardly extending part 1 6.1 2 and the upwardly directed part 1 6.1 3 are received and to which the seal 1 00 is secured. The seal 100 has a downwardly extending bulbous or convex part which is received against the concave part 20.1 3 as can be seen in the drawings. When the container 10 is in its collapsed state the rubber seal 96 abuts the rubber seal 98 thereby sealing the container in its collapsed state. It is an advantage of the invention illustrated that the container of the invention is of relatively simple construction and is relatively strong when compared with prior art collapsible containers of which the Applicant is aware. The container of the invention meets ISO 1496-1 /Amd.1: 1 993(E), UIC and CSC safety standards. The design of the container further permits assembly of the container in assembly line fashion from a number of pre-manufactured parts, eg. the top 1 2, base 14, side panels 1 6, 1 8, 20, 22 and so on. The removable hinge pins also allow for the relatively easy replacement of body parts, for example, a damaged side panel, and the tapered locking pins allow easy insertion and removal even when the hinge components are rusty. The tapered door hinge pins also allow easy removal and replacement of the doors, even when the pins are rusted. The sealing mechanism of the container prevents ingress of water so that the container can be used as a collapsible dry freight container. It is a further advantage that the top and base of the container are of standard construction being the same as the top and bottom of conventional containers. It is a further advantage that the horizontally aligned rib structures of the side panels provide added strength to the sides of the container when compared with conventional containers. It is a further advantage that less space is required to store the containers of the invention when they are empty since they can stored in a collapsed state, and more empty containers can be transported on a vehicle of a given size since they can be transported in a collapsed state. The Applicant believes that this will result in substantial cost savings. It is a further advantage of the invention illustrated, that the hinges are essentially flush with the surfaces of the container both inside and outside the container. This prevents snagging and damage to goods or packages packed inside the container. Prior art containers of which the Applicant is aware generally do not have hinges which are flush with the surface of the container. Such collapsible containers accordingly do not meet the standards set down for containers. It is a further advantage that the rubber seals also seal the container in its collapsed state.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A collapsible container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by lockable hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, the lockable hinge mechanisms including locking means for locking the container body in its erect state and its collapsed state. 2. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 , in which the body members include a top, a base opposed to the top, and opposed sides which extend between the top and the base to form an orthogonal or boxed construction when the body is in its erect state and which are collapsed inwardly, so that the top and the base are displaced towards each other, when the body is in its collapsed state. 3. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which at least one of the lockable hinge mechanisms is an erect state lockable hinge mechanism, which includes a link part and body parts which are pivotally linked to the link part and which is adjustable between an extended state in which the container body is in its erect state and a folded state in which the container body is in its collapsed state, and erect state locking means for locking the erect state lockable hinge mechanism in its extended state thereby locking the container body in its erect state. 4. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 3, in which the erect state locking means includes openings in the link parts and the body parts which are in register when the or each said hinge mechanism is in its extended state so that inserting a locking member to extend through the registering openings of the or each said hinge mechanism locks the or each said hinge mechanism in its extended state. 5. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 4, in which the body members include side panels and the erect state lockable hinge mechanisms hingedly connect the side panels to one another. 6. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 inclusive, which includes collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms which are arranged so that at least two of the said hinge mechanisms are adjacent one another when the container body is in its collapsed state and collapsed state locking means for locking the said pair of hinge mechanisms together thereby locking the container body in its collapsed state. 7. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 6, in which the collapsed state locking means includes openings in the pairs of collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms which are in register when the container body is in its collapsed state so that inserting a locking member to extend through the registering openings locks the said hinge mechanisms together. 8. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 inclusive in which the locking members are tapered locking pins. 9. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 8 in which the body members include side panels, a top and a base and the collapsed state lockable hinge mechanisms hingedly connect the side panels to the top and to the base. 1 0. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the container body, in the collapsed state, in top plan view and in bottom plan view, resembles the container body in the erect state in top plan view and bottom plan view. 1 1 . A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which, in side view, the container body in the collapsed state is flatter or slimmer by about 30-35% compared with the container body in the erect state. 1 2. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the body members include upper and lower side panels, the upper side panels having lower engagement portions and the lower side panels having upper engagement portions, which upper and lower engagement portions are engaged when the container body is in its erect state, and sealing means for providing a seal between the upper and lower engagement portions when the container body is in its erect state to prevent ingress of water into the container. 1 3. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 2 in which each upper and lower engagement portion is a profiled portion, the profiled portions being shaped so that, in their engaged state, a generally vertically oriented channel- shaped gap is defined between the profiled portions, the sealing means being provided by a deformable sealing member located sealingly in the gap. 1 4. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1 3, in which the profiled portions are shaped so that the generally vertically oriented channel-shaped gap extends between a pair of generally horizontal channel-shaped gaps extending respectively outwardly from the inside of the container body and inwardly from the outside of the container body. 1 5. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the lockable hinge mechanisms include removable hinge pins so that, by removal of the hinge pins, the hingedly connected body members can be disconnected from one another. 1 6. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes removable doors. 1 7. A collapsible container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the container body includes attachment means for attaching a lifting mechanism to the container. 1 8. A container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body parts, at least some of which are connected together by releasable connection means so that, by releasing the releasable connection means, the body parts can be disconnected from one another so that the container body can be disassembled. 1 9. A container as claimed in claim 1 8, in which the releasable connecting means includes hinge mechanisms having removable hinge pins. 20. A collapsible container which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, at least some of the body members being engagement members which are engaged when the container body is in its erect state, and sealing means for providing a seal between the engagement members in their engaged state, when the container body is in its erect state, to prevent ingress of water into the container. 21 . A container assemblage, which includes a container body comprising a plurality of body members, at least some of which are hingedly connected together by lockable hinge mechanisms so that hinged displacement of the hingedly connected body members allows the container body to be collapsed from an erect state to a collapsed state, and erected from the collapsed state to the erect state, the lockable hinge mechanisms including locking means for locking the container body in at least one of its erect state and its collapsed state and at least one door which is mountable on the body in its erect state. 22. A container assemblage as claimed in Claim 1 7, in which the or each door is receivable within the container body in its collapsed state. 23. A new collapsible container substantially as herein described. 24. A new container assemblage, substantially as herein described. 25. A collapsible container as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 21 , substantially as herein described and illustrated. 26. A container assemblage as claimed in Claim 1 7, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

Inventors: CILLIERS ANDRIES CAREL, PIETERS PETRUS JACOBUS, SCHUTTE PHILIPPUS JOHANNES COR, CILLIERS, ANDRIES, CAREL, PIETERS, PETRUS, JACOBUS, SCHUTTE, PHILIPPUS, JOHANNES, CORNELIUS
Applicants: BARLOW ROY JAMES, CILLIERS ANDRIES CAREL, PIETERS PETRUS JACOBUS, SCHUTTE PHILIPPUS JOHANNES COR, BARLOW, ROY, JAMES, CILLIERS, ANDRIES, CAREL, PIETERS, PETRUS, JACOBUS, SCHUTTE, PHILIPPUS, JOHANNES, CORNELIUS
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D88
IPC codes: B65D21, B65D88