FOLDABLE CRATE

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foldable crate (1), comprising a substantially rectangular bottom part (2), a first set of mutually opposite side walls (3) connected hingedly to the bottom part, and a second set of mutually opposite side walls connected hingedly to the bottom part and the first set of side walls, wherein at least the first set of side walls comprises three parts (4, 5) connected hingedly to each other, and wherein the crate further comprises means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position.

Description: FOLDAB E CRATE The present invention relates to a foldable crate Foldable crates are for instance known for transporting shopping or other goods. However, the known crates have a number of drawbacks which make the use thereof difficult. The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable crate which is improved relative to the known crates . For this purpose the invention provides a foldable crate, comprising a substantially rectangular bottom part, a first set of mutually opposite side walls connected hingedly to the bottom part, and a second set of mutually opposite side walls connected hingedly to the bottom part and the first set of side walls, wherein at least the first set of side walls comprises three parts connected hingedly to each other, wherein the crate further comprises means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position. Since all components of the crate are hingedly connected to each other and means are present for fixing the side walls in folded-out position, and at least the first set of side walls consists of a number of parts, a foldable crate is provided according to the invention which can be folded up and out in one operation and still forms a strong and stable crate in the folded-out state. In a particular preferred embodiment of the crate according to the invention the first set of side walls consists of a middle part and two connecting pie- ces, wherein the length of the underside of the middle part substantially corresponds with the length of the side of the bottom part to which the middle part is hingedly connected, and wherein the sides of the middle part run obliquely toward each other at an angle of practically 45°, and the sides of the middle part are hingedly connected to the sides of the connecting pieces directed toward the middle part, and wherein the sides of the connecting pieces directed toward the second set of side walls are hingedly connected to the second set of side walls. The crate can hereby be folded up simply in one operation by moving the middle parts of the first set of side walls to the bottom part of the crate. A simple but efficiently operating embodiment of the foldable crate is obtained when the hinge connec- tions between the middle part and the connecting pieces are arranged on the outside of the crate, the hinge connections between the second set of side walls and the connecting pieces are arranged on the inside of the crate and the pivot shaft of the hinge connections between the second set of side walls and the bottom part is situated at least a wall thickness higher than the pivot shaft of the hinge connection between the bottom part and the first set of side walls. In another advantageous embodiment of the crate the means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position are arranged on at least one of the first set of side walls. Arranging such fixing means on the side walls prevents the folded-out crate collapsing into the folded- up position at times when this is not intended. The means for fixing the side walls in folded- out position are herein preferably arranged on the middle part and at least one connecting piece connected hingedly to each other, close to the hinge connection, whereby in folded-out position the hinge connections between the middle part and connecting piece are relieved of load. According to a further particular preferred embodiment of the foldable crate the means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position comprise a hook which is arranged on the at least one connecting piece and which forms a snap connection in an opening arranged in the adjoining middle part. The side walls can hereby be folded-out in simple manner in one operation and be fixed immediately in the folded-out position. In order to protect the hinge connections between the bottom part and at least the second set of side walls against heavy load and to prevent the hinges from breaking easily in the case of for instance impacts against the outside of the crate, in another advantageous embodiment the bottom part comprises a standing edge on at least the sides which are connected to the second set of side walls, and the second set of side walls is connected to the bottom part by means of at least two hin- ges, which are received in concealed manner in the standing edge of the bottom part . According to a further preferred embodiment of the foldable crate each of the second set of side walls is substantially U-shaped, with a base which forms a second side wall, and legs which run parallel to the first set of side walls, wherein each of the second set of side walls is connected hingedly to the first set of side walls in the corner which is formed by the base and the legs of the U-shaped second side walls. Because the legs of the second set of side walls run through a short distance along the first set of side walls, the corner points of the crate are additionally strengthened. Furthermore, the hinge connections between the first and the second set of side walls will hereby be less heavily loaded when the crate is for instance fully loaded with goods, or a number of crates in folded-out position are stacked on top of each other. In a simple but efficient embodiment at least one hinge consists of a substantially arrow-shaped prot- rusion which is arranged on the second set of side walls and which is arranged pivotally in a slot arranged in the standing edge. The arrow-shaped protrusion can be fastened in the slot in the standing edge in simple manner, wherein the hinge is arranged in concealed manner in the bottom part. Mounting is facilitated by the arrow shape. In order to prevent the side walls of the crate "bulging" in the case of heavy load at the positions where no hinge connections are arranged, means for strengthening the second set of side walls are arranged at least between the second set of side walls and the bottom part . The strengthening means can be embodied accor- ding to the invention in any suitable manner. Preferably however, the means for strengthening at least the second set of side walls comprise at least one supporting member which is arranged on the underside of the second set of side walls and which in the folded-out position forms a stop against the bottom part in a recess arranged in the bottom part . Particularly when many goods, such as for instance shopping, are loaded into the crate, great forces can be exerted on the hinge connections between adjoining side walls or side wall parts. So as to prevent the hinges herein moving apart, in a particular preferred embodiment of the foldable crate according to the invention at least the hinge connections between the adjoining first and second side walls are provided with means for relieving the hinge connections of load. The means for relieving the hinge connections of load can be embodied according to the invention in any suitable manner. Preferably however, the means for relieving the hinge connections of load comprise at least one supporting member which is arranged on a side wall and which in folded-out position forms a stop against an adjoining side wall in a recess arranged in this side wall . In a further preferred embodiment of the crate at least one set of side walls comprises one or more handgrips, so that the crate can be carried easily in folded-out position. In order to ensure that the crate can be folded up as compactly .and small as possible, the height of the middle part of the first set of side walls preferably amounts to a maximum of half the width of the bottom part . According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the crate the first set of side walls forms the long side walls of the rectangular crate and the second set of side walls forms the short side walls of the rectangular crate . Although according to the invention the crate can be manufactured from different types of material, the crate is preferably a plastic crate. In this manner a strong, stable and wear-resistant crate is obtained. The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the annexed figures, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the foldable crate according to the invention in folded-out position; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of detail II of figure 1, wherein a portion is cut away at the position of the hinge connection between the short side and the bottom part ; and Figure 3 shows the same detail II of figure 1, wherein the different components are dismantled. Figure 1 shows in perspective view a preferred embodiment of the foldable crate according to the invention. Crate 1 herein comprises a rectangular bottom part 2, two mutually opposite long side walls 3 which are hingedly connected to bottom part 2 and which consist of a middle part 4, and two connecting pieces 5, and two opposite short side walls 6 hingedly connected to bottom part 2. The length of the underside of middle part 4 virtually corresponds with the length of the long side of the bottom part 2 to which middle part 4 is hingedly connected. The sides of middle part 4 run obliquely toward each other at an angle of 45°, and are hingedly connected to the sides of the connecting pieces 5 directed toward middle part 4. The sides of connecting pieces 5 directed toward the short side walls 6 are hingedly connected to the short side walls 6. Handgrips 7 for carrying the crate are further arranged in the short side walls . In order to enable folding up of the crate in one operation, the hinge connections are arranged in this embodiment between connecting pieces 5 and middle part 4 on the outside of crate 1, and hinge connections 11 are arranged between the short side walls and the connecting pieces 5 on the inside of the crate. Foldable crate 1 can be folded up by moving down the two middle parts of the long side walls in the direction of the bottom part. In order to ensure that the crate can herein be folded up as compactly and small as possible, the height of the middle part 4 of long side walls 3 preferably amounts to a maximum of half the width of bottom part 2. The other wall parts can herein take a higher form. The short side walls 6 are substantially U- shaped, with a base 8 which forms the short side wall, and legs 9 which continue a short distance parallel to long side walls 3 so that the corners 10 of crate 1 are additionally strengthened. The short side walls 6 are connected via hinge connections 11 to connecting pieces 5 of the long side walls 3 in the corner formed by base 8 and legs 9 of the U-shaped short side walls 6 (see detail II in figure 2) . The hinge connections will hereby move apart less readily when the crate is for instance fully loaded with goods . Figure 2 shows a perspective view of detail II of figure 1, wherein in the cut-away portions the hinge connections 11 between short side wall 6 and the connecting piece 5 of the long side wall, and the hinge connection 12 between short side wall 3 and bottom part 2 are shown. At the connection between connecting piece 5 and middle part 4 means for fixing side walls 13 in folded- out position are further arranged on connecting piece 5. As shown in figure 3, in this embodiment of the crate according .to the invention the hinge connections 11 between short side walls 6 and connecting pieces 5 of long side walls 3 consist of a pivot shaft 14 arranged on connecting pieces 5 and a clamp 15 which is arranged on the short side walls and which engages round pivot shaft 14. In order to relieve the hinge connections of load in folded-out position, there are further arranged on the connecting pieces hooks 16 which in folded-out position of the crate form a stop with the short side walls in openings 17 arranged therein. Figure 2 shows the position of hooks 16 in short side wall 6 when the crate is in folded-out position. Owing to the hooks 16 which with short side wall 6 form a stop in folded-out position, the hinge connections are relieved of load when for instance a number of crates are stacked on top of each other in folded-out position or the short side walls are loaded by the contents of the crate. In the preferred embodiment of the crate shown in the figures the means for fixing crate 13 in folded- out position consist of a hook 18 which is arranged on connecting piece 5 and which forms a snap connection in an opening 19 arranged in middle part 4, as shown in figure 3. The hook 18 arranged on the middle part is herein arranged on the inside of the crate, while the hinge connections between middle part 4 and connecting pieces 5 are arranged on the outside of the crate. The hinge connections between connecting pieces 5 and middle part 4 consist of a pivot shaft 20 which is arranged on the connecting pieces and clamped by clamps 21 arranged on middle part 4. Owing to the fixing means 13 the hinge connections are relieved of load and pivot shaft 20 is prevented from being pressed out of clamps 21 when the contents of the crate for instance push against the long side walls 3. As shown in the figures, the bottom part 2 of the shown embodiment of the foldable crate according to the invention further comprises on the short sides a standing edge 22 in which the hinge connections 12 of the short side walls 6 and bottom part 2 can be arranged in concealed manner, as shown in fig. 2. The hinge connections 12 between short side wall 6 and bottom part 2 are herein formed by a substantially arrow-shaped protrusion 23, which is snapped into a slot 24 arranged in standing edge 22 (figure 3) . Due to the arrow shape the protrusions can be readily mounted in bottom part 2. The arrow- shaped protrusion 23 can move in the slot 24 arranged in standing edge 22 such that when crate 1 is folded up the pivot shaft of hinge connections 12 between short side wall 6 and bottom part 2 lies a wall thickness higher than the hinge connections between bottom part 2 and long side walls 3. The hinge connections between the long side walls 3 and bottom part 2 herein consist of small hinges 25 which are arranged on middle part 4 and which are mounted in the openings 26 arranged in bottom part 2. In order to prevent short side walls 6 of crate 1 "bulging" in the case of heavy load, one or more protruding parts 27 are arranged on the underside of the short side walls, which protruding part forms a stop against bottom part 2 in a recess 28 arranged in the adjoining bottom part 2. It will be understood that the figures are only intended to elucidate the present invention, wherein a particular preferred embodiment of the foldable crate according to the invention is shown, but that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Foldable crate, comprising a substantially rectangular bottom part, a first set of mutually opposite side walls connected hingedly to the bottom part, a second set of mutually opposite side walls connected hingedly to the bottom part and the first set of side walls, wherein at least the first set of side walls consists of a middle part and two connecting pieces connected hingedly to each other, and means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position, wherein the hinge connections between the middle part and the connecting pieces are arranged on the outside of the crate, the hinge connections between the second set of side walls and the connecting pieces are arranged on the inside of the crate and the pivot shaft of the hinge connections between the second set of side walls and the bottom part lies at least a wall thickness higher than the hinge connections between the bottom part and the first set of side walls. 2. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 1, cha- racterized in that the length of the underside of the middle part substantially corresponds with the length of the side of the bottom part to which the middle part is hingedly connected, and wherein the sides of the middle part run obliquely toward each other at an angle of practically 45°, and the sides of the middle part are hingedly connected to the sides of the connecting pieces directed toward the middle part, and wherein the sides of the connecting pieces directed toward the second set of side walls are hingedly connected to the second set of side walls. 3. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position are arranged on at least one of the first set of side walls. 4. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position are arranged on the connecting piece and middle part connected hingedly to each other, close to the hinge connection. 5. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 3 or 4 , characterized in that the means for fixing the side walls in folded-out position comprise a hook which is arranged on the at least one connecting piece and which forms a snap connection in an opening arranged in the middle part . 6 . Foldable crate as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that the bottom part comprises a standing edge on at least the sides which are connected to the second set of side walls, and the second set of side walls is connected to the bottom part by means of at least two hinges, which are received in concealed manner in the standing edge of the bottom part . 7. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, characterized in that each of the second set of side walls is substantially U-shaped, with a base which forms a second side wall, and legs which run parallel to the first set of side walls, wherein each of the second set of side walls is connected hingedly to the first set of side walls in the corner which is formed by the base and the legs of the U-shaped second side walls. 8. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that at least one hinge consists of a substantially arrow-shaped protrusion which is arranged on the second set of side walls and which is arranged pivotally in a slot arranged in the standing edge. 9. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the claims 1-8, characterized in that means for strengthening the second set of side walls are arranged at least be- tween the second set of side walls and the bottom part. 10. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the means for strengthening at least the second set of side walls comprise at least one supporting member which is arranged on the underside of the second set of side walls and which forms a stop against the bottom part in a recess arranged in the bottom part . 11. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the claims 1-10, characterized in that at least the hinge connections between the adjoining first and second set of side walls are provided with means for relieving the hinge connections of load. 12. Foldable crate as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the means for relieving the hinge connections of load comprise at least one supporting member which is arranged on a side wall and which forms a stop against an adjoining side wall in a recess arranged in the adjoining side wall. 13. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-12, characterized in that at least one set of side walls comprises at least one handgrip. 14. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-13, characterized in that the height of the middle part of the first set of side walls amounts to a maximum of half the width of the bottom part . 15. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-14, characterized in that the first set of side walls are the mutually opposite long side walls of the rectangular crate and the second set of side walls are the mutually opposite short side walls of the rectangular crate. 16. Foldable crate as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 1-15, characterized in that the crate is a plastic crate.

Inventors: DE WIT JUSTUS, ZUYDERHOUDT KRIJN, DE WIT, JUSTUS, ZUYDERHOUDT, KRIJN
Applicants: BEEKENKAMP VERPAKKINGEN B V, WIT JUSTUS DE, ZUYDERHOUDT KRIJN, BEEKENKAMP VERPAKKINGEN B.V., DE WIT, JUSTUS, ZUYDERHOUDT, KRIJN
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D6
IPC codes: B65D6