Abstract:
Box of 5 pieces or cavities made in plastic material, that comprises a base, greater and smaller walls, with or without upper covers, with hinged means that allow to lower the walls on the base in order to reduce the dimensions of the box and to adopt a storing position; and with press fit means of easy manipulation that allow to lock the walls permitting the box to adopt an using position, and to unlock the walls to lower them on the base. In addition the box to the present invention comprises rigid male/female means, that can be flattened, arranged in their upper corners of the greater walls, that allow to flatten the male protrusions in order to give an improved security in the process of stacking of pallets on finished product pallets, avoiding with it the risks of lateral failings of columns boxes and whole pallets. Besides, it provides more space in shelves in the market. Also, the box comprises greater and smaller walls slightly widened towards its corners that gives to it an improved resistance to support the diverse loads and stresses which are exerted to the box when it is being used, specially the ones generated in the stacking.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     At the present time re-usable boxes exist in the market, which are made in different types of plastic, to store and to transport diverse horticultural and fruit products, some of them are conformed by 5 pieces or cavities that include a base, two greater walls, and two smaller walls, which include hinged means destined for folding these walls outwardly or inwardly, in order to reduce the dimensions of the box in a storing position (disassembled position), which facilitates the transport and storage of these boxes when they are not being used, and which simultaneously include press fit means that allow to lock these walls in order to enable the boxes to be in a using position (assembled position).  
         [0002]     Although some of these conventional boxes have hinged and press fit means resistant to the different loads which they may carry, as well as to the constant transport, the storage according to diverse environmental conditions and to the stacking of the boxes, these press fit means are difficult to manipulate, which require in some cases skilled labour to make this task in order to not damaging or deteriorating the boxes, not only for assembling the boxes in the using position, but also for folding (disassembling) them in the storing position, which consequently requires to the producers, distributors, sellers or users in general resources and means that must be specially destined for such effect; in some cases is even necessary to strike the walls of the box, in order to lock or unlock them, with the consequent increase of wearing and deterioration of the used boxes time and time again.  
         [0003]     Also, most of the boxes, as much conventional of 5 pieces as of the type of a single piece (monoblock) usually are conformed by walls of homogenous thickness which have male/female rigid means in their upper and lower corners, which are used for the corresponding insertion during the stacking. Nevertheless, the male elements of these means in some cases are not strong enough to support vertical loads when pallets (trowels with finished product) are arranged one upon another which causes deformations, specially when these male elements protrude from the bottom. In addition, these boxes must resist, without experimenting deformations, the different horizontal stresses that take place during the habitual movement in the transporting of loaded and stacked boxes and must also resist perpendicular impacts to the walls of the box.  
         [0004]     On the other hand, the protruding male elements can represent a problem or obstacle when some boxes are placed in shelves.  
         [0005]     In order to solve the habitual disadvantages of the conventional boxes destined to store, to transport and to exhibit diverse agricultural products it has been invented a box of 5 pieces or cavities, which is made in plastic material and comprises a base, a greater and smaller walls, with or without upper covers, with hinged means that allow to lower or to fold the walls on the base in order to reduce the volume of the assembled box and to adopt a storing position, and with press fit means and a button or clip of easy manipulation which allows to lock and to join the walls enabling the box to be in the using position and also to unlock them in order to lower them on the base.  
         [0006]     In addition, the box of the present invention comprises male/female rigid means arranged in the upper corners of the box, that can be uniformly flattened in their edges when a wooden pallet with load is placed upon the box, which avoids the risk of a possible falling of the pallet formed by a set of boxes that contains agricultural or other products.  
         [0007]     Also the box comprises greater and smaller walls widened in their corners in order to make the box stronger when is stressed by diverse loads and stresses, specially the ones that occur during the stacking or during eventual impacts.  
         [0008]     The propose box consists basically of the following main sectors: 
    A base.     Two greater walls.     Two smaller walls.     Hinges of two pieces.     Insertion system for an optimal stacking.     Rigid locking and joining system between walls.     Folding covers for protection of the content.     Closing clip to assemble the box and to fold it in a simple manner.     Trapezoidal clip to lock the folding covers with the smaller walls.     Hinges of one piece composed by a compact and intermittent thin membranes.     Panel for labels of different dimensions.     Clips for cards with technical specifications of the contained products. 
 
 In addition, the proposed box allows: 
    Easy assembled and folded of the box without the use of nails, hooks or glues.     Because of the clip system which permits a simple opening and closing of the box of 5 cavities, it is generated a saving of time and movements inside the companies dedicated to the packing of agricultural products.     It has protection covers for protecting the product inside the box.     Easy manipulation of the load.     Saving space in storerooms when storing folded empty boxes.     Saving transporting.     Saving pre-cooling, because it permits a very quickly absorption of energy (reducing the temperature).     Use of 100% recyclable raw material.     It does not absorb humidity and it maintains its structure without changes.     Smaller condensation in cold storage chambers.     Excellent ventilation avoiding the formation of fungi and deterioration of the product contained in its interior.     Weight of the box optimized in comparison with substitute products.   
 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0033]     The  FIG. 1  represents a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0034]     The  FIG. 2  represents a perspective view of the  FIG. 1  with the covers in an opened position.  
         [0035]     The  FIG. 3  represents a top view of the  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]     The  FIG. 4 -A represents a top view of the base.  
         [0037]     The  FIG. 4 -B represents a bottom view of the base.  
         [0038]     The  FIG. 5  represents a right lateral view of the  FIG. 1 .  
         [0039]     The  FIG. 6  represents a back view of the  FIG. 1 .  
         [0040]     The  FIG. 7  represents a front view of the  FIG. 1 .  
         [0041]     The  FIG. 8  represents a cross section view through line A-A of the  FIG. 5   
         [0042]     The  FIG. 9  represents a close up view of zone B of the  FIG. 5 .  
         [0043]     The  FIG. 10  represents a cross section view through line C-C of the  FIG. 5   
         [0044]     The  FIG. 11  represents a cross section view through line D-D of the  FIG. 5 .  
         [0045]     The  FIG. 12  represents a cross section view through line E-E of the  FIG. 5 .  
         [0046]     The  FIG. 13  represents a close up view of zone F.  
         [0047]     The  FIG. 14  represents a close up view of zone G.  
         [0048]     The  FIG. 15  represents a perspective view of a corner of the assembled box, with a cover in the closed position.  
         [0049]     The  FIG. 16  represents a perspective view of a corner of the assembled box, with a cover in the opened position.  
         [0050]     The  FIG. 17 -A represents a perspective view of a corner of the box, with a smaller wall in a folded position, with a greater wall in a vertical position, and with a cover in an opened position.  
         [0051]     The  FIG. 17 -B represents close up view of the hinge.  
         [0052]     The  FIG. 17 -C represents close up view of the hinge.  
         [0053]     The  FIG. 17 -D represents a perspective view of a corner of an embodiment of the box without cover, with a smaller wall in folded position, and with a greater wall in vertical position.  
         [0054]     The  FIG. 18  represents a perspective view of a corner of the box, with a folded smaller wall, with a folded greater wall, and with a folded cover.  
         [0055]     The  FIG. 19  represents a top view of the base separated from a greater wall.  
         [0056]     The  FIG. 20  represents a cross section view of two folded and stacked boxes.  
         [0057]     The  FIG. 21  represents a cross section view of two assembled and stacked boxes. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES ASSOCIATED TO THE DRAWINGS  
       [0000]    
       
           1  base  
           2  greater wall  
           3  smaller Wall  
           4  articulated hinge  
           5  male locking means  
           6   a  female stacking cavity  
           6   b  male square base protrusion  
           6   c  male pyramidal protrusion  
           7  upper cover  
           8  hexagonal perforation  
           9  perimetric structural rib  
           9   a  inner side of the perimetric structural rib  
           9   b  upper side of the perimetric structural rib  
           9   c  outer side of perimetric structural rib  
           10  perimetric channel  
           11  rounded corner (groove)  
           12  transversal rib  
           13  female hinge  
           13   a  rectangular perforation of the female hinge  
           13   b  square perforation of the female hinge  
           13   c  L shaped partition of the female hinge  
           13   d  lateral prolongation of the female hinge  
           13   e  concave channel of the female hinge  
           14  female stacking cavity  
           15   a  longitudinal lower “C” type profile  
           15   b  longitudinal upper “C” type profile  
           16  semi cylindrical central column  
           17  structural column corner  
           18  longitudinal lower “L” type profile  
           19  longitudinal upper “C” type profile  
           20  semi cylindrical central column  
           21  structural column corner  
           22  perpendicular rib in columns and in “C” type structure  
           23   a  L shaped lateral rim of the structural column corner  
           23   b  L shaped complementary groove of the structural column corner  
           24  female rectangular cavity locking mean  
           25   a  hexagonal upper perforation of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           25   b  circular lower perforation of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           25   c  rectangular intermediate perforation of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           26   a  hexagonal protrusion of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           26   b  central pivot of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           26   c  circular disc of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           26   d  partition or transversal column of the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           27  three sides cavity to receive the simple opening and folding clip of the box  
           28  hexagonal perforation  
           29  extended hexagonal perforation  
           30  cover clip female cavity  
           30   a  semi depressed zone of the cover clip female cavity  
           30   b  rectangular perforation of the cover clip female cavity  
           31  cover clip male protrusion  
           31   a  cover closing clip trapezoidal protrusion  
           31   b  additional lateral rib of the cover closing clip trapezoidal protrusion  
           32  Flap for additional locking  
           33  Flap for additional locking  
           34  Panel for label  
           35  cross type perforation for central pivot for cards  
           36  central pivot for securing cards  
           37  inverted “T” type male hinge  
           37   a  inverted “T” shaped perimetric rib  
           37   b  upper end of the inverted “T” shaped perimetric rib  
           37   c  lower end of the inverted “T” shaped perimetric rib  
           37   d  “T” inner channel of smaller thickness of the inverted “T” shaped perimetric rib  
           38  reduced vertex  
           39  thin membrane or flexible hinge  
           40  flat prolongation to cover closing clip  
           41  uniform channel without perforations  
           42  hexagonal perforation  
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0125]     The present invention consists basically of a box made in plastic material or in a similar raw material, foldable, easy to assemble, stackable and re-usable, to store, to transport and to exhibit agricultural products, such as diverse horticultural and fruit products, conformed by 5 pieces or cavities among which one corresponds to the base, two to greater walls and two to the smaller walls, with or without folding upper covers.  
         [0126]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to the figures contained in this presentation, the proposed box comprises a base ( 1 ), grater walls ( 2 ), and smaller walls ( 3 ); which includes a plurality of articulated hinges ( 4 ), that connect this base ( 1 ) with these walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) and that allow to lower the smaller walls ( 3 ) on the base ( 1 ), and the greater walls ( 2 ) on the smaller walls ( 3 ), in a storing position or in the storage of empty boxes; it includes locking means of the male type ( 5 ) which are complementary with respective rectangular cavities associated to female locking means ( 24 ), which allow to lock to each other the walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ), in a using position; and it includes stacking means of the male/female type that allow to secure the stacked boxes when they are assembled or folded (disassembled); also, this box may include optional upper covers ( 7 ), according to the requirement or final use that is intended for the package.  
         [0127]     More particularly, the base ( 1 ) includes in all its surface, except in the central zone, a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 8 ), generally extended, arranged at regular intervals, by quadrants, with its greater axes oriented towards the quadrant diagonally opposed.  
         [0128]     Also, the base ( 1 ) includes perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) having a trapezial cross-section, defined by an inclined inner side ( 9   a ) that connects with this base ( 1 ) and that, by an arc, in its top connects with a horizontal upper side ( 9   b ), which connects with a vertical outer side ( 9   c ) that finishes level with the surface of this base ( 1 ), which has a little height in the smaller walls ( 3 ) and simultaneously has a greater height in the greater walls ( 2 ), in addition, this perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) forms a lower perimetric channel ( 10 ), and includes in the corners a convex completion that agrees with the rounded corners ( 11 ) arranged in the lower ends of the smaller walls ( 3 ), which allows an easy assembled and/or folded of the box.  
         [0129]     On the other hand, the lower perimetric channel ( 10 ) includes a plurality of transversal ribs ( 12 ), that fill the height and width of this channel ( 10 ) in the ends of the articulated hinges ( 4 ), as much in the greater walls ( 2 ) as in the smaller ones ( 3 ); in addition, these ribs ( 12 ) include great rectangular grooves, forming L shaped ribs perpendicular to the base ( 1 ).  
         [0130]     On the other hand, along the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) there are several cavities that conform the female components ( 13 ) of the hinges ( 4 ), which are composed by a plurality of oblong rectangular perforations ( 13   a ) arranged in the inclined walls ( 9   a ), which prolong their central part in the upper walls ( 9   b ) where they define square shaped perforations ( 13   b ); inside each one of these perforations is included an “L” shaped partition ( 13   c ) that is connected to the lower edge of the rectangular perforation ( 13   a ) and to the upper outer edge of the square perforation ( 13   b ), and which additionally includes lateral prolongations ( 13   d ) connected to said upper wall ( 9   b ), defining complementary concave profiles following a same arc of curvature with a concave channel ( 13   e ) included in the horizontal portion of this lower “L” shaped partition ( 13   c ), so that each one of these female components ( 13 ) receives an inverted “T” type male component ( 37 ) of the hinges ( 4 ), which are connected to the walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) of the box.  
         [0131]     Also, the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) includes superficial male protrusions ( 6   b ) having a shape of a pyramidal trunk with a square base, arranged in the corners, which agree with complementary grooves or cavities ( 14 ) in the lower ends of the greater walls ( 2 ) so that these protrusions ( 6   b ) and said grooves or cavities ( 14 ) connect with each other permitting a greater stability and structural joining to the corners of the box when these are assembled.  
         [0132]     In addition, these superficial male protrusions ( 6   b ) fit in a same vertical axis with the perimetric channel ( 10 ) of the base ( 1 ), so that when stacking the folded boxes these are secured in the “female” stacking cavity ( 6   a ), which is arranged in the lower corners of the base ( 1 ).  
         [0133]     The greater walls ( 2 ) are smaller in height when compared with the smaller walls ( 3 ). This difference is compensated with the shape of the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) of the base ( 1 ) which allows that the greater walls ( 2 ) as much as the smaller walls ( 3 ) reach a same height when the box is assembled in order to be used.  
         [0134]     On the other hand, the greater walls ( 2 ) are conformed in the upper and lower part by a “C” type longitudinal profile opened towards the outside of the box, where the height of the upper “C” type profile ( 15   b ) is greater than the height of the lower one ( 15   a ), and both are distanced and simultaneously connected by semi cylindrical central columns ( 16 ) arranged vertically, also opened towards the outside of the box. These greater walls ( 2 ) have their corners conformed by structural columns ( 17 ) which are rectangular and composed by three vertically arranged bodies, with concave and convex shapes, two of which, that are contiguous and simultaneously opposite, have the shape of a “C” profile, and the third body, located in the edge, have the shape of a “L” in which the male locking means are located ( 5 ).  
         [0135]     On the other hand, the smaller walls ( 3 ) include a longitudinal lower “L” type profile ( 18 ), arranged horizontally level with the outer part of the box, and a rectangular longitudinal upper “C” type profile ( 19 ), arranged horizontally and opened towards the outside the box, this last profile is equal in height than the longitudinal upper profile ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ), and both profiles ( 18 ) and ( 19 ) are separated and simultaneously connected through vertically arranged semi cylindrical central columns ( 20 ), also opened towards the outside of the box. These smaller walls ( 3 ) have their corners conformed by structural columns ( 21 ) which are rectangular and composed by three vertically arranged bodies, with concave and convex shapes, two of which, that are contiguous and simultaneously opposite, have the shape of a “C” profile, and the third body, located in the edge, have the shape of a “L” because of a groove along the column that permits a perfect connection with the grater walls ( 2 ); in this last body rectangular cavities ( 24 ) are included which represent the “female” that receives the “male” locking mean ( 5 ) when the box is assembled.  
         [0136]     All the structural column corners ( 17 ) and ( 21 ), and the longitudinal “C” type profiles ( 15 ) and ( 19 ) include a plurality of transversal or perpendicular inner ribs ( 22 ).  
         [0137]     The structural column corners ( 17 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in almost all their height an “L” shaped cross section lateral rim ( 23   a ), vertically arranged and having a smaller height than the height of the greater walls ( 2 ), opened towards the nearest smaller wall ( 3 ), and connected with it in all its height. Just where ends this “L” shaped cross section lateral rim ( 23   a ) and where the greater wall ( 2 ) connects with the smaller wall ( 3 ) takes place an “L” shaped complementary groove ( 23   b ) in the smaller wall ( 3 ), which is also “L” shaped.  
         [0138]     In the structural column corners ( 17 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) is, in the upper part, a simple opening and folding clip of the box, conformed by a hexagonal upper perforation ( 25   a ), a circular lower perforation ( 25   b ), both connected by a rectangular intermediate perforation ( 25   c ), within this upper perforation ( 25   a ) is included a hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ) that protrudes towards the outside of the box and that is connected to a central pivot ( 26   b ), which is connected with a circular disc ( 26   c ) that protrudes inclined towards the outside of the box; the central pivot ( 26   b ) in its central part is connected to a transversal partition ( 26   d ) which is joined by its ends to the intermediate perforation ( 25   c ).  
         [0139]     On the other hand, the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in the lateral profile of their corners conformed by structural columns ( 21 ) a three sides cavity ( 27 ) destined to receive the hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ), so they allow to lock in a simple manner the walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) locking them in an assembled position, and also they allow to unlock them easily, by exerting a slight pressure in said circular disc ( 26   c ), which unlocks the respective hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ), in order to allow said walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) to be lowered or folded in a storing position.  
         [0140]     The space between the longitudinal profiles ( 15 ), ( 15   a ), ( 15   b ), ( 18 ), ( 19 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) and smaller walls ( 3 ), the central columns and the structural columns ( 16 ), ( 17 ), ( 20 ) and ( 21 ) is conformed by a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 28 ) that conforms an homogenous arrangement in the greater walls ( 2 ) and smaller walls ( 3 ), where this arrangement is level with the outer side of the box except in the arrangements of the quadrants where the card clip (perforation ( 35 ) and pivot ( 36 )), in this case the arrangement of the greater walls ( 2 ) is located in an average depth.  
         [0141]     These perforations ( 28 ) of said arrangements can be regular hexagons, or extended hexagons, i.e., having a greater width than height or vice versa.  
         [0142]     The longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) and ( 19 ) include in their surface a plurality of extended hexagonal perforations ( 29 ), with their greater axis arranged horizontally, which conform a row of perforations separated a little distance between each other.  
         [0143]     The longitudinal upper “C” type profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) in the upper part include, a pair of equidistant rectangular zones slightly depressed that are the closing clip female cavities ( 30 ) of the cover ( 7 ), each one of which includes a semi-depressed zone ( 30   a ) and a centred rectangular perforation ( 30   b ), in which tightly fit male protrusions ( 31 ) arranged in the covers ( 7 ). These male protrusions comprise a cover closing clip trapezoidal protrusion ( 31   a ) and an additional lateral rib of the cover closing clip trapezoidal protrusion ( 31   b ).  
         [0144]     The longitudinal upper “C” type profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in their upper-inner edge, near the corners, a pair of rectangular flaps ( 32 ) protruding towards inside the box, which connect with a similar pair of flaps ( 33 ), arranged in the covers ( 7 ), in an overlapped manner.  
         [0145]     The longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) are slightly depressed in relation to the corner conformed by structural columns ( 17 ). This space is useful to receive the thickness of the cover ( 7 ) that leans in it when the box has been assembled.  
         [0146]     The corners conformed by structural columns ( 17 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in their upper profile a hollow pyramidal-trunk protrusion ( 6   c ) opened towards the opposed wall, that fits in a same vertical axis with the perimetric channel ( 10 ) of the base ( 1 ), so that when stacking the boxes in using position these are locked. The space or cavity where this hollow pyramidal-trunk enters ( 6   c ) is named female stacking cavity ( 6   a ). Also, these hollow pyramidal-trunk protrusions ( 6   c ) can be flattened in order to eliminate from the box protuberances when it is in the using position.  
         [0147]     One of the smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box can be destined as a panel for labels ( 34 ).  
         [0148]     In the greater walls ( 2 ) in the region located near the lower corner of the box is included a pair of cross type perforations ( 35 ) with a central pivot ( 36 ) conforming clips for placing the cards.  
         [0149]     The longitudinal lower profiles ( 15   a ) and ( 18 ) are connected in their lower part to a plurality of inverted “T” shaped protrusions ( 37   a ) with a rectangular cross-section having a upper and ( 37   b ) and a lower end ( 37   c ) convex and with a channel in the form of an inner “T” ( 37   d ), that are fitted in the perforations ( 13   a ), ( 13   b ) that are part of the female hinge ( 13 ) located in the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) of the base ( 1 ), allowing to lower the greater walls ( 2 ) and smaller walls ( 3 ), from a vertical position of use to another horizontal storing position in a very simple manner.  
         [0150]     The two covers ( 7 ) are rectangular flat and include two complementary reduced vertexes ( 38 ) with the widened profiles arranged in the corners of the box.  
         [0151]     Each cover ( 7 ) covers all the length of the box and has a width equal to the overall height of the same that is equal to the height of the greater wall ( 2 ) plus the height of the base ( 1 ).  
         [0152]     The covers ( 7 ) are connected to the longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) of the box by means of thin membranes or flexible hinges ( 39 ), so that in a closed position, the covers ( 7 ) lean on these longitudinal upper “C” type profile ( 15   b ) and simultaneously they lean by means of flat rectangular protrusions ( 40 ) on the female cavity ( 30 ) located in the smaller walls ( 3 ). In these flat rectangular prolongations ( 40 ) a trapezial protrusion is included ( 31   a ) that acts as a locking clip of the covers ( 7 ) with the smaller walls ( 3 ). This trapezial protrusion ( 31   a ) comprises longitudinal lateral ribs ( 31   b ) and penetrates in the rectangular perforation ( 30   b ) located in the smaller walls ( 2 ) when it is wanted to close the cover in the assembled position of the box.  
         [0153]     The covers ( 7 ) include in their ends the complementary flaps ( 33 ) that are locked with the flaps ( 32 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box, in order to allow an additional reinforcement in the locking of the covers ( 7 ) when the box is assembled and covered.  
         [0154]     The covers ( 7 ) include a perimetric channel of three sides ( 41 ) of uniform material without perforations in their outer surface adjacent to the lateral and longitudinal edges opposed to the flexible hinges composed by a thin membrane of material ( 39 ).  
         [0155]     The covers ( 7 ) include a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 42 ) that conform an homogenous arrangement that cover the surface that is surrounded by this perimetric channel of three sides ( 41 ) and up to a little distance from the flexible hinges ( 39 ).