Abstract:
A collapsible container is provided which includes a base, a pair of opposed side walls, and a pair of opposed end walls which are transverse to the side walls. The side and end walls are pivotably connected to the base between an upright position generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed position on the base. A support is pivotably and slidably mounted to each of the end walls. The support is configured to extend into the container and to fully retract within the end wall. The support extends far enough into the container to reliably support another container thereon.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/119,173 which was filed on 2 Dec. 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to collapsible crates and more particularly to a collapsible crate with retractable support members for supporting another container thereon. 
     Collapsible crates are well known. Four walls are each connected via a hinge to a base and are selectively movable about the hinge between an upright (or use) position, in which the wall is generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position onto the base. Various latch mechanisms have been provided to connect adjacent walls at the corner to selectively lock the crate in the use position. 
     Some collapsible crates also include retractable supports so that another container can be supported thereon. One such crate includes end walls, each of which have a support that is partially supported on the adjacent walls when in the support position. However, in some of the designs, the support does not extend far enough into the mouth of the container, away from the end wall. As a result, it is difficult to reliably stack the other container onto the supports without the other container slipping down between the supports. It would be desirable for the supports to extend further into the container, without interfering with the goods in the container below the supports, and such that the supports are still able to be fully retracted out of the interior of the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application provides a collapsible container including a base, a pair of opposed side walls, and a pair of opposed end walls which are transverse to the side walls. The side and end walls are pivotably connected to the base between an upright position, generally perpendicular to the base, and a collapsed position on the base. The end wall includes a support which is pivotably and slidably mounted thereto. The support is movable between a retracted position, received substantially within the end wall, and a support position extending into the container. When the side wall and the end wall are in the upright position, the support may be urged toward the support position by an optional arm extending from the side wall. Further, the support is pivotably mounted to the end wall about a movable pivot axis. Particularly, the pivot axis slides closer to the upper edge of the end wall when the support is in the support position than when the support is in the retracted position. Thus, the support can be fully retracted within the end wall and allow the support to extend far enough into the container so that it can be used to reliably support another container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the container of the present application in an upright, assembled position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of the present application in a collapsed position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a quarter of the interior the collapsible container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exterior view of the corner of the collapsible container of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another view of the collapsible container of  FIG. 3 , showing in detail the support in the support position; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the interior corner of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is another view of the collapsible container of  FIG. 3 , showing the support in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view through the side wall showing the arm of the side wall in an unbiased (or undeflected) state with the support in the support position; 
         FIG. 9  is a section view through the side wall showing the arm of the side wall in a deflected state with the support in between the support position and the retracted position; 
         FIG. 10  is a section view through the side wall showing the arm in a deflected and elastically deformed state with the support in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 11  is an exterior view of a corner of the collapsible container of  FIG. 1  supporting a second container; 
         FIG. 12  is another view of the collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , showing in detail the support in the support position with a second container being supported on the support; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the support of the present application with the support in the support position; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13  showing the support in the retracted position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the collapsible container  10  in an upright position. The container  10  includes a base  12 , upstanding side walls  14  (or long walls) and upstanding end walls  18  (or short walls). The side walls  14  and end walls  18  are pivotably connected along long and short edges of the base  12 , respectively. 
       FIG. 2  portrays the collapsible container  10  in the collapsed position. The end walls  18  are collapsed onto the base  12 , and the side walls  14  are collapsed onto the end walls  18 . By collapsing the container  10  in this manner, the volume of the container  10  is reduced and the container  10  can be easily stored. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a quarter of the container  10 . The remainder of the container  10  is symmetric. The container  10  is shown in the upright (or assembled) position. Each end wall  18  has a support  20 . The support  20  is pivotably and slidably mounted on the end wall  18  and movable between a retracted position and a support position. The support  20  is shown in  FIG. 3  in support position, where it projects into the interior of the container  10  where it can support another container stacked thereon. The supports  20  project into arcuate channels  22  formed in each side wall  14 . The ends of the supports  20  move in the arcuate channels  22  as the end walls  18  are collapsed onto the base  12 . 
       FIG. 4  is an exterior view of the corner of the container  10  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the interior corner of the container  10  of  FIG. 3 . The side wall  14  includes an integrally molded deformable arm  40  (or some other deformable structure) that contacts an outer surface of the support  20 . When the side wall  14  and end wall  18  are in the assembled, upright position as shown, the arm  40  urges the support  20  away from the end wall  18  to the support position. 
       FIG. 6  shows a bottom perspective view of the interior corner of  FIG. 3 . The end wall  18  includes a plurality of openings  24  formed in a plurality of brackets  26 . The support  20  includes a plurality of arms  28  (one shown in this view), each having a hinge pin  30  formed at a lower end thereof. The hinge pins  30  are received in the brackets  26  and are captured in the openings  24  of the brackets  26 . The hinge pins  30  are pivotable and slidable within the openings  24  in the brackets  26 . The hinge pins  30  define a movable axis about which the support  20  pivots. The hinge pins  30  slide to the upper end of the openings  24  when the support  20  is in the support position  20 . The arms  28  extend at an angle inwardly and upwardly from the hinge pins  30 , such that the support  20  extends further into the interior of the container  10  than the supports in some known containers. The end of the support  20  includes a tab  32  projected downwardly behind a rail  34  adjacent the channel  22 . The tab  32  interlocks with the rail  34  to prevent the side wall  14  from deflecting outward which could otherwise permit the support  20  to slip off of the side wall  14  when a load is placed on the support  20 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the support  20  moved to the retracted position within the end wall  18 . The side wall  14  includes an upper rib  50  providing an upper contact surface that contacts the support  20  as the support  20  is moved toward the retracted position. As the support  20  is moved toward the retracted position, the arm  28  is pivoted outwardly and the support  20  contacts the upper rib  50 , which causes the hinge pin  30  to slide downward within the vertically elongated openings  24 . Also, as the support  20  moves toward the retracted position, the arm  40  is deflected outwardly. The arm  40  continues to urge the support  20  toward the support position, so the support  20  will return to the support position automatically upon release. Note that when the end wall  18  is collapsed onto the base, the support  20  is no longer biased toward the support position. 
       FIG. 8  is a section view through the side wall  14  toward the interior of the container  10 . When the support  20  is in the support position, the arm  40  is in contact with the support  20 , but in an undeflected or substantially undeflected, undeformed state. Referring to  FIG. 9 , as the support  20  is pushed into the retracted position, the support  20  contacts the upper rib  50  of the side wall  14 . This forces the support  20  to translate downward (i.e. the hinge pin  30  slides down within the opening  24  ( FIG. 7 )). As the support  20  is pushed toward the retracted position, the arm  40  is deflected and elastically deformed outwardly until the support  20  is received in the end wall  18  in the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , when the supports  20  are in the support position, a second container  200  can be supported on the supports  20 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the support  20  extends further into the interior of the container  10  than some of the supports in the known containers because the support  20  is at the end of a longer, angled arm  28  that pivots and slides relative to the end wall  18  as the support  20  moves to the support position. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate an alternate container  110 . The container  110  is substantially similar to the container  10  of  FIGS. 1-12 , and corresponding parts are referenced with the same reference number, preappended with the numeral “1.” The container  110  includes supports  120  pivotably and slidably mounted to the end walls  118 . The end wall  118  includes a plurality of openings  124  formed in a plurality of brackets  126 . The support  120  includes a plurality of arms  128  (one shown in this view), each having a hinge pin  130  formed at a lower end thereof. The hinge pins  130  are received in the brackets  126  and are captured in the openings  124  of the brackets  126 . The hinge pins  130  are pivotable and slidable within the openings  124  in the brackets  126 . The hinge pins  130  define a movable axis about which the support  120  pivots. The hinge pins  130  slide to the upper end of the openings  124  when the support  120  is in the support position  120 . The arms  128  extend at an angle inwardly and upwardly from the hinge pins  130 , such that the support  120  extends further into the interior of the container  110  than the supports in some known containers. Each support  120  further includes one or more limit arms  144  projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom. A stop  146  projects outwardly from each limit arm  144 . When the support  120  is pivoted to the support position, as shown, the stop  146  contacts a corresponding stop  148  projecting inwardly from the end wall  118 . The interference between the stops  146 ,  148  prevents the support  120  from over rotating inwardly when the support  120  is not supported on the side wall  114  (i.e., while the end wall  118  is being pivoted toward the collapsed position on the base).  FIG. 14  illustrates the support  120  in the retracted position, where the stop  146  on the arm  144  of the support  120  is pivoted away from the stop  148  on the end wall  118 . 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.