Patent Publication Number: US-11383879-B2

Title: Folding transport container

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/SK2019/050003, filed Apr. 4, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The technical solution relates to folding transport container intended mainly for transport of materials, goods, and other cargo and belongs to the field of transport. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Presently, large amounts of materials, goods, and other cargo are transported packaged in containers, using waterborne, road, rail, and air transport. It is desired that individual containers are placed immediately next to each other, thereby minimizing the space both during transportation and storage. When storing or transporting empty containers, it is also desired that the volume of space occupied by empty containers is minimized. This can be achieved by folding the containers. 
     Currently used transport containers are e.g. made of metal profiles with use of plastic or metal walls. The current known state of folding such transport containers is based on use of withdrawable pull rods, which, upon being withdrawn, release part of the upright of the side wall of the container, thereby allowing for folding of the upright or folding of the side wall of the container. A disadvantage of this known solution is that the withdrawable pull rods protrude from the outer walls of the transport container, which makes placing of the transport containers immediately next to or behind each other impossible, increasing the space required for storage or transportation. Another disadvantage is that during manipulation, the withdrawable pull rods get stuck or even destroyed. Their destruction also occurs when placing the containers as close to each other as possible. Another disadvantage of using withdrawable pull rods is the high physical force needed for their withdrawal. 
     Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,924 describes collapsible air freight container, which comprises a standard base, a side panel slideably hinged to the base and a back panel which is hinged to the base which interlocks with the side panel. However, this patent document does not solve a construction matter of locking and releasing mechanism of side panels with the back panel. 
     NATURE OF INVENTION 
     The aforementioned disadvantages are eliminated by folding transport container intended mainly for transport of materials, goods, and other cargo according to this invention, whose principle is based on folding and unfolding of the transport container provided by an embedded lock-release mechanism according to this invention. 
     Folding transport container mainly intended for use in transportation of materials, goods, and other cargo includes base, side panels with side uprights, where the side panels have pivot links with edges of the base. The folding transport container also includes a lock-release mechanism located inside the side upright of the first side panel. The lock-release mechanism includes a lever with a catch and a spring. The lever is placed in rotary fashion inside the side upright of the first side panel using fixed axis so that one end of the lever is placed within the hollow  1  of the side upright of the first side panel, while the other end of the lever has fixed link to a catch, which is placed inside the hollow  2  of the side upright of the first side panel. Side upright of the adjacent side panel, placed immediately next to the side upright of the first side panel, is equipped with an opening whose shape and dimensions are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the catch and which is aligned in one plane with the catch. A spring is linked to the lever. 
     The catch may be wedge-shaped, which is preferable mainly when unfolding the transport container before its use for transportation of materials and goods. Preferable embodiment of the fixed axis uses a carrying shaft. The carrying shaft can be made of a screw bolt or worm. 
     Preferable structure of the lever includes a pair of opposing, preferably parallel, mutually offset walls connected by a pair of opposing, preferably parallel beveled walls, where one of the mutually offset walls is adjacent to the hollow  1  of the side upright and the catch is attached to the end of the outer side of the other wall of the pair of mutually offset walls. 
     Furthermore, it is preferable from the point of technology, manufacturing, and safety if the two opposing, preferably parallel beveled walls of the lever contain two opposing openings that serve for placement of the fixed axis of the lever. The wall of the side upright of the first side panel contains an opening or two openings for placement of the fixed axis, where the opening/openings are aligned in one plane with the openings placed within the parallel beveled walls of the lever. It is preferable from the point of technology, manufacturing, and safety if the lever inside the side upright of the first side panel revolves around the carrying shaft attached inside the openings in the opposing walls of the side upright of the first side panel. Revolving is facilitated by the opposing openings within the lever walls, providing suspension of the lever on the carrying shaft. 
     The inner side of the lever wall can contain a spur, laid out for attachment of a spring via a loop formed on the spring. 
     For increased safety and strength of the transport container, the side upright of the first side panel can be equipped with a safety spur and the side upright of the adjacent side panel is equipped with an opening, whose shape and dimensions are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the spur, for insertion of the spur. Insertion of the safety spur into the opening of the side upright of the adjacent side panel increases safety and strength of the transport panel in its unfolded state, prepared for storage of transported materials or goods. 
     The described folding transport container according to this invention represents an efficient and preferable solution for folding of empty transport containers. The advantages of the present invention include mostly:
         The lock-release mechanism does not exceed the outer dimensions of the transport container, which facilitates placement of containers immediately next to or behind each other, thereby reducing the space necessary for storage of the containers, also reducing the cost of container storage.   Reduction of trouble incidence of transport containers, caused by jamming or breaking of the withdrawable pull rods, thereby reducing the cost of repair and maintenance of transport containers.   Simple manipulation with no need for using considerable physical force.       

    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  represents the lever  4  with the two opposing openings  15 ,  16  for placement of the fixed axis  7  and with the spur  18  for attachment of a spring  6 . 
         FIG. 2  represents a longitudinal section of the side upright  2  of the first side panel with the lever  4  with a catch  5  and a spring  6  when locked. 
         FIG. 3  represents the longitudinal section of the side upright  2  of the first side panel with the lever  4  with a catch  5  and a spring  6  when released. 
         FIG. 4  represents the longitudinal section of the side upright  2  of the first side panel with the lever  4  with a catch  5  and a spring  6 ; and the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel when locked. Further represents the safety spur  19  of the side upright  2  the first side panel, inserted in the opening  20  of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel. 
         FIG. 5  represents the perpendicular cross section of the side upright  2  of the first side panel with the lever  4  with the wedge-shaped catch  5 ; and the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel when locked. Further represents the safety spur  19  of the side upright  2  the first side panel, inserted in the opening  20  of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel. 
         FIG. 6  represents the side upright  2  of the first side panel with the lever  4 ; and the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel when released. Further represents the safety spur  19  of the side upright  2  the first side panel, inserted in the opening  20  of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel. 
     
    
    
     EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention is further disclosed in more detail in following non-limiting examples of embodiments. 
     Example No. 1 
     A folding transport container was produced with a lock-release mechanism  1  intended mainly for use in material transport. It includes the base and four side panels with side uprights, where these panels have pivot links with edges of the base. It contains two lock-release mechanisms  1 , one placed inside the side upright  2  of the first (right-hand) side panel between the right-hand side panel and the front side panel, and the other one place inside the side upright  2  of the first (left-hand) side panel between the left-hand side panel and the rear side panel. The uprights of the right-hand side panel and the rear side panel as well as the uprights of the left-hand side panel and the front side panel are equipped with safety spurs and respective openings for insertion of the spurs for increased strength and safety of the transport container. 
     Both lock-release mechanisms  1  are identical. Each lock-release mechanism  1  includes a lever  4  with catch  5  and spring  6 . The lever  4  is placed, in rotary fashion, inside the side upright  2  of the first side panel using a fixed axis  7  so that one end of the lever  4  is placed inside a hollow  1   8  of the side upright  2  of the first side panel, the other end of the lever  4  has fixed link to the catch  5 , which is placed inside the hollow  2   9  of the side upright  2  of the first side panel, while the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel is equipped with an opening  10 , whose shape and dimensions are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the catch  5  and the lever  4  is linked to a spring  6  made of flexible steel. The lever  4  contains two parallel and mutually offset walls  11 ,  12  connected by two parallel beveled walls  13 ,  14 , wherein the wall  11  is adjacent to the hollow  1   8  of the side upright  2  and the end of the outer side of the wall  12  contains a catch  5  attached by a fixed welded joint. The spring  6  is attached to the inner side of the wall  12  of the lever  4  by a fixed welded joint. The spring  6  is placed so that it ensures the return of the lever  4  into the locked position. The catch  5  is cuboid-shaped. 
     Two opposing parallel beveled walls  13 ,  14  of the lever  4  contain two opposing openings  15 ,  16  for placement of the fixed axis  7  and the wall of the upright  2  contains two openings  17  for placement of the fixed axis  7 . The openings  17  are aligned in one plane with the openings  15 ,  16  in the opposing parallel beveled walls  13 ,  14  of the lever  4 . The fixed axis  7  is a carrying shaft. The first opening  17  is equipped with a thread. The carrying shaft is created so that a screw bolt is screwed in through the openings  17  (threaded) and the openings  15 ,  16 , biting into the other opening  17 . 
     When the container is unfolded and it needs to be folded, upon pressing the outer side of the wall  11  of the lever  4  through the hollow  1   8  of the side upright  2 , the lever  4  revolves around the fixed axis  7 , which causes the catch  5  to fully insert from the hollow  2   9  of the side upright  2  inside the upright  2 , allowing for separation of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel from the adjacently positioned side upright  2  of the first side panel, thereby folding the container by steps. During unfolding of the container, the outer side of the wall  11  of the lever  4  is pressed through the hollow  1   8  of the side upright  2 , thereby causing the lever  4  to revolve around the fixed axis  7 , which causes the catch  5  to fully insert from the hollow  2   9  of the side upright  2  into the side upright  2 , thereby allowing for placement of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel next to the side upright  2  of the first side panel. After releasing the outer side of the wall  11  of the lever  4 , the action of the spring  6  pushes the catch  5  out through the hollow  2   9  of the side upright  2  into the opening  10  of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel. 
     Example No. 2 
     A folding transport container was produced with a lock-release mechanism  1 , like in the example No. 1; it differs by containing a spur  18  laid out on the inner side of the wall  12  with a spring  6  attached via a loop formed on the spring  6 . The catch  5  is wedge-shaped. Such shape of the catch  5  ensures that during unfolding of the container, it is not necessary to press on the outer side of the wall  11  of the lever  4  because approaching of the adjacent side panel causes the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel to press gradually the wedge-shaped catch  5  inside the side upright  2  of the first side panel. 
     For increased safety and strength, the side upright  2  of the first side panel is equipped with a safety spur  19  and the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel is equipped with an opening  20 , whose shape and dimensions are adapted to shape and dimensions of the spur  19 , for insertion of the spur. Approaching the adjacent side panel, the safety spur  19  of the side upright  2  of the first side panel is inserted into the opening  20  within the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel. 
     Example No. 3 
     A folding transport container was produced with a lock-release mechanism  1 , like in the example No. 1; it differs by containing four lock-release mechanisms  1  located in the one upright  2  of the each side panel. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The industrial applicability of the folding transport container with lock-release mechanism according to this invention is obvious. The solution and in particular the embodiment of the lock-release mechanism may be used also for other purposes as transport purposes, e.g. storage containers and the like. 
     LISTING OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           1  lock-release mechanism 
           2  side upright of the first side panel 
           3  side upright of the adjacent side panel 
           4  lever 
           5  catch 
           6  spring 
           7  fixed axis 
           8  hollow  1  of the side upright  2   
           9  hollow  2  of the side upright  2   
           10  opening of the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel 
           11 ,  12  offset walls of the lever  4   
           13 ,  14  beveled walls of the lever  4   
           15 ,  16  opposing openings of the lever  4  for placement of the fixed axis  7   
           17  opening/openings in the wall of the upright  2  for placement of the fixed axis  7   
           18  spur for attachment of the spring  6   
           19  safety spur of the side upright  2  the first side panel 
           20  opening within the side upright  3  of the adjacent side panel for insertion of the spur  19