Collapsible metal box

Abstract

A collapsible metal box, in particular for transporting a material sensitive to creep, is provided. The box includes a base and two first and two second opposing side panels hinged to the base. At least one of the first side panels includes a retaining structure for maintaining the same in an upright position on the base while the second side panels are collapsed fully outwards.

Claims

1. A collapsible metal box, comprising: a. a base, b. two first and two second opposing side panels that are articulated to the base about horizontal geometric rotation axes, at least one of the first side panels comprising holding means for holding it in a position standing by itself on the base while the second side panels are folded out fully toward the outside, wherein the holding means comprise a joining element of which i. a lower part is temporarily inserted into the upper end of a corner upright of the base in order to hold the corresponding first side panel in the position standing by itself, and ii. an upper part is inserted into an opening at the lower end of a side upright of the first panel, wherein at least one of the first side panels, when it is held in the position standing by itself, is at an opening angle , of greater than or equal to 95, said angle being measured between a horizontal position of the first panel folded in toward the inside and the position standing by itself, the lower part of the joining element comprising a recess forming two flat sides, with one short side and one long side perpendicular thereto, the short side defining an angle of greater than 95 with the longitudinal axis of the joining element, the angle limiting the pivoting of the corner upright and corresponding to a maximum opening angle of the first panel when the latter holds itself in the position standing by itself.

2. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding means are designed to hold at least one of the first side panels in the position standing by itself, independently of the movement of the second side panels between the position in which they are folded out fully toward the outside and a position in which they are folded in toward the inside, and of the movement in the opposite direction.

3. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper part of the holding means is fixed in the opening at the lower end of the side upright of the first panel.

4. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding means are designed to allow the corresponding first side panel to be folded in, without having to be lifted or removed, between the standing position and a position in which it is folded in toward the inside.

5. The box as claimed in claim 1, comprising an angle bracket secured to a first side panel and able to laterally reinforce the adjacent second side panel, the angle bracket comprising a profiled element secured to a side upright of the first side panel and designed to cover, at least in part, two sides of the side upright of the adjacent second side panel when the adjacent first and second side panels are assembled and locked, the angle bracket being interrupted at the bottom of the upright and/or ending with a beveled shape inclined toward the bottom of the upright, the angle bracket starting in particular at the top of the upright.

6. The box according to claim 5, wherein the profiled element is in the shape of an L.

7. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has a maximum thickness e.sub.b less than or equal to 15 mm.

8. The box as claimed in claim 1, comprising feet, one foot at each corner of the base.

9. The box as claimed in the claim 8, wherein the feet each comprise a base plate having an elongate shape along an axis parallel to the first side panels.

10. The box as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has an approximately rectangular shape, the two first and second side panels corresponding respectively to the long sides and to the short sides of the base.

11. A method for emptying a box as claimed in claim 1 which is filled with a material, wherein emptying is carried out, at least in part, while at least one of the first side panels is in a position standing by itself and the second side panels are folded out fully toward the outside.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the material filling the box is susceptible to creep.

13. The box according to claim 1, wherein a material transported in the box is of the type susceptible to creep.

14. The box according to claim 1, wherein the opening angle is between 95 and 120.

15. A collapsible metal box, comprising: a. a base, b. two first and two second opposing side panels that are articulated to the base, at least one of the first side panels comprising holding means for holding it in a position standing by itself on the base while the second side panels are folded out fully toward the outside, c. an angle bracket secured to a first side panel and able to laterally reinforce the adjacent second side panel, the angle bracket comprising a profiled element secured to a side upright of the first side panel and designed to cover, at least in part, two sides of the side upright of the adjacent second side panel when the adjacent first and second side panels are assembled and locked, the angle bracket being interrupted at the bottom of the upright and/or ending with a beveled shape inclined toward the bottom of the upright, the angle bracket starting at the top of the upright.

16. The box of claim 15, wherein the profiled element is in the shape of an L.

Description

(1) The invention may be better understood from reading the following detailed description of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment thereof, and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a box in accordance with the invention,

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a perspective view and a top view of the detail II from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of the box from FIG. 1, the two first side panels being in a standing position and the two second side panels being flapped fully toward the outside, as far as the ground.

(5) FIGS. 3B and 3C are front views of the box from FIG. 1, the two first side panels being in a standing position before and, respectively, during the flapping of the visible second side panel toward the outside,

(6) FIGS. 4A to 4F show different views of the detail IV from FIG. 1,

(7) FIGS. 4G and 4H show a side view and a perspective view of a joining element that can be used in an example of the invention, on its own,

(8) FIG. 5A shows a schematic bottom view of the base of the box from FIG. 1,

(9) FIG. 5B shows the detail V.sub.B from FIG. 5A in section,

(10) FIG. 6 shows a perspective bottom view of a foot of the box from FIG. 1,

(11) FIG. 7 shows a box according to the invention as it is being transported by a roller conveyor,

(12) FIG. 8 shows a schematic front view of two boxes stacked in the assembled state,

(13) FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of two stacked boxes in the folded-in state, and

(14) FIG. 10 shows a peg that can be used in an example of the invention, on its own.

(15) FIG. 1 shows an example of a collapsible box 1, made of steel, in the assembled state, comprising a base 2 that rests on four feet 3 and comprising two first side panels 4a and two second side panels 4b that are opposite one another in pairs.

(16) In the example illustrated, the four panels are removable relative to the base 2 and articulated to the base 2 about horizontal geometric rotation axes. Each panel comprises, in the example illustrated, articulation elements such as those described in the application WO 2004/108542.

(17) The first and the second articulated panels 4a and 4b may thus be flapped toward the inside of the box into a fully folded-in position. The second panels 4b may also be flapped toward the outside of the box, as illustrated for example in FIG. 3. The geometric articulation axes of the panels are located at different heights, so as to allow the panels to be flapped onto one another when the box is folded in.

(18) Locking systems 17 are provided to hold the panels 4 together and vertical when the box is assembled. Each locking system 17 may be for example as described in the application WO 2004/108542.

(19) FIG. 2A shows the locking systems 17 when the box is assembled.

(20) The side panels 4a and 4b each comprise a metal framework, made of steel in the example in question, comprising vertical side uprights 10a and 10b and lower horizontal cross members 12a-12b and upper horizontal cross members 11a and 11b, which consist of metal profiled elements made of galvanized steel in the example illustrated.

(21) The metal framework also comprises vertical reinforcements 13a and 13b which link the cross members 11a and 12a, and 11b and 12b, respectively. Plates made of galvanized steel 14a and b are fixed to the metal framework.

(22) The base 2 comprises two cleats 21 on its second sides 8b and does not comprise any cleats on the first sides 8a.

(23) Each side upright 10a of the first side panels 4a extends in line with a corner upright 5 of the base 2, when the box is in a locked position as illustrated in FIG. 1. The corner uprights 5 consist, in the example illustrated, of hollow and vertical profiled elements having an approximately rectangular section. The corner uprights 5 are connected, at the sides 8 of the base 2, by horizontal cross members 6.

(24) The lower part 50a of a joining element 50 is inserted into the upper end of a corner upright 5 of the base 2. The upper part 50b of the joining element 50 is inserted into an opening at the lower end of the side upright 10a of the first panel 4a in order to hold it in a standing position.

(25) Preferably, the upper part 50b of the joining element 50 remains inserted in the end of the side upright 10a of a first panel during the handling of the box, in particular during assembly and folding operations.

(26) Optionally, the joining element 50 may be fixed with the aid of a pin inserted and welded into the bore 55 in the side upright 10.

(27) Angle brackets 40b that are formed for example by a profiled element n the shape of an L are secured to the uprights 10a of the first panels 4a. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the angle bracket 40b covers two sides of the side upright 10b of the second panel 4b. The angle brackets 40b reinforce the sides of the second panels 4b when the box is assembled, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

(28) The angle brackets 40b in the example illustrated start from the top of the uprights 10a and end with a beveled shape 40a at the bottom of said upright. When the first side panel 4a holds itself in a position standing by itself, the beveled shape 40a of the angle bracket 40b may have a vertical outside edge 40c, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

(29) In the example illustrated, each side upright 10a of a first panel 4a is topped with a peg 70 inserted downwardly into the upper part of the profiled element that forms the side upright 10a in question. Optionally, the peg 70 may comprise a bore 72 and be fixed with the aid of a pin that is inserted and welded into the bore 72 and a bore 75 in the side upright 10a.

(30) The peg 70 may be solid or hollow.

(31) The peg 70 may be made of metal, for example by molding, casting molten metal or forging. The edges of the peg 70 may be rounded, in particular when the peg is produced by casting molten metal or forging.

(32) While FIG. 1 shows the four side panels locked in the vertical position, in FIG. 3A the two first side panels maintain an approximately vertical position standing by themselves and the two second side panels are flapped fully toward the outside until they touch the ground or the surface on which the box is placed.

(33) When it is in this position, in which it is standing and not locked, the first side panel 4a is at an opening angle greater than 95, said angle being measured between a horizontal position folded toward the inside and the free, assembled standing position, that is to say in which it is neither locked nor held. More generally, the opening angle may be between 90 and 120.

(34) This opening beyond the vertical favors the stability of this position of the first side panel and also makes it possible to move the second side panels between the position folded out toward the outside, shown in FIG. 3A, and a vertical non-locked position illustrated in FIG. 3B and a position folded toward the inside and, while keeping the first side panels 4a standing.

(35) This is particularly advantageous for the unloading of the boxes, which may be carried out with the side panels in the position in FIG. 3A. It is, in particular, much easier to reach the lower layer of goods, for example hales of rubber, when the second panels are thus folded out toward the outside, the first panels being in a standing position.

(36) FIG. 3B shows that the beveled shape of the angle brackets 40b makes it possible to pivot the second panels in an unhindered manner while the first panels maintain a position standing by themselves and forming an angle of strictly greater than 90, equal to 95 in the example illustrated, with the horizontal position, folded toward the inside of the box.

(37) While FIG. 4A illustrates a perspective view of the detail IV from FIG. 1, FIGS. 4B and 4C show partial sections through the side upright 10a of the first panel 4a and through the corner upright 5 between which the joining element 50 is positioned. In the partial section in FIG. 4D, only the corner upright 5 is in section.

(38) The joining element 50 illustrated comprises an upper part 50b having a section that is approximately square, for example, and a lower part 50a.

(39) The lower part 50a of the joining element 50 may comprise two recesses 51 and 53, as illustrated in FIGS. 4G and 4H.

(40) The first recess 51 may form, as in the example illustrated, two perpendicular flat sides, a long side 51a parallel to the longitudinal axis Z.sub.0 of the joining element and a short side 51b perpendicular thereto.

(41) The first recess 51 makes it possible to prevent mechanical blocking that may impede the folding of the first panel toward the inside of the box.

(42) The second recess 53 may form, as in the example illustrated, two flat sides, a short side 53b and a long side 53a perpendicular thereto.

(43) The short side 53b may be such that it defines an angle .sub.0 of strictly greater than 90, in particular equal to 95, with the longitudinal axis Z.sub.0 of the joining element.

(44) The angle .sub.0 limits the pivoting of the corner upright and corresponds to a maximum opening angle of the first panel when the latter holds itself in the position standing by itself.

(45) The angle .sub.0 may be between 90 and 120.

(46) In the assembled position of the box 1 with the side panels 4 locked, the joining element 50 is in line with the side upright 10a as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

(47) In the position of the side panel standing by itself, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the lower part 50a of the joining element 50, in particular the recess 53, bears against the external wall 58 of the corner upright 5 that is in line with the side upright 10a.

(48) The corner upright 5 also comprises an indentation 54, designed to make it easier for the joining element 50 fixed in the side upright 10a to pass when the first panel 4a is moved in order to be folded in toward the inside of the box.

(49) The joining element 50 illustrated is produced by casting molten metal; in its upper part 50b, it comprises a bore 52 designed to receive a fixing pin for keeping the joining element inside the side upright 10a during handling operations of the box, be it assembled or folded in, empty or full.

(50) At least one label holder 15 may also be fixed to at least one panel 4, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or under the base 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

(51) The base 2 of the box illustrated has a rectangular overall shape, the first panels, corresponding to the long sides of the base, have for example a maximum thickness e.sub.a of around 30 mm, while the second panels 4b, corresponding to the short sides, have for example a maximum thickness e.sub.b of around 20 mm.

(52) The base 2 comprises a bottom 27. Transverse reinforcing means 20a formed by profiled elements divide the bottom into four parts 25, each corresponding to a metal plate 26. Preferably, the parts 25 have identical dimensions, but if there are a different number of parts 25 or parts 25 that are not the same, this does not depart from the scope of the invention.

(53) Between these transverse reinforcements 20a, the bottom 27 comprises diagonal reinforcements 20b. The plates 26 are welded to the transverse reinforcements 20a and to the diagonal reinforcements 20b.

(54) As illustrated in FIG. 5B, in this embodiment, the transverse reinforcements 20a are tubular reinforcements having a rectangular section and the diagonal reinforcements 20b consist of profiled elements made of steel with a cross section in the form of an .

(55) The combination of transverse reinforcements and diagonal reinforcements makes it possible to have a strong box with a relatively small maximum thickness e.sub.f of the bottom of the box compared with that of prior art boxes. The maximum thickness of the bottom is measured in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 5B. In the example in question, the bottom has a maximum thickness e.sub.f equal to 15 mm. The bottoms of known boxes frequently have thicknesses in the region of 30 mm.

(56) FIG. 6 shows that each foot 3 comprises a base plate 62 having an elongate shape along an axis parallel to the first side panels. Each base plate may have the overall shape of a right-angled triangle or of a right-angled trapezium, as illustrated.

(57) A foot 3 has been shown in a bottom view in FIG. 6. It comprises two approximately perpendicular sides 60 and 61. A base plate 62 connects the sides 60 and 61.

(58) The base plate 62 comprises at least one opening 63, two in the example illustrated, allowing a liquid to flow out, in particular during the step of galvanizing the steel of which the box is made.

(59) The corner upright 5 comprises a notch 65 in its lower part, this notch 65 being formed laterally toward the inside of the box in the example illustrated.

(60) The notch 65 may be designed to receive, at least partially, the upper part of a peg 70 during the stacking of boxes, as explained below.

(61) The corner upright 5 is offset with respect to the base plate 62, thereby preventing it from resting on the ground and also allowing a degree of locking of an underlying box when two boxes are stacked in the folded-instate, the upper end of a corner upright 5 of the underlying box being positioned in the offset.

(62) While, the overall shape of a right-angled isosceles triangle of the base plates of the feet of known boxes renders transport by roller conveyer relatively unstable, in the example illustrated, the elongate shape of the base plate allows the foot to always rest on at least two rollers during transport by roller conveyer, as shown in FIG. 7, thereby rendering the transported box more stable and thus this mode of transport more reliable.

(63) FIGS. 8 and 9 show two stacked boxes 1 and 1, in the assembled state and the folded-instate, respectively.

(64) FIG. 8 shows pegs 70 inserted into the upper end of the side uprights 10a of the first panels 4a.

(65) As can be seen in FIG. 10, each peg 70 may comprise an upper part 70b having a semi-pyramidal shape which forms a recess with respect to a support 70c having an approximately square shape, and a lower part 70a designed to be inserted into the top of a side upright 10a of a first panel 4a. If the shape of the peg 70 is different, for example, this does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

(66) In the assembled state, as in FIG. 8, the upper parts 70b, having a semi-pyramidal shape, of the pegs 70 of the lower box 1 are inserted into the notches 65 of the corner uprights 5 of the upper box 1.

(67) Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been described, and it is possible in particular to modify the relative dimensions of the panels and of the base.

(68) The expression comprising a should be understood as being synonymous with comprising at least one.