FOLDABLE CRATE

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns collapsible crates (10) that comprise a base member (12), a front wall (20) pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a front edge of the base member, a back wall (18) pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a back edge of the base member; a first side wall (14) pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a first side edge of the base member and a second side (16) wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a second side edge of the base member; and a locking mechanism disposed at a top portion of each of the side walls, configured for arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and neighboring side edges of the front wall and back wall, respectively.

Claims

1. A collapsible crate comprising a base member, a front wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a front edge of the base member, a back wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a back edge of the base member; a first side wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a first side edge of the base member and a second side wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a second side edge of the base member; and a locking mechanism disposed at a top portion of each of the side walls, configured for arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and neighboring side edges of the front wall and back wall, respectively; said crate configurable between an erect position at which the four walls are disposed upright, and a collapsed position at which the four walls are disposed parallel over the base member, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking bar pivotally along its longitudinal axis and extending within a locking bar receiving groove disposed across a top portion of a side wall; the locking bar comprising at each end a radially projecting locking tab extending beyond a side edge portion of the side wall, and a locking bar manipulation portion for rotatably manipulating the locking bar about a longitudinal axis thereof, between a locked position and an unlocked position; each of the front wall and the back wall comprises at a top side edge portion a locking tab arresting portion configured with locking tab path and a locking tab obstruction arrangement, wherein at an erect position an opening of the locking tab path extends opposite the locking tab; and wherein at the locked position the locking tab is obstructed and prevented from displacing through opening of the locking tab path, and at the unlocked position the locking tab is free to displace through the opening of the locking tab path, wherein the locking bar manipulation portion is a handle-like portion laterally extending from the bar and disposed external to an outside surface of the side wall, and configured with a gripping portion, wherein at the locked position said gripping portion extends within a carrying handle opening of the crate.

2. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the front wall is pivotally articulated along said bottom edge thereof to a top edge of a raised front segment extending at said front edge of the base member, and the back wall is pivotally articulated along said bottom edge thereof to a top edge of a raised back segment extending at said back edge of the base member.

3. (canceled)

4. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the side walls are of equal height, and the front wall is shorter than the back wall, however wherein at the erect position the four walls extend to the same height, with an equally leveled, coextending, continuous top edge.

5.-6. (canceled)

7. The collapsible crate of claim 2, wherein the raised back segment is higher than the raised front segment.

8. The collapsible crate of claim 2, wherein the thickness of the base member plus thickness of a side wall plus thickness of the back wall plus thickness of the front wall are equal to the height of raised back segment or to the height of the raised front segment.

9. (canceled)

10. The collapsible crate of claim 2, wherein the raised front segment has the same height as the raised back segment, wherein the height of the front wall plus the height of the back wall is equal to or less than width of side walls.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein at the collapsed position the back wall and the front wall are disposed coplanar over the side walls, and wherein a height of front wall plus the height of the back wall is equal to or less than a width of side walls.

15. The collapsible crate of claim 2, wherein the front side wall is shorter than the back side wall and the raised front segment is longer than the raised back segment.

16. The collapsible crate of claim 2, wherein the height of the front side wall plus the height of the raised front segment is equal to the height of the back wall plus the height of the raised back segment.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein side edges of the front wall and the back wall are configured with a longitudinal lip, whereby at the erect position the longitudinal lips overlap over a neighboring side edge of a neighboring side wall.

21. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein a cross section of the locking tab has a first axis and a second axis intersecting said first axis, and wherein the first axis is longer than the second axis, and at the locked position said second axis faces the opening of the locking tab path and at the unlocked position said second axis faces the opening of the locking tab path.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein at the locked position the locking bar is snapingly arrested, to thereby prevent unintentional displacement from the locked position.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises at least one locking tab obstructing member projecting into the locking tab path.

31. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises a first locking tab obstructing member and a second locking tab obstructing member, facing one another.

32. (canceled)

33. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the locking tab is less than the width of the opening of the locking tab path.

34. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the width of the locking tab is similar or less than a diameter of the locking bar.

35. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the length of the locking tab along the first axis is greater than the height of the arresting portion.

36. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the locking bar is snapingly received within the locking bar receiving groove at the top portion of the side wall.

37. (canceled)

38. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein the locking bar is configured for simultaneous locking a side wall with the neighboring back wall and front wall.

39. The collapsible crate of claim 1, wherein an interconnecting arrangement is configured between the side edges of the two side walls, and the respective neighboring side edges of the back wall and front wall.

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0060] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crate according to an example of the disclosure, at an erect position;

[0061] FIG. 2A is a section along line 2A-2A in FIG. 1;

[0062] FIG. 2B is a section along line 2B-2B in FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 2C is a local section along line 2C-2C in FIG. 2A, illustrating a hinge coupling of the first side wall at an erect position;

[0064] FIG. 2D is a local section along line 2D-2D in FIG. 2A, illustrating a hinge coupling of the back wall at an erect position;

[0065] FIG. 2E is a local section same as FIG. 2C, however at a collapsed position;

[0066] FIG. 2F is a local section same as FIG. 2D, however at a collapsed position;

[0067] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the portion marked 3 in FIG. 2A, with a back wall of the crate removed for sake of clarification;

[0068] FIG. 4A is a left side perspective view of the crate of FIG. 1, however with a front wall and a left side wall removed;

[0069] FIG. 4B is an enlargement of a top right corner of the back wall, illustrating a locking tab arresting portion according to an example of the disclosure;

[0070] FIGS. 5A-5B are a front (inside) perspective view and a rear (outside) perspective view, respectively, of a locking bar according to an example of the disclosure;

[0071] FIG. 6A is an enlarged outside corner view, of the portion marked 6A in FIG. 1;

[0072] FIG. 6B is an inside corner view, in direction of arrow Z in FIG. 4A, illustrating the locking mechanism at a locked position thereof;

[0073] FIG. 6C is a section along line 6C-6C in FIG. 6A, illustrating the locking mechanism at a locked position thereof;

[0074] FIG. 6D is an exploded view of the portion seen in FIG. 6A;

[0075] FIG. 6E is a local section along line 6E-6E;

[0076] FIGS. 7A-7B correspond with FIGS. 6B and 6C, respectively, however illustrating the locking mechanism at an unlocked position thereof;

[0077] FIG. 8A illustrates a right-side portion of the crate of FIG. 1, with the front wall and back wall removed, and the locking bar at an unlocked position;

[0078] FIG. 8B is a section along line 8B-8B in FIG. 8A, with a base member of the crate removed;

[0079] FIG. 8C is an enlargement of the portion marked 8C in FIG. 8B;

[0080] FIG. 9A illustrates the crate of FIG. 1, at a fully collapsed position;

[0081] FIG. 9B is a section along line 9B-9B in FIG. 9A;

[0082] FIG. 9C is a planar view of FIG. 9B;

[0083] FIG. 9D is a section along line 9D-9D in FIG. 9A;

[0084] FIG. 9E is a planar view of FIG. 9D;

[0085] FIGS. 10A-10C are consecutive steps illustrating displacing the locking bar between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

[0086] FIGS. 11A-11F are consecutive steps illustrating collapsing a crate according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0087] Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1-4A, directed to a collapsible crate according to an example of the present disclosure, said crate generally designated 10. The crate 10 has a rectangle shape and its components are made of molded plastic material.

[0088] The crate 10 comprises a base member 12 with four side walls articulated thereto and upwardly extending therefrom at an erect position-namely, a first (right) side wall 14, a second (left) side wall 16, a back wall 18 and a front wall 20.

[0089] Integrally extending at a back edge of the base member 12 there is a raised back segment 24 of height S.sub.b, and integrally extending at a front edge of the base member 12 there is a raised front segment 26, wherein the raised back segment 24 is higher than the raised front segment 26 of height S.sub.f (S.sub.b>S.sub.f), as will be discussed hereinafter.

[0090] As can be seen, best in FIGS. 2C and 2E, the side walls 14, 16 are pivotally articulated with base member 12 along a side edge of the base member 12, through hinge portions 28 integral with a bottom edge of the side walls 14 and 16, and hinge portions 30 integral with side edges of the base member 12, thus omitting an axle type hinge, though other hinging arrangements are possible (not shown). Likewise, and as best seen in FIGS. 2D and 2F, the back wall 18 is pivotally articulated along a top edge of the raised back segment 24 through hinge portions 34 integral with a bottom edge of the back wall, and hinge portions 35 integral with side edges of the raised back segment 24. The front wall 20 (best seen in FIG. 9A) is pivotally articulated along a top edge of the raised back segment 26 through hinge portions 36. The embracing hinge portions 28 and 34 are open, whereby the respective walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 can be detached from the base member 12.

[0091] As can further be seen in FIGS. 2D and 2F, the hinge arrangement of the back wall 18 and the front wall 20 is such that at the erect position a bottom, outside facing inverted L-shape portion 40 of the back/front wall 18, 20 bears over an upright shoulder portion 42 extending from the raised back segment 24. This arrangement supports the walls 18 and 20 at an upright position and prevents their pivotal displacement over 90.

[0092] It is noted that the side walls 14 and 16 are of equal length, and the front wall 20 is shorter than the back wall 18, however wherein at an erect position the four walls extend to the same height, with an equally leveled, coextending, continuous top edge 19. Accordingly, and as can be seen in FIG. 2B, the height difference between the height h.sub.b of back wall 18 and height h.sub.f of the front wall 20 is equal to the difference between height S.sub.b of the raised back segment 24 and height S.sub.f of the raised front segment 26 (h.sub.bh.sub.f=S.sub.bS.sub.f).

[0093] Each of the four walls is configured with an opening 33, serving as a carrying handle for transporting the crate.

[0094] Attention is now directed to FIGS. 6A, 6D, 6E and 8A, illustrating an interconnecting arrangement between the side edges 45 of the two side walls 14 and 16, and the respective neighboring side edges 47 of the back wall 18 and front wall 20. Accordingly, the side edges 45 are configured with lateral L-shaped projections 48, outwardly facing, and configured for arresting within respective openings 50 disposed along side edges 47 upon displacing the respective side wall into an erect position, as will be discussed hereinafter.

[0095] Also noted (best FIGS. 6A, 6C-6E and 7B), side edges 47 of the back wall 18 and the front wall 20 are configured with a longitudinal laterally projecting edge 54, wherein at the erect position said edge 54 bears over an edge portion 45 of the neighboring side wall.

[0096] As mentioned hereinabove, the four walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 are pivotally articulated to respective portions of the base member 12, wherein said walls are displaceable between an erect position (FIGS. 1 to 4A and 10A to 10C), and a fully collapsed position (FIGS. 9A to 9E and 11F).

[0097] For retaining the crate 10 at an erect, stable position, a locking mechanism is provided and configured for arresting engagement side edges of a side wall and neighboring side edges of the front wall and back wall, respectively. Accordingly there is provided a locking bar 60 (seen isolated in FIGS. 5A and 5B) comprising cylindrical portions 67 snapingly received within a locking bar receiving groove 65 disposed across a top portion of each of the side walls 14 and 16. The locking bar 60 comprises at each end thereof a radially projecting locking tab 66, extending beyond a side edge portion 45 of the side wall 14, 16, and a handle-shaped locking bar manipulation portion 68 for rotatably manipulating the locking bar about a longitudinal axis thereof, between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking tab 66 has a first axis X.sub.1 and a second axis X.sub.2 (FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6C and 7B) intersecting said first axis X.sub.1, wherein the first axis is longer than the second axis (X.sub.1>X.sub.2). The locking bar 60 is rotatable over the longitudinal axis about at least 90 between a locked position, and an unlocked position, as will be discussed hereinafter.

[0098] Respectively configured at a top side edge portion 47 of each of the back wall 18 and the front wall 20 there is a locking tab arresting portion 70 configured with locking tab path (along arrow 72) and a locking tab obstruction arrangement, namely a top wall obstruction 76 and a bottom ridge 78, with gliding surfaces 82 to facilitate smooth displacement of the locking tab 66 into the locking tab arresting portion 70. The distance D at the locking tab path between the obstruction members 76 and 78 is greater than the length of X.sub.2, though lesser than the length of axis X.sub.1 (X.sub.2>D>X.sub.1).

[0099] The arrangement is such that at an erect position an opening of the locking tab path 72 extends opposite the locking tab 66 and wherein at the unlocked position (FIGS. 7A and 7B) the locking tab 66 is disposed horizontally, i.e., the first axis X.sub.1 is disposed horizontally, wherein the locking tab 66 is free to displace along the locking path 72 through the opening and into the locking tab arresting portion 70. However, at the locked position (FIGS. 6B and 6C) said first axis X.sub.1 of the locking tab 66 intersects the locking tab path 72, wherein once received within the locking tab arresting portion 70 the locking tab 66 is prevented from displacement away as it is obstructed by the obstruction members 76 and 78.

[0100] Furthermore, the locking bar 60 can be arrested at the locked position by a snap-lock arrangement comprising ridges 83, 85 (at the manipulation handle portion 68) and 87, snapingly arrestable by corresponding ridges at the side wall for distinct displacement of the locking bar 60, and wherein the ridge 85 is arrested within the opening 33 (carrying handle) by lip 89 thereof (FIG. 3), for arresting the locking bar 60 at the locked position. Noticeably, at the locked position the manipulation handle portion 68 of locking bar 60 merges within the opening 33 of the side wall, such that it constitutes part of the carrying handle when the crate is displaced.

[0101] FIGS. 9A to 9E illustrate the crate 10 according to the present disclosure at a collapsed position, wherein the first side wall 14 and the second side wall 16 are disposed coplanar and flush over a top face 13 of base member 12, the front wall 20 resting flat and flush over the side walls 14 and 16, and the back wall 18 resting flat and flush over a portion of the front wall 20, wherein the walls 14, 16, 18 and 20 and the base 12 are partially disposed.

[0102] If, however, the height of front wall plus the height of back wall would be equal to or less than the width of the side walls (not shown) than the front wall and back wall could extend coplanar over the side walls 14 and 16, at the collapsed position.

[0103] It is seen that thickness of the base member 12 plus thickness of a side wall 14, 16 plus the thickness of the back wall 18 plus thickness of the front wall 20 is equal to the height S.sub.b of raised back segment 24, and the thickness of base member 12 plus the thickness of a side wall 14, 16 plus thickness of the front wall 20 is equal to height S.sub.f of the raised front segment 26.

[0104] FIGS. 10A-11F exemplify consecutive steps for erecting/collapsing the crate 10 of the present disclosure. Taking for example that the crate 10 is at its erect, locked position (FIGS. 10A and 11A), a first step is unlocking the locking mechanism by pivotal/swinging displacing the locking bar manipulation portion 68 outwards, in direction of arrow 90 (FIGS. 10B and 10C), overcoming the snapping ridge 78. By doing so, the locking tab 66 displaces into the unlocked position (FIGS. 7A and 7B) facilitating collapsing the side walls 14 and 16 towards one another in direction of arrow 94 (FIGS. 11B to 11C) until they rest coplanar, flush over the base member 12 (FIG. 11D). Then, front wall 20 is pivotally collapsed in direction of arrow 96 (FIG. 11E) until it comes to rest flush over the side walls 14 and 16, followed by pivotally collapsing of the back wall 18 in direction of arrow 98 (FIG. 11E) until it comes to rest flush over the front wall 20, wherein the crate assumes flat, compact position (FIG. 11F).

[0105] Erecting the crate 10 takes place in a reverse sequence of operations.