GB2103184A - Packing case - Google Patents

Abstract

A packing case comprises a framework of elongate members e.g. 26, 28, each of substantially uniform cross section, and flat rigid panels e.g. 14a, at least some of said panels having edges thereof received in respective channels defined by the members 26, 28. A removable lid 18a may be held in position by toggle fasteners 106, the members 26, 28 being so profiled that the fasteners do not project beyond the outer face of the panels 14a. The panels 14a and members 26, 28 may be joined by adhesive, preferably by placing an adhesive-soaked cellular material between the parts to be joined. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packing case This invention relates to packing cases, which term is used herein to indicate any form of container utilised to protect articles during transportation and/or storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved packing case.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a packing case comprising a framework of elongate members each of which is of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length and a plurality of flat rigid panels defining the exterior surfaces of the packing case, at least some of said panels having edges thereof received in respective channels afforded by respective said elongate members, the packing case comprising an open-topped, rectangular container and a lift-off removable lid the peripheral edges of which, when the lid is fitted to the container, are substantially co-extensive with the outermost parts of the respective walls of the container, the upper portions of said walls and the co-operating peripheral portions of said lid being defined by respective said elongate members, and wherein the elongate members providing the upper edges of the walls of the container include portions, below said upper edges, which define longitudinal recesses, set back with respect to the major portions of outer surfaces of the respective side walls, in which are fitted quick release toggle fasteners, having portions which, in the fastened condition, engage in outwardly presented channels afforded by the elongate members forming the periphery of the lid, the arrangement being such that when the lid is fitted, and held onto the container by said fasteners, the fasteners also lie substantially within the limits of outward extent of the respective walls of the container.

The term "open-topped container" is also intended to cover, for example, an effectively inverted configuration, for example comprising a flat base for supporting an article, and an openbottomed rectangular container adapted to be fitted over an article to be packed to engage the portions of the base extending outwardly beyond the article. Thus, the packing case may comprise a "top-hat" arrangement.

Similarly the packing case may comprise a rectangular container open at one end or along one side, with a respective closure or lid for the open end or side. Thus, a container designed for an elongate article or a plurality of such articles may comprise an elongate rectangular container open at one of the ends of its longitudinal extent, and provided with a corresponding closure at that end, so that elongated articles may be inserted lengthwise into the container from one end, or may comprise an elongate rectangular container which is open along one of its longer sides, or along its elongate top or bottom, and provided with a respective appropriate closure so that elongate objects may be inserted transversely to their lengths and to the length of the container.

If preferred the lid or corresponding member (e.g. the base in the inverted or "top hat" configuration referred to above), may be held captive with respect to the rectangular container, for example being hinged thereto.

Preferably each of said panels comprises a core of rigid plastics foam material clad on either side by relatively thin rigid sheets, for example sheets of aluminium or rigid plastics.

The elongate members of substantially uniform cross section are preferably members formed by extrusion, and may, for example, be of aluminium.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packing case embodying the invention with the lid removed and showing internal packing or an inner container, also shown, Figure 2(a) is a partial view in vertical section of the lower part of a side of the packing case of Figure 1, Figure 2(b) is a partial view in vertical section of the upper part of a side, and adjoining part of the lid, of the packing case of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a corner portion of the packing case of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, in fragmentary form, showing an alternative corner construction, and Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views in section of various extrusions.

Referring to the perspective views in Figure 1, the packing case comprises an open-topped generally rectangular container 10 having a horizontal bottom 12, two parallel vertical sidewalls 14 and two mutually parallel vertical end walls 1 6. The packing case further comprises a rectangular lid 1 8 which, in the closed condition of the case fits closely over the open top of the container 10 and is held in place by quick release toggle fasteners 20 which cooperate with the lid 18.

The container 10 comprises a plurality of flat rectangular panels, each of which consists of a composite sheet material comprising a relatively thick core of rigid plastics foam, for example rigid PVC foam, clad on either side by a relatively thin aluminium sheet or skin. As an example the overall thickness of such composite sheet material may be 25 millimetres, with each of the aluminium skins being of 1 millimetre thickness.

The panels of this composite material have an extremely high strength to weight ratio and high rigidity and are impermeable. One such panel forms the bottom 12 of the container, another such panel forms the major part of the lid 18, and a major portion of each of the walls 14 and 16 is formed by a respective further such panel.

The panels making up the container body are fitted in, and connected by a frame composed of interconnected elongate members. The panels, as explained in greater detail below are adhesively bonded to these elongate members to provide rigidity and to seal the panels with respect to the elongate members and with respect to each other. Rivets may also be used to secure the panels to the elongate members to aid assembly.

The said frame composed of interconnected elongate members comprises a lower rectangular structure which supports the bottom panel 12 at its edges and comprises two relatively long members 22 disposed at the lower edges of the walls 14 and two shorter members 24 disposed at the lower edges of the walls 16, the members 22 and 24 being interconnected at the lower corners of the container by welding.

This frame also includes an upper rectangular structure comprising two relatively long elongate members 26 providing the upper parts of the side wails 14 and two shorter members 28 extending transversely and providing the upper portions of the end walls 16. The members 26 and 28 are similarly welded together at the corners of the upper rectangular structure defined thereby. At each of the four vertical edges defined by a junction of a side wall with an end wall of the container 10 is disposed a respective corner member 30 extending vertically from a respective corner of the lower rectangular structure to the corresponding corner of the upper rectangular structure, each member 30 being preferably secured to the upper and lower rectangular structures.

The panel affording the major part of lid 18 is bounded, around its edges, by an edge frame comprising upper and lower rectangular subframes each of which comprises a respective pair of relatively long and a respective pair of relatively short elongate members welded together at the corners to define the respective rectangle. The upper and lower sub-frames are secured together, for example by means of rivets, principally to aid assembly, with the lid panel being located and held between the sub-frames.

Fitted to the bottom of the container 10 are pallet bases 32 of folded aluminium sheet to assist mechanical handling of the case. As an alternative, for smaller containers, shallow wooden stand off strips may be fitted on the underside of the base 1 2, in place of the pallet bases 32, to protect the aluminium undersurface of the bottom panel from damage on abrasive surfaces.

Considering the structure of the container in greater detail, and referring to Figure 2(a) which is a fragmentary view of a lower portion of a wall of the container 10 in vertical section perpendicular to the plane of the wall, the members 22, 24 forming the lower rectangular structure surrounding and supporting the panel of the bottom 12, comprises respective lengths cut from an aluminium extrusion of the cross section shown, and shown more clearly in Figure 5, affording a flattened tubular base part 34 from opposite sides of which extend upwardly an outer wall 36 and a parallel, inner wall 37 defining, with the upper wall of the tubular part 34, an upwardly open channel 38 of a width to receive snugly the respective panel, indicated at 1 4a in Figure 2(a).

On the inner side of the tubular part 34 extends a horizontal flange 39 presenting a flat upper surface upon which the bottom panel 12 rests and a flat lower surface 40 which is extended as part of the undersurface of the tubular part 34, and defines a shallow rebate on the undersurface of the members 22, 24 in which are accommodated horizontal attachment flanges 42 (Figure 2(a)) of the pallet bases 32.

The members 26, 28 forming the upper rectangular structure comprise respective lengths cut from an extrusion of the cross section shown in Figure 2(b), which Figure is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 2(a) but showing the upper portion of a wall of the container 10.

The cross-section of member 26, 28 comprises a generally planar first sidewall 45, and an opposing wall comprising a lower portion 46 substantially parallel with wall 45 and defining with the lowermost portion of wall 45, and with a wall 60, a downwardly open channel 47 which receives snugly the upper edge portion of the respective panel, indicated at 14a. Said opposing wall further comprises an upper portion 48 parallel with the wall 45 and spaced therefrom to an extent slightly less than the lower portion 46, the portion 48 defining, with the wall 45 and with an upper horizontal wall 49 of the section and a parallel, horizontal web 50 spaced below the wall 49, a substantially square-section passage 51.

The major portion of said opposing wall comprises an intermediate portion 52 parallel with the wall 45 and spaced therefrom to an extent somewhat less than the wall 48, the portion 52 meeting the web 50 at its upper end and, at its lower end, connecting with an inclined portion 53 of said opposing wall extending between the portion 52 and portion 46. An intermediate horizontal web 54 between the wall 45 and the wall portion 52 and a lower horizontal web 56 extending between the wall 45 and the lower edge of the wall portion 52 divide the space between the wall 45 and wall portion 52 into two rectangular passageways 57 and 58, while the base wall 60 of the channel 47 defines, with the wall portion 53, web 56 and wall 45 a further, trapezoidal, longitudinally extending passage. The members 26, 28 are arranged with their first walls 45 disposed on the inside of the container, so that each of these members provides, on the outer side of the container, intermediate the upper and lower edge portions of the member, a respective outwardly facing shallow channel, the purpose of which will become apparent.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of a corner portion of the container. As shown, prior to welding the respective members 26,28 and 22, 24 together, the respective ends of these which are to be joined are mitred.

Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 6, in one form of construction which may be adopted, each of the uprights 30 comprises an extrusion of the cross section best shown in Figure 6, said extrusion having the form of a square-section tube with both of the walls of one pair of parallel walls produced transversely on one side of the tube to define a first longitudinally extending channel 65 which receives snugly an end wall panel and with the walls of the other pair of parallel walls produced beyond the tube in a perpendicular direction to define a second longitudinally extending channel 67 which receives snugly the adjoining side panel. The corner of the square section tube beyond which none of the sidewalls is produced forms the outer vertical edge of the respective corner of the container.

In this construction, each member 30 extends from the upper edge of the lower structure defined by members 22, 24 to the lower edge of the upper structure defined by members 26, 28.

For added strength and ease of assembly, as shown in Figure 4, in the upper and lower end of the square-section passage within each member 30 is engaged snugly one end of a respective square-section tubular insert 70. The other end of each insert 70 which is disposed at the lower end of a member 30 is engaged in the corner which forms the junction between the upwardly open channels 38 of the respective adjoining members 22, 24 which meet in the respective corner. The other end of each insert 70 disposed at the upper end of a member 30 is similarly engaged in the junction between the downwardly open channels of the respective members 26, 28 which meet in the respective corner.The inserts 70 may be adhesively bonded or rivetted to the members in which they engage, or welded to the respective members 30 and rivetted to the other members, or vice versa, or secured in any other convenient manner.

In another, and preferred, form of construction, shown in Figure 4, which is a view in horizontal section through a vertical edge of the packing case, each of the uprights 30 is simply a right angled angle-section member fitted over the exterior of the corner formed by a butt joint between the end face of one panel 1 6a and the side face, adjoining its end, of the adjoining panel 1 4a which meets that panel 1 6a in the respective corner.A right-angled angle section member 30a of smaller cross-section is fitted on the inside of the corner angle formed between panels 1 4a and 16a, the angle-section members 1 4a, 1 6a extending from the lower edge of the upper structure 26, 28 to the upper edge of the lower structure 22, 24. As shown in Figure 4, the end face of panel 1 6a is adhesively and sealingly connected with the side face of panel 1 4a by an adhesive body 31 the nature of which is explained in detail below.

In assembly of the packing case, since the heat required for welding would damage the panels, welding of the upper and lower rectangular structure of the frame is effected before the panels are introduced, and the panels are introduced into their respective grooves in one said structure before assembly of the container frame is completed.

The lower sub-frame of the peripheral frame of the lid 18 is formed of two parallel shorter lengths and two parallel longer lengths cut from an extrusion 80 of the cross-section shown in Figure 2(b) (and shown to a larger scale in Figure 7). As indicated in Figure 3, the ends of the respective lengths of extrusion 80 are mitred prior to welding. This extrusion 80 provides a vertical web 82 and a horizontal web 84 extending horizontally inwardly, in the completed sub-frame, from the lower edge of the web 82, to form a ledge supporting the edge portions of the lid panel 18a, while the vertical webs 82 of the four lengths of extrusion 80 together define a rectangular space within which the lid panel 1 8a fits.A second web 85 in the extrusion 80 is formed as a thickened extension of the flange 84 of the side of the web 82 remote from the flange 84, and from this web 85 extends downwardly a vertical web 86 from the lower edge of which extends horizonally, outwardly in the completed sub-frame, a generally horizontal web 87, and from the outer edge of the web 87 extends vertically downwardly a lip 88. A further flange 95 extends from the upper end of web 82 on the side thereof opposite that from which flange 84 extends.

The undersurface of the web 87 is substantially horizontal and, when the lid is fitted, (see Figure 2(b)) bears on the upwardly presented surface of the wall 49 adjacent the outer margin thereof.

The upper surface of the web 87, on the other hand, slopes upwardly and outwardly away from the web 86 to define with the outer surface of the web 86 a shallow upwardly open channel 89.

The extrusion 80 provides a substantially planar under-surface 84a afforded partly by the flange 84 and partly by the web 85 and thus extending under the web 82 and which surface 84a is terminated laterally, along the edge remote from the free edge of the flange 84, by a rectangular shoulder 90 which is set forwards slightly from the vertical surface, facing in the direction away from the web 87, of the web 86.

As shown in Figure 2(b), a sealing strip 92 is, in the assembled container lid, fitted to this undersurface 84a, and located against the shoulder 90, the sealing strip 92, when the lid is fitted, bearing against the upwardly presented surface of the horizontal webs 49 to seal the lid with respect to the container. The sealing strip 92 is of substantially uniform cross-section and comprises a foamed elastomeric core 93 and a non-foamed elastomeric surface 94 enclosing the core 93, the sealing strip having, in cross-section, a flat attachment portion which is adhesively secured to the under surface 84a and having sidewalls extending away from this attachment portion and merging, via respective arcuate portions, with a base portion bearing a longitudinally extending sealing rib for engagement with the members 26, 28. In the unstressed condition of the sealing strip, (not shown) the longitudinal sealing rib projects downwardly below the level of the under surface of the web 87, while the arcuate portion of the sidewall of the strips adjacent the web 86 is spaced slightly therefrom.When the lid is placed on the container, the longitudinal sealing rib engages the tops of the members 26, 28 and the sealing member is compressed vertically until the web 87 engages the upper surfaces of the members 26, 28, this compression resulting in the last-mentioned arcuate portions bearing against the adjacent face of the web 86 to effect a secondary seal.

The upper part of the peripheral frame of the lid is formed by a pair of parallel shorter lengths and a pair of parallel longer lengths of a further aluminium extrusion 96. These lengths are again mitred at their ends as indicated in Figure 3 before being welded together to form the rectangular upper sub-frame. The cross-sectional form of extrusion 96 is indicated in Figure 2(b) and to a greater scale in Figure 7. The extrusion 96 is of substantially J-shaped cross section providing a generally planar flange 98a forming the stem of the "J" and a downwardly curved lip 98b forming the remainder. A locating rib 98 extends along the side of the stem of the J on the underside of flange 98a (i.e. on the inner side of the stem) the rib 98 being at the end of the stem of the J which is remote from the free end.In the assembled lid, the upper surfaces of the flanges 95 bear against the corresponding lower surfaces provided by the flanges 98a, with the free edges of the flanges 95 bearing against the ribs 98 as shown in Figure 2(b). In assembly, the upper and lower sub-frames of the peripheral frame of the lid are welded up separately, then the panel of the lid is fitted in the recess afforded by the lengths of extrusion 80, whereupon the upper sub-frame defined by the lengths of extrusion 96 is fitted, as shown in Figure 2(b), and is secured to the lower portion by rivets or the like, indicated schematically at 99, passed through the flanges 95 and 98a.

It will be noted that the peripheral frame of the lid, at its outermost limits, lies substantially in the same vertical plane as the outer surfaces of the respective side walls, or, more accurately, in the parallel planes in which lie the outermost parts of the members 22,24, 26, 28, 30.

The lip 88 overhanging the members 26, 28 acts as a water-shed and also serves, when the lid is removed and laid flat on the ground, as a standoff protection for the rubber seal, which, in the uncompressed condition, does not extend as far as the lower edge of the lip 88. Abutment of the web 87 and the wall 49 also limits compression of the seal when the lid is fitted, so that, for example, this is not unduly compressed when further containers, or other loads are stacked on top of the packing case. The curved lip 98b afforded by the J-section extrusions forming the upper sub-frame of the peripheral frame of the lid acts as another water-shed and provides a convenient and comfortable finger grip to facilitate removal of the lid.The upper sub-frame of the peripheral frame of the lid is sufficiently strong to enable the packing case, at least in the smaller versions thereof, to be man handled without the need for other handle fitments.

If desired, raised moulded corner fitments (not shown) may be provided on the lid 18 into which the extremities of the pallet bases 32 will locate to provide additional stability in stacking of the containers.

The fasteners 20 are of a general known type and each comprises a generally U-shaped bracket 104 secured to the outwardly presented face of the wall portion 52 of the respective member 26, 28, a lever 106 pivotally connected to the bracket 104 and having pivotally connected thereto, in turn, a hook member 108 having a hook formation at its upper end which, when the lid is fastened, engages in the shallow channel 89 of the respective part of the lower sub-frame of the lid. In assembly of the container, the respective bracket 104 is located on the wall portion 52, with its upper edge in abutment with the under side of the projecting portion of the web 50, i.e.

the upper edge of the shallow outwardly presented channel, and is secured to the wall portion 52, for example by rivets. Since the channel 89 extends all around the peripheral frame of the lid, there is no need for any particular precision in the longitudinal positioning of the brackets 104 with respect to the corresponding elongate members 26, 28.

The levers 106 of the toggle latches 20 have apertures 1 06a therein through which extend, when the latches are closed, respective pawls 1 06h mounted on the wall 52 of the respective member 26, 28. The lever 106 is provided with holes to permit securing of the container under custom seal when desired.

In the closed condition of the case, as indicated in Figure 2(b), the levers 106, like the brackets 104 are partly accommodated in the shallow outwardly presented recess afforded by the upper members 26, 28 and, in any case, in common with the hook members 108, lie inwardly of the outermost limits of the peripheral frame of the lid and the lower portions of the respective members 26, 28, and of the outermost limits of the members 22, 24, 30 etc. Thus, the closed containers may be stored or moved close to the walls of buildings, or to adjoining containers, without risk of damage to or by the fasteners 20.

Other potentially vulnerable features, such as humidity indicators, or even simply labels, are preferably also disposed on the outer surfaces of the walls 52, i.e. within the shallow channels which accommodate the toggle fasteners.

The various panels are bonded into the respective frames or frame parts which receive the same by means of a polyurethane adhesive so that the container, when lid is fitted, is sealed against the entry of water vapour etc. The seal 94 is then the only area where there can be expected some inescapable and calculated known small transmission of water vapour.

In areas where, due to the fabrication techniques employed, it is not practicable to ensure that the gap between adjoining members will be small enough to be satisfactorily and sealingly filled using an initially liquid adhesive alone, for example between the end faces of panels 1 6a and the adjoining side faces of panels 14a, and between the underside of the lid panel 1 8a and the flange 84 the adhesive joint between the parts is effected by introducing between the parts, before the latter are brought together, an absorbent cellular material soaked in liquid adhesive.When the parts are brought together the cellular material can be readily compressed, with expulsion of some of the adhesive therefrom, between the two parts, until the final positions of the parts are reached, but the adhesive soaked cellular material fills any gap remaining and holds the liquid adhesive in position whilst the adhesive sets to a solid condition to form a firm and hermetic joint between the parts. The adhesive body constituted by the adhesive/cellular material combination is indicated at 31 in Figure 2a and Figure 4.

The structure of the container is extremely rigid and has the ability to withstand pressure differentials resulting from diurnal temperature changes in temperate zones, thus dispensing in most instances, with the need to provide "breathing" devices solely on this account.

However a valve is preferably fitted to the container as a safeguard against explosion or implosion, for example in emergency situations arising during transportation by air. At such times a rapid displacement of air is required between the interior of the container and the surrounding atmosphere. The valve is arranged to open to allow either fiow into the container or flow out of the container as dictated by the situation, at a predetermined pressure differential between the inside and the outside of the container. A manual valve lift device is incorporated in the valve to enable equalisation of pressure before attempting to remove the lid.

The packing case described with reference to the drawings has many advantages over known constructions. Thus, the packing case described is reusable indefinitely, and the quick release mounting of the lid makes the packing case very convenient to pack and unpack. At the same time, the packing case is sealed against water vapour, making it suitable for the storage or transportation of articles sensitive to humidity, while the rigidity of the container provides adequate protection for the contents.When the packing case is used for the transportation and storage of particularly sensitive items, even greater protection may be afforded by supporting the article, within the container, by means of appropriately proportioned expanded polyethylene cushions or the like, as shown in Figure 1, or by packing the article within an inner container, with slabs of plastics foam being interposed between the inner container and the walls, bottom and lid of the packing case.

The flush interior of the container renders it suitable for all methods of packaging. The acute internal corners within the packing case are particularly suitable for locating internal furniture, such as bulk cushioning or blocking, an advantage which would not be secured by a construction in which appreciable radiussing of such internal corners was inevitable.

In use, access to the contents of the packing case ;s very easily and speedily achieved, without the use of any tools, simply by releasing the toggle latches securing the lid to the container body and iifting the lid. Lid removal and replacement can be repeated indefinitely without the need for replacing any expired materials, other than dessicant packages (where utilised) at appropriate intervals.

Furthermore access to the contents of the packing case is not detrimentally affected by extremes of environmental temperature, inter alia because the materials used to do not change their physical characteristics over the range of temperatures likely to be encountered in such a way as to make the packing case difficult to open, or easily damaged, as may occur, for example, with known containers of plastics material which require some flexing of the plastics material to open and which may become too brittle and break at low temperatures during attempts at opening, or may become too flexible for security at high temperatures.

Furthermore, the design of the container is such that it can be assembled by personnel without specialised skills and without the need for specialised production facilities.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. A packing case comprising a framework of elongate members each of which is of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length and a plurality of flat rigid panels defining the exterior surfaces of the packing case, at least some of said panels having edges thereof received in respective channels afforded by respective said elongate members, the packing case comprising an open-topped, rectangular container and a lift-off removable lid the peripheral edges of which, when the lid is fitted to the container, are substantially co-extensive with the outermost parts of the respective walls of the container, the upper portions of said walls and the co-operating peripheral portions of said lid being defined by respective said elongate members, and wherein the elongate members providing the upper edges of the walls of the container include portions, below said upper edges, which define longitudinal recesses, set back with respect to the major portions of outer surfaces of the respective side walls, in which are fitted quick release toggle fasteners, having portions which, in the fastened condition, engage in outwardly presented channels afforded by the elongate members forming the periphery of the lid, the arrangement being such that when the lid is fitted, and held onto the container by said fasteners, the fasteners also lie substantially within the limits of outward extent of the respective walls of the container.

2. A packing case according to claim 1 wherein each of the elongate members forming the peripheral portions of said lid includes a portion which, when the lid is fitted, rests on upwardly presented edge surface of the elongate member affording the respective upper edge of the walls of the container, and further includes, disposed inwardly of the last-mentioned portion, a respective formation defining a downwardly open recess, said recess accommodating a sealing strip bearing on said upwardly presented edge surfaces of said walls.

3. A-packing case according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the lid or closure is captive on the container.

4. A packing case according to claim 3 wherein the lid or closure is hinged to the container.

5. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein the elongate members forming the peripheral portions of said lid include respective portions which rest on upwardly presented edge surfaces of the elongate members affording the upper edges of the side walls of the case, and respective lip portions which overlap and extend downwardly over the upper edges of said walls, on the exterior of the container, to locate said lid on the container.

6. A packing case comprising a framework of elongate members each of which is of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length and a plurality of flat rigid panels defining the exterior surfaces of the packing case, at least some of said panels having edges thereof received in respective channels afforded by respective said elongate members, wherein at least some of the joints between panels, or between panels and said elongate member are effected by means including an adhesive distributed throughout an absorbent cellular material which is in itself deformable, the respective said joint having been formed by disposing between the parts to be joined a said cellular material soaked in said adhesive in a liquid state, bringing together the parts to be joined so that any gaps therebetween are filled by the adhesive-soaked membrane, and causing or allowing the adhesive to harden to afford a hermetic joint between the parts.

7. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein each of said panels comprises a core of rigid plastics foam material clad on either side by relatively thin rigid, sheets.

8. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein each of said elongate members is formed by extrusion.

9. A packing case which comprises an opentopped, rectangular container and a lift-off removable lid the peripheral edges of which carry members of substantially uniform cross-section, including a generally angle-section portion affording a lateral web extending outwardly from the lid and a web affording a weather lip extending downwardly from the outer extreme of said lateral web, which weather lip, in the closed condition of the container extends down over the peripheral edges of said container, the container having mounted thereon quick-release toggle fasteners having portions which, in the fastened condition, engage in upwardly presented channels afforded by said members carried by the peripheral edges of the lid each channel being defined at least partly by the upper surface of the respective said lateral web.

10. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein said lid comprises a flat rigid panel bounded by said peripheral members of composite form of substantially uniform section each said composite member comprising a lower member which affords, in section, a generally horizontal web supporting the lid panel, a first web extending downwardly from the outer edge of the horizontal web to the inner edge of a transverse web from the outer edge of which extends downwardly, in turn, a generally vertical weather lip, and which further affords, extending upwardly from said horizontal web, a generally vertical web lying on the outside of the panel edge from the upper edge of which extends outwardly a generally horizontal flange, each said composite member further including an upper member having a generally horizontal part overlying said flange and the adjacent marginal part of the top of the lid panel, and secured to said flange, and an outwardly and downwardly curving rim portion affording a hand grip.

11. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein the upper edge of the container, around the open top thereof, is afforded by elongate members of substantially constant cross-section, comprising opposing side walls connected by transverse, generally horizontal walls so as to afford along the upper edge of each such member an upwardly presented edge face spanning said walls and so as to afford, along the lower edge of each such member, a downwardly open channel receiving the upper edge of a respective side or end wall panel of the packing case.

1 2. A packing case according to any preceding claim wherein the lower edges of the side walls of the container are afforded by elongate members of substantially constant cross-section, comprising a generally horizontal bottom wall and opposing side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall to define, between their upper portions, an upwardly open channel receiving the lower edge of the respective side or end wall panel, the bottom wall extending inwardly beyond the inner side wall below the bottom panel of the packing case, to support said bottom panel, the bottom of said channel being defined by a transverse web spanning said side walls at a position above said horizontal bottom wall.

1 3. A packing case according to any preceding claim which, when closed, is substantially hermetic, with said lid being substantially hermetically sealed with respect to the container.

1 4. A packing case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

1 5. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.