GB2108084A

GB2108084A - Collapsible containers

Info

Publication number: GB2108084A
Application number: GB08131561A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Lewis
Original assignee: BOSTON TIMBER FABRICATIONS LIM
Current assignee: BOSTON TIMBER FABRICATIONS LIM
Priority date: 1981-10-20
Filing date: 1981-10-20
Publication date: 1983-05-11
Also published as: GB2108084B

Abstract

A container (1) has at least one wall (3) which is creased or otherwise treated to permit the container (1) to be collapsed from an erected condition to a folded condition, wherein said wall (3) is provided with a strengthening member (10) which eliminates or substantially reduces the tendency of the wall (3) to collapse or otherwise deform when the container (1) is under load. Preferably, the strengthening member (10) is elongate and has a generally central portion exterior of the associated wall (3) between generally diagonal creases (7), with at least one of its end portions interior of the wall (3) inserted through a cut (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collapsible containers This invention relates to containers, such as, produce boxes and trays, which are collapsible from an erected condition to a folded condition and which have at least one wall, generally a pair of opposed side or end walls, creased to enable the containers to be erected or collapsed between these two conditions.

In known collapsible containers, such as, those made from corrugated cardboard, fibreboard, plastics or combinations thereof or of such materials with, say, wood, a pair of opposed end or side walls, or both, are creased in such a manner to enable the container blanks to be erected from a folded condition into an erected condition for receiving articles to be stored and/or transported in the containers. In the erected condition, the creases in the walls provide weakened areas which, when say, the filled containers are stacked one upon the other, tend to allow these walls to collapse or otherwise deform.

The invention, however, sets out to provide such a container whose creased wall(s) do or does not tend to collapse or otherwise deform under load conditions and which substantially eliminates the other disadvantages associated with known forms of collapsible container.

In accordance with the invention, therefore, there is provided a container having at least one wail which is creased or otherwise treated to permit the container to be collapsed from an erected condition to a folded condition, wherein said wall is provided with a strengthening member which eliminates or substantially reduces the tendency of said wall to collapse or otherwise deform when the container is under load.

Where, for instance, a pair of opposed end or side walls of a collapsible container are provided with one or more generally diagonal creases to permit the container to be collapsed to a folded condition, then the strengthening member is preferably elongate and is secured to each wall, such that it intersects each crease at an angle thereto.

Various forms of elongate strengthing member are envisaged. For instance, the member may be made of wood or a comparatively rigid plastics material, in which case, it may be preformed before it is secured to the creased walls which may be made of corrugated cardboard, fibreboard, corrugated plastics board or any other suitable material. Thus, the preformed strengthening member can be secured to each creased wall in any desired orientation once the container blank has been formed. Alternatively, and in particular with regard to moulded plastics container walls incorporating fold-down crease lines, the strengthening member may be moulded integrally with the respective walls.

The reinforcing member may itself project outwardly from its associated creased wall to provide a lifting handle at each end or at each side or the container. On the other hand, the strengthening member may be provided with integral handle means for lifting purposes.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment of container in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a composite, produce container in its folded condition; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container of Fig. 1 in its erected condition; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the erected container shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a composite, produce container 1 comprises a base wall 2 and a pair of opposed end walls 3 made of a corrugated plastics material and a pair of opposed side walls each made of a lattice type structure consisting of an upper generally horizontal wooden slat 4, three generally vertical wooden slats 5 and a lower generally horizontal side wall portion 6 which is made of the olastics corrugated material of the opposed end walls 3 and the base wall 2 and which is integral therewith. The generally vertical wooden slats 5 are secured to their respective horizongal wooden slats 4 and lower side wall portions 6 by, say, stitching or stapling.

Each end wall 3 has a pair of inclined reverse creases 7 which extend from respective lower corners of the end wall to the free edge 8 of an upper, end wall flap 9. These flaps 9 extend generally horizontally, with the container in its erected condition as shown in Fig. 2, inwardly thereof, to provide a pair of supporting flaps which provide added strength to the container when stacked. Each end wall 3 is provided with an elongate strengthening member in the form of a wooden slat 10 whose central portion is located outwardly of the container and whose ends are located inwardly thereof. Respective inclined slots or cuts 11 which extend along a portion of the length of the respective reverse creases 7 and which permit the wooden strengthening slat 10 to pass from the inside to the outside, and vice versa, of the container at each end wall 3.

Each upper, end wall flap 9 has a normal crease 12 at each of its ends which, in combination with the reverse creases 7 permit the container to be collapsed from its erected condition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 into the folded condition as shown in Fig. 1. In this folded condition, the ends of the strengthening slats 10 overlie the respective lower, side wall portions 6 which are pivotable with respect to the base wall 2 to permit the opposed side walls to pivot downwardly with respect to the base wall 2, when the container 1 is collapsed. Thus, the container 1 in its collapsed condition, as shown in Fig. 1, is generally planar.

In the erected condition of the container 1, the wooden strengthening slat 10 at each end wall 3 prevents or substantially reduces the chances of the end walls from tending to collapse or otherwise deform under load conditions, or otherwise due to the weakening of the end walls 3 by the reverse creases 7 and, in some cases, the normal creases 12 also.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the strengthening member at each end wall 3 is in the form of a wooden slat 10, although it will be appreciated that any other suitable form of strengthening member can be used.

The strengthening members may, ot course, also be provided at opposed side walls of a container, where such side walls are provided with creases enabling the container to be collapsed.

Also, the thickness of the strengthening members 10 provides a form of handle means at each end of the container 1 , to facilitate handling thereof. Alternativeiy, the strengthening members may be provided with additional projections, where they are located outwardly of the container, to provide lifting handles.

In the case where the end walls 3 are made of plastics material, these strengthening members 10 may be formed integrally therewith, together with the operational handle projections.

Claims (Filed on 15. 10. 82) 1. A container having at least one wall which is creased or otherwise treated to permit the container to be collapsed from an erected condition to a folded condition, wherein said wall is provided with a strengthening member which eliminates or substantially reduces the tendency of said wall to collapse or otherwise deform when the container is under load.

2. A container according to claim 1 having a pair of opposed walls with one or more generally diagonal creases for permitting the container to be collapsed to the folded condition, wherein an elongate strengthening member is secured to each of said opposed walls such that it intersects the or each crease at an angle thereto.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each strengthening member has secured to the exterior of said wall.

4. A container according to claim 2, wherein the elongate strengthening member has a generally central portion exterior of the associated wall between the creases, with at least one of its end portions interior of the wall.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the generally central, exterior portion of the strengthening member extends between the creases, with the juncture between the exterior portion and at least one end portion of the strengthening member being located in a slot lying along the respective crease.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the strengthening member is made of wood or a comparatively rigid plastics material.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the strengthening member is preformed and secured to said wall.

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the strengthening member is formed integrally with said wall.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the strengthening member has handle means for lifting the container.

10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one pair of opposed walls of the container each comprises a lattice type structure.

1 A container according to claim 10, wherein the lattice type structure consists of wooden slats.

12. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Claims

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otherwise due to the weakening of the end walls 3 by the reverse creases 7 and, in some cases, the normal creases 12 also.

In this particular embodiment of the invention, the strengthening member at each end wall 3 is in the form of a wooden slat 10, although it will be appreciated that any other suitable form of strengthening member can be used.

The strengthening members may, ot course, also be provided at opposed side walls of a container, where such side walls are provided with creases enabling the container to be collapsed.

Also, the thickness of the strengthening members 10 provides a form of handle means at each end of the container 1 , to facilitate handling thereof. Alternativeiy, the strengthening members may be provided with additional projections, where they are located outwardly of the container, to provide lifting handles.

In the case where the end walls 3 are made of plastics material, these strengthening members

10 may be formed integrally therewith, together with the operational handle projections.

Claims (Filed on 15. 10. 82) 1. A container having at least one wall which is creased or otherwise treated to permit the container to be collapsed from an erected condition to a folded condition, wherein said wall is provided with a strengthening member which eliminates or substantially reduces the tendency of said wall to collapse or otherwise deform when the container is under load.
2. A container according to claim 1 having a pair of opposed walls with one or more generally diagonal creases for permitting the container to be collapsed to the folded condition, wherein an elongate strengthening member is secured to each of said opposed walls such that it intersects the or each crease at an angle thereto.
3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each strengthening member has secured to the exterior of said wall.
4. A container according to claim 2, wherein the elongate strengthening member has a generally central portion exterior of the associated wall between the creases, with at least one of its end portions interior of the wall.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the generally central, exterior portion of the strengthening member extends between the creases, with the juncture between the exterior portion and at least one end portion of the strengthening member being located in a slot lying along the respective crease.
6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the strengthening member is made of wood or a comparatively rigid plastics material.
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the strengthening member is preformed and secured to said wall.
8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the strengthening member is formed integrally with said wall.
9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the strengthening member has handle means for lifting the container.
10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one pair of opposed walls of the container each comprises a lattice type structure.
1 A container according to claim 10, wherein the lattice type structure consists of wooden slats.
12. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.