TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure concerns collapsible crates.

BACKGROUND ART

References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:

- US 7,861,878

- US 8,511,506

- US 9,016,492

- US 9,540,138

Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND

US 7,861,878 discloses a fastening device for folding boxes, the folding boxes including a bottom and four lateral walls coupled in jointed fashion to the edges of that bottom, two opposite walls having each fastening devices for ensuring the unfolding of the box, the device in general including a vertically displaceable central piece and some lateral bolts with horizontal displacement for fastening the lateral walls via their adjacent edges. The folding device includes elastic spring elements which link the central control piece with the pairs of bolts, at the same time, the spring elements, in the rest position, maintain the bolts in the engagement and fastening position of the bolts, while for the release position of the bolts the spring elements pull the bolts towards the release position against the resistance of the elastic elements.

US 8,511,506 a transport case 1 with hinged side parts made of plastic is provided, whereby the height of the hinged side parts is greater than centimeters or the permissible load of the transport case is greater than 16 kg, and wicket-shaped hollow stiffening strips are present in the hinged side parts. The stiffening strips formed by injection of liquid have a surface roughness that is less than 10 micrometers.

US 9,016,492 discloses a crate includes a bottom, two end walls, and two side walls. The end walls and the side walls are configured to be foldable with respect to the bottom. The end walls and the side walls comprise respective latch elements engaging with each other to form a latch when the end walls and the side walls are in the unfolded state. A latch release mechanism is provided at the respective end walls or at the respective side walls, wherein the latch release mechanism and/or the latch elements on the respective walls are configured to be movable so as to extend at least partly above an upper edge of the crate for releasing the latch.

US 9,540,138 relates to a plastic collapsible storage and transport container comprising a bottom part with four collapsible sidewalls arranged in an articulated manner on the bottom part. Two opposing first sidewalls can be detachably engaged with the two other opposing second sidewalls The container also comprises a cover and means for sealing the cover to the container in a fixed manner. The bottom part formed by a bottom frame and a bottom plate comprises at least two inwardly open and outwardly closed recesses along each frame side, said recesses having lateral boreholes extending parallel to the frame sides of the bottom frame. Said recesses are used to receive molded parts formed on the first and second sidewalls, provided with lugs extending parallel to the lower edges of the sidewalls. Said lugs can be inserted into the lateral boreholes of the recess and rotated therein in such a way that they form a hinge-type connection between the bottom part and the sidewalls. The cover is formed by two cover halves connected to opposite sidewalls of the container by means of cover hinges.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

According to the present disclosure there is provided 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.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a collapsible crate comprising a 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, facing the first side wall, and pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a second side edge of the base member; a front wall pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of a raised front segment extending at front edge of the base member, and a back wall, facing the front wall, and pivotally articulated along a bottom edge thereof to a top edge of a raised back segment extending at back 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.

The terms 'side wall', fr ' ont wall' and 'back wall' are used for sake of convenience only, and it is appreciated that the side walls can constitute the front wall and back wall, respectively, and vice versa, mutatis mutandis.

According to a particular configuration of the disclosure, 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.

Any one or more of the following features, designs and configuration can be applied to any one or more of the aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure, separately or in various combinations thereof:

• 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;

• At the erect position the top edge of the side walls and the front wall and the back wall coextend;

• At an erect position the side walls are disposed between the back wall and the front wall;

• The raised back segment can be higher than the raised front segment;

• The thickness of the base member plus thickness of a side wall plus thickness of the back wall plus thickness of the front wall can equal the height of raised back segment;

• The thickness of base member plus thickness of a side wall plus thickness of front wall can equal the height of the raised front segment;

• The raised front segment can have the same height as the raised back segment, wherein the height of the front wall plus the height of the back wall is equal or lesser than width of side walls;

• At the collapsed position the first side wall and second side wall can be disposed coplanar over the base member;

• At the collapsed position the back wall and the front wall can overlay each other and overlay the side walls;

• At the collapsed position the back wall and the front wall can be disposed coplanar over the side walls, wherein height of front wall plus the height of back wall is equal or lesser than width of side walls;

• The front side wall is shorter than the back side wall and the raised front segment is longer than the raised back segment; • 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;

• The crate can have a rectangle shape;

• The crate can be made of molded plastic material;

• The width of the crate can be equal or greater than double the height of a side wall;

• The crate can be stacked over like crates at an erect position and at a collapsed position;

• A carrying handle can be disposed at a top portion of at least a pair of opposing walls;

• Side edges of the front wall and the back wall can be configured with a longitudinal lip, whereby at the erect position the longitudinal lips overlap over a neighboring side edge of a neighboring side wall;

• A cross section of the locking tab has a first axis and a second axis intersecting said first axis, wherein the first axis is longer than the second axis, and wherein at the locked position said second axis faces the opening of the locking tab path (i.e., along the locking tab path) and at the unlocked position said second axis faces the opening of the locking tab path;

• The first axis is disposed at about 90° with respect to said second axis;

• The manipulation portion of the locking bar is a handle-like portion laterally extending from the bar and disposed external to an outside surface of the side wall;

• At the locked position said handle-like portion extends substantially flush against the outside surface of the side wall;

• Said handle-like portion can be configured with a gripping portion, wherein at the locked position said gripping portion extends within a carrying handle opening of the crate;

• At the locked position the locking bar can be arrested, to thereby prevent unintentional displacement from the locked position;

• The locking bar can be arrested at the locked position by a snap-lock arrangement; • The snap-lock arrangement can be configured between the handle-like portion and the carrying handle opening of the crate;

• At the unlocked position said handle-like portion projects laterally from the outside surface of the side wall;

• The locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises at least one locking tab obstructing member projecting into the locking tab path;

• The locking tab obstruction arrangement comprises a first locking tab obstructing member and a second locking tab obstructing member, facing one another;

• An entrance into the locking tab path can be configured with one or more gliding surfaces to facilitate smooth displacement of the locking tab into the locking tab arresting portion;

• The diameter of the locking bar can be less than the width of the opening of the locking tab path;

• The width of the locking tab can be similar or lesser than a diameter of the locking bar;

• The length of the locking tab along the first axis can be greater than the height of the arresting portion;

• Portions of the locking bar can be configured with a round cross section;

• The locking bar can be snapingly received within the locking bar receiving groove at the top portion of the side wall;

• At the locked position the manipulation portion of the locking bar can merge with a portion of the carrying handle, whereby it facilitates for carrying the crate;

• The locking bar is configured for simultaneous locking a side wall with the neighboring back wall and front wall;

• An interconnecting arrangement can be configured between the side edges of the two side walls, and the respective neighboring side edges of the back wall and front wall.

• The interconnecting arrangement can be a plurality of lateral L-shaped projections from edges of the side walls, outwardly facing, and configured for arresting within respective openings disposed along side edges of the back/front walls upon displacing the respective side wall into an erect position;

• The side edges of the back wall and the front wall can be configured with a longitudinal laterally projecting edge, wherein at the erect position said edge bears over an edge portion of the neighboring side wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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:

Fig- 1 is a perspective view of a crate according to an example of the disclosure, at an erect position;

Fig. 2A is a section along line 2A - 2A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2B is a section along line 2B - 2B in Fig. 1;

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;

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;

Fig. 2E is a local section same as Fig. 2C, however at a collapsed position;

Fig. 2F is a local section same as Fig. 2D, however at a collapsed position;

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;

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;

Fig. 4B is an enlargement of a top right comer of the back wall, illustrating a locking tab arresting portion according to an example of the disclosure;

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;

Fig. 6A is an enlarged outside comer view, of the portion marked 6A in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6B is an inside corner view, in direction of arrow Z in Fig. 4A, illustrating the locking mechanism at a locked position thereof; Fig. 6C is a section along line 6C - 6C in Fig. 6A, illustrating the locking mechanism at a locked position thereof;

Fig. 6D is an exploded view of the portion seen in Fig. 6A;

Fig. 6E is a local section along line 6E - 6E;

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

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;

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

Fig. 8C is an enlargement of the portion marked 8C in Fig. 8B;

Fig. 9A illustrates the crate of Fig. 1, at a fully collapsed position;

Fig. 9B is a section along line 9B - 9B in Fig. 9A;

Fig. 9C is a planar view of Fig. 9B;

Fig. 9D is a section along line 9D - 9D in Fig. 9A;

Fig. 9E is a planar view of Fig. 9D;

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

Figs. 11A-11F are consecutive steps illustrating collapsing a crate according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

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.

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.

Integrally extending at a back edge of the base member 12 there is a raised back segment 24 of height Sb, 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 Sf (Sb > Sf), as will be discussed hereinafter. 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

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°.

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 hb of back wall 18 and height hf of the front wall 20 is equal to the difference between height Sb of the raised back segment 24 and height Sf of the raised front segment 26 (hb-hi=Sb- Sf).

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

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.

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.

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 1 IF).

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 Xi and a second axis X2 (Figs. 5A, 5B, 6C and 7B) intersecting said first axis Xi, wherein the first axis is longer than the second axis (Xi > X2). 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.

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 X2, though lesser than the length of axis Xi (X2 >D> Xi). 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 Xi 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 Xi 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.

Furthermore, the locking bar 60 can be arrested at the locked position by a snaplock 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.

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.

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.

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 Sb 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 Sf of the raised front segment 26. Figs. 10A-1 IF 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.lOA 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 snaping 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. 1 ID). Then, front wall 20 is pivotally collapsed in direction of arrow 96 (Fig. 1 IE) 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. 1 IE) until it comes to rest flush over the front wall 20, wherein the crate assumes flat, compact position (Fig. 1 IF).

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