Nova Patents
US3372829A

Portable and collapsible stacking bins or crates

Abstract

This record has no abstract on file.

US3372829A, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 4

Term

Term ended

Expired 12 March 1985, 41.5 years ago.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Granted
  3. Expired
  4. Today

12 claims: 12 independent, 0 dependent

  1. 1
    Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:1. In a crate or container, the combination of a bottom unit comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock having integral front, rear and end members, a rear wall unit comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, end and top members, the bottom member of said rear wall unit being hingedly connected to the rear member of said bottom frame, end walls, each comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, side and top members, the top members having intermediate portions thereof of substantial length upwardly offset thereby providing the top members with laterally spaced laterally facing shoulders, the rear side members of said end wall frames being hingedly connected to the end uprights of said rear wall frame, the said connections permitting the collapsing of the end walls on said rear wall, the hinge connection for said rear wall to said bottom unit permitting the collapsing thereof with the end wall collapsed relative thereto upon said bottom unit, a front wall unit comprising sections, each section including rectangular frame members of rod-like stock including unitary bottom, top and end members, the bottom member of the lower of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to the front frame member of the bottom, adjacent longitudinal frame members of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to each other, the connections for the bottom front wall member to the bottom being such as to permit > collapsing of the front wall unit upon the bottom, the said rear and end walls when the end walls are in collapsed position being collapsible upon the front wall unit when it is in collapsed position upon the bottom, and legs disposed at the ends of and fixedly mounted on said bottom unit and having downwardly facing recesses supportedly engageable with the top members of the end walls when they are in erected position, said legs being spaced to laterally engage said upwardly projecting portions of said end wall frames, said front wall sections and said end walls having coacting bolts and keepers for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the sections being successively opened to afford access to the contents of the crate with like crates in stacked position.
  2. 2
    In a crate or container, the combination of a bottom unit comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock having integral front, rear and end members, a rear wall unit comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, end and top members, end walls, each comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, side and top members, the top members having intermediate portions thereof of substantial length upwardly offset thereby providing the top members with laterally spaced laterally facing shoulders, the rear side members of said end wall frames being connected to the end uprights of said rear wall frame, a front wall unit comprising sections, each section including rectangular frame members of rod-like stock including unitary bottom, top and end members, the . bottom member of the lower of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to the front frame member of the bottom, adjacent longitudinal frame members of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to each other, the connections for the bottom front wall member i to the bottom being such as to permit collapsing of the
  3. 3
    3,372,829 5 front wall, and. legs disposed at the ends of and fixedly mounted on said bottom unit and having downwardly facing recesses supportedly engageable with the top members of the end walls when they are in erected position, said, legs being.spaced to laterally engage said upwardly projecting portions of said end wall frames, said front wall sections and said end walls having coacting bolts and. keepers for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the sections being successively opened to afford access to the contents of the crate with like crates in stacked position. 3. In a crate or container, the combination of a bottom unit, comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock haying integral front, rear and end members, a rear wall unit, comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral, bottom, end and top members, the bottom member of said rear wall being hingedly connected to the rear member of said bottom frame, end walls, each comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, side and top members, the rear side members of said end wall frames being hingedly connected to the end uprights of said rear wall frame, the said connections permitting the collapsing of the end walls on said rear wall, the hinge connection for said rear wall to said bottom unit permitting the collapsing thereof with , the end wall collapsed thereon relative thereto upon said bottom unit, a front wall unit comprising sections, each section including rectangular frame members of rod-like stock including unitary bottom, top and end members, the bottom member of the lower of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to the front frame member of the bottom, adjacent longitudinal frame members of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to each other, the connections for the bottom front wall of the front wall unit upon the bottom, the said*rear and end walls when the end walls are in collapsed position being collapsed upon the front wall unit when it is in collapsed position upon the bottom, said front wall f “ ...... keepers for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the sections being opened to afford access to the contents of the crates.
  4. 4
    In a crate or container, the combination of a bottom unit comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock haying integral front, rear and end members, a rear wall unit, comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, end and top members, the bottom member of said rear wall unit being hingedly connected to the rear member of said bottom frame, end g0 walls, each comprising a rectangular frame of rod-like stock and having integral bottom, side and top members, the rear side members of said end wall frames being hingedly connected to the end uprights of said rear wall frame, the said connections permitting the collapsing of 55 the end walls on said rear wall, the hinge connection for said rear wall, to said bottom unit permitting the collapsing thereof with the end wall collapsed thereon relative thereto upon said bottom unit, a front wall unit comprising collapsed connected sections, the bottom member of the lower of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to the front frame member of the bottom, adjacent longitudinal frame members of said front wall sections being hingedly connected to each other, the connections for the bottom front wall member to the bottom being such as to permit collapsing of the front wall unit upon the bottom, said front wall sections and said end walls having coacting bolts and keepers for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the sections being opened to afford access to the contents of the crates.
  5. 5
    A crate or container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected at their rear ends to the ends of said rear wall to be collapsed relative there- when it is sections and said end walls having coacting bolts and 40 said front wall sections and said end walls havingcoact’ keeners for holding front «,αΐι inn r— i u· - . . .. . uclvnls vuavi6 to and disposed when in erected position with their bottom edges in supporting engagement with said bottom unit, said end walls having upwardly projecting laterally facing shoulders on their upper edges spaced inwardly from the front and rear ends of said end walls, the hinge connections for said rear wall to said, bottom and said end walls to said rear wall permitting collapsing thereof in superimposed relation to said bottom unit, a front wall unit comprising hingedly connected sections, the lower section being hingedly connected to said bottom unit at the front edge thereof, the hinged connection for the upper of said front wall section being such to permit outward opening movement of the upper section and being such as to permit the collapsing of the front wall sections upon the bottom unit, and legs fixedly mounted on the bottom unit and having portions supportedly engageable with the end walls when in erected position and spaced to laterally engage said upwardly projecting portions of said end walls, said front wall sections and said end walls haying coacting means for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the front wall sections being successively opened for access to the contents of the crates when like crates are in stacked position.
  6. 6
    A crate or container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected at their rear ends to the ends of said rear wall to be collapsed in lapping relation thereto and disposed when in erected position with their bottom edges in supported engagement 30 with said bottom unit, the hinge connections for said rear wall to. said bottom and said end walls to said rear wall permitting collapsing thereof in superimposed relation to said bottom unit, a front wall unit comprising hingedly mpmb.r t ,.. , . :' ------------- — connected sections, the lower section being hingedly con™“ber,to the bottom being such as to permit collapsing 35 nected to said bottom unit at the front edge thereof the of the front wall nn,t „n«n a. Λ. hujged connection for the upper of said front wall sections, to the lower section being such to permit outward opening movement of the upper section and to permit the collapsing of the front wall sections upon the bottom unit, ing means for holding the front wall sections ’^erected position and permitting the front wall sections being successively opened for access to the contents of the crates when like crates are in stacked position. 7· A„c™te or, container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottoin unit, end walls hingedly connected at their rear ends to the ends of said rear wall to be collapsed relative thereto and disposed when in an erected position with their bottom edges in supported engagement with said bottom unit, said end walls having upwardly projecting laterally facing shoulders on their upper edges spaced inwardly trom the front and rear ends of said end walls, the hm°e connections for said rear wall to said bottom and said end walls to said rear wall permitting collapsing thereof m superimposed relation to said bottom unit, a front wall unit hingedly connected to said bottom unit at the front edge thereof, and legs fixedly mounted on the bottom unit and haying portions supportedly engageable with the end walls when in erected position and spaced to laterally engage said upwardly projecting portions of said end walls, said front wall and said end walls having coacting means for holding the front wall in erected position while permitting the front wall being successively opened for access to the contents of the crates when like crates are m stacked position.
  7. 7
    8. A crate or container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected at their rear ends to the ends of said rear wall to be collapsed relative thereto and disposed when in erected position with their bottom, edges in supporting engagement with said bottom unit, the hinge connections for said rear wall to said bottom and said end walls to said rear wall permitting :-75 collapsing thereof in superimposed supported relation to in erected 3,372,829 said bottom unit, a front wall unit hingedly connected to said bottom unit at the front edge thereof, said front wall and said end walls having coacting means for holding the front wall in erected position while permitting the front wall to be opened for access to the contents of the crates when like crates are in stacked position.
  8. 8
    9. A crate or container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall supportedly and hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected to the rear wall and having upwardly projecting laterally facing shoulders on their upper edges spaced from the front and rear ends thereof, a front wall unit comprising swingably connected sections, the lower of which is swingably connected to said bottom unit, the connections for said front wall sections permitting the outward swinging movement of an upper section relative to a section to which it is swingably connected, the lower front wail section being adjustably connected to the bottom unit permitting collapsing of the front wall unit thereon, said bottom unit being provided with legs supportedly engageable with said end walls when they are in erected position, the legs being spaced to coact with said upwardly projecting portions on said end walls to prevent lateral shifting of a superimposed container relative to the container on which it is superimposed, said front wall and said end walls having coacting means for holding the front wall sections in erected position while permitting the front wall sections being successively opened to provide access to the contents of the crate or container when it is in stacked position.
  9. 9
    10. A crate or container comprising a bottom unit, a rear wall supportedly and hingedly connected to the rear edge of said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected to the rear wall, a front wall unit comprising swingably connected sections, the lower of which is swingably connected to said bottom unit, the connections for said front wall sections permitting the outward swinging movement of the upper section relative to the section to which it is swingably connected, the lower front wall section being adjustably connected to the bottom unit to permit collapsing of the front wall unit thereon, said bottom unit being provided with legs supportedly engageable with said end walls when they are in erected position, said front wall and said end walls having coacting means for holding the front wall sections in erected position and permitting the front wall sections being successively opened to provided access to the contents of two or more stacked containers.
  10. 10
    11. A crate or container comprising a bottom unit provided with legs, a rear wall supportedly connected to said bottom unit, end walls connected to the rear wall at the ends thereof and having upwardly projecting laterally facing shoulders on their upper edges, said legs being engageable upon said end walls and being laterally spaced to coact with said shoulders on said end walls J so that lateral shifting of a superimposed container relative to the container on which it is superimposed is prevented, and a front wall unit hingedly connected to said bottom unit, said front wall unit and said end walls having coacting means for releasably holding the front wall in closed position.
  11. 11
    12. A crate or container comprising a bottom unit provided with legs, a rear wall supportedly connected 8 to said bottom unit, end walls hingedly connected to the rear wall at the ends thereof and having spaced upwardly projecting portions on their upper edges, said legs being engageable upon said end walls and being laterally spaced 5 to coact with said shoulders on said end walls so that lateral shifting of a super-imposed, container relative to the container on which it is superimposed is prevented;, and a front wall unit hingedly connected to said bottom unit and having coupling means releasably engageable 1θ with said end walls for holding the front wall in closed position.
  12. 12
    13. The combination with a wheeled truck having a rectangular frame including fixedly connected side and end members, of a crate comprising a base member frame 15 having laterally spaced leg supporting membeis fixedly secured thereto, and legs, each comprising a body portion of relatively flat sheet stock conformed to. provide an upright portion terminating at its upper end in. an inwardly projecting flange disposed on the undersides of 20 and fixedly secured to said leg supporting members and having outwardly projecting downwardly facing portions at its lower end engageable with said truck frame, and strut members disposed in laterally spaced. relation to each other with their upper ends on the sides of and 25 fixedly secured to said leg supporting members and with their lower ends in supporting engagement with said outwardly projecting portions of said legs and fixedly secured thereto, and with their rear edges fixedly secured to the upright portions of the legs. 30 14. The combination with a wheeled track having a rectangular frame including fixedly connected side and end members, of a crate comprising a base member frame having laterally spaced leg supporting members fixedly secured thereto, and legs, each comprising a body portion 35 of relatively flat sheet stock conformed to provide an upright portion terminating at its upper end in an inwardly projecting flange disposed on the undersides of and fixedly secured to said leg supporting members and having outwardly projecting downwardly facing portions at its lower 40 end engageable with said truck frame, and strut members disposed in laterally spaced relation to each other with their upper ends fixedly secured to said leg supporting members and with their lower ends in supporting engagement with said outwardly projecting portions of said legs 45 and fixedly secured thereto, and with their rear edges fixedly secured to the upright portions of the legs. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,328 11/1953 Averill 220—6 2,695,724 11/1954 Averill-------------- 220—19 2,780,381 2/1957 Coit 220—6 2,781,936 2/1957 Bitney______________ 220—97 2,806,623 9/1957 Beckner 220—6 2,916,293 12/1959 Lang---------------- 220—97 3,137,250 6/1964 Hutchinson 220—6 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,227,059 2/1960 France. RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.
Independent claims12