초록 ▼

A collapsible container includes a base, and pairs of opposed side and end walls that are pivotally mounted on the base. When the side walls are pivoted to a raised position against inward flanges defined on the end walls, latch members on the side walls engage complementary shoulders defined on end

A collapsible container includes a base, and pairs of opposed side and end walls that are pivotally mounted on the base. When the side walls are pivoted to a raised position against inward flanges defined on the end walls, latch members on the side walls engage complementary shoulders defined on end wall flange projections to thereby lock the side walls relative to the end walls. Each latch member includes a base portion mounted proximate to a respective lateral edge of the side wall, a lever arm portion extending away from the side wall's lateral edge, and an intermediate portion having a camming surface and adjacent shoulder with which to engage the respective end wall flange projection. When raised, edge portions of each side wall are received in recessed shelves defined in the base while the side wall's inner face simultaneously engages cantilevered stop members defined in the base.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible container comprising:a bottom panel defining a peripheral edge; and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being mounted on the bottom panel along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement about a respective pivot axis, wherein a first side panel include

1. A collapsible container comprising:a bottom panel defining a peripheral edge; and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being mounted on the bottom panel along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement about a respective pivot axis, wherein a first side panel includes an outer face and a lateral edge bordering the outer face, and a second side panel includes an inner face, a lateral edge bordering the inner face, and a flange projecting from the inner face along at least a portion of the lateral edge, the first and second side panels respectively pivoting to a raised position relative to the bottom panel such that the flange overlies the outer face as the lateral edge of the first side panel engages the lateral edge of the second side panel, wherein the first side panel includes a latch member having a base portion mounted on the first side panel proximate to the lateral edge thereof, a lever arm portion extending generally away from the lateral edge, and a first intermediate portion disposed between the base portion and the lever arm portion, the first intermediate portion including a first camming surface and a first shoulder adjacent to the first camming surface, and wherein the second side panel includes an inward projection having a second camming surface and a second shoulder adjacent to the second camming surface, the camming surfaces and shoulders being generally disposed at a same height above the bottom panel when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the inward projection projects from the flange.3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first side panel includes a rib proximate to the lateral edge thereof extending generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of the first side panel, and wherein the base portion of the latch member is integrally formed with the rib.4. The collapsible container of claim 3, wherein the second side panel includes an interior corner defined by an intersection of the inner face and the flange, and wherein the rib defines a substantially-continuous first length of a first portion of the outer face of the first side panel, the first length of the first portion of the outer face being received in the interior corner of the second side panel when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position.5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first side panel includes at least one locating member projecting outwardly from the outer face proximate to the lateral edge of the first side panel, and wherein the flange includes at least one socket adapted to receive the at least one locating member when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position.6. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the peripheral edge of the bottom panel includes a recessed shelf, and wherein a basal edge of one side panel pivots into engagement with the recessed shelf when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position.7. The collapsible container of claim 6, wherein a second portion of the peripheral edge of the bottom panel proximate the first portion includes a raised flange that lies in front of the outer face of the one side panel when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position.8. The collapsible container of claim 6, wherein the bottom panel includes at least one integrally-molded, cantilevered stop member having a free end surface extending in the direction of the first portion of the peripheral edge that engages the basal edge of the one side panel when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position.9. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the lever arm portion of the latch member is selectively deflectable transversely to the first side panel in order to selectively release the latch member from the second side panel.10. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the latch member is at least substantially between the lever arm portion and the inner face of the second side panel when the first and second side panels are in the raised position.11. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes at least one arcuate leg between the lateral edge and the intermediate portion.12. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion travels substantially in a plane parallel to the outer face of the first side panel when the latch member is deflected to engage or disengage the latch member.13. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion extends toward a lateral center of the first panel as it extends away from the base portion.14. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion is between the base portion and a lateral center of the first panel.15. A collapsible container comprising:a bottom panel defining a peripheral edge; and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being mounted on the bottom panel along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement about a respective pivot axis, wherein a first side panel includes an outer face and a lateral edge bordering the outer face, and a second side panel includes an inner face, a lateral edge bordering the inner face, and a flange projecting from the inner face along at least a portion of the lateral edge, the first and second side panels respectively pivoting to a raised position relative to the bottom panel such that the flange overlies the outer face as the lateral edge of the first side panel engages the lateral edge of the second side panel, wherein the first side panel includes a latch member having a base portion mounted on the first side panel proximate to the lateral edge thereof, a lever arm portion extending generally away from the lateral edge, and a first intermediate portion disposed between the base portion and the lever arm portion, the first intermediate portion including a first camming surface and a first shoulder adjacent to the first camming surface, wherein the base portion of the latch member includes a pair of spaced legs joined to the intermediate portion on either side of the camming surface, wherein the second side panel includes an inward projection having a second camming surface and a second shoulder adjacent to the second camming surface, the camming surfaces and shoulders being generally disposed at a same height above the bottom panel when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position. 16. The collapsible container of claim 15, wherein the legs of the base portion extend to respective positions outboard of the intermediate portion of the latch member such that deflection of the latch member relative to the outer face of the first side panel generates both flexural and torsional bending of each leg.17. A collapsible container comprising:a bottom panel having a peripheral edge, and a plurality of side panels, each side panel being mounted on the bottom panel along a respective portion of the peripheral edge for pivoting movement about a respective pivot axis between a collapsed position and a raised position, each side panel including a pair of diametrical lateral edges, each side panel pivoting to a raised position relative to the bottom panel such that each lateral edge of a given side panel interlockingly engages a lateral edge of an adjacent side panel, wherein one side panel includes an outer face and a basal edge bordering the outer face, wherein a first portion of the peripheral edge of the bottom panel includes a recessed shelf, wherein the recessed shelf is located below the pivot axis of the one side panel, and wherein a basal edge of the one side panel pivots into engagement with the recessed shelf when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position, wherein a first side panel includes an outer face, wherein a second side panel adjacent to the first side panel includes an inner face and a flange projecting from the inner face along at least a portion of one lateral edge thereof, the first and second side panels respectively pivoting to the raised position such that the flange overlies the outer face as the one lateral edge of the first side panel engages one lateral edge of the second side panel, and wherein the first side panel includes at least one locating member projecting outwardly from the outer face proximate to the one lateral edge, and wherein the flange includes at least one socket adapted to receive the at least one locating member when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position to maintain the engagement of the basal edge of the one side panel with the recessed shelf when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position. 18. The collapsible container of claim 17, wherein a second portion of the peripheral edge of the bottom panel proximate the first portion includes a raised flange that lies in front of the outer face of the one side panel when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position.19. The collapsible container of claim 17, wherein the one side panel includes an inwardly-facing abutting surface proximate to the basal edge, and wherein the bottom panel includes at least one integrally-molded, cantilevered stop member having a free end surface extending in the direction of the first portion of the peripheral edge that engages the inwardly-facing abutting surface of the one side panel when the one side panel is pivoted to the raised position.20. The collapsible container of claim 17, wherein the first side panel includes a latch member having a base portion mounted on the first side panel proximate to the one lateral edge thereof, a lever arm portion extending generally away from the lateral edge, and a first intermediate portion disposed between the base portion and the lever arm portion, the first intermediate portion including a first camming surface and a first shoulder adjacent to the first camming surface, andwherein the second side panel includes an inward projection having a second camming surface and a second shoulder adjacent to the second camming surface, the camming surfaces and shoulders being generally disposed at a same height above the bottom panel when the first and second side panels are respectively pivoted to the raised position. 21. The collapsible container of claim 20, wherein the inward projection projects from the flange.22. The collapsible container of claim 20, wherein the first side panel includes a rib proximate to the lateral edge thereof extending generally perpendicular to the pivot axis of the first side panel, and wherein the base portion of the latch member is integrally formed with the rib.23. The collapsible container of claim 20, wherein the base portion of the latch member includes a pair of spaced legs joined to the intermediate portion on either side of the camming surface.24. The collapsible container of claim 23, wherein the legs of the base portion extend to respective positions outboard of the intermediate portion of the latch member such that deflection of the latch member relative to the outer face of the first side panel generates both flexural and torsional bending of each leg.