초록 ▼

A collapsible container having a base with opposed edges, first and second pairs of side walls pivotably attached to opposed edges of the base, one pair of side walls having a lateral edge, and the other having a lateral flange inwardly depending therefrom, the lateral edge being selectively connect

A collapsible container having a base with opposed edges, first and second pairs of side walls pivotably attached to opposed edges of the base, one pair of side walls having a lateral edge, and the other having a lateral flange inwardly depending therefrom, the lateral edge being selectively connected to the lateral flange by a latch, the latch including a latch member and at least one clip member.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible container orientable between an assembled position and an collapsed position comprising: a base member having a plurality of lower hinge members, each lower hinge member having a hook portion with a downwardly directed edge; a pair of first opposed walls pivota

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible container orientable between an assembled position and an collapsed position comprising: a base member having a plurality of lower hinge members, each lower hinge member having a hook portion with a downwardly directed edge; a pair of first opposed walls pivotably mounted to the base; and a pair of second opposed side walls pivotably mounted to the base and having a plurality of corresponding upper hinge members extending from a lower edge thereof, each upper hinge member having a cam-shaped member for engaging the hook portion, such that as the container is moved from the collapsed position to the assembled position, the edge of the hook member limits the vertical movement of the cam-shaped member, thereby preventing each of the pair of second opposed sidewalls from separating from the base when in the assembled position, one of the first and second side walls having a latch member extending laterally therefrom, the other of the first and second side walls having a flange having at least one latch acceptance member having a flexible portion for receiving a corresponding latch member therein in an interference fit when the container is oriented in the assembled position, the acceptance member having a rounded concave interior surface for receiving the latch member, wherein when the first and second side walls are pivoted from a collapsed position to an assembled position, the flexible portion is flexed to permit insertion of the latch member into the latch acceptance member. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the pair of first side walls are moveable from the assembled position to a collapsed position by a force exerted on the first side walls thereby causing the spring portion to flex from the first position to the second position to release the latch member from the clip member and subsequently return to the first position. 3. The collapsible container of claim 2 wherein the spring portion returns to the first position after the latch member is released from the clip member. 4. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first side walls are pivotable outwardly from the collapsed position on the base to the assembled position. 5. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first side walls and the second side walls comprises a wall structure having an upper wall portion, the upper wall portion including a plurality of alternating row members extending at least partially across the wall structure proximate an upper surface of the wall structure and oriented substantially parallel thereto, each of the plurality of row members having a first surface and second surface co-planar with an inner and an outer surface, respectively, of the upper wall portion, wherein at least one of the plurality of row members has a peaked first surface and recessed second surface, and an other of the plurality of row members has a recessed first surface and a peaked second surface, and members extending between the first and second peak. 6. The wall structure of claim 5, wherein adjacent ones of said peaked first surfaces define a recessed first surface therebetween. 7. The wall structure of claim 6, wherein adjacent ones of said peaked second surfaces define a recessed second surface therebetween. 8. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein the collapsible container is collapsible by a force exerted on one of the first side wall and the second side wall thereby causing the flexible portion to flex to release the latch member from the latch acceptance member. 9. A collapsible container comprising: a floor member, a first side wall pivotably mounted to the floor member; and a second side wail pivotably mounted to the floor member, the first and second side walls being selectively connected to one another by a latch, the latch comprising at least one latch member and at least one flexible clip portion, the flexible clip portion having a latch member acceptance area and a flex portion, the flex portion having a rounded interior surface leading to a free inner end, wherein when the first and second side walls are pivoted from a collapsed position to an upright assembled position, the at least one latch member is inserted into the clip portion, thereby expanding the flex portion until the latch member is received within the latch member acceptance area and the flex portion returns to its rest position, impeding the release of the at least one latch member. 10. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the at least one latch member includes a bulbous head for being received by the clip portion in an interference fit, the bulbous head including at least one, curved member extending away from a forward end of the latch member. 11. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the flexible clip portion is a C-shaped clip member and the flex portion is defined by an end of the C-shaped clip. 12. The collapsible container of claim 9 wherein the crate is collapsible by a force exerted on one of the first side wall and the second side wall thereby causing the flex portion to flex from the rest position to release the latch member from the clip portion and subsequently return to the rest position. 13. A collapsible container arranged for movement between a collapsed orientation and an assembled orientation, comprising: a base; a side wall pivotably attached to the base, the first side wall having a lateral edge having a latch member disposed thereon; and a second side wall pivotably attached to the base, the second side wall having a flange inwardly depending therefrom, the flange having a surface with at least one latch receiving member formed therein, the latch receiving member having a receiving area and a corresponding opening defined by a fixed edge and a flexible edge spaced apart from each other, the opening relatively smaller than the latch member, the flexible edge having a generally rounded interior surface, the latch member having a generally complementary rounded exterior surface, wherein when the container is moved from the collapsed orientation to the assembled orientation, the walls pivot upward such that the latch member enters the opening and displaces the flexible edge of the latch receiving member slightly, whereupon the latch member is received within the receiving area for securing the latch member. 14. The collapsible container of claim 13, wherein the flexible edge is displaced in the vertical direction. 15. The collapsible container of claim 13 wherein to move the container to a collapsed position from the assembled position, a force is exerted against a surface of one of the first and second side walls sufficient for the flexible edge of the latch receiving member to deflect temporarily to permit the removal of the latch member from the latch receiving member. 16. The collapsible container of claim 13 wherein the latch member includes a center portion having a forward end and a pair of curved members extending rearwardly away from the forward end of the center portion to free ends.