초록 ▼

A container is provided including a support base, side panels having guide tracks, front and rear panels, and a top cover. The front panel includes track followers releasably received in the front guide tracks. The front panel is pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the track

A container is provided including a support base, side panels having guide tracks, front and rear panels, and a top cover. The front panel includes track followers releasably received in the front guide tracks. The front panel is pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the track followers, while the top cover is closed, from a substantially vertical orientation to an angled orientation in which the front panel upper edge is exposed from under the closed top cover. From this angled orientation, and while the cover remains closed, the track followers are slidable along and out of engagement with the respective front guide tracks to detach the front panel from the side panel, thereby providing front access to the container compartment.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A container having a container compartment, comprising: a support base; first and second side structures respectively comprising first and second panels each comprising a respective side panel upper edge, the first and second side structures further respectively comprising fi

What is claimed is: 1. A container having a container compartment, comprising: a support base; first and second side structures respectively comprising first and second panels each comprising a respective side panel upper edge, the first and second side structures further respectively comprising first and second front guide tracks facing one another; a rear panel comprising a rear panel upper edge and engaged with the first and second side structures; a front panel comprising a front panel upper edge and first and second front track followers received in the first and second front guide tracks, respectively; a top cover engageable with at least one of the front, rear, and side panels and movable between a closed state, in which the cover is positioned over the side panel upper edges and rear and front panel upper edges when the container is in the erect position, and an open state, in which the container compartment is accessible from above; the front panel pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the front track followers, while the front track followers are engaged in the respective front guide tracks and while the top cover is in the closed state, from a substantially vertical orientation to an angled orientation in which the front panel upper edge is exposed from under the closed top cover; and the front track followers slidable along the respective front guide tracks, while the front panel is in the angled orientation and while the cover is in the closed state, to permit front access to the container compartment. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second front track followers are releasably received in the first and second front guide tracks, respectively for detaching the front panel. 3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the support base comprises a pallet. 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the pallet comprises four-way entry pockets. 5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the front guide tracks comprise respective substantially vertical channels and associated substantially horizontal channels. 6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the first and second side panels have first and second forward edges, respectively, and wherein the substantially horizontal channels terminate at the first and second forward edges, respectively, for permitting the front track followers to detachably engage and disengage the front guide tracks. 7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the front track followers project laterally from opposite sides of the front panel, respectively. 8. A container according to claim 1, wherein: the first and second side structures comprise respective rear guide tracks facing one another; the rear panel comprises rear track followers projecting laterally from opposite sides of the rear panel, the rear track followers being releasably received in the rear guide tracks of the first and second side structures, respectively; the rear panel is pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the rear track followers, while the rear track followers are engaged in the respective rear guide tracks, from a substantially vertical orientation to an angled orientation in which the rear panel upper edge is exposed from under the cover; and the rear track followers slidable along and out of engagement with the respective rear guide tracks, while the rear panel is in the angled orientation and while the cover is in the closed state, to permit detachment of the rear panel for providing rear access to the container compartment. 9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the cover in the closed state prevents upward movement of the front panel when the front panel is in the substantially vertical state. 10. A collapsible container comprising a container compartment and being movable between an erect position and a collapsed position, comprising: a support base; first and second side structures comprising first and second side panels, respectively, the first and second side panels each comprising a respective side panel upper edge and each being movable between the erect position, in which the first and second side panels are spaced apart and substantially parallel to one another and substantially orthogonal to the support base, and the collapsed position, in which the first and second side panels are stowed on the support base, the first and second side structures respectively comprising first and second front guide tracks facing one another; a rear panel comprising a rear panel upper edge and movable between the erect position, in which the rear panel extends between and is engageable with the first and second side structures, and the collapsed position, in which the rear panel is stowable on the support base; a front panel comprising a front panel upper edge and first and second front track followers releasably received in the first and second front guide tracks, respectively, the front panel being movable between the erect position, in which the front panel extends between and is engageable with the first and second side structures, and the collapsed position, in which the front panel is stowable on the support base; a top cover engageable with at least one of the front, rear, and side panels and movable between a closed state, in which the cover is positioned over the side panel upper edges and rear and front panel upper edges when the container is in the erect position, and an open state, in which the container compartment is accessible from above; the front panel pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the front track followers, while the front track followers are engaged in the respective front guide tracks and while the top cover is in the closed state, from a substantially vertical orientation to an angled orientation in which the front panel upper edge is exposed from under the closed top cover; and the front track followers slidable along and out of engagement with the respective front guide tracks, while the front panel is in the angled orientation and while the cover is in the closed state, to permit detachment of the front panel for providing front access to the container compartment. 11. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein the support base comprises a pallet. 12. A collapsible container according to claim 11, wherein the pallet comprises four-way entry pockets. 13. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein the first and second side structure further comprise opposed first and second side skirts, respectively, the first and second side skirts upwardly projecting from opposite sides of the support base and supporting the first and second side panels, respectively, when the container is in the erect position. 14. A collapsible container according to claim 13, wherein the first and second side panels are pivotally connected to the first and second side skirts, respectively, to permit pivotal movement of the first and second side panels between the erect and collapsed positions. 15. A collapsible container according to claim 13, wherein the front guide tracks are formed in the first and second side skirts, respectively. 16. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein the front guide tracks comprise respective substantially vertical channels and associated substantially horizontal channels. 17. A collapsible container according to claim 16, wherein the first and second side skirts have first and second forward edges, respectively, and wherein the substantially horizontal channels terminate at the first and second forward edges, respectively, for permitting the front track followers to detachably engage and disengage the front guide tracks. 18. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein the front track followers project laterally from opposite sides of the front panel, respectively. 19. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein: the first and second side structures comprise respective rear guide tracks facing one another; the rear panel comprises rear track followers projecting laterally from opposite sides of the rear panel, the rear track followers being releasably received in the rear guide tracks of the first and second side structures, respectively; the rear panel is pivotal outwardly away from the container compartment about the rear track followers, while the rear track followers are engaged in the respective rear guide tracks, from a substantially vertical orientation to an angled orientation in which the rear panel upper edge is exposed from under the cover; and the rear track followers slidable along and out of engagement with the respective rear guide tracks, while the rear panel is in the angled orientation and while the cover is in the closed state, to permit detachment of the rear panel for providing rear access to the container compartment. 20. A collapsible container according to claim 10, wherein the cover in the closed state prevents upward movement of the front panel when the front panel is in the substantially vertical state. 21. A collapsible container according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of latching mechanisms for selectively latching and unlatching the top cover to the front and side panels, each the latching mechanisms being accessible and selectively actuatable below the top cover.