초록 ▼

A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit including corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly, side bars connecting a pair of opposite corner posts, upper end bars connecting a pair of adjacent corner posts, lower end bars connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts, a core hold

A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit including corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly, side bars connecting a pair of opposite corner posts, upper end bars connecting a pair of adjacent corner posts, lower end bars connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts, a core holder located on the upper end bars for retaining one end of a core, a plurality of hinges, one connected at each joint between each corner post and the side bars, and hinged support braces pivotally and diagonally connected between one of the corner posts and one of the side bars to hold the corner posts in an upright position when the unit is opened and which, in combination with the hinges, makes it possible to fold the corner posts inwardly and downwardly so as to lie substantially flat against the side bars.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit comprising: two pairs of adjacent and opposite upright corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly;two side bars, each side bar connecting the pair of opposite upright corner posts;a pair of upper end bars, each upper end bar connecting the pair

1. A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit comprising: two pairs of adjacent and opposite upright corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly;two side bars, each side bar connecting the pair of opposite upright corner posts;a pair of upper end bars, each upper end bar connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts;a pair of lower end bars, each lower end bar connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts, positioned at a point lower than the pair of upper end bars on the corner posts;at least two first core holders located on the pair of upper end bars for retaining a core;a plurality of hinges, one connected at each joint between each corner post and the side bars whereby the unit can collapse inwardly, wherein said plurality of hinges comprises at least four double-pinned hinges, each one pivotally and diagonally connected between one of the corner posts and one of the side bars; andat least four hinged support braces, each one pivotally and diagonally connected between one of the corner posts and one of the side bars to hold the corner posts in an upright position when the unit is opened and which, in combination with the hinges, makes it possible to fold the corner posts inwardly and downwardly so as to lie substantially flat against the side bars. 2. The unit of claim 1, further comprising: at least one cross bar connected between the side bars; and at least one longitudinal bar connected between the at least one cross bar and each one of the pair of lower end bars. 3. A core for use with the unit of claim 2, wherein the core comprises a hollow tube; and core plugs sized and shaped so as to fit on each end of the hollow tube to seal the tube, the core plugs comprising two ridges extending radially outwardly around a circumference of the core plugs to retain the core in place on the core holders. 4. A core for use with the unit of claim 2, wherein the core comprises: a solid mandrel having an opening in each end; and core plugs sized and shaped so as to fit in the openings in each end of the solid mandrel, the core plugs comprising two ridges extending radially outwardly around the circumference of the core plugs to retain the core in place on the core holders. 5. The unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one upright support end bar connected between the upper end bars and the lower end bars in a substantially center position between the adjacent corner posts. 6. The unit of claim 1, wherein each corner post further comprising at least one top end block at an upper end of each corner post for engaging an opening formed in an underside of a corresponding corner post of another unit when the units are stacked on top of each other in an opened position. 7. The unit of claim 1, further comprising a stacking lock connected to an outside surface of each corner post for engaging an opening formed in an underside of a corresponding corner post of another unit when the units are stacked on top of each other in a closed position. 8. The unit of claim 1, wherein the core comprises: a hollow tube; and core plugs sized and shaped so as to fit on each end of the hollow tube to seal the tube, the core plugs comprising two ridges extending radially outwardly around a circumference of the core plugs to retain the core in place on the core holders. 9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the core comprises: a solid mandrel having an opening in each end; and core plugs sized and shaped so as to fit in the openings in each end of the solid mandrel, the core plugs comprising two ridges extending radially outwardly around the circumference of the core plugs to retain the core in place on the core holders. 10. A rackable, collapsible, and stackable unit comprising: two pairs of adjacent and opposite upright corner posts being foldable inwardly and downwardly;two side bars, each side bar connecting the pair of opposite upright corner posts;a pair of upper end bars, each upper end bar connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts;a pair of lower end bars, each lower end bar connecting the pair of adjacent upright corner posts, positioned at a point lower than the pair of upper end bars on the corner posts;at least two first core holders located on the pair of upper end bars for retaining a core;a plurality of hinges, one connected at each joint between each corner post and the side bars whereby the unit can collapse inwardly; andat least four hinged support braces, each one pivotally and diagonally connected between one of the corner posts and one of the side bars to hold the corner posts in an upright position when the unit is opened and which, in combination with the hinges, makes it possible to fold the corner posts inwardly and downwardly so as to lie substantially flat against the side bars,wherein the at least four hinged support braces are connected to the respective corner posts and side bars at first and second pivot pins, and wherein the hinged support braces comprise a center plate and two end plates, the center plate comprises a hole on each end thereof, and each of two end plates includes a hole formed therein on both ends to accommodate the first and second pivot pins connecting the braces to the respective corner posts and side bars, and third and fourth pivot pins that connect the center plate to a respective end plate.