초록 ▼

A crate is provided with a base, sides, front, and back that form an enclosure. The front includes and opening and a door positioned within the opening in the closed position. The door is hung by hinges, which are associated with uninterrupted rails on the top of the crate. To open the crate, the bo

A crate is provided with a base, sides, front, and back that form an enclosure. The front includes and opening and a door positioned within the opening in the closed position. The door is hung by hinges, which are associated with uninterrupted rails on the top of the crate. To open the crate, the bottom of the door is swung outward and upward to pivot the door toward the horizontal position on the hinges. Then, the door can be slid into the enclosure along the uninterrupted guides. The door may also include locks that can secure the door in the closed position. Both of the sides or both the front and back can be releasably connected with the top and pivotable into the base. After both sides or both the front and back are pivoted into the base, the remaining walls and top can be pivoted to fold into the base as a unit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A crate comprising: a base, a top, a first side, a second side, a front having a door, and a back, wherein the base, the top, the first side, the second side, the front, and the back form an enclosure;the base having a base first side, base second side, base front, and base back;the top having a

1. A crate comprising: a base, a top, a first side, a second side, a front having a door, and a back, wherein the base, the top, the first side, the second side, the front, and the back form an enclosure;the base having a base first side, base second side, base front, and base back;the top having a top first edge, top second edge, top front edge, and top back edge;the first and second sides having respective bottom edges associated with the base first side and the base second side, respectively; the first and second sides having respective top edges associated with the top first and second edges, respectively;the back having a back top edge and a back bottom edge associated with the top back edge and the base back, respectively; the front having a front top edge and a front bottom edge associated with the top front edge and the base front, respectively;the front further including a left side, right side, and a horizontal wire below the front top edge, wherein the horizontal wire extends from the right side to the left side and a gap is formed between the front top edge, the right side, the horizontal wire, and the left side and wherein an opening is formed between the horizontal wire, the right side, the front bottom edge, and the left side;the top having first and second uninterrupted guides extending in a direction from the top front edge to the top back edge and generally perpendicular to the plane of the front, the first uninterrupted guide closer to the first side than the second uninterrupted wire;the door including first and second hinges extending from the door and associated with the first and second uninterrupted guides, respectively;the door positioned in the opening in a closed position with the first and second hinges extending from outside the enclosure, through the gap, and to the uninterrupted guides, and is moveable to an opened position by pivoting the door upward and outward and sliding the first and second hinges toward the top back edge along the first and second uninterrupted guides. 2. The crate of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of blow molded plastic. 3. The crate of claim 1, wherein one or more of the top, the first side, the second side, the front, the door, and the back are comprised of a wire grate. 4. The crate of claim 1, wherein the first and second side respective bottom edges are pivotably connected with the base first side and the base second side, respectively;the first and the second side respective top edges are releasably connected with the top first and second edges, respectively;the back top and bottom edges are pivotably connected with the top back edge and the base back, respectively; andthe front top and bottom edges are pivotably connected with the top front edge and the base front, respectively. 5. The crate of claim 4, wherein the base includes a base first side wall with an interior and a first side interior ledge, the base first side wall rising from the base and extending along the base first side, the first side interior ledge extending along the interior of the base first side wall, and wherein the first side bottom edge engages the first side interior ledge;a base second side wall with an interior and a second side interior ledge, the base second side wall rising from the base and extending along the base second side, the second interior ledge extending along the interior of the base second side wall, and wherein the second side bottom edge engages the first side interior ledge;a rear base wall with an interior and a rear interior ledge, the rear base wall rising from the base and extending along the base back, the rear interior ledge extending along the interior of the rear base wall, and wherein the back bottom edge engages the rear interior ledge; anda front base wall with an interior and a front interior ledge, the front base wall rising from the base and extending along the base front, the front interior ledge extending along the interior of the front base wall, and wherein the front bottom edge engages the front interior ledge. 6. The crate of claim 5, wherein the back and front interior ledges are disposed higher on the interior of the back and front base walls than are the first side and second side interior ledges on the interior of the base first side wall and the base second side wall. 7. The crate of claim 5, wherein the front bottom edge is discontinuous and runs along the front right side and the front left side. 8. The crate of claim 7, wherein the front interior ledge is discontinuous and runs along regions proximal to the front bottom edge along the front right side and the front left side. 9. The crate of claim 5, wherein the front interior ledge is discontinuous and runs along regions proximal to the front right side and the front left side. 10. The crate of claim 5, wherein the base is comprised of blow molded plastic and the top, the first side, the second side, the front, the door, and the back are comprised of a wire grate. 11. The crate of claim 10, wherein the first and second uninterrupted guides are first and second uninterrupted wires of the wire grate. 12. The crate of claim 11, wherein the uninterrupted wires include first and second depressions proximal to the top back edge and wherein the first and second hinges can engage the first and second depressions when the door is the opened position. 13. The crate of claim 11, further comprising a lock disposed on the door proximal to the front bottom edge and the base first side wall further includes a slot adapted to engage the lock in a locked position. 14. The crate of claim 13, wherein the lock includes a stop, wherein the stop contacts the front when the door is in the open position. 15. The crate of claim 14, wherein the uninterrupted wires include first and second depressions proximal to the top back edge and wherein the first and second hinges can engage the first and second depressions when the door is in the open position. 16. The crate of claim 1, wherein the back and front respective bottom edges are pivotably connected with the base back and the base front, respectively;the back and front respective top edges are releasably connected with the top back and the top front edges, respectively;the first side top and bottom edges are pivotably connected with the top first side edge and the base first side, respectively; andthe second side top and bottom edges are pivotably connected with the top second side edge and the base second side, respectively. 17. The crate of claim 1, wherein one or more of the top, the first side, the second side, the front, the door, and the back are made of a mesh comprising of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of wire, polymeric resin, plastic, wood, and resin composites. 18. The crate of claim 1, wherein one or more of the top, the first side, the second side, the front, the door, and the back are panels comprised of one or more materials selected from polymeric resin, plastic, wood, and resin composites, and wherein the top panel includes first and second open regions adapted to include the first and second uninterrupted guides, respectively. 19. The crate of claim 18, wherein one or more of the panels have one or more holes. 20. The crate of claim 18, wherein the first and second uninterrupted guides are integral with the material of the top panel.