초록 ▼

A collapsible container comprising at least one wall (2,102,202,302) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (A); and an assembly mechanism (6,106,206,306) associated with the wall, the assembly mechanism comprising a lever arm (8,108,208,308) pivotally connected to the wall at a first location

A collapsible container comprising at least one wall (2,102,202,302) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (A); and an assembly mechanism (6,106,206,306) associated with the wall, the assembly mechanism comprising a lever arm (8,108,208,308) pivotally connected to the wall at a first location, and a connecting member (10,110,210,310), operable to transmit force applied at the lever arm to the wall at a second location and wherein a first end (16,116,216,316) of the connecting member is operatively connected to the lever arm and a second end (18,118,218,318) of the connecting member is operatively connected to the wall at the second location. Also described is an assembly mechanism for use with such a container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible container comprising: a substantially rectangular shaped bottom and corresponding top;a plurality of end walls;a plurality of elongated side walls, wherein the length of each of the plurality of elongated side walls is greater than the width of each of the plurality of end walls;at

1. A collapsible container comprising: a substantially rectangular shaped bottom and corresponding top;a plurality of end walls;a plurality of elongated side walls, wherein the length of each of the plurality of elongated side walls is greater than the width of each of the plurality of end walls;at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by a pivoting mechanism that is substantially coincident with a lower edge of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls to allow the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls to be folded inwards; andan assembly mechanism incorporated on an outside face of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls comprising: a lever arm pivotally connected to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at a first location proximate to the lower edge of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls; anda connecting member operable to transmit force applied at the lever arm to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at a second location distal to the axis of rotation, wherein a first end of the connecting member is operatively connected to the lever arm and a second end of the connecting member is operatively connected to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at the second location, andthe force transmitted to the second location results in the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls being pivoted about the axis of rotation. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the assembly mechanism further comprises a housing operatively connecting the first end or second end of the connecting member to the lever arm or the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls. 3. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a channel slidingly retaining the first end or second end of the connecting member within. 4. The collapsible container of claim 3, wherein the channel pivotally retains the first end or second end of the connecting member within. 5. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a biasing element operable to bias the first end or second end of the connecting member toward a stowed position. 6. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a stop operable to abut against the first end or second end of the connecting member in a deployed position. 7. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein the housing pivotally connects the first end or second end of the connecting member to the lever arm or the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls. 8. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a substantially rigid rod. 9. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a hinged rod defining a first section having a first end and a second section having a second end. 10. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the first end of the hinged rod is pivotally connected to the lever arm and the second end of the hinged rod is pivotally connected to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at the second location. 11. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a cable. 12. The collapsible container of claim 11, wherein the cable has elastic properties. 13. The collapsible container of claim 12, wherein a first end of the cable is fixedly connected to the lever arm and a second end of the cable is pivotally connected to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at a second location. 14. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls comprises at least one corrugation and the assembly mechanism is substantially housed within the at least one corrugation. 15. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising a biasing mechanism operable to balance a weight of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls. 16. The collapsible container of claim 15, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a torsion bar. 17. The collapsible container of claim 16, wherein the torsion bar is mounted within or adjacent a hinge at the axis of rotation of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls. 18. A method of assembling a collapsible container comprising: a substantially rectangular shaped bottom and corresponding top;a plurality of end walls;a plurality of elongated side walls, wherein the length of each of the plurality of elongated side walls is greater than the width of each of the plurality of end walls;at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by a pivoting mechanism that is substantially coincident with a lower edge of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls to allow the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls to be folded inwards; andan assembly mechanism incorporated on an outside face of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls, the method comprising:imparting a raising force to the assembly mechanism at a first location spaced from the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls; andtransmitting the raising force via the assembly mechanism to the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls at a second location, the second location being spaced from the axis of rotation such that a turning moment is imparted on the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls, and the transmitted raising force resulting in the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls being pivoted about the axis of rotation. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising balancing a weight of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls during assembly of the collapsible container. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the weight of the at least one of the plurality of elongated side walls is balanced via a biasing mechanism.