초록 ▼

Aspects of the invention include a reusable, collapsible container, which when in a disassembled state is completely contained in an area no larger than the base member thereof, is easy to assemble, and due to the interlocking features of a number of the component parts of the container, requires a

Aspects of the invention include a reusable, collapsible container, which when in a disassembled state is completely contained in an area no larger than the base member thereof, is easy to assemble, and due to the interlocking features of a number of the component parts of the container, requires a minimal number of separate locking/fastening devices.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A reusable container comprising: a base member comprising: a front, vertical base member;a rear vertical base member separated from, and substantially parallel to the front vertical base member;the front and rear vertical base members separated by a distance substantially equivalent to the length

1. A reusable container comprising: a base member comprising: a front, vertical base member;a rear vertical base member separated from, and substantially parallel to the front vertical base member;the front and rear vertical base members separated by a distance substantially equivalent to the length of first and second vertical side base members;the first and second vertical side base members being substantially parallel to each other, being substantially perpendicular to the front and rear vertical base members and being mechanically fastened to the front and rear vertical base members;a plurality of base reinforcing members mechanically fastened to each of the front, rear, first and second vertical base members;a horizontal sub-base member mechanically attached to the base reinforcing members;a first horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout fitting within the area formed by the joined front, rear first and second vertical side base members; wherein the vertical base members extend a predetermined height above the horizontal support member and having a plurality of locking tab receiving openings formed in the peripheral area of the first horizontal support member; a front, a rear, and first side and second side vertical wall members, each vertical wall member having a peripheral area thereabout;one or more locking tabs formed in a bottom portion of the peripheral area of each of the front, rear, and first and second vertical wall members; oriented so as to be insertable into the locking tab receiving openings in the first horizontal support surface of the horizontal receiving member;one or more locking device receiving openings also being formed in predetermined locations in each of the vertical wall members;a second horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout, disposed over the first horizontal support surface, the peripheral area thereof lockingly contacting the one or more locking tabs of one or more of the vertical wall members;a top member having a peripheral area thereabout and a plurality of locking device receiving openings formed therein, capable of closing the container when substantially perpendicularly oriented to the vertical wall members and in closing contact with a top portion of the peripheral area of each of the vertical wall members; anda plurality of locking devices capable of securing the vertical wall members one to another and securing the top member to one or more of the vertical wall members; wherein in a disassembled state, the first horizontal support surface, the second horizontal support surface, the front, rear and first and second side vertical wall members, the top member and the plurality of locking devices are all contained within the area defined by the front, rear and first and second vertical side base members and to a height no greater than the predetermined height of the front, rear and first and second vertical side base members. 2. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein at least one lifting device access opening is formed in one or more of the front, rear and first and second side vertical base members. 3. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein the locking tab receiving openings formed in the peripheral area of the first horizontal support member are substantially T-shaped. 4. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein one or more of the locking tab receiving openings formed in the peripheral area of the first horizontal support surface are substantially rectangular in shape. 5. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein the locking tabs formed in the bottom portion of the peripheral area of each of the vertical wall members are substantially T-shaped. 6. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein one or more of the locking tabs formed in the bottom portion of the peripheral area of each of the vertical wall members are substantially rectangular in shape. 7. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein one or more locating tabs and one or more locating notches are formed in predetermined locations in the top portion of the peripheral area of each of the vertical wall members. 8. The reusable container defined in claim 7, where one or more locating tabs and one or more locating notches are formed in predetermined locations in the top member, so as to alternate with the one or more locating tabs and locating notches formed in the top portion of the peripheral area of one or more of the vertical wall members. 9. The reusable container defined in claim 1, wherein the locking devices are metal clips. 10. The reusable container defined in claim 9, wherein the metal clips are formed of a wire having spring-like properties. 11. A method of assembling a reusable container comprising: providing a base member comprising: front, rear and first and second side vertical base members mechanically fastened to one another to form a predetermined geometric shape, and having a predetermined height sufficient to contain complementarily shaped component parts therein; the component parts including:(i) a first horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout, a plurality of locking tab receiving openings being formed in the peripheral area of the first horizontal support surface,(ii) a front, a rear and first and second vertical wall members having a peripheral area thereabout, one or more locking tabs being formed in a bottom portion of the peripheral area of each of the front, rear and first and second vertical wall members, and having a plurality of locking device receiving openings formed in predetermined locations therein;(iii) a second horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout;(iv) a top member having a peripheral area thereabout, and having a plurality of locking device receiving openings formed in predetermined locations therein;(v) a plurality of locking devices having first and second ends capable of being inserted in the locking device receiving openings in the top member and vertical side members;(vi) removing the component parts from the base member;(vii) inserting the first horizontal support member back into the area defined by the front, rear, and first and second side vertical base members;(viii) inserting the locking tabs of each of the vertical wall members into the locking tab receiving openings in the first horizontal support member, and securing same therein;(ix) inserting the second horizontal support member into the base member, so that the periphery of the second horizontal support member lockingly contacts each of the vertical wall members so as to prevent movement of the locking tabs in the locking tab receiving openings;(x) placing the top member on the top peripheral edges of each of the vertical wall members utilizing the top locating tabs and complimentary top locating notches;(xi) inserting the first end of a locking device into a locking device receiving opening in the top member, and the second end of the locking device into a locking device receiving opening in one or more of the vertical wall members; and(xii) inserting the first end of a locking device in the locking device receiving opening in one or more vertical wall members, and the second end of the locking device into a locking device receiving opening in one or more adjacent vertical wall members. 12. A method of assembling a reusable container comprising: providing a base member comprising: front, rear and first and second side vertical base members mechanically fastened to one another to form a predetermined geometric shape, and having a predetermined height sufficient to contain complementarily shaped component parts therein; the component parts including:(i) a first horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout, a plurality of locking tab receiving openings being formed in the peripheral area of the first horizontal support surface;(ii) a front, a rear and first and second vertical wall members having a peripheral area thereabout, one or more locking tabs being formed in a bottom portion of the peripheral area of each of the front, rear and first and second vertical wall members, and having a plurality of locking device receiving openings formed in predetermined locations therein;(iii) a second horizontal support member having a peripheral area thereabout; the dimensions of such periphery being smaller by a predetermined amount than the dimensions of the first horizontal support member;(iv) a top member having a peripheral area thereabout, and having a plurality of locking device receiving openings formed in predetermined locations therein;(v) a plurality of locking devices having first and second ends capable of being inserted in the locking device receiving openings in the top member and vertical side members;(vi) removing the component parts from the base member;(vii) inserting the first horizontal support member back into the area defined by the front, rear, and first and second side vertical base members;(viii) inserting the locking tabs of one or more of the vertical wall members into the locking tab receiving openings in the first horizontal support member, and securing same therein;(ix) inserting the second horizontal support member into the base member, so that the periphery of the second horizontal support member lockingly contacts one or more of the vertical wall members so as to prevent movement of the locking tabs in the locking tab receiving openings;(x) placing the top member on the top peripheral edges of each of the vertical wall members utilizing the top locating tabs and complimentary top locating notches;(xi) inserting the first end of a locking device into a locking device receiving opening in the top member, and the second end of the locking device into a locking device receiving opening in one or more of the vertical wall members; and(xii) inserting the first end of a locking device in the locking device receiving opening in one or more vertical wall members, and the second end of the locking device into a locking device receiving opening in one or more adjacent vertical wall members. 13. The method of assembling a reusable container defined in claim 12, wherein the locking tab receiving openings have more than one shape. 14. The method of assembling a reusable container defined in claim 13, wherein one or more locking tab receiving openings are substantially T-shaped, and one or more locking tab receiving openings are substantially rectangular in shape. 15. The method of assembling a reusable container defined in claim 12, wherein the locking tabs have more than one shape. 16. The method of assembling a reusable container defined in claim 15, wherein one or more locking tabs are substantially T-shaped, and one or more locking tabs are substantially rectangular in shape. 17. The method of assembling a reusable container defined in claim 12, wherein at least the front vertical wall member has a substantially rectangular locking tab which is insertable into a substantially rectangularly shaped locking tab receiving opening in the first horizontal support member after the second horizontal support member has already been disposed over the first horizontal support member.