Collapsible container and latching member

Claim 2

A collapsible container comprising: a top and bottom wall member; a front and rear wall member; a first and a second side wall member; an elongated member, said elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said elongated member to said first side wall member; and means for releasably coupling said second end of said elongated member to said second side wall member wherein said coupling means includes: an elongated stud, said stud being fixed to and having a portion projecting from said second side wall member; a retaining member movably attached to said projecting portion of said stud; a stud receiving slot adjacent said second end of said elongated member for receiving said projecting portion of said stud; and means adjacent said slot for receiving said retaining member and further wherein said retaining member and said retaining member receiving means adjacent said slot include means which cooperate for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said second side wall member.

Claim 3

A container according to claim 1 wherein said means for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member and said second side wall member comprises a bore hole in said elongated member in communication with said slot, said bore hole having an inner wall normal to its longitudinal axis; and, further, wherein said retaining member is received in said bore hole and includes means for engaging said inner wall.

Claim 4

A container according to claim 2 wherein said stud is threaded, said retaining member is a nut permanently threaded on said stud and, further, wherein said inner wall engaging means comprises a flange extending radially from said nut.

Claim 5

A container according to claim 3 wherein said means for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member from said second side wall member further comprises a recess provided in a side wall of said bore, said side wall being normal to said inner wall and said recess being provided adjacent said inner wall for receiving said radially extending flange.

Claim 6

A container according to claim 1 wherein said stud receiving slot comprises a lower bottom surface on which said stud bears when said elongated member is used to lift said container.

Claim 7

A collapsible container comprising: a top and bottom wall member; a front and rear wall member; a first and a second side wall member; an elongated member, said elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said elongated member to said first side wall member; and means for releasably coupling said second end of said elongated member to said second side wall member wherein said first and said second side wall members comprise a main wall portion; and a top, a bottom, a front and a rear side edge member which extends normal to said main wall portion, said edge members each having an interior surface; and further comprising a means for removably retaining said top, said bottom, said front and said rear wall members in flush relationship with said interior surface of corresponding ones of said side edge members.

Claim 8

A collapsible container comprising: a top and bottom wall member; a front and rear wall member; a first and a second side wall member; an elongated member, said elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said elongated member to said first side wall member; and means for releasably coupling said second end of said elongated member to said second side wall member wherein said first and said second side wall members comprise a main wall portion; and a top, a bottom, a front and a rear side edge member which extends normal to said main wall portion, said edge members each having an interior surface; and further comprising a means for removably retaining said top, said bottom, said front and said rear wall members in flush relationship with said interior surface of corresponding ones of said side edge members.

Claim 9

A container according to claim 6 wherein said retaining means comprises: a means for removably attaching said bottom wall member to said first and said second side wall members; and a means for supporting said front and said rear wall members between and normal to said first and said second side wall members and said top and said bottom wall members, said supporting means including means for preventing an inward movement of said front and said rear wall members.

Claim 10

A container according to claim 6 wherein said means for removably attaching said bottom wall member to said first and said second side wall members comprises: clip means fixedly mounted On opposing edges of said bottom wall member; and clip-receiving slots provided in corresponding locations in each of said side wall members for receiving said clip means and, further, wherein said means for preventing inward movement of said front and said rear wall members comprises means projecting normal to said top and said bottom members and disposed inwardly of, and parallel to, opposing edges of said front and said rear wall members.

Claim 11

A container according to claim 6 wherein said clip means comprises a plurality of L-shaped fittings, said fittings having a portion extending normal to said bottom wall member for removable insertion in said clip-receiving slots and, further, wherein said means projecting normal to said top and said bottom members for preventing inward movement of said front and said rear wall members comprises an elongated member fixedly attached to and disposed inwardly of opposing edges of said top and said bottom wall members so as to define a marginal edge portion of said top and said bottom wall members for receiving said front and said rear wall members.

Claim 12

A container according to claim 9 wherein said front wall member comprises: a screen member; means for removably receiving said screen member, said screen member serving to provide ventilation to the interior of said container; and means for releasably retaining said screen member in said screen member receiving means.

Claim 13

A container according to claim 10 further comprising a second elongated member, said second elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said second elongated member to at least one of said first and said second side wall members; and means for releasably coupling said second end of said second elongated member to the other one of said first and said second side wall members, said first and said second elongated members cooperating with said means for removably attaching said bottom wall member to said first and said second side wall members and said means for supporting said front and said rear wall members between and normal to said first and said second side wall members and said top and said bottom wall members for maintaining each of said wall members in a predetermined spaced relationship.

Claim 14

A container according to claim 6 wherein said first and said second side wall members are sized for receiving and enclosing said top, said bottom, said front and said rear wall members when said container is disassembled.

Claim 15

For use in releasably coupling a first member to a second member spaced from said first member, a coupling member comprising: an elongated member, said elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said elongated member to said first member; means for releasably coupling said second end of said elongated member to said second member; an elongated stud, said stud being fixed to and having a portion projecting from said second member; a retaining member movably attached to said projecting portion of said stud; a stud-receiving slot adjacent said second end of said elongated member for receiving said projecting portion of said stud; and means adjacent said slot for receiving said retaining member wherein said retaining member and said retaining member receiving means adjacent said slot include means which cooperate for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member and said second member and further wherein said means for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member and said second member comprises a bore hole in said elongated member in communication with said slot, said bore hole having an inner wall normal to its longitudinal axis; and further, wherein said retaining member is received in said bore hole and includes means for engaging said inner wall.

Claim 16

For use in releasably coupling a first member to a second member spaced from said first member, a coupling member comprising: an elongated member, said elongated member having a first and a second end; means for pivotably connecting said first end of said elongated member to said first member; means for releasably coupling said second end of said elongated member to said second member; an elongated stud, said stud being fixed to and having a portion projecting from said second member; a retaining member movably attached to said projecting portion of said stud; a stud-receiving slot adjacent said second end of said elongated member for receiving said projecting portion of said stud; and means adjacent said slot for receiving said retaining member wherein said retaining member and said retaining member receiving means adjacent said slot include means which cooperate for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member and said second member and further wherein said means for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member and said second member comprises a bore hole in said elongated member in communication with said slot, said bore hole having an inner wall normal to its longitudinal axis; and further, wherein said retaining member is received in said bore hole and includes means for engaging said inner wall.

Claim 17

A coupling member according to claim 13 wherein said stud is threaded, said retaininG member is a nut permanently threaded on said stud and, further, wherein said inner wall engaging means comprises a flange extending radially from said nut.

Claim 18

A coupling member according to claim 14 wherein said means for minimizing inadvertent decoupling of said elongated member from said second member further comprises a recess provided in a side wall of said bore, said side wall being normal to said inner wall and said recess being provided adjacent said inner wall for receiving said radially extending flange.

Claim 19

A coupling member according to claim 13 wherein said stud-receiving slot comprises a lower bottom surface against which said stud bears when said elongated member is used for lifting said first and said second members.