Patent US3917102A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3917102A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Collapsible container

Assignee: Olivetti SpA
•
Filing: 1973-10-31
•
Granted: 1975-11-04
•
Expires: 1993-10-31
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A collapsible container comprising a plurality of panels detacheably joined along their edges by a series of locking device inserted through aligned apertures through two edges, each of said edges being bent outwardly from the respective panels in such a manner that the edges lie flush against each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Renato Repetti

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:15
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/10; F16B12/28; F16B12/34; A; A47; A47B; A47B96/00; A47B96/20; A47B96/201; F16B5/00; F16B5/06; F16B5/0607

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 232 words
A collapsible container comprising: a plurality of panels each having a central planar portion and peripheral planar portions disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the central planer portion, each peripheral portion of each panel positionable in a juxtaposed relationship with one peripheral portion of another panel when the panels are in an assembled state; and locking means for releasably locking the juxtaposed peripheral portions of the panels together to maintain the panels in an assembled state, said locking means comprising means defining at least one elongated aperture in each peripheral portion of the panels each aperture elongated along an axis parallel to the vertex of the angle between the central planar portion and the peripheral portion and positioned to be aligned with the corresponding aperture of a juxtaposed peripheral portion of another panel and locking members each removably insertable through two aligned apertures and each comprising a pin member and two wing members each having a clamping surface, the two wing members connected at either end of said pin member to space the clamping surfaces apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein each locking member when inserted in two aligned apertures is rotatable about the pin member from an unlocking position to a locking position wherein the clamping surfaces inwardly bear against the juxtaposed peripheral portions locking them together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 232 words
A collapsible container comprising: a plurality of panels each having a central planar portion and peripheral planar portions disposed at an acute angle with respect to the plane of the central planer portion, each peripheral portion of each panel positionable in a juxtaposed relationship with one peripheral portion of another panel when the panels are in an assembled state; and locking means for releasably locking the juxtaposed peripheral portions of the panels together to maintain the panels in an assembled state, said locking means comprising means defining at least one elongated aperture in each peripheral portion of the panels each aperture elongated along an axis parallel to the vertex of the angle between the central planar portion and the peripheral portion and positioned to be aligned with the corresponding aperture of a juxtaposed peripheral portion of another panel and locking members each removably insertable through two aligned apertures and each comprising a pin member and two wing members each having a clamping surface, the two wing members connected at either end of said pin member to space the clamping surfaces apart a distance substantially equal to the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein each locking member when inserted in two aligned apertures is rotatable about the pin member from an unlocking position to a locking position wherein the clamping surfaces inwardly bear against the juxtaposed peripheral portions locking them together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 58 words
A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the wing members are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of two juxtaposed peripheral portions and wherein said locking means further comprises means urging the clamping surfaces of each locking member together when rotated into the locking position and for retaining the locking member in the locking position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 79 words
A collapsible container according to claim 2, wherein said pin member comprises resilient material and wherein said urging and retaining means comprises a protuberance on each wing member spaced a predetermined distance apart and from the associated clamping surface to contact the central planar portion before the clamping surface contacts the peripheral portions during movement of the locking member from the unlocking to the locking portion to cause the clamping surfaces to be urged together about the pin member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein said locking means further comprises means for preventing relative movement of the juxtaposed peripheral portions in the plane of the juxtaposed peripheral portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 60 words
A collapsible container according to claim 4, wherein said means for preventing relative movement comprises a central substantially cylindrical hole in each aperture having a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and wherein said pin member is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter greater than the width of the aperture and less than the diameter of the hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the angle of rotation from the unlocking to the locking position is approximately 90*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein the two wing elements of each locking member are substantially flat and coplanar.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2182201A Cited
US2317561A Cited
US2457262A Cited
US2920682A Cited
US3572535A Cited
US3570801A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-11-03 1979-05-05 1979-11-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-11-03 1983-05-05 1983-11-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-11-03 1987-05-05 1987-11-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag