US4577772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible containers
Assignee: ANAND SUKHMEET S
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Filing: 1985-03-26
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Granted: 1986-03-25
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Expires: 2005-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A container includes opposite sidewalls each comprising a medial hinge joining two panels to permit inward folding of the sidewalls with simultaneous collapsing of the top and bottom sections which are pivotally attached to respective edges of the sidewalls this pivotal attachment is provided by hinge assemblies including cooperating U-shaped plates shiftable to allow both maintenance of a rigid expanded container and also permit the collapse thereof. End door members include pivotal attachment devices which may include roller elements to allow displacement of the end door members from an end closing position to a position disposed parallel with and underlying the top section.
Inventors
- 👤 Juan B. Bigliardi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/008; B65D90/0086; B65D88/00; B65D88/02; B65D88/12; B65D88/121; B65D88/52; B65D88/522; B65D88/524
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
397 words
Improvements on collapsible containers comprising a box-like prismatic structure formed by a floor section, a top section, a pair of sidewalls connected by hinge means to said floor section and said top section, respectively, along a central hinge line to define portions of equal surface area in said sidewalls adapted to be folded upon themselves and toward the interior of the container, with the ends of the structure closed by respective door members or end portions pivotably mounted and adapted to be folded backward toward the interior of the container, with said top section and said floor section comprising a profiled frame with generally prismatic corner brackets which form engaging means used in hoisting the container, and with the container walls provided with cooperating locking members to keep the walls rigidly connected in the assembled position of the container, characterized in that said door members or end portions are mounted so that they can pivot or swivel toward the top section of the structure on coaxially disposed pivot pins extending from opposite sides of said top section, that the hinge members of the sidewalls engaging the floor section and the top section, respectively, are formed by a pair of sets of U-shaped oppositely oriented plates, that the legs of the plates of one of the sets are integral with the hinge means rigidly connected to the legs of a U-shaped profile forming part of the sidewalls, whereas the legs of the plates of the other set are connected to the legs of a U-shaped profile forming an integral part of said top section, that a set of U-shaped plates of said hinge means is rigidly joined with a hinge line extending across the U-shaped plates of the other set and adapted to move freely with respect to said hinge line, that the intermediate portions of said U-shaped plate form an enclosure of the hinge means in said U-shaped profiles integral with the respective sidewall and the top section in the assembled state of the container, that the plates of the two sets remain connected and pivotable around said axis in a second, collapsed state of the container, and that the frames forming the top section and the floor section are provided with supports for connecting corresponding protruding locking means extending from the frames of said sidewalls and from the door members or end portions of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
397 words
Improvements on collapsible containers comprising a box-like prismatic structure formed by a floor section, a top section, a pair of sidewalls connected by hinge means to said floor section and said top section, respectively, along a central hinge line to define portions of equal surface area in said sidewalls adapted to be folded upon themselves and toward the interior of the container, with the ends of the structure closed by respective door members or end portions pivotably mounted and adapted to be folded backward toward the interior of the container, with said top section and said floor section comprising a profiled frame with generally prismatic corner brackets which form engaging means used in hoisting the container, and with the container walls provided with cooperating locking members to keep the walls rigidly connected in the assembled position of the container, characterized in that said door members or end portions are mounted so that they can pivot or swivel toward the top section of the structure on coaxially disposed pivot pins extending from opposite sides of said top section, that the hinge members of the sidewalls engaging the floor section and the top section, respectively, are formed by a pair of sets of U-shaped oppositely oriented plates, that the legs of the plates of one of the sets are integral with the hinge means rigidly connected to the legs of a U-shaped profile forming part of the sidewalls, whereas the legs of the plates of the other set are connected to the legs of a U-shaped profile forming an integral part of said top section, that a set of U-shaped plates of said hinge means is rigidly joined with a hinge line extending across the U-shaped plates of the other set and adapted to move freely with respect to said hinge line, that the intermediate portions of said U-shaped plate form an enclosure of the hinge means in said U-shaped profiles integral with the respective sidewall and the top section in the assembled state of the container, that the plates of the two sets remain connected and pivotable around said axis in a second, collapsed state of the container, and that the frames forming the top section and the floor section are provided with supports for connecting corresponding protruding locking means extending from the frames of said sidewalls and from the door members or end portions of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that said door members or end portions are journaled in said pivot pins provided at the ends with corresponding rolling members to slidingly support said door members, that said rolling members are formed by wheels mounted inside said lateral profiles forming the frame of said door members, that the latter are provided along said profile with a sliding surface along which the fixed pivot pin on the top section is disposed, and that said door member upon being lifted, remains slidingly supported on said wheels of said pivot pins to be accommodated under said top section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that said door members are rotatably mounted on pivot pins located under said top section and on opposite sides thereof, that said door member is provided with a U-shaped profiled frame to support a detent integral with the frame of the sidewall, of the floor section, and of the end portion of the container, and that said door member is provided with means establishing a connection to means of traction, said means being adapted to produce the withdrawal of the door member toward the interior and toward the top section of the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that to obtain connection of the set of U-shaped plates with the sidewalls and the floor/top sections, one of the U-shaped profiles has a width exceeding the width of the complementary profile and a leg defining a detent covering the other profile to obtain a tight seal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said sidewalls in its central hinge line comprises longitudinal profiles one of which has a greater width than the other and a flap covering the complementary profile to form a tight seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that said door members are provided with pins for attaching lever arms and tensioning means used for lifting said door members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
Improvements according to claim 1, characterized in that said supports connecting the locking members are fixedly mounted on the profiled frames of the top section and the base of the container and comprise a pivotable lever integral with a fork member forming a locking means of a single protrusion connected to the profile of said door members and sidewalls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-24 | 1989-09-23 | 1990-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-24 | 1993-09-23 | 1994-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-24 | 1997-09-23 | 1998-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |