Claims
- 1. In a collapsible container of the open-platform type for conveying goods, said container including a generally elongated rectangular platform base, said base defining a pair of parallel side edges and a pair of parallel end edges extending transversely between said side edges, said side edges being longer than said end edges, a stub post at each corner of the platform base, a corner post pivotally connected to each stub post about an axis substantially parallel to the side edge of the base for permitting pivotal movement of the corner post from a fold-down position, in which the corner post rests either on the base or on the other folded down corner post at that end of the base, into a substantially upright position, and bracing means for holding the corner posts in said upright position, comprising the improvement wherein said bracing means includes a bracing structure associated with each end of said container, said bracing structure when in a bracing position extending between and rigidly connecting the opposed pair of corner posts as located adjacent one of said end edges, said bracing structure being detachable from at least one of the corner posts of said pair and movable into a collapsed position wherein it overlies the base when said posts are in said fold-down position, and the sides of said container as measured along the side edges between the opposed corner posts being completely open and free of bracing or obstructions.
- 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said bracing structure comprises a rigid truss-like frame connected between the opposed pair of legs and said base adjacent the end edge thereof.
- 3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said frame is pivotally connected to said base for swinging movement about a pivot axis which extends approximately parallel with the adjacent end edge so that said frame can be swingably moved from a vertical upright position into a fold-down position, and releasable connecting means coacting between the opposite ends of said frame and the opposed corner posts adjacent the upper ends thereof for permitting disconnection of said frame from said corner posts.
- 4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said frame has a configuration approximating an inverted triangle when in said upright position, said frame defining at the lower end thereof an apex of said triangular configuration, said apex being hingedly connected to said base.
- 5. A container according to claim 4, including horizontally opposed abutment means coacting between the apex of said frame and said base to prevent movement of said frame transversely in a direction parallel to said end edge, said abutment means permitting said apex to freely move vertically relative to said base through at least a limited extent.
- 6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the hinged connection between said apex and said base is slack and separate from the abutment means so that substantially no load is transmitted through the hinged connection when the frame is in its upright position due to transverse racking forces imposed on said corner posts.
- 7. In a collapsible container of the open-platform type for transporting goods, said container including a generally elongated rectangular platform-type base defining thereon an upper horizontal support surface, said base defining a pair of opposed parallel side edges joined together by a pair of opposed parallel end edges extending perpendicularly between said side edges, said end edges being substantially shorter than said side edges, a stub post fixed at each corner of the base, a corner post pivotally connected to each stub post about an axis substantially parallel to the longer side of the base for permitting pivotal movement of the corner post from a folded-down position, in which it rests either on the base or on the other folded-down corner post at that end of the base, into a substantially upright position, and bracing means coacting between the corner posts and said base for holding the corner posts in said upright position, comprising the improvement wherein a hinge structure is provided for pivotally connecting the respective corner and stub posts together, said hinge structure including a rigid vertical tube of substantially rectangular cross section fixedly associated with one of said posts and a yoke structure fixedly associated with the other post and disposed in straddling relationship to said tube, said hinge structure also including an axially elongated hinge pin extending across said tube and through the opposite side walls thereof for connection to the two legs of said yoke structure to permit pivoting movement between said tube and said yoke structure, said bracing means being located solely at the ends of said container, and the sides of said container being totally unobstructed and free of bracing so as to provide full access to said container through the sides thereof.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
23317/76 |
Jun 1976 |
GB |
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Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 803,614 filed June 6, 1977 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
803614 |
Jun 1977 |
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