Collapsible shipping container

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6386383
  • Patent Number
    6,386,383
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 31, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 14, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A collapsible container (10) includes a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment. The container assembly (10) is characterized by the buckles (28) disposed on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and the roof (20) to prevent access thereto in the shipping position. Each buckle strap (24) has a fixed end (30) secured to the interior of one of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) by a rivet (32) and each of the tie straps (26) extends from an attached end (36) attached by rivets (38) to flaps (23) depending from the roof (20). The sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) include strap holes 40 extending therethorough and each of the tie straps (26) extend from the attached end (36) at one of the flaps (23) downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall (12, 14 or 16) and into one of the holes (40) to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles (28).
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The subject invention relates to a shipping container that is collapsed when emptied for return to a destination for erection to a shipping position for shipping additional goods therein.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Such collapsible shipping containers are well known and frequently include a plurality of sidewalls movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom to top extremities to define a closed compartment. A separate roof is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls in the shipping position. A plurality of strap units, each including a buckle connected to a buckle strap for connection to a tie strap, interconnect the roof and the side walls for securing the roof in the overlying relationship with the side walls.




These buckles are disposed on the exterior of the container and allow easy access to view the contents of the container. This easy access presents a problem as many different people between the shipper and the ultimate destination handle the containers. For example, garments on hangers are frequently shipped in such collapsible containers and the temptation for handlers to have a peek at the garments is too great to resist. Consequently, many garments and other goods are lost during shipment. There is a need for a simple solution that does not greater change the current shipping containers in construction or operation yet makes it more difficult to peek into the container and/or to gain access to the container without being noticed.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES




The subject invention provides a collapsible shipping container assembly that makes it more difficult to peek into the container and/or to gain access to the container without being noticed. A plurality of sidewalls are moved from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls. A roof separate from the sidewalls is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls. The roof and the sidewalls are interconnected for securing the roof in the overlying relationship with the side walls by using a plurality of strap units each of which includes a tie strap and a buckle strap connected to a buckle. The collapsible container is characterized by disposing the buckles on the interior of the walls and the roof to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps to the buckles on the inside of the compartment.




By disposing the buckles on the interior of the container, it is very difficult for an unauthorized person to have a peek into the container. Although access is possible, it would require much more effort and time, thereby making it difficult without being observed.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a collapsed container;





FIG. 2

is perspective view showing the sidewalls of the container being moved to the shipping position;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view showing the bottom of the container being moved to the shipping position;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view showing the roof being placed in overlying relationship with the sidewalls;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view showing the container in the shipping position;





FIG. 6

is an exploded perspective view showing the disposition of the straps;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a strap unit used in the subject invention; and





FIG. 8

is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a strap unit from the interior of the compartment.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a collapsible shipping container assembly is generally shown at


10


.




A plurality of sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


are movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another, as shown in

FIG. 1

, to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom


19


to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


. More specifically, the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


define low side panels


12


and high ends with the ends having a high center panel


14


and tapered panels


16


extending therefrom in opposite directions downwardly to the low side panels


12


. All of the panels


12


,


14


and


16


are sonic welded together. The sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


include at least one door


18


for access to the compartment, there being two doors as illustrated and in the position of the center panels


14


but at the opposite end of the container


10


. In the preferred embodiment with two doors


18


, the inner edge of one door


18


includes a strip


17


of either hook or loop. The outer edge of the second door also includes a strip


17


of the corresponding hook or loop. The edge of the doors


18


slightly overlap and the strip of hook and loop mesh together to form a seal and keep the door


18


closed.




A roof, generally indicated at


20


, is separate from the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


and is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


in the shipping position. The roof


20


includes a horizontal panel


21


overlying the top extremities of the center panel


14


and slanting panels


22


overlying the top extremities of the tapered panels


16


. The roof


20


may be made of plastic and the panels


21


and


22


thereof may be sonic welded together. The roof


20


includes flaps


23


for extending downwardly along the exterior of the top extremities of the sidewalls


12


,


14


,


16


and


18






Pluralities of strap units interconnect the roof


20


and the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


for securing the roof


20


in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


. Each of the strap units includes a buckle strap


24


and a tie strap


26


and a buckle


28


connected to the buckle strap


24


for connecting the straps


24


and


26


together.




The container assembly


10


is characterized by the buckles


28


being disposed on the interior of the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


and the roof


20


to prevent access thereto in the shipping position. Each buckle strap


24


extends to a fixed end


30


from the buckle


28


and the fixed end


30


is secured to the interior of one of the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


by a rivet


32


. Each of the tie straps


26


extends between a free end


34


and an attached end


36


attached to the roof


20


by rivets


38


. More specifically, the attached ends


36


of the tie straps


26


are attached by the rivets


38


to the flaps


23


of the roof


20


. The attached ends


36


of the tie straps


26


are sandwiched between the flaps


23


and the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


in the shipping position. (The rivets


32


and


38


may be identical but are given different reference numbers for clarity of description.)




The sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


include a plurality of strap holes


40


extending therethorough and each of the tie straps


26


extends from the attached end


36


thereof at one of the flaps


23


downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall


12


,


14


or


16


and into one of the holes


40


to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles


28


in the shipping position.




As alluded to above, the center panels


14


of one of the end sidewalls define doors


18


for access to the interior of the container. And in order to gain access to the container


10


, a plurality of door strap units


42


each include a buckle


44


disposed on the exterior of the doors


18


for maintaining the doors


18


in a closed position to close the compartment. The door strap units


42


also include a tie strap


26


attached to the interior of the flaps


23


of the roof


20


and which extend into holes


48


in the doors


18


and out holes


46


to engage a buckle


44


. The buckles


44


on the exterior of the doors


18


are attached to the free ends of buckle straps


50


.




The bottom


19


comprises two foldable panels


52


as best shown in FIG.


3


. The sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


include bottom flanges


54


as shown in

FIG. 6

upon which the bottom panels


52


rest. As with the edges of the doors


18


described above, the top surfaces of the bottom flanges


54


includes a strip


17


of hook or loop. The bottom surfaces of the bottom panels


52


also include a strip


17


of the corresponding hook or loop. When the bottom panels


52


rest upon the bottom flanges


54


the hook and loop mesh together to attach the panels


52


to the flanges


54


. The buckle straps for the doors


18


are attached to the bottom flanges


52


by rivets.




The invention also includes a method of using the collapsible shipping container by moving a plurality of sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


movable from a collapsed storage position (

FIG. 1

) sandwiched with one another to a shipping position (

FIG. 5

) extending upwardly from a bottom


19


to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


. This is followed by disposing a roof


20


separate from the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


interconnecting the roof


20


and the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


for securing the roof


20


in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


with a plurality of strap units, each of which includes a buckle strap


24


connected to a buckle


28


and a tie strap


26


. The method is characterized by disposing the buckles


28


on the interior of the sidewalls


12


,


14


and


16


and the roof


20


to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps


26


to the buckles


28


inside the compartment.




The method may include the step of securing


32


a fixed end


30


of each buckle strap


24


which is displaced from the buckle


28


to the interior of one of the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


and attaching


38


an attached end


36


of each of the tie straps


26


to the roof


20


.




Another step may be disposing each of the tie straps


26


downwardly from the roof


20


on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall


12


,


14


and


16


and through a hole


40


in the sidewall


12


,


14


and


16


to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles


28


. Yet another step may be disposing a door


18


in one of the sidewalls


12


,


14


, and


16


for access to the compartment, and disposing at least one door strap unit


42


having a buckle


44


on the exterior of the door


18


for maintaining the door


18


in a closed position to close the compartment.




Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.



Claims
  • 1. A collapsible shipping container assembly comprising;a bottom (19), a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from said bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), a roof (20) separate from said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for overlying relationship with said top extremities of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) in said shipping position, a plurality of strap units interconnecting said roof (20) and said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for securing said roof (20) in said overlying relationship with said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), each of said units including a buckle strap (24) and a tie strap (26) and a buckle (28) connected to said buckle strap (24) for connecting said straps (24, 26) together, said assembly characterized by said buckles (28) being disposed on the interior of said walls (12, 14 and 16) and said roof (20) to prevent access thereto in said shipping position.
  • 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said buckle strap (24) extends to a fixed end (30) from said buckle (28) and said fixed end (30) is secured (32) to the interior of one of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16).
  • 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) include at least one door (18) for access to said compartment, at least one door strap unit (42) including a buckle (44) disposed on the exterior of said door (18) for maintaining said door (18) in a closed position to close said compartment.
  • 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said tie straps (26) extend between a free end (34) and an attached end (36) attached (38) to said roof (20).
  • 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said roof (20) includes flaps (23) extending downwardly along the exterior of said top extremities of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and said attached ends (36) of said tie straps (26) are attached to said flaps (23).
  • 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) include a plurality of strap holes (40) extending therethrough and each of said tie straps (26) extends from said attached end (36) thereof at one of the flaps (23) downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall and into one of said holes (40) to the interior of said compartment and into engagement with one of said buckles (28) in said shipping position.
  • 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said attached ends (36) of said tie straps (26) are sandwiched between said flaps (23) and said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) in said shipping position.
  • 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) define low side panels (12) and high ends with said ends having high center panels (14) and tapered panels (16) extending therefrom in opposite directions downwardly to said low side panels (12), said roof (20) includes a horizontal panel (21) overlying said center panel (14) and slanting panels (22) overlying said tapered panels (16).
  • 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said door (18) is disposed in one of said center panels (14).
  • 10. A method of using a collapsible shipping container assembly comprising the steps of;moving a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), disposing a roof 20 separate from the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), interconnecting the roof (20) and the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) for securing the roof (20) in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) with a plurality of strap units each of which includes a buckle strap (24) connected to a buckle (28) and a tie strap (26), said method characterized by disposing the buckles (28) on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) and the roof (20) to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps (26) to the buckles (28) on the inside of the compartment.
  • 11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including securing (32) a fixed end (30) of each buckle strap (24) which is displaced from the buckle (28) to the interior of one of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and attaching (38) an attached end (36) of each of the tie straps (26) to the roof (20).
  • 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including disposing each of the tie straps (26) downwardly from the roof (20) on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall and through a hole (40) in the sidewall to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles (28).
  • 13. A method as set forth in claim 12 disposing a door (18) in one of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for access to the compartment, and disposing at least one door strap unit (42) having a buckle (44) on the exterior of the door (18) for maintaining the door (18) in a closed position to close the compartment.
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