Patent Grant
10501247
The present invention relates to a container, and particularly to a locking mechanism for a container.
In general, large containers all have four side plates and a base. The large containers for transporting liquids or bulk often further have an upper cover for protection of internally loaded cargo. The upper cover is enclosed by a circle edge guard, which is close to the outer side of four side plates of the container. When the cargo inside the container applies great force to the side plates, the edge guard of the upper cover can be a certain degree of protecting the side plate from too large deformation. In addition, when the liquids or the bulk inside the container fluctuates upward, the upper cover can well limit the ups and downs of the liner bag which contains the liquids or the bulk so as to protect the liner bag from damage. This requires the upper cover to reliably connect to the box upon using. In addition, most of four side plates of the large containers can be folded in turn to reduce occupied storage space when the container is not used, thereby reducing the product turnover and storage cost.
In the existing product, there is a locking mechanism for the box and upper cover, having a crossbar with a handle which is housed in a recess provided on the upper edge of the upper cover. The side of the recess has a hole, through which crossbar stretches into the recess in the side plate of the container. When the upper cover is in use, the crossbar restricts the upper cover from moving upward from the box, and at the meantime, the handle on the crossbar is restricted moving horizontally by the ribs in the recess, so that it can be locked reliably. Although this type of design satisfies the basic connection of the upper cover and the box, when the upper cover is placed on the box and the crossbar is in the extended station, the crossbar is pressed directly to the side plate of the box and thus may be damaged as the crossbar has no return structure.
The known disclosed patent 201110295197.2 also relates to a method of locking the upper cover and box. The upper cover is provided with a groove which can accommodate a reed with a resilient sheet, the tongue of the reed can pass through the hole in the side portion of the groove and stretch out to the recess on the inner side of the container side plate. Particularly, the tongue has a slope which has a technical effect that when the upper cover is placed on the container, the pressure applied to the cover will force it to be locked on the side plate rather than damage the tongue such as in the above solution. This solution reduces the specific operating action of locking the side plate, and avoids the damage of the relevant components on the upper cover, but because of its own thicker thickness and not directly above side plates, the groove cannot be well concealed by means of the structure of the bottom of the box when the product is folded, so that the height of the stack after folded is high, which is not conducive to transport while increase the cost of storage, and when the box loads full of the liquids, the side plate suffers pressure and expand outward, which leads the depth the tongue inserts into the recess of the side plate is so shallow that the reliability of the latch is greatly reduced.
The above solution of prior art also has a common drawback, that is upon unlocking, operator is required to go to the side plate where two latches are located respectively so as to operate unlocking respectively, which need heavy workload for the operator.
The object of the present invention is to provide an mechanism for enabling unlocking of both sides of the container by operating either side upon unlocking.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a locking mechanism for locking an upper cover of a container to side plates of a container which comprises a base, the upper cover and the side plate, the upper cover is provided with an edge guard, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking element, a driving element, a return element, a lock hole formed on an exterior of at least one of the side plates and a groove formed on the upper cover, wherein one end of the locking element is mounted in the groove, and the other end of the locking element is provided with a locking head, which passes through the edge guard and extends into the locking hole in a direction perpendicular to the side plates so as to securely lock the upper cover to the side plates, and the driving element is mounted in the groove and used to drive the locking element to be unlocked, and the return element is mounted in the groove and used to return the driving element after being unlocked.
Preferably, the upper cover is further provided with a locking element hole, through which the locking element connects to the driving element, and one end of the return element bears against the side wall of the groove of the upper cover, and the other end cooperates with the driving element.
Preferably, the return element is a spring.
Preferably, the driving element is provided with a top pillar; and the locking element is composed of a first portion and a second portion, which are integrally connected and perpendicular to each other, a top pillar receiving hole for accommodating the top pillar is provided on the first portion, and a locking head is provided on a side of the second portion facing to the side plate; and the upper cover is provided with a locking element hole, and the first portion of the locking element passes through the locking element hole and is partially located in the groove.
Preferably, the upper surface of the upper cover has an upwardly projecting portion, and the locking mechanism is provided on the side plates and the upper cover corresponding to the projecting portion.
Preferably, a locking head hole is provided at a position of the edge guard corresponding to the locking head hole, wherein the locking head passes through the locking hole and extends into the lock hole of the side plates when it is required to lock the upper cover to the side plates, so as to lock the upper cover to the side plates.
Preferably, the driving element is also provided with a latch, and the first portion of the locking element is further provided with a latch hole, and the lath inserts into the latch hole, so as to fix the driving element on the locking element.
Preferably, the locking head has an inclined plane, and the side plates has a slope above the lock, and when the upper cover is mounted on the side plates, the inclined plane cooperates with the slope.
Preferably, the driving element has a buckle position.
Preferably, a protruding piece is provided on both sides of the groove.
Preferably, the groove further comprises a spring slot, which has a step inside for bearing against end of the spring and leaving a space so that the top pillar can enter into the spring slot and connect to the spring.
Preferably, the driving element is provided with an anti-theft slot, and the upper cover structure is provided with an anti-theft hole, and the locking mechanism is further provided with an anti-theft element, and the anti-theft element is partially mounted in the anti-theft groove, and partially mounted in the anti-theft hole.
Preferably, the anti-theft element is provided with a rearward member and a high rib, and an annular groove is provided surrounding the rearward member, and one side of the annular groove is provided with a thin rib which is easily broken, and the other side is provided with a whole thin wall so that when the thin rib is torn, the rearward member is separated from the anti-theft element body and overturns to a certain degree with the thin well.
Preferably, the rearward member has a V-shaped rearward.
Preferably, the anti-theft element is further provided with at least one rib for operating conveniently.
One end of the driving element is rotatably connected to the bottom of the groove, and the other end of the driving element cooperates with the locking element so that rotation of the driving element will drive the locking element to be unlocked.
Preferably, one of the driving element and the groove is provided with a shaft, and the other one of the driving element and the groove is correspondingly provided with a shaft hole, when the driving element is mounted in the groove, the shaft hole cooperates with the shaft, so as to drive the driving element to be rotated around the shaft and thus to be unlocked.
Preferably, the other end of the driving element is provided with a top pillar, and the locking element is provided with a top pillar receiving hole, and when the driving element is mounted in the groove, the top pillar is accommodated in the top pillar receiving hole so as to connect the driving element and the locking element, and the return element is a resilient piece integrally formed on the side wall of the driving element toward the outside of the container.
Preferably, the driving element is provided with a shaft hole, and a shaft is provided within the groove, and a shaft stand is provided at the top of the shaft, and a limit step is provided above the shaft hole, and when the driving element is mounted in the groove, the shaft stand cooperates with the limit step.
Preferably, a hook is provided on the driving element, and a stand is provided in the groove, and when the driving element is mounted in the groove, the stand cooperates with the hook.
Preferably, the stand and the hook are provided with an curved shape with a axis of the shaft.
Preferably, the driving element is provided with a buckle portion, and the shaft hole is located on one side of the buckle portion, and the hook is located on the other end of the buckle portion.
Preferably, a shaft hole is provided on the driving element, and a shaft is provided in the groove, and when the driving element is mounted in the groove, the shaft hole cooperates with the shaft, so as to drive the driving element to be rotated around the shaft and thus to be unlocked.
Preferably, the driving element is also provided with a buckle portion for holding conveniently and a shrapnel for returning the driving element after the element being operated to be unlocked.
Preferably, the driving element is provided with a hook, and a stand is provided in the groove, and after the driving element is mounted in the groove, the hook cooperates with the stand so as to restrict the driving element from being disengaged outwardly.
Preferably, a shaft stand is provided on the shaft, and a shaft step is provided above the shaft hole, and after the driving element is mounted in the groove, the hook cooperates with the shaft stand so as to restrict the driving element from being disengaged outwardly.
Preferably, the driving element is also provided with an anti-theft buckle groove for mounting the anti-theft element.
Preferably, the side plates are foldable relative to the base.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a container, comprising a base, an upper cover and a side plate, wherein the upper cover is provided with edge guard, and an upwardly projecting protrusion is provided on the upper surface of the upper cover, and the above said locking mechanism is provided on the side plate and the upper cover corresponding to the projecting portion.
Preferably, two locking mechanisms are respectively provided on opposite sides of the container.
The locking mechanism of the present invention not only allows the upper cover to be automatically locked upon compressing but also locates above the edge of the upper cover and the side plate compactly, which facilitates reducing the height of the stack after the box is folded, reducing transportation and storage costs, and at the same time the box is full loaded and the side plates are drummed out, making the locking reliability stronger, and unlocking the upper cover only by one side operation, which reduces the amount of labor of the operator.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to provide a clearer understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but merely to illustrate the spirit of the invention.
The invention relates to a locking mechanism 5 for locking an upper cover 4 of a container to a side plate 2 of the container. The container 100 comprises a base 1, a pair of opposite side plates 2, a pair of opposite side plates 3, and an upper cover 4. The locking mechanism 5 comprises a locking element 50, a driving element 51, a side structure 52 formed on the side plate, a spring 53 and an upper cover structure 54 formed on the upper cover. Both the locking element 50 and driving element 51 are mounted in the upper cover structure 54. When the upper cover 4 is mounted on the side plate 2, the side plate structure 52 receives part of the locking element 50, therefore locking the upper cover 5 on the side plate 2.
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The surface portion 541 comprises a groove 5411, a spring slot 5412, a guide trail 5413, a casting lug 5414, and a step 5415. Wherein the groove 5411 is provided at the upper surface edge of the upper cover 4 for accommodating the driving element 51; and the spring slot 5212 is provided in the groove 5411 for mounting the spring 53; and the guide 5413 is provided on both sides inside the groove 5411 for facilitating the driving element 51 slipping into the groove 5411; and the casting lug 5414 is provided on both outside sides of the groove, so as to enclose the groove 5411 from both sides; and the step 5415 is provided in the spring slot 5412, for bearing against the end of the spring 53 and meanwhile leaving a space so that the top pillar 51 can enter into the spring slot 5412 and contact the spring 53.
In the present embodiment, the side portion 542 is provided on the edge guard of the upper cover 4. The side portion 542 comprises a locking element groove 5421, a locking hole 5422, a locking head hole 5423 and anti-theft hole 5424. The locking element groove 5421 is provided on the side surface of the upper cover 4, for accommodating the locking element 50; and the locking head hole 5422 is provided in the locking element groove 5421 and passes through the edge guard of the upper cover 4, so that when the locking element 50 is mounted in the locking element groove 5421 and the upper cover is mounted to the side plate 2, the locking head 5021 of the locking element 50 passes through the locking head hole 5422 and extends into the lock hole 522 of the side plate 2; and the locking element hole 5423 is located in the locking element groove 5421 above the lock hole 522, communicating with the groove 5411 of the surface portion 541, and when the locking element 50 is mounted on the upper cover 4, the first portion 501 of the locking element 50 passes through the locking element hole 5423 and extends into the groove 5411; and the anti-theft hole 5424 is used for accommodating the anti-theft element 6. However, it should be understood by the skilled in the art that if the anti-theft element 6 is not provided, it is not necessary to provide an anti-theft hole 5424 on the upper cover 4.
Though the locking head hole 5422 is used in the present embodiment, it should be understood by the skilled in the art that the locking head hole 5422 may also be instead by a locking head slot, which is provided on the lower edge of the edge guard.
Upon mounting, the spring 53 is first mounted in the spring slot 5412, and then the first portion 501 of the locking element 50 is inserted from the exterior of the side plate 2 into the locking element hole 5423 and pushed to the end, and the driving element 51 is set into the groove 5411 from above. Since the end of the top pillar 5122 of the driving element 51 is designed with a cambered surface, when passing through the receiving hole 5011 and inserting into the end of the spring 53, it is able to provide a good guide function. At this time, the latch 5121 of the driving element 41 is buckled in the latch hole 5012, so as to restrict the driving element 51 from disengaging easily. The whole driving element 51 is placed in the groove 5411 of the upper cover 4, so that the distance for the driving element 51 to move outwardly is limited to a certain range.
Upon using, the upper cover 4 mounted with the locking element 50, driving element 41 and the spring 53 covers the container from top to bottom, and the inclined plane 5022 of the locking element 50 firstly contact the slope 523 of the side plate 2, and the lateral component force forces locking element 50 to move outwardly against the thrust of the spring 53 so that when the locking head 5021 of the locking element 50 arrives position of the lock hole 522 of the side plate 2, the locking head 5021 enters into the locking head hole 522 of the side plate 2 because of the spring release so as to locking the cover 4 to the side plate 2.
Upon unlocking, it is required to pull the locking element 51 outwardly and then drive the lock 5021 of the locking element 50 out of the lock hole 522 of the side plate 2, then the upper cover 4 is lifted up, so as to unlock the latch on the present side. The cover 4 is lifted up to a height and then be pushed towards the opposite side plate 2, the locking head 5021 of the locking element 50 of the opposite side plate 2 also can disengage from the lock hole 522 of the opposite side plate 2, thereby unlocking. In this way, the cover can be moved away by unlocking either side, which reduces the amount of labor increased by running to both sides to operate unlocking for the traditional cover.
Though the spring 53 is used in the present embodiment, it should be understood by the skilled in the art that the spring 53 may be alternated with other resilient element, such as elastomeric rubber, with which the purpose of the present invention will be achieved as well.
Preferably, an anti-theft element 6 is also provided on the locking mechanism 5 for preventing the upper cover from secretly opening.
When the anti-theft element 6 need to be unlocked, the anti-theft element 6 is lifted from the ribs 611 of the first portion 61, and the thin rib 623 is torn, and when the first portion 61 is continued to be lifted up, the V-shaped backrest 6201 cannot be restored and disengaged from the anti-theft hole 5424 and the anti-theft slot 5112 because of a large deformation, or rotating the anti-theft element 6 around the axis of the anti-theft element 6 may also cause V-shaped backrest 6201 to being disengaged. No matter which means is used to unlock, it will cause thin rib 623 to be torn and cannot be reused so that a inspector can determine whether the upper cover 4 has been unlocked.
It should be understood that though the anti-theft element 6 is added in the present embodiment, the anti-theft element 6 may also not be provided according to the actual use. In this case the upper cover 4 is not necessary to be provided with an anti-theft hole 5424, and the driving element 51 is not necessary to be provided with an anti-theft slot 5112.
In the present embodiment, what is not described in detail is the same as that of the first embodiment.
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After the rotary shaft 54B2 of the upper cover 4 is installed into the shaft hole 51B2, the shaft stand 54B3 cooperates with the limit step 51B3, so as to restrict outward movement of the driving element 51B. After the driving element 51B is installed on the upper cover 4, the hook 51B4 cooperates with the stand 54B4 of the upper cover 4, so as to restrict the outward movement of the driving element 51B from the other side. The stand 54B4 and the hook 51B4 have an arc shape with the axis of shaft 54B2, so that the driving element 51B does not interfere with other part during operation.
The top pillar 51B5 is inserted into the locking element receiving hole 5011 of the locking element 50, and then drives the locking element 50 to move along the groove 54B1 of the upper cover 4. At this time the shrapnel 51B6 contacts the side wall of the groove 54B1 of the upper cover 4, so as to be able to drive the driving element 51 B1 to the initial position after being operated, thereby ensuring the locking element 50 to be always kept in a lockable station.
Though a shaft hole is provided in the driving element in the present embodiment, and the shaft is provided in the groove, however, it may be understood by the skilled in the art that it is also possible to provide a shaft role in the groove and to provide a shaft on the driving element. The object of the present invention will be achieved as well.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the above teachings of the present invention. These equivalents are also intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 1 0019446 | Jan 2015 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2016/070897 | 1/14/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2016/112862 | 7/21/2016 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140326721 | Jian | Nov 2014 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 101342962 | Jan 2009 | CN |
| 102310970 | Jan 2012 | CN |
| 103754516 | Apr 2014 | CN |
| 203740414 | Jul 2014 | CN |
| 104590787 | May 2015 | CN |
| 3326353 | Jan 1985 | DE |
| 2853782 | Apr 2015 | EP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report for international appl. No. PCT/CN2016/070897, dated Apr. 5, 2016 (4 pages, including English translation). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180086520 A1 | Mar 2018 | US |
