Patent Grant
11999526
This application claims the priority of the Chinese application No. 2019105115907, titled “Foldable Box” filed on Jun. 13, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a container, in particular to a foldable box.
When the container is used to contain fresh fruits, vegetables and other foods, especially when cold chain transportation is required, the closure of the container is particularly important, because the transportation of fresh food is very susceptible to pollution from the external environment, causing the food to corrode and deteriorate. However, most of the existing containers are generally containers without lids. When fresh food is loaded into the container, and the top of the container is generally open, so that the food is easily affected by external conditions. However, the existing containers with lids cannot be folded, which renders storage and transportation extremely inconvenient.
Another type of container used to load foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables is an incubator. Existing incubators are mainly a combination of a lid and a non-foldable box. In this form of incubator, the lid and the box are formed with cavities in the thickness of the container sidewall through blister molding, blow molding, or rotational molding. The incubator solution is further formed by leaving holes in the main body and filling the holes with insulation materials. The main problems are as follows:
First, the main body of the container formed by the process of blister molding, blow molding and rotational molding is generally non-foldable (because the gap between the side panels when folded cannot be solved, and the energy exchange between the inside and outside of the incubator through the gap cannot be prevented). Therefore, the non-foldable box occupies a lot of space during the recycling process, and for the distribution industry, it will cause high recycling costs. Further, the container body formed by blister molding, blow molding, or rotational molding processes has a single molding process and corresponding product structure requirements. Compared with conventional injection molds which can form hinge structure and engaging structure (corresponding to incline ejection, puncture of the mold), it is difficult to realize from the blister molding, blow molding, and rotomolding processes (process-limited structure). Therefore, the main body of the incubator formed by the blister molding, blow molding, and rotational molding processes is lack of stable occlusion or hinge structure, which in turn renders low reliability, short service life, and high maintenance cost during transportation.
Second, the cavities inside the side wall thickness of the container formed by blister molding, blow molding, and rotational molding is filled with thermal insulation material (usually polyurethane foam). The main body of the container is generally made of engineering plastic, which has water absorbability and air permeability. The foaming agent in polyurethane will continuously be replaced with the air or moisture in the environment due to the diffusion effect (the cold chain transportation in which the incubator is used has a large difference in humidity and temperature, and the replacement rate is higher), causing the thermal conductivity to gradually increase over time, and finally the insulation effect is reduced. Moreover, the incubator is repeatedly used in the cold chain transportation, and the polyurethane foam has also become a carrier of bacterial growth, and there are also potential safety and health risks. Secondly, as the most widely used insulation material, polyurethane foam is commonly used for chemical foaming (adding a chemical foaming agent (or gas) to the molten plastic). The gas released by the foaming agent when heated includes carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and ammonia. The entire polyurethane foam industry chain is a process that causes pollution to the environment. In addition, the degrading or cracking process of the polyurethane foam is complicated, and the existing process is incineration, which produces a large amount of toxic gas and causes great environmental pollution.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a foldable container with a lid, which can ensure a relatively closed state in an unfolded and upright state, and can be easily folded and stored when it is not in use.
The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable container, which is provided with a single articulated lid, which can be folded and stored in the base protruding edge when it is not in use, and preferably can ensure that the container is relatively closed in an unfolded state.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a foldable box, the foldable box has a box body and a lid, wherein the box body has a base and a pair of opposing first side panels and a pair of opposing second side panels foldably connected to the base, one edge of the lid being operatively connected to the top end of the box body, wherein at least one of the first side panel, the second side panel and the lid is formed by an inner plate and an outer plate connected with each other, and a thermal insulation layer being provided between the inner plate and the outer plate.
In one embodiment, each of the first side panel, the second side panel and the lid is formed by an inner plate and an outer plate connected with each other.
In one embodiment, an edge of the lid is hinged to the top of the box body.
In one embodiment, the base has a plate-shaped body and protruding edges extending upwardly from the periphery of the plate-shaped body, and oth the plate-shaped body and the protruding edges are provided with the thermal insulation layer.
In one embodiment, the inner plate and the outer plate are welded to each other.
In one embodiment, at least one welding rib is provided on the inner side of the outer peripheral edge of one of the inner plate and the outer plate.
In one embodiment, the inner side of the outer peripheral edge of one of the inner plate and the outer plate is provided with two welding ribs spaced apart from each other.
In one embodiment, a cavity for accommodating the thermal insulation layer is formed between a surface of the inner plate and a surface of the outer plate, and the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate facing and delimiting the cavity are flat surfaces or the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate facing the cavity and delimiting the cavity are provided with at least one reinforcing rib.
In one embodiment, a cavity for accommodating the themal insulation layer is formed between a surface of the inner plate and a surface of the outer plate, and the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate facing the cavity and delimiting the cavity are provided with at least one reinforcing rib, wherein the at least one reinforcing ribs are spaced apart from each other and are spaced apart from the welding rib.
In one embodiment, at least one welding rib is provided on the inner side of the outer peripheral edge of one of the inner plate and the outer plate, and the reinforcing ribs are parallel to the welding rib.
In one embodiment, a cavity for accommodating the thermal insulation layer is formed between the surface of the inner plate and the surface of the outer plate, and the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate of the second side panel facing and delimiting the cavity are flat surfaces, or the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate of the lid and the first side panel facing and delimiting the cavity are provided with at least one reinforcing rib.
In one embodiment, a cavity for accommodating an insulation layer is formed between the surface of the inner plate and the surface of the outer plate, and the surfaces of inner plate and the outer plate facing and delimiting the cavity are provided with at least one reinforcing rib, wherein the at least one reinforcing rib is spaced apart from each other and are spaced apart from the welding rib.
In one embodiment, at least one welding rib is provided on the inner side of the outer periphery of one of the inner plate and the outer plate, and the reinforcing ribs are parallel to the welding rib.
In one embodiment, the outer plate at a pair of opposite edges of the lid extends beyond the edge of the inner plate, one edge of the other pair of opposite edges is provided with a hinge part of the lid, and the outer plate and the inner plate at the other edge are flush with or extend beyond the edge of the inner plate.
In one embodiment, the lid is hinged to one of the pair of opposing first side panels, and the inside of the top end of the other one of the pair of opposing first side panels is provided with an groove facing upward and toward the interior of the box body; alternatively, the inside of the top end of the other of the pair of opposing first side panels is provided with a groove facing upward, and the other edge of the lid opposite to the edge provided with the lid hinge part is provided with a snapping edge, and the snapping edge is operatively snapped into the groove.
In one embodiment, the tops of the first side panel and the second side panel are provided with closed cavities.
In one embodiment, both the left and right ends of the first side panel and the second side panel are provided with side panel engaging portions, and the bottom ends of the first side panel and the second side panel are provided with hinge protruding parts, wherein the side panel engaging parts and the hinge protruding parts are integrally formed on the side panel.
In one embodiment, the side panel engaging parts and the hinge protruding parts are integrally formed on the side panel.
In one embodiment, the base is formed by welding the base body and the bottom plate to each other.
In one embodiment, the base body is provided with a plate-shaped main body cavity and two pairs of opposite protruding ege cavities, wherein the plate-shaped main body cavity and the protruding edge cavities are spaced apart from each other.
In an embodiment, the protruding edge is provided with a plurality of pockets spaced apart from each other and facing upward and toward the interior of the box body, and a thermal insulation layer is provided between the pockets inside of the protruding edge.
In one embodiment, the first edge of the lid is hinged to the top end of one of the pair of first side panels by a hinge, and the first edge of the lid is provided with a hinge part of the lid, and a side panel hinge part is provided on the top end of one of the first side panels, wherein the first edge and the second edge of the hinge part are respectively provided with a first main body hinge portion and a second main body hinge portion, the lid hinge part and the first main body hinge part are hinged to each other, and the side panel hinge part and the second main body hinge part are hinged to each other, wherein a hinge sealing element is connected to the lower side of the hinge, the first side edge of the hinge sealing element operatively abuts against the first side panel.
In one embodiment, at least a part of the second side of the hinge sealing element opposite to the first side overlaps with the sealing element on the lid.
In one embodiment, the second side panel has a plate-shaped main body and a plurality of hinge extension portions extending from the lower part of the plate-shaped main body and spaced apart from each other, and the bottom end of each hinge extension portion is provided with a side panel hinge part, the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped main body and the side panel hinge part are provided with sealing elements.
In one embodiment, each hinge part of the side panel is provided with a separate sealing element.
In one embodiment, the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped body of the second side panel are both provided with side panel engaging parts, and the side panel engaging parts are connected with side panel sealing elements, and the side panel sealing elements extend beyond the side engaging parts.
In one embodiment, the thermal insulation layer is made of plate-shaped material.
In one embodiment, the thermal insulation layer is composed of composite material layers with different functions.
In one embodiment, the first edge of the lid is hinged to the top end of one of the pair of first side panels by a hinge, and the lid is provided with a lid hinged part along the first edge, and a side panel hinged part is provided on the top end of one of the first side panels, wherein the first edge and the second edge of the hinge are respectively provided with a first main body hinged part and a second main body hinged part, the lid hinged part and the first main body hinged part are hinged to each other, and the side panel hinge part and the second main body hinged part are hinged to each other.
In one embodiment, the hinge is a component separate from the box body and the lid, and the lid hinged part is only provided along the first edge of the lid.
In one embodiment, the size of the assembly formed by the hinged connection between the hinge and the lid matches the size of the opening of the foldable box.
In one embodiment, the first main body hinged part of the hinge is provided with a plurality of grooves spaced apart from each other along the first edge, wherein at least one part of the lid hinged part of the lid is located in the groove.
In one embodiment, the widths of the hinge and the lid are set such that when the lid is folded to the outer surface of the side panel, the edge of the lid does not extend beyond the bottom of the side panel.
In one embodiment, the lid has a plate-shaped main body, and the edges of the lid except the first edge are operatively overlapped with the top of the first side panel and the second side panel.
In one embodiment, the lid hinged part includes a plurality of lid extensions that are spaced apart from each other, and each lid extension is provided with a hinging hole; the hinged part of the side panel includes a plurality of extensions spaced apart from each other, each of the side panel extensions is provided with a hinging hole; the first main body hinge portion and the second main body hinged part respectively include a plurality of first main body protruding parts and a plurality of second body protruding parts spaced apart from each other, each of the first main body protruding parts and each of the second main body protruding parts is provided with a hinging hole; wherein the first hinge shaft passes through the hinging holes of the lid protruding parts and the hinging holes of the first main body protruding parts, and the second hinge shaft passes through the hinging holes of the second main body protruding parts and the hinging holes of the side panel protruding parts.
In one embodiment, the lid hinged part includes a plurality of lid protruding parts spaced apart from each other, the side panel hinge includes a plurality of side panel protruding parts spaced apart from each other, and the first main body hinged part and the second main body hinged part respectively include a plurality of first main body protruding parts and a plurality of second main body protruding parts spaced apart from each other; wherein one of the lid protruding parts and the first main body protruding parts is provided with a hinge shaft, and the other is provided with a hinging hole matchable with the hinge shaft; one of the side panel protruding parts and the second main body protruding parts are provided with a hinge shaft, and the other are provided with a hinging hole matchable with hinge shaft.
In one embodiment, one of the two pairs of opposite side panels is a pair of long side panels with longer length, and the other pair of side panels is a pair of short side panels with shorter length, and the lid is hinged to the top of one of the long side panels.
In one embodiment, the base has a plate-shaped main body and a pair of opposing protruding edges extending upward from a pair of opposite edges of the plate-shaped main body, the protruding edge is provided with pockets facing upward and toward the interior of the box body, the two side walls of the each pocket is provided with a first base limiting protrusion at the upper part thereof, and the middle part of the pocket is provided with a base limiting portion integrally extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the pocket and a base guiding portion opening upward and toward the interior of the box body located in the base limiting portion; the bottom end of the long side panel is provided with a plurality of hinge protruding edges spaced apart from each other, and the bottom end of each hinge protruding edge is provided with a side panel hinge shaft and the side panel guiding portion between the side panel hinge shafts; wherein the side panel hinge shaft is matched with the first limiting protrusion and the base limiting portion, and the side panel guiding portion is matched with the base guiding portion.
In one embodiment, the lid is further provided with a locking mechanism for locking the lid to the side panel, and the locking mechanism is provided in the other half part other than the half part where the hinge part of the lid is provided.
In one embodiment, sealing elements are provided between the lid and the first side panels and the second side panels, between the base and the first side panels and the second side panels, and between the first side panels and the second side panels.
In one embodiment, the sealing element between the lid and the first side panels and the second side panels are arranged on the outer periphery of the bottom side of the lid and is fixedly connected to the lid.
In one embodiment, the lid is formed by welding an inner plate and an outer plate, and the outer plate at a pair of opposite edges of the lid extends beyond the edge of the inner plate, and one of the other pair of opposite edges is provided with a lid hinged part, the outer plate and the inner plate at the other edge are flush with each other, and the sealing member on the lid is connected to the inner plate.
In one embodiment, the lid is further arranged such that, in a state where the lid is closed, the part of the outer plate of the lid extending beyond the edge of the inner plate overlaps with the second side panel.
In one embodiment, the sealing element of the lid is a ring-shaped member having two pairs of opposite sides, and the pair of opposite sides of the sealing element of the lid extend beyond the outer edge of the inner plate of the second side panel, and one of the other pair of opposite side edges operatively abuts against the first side panel.
In one embodiment, the lid is hinged to one of the pair of opposed first side panels, and the inside of the top end of the other one of the pair of opposed first side panels is provided with an groove facing upward and toward the interior of the box body, a part of the sealing element of the lid operatively abuts against the groove.
In one embodiment, the sealing element of the lid has a sealing body and at least one row of mounting posts protruding from the sealing body, the ends of the mounting posts are provided with buckles respectively, and the lid has corresponding mounting holes, and the buckles can be buckled into the mounting holes.
In one embodiment, the first edge of the lid is hinged to the top end of one of the pair of first side panels through a hinge, and the first edge of the lid is provided with a lid hinged part, and a side panel hinged part is provided on the top end of one of the first side panels, wherein the first edge and the second edge of the hinge part are respectively provided with a first main body hinged part and a second main body hinged part the lid hinged part and the first main body hinged part are hinged to each other, and the side panel hinged part and the second main body hinged part are hinged to each other, wherein a hinge sealing element is connected to the lower side of the hinge, the first side edge of the hinge sealing element operatively abuts against the first side panel.
In one embodiment, the second side of the hinge sealing element opposite to the first side overlaps with the sealing element on the lid.
In one embodiment, the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped body of the second side panel are both provided with side panel engaging parts, and the side panel engaging parts are connected with side panel sealing elements, and the side panel sealing elements extend beyond the side panel engaging parts.
In one embodiment, the side panel sealing element has a elongated plate-shaped body, a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other are provided on the elongated plate-shaped body, and the side panel engaging portion is provided with corresponding recesses, and protrusions on the elongated plate-shaped body are operatively fixed to the recesses.
In one embodiment, the first side panel and the second side panel each have a plate-shaped body and a plurality of hinge protruding parts spaced apart from each other extending from the lower part of the plate-shaped body, and the base has a plate-shaped body and two pairs of opposing protruding edges extending upwardly from two pairs of opposite edges of the plate-shaped body, the protruding edges are provided with a pocket opening upward and toward the interior of the box body, wherein the hinge protruding parts are installed with a sealing element and/or the pocket of the base is equipped with a sealing element.
In one embodiment, the sealing elements installed on the hinge protruding parts are located on the left and right sides and the lower side of the hinge protruding parts and extend beyond the left and right sides and the lower side of the hinge protruding parts.
In one embodiment, the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped main body of the second side panel are equipped with sealing elements.
In one embodiment, each of the hinge protruding parts is connected with a separate sealing element.
In one embodiment, the base has a plate-shaped main body and a pair of opposing protruding edges extending upwardly from a pair of opposite edges of the plate-shaped main body, and the protruding edges are provided with a pocket opening upward and toward the interior of the box body, the middle part of the pocket is provided with a base limiting part integrally extending upwardly from the bottom wall of the pocket; the first side panel and the second side panel both have a plate-shaped main body and a plurality of hinge protruding parts spaced apart from each other extending from the lower part of the plate-shaped main body, the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped main body of the first side panel and/or the second side panel are installed with sealing elements, and the bottom end of each hinge protruding part is provided with a side panel hinge shaft, wherein the side panel hinge shaft is matched with the base limiting part, and the sealing elements installed on the hinge protruding part are located on the left and right sides and lower side of the hinge protruding part and extend beyond the left and right sides and the lower side of the hinge protruding part.
In one embodiment, the left and right edges of the sealing elements installed on the hinge protruding parts are provided with vertical grooves and/or the lower edge is provided with transverse grooves.
In one embodiment, the protruding edge is further provided with a base guiding portion located in the base limiting portion and opening toward the interior, and each of the hinge protruding parts is further provided with a side panel guiding portion located between the hinge shafts of the side panels which is connected to the base guiding portion slidably up and down.
In one embodiment, the base limiting portion is a plate-shaped portion, the base guiding portion is a groove provided in the middle of the base limiting portion, and the upper part of both side walls of the pocket is provided with the first base limiting protrusion.
In one embodiment, the hinge protruding part has a plate-shaped body, and the side panel hinge shaft extends from the left and right sides of the bottom end of the plate-shaped main body in a direction parallel to the side panel, and the side panel guiding portion is guiding block extending from the plate-shaped main body in a direction perpendicular to the plate-shaped body.
In one embodiment, each of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the lid is formed by welding an inner plate and an outer plate, and a thermal insulation layer is provided between the inner plate and the outer plate; the base has a plate-shaped body and a protruding edge extending upwardly from the circumference of the plate-shaped body, and both the plate-shaped body and the protruding edge are provided with thermal insulating layers.
The foldable box of the present application not only realizes the foldable function, but also has good thermal insulation performance. Furthermore, the foldable box of the present application achieve the purpose of thermal insulation by connecting the inner and outer plates, forming a cavity filled with the plate-shaped member thermal-insulating material. The advantage thereof is that the cavity can be filled in non-foaming injection method, so the filling material can be selected in a wider scope flexibly. Compared with polyurethane foaming, the present invention can use composite materials, which can be used to set different functional layers for the main energy transfer pathways (radiation, conduction and convection) to combine in a single piece of plated-shape insulation material. Through the present invention (combination of inner and outer plates+plate-shaped thermal insulation material), the filling material is not limited by the process, and there is a wider choice of flexibility. Moreover, no pollutants are generated during the production process, and the materials can be recycled again.
The preferred embodiment of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that the purposes, the characteristics and the advantages of the invention can be more clearly understood. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the figures are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, but illustrate the essential spirit of the technical solution of this invention.
In the following description, certain specific details are set forth for purposes of illustrating the various disclosed embodiments to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in this art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known devices, structures, and techniques associated with the present application may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
Unless otherwise desired by context, throughout the specification and claims, the terms “comprising” and variations thereof, such as “containing” and “having”, are to be construed as non-exclusive, i.e., to be construed as “comprising, but not limited to”.
Throughout the specification “one embodiment” or “one embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the presence of “in one embodiment” or “in one embodiment” at various locations throughout the specification need not all refer to the same embodiment. Additionally, particular features, structures, or features may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.
The singular forms “a” and “said” as used in the specification and appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” be used in its usual sense including “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
In the following description, for clarity of illustration of the structure and mode of operation of the present invention, various directional terms will be used to describe the present invention, but words such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “outer”, “inner”, “outward”, “inward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like, should be understood as convenient terms and should not be construed as limiting terms.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In particular with reference to
In addition, in order to better close the top opening by the lid 4, it is preferable to provide a groove pocket facing upward and toward the interior of the box body on the inside of the top end of the other of the pair of opposite side panels 2, so as to receive the second edge 42 of the lid 4 in use.
In the illustrated embodiment, said pair of side panels 2 are the long side panels with a longer length of the two pairs of opposite side panels, and the other pair of side panels 3 (also called short side panels or second side panels) is short side panel with a shorter length, the lid 4 is hinged to the top end 21 of one of the long side panels 2. However, it should be understood that the lid 4 can also be hinged to the top end of one of the short side panels 3 through a hinge without departing from the scope of the present invention. In another embodiment, the lid can also be covered on the top of the side panel by means of for example snapping connection.
In the specific embodiment shown in
Preferably, the first main body hinged part 511 of the hinge 5 is provided with a plurality of grooves 512 spaced apart from each other along the first edge 51, and at least one part of the lid hinged part 411 of the lid 4, in particular the lid protruding parts 4111 of the lid hinged part 411 are located in the groove 512. Preferably, when the opening of the foldable container 100 is closed by the lid 4, the lid protrusions 4111 are snugly fitted in grooves 512, so as to further ensure the closure of the opening.
In addition, in an unshown embodiment, it may be provided that one of the lid protruding part 4111 and the first main body protruding part 5111 is provided with a hinge shaft, and the other is provided with a hinging hole for cooperating with the hinge shaft, so that the hinge connection between the lid 4 and the hinge 5 can be achieved by the cooperation of the hinge shaft and the hinging hole. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that one of the side panel protruding part 2111 and the second main body protruding part 5121 is provided with a hinge shaft, and the other is provided with a hinging hole for cooperating with the hinge shaft, so that the hinge connection between the side panel 2 and the hinge 5 can be achieved by the cooperation of the hinge shaft and the hinging hole.
Of course, it should be understood that the hinged connection between the lid 4 and the hinge 5 and the hinged connection between the side panel 2 and the hinge 5 are not limited to the above structures, and other conventional hinge structures in the art may also be used, for example they are hinged through flexible thinned portion without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the present invention, when the lid 4 is hingedly connected with the side panel 2 through the hinge 5, the lid 4 can rotate more than 270° around the top end of the side panel 2 relative to the side panel 2, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the hinge 5 is a component separate from the side panel 2 and the lid 4, and the lid hinged part 411 is only provided on the first edge 41 of the lid 4. However, it should be understood that the hinge 5 can also be integrally formed with one or both of the side panel 2 and the lid 4 without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, as mentioned above, the hinge 5 may be hingedly connected to the top end 21 of the side panel 2 and/or the first edge 41 of the lid 4 through a flexible thinned portion. Preferably, the thickness of the hinge 5 is equal to the sum of the thickness of the side panel 2 and the lid 4, so that when the lid 4 is folded onto the outer surface of the side panel 2, it can be placed to the outer surface of the side panel 2 flatly without protruding upward.
When the foldable box 100 is in use, the size of the assembly formed by hinged connection between the hinge 5 and the lid 4 matches the size of the opening of the foldable box 100, so that the opening of the foldable box 100 can be closed. When the foldable box 100 is in the storage state as shown in
The lid 4 shown in
In the foldable box 100 shown in
Preferably, the lid 4 is also provided with a locking mechanism for locking the lid 4 to the side panel, and the locking mechanism is provided on the portion of the lid 4 away from the first edge 41, so that the lid 4 can be closed more firmly to the side panel.
The foldable box 100 of the present invention can also have a thermal insulation function by providing a thermal insulation layer in the base 1, the side panels 2 and 3, and the lid 4. As shown in
The detailed enlarged view of
The surface of the inner plate, the surface of the outer plate and the welding ribs form a cavity for accommodating the thermal insulation layer, the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate facing the cavity and delimiting the cavity are flat surfaces or is provided with at least one reinforcing rib. When the reinforcing ribs are arranged, the reinforcing ribs are spaced apart from each other and from the welding ribs. Preferably, the reinforcing rib is parallel to the welding rib. In an embodiment, the surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate of the second side panel facing the cavity and delimiting the cavity are flat surfaces. In another embodiment, the surface of the lid and the inner and outer plates of the first side panel facing the cavity and delimiting the cavity is provided with at least one reinforcing rib.
The side panel 3 can also be formed by welding the outer plate 30 and the inner plate 31, with an insulating layer 36 filled between. The specific structure is the same as that of the side panel 2, and will not be repeated here.
When two welding ribs 25 are provided, the top of the side panel 2 is provided with a closed cavity, which is formed by the two welding ribs 25 and the side panel inner plate 24 and the side panel outer plate 23 together
As also shown in
The foldable box 100 adopting the above structure has good thermal insulation performance and can be used for storing fresh products.
According to the present invention, in order to achieve better sealability and thermal insulation, a sealing structure can also be provided to the foldable box 100. Specifically, as shown in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the sealing element 401 of the lid 4 has a sealing body 4011 and at least one row of mounting posts 4012 protruding from the sealing body 4011, and the end of each mounting post 4012 is provided with a buckle. Corresponding installation holes are provided on the lid 4, and the buckles are snapped into the installation holes to install the sealing element to the lid.
In the preferred embodiment shown in
The side panel 2 and the side panel 3 are also provided with sealing elements 201 and 301 respectively. The sealing element 201 of the side panel 2 is shown in
As mentioned above, the bottom end of the side panel 2 is provided with a hinge protruding parts 22 for forming a hinge connection with the pocket 121 in the base 1. Preferably, a hinge protruding part 32 is also provided at the bottom end of the side panel 3, and in order to hingely connect the side panel 3 to the base 1, protruding edges 16 are also provided on the corresponding pair of edges of the base 1, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
The part of the sealing element 301 located at the bottom of the side panel 3 has the same structure, and will not be repeated here. The structure of the part of the sealing element 301 extending beyond the left and right sides and the lower side of the hinge portion is shown in
As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment, the two longitudinal ends of the side panel 2 and the side panel 3 are respectively provided with engaging portions 202 and 302. When the side panels are erected relative to the base 1, the side panels 2 and 3 are connected by the engaging portions 202 and 302 engaging with each other. The sealing element 301 is connected to the engaging portion 302 of the side panel 3, and the sealing element 301 extends laterally beyond the engaging portion 302, so that the side panel 2 and the side panel 3 can abut against the side panel 2 when the side panel 2 and the side panel 3 are connected to each other in the use state of the foldable box 100 to seal the gap therebetween. The connection between the sealing element 301 and the engaging portion 302 can be achieved in any suitable manner, for example, a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other are provided on the elongated plate-shaped body of the sealing element 301 located at the longitudinal edge, and corresponding grooves are provided on the engaging portion 302 of the side panel for operatively fixing the above-mentioned protrusions. In the case where the sealing element 201 includes parts located at the four edges, and the sealing element 301 is only located at the bottom of the side panel 3, the sealing element 201 is connected to the engaging portion 202 of the side panel 2 and extends laterally beyond the engaging portion 202, thereby when the foldable box 100 is in use, the side panel 2 and the side panel 3 connected to each other can be pressed against the side panel 3 to seal the gap therebetween. A plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other are provided on the elongated plate-shaped body of the sealing element 201 located at the longitudinal edge, and corresponding grooves are provided on the side panel engaging portion 202 for operatively fixing the above-mentioned protrusions.
The hinge 5 and its sealing element 501 are shown in
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to adopt aspects, features, and concepts of various patents, applications, and publications to provide additional embodiments.
Considering the detailed description above, these and other variations can be made to the embodiments. Generally, in the claims, the terms used should not be construed as limiting the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments together with all equivalents to which these claims entitled.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201910511590.7 | Jun 2019 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2020/095615 | 6/11/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/249047 | 12/17/2020 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4693386 | Hughes | Sep 1987 | A |
| 5000372 | Hollander | Mar 1991 | A |
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| 1104603 | Jul 1995 | CN |
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| The extended European search report issued in European Application No. 20822471.7, dated Jun. 26, 2023. |
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| Office Action issued in Japanese corresponding application No. 20210573528, dated Aug. 15, 2023, with English translation. |
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| 20220297882 A1 | Sep 2022 | US |
