Patent Application
20160236818
The present invention pertains to containers, in particular foldable crates and locking mechanism therefor. In particular, the invention relates to advances in and elaborations of locking mechanisms for foldable crates.
Foldable crates are widely used these days. There are numerous solutions known in the art for locking mechanisms for foldable crates. The general concept of such locking mechanisms is that a foldable crate can be secured in open conformation, by a locking mechanism, which is releasable by an actuator, typically a tab surrounding the handle of the crate. It is believed that the pertinent state-of-the-art is represented by: U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,878, U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,081, US20100230406, US20120091133 and US20100320202; EP2431283 and EP1655232, as well as by WO2010146190, WO2009100799 and particularly DE10137328.
US20120091133 discloses a collapsible box including a plastic structure with a rectangular base, two ends, and two sides which are pivotably coupled to the base. The ends include centered parts combined with latches, which in one position anchor the sides and ends, while in another position the connection between the ends and the sides is released in order to collapse the elements. The collapsible box of US20120091133 is characterized in that the box includes an anchor device consisting of a series of rotary bodies that connect the latches to the centered part via two pairs of resilient parts and which, in the inoperative position thereof, hold the latches outwards, attaching the ends and the sides. When the central part is moved upward, the latches thus release the ends and the sides.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,878 discloses a fastening device for folding boxes. The folding boxes include a bottom and four lateral walls coupled in jointed fashion to the edges of that bottom, two opposite walls each having a fastening device for ensuring the unfolding of the box. The fastening devices of U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,878 include a vertically displaceable central piece and lateral bolts with horizontal displacement for fastening the lateral walls via their adjacent edges. The fastening device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,878 includes elastic spring elements that link the central control piece with pairs of the lateral bolts. The spring elements, in the rest position, maintain the bolts in an engagement and fastening position. The release position of the bolts in U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,878 results when the spring elements pull the bolts against the resistance of the elastic elements.
DE10137328 that is considered the most relevant prior art publication discloses an assembly, adapted to open and close side walls of a plastic and reusable box or container, which have a manual locking unit, with at least one projection, which grips over a ratchet hook on the longitudinal wall. The lock operating control is adapted to grip, carry the box or container and also unlock the side walls.
The invention relates to advances in and elaborations of locking mechanisms for foldable crates.
There is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention a foldable crate including a base platform, a pair of longitudinal sidewalls forming a hinged connection with the base platform and a pair of flanking sidewalls forming a hinged connection with the base platform. The flanking sidewalls accommodate a locking mechanism and unlocking mechanism.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the locking mechanism includes a pair of rotary locking elements, pivoting upon axes on flanking sidewalls, as well as a pair of respective protrusions inwardly facing from longitudinal sidewalls.
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the unlocking mechanism includes a manual deactivator, configured to exert a rotational torque upon rotary locking elements.
It should be understood, however, that the summary above is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms and examples, rather on the contrary, is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more comprehensively from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown merely by way of example in the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily complete and components are not essentially to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles underlying the present invention.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with technology- or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Foldable crate 30 further comprises a pair of longitudinal sidewalls 50 and a pair of flanking sidewalls 60, of which just a single sidewall from each pair is shown. Longitudinal sidewalls 50 include a plurality of structural elements 52, disposed about bottom portion 54 of the former, whereas flanking sidewalls 60 include a plurality of structural elements 62, disposed about bottom portion 64 of sidewalls 60. Structural elements 52 disposed about bottom portion 54 of longitudinal sidewalls 50 further comprise longitudinal pivots 42 configured to form a hinged connection with structural recesses 34, disposed about longitudinal portion 36 of base platform 32; whereas structural elements 62, disposed about bottom portion 64 of flanking sidewalls 60 further comprise flanking 44 pivots, configured to form a hinged connection with structural recesses 38 disposed about flanking portion 40 of base platform 32 of foldable crate 30. Optionally, at least one of pivots 42 or 44 is a single extended rod, typically metallic, threaded respectively throughout the entire length of longitudinal portion 36 or flanking portion 40 of base platform 32.
Structural recesses 34, disposed about longitudinal portions 36 of base platform 32 as well as with structural recesses 38 disposed about flanking portions 40 of base platform 32 typically include apertures (not shown) adapted configured to receive longitudinal pivots 42 and/or flanking 44 pivots, respectively, thereby forming a hinged connection between longitudinal sidewalls 50 and longitudinal portion 36 as well as flanking sidewalls 60 flanking portions 40 of base platform 32. Longitudinal portions 36 of base platform 32 embodying structural recesses 34 are positioned somewhat higher than flanking structural recesses 38 disposed about flanking portion 40 of base platform 32 embodying structural recesses 38, whereas longitudinal pivots 42 are positioned somewhat higher than flanking pivots 44; thereby providing for folding flanking sidewalls 60 inwardly towards bottom and then folding longitudinal sidewalls 50 on top of flanking sidewalls 60 in a folded conformation (not shown) foldable crate 30.
Longitudinal sidewalls 50 include tabs 56, adapted to serve as gripping handles. Longitudinal sidewalls 50 include flanking facets 58 extending essentially perpendicularly along a portion of the vertical edges of longitudinal sidewalls 50. It is further noted that flanking facets 58 of longitudinal sidewalls 50 preferably form enclosed channels 59 within longitudinal sidewalls 50.
Flanking sidewalls 60 include tab 66, adapted to serve as a gripping handle. It is noted that flanking sidewalls 60 include side recesses 68, forming an opening sidewalls 60 allowing passage of protrusion 78 of longitudinal sidewalls 50 upon opening and folding crate 30. Flanking sidewalls 60 include flanking struts 72, forming a channel which is in continuum with enclosed channels 59 formed by flanking facets 58 within longitudinal sidewalls 50.
Flanking sidewalls 60 comprise structured centric recess 70, essentially surrounding tab 66. Structured centric recess 70, of flanking sidewall 60, is adapted to accommodate unlocking element 82. Structured centric recess 70 in flanking sidewalls 60 comprises a couple of grooves 76 along a portion of the sides thereof, adapted to accommodate ridges or extensions (not shown) of unlocking element 82 and sustain vertical displacement of the latter within the former.
Referring now to
Locking elements 80 are threaded into channels 59 in flanking sidewalls 60, underneath flanking struts 72. It is noted that the channels formed underneath flanking struts 72 are somewhat wider than locking elements 80; thereby sustaining radial displacement of the latter within the former. Locking elements 80 are furnished with pivots, which are threaded into apertures 84, at the top portion of flanking sidewalls 60. Locking elements 80 are rotatable upon pivots threaded into apertures 84, in flanking sidewalls 60; thereby sustaining radial displacement of the terminal portion of locking elements 80 within channels formed underneath flanking struts 72 in flanking sidewalls 60.
Longitudinal sidewalls 50 comprise structured protrusions 78, extending inwardly from the inner faces of longitudinal sidewalls 50. U-shaped cut 69 is formed essentially surrounding protrusions 78, thereby rendering protrusions 78 outwardly displaceable, upon pushing onto protrusions 78 in an outward direction, against the biasing force exerted upon deformation of the material at the basis of U-shaped cut 69. Structured protrusions 78 of longitudinal sidewalls 50 comprise upwardly oriented back upper face 71 and essentially vertically oriented back upper face 73, slightly upwardly inclined backwards.
Underneath flanking struts 72, flanking sidewalls 60 comprise recesses 68 defining an opening towards the interior of crate 30. Recesses 68 in flanking sidewalls 60 allow structured protrusions 78 of longitudinal sidewalls 50 to surpass the terminal portions of locking elements 80, while unfolding crate 30 into open conformation, shown in
To unfold crate 30 into open conformation, shown in
Upon collision of structured protrusions 78 with terminal portions of locking elements 80 and particularly with chamfered or beveled terminal front face 86 thereof, structured protrusions 78 are displaced in an outward direction, while the material at the basis of U-shaped cut 69 is somewhat bent or deformed, forming a biasing force urging structured protrusions 78 in an inward direction. Alternatively or additionally, upon collision of terminal portions of locking elements 80 with structured protrusions 78, terminal portions of locking elements 80 are displaced in an upward direction, while being contiguously translated upon the surface of upwardly oriented back upper face 71 of structured protrusions 78 on longitudinal sidewalls 50.
Ultimately, upon elevating flanking sidewalls 60 and consequently rotating the same upwardly and away from base platform 32, until the former are erected essentially perpendicularly to the latter, terminal portions of locking elements 80 surpass structured protrusions 78. Upon surpassing terminal portions of locking elements 80, structured protrusions 78 are spontaneously displaced in a inward direction, due to the biasing force formed by the deformed or bent material at the basis of U-shaped cut 69 spontaneously urging structured protrusions 78 in an inward direction. Alternatively or additionally upon surpassing structured protrusions 78, terminal portions of locking elements 80 are spontaneously displaced in a downward direction, due to the biasing force exerted by leaf-springs 88 of locking elements 80, bouncing against inner top face of the top portion of flanking sidewalls 60.
Upon surpassing structured protrusions 78, terminal portions of locking elements 80 are become locked in front of structured protrusions 78 of longitudinal sidewalls 50, whereby flanking sidewalls 60 are become locked in a perpendicular orientation relatively to base platform 32, rendering crate 30 locked in open conformation, shown in
Unlocking element 82 is slidable in structured centric recess 70, of flanking sidewalls 60. Ridges or extensions (not shown) of unlocking element 82 are threaded into grooves 76 of about structured centric recess 70 and slidable therein. Vertical translation of unlocking element 82 upwards is restricted by the length of grooves 76. Leaf-springs 88 spontaneously drive unlocking element 82 in a downward direction, by bouncing against inner top face of the top portion of flanking sidewalls 60.
Upon forceful manual elevation of unlocking element 82 in an upward direction, terminal portions of unlocking element 82 exert rotational torque onto locking elements 80, causing locking elements 80 to rotate upon pivots threaded into apertures 84, in flanking sidewalls 60, so that the terminal portions of locking elements 80 are radially displaced in an upward direction and assume a higher position within channels formed underneath flanking struts 72 in flanking sidewalls 60; thereby rendering crate 30 readily foldable into folded conformation (not shown).
Enclosed channels 59 formed by flanking facets 58 within longitudinal sidewalls 50 preferably comprise separation bumper elements 63, extending into the channels underneath flanking struts 72 in flanking sidewalls 60. Separation bumper elements 63 typically include an outwardly slanted bottom face (not shown), facing essentially inwardly and downwardly. Upon forceful manual elevation of unlocking element 82 in an upward direction, the top faces of terminal portions of unlocking element 82 collide with separation bumper elements 63, preferably with an outwardly slanted bottom face thereof, thereby a normal force is exerted onto terminal portions of unlocking element 82 and in turn onto flanking sidewalls 60 essentially inwardly and downwardly, forming a rotational torque onto flanking sidewalls 60, causing flanking sidewalls 60 to commence rotating upon flanking pivots 44, towards base platform 32, thus initiating the folding of crate 30 into folded conformation (not shown).
It is noted that deepened bottom portion in structured centric recess 70 is used for manual access to unlocking element 82 from underneath. It is further noted that the top face of the central portion of unlocking element 82 is preferably disposed not higher than the bottom face of tab 66 in flanking sidewalls 60, when unlocking element 82 is in a released position, shown in
Upon release of forceful elevation of unlocking element 82 in an upward direction, leaf-springs 88 of locking elements 80, spontaneously drive locking elements 80 in a downward direction which in turn drive unlocking element 82 in a downward direction as well. Upon spontaneous translation of unlocking element 82 in a downward direction, locking elements 80 are capable to assume a lower position within channels formed underneath flanking struts 72 in flanking sidewalls 60; thereby rendering crate 30 readily transformable into open conformation, shown in
It is noted that due to the modularity of crate 30, unlocking element 82 as well as locking elements 80 are readily replaceable in individual manner. Moreover even without or with dysfunctional unlocking element 82, crate 30 still can be assembled into open conformation shown in
It is further noted that due to geometrical proportions of unlocking element 82 relatively to locking elements 80, a translational lever is formed wherein the terminal portion of unlocking element 82 exerts a force onto a centric portion of locking elements 80, whereby the terminal portion of locking elements 80 is consequently elevated a greater distance than the terminal portion of unlocking element 82. Consequently upon effecting a relatively minor vertical translation of unlocking element 82, a relatively major vertical translation of the terminal portion of locking elements 80 is achieved; rendering crate 30 more easily and readily foldable into a folded configuration (not shown).
In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to
Rotary locking element 180 is threaded into channel in flanking sidewall 60, underneath flanking strut 72. It is noted that the channel formed underneath flanking struts 72 is somewhat wider than terminal portion 186 of locking element 180; thereby sustaining radial displacement of the latter within the former. Locking element 180 is rotatable upon pivot 184, in flanking sidewalls 60; thereby sustaining radial displacement of terminal portion 186 of locking elements 180 within channel formed underneath flanking strut 72 in flanking sidewalls 60.
Flanking sidewall 60 shown in
Upon forceful elevation of unlocking element 182 in an upward direction, top terminal portion of unlocking element 182 exerts a force onto the terminal portion of extended protrusion 194; whereby the terminal portion of extended protrusion 194 is displaced in an upward direction, towards rotary locking element 180. Thereafter rotary locking element 180 is capable to perform rotation upon pivot 184, upon further elevation of unlocking element 182 in an upward direction, thereby sustaining radial displacement of terminal portion 186 of locking elements 180 within channel formed underneath flanking strut 72 in flanking sidewalls 60.
However if no forceful elevation in an upward direction is applied to unlocking element 182, locking element 180 is locked in place and rotation of rotary locking element 180 upon pivot 184 is precluded, because the terminal face of extended protrusion 194 is pushed against detent 192, whereby radial displacement of terminal portion 186 of locking elements 180 within channel formed underneath flanking strut 72 in flanking sidewalls 60 is prevented. Consequently if locking element 180 are attempted of being rotated in an upward direction, for instance upon opening of the foldable crate, safety catch mechanism 190 preventing rotation of rotary locking element 180 upon pivot 184, because the terminal face of extended protrusion 194 is pushed against detent 192; whereby inadvertent folding of the foldable crate is prevented.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow:
