Folding crate

Abstract

 The invention concerns a folding crate having two double standing longitudinal sides (1) and two standing transverse sides (2), hooked into a bottom and into an upper frame (11), the upper frame (11) having two protruding axle pins (4) onto which a brace-shaped handle (3) is hingedly mounted, the extremity of said axle pins (4) showing a widened round head (5) having two straight walls (6) that are opposed diametrically and narrowly fit into an elongated slit (7) of the handle (3) locally showing a cylindrical bore (8) widened with respect to this slit (7), dimensioned such, that the handle (3) can be revolved over 90° when said cylindrical bore (8) arrives at the height of the widened round head (5) of said axles pins (4).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a folding crate having two double standing longitudinal sides and two standing transverse sides, hooked into a bottom and into an upper frame, the upper frame having two protruding axle pins onto which a brace-shaped handle is hingedly mounted.

[0002] The invention aims at designing a folding crate of which the handle does not revolve with respect to the folding crate in the position of use, and of which the components, i.e. the folding crate proper and the brace-shaped handle can be easily assembled.

[0003] To make this possible in accordance with the invention, the extremity of said axle pins shows a widened round head having two straight walls that are opposed diametrically and narrowly fit into an elongated slit of the handle locally showing a cylindrical bore widened with respect to this slit, dimensioned such, that the handle may be revolved over 90° when said cylindrical bore, upon pushing the handle down, arrives at the height of the widened round heads of said axle pins.

[0004] Still according to the invention; in above said transverse sides, substantially at the height of above said axle pins, along both sides thereof, two elongated protrusions projecting from the wall of the transverse sides are provided to maintain the arms of the handle in the vertical position.

[0005] Other details and particulars of the invention will show from the following description of a folding crate according to the invention. This description is exclusively given as an example and does not limit the invention. The reference numbers refer to the attached figures.

[0006] Figure 1 is a side view of the longitudinal side of the folding crate according to the invention.

[0007] Figure 2 is a side view of the transverse side of the folding crate according to the invention.

[0008] Figure 3, is a perspective representation, on a much enlarged scale, of an extremity of an arm belonging to the handle of the folding crate according to the invention (vertical position of the handle).

[0009] Figure 4 is an analogous representation of an extremity of an arm belonging to the folding crate according to the invention (oblique position of the handle).

[0010] Figure 5 shows a detail of the folding crate according to the invention.

[0011] Figure 6 relates to another detail of the folding crate according to the invention.

[0012] The folding crate represented by these figures, as usual, has a rectangular shape, with two longitudinal sides 1 and two transverse sides 2.

[0013] A brace-shaped handle 3 is mounted hingedly with respect to the transverse sides 2. Thereto, the transverse sides 2 each show an axle pin 4 having at its end a widened round head 5 with straight walls 6 that are opposed diametrically. The axle pins 4 narrowly fit into an elongated slit 7 provided near the extremities of the arms 3' of the handle.

[0014] The upper part of the elongated slit 7 (considered in the vertical position of use of the handle) ends into a transverse cylindrical bore 8. The bore 8 is dimensioned such, that when the handle is pushed down, the handle can be revolved over 90°. The diameter of the widened round head 5 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the widened bore 8. After turning the handle, the latter rests on the edge 9 of the folding crate provided thereto. This edge may extend along the longitudinal sides, as well as partially along the transverse sides.

[0015] To maintain the brace-shaped handle in the vertical position, on each transverse side, small elongated protrusions 10 projecting from these sides are provided. They keep the brace-shaped handle in its vertical position, but cannot prevent the handle to be brought from its vertical to a horizontal position by the user, on the one hand because their height is too insignificant, and, on the other hand, because the handle is manufactured of sufficiently resilient material.

[0016] In its horizontal or lowered position, the handle cannot be removed. The handle can only be mounted, i.e. snapped over the axle pins 4, when the axle pines are in line with the cylindrical bore 8 of the handle and when the arms 3' of the brace-shaped handle 3, due to the elasticity of the material they are composed of, are slightly drawn apart.

[0017] As usual, the folding crate is provided with longitudinal and transverse sides, respectively 1 and 2, hinging with respect to an upper frame component 11. These sides are connected hingedly with their extremities to this frame component 11. When the folding crate, in particular the filled folding crate, is carried by its handle, the part of the frame component on which the axle pins 4 occur, shows a tendency of removing itself from the side wall concerned. In order to remediate this, each time in the middle of the part of the frame component 11 that extends in the transverse direction of the folding crate, an additional hinge joint with the transverse side 2 is provided.

[0018] This hinge joint is formed by two pegs 12 directed at each other, over which two wings 13 with a central bore 14, belonging to the upper frame component 11 of the folding crate, are snapped. The pegs 12 are situated on two reinforcing ribs 15 belonging to each of the transverse sides 2.

[0019] Thus an additional hinge joint is created between a transverse side 2 and the frame component 11. Consequently, these components no longer show a tendency to remove themselves from each other.

[0020] Finally, the handle shows a bore 16, into which a separate plug 17 delivered upon buying the folding crate, can be pushed permanently. By doing so, at the cash desk of the chain store, which for example puts the folding crates at the disposal of its customers, it may be established that the folding crate has become the property of the user.

Claims

1. Folding crate having two double standing longitudinal sides and two standing transverse sides, hooked into a bottom and into an upper frame, the upper frame having two protruding axle pins onto which a brace-shaped handle is hingedly mounted, characterised in that the extremity of said axle pins (4) shows a widened round head (5) having two straight walls (6) that are opposed diametrically and narrowly fit into an elongated slit (7) of the handle locally showing a cylindrical bore (8) widened with respect to this slit, dimensioned such, that the handle (3) can be revolved over 90° when said cylindrical bore (8), upon pushing down the handle (3), arrives at the height of the widened round head of said axles pins (4).

2. Folding crate according to claim 1, characterised in that, in above said transverse sides, substantially at the height of above said axle pins (4), along both sides thereof, two elongated protrusions (10) projecting from the wall of the transverse sides are provided to maintain the arms (3') of the handle (3) in the vertical position.

3. Folding crate according to any one of claims 1-2, characterised in that above said brace-shaped handle (3) extends in the longitudinal direction of the folding crate.

4. Folding crate according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that locally, for example in the handle, a bore (11) is provided into which a plug (17) can be pushed permanently.

5. Folding crate according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that both the longitudinal sides (1) and the transverse sides (2) are mounted hingedly with their extremities to an upper rectangular frame component (11) of the folding crate, and the said frame component, in the middle, shows an additional hinge joint with said transverse side (2).

6. Folding crate according to claim 5, characterised in that above said hinge joint is formed by two pegs (12) directed at each other, over which two wings (13) with a central bore (14), which wings belong to the upper frame component (11), can be snapped.

Drawing