(19)
(11) EP 0 655 392 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.08.1995 Bulletin 1995/31

(43) Date of publication A2:
31.05.1995 Bulletin 1995/22

(21) Application number: 94308709.8

(22) Date of filing: 25.11.1994
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: B65D 19/18, B65D 6/16
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 29.11.1993 US 158755
29.11.1993 US 159085

(60) Divisional application:
95113085.5 / 0690003
95113086.3 / 0690004

(71) Applicant: OTTO INDUSTRIES, INC.
Charlotte, North Carolina 28278 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Blinstrub, Robert M.
    Troy, Michigan 48084 (US)

(74) Representative: Austin, Hedley William 
Urquhart-Dykes & Lord Alexandra House 1 Alexandra Road
Swansea West Glamorgan SA1 5ED
Swansea West Glamorgan SA1 5ED (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Collapsible container


    (57) A collapsible material handling container (10) of the type for packaging, shipping and inventorying goods including a base (12), a pair of sidewalls (14), and a pair of end walls (16). Each of the walls (14,16) are hingedly connected to the base (12) and moveable between a collapsed position wherein the walls (14,16) are folded one on top of the other and an upright position wherein the walls (14,16) extend vertically upward from the base (12) and adjacent walls (14,16) are interlocked together to define a smooth planer interior surface of the container (10).
    The interlocking system includes terminal portions (52) disposed on the side walls (14) and having tabs (54) extending therefrom, and corner portions (58) disposed on the end walls (16) and having sockets (60) for receiving the tabs (58).
    The base (12) includes ramping surfaces (72) for supporting at least one of the end walls (16) when collapsed.






    Search report