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EP 2 036 835 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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13.04.2011 Bulletin 2011/15 |
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Date of filing: 13.09.2007 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC):
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Foldable container
Faltbarer Behälter
Récipient pliable
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO
SE SI SK TR |
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Date of publication of application: |
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18.03.2009 Bulletin 2009/12 |
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Proprietor: Technische Universiteit Delft |
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2628 CN Delft (NL) |
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Inventors: |
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- Kusuma, Gunawan
2611 CJ, DELFT (NL)
- Herder, Justus Laurens
2595 ED, DEN HAAG (NL)
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Representative: Van Breda, Jacobus |
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Octrooibureau Los & Stigter B.V.,
Weteringschans 96 1017 XS Amsterdam 1017 XS Amsterdam (NL) |
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References cited: :
EP-A- 0 010 944 WO-A-95/30586 DE-U1-202004 020 452
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WO-A-86/01788 DE-A1- 3 317 221 US-A1- 2002 070 267
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The invention relates to a foldable container having a bottom plate, upstanding long
sidewalls and upstanding short sidewalls that are hinged to the bottom plate, and
an optionally detachable roof.
[0004] From the available patent literature it is clear that a quest exists looking for
a suitable foldable container allowing that the volume of the container can be minimised
by collapsing the container when it is empty. The objective is to economise on space
and transportation costs of the empty containers.
[0005] It is the objective of the invention to provide such a foldable container which is
easy to convert from the usable position in which all sidewalls are standing up and
the roof is applied to the upstanding sidewalls, to a collapsed position in which
the sidewalls and the roof are resting on the bottom plate.
[0006] The foldable container of the invention is to this end characterized by one or more
of the appended claims.
[0007] The invention concerns the construction of the foldable container such that in addition
to the sidewalls being hinged to the bottom plate, the long sidewalls and the short
sidewalls are hinged to each other and that each of the short sidewalls is divided
in a lower triangular side-wall portion and an upper triangular side-wall portion
and that both long sidewalls have a congruently shaped triangular portion immediately
neighbouring to each of the short sidewalls.
[0008] This construction provides an effective and easy way to convert the container from
the erect position to the collapsed position and vice versa. This feature can be applied
independently from the feature that a balancing mechanism is applied to counteract
gravity forces within the construction of the foldable container when effecting the
conversion from the erect position to the collapsed position, or vice versa.
[0009] A foldable container wherein at least one of the long sidewalls and short sidewalls
and the bottom plate are connected to a balancing mechanism to counteract gravity
forces that act upon the at least one of the long sidewalls and short sidewalls when
same is being lowered upon the bottom plate, is known from
DE-A-3317221.
[0010] This feature very much assists in the conversion from the erect container to the
collapsed container and vice versa in a manner allowing that the conversion can be
carried out by a single person. The roof may or may not be detachable, and in case
it is not detachable (i.e. part of the folding mechanism) the roof may or may not
be balanced.
[0011] Additionally the foldable container is embodied such that the balancing mechanism
comprises one or more springs and/or torsion bars. The spring or springs may for instance
be helical springs or plate springs, or combinations thereof. The torsion bars may
be used in a series or in a parallel arrangement or in combinations thereof.
[0012] In order to promote the container's reliability and resistance to malfunctioning
it is preferable that the balancing mechanism is housed within the at least one of
the long sidewalls and short sidewalls and the bottom plate. The balancing mechanism
is thus effectively protected against external disturbances.
[0013] Hereinafter the invention will be further elucidated with reference to preferred
embodiments of the foldable container of the invention and with reference to the drawing.
[0014] In the drawing:
- Fig. 1 relates to a foldable container ;
- Fig. 2 shows a partly collapsed container ;
- Fig. 3 shows detail view A as shown in Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 relates to the foldable container of the invention;
- Fig. 5 shows a first step in collapsing the foldable container of Fig. 4;
- Fig. 6 shows a second step in collapsing the foldable container of Fig. 4;
- Fig. 7 shows a third step in collapsing the foldable container of Fig. 4;
- Fig. 8 shows a fourth step in collapsing the foldable container of Fig. 4;
- Fig. 9 shows the fully collapsed container of Fig. 4, and
- Fig. 10 shows the collapsed container of Fig. 9 completed with the detachable roof.
[0015] Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied these reference numerals
pertain to the same parts.
[0016] With reference first to Fig. 1 a foldable container 1 has a bottom plate 2, upstanding
long sidewalls 3 and upstanding short sidewalls 4. One of the sidewalls may at least
partly be convertible to a door.
[0017] The upstanding long sidewalls 3 and the upstanding short sidewalls 4 are hinged to
the bottom plate 2. Further there is a roof 5 which may be completely detachable or
which may be connected with rods to the short sidewalls 4.
[0018] Fig. 2 shows that one of the long sidewalls 3' is swivelled down on the bottom plate
2. During this process of lowering the long sidewall 3' to the bottom plate 2 the
gravity forces that are acting upon the long sidewall 3' are counteracted by a balancing
mechanism 6 which is housed partly within the long sidewall 3' on the one hand and
in the bottom plate 2 on the other hand. This is more clearly shown in the detail
view shown in Fig. 3.
[0019] Fig. 3 shows that the bottom plate 2 and a long side-wall 3' are connected to each
other by means of a hinge 10, which in this example also serves as a torsion bar.
[0020] Upon lowering the long sidewall 3' upon the base plate 2 a spring 9 and torsion bar
10 get tensioned which counteracts the lowering movement of the long sidewall 3'.
For this purpose the spring 9 is connected to a transmission mechanism 8 and a conversion
pulley 7 which is connected to a belt string 11 that in turn connects to an auxiliary
pulley 12 making the connection with the long sidewall 3'.
[0021] A further feature which may be employed separate from the balancing mechanism 6 or
in combination with this balancing mechanism will be further shown with reference
to the foldable container according to the invention and with reference to Figs. 4-10.
[0022] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the foldable container 1 of the invention
having a bottom plate 2, upstanding long sidewalls 3 and upstanding short sidewalls
4 and a detachable roof 5. The long sidewalls 3 and the short sidewalls 4 are hinged
to each other by means of hinges 13. The figure shows that the forward long sidewall
3 is hinged to the bottom plate 2 by means of hinge 15.
[0023] Fig. 4 further shows that the short sidewalls 4 are divided in a lower triangular
sidewall portion 4' and an upper triangular sidewall portion 4'' and that both long
sidewalls 3 have a congruent shaped triangular portion 14 immediately neighbouring
to the short sidewalls 4. Either the lower triangular portion 4' and/or the upper
triangular sidewall portion 4" may be convertible to a door. To this end the hinge
of these triangular portions is detachable by removal of the hinge-pin.
[0024] The operation of collapsing the foldable container 1 from the erect position as shown
in Fig. 4 to the completely collapsed position as shown in Fig. 10 develops as follows.
[0025] In a first step Fig. 5 shows detaching of the roof plate 5. It is remarked that the
roof plate 5 may be disconnected completely or remain connected to the other parts
of the container with connecting rods or by other means.
[0026] As a second step Fig. 6 shows collapsing of one of the long sidewalls 3 which is
possible due to the division of the short sidewalls 4 into a lower triangular sidewall
portion 4' which remains upright and an upper triangular sidewall portion 4" which
gives room for lowering the long sidewall 3 to the bottom plate 2.
[0027] Fig. 7 shows the final position of the first long side-wall 3 resting on the bottom
plate 2 of the container.
[0028] In a next step Fig. 8 shows the folding down of the second long sidewall 3 which
is allowed due to the folding inward of both the short sidewalls 4. At the completion
of this step Fig. 9 shows that both long sidewalls 3 are lying flat on the bottom
plate 2 while still being connected to the short sidewalls 4 resting on top thereof.
[0029] Finally Fig. 10 shows that the roof plate 5 is again placed on the collapsed construction
making the collapsed container 1 ready for transportation with diminished volume and
dimensions.
1. Foldable container (1) having a bottom plate (2), upstanding long sidewalls (3) and
upstanding short sidewalls (4) that are hinged to the bottom plate (2), and an optionally
detachable roof (5), characterized in that the long sidewalls (3) and the short sidewalls (4) are hinged to each other, and
that each of the short sidewalls (4) is divided in a lower triangular sidewall portion
(4') and an upper triangular sidewall portion (4"), and that both long sidewalls (3)
have a congruently shaped triangular portion (14) immediately neighbouring to each
of the short sidewalls (4).
2. Foldable container (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one (3') of the long
sidewalls (3) and short sidewalls (4) and the bottom plate (2) are connected to a
balancing mechanism (6) to counteract gravity forces that act upon the at least one
(3') of the long sidewalls (3) and short sidewalls (4) when same is being lowered
upon the bottom plate (2), characterized in that the balancing mechanism (6) comprises one or more springs (9) and/or one or more
torsion bars (10).
3. Foldable container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the balancing mechanism is housed within the at least one (3') of the long sidewalls
(3) and short sidewalls (4) and the bottom plate (2).
4. Foldable container (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lower triangular sidewall portion (4') and/or the upper triangular sidewall portion
(4") are convertible to a door.
1. Zusammenklappbarer Container (1), aufweisend eine Bodenplatte (2), aufrechte lange
Seitenwände (3) und aufrechte kurze Seitenwände (4), die zu der Bodenplatte (2) gelenkig
gelagert sind, und ein wahlweise abnehmbares Dach (5), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die langen Seitenwände (3) und die kurzen Seitenwände (4) zueinander gelenkig gelagert
sind und jede der kurzen Seitenwände (4) in einen unteren dreieckigen Seitenwandabschnitt
(4') und einen oberen dreieckigen Seitenwandabschnitt (4") aufgeteilt ist, und dass
beide langen Seitenwände (3) einen kongruent geformten dreieckigen Abschnitt (14)
aufweisen, der unmittelbar benachbart zu jeder der kurzen Seitenwände (4) ist.
2. Zusammenklappbarer Container (1) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei mindestens eine (3') von
den langen Seitenwänden (3) und den kurzen Seitenwänden (4) und der Bodenplatte (2)
mit einem Ausgleichsmechanismus (6) verbunden ist, um der Schwerkraft, die auf die
mindestens eine (3') von den langen Seitenwänden (3) und den kurzen Seitenwänden (4)
einwirkt, wenn diese auf die Bodenplatte (2) abgesenkt wird, entgegenzuwirken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Ausgleichsmechanismus (6) eine oder mehr Federn (9) und/oder einen oder mehr
Torsionsstäbe (10) aufweist.
3. Zusammenklappbarer Container (1) gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Ausgleichsmechanismus innerhalb der mindestens einen (3') von den langen Seitenwänden
(3) und den kurzen Seitenwänden (4) und der Bodenplatte (2) aufgenommen ist.
4. Zusammenklappbarer Container (1) gemäß Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der untere dreieckige Seitenwandabschnitt (4') und/oder der obere dreieckige Seitenwandabschnitt
(4") in eine Tür umwandelbar sind.
1. Récipient pliable (1) comportant une plaque de fond (2), des parois latérales droites
longues (3) et des parois latérales droites courtes (4) qui sont articulées à la plaque
de fond (2), et un dessus (5) détachable de façon optionnelle, caractérisé en ce que les parois latérales longues (3) et les parois latérales courtes (4) sont articulées
l'une à l'autre, en ce que chacune des parois latérales courtes (4) est divisée en une partie de paroi latérale
triangulaire inférieure (4') et une partie de paroi latérale triangulaire supérieure
(4"), et en ce que les deux parois latérales longues (3) ont une partie triangulaire congruente (14)
immédiatement voisine de chacune des parois latérales courtes (4).
2. Récipient pliable (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins une (3') des
parois latérales longues (3) et parois latérales courtes (4) et la plaque de fond
(2) sont reliées à un mécanisme compensateur (6) pour compenser les forces de gravité
qui agissent sur la au moins une (3') des parois latérales logues (3) et parois latérales
courtes (4) quand celle-ci est abaissée sur la plaque de fond (2), caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme compensateur (6) comprend un ou plusieurs ressorts (9) et/ou une ou
plusieurs barres de torsion (10).
3. Récipient pliable (1) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme compensateur est logé à l'intérieur de la au moins une (3') des parois
longues (3) et parois courtes (4) et la plaque de fond (2).
4. Récipient pliable (1) selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisé en ce que la partie de paroi latérale triangulaire inférieure (4') et/ou la partie de paroi
latérale triangulaire supérieure (4") sont transformables en une porte.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description