Collapsible crate

Abstract

A collapsible crate, which has an especially sturdy construction, making it particularly suitable for containing and transporting large containers, such as one-gallon water or milk jugs, is disclosed. The crate may also be used for suspending file folders without the use of a rack onto which the file folders are suspended. The crate comprises a bottom panel, a top rectangular frame, two side panels pivotally connected at opposite ends of the frame, and front and back folding panels pivotally connected at their lower ends to opposite ends of the bottom panel and at their upper ends to corresponding opposite ends of the top frame, adjacent the side panels. The crate appears as a normal milk crate, but is collapsible to a very low profile by swinging the side panels up toward the frame, so that the side panels are substantially parallel to the bottom panel and co-planar with the frame, then allowing the front and back panels to fold inwardly to bring the top frame and bottom panel together, such that the crate structure is compressed into a compact configuration.

Description

[0001] This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 449,202 filed Feb. 19, 2003 for COLLAPSIBLE CRATE, which application is incorporated herein by this reference thereto.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates generally to crates, and in particular to crates which are collapsible or foldable.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] Containers having an open top for convenient storage and delivery of items have been designed as foldable for convenient storage of the containers themselves. See for example Saunders U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,342. Such containers, however, may have an unstable and heavy design, which uses too much material, making them costly and less than ideal -for delivery of heavy items, such as a plurality of one-gallon milk or water jugs.[0006] The present invention provides a collapsible crate which has an especially sturdy construction, making it particularly suitable for containing and transpo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible crate which has an especially sturdy construction, making it particularly suitable for containing and transporting large containers, such as one gallon water or milk jugs.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible crate which can be used for directly suspending file folders, without the use of an additional rack for suspending the folders.

Problems solved by technology

Such containers, however, may have an unstable and heavy design, which uses too much material, making them costly and less than ideal -for delivery of heavy items, such as a plurality of one-gallon milk or water jugs.

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