Collapsible container

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible container (2) having a base plate (4) and side walls (6, 8) which are pivotally hinged to the base plate (4) and can pivot between a folded-in transport position and an erected use position, the base plate (4) having a closed, uniformly high base edge (14) that extends around the entire periphery with no apertures, and the side walls (6, 8) being located entirely within and entirely below the base edge (14) in the folded-in transport position.

Description

Technical Field The disclosure relates to a foldable container comprising a bottom plate and side walls pivotably hinged to the bottom plate, which can be pivoted between a folded transport position and an erected use position. Background of the Disclosure Foldable containers / boxes / crates for transporting goods or products are known in the prior art. Conventionally, these boxes comprise a bottom and a plurality of foldable or collapsible side walls which can be pivoted between the unfolded use position and the folded transport position. In the use position, goods, for example fruit or vegetables, can be transported from a producer to a recipient in the foldable containers. For convenient loading of the foldable containers and thorough cleaning, it is advantageous for the side walls to be held in the unfolded use position. For this purpose, locking mechanisms for the side walls are known from the prior art. For example, EP 2 431 287 A1 describes a foldable container having a locking mechanism which causes two side walls to snap together and which can be released by means of an unlocking bail. The unlocking bail is received on the foldable container in such a way that it can move in a height direction of the foldable container and releases the locking when a user moves the unlocking bail beyond an upper edge of the foldable container. For reuse, after being unloaded at the recipient, the foldable containers must be transported back to the producer. In this case, it is crucial that the foldable containers occupy as little volume as possible in the folded transport position, since this allows as many foldable containers as possible to be transported on a return trip. Since the foldable containers are usually used several times, they must also have sufficient stability. Stiffeners on the side walls are known for preventing the side walls from buckling in the unfolded use position, for example when a plurality of filled foldable containers are stacked. For example, WO 2010 / 119 068 A1 shows a foldable box having foldable side walls, in which the side walls comprise spherical, convex wall portions and webs and ribs extending between these wall portions. Although such stiffeners provide improved stability in the unfolded use position, the problem remains in the folded transport position that the foldable containers can be damaged owing to their minimized volume and the associated low torsional rigidity. Summary of the Disclosure Starting from this prior art, the object of the present disclosure is to overcome or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an improved foldable container which ensures the smallest possible or minimized volume in the folded transport position while providing sufficient stability in all positions. According to the disclosure, the objects and aims are achieved, with respect to a foldable container of the generic type, by the subject matter of claim 1. Accordingly, according to the disclosure, the foldable container is configured such that the bottom plate has a closed, fully circumferential and preferably constant-height bottom rim (except for one hinge geometry and one stacking geometry, respectively), and the side walls are located entirely within and entirely below the bottom rim in the folded transport position. The foldable container according to the disclosure is preferably a “small container” having a maximum width of 600 mm, a maximum length of 800 mm and a maximum height of 600 mm. That is, according to the disclosure, the bottom plate of the foldable container has the bottom rim, which is formed over the entire circumference of the bottom plate. In this case, the bottom rim is formed as being closed, i.e. without openings or cut-outs. This means that the bottom rim has no through-holes which would establish a connection between an environment of the container and the interior of the container. Furthermore, the bottom rim has a constant height over the entire circumference of the bottom plate, such that no lowered portions or undercuts, or elevations or projections, are formed on the bottom rim. The constant height of the bottom rim is also present if the bottom rim has a stacking geometry, i.e. a recess or a projection. Accordingly, the bottom rim is considered to have a constant height even if it has a stacking geometry, for example a stacking projection or a stacking recess, on its upper side. More precisely, in the container according to the invention, the bottom rim is formed such that its outer edge has the same height everywhere, i.e. continuously along both transverse edges and both longitudinal edges of the bottom. In other words, an upper edge of the bottom rim, facing away from the bottom plate, is substantially equidistant from a lower edge of the bottom rim. A bottom rim configured in this way, extending perpendicularly to the bottom surface and being fully circumferential, contributes to increasing the torsional rigidity of the bottom and of the foldable container as a whole, both in the unfolded use position and in the folded transport position. A fully circumferential rim, i.e. a rim without interruptions and without abrupt differences or steps in height, ensures that the bottom withstands a torsional load and does not buckle at any point. The bottom rim still qualifies as a rim without interruptions if it has a geometry for hinges, for example recesses. According to the disclosure, the height of the bottom rim is selected such that the side walls do not protrude beyond the bottom plate or the bottom rim in the folded transport position. That is, the dimensions of the foldable container in the folded transport position are defined exclusively by the bottom plate and the bottom rim. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims and are explained below. According to the disclosure, a first pivot axis about which the at least one first side wall can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate and a second pivot axis about which the at least one second side wall can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate can preferably be spaced apart from one another in the height direction of the foldable container. That is, the pivot axes about which the first and second side walls can be pivoted are formed at different levels in the height direction of the foldable container, so that the first and second side walls can be folded flat one on top of the other and the foldable container can thus be made particularly flat in the folded transport position. In other words, the volume of the foldable container in the folded transport position can be further reduced. It may be particularly expedient for the first pivot axis to be arranged below the second pivot axis in the height direction of the foldable container. In a preferred variant, at least one first side wall may be pivotably hinged directly to the bottom plate and at least one second side wall may be pivotably hinged directly to the bottom rim. It may be particularly advantageous for at least one first hinge for hinging the at least one first side wall to be arranged directly on the bottom plate and at least one second hinge for hinging the at least one second side wall to be arranged directly on the bottom rim. That is, the first side wall may preferably be hinged to the bottom plate by way of the first hinge, whereas the second side wall may be hinged to the bottom rim by way of the second hinge. According to the disclosure, the at least one first side wall and the at least one second side wall may be oriented perpendicularly to one another in the erected use position and may abut one another in corner regions of the foldable container. In a preferred development, two first side walls and two second side walls may each be arranged on opposite edges of the preferably rectangular bottom plate. According to an additional and possibly separately protectable aspect, the foldable container according to the disclosure may comprise a bottom plate and side walls pivotably hinged to the bottom plate, which can be pivoted between a folded transport position and an erected use position, wherein the foldable container is configured such that at least one side wall has, in corner regions in which two side walls abut one another in the erected use position, a reinforcing matrix / reinforcing matrix / reinforcing pattern having positive reinforcing projections and negative reinforcing recesses arranged alternately in a height direction and a longitudinal direction of the at least one side wall. It may be expedient for the reinforcing matrix to extend over the entire at least one side wall in the height direction of the side wall. Furthermore, it may be advantageous for at least two positive reinforcing projections and / or at least two negative reinforcing recesses to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the at least one side wall, and / or if at least one vertical row of alternating positive reinforcing projections and negative reinforcing recesses and at least one vertical row of positive reinforcing projections and negative reinforcing recesses being arranged alternately and offset therefrom is provided. The reinforcing matrix leads to improved stability of the foldable container without additional material input. In other words, the side walls can be stabilized by providing the reinforcing matrix, so that they can be made with a smaller wall thickness, which in turn leads to a reduced weight of the foldable container. According to an additional and possibly separately protectable aspect, the foldable container according to the disclosure may comprise a bottom plate and side walls pivotably hinged to the bottom plate, which can be pivoted between a folded transport position and an erected use position, wherein at least one side wall has at least one arcuate positive or negative reinforcing profile, in particular two positive and negative reinforcing profiles extending alongside one another. The arcuate reinforcing profile can preferably extend over the entire at least one side wall in a longitudinal direction of the side wall. Furthermore, the arcuate reinforcing profile may be bent upward from the bottom plate in the manner of an arch brace. In this case, the apex of the arc may be located in a central portion of the side wall, i.e. in the center of the side wall. Particularly preferably, the apex of the arc may also be arranged directly above the grip opening or recess in the height direction of the foldable container. To further increase the rigidity of the at least one side wall, the at least one side wall may have oppositely directed, arc-segment-shaped positive or negative reinforcing geometries, in particular reinforcing ribs or reinforcing grooves. These may be formed in opposite directions on the at least one side wall such that they are bent downward from an upper edge of the side wall. Furthermore, the apex of the arc may advantageously be arranged in the center of the side wall, in particular directly below the grip opening or recess. According to an advantageous and possibly separately protectable aspect, the foldable container according to the disclosure may comprise a bottom plate and side walls pivotably hinged to the bottom plate, which can be pivoted between a folded transport position and an erected use position, wherein the foldable container is configured such that the first and second side walls can be releasably locked to one another in the use position. According to the disclosure, the foldable container may have a locking mechanism with two function portions which are provided spatially separated and which operate differently from each other, in order to release the locking of the first and second side walls, on the one hand by knocking in the first or second side walls and on the other hand by manually unlocking the locking mechanism. As a rule, the container is manually folded up by a user and the locking mechanism is also manually unlocked. However, the container must also be capable of being folded up automatically, e.g. in a washing system. Therefore, the container must also be capable of being folded up without manual actuation. By providing two function portions which are spatially separate and operate differently, these can be configured independently of one another for manual or automatic unlocking, depending on the respective requirement. In this case, it may be advantageous for the locking mechanism to have a locking element arranged on a side wall, in particular an integral locking element, which blocks the folding movement of the other side wall from the use position into the transport position. Alternatively, the locking element may also be a separate component received in a receiving opening of one side wall. In a preferred configuration, the locking element may be elastically resiliently mounted or formed in two mutually perpendicular directions of movement, in particular in a first direction of movement perpendicular to the one side wall and in a second direction of movement perpendicular to the other side wall, and may thus release the locking of the side walls both in the first and in the second direction of movement. The locking element may preferably have a main body portion, a locking portion, a first spring portion and a second spring portion, wherein the first spring portion resiliently biases the main body portion and the locking portion together relative to the first side wall, and the second spring portion resiliently biases the main body portion and the locking portion relative to one another. It may be expedient for the second spring portion to be a curved or U-shaped end portion of the locking element, adjoining the main body portion, which rests against the inner side of the other side wall in the use position and yields inward when a predetermined (impact) force directed from the outside onto the other side wall is exceeded. Furthermore, it may be advantageous for the first spring portion to bias the main body portion and the locking portion outward and to yield when the main body portion is pressed from the outside inward. Furthermore, the present object could be achieved by a locking mechanism for locking two adjacent side walls of a foldable container of the generic type or according to the disclosure. Such a locking mechanism may have two function portions which are spatially separate and operate differently, in order to release the locking of the adjacent side walls, on the one hand by knocking in one of the adjacent side walls and on the other hand by manually unlocking the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may have the properties or configurations set out above and below. By means of such a locking mechanism, the side walls of a foldable container can be effectively locked to one another, so that undesired folding of the foldable container can be prevented. Brief Description of the Figures The disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments and with the aid of figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a foldable container according to a preferred exemplary embodiment in an unfolded use position; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in a folded transport position; Fig. 3 a perspective view of a bottom plate of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment; Fig. 4 a schematic partial sectional view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the folded transport position; Fig. 5 a perspective detailed view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the unfolded use position; Fig. 6 a first side view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the unfolded use position; Fig. 7 a second side view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the unfolded use position; Fig. 8 a perspective detailed view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the unfolded use position; Fig. 9 a schematic partial sectional view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment; Fig. 10 a detailed view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the unfolded use position; Fig. 11 a schematic partial sectional view of the foldable container according to the preferred exemplary embodiment; Fig. 12 a perspective view of an alternative bottom plate of the foldable container; and Fig. 13 a cross-sectional view of the foldable container with an alternative bottom plate in the folded transport position. The figures are schematic in nature and serve only to aid understanding of the disclosure. Identical elements are provided with the same reference signs. Detailed Description of Preferred Exemplary Embodiments Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a foldable container 2 according to a preferred exemplary embodiment. The foldable container 2 is preferably made of plastic, in particular by injection molding. The foldable container 2 has a rectangular bottom plate 4, to the edges of which first (short) side walls or end walls 6 and second (long) side walls or longitudinal walls 8 are each pivotably hinged. The first side walls 6 are arranged on the short edges of the bottom plate 4, whereas the second side walls 8 are secured to the long edges of the bottom plate 4. As mentioned above, the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 are pivotably hinged to the bottom plate 4 so as to be pivoted between an (inwardly) folded transport position and an unfolded (vertical) use position. In the folded transport position, the side walls 6, 8 rest one on top of the other on the bottom plate 4. That is, the side walls 6, 8 are arranged parallel to the bottom plate 4. In the unfolded use position, the side walls 6, 8 are oriented perpendicularly to the bottom plate 4 and, together with the bottom plate 4, define a container interior 10 which can be stocked or loaded with goods to be transported. In order to be able to carry / grip the foldable container 2 in the unfolded use position, grip openings 12 are formed centrally in each of the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8. In the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment, one grip opening 12 is formed in each of the four side walls 6, 8. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment in the folded transport position. It can be seen therein that the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 are received, in the folded transport position, entirely within and, in a height direction of the foldable container 2, entirely below a bottom rim 14 of the bottom plate 4, with the second side walls 8 being folded over the first side walls 6. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 3, the bottom plate 4 has the closed, fully circumferential and constant-height bottom rim 14. That is, the bottom plate 4 has the bottom rim 14, which extends in the form of a strip without openings along the four edges of the bottom plate 4. Furthermore, the bottom rim 14 has a constant extent in the height direction of the foldable container 2, such that an upper end edge 16 of the bottom rim 14 is at substantially the same distance from a lower end edge 18 of the bottom rim 14 at every point of the bottom plate 4. A stacking geometry in the form of stacking ribs is provided on the upper side of the bottom rim 14 along the longitudinal edges of the bottom plate 4. Nevertheless, the bottom rim 14 is a closed bottom rim which has a constant height around its circumference. In Fig. 2, the bottom rim 14 has recesses along its outer edge, for example for attaching labels. These recesses do not preclude the bottom rim 14 from being defined as being closed, fully circumferential and of constant height. As mentioned above, the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 are arranged on the bottom plate 4 or on the bottom rim 14, respectively, so as to be pivotable. For this purpose, at least one first hinge 20 for hinging the first side wall 6 is arranged or formed directly on the bottom plate 4. According to the preferred exemplary embodiment, four first hinges 20 are formed directly on the bottom plate 4 for each of the two first side walls 6. The first hinges 20 define a first pivot axis 22 about which the first side wall 6 can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate 4. Since the first side walls 6 are hinged to the bottom plate 4 by way of the first hinge 20, the bottom rim 14 on the short sides is provided not to accommodate the hinges 20, but to increase the torsional rigidity of the bottom plate 4. Furthermore, at least one second hinge 24 is provided for pivotably hinging the at least one second side wall 8. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the at least one second hinge 24 is arranged or formed directly on the bottom rim 14, i.e. separately from the bottom rim 14 and not as part of the bottom rim 14. Four second hinges 24 are provided for each of the two second side walls 8 in the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment. The second hinges 24 define a second pivot axis 25 about which the second side wall 8 can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate 4. On the long sides, the bottom rim 14 has two functions. It serves both to accommodate the hinges 24 and to increase the torsional rigidity of the bottom plate 4. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the first pivot axis 22 and the second pivot axis 25 are spaced apart from one another in the height direction of the foldable container 2. In particular, the first pivot axis 22 is arranged below the second pivot axis 25. That is, the first pivot axis 22 is arranged closer to the bottom plate 4 than the second pivot axis 25. Hinging the first side walls 6 directly to the bottom plate 4 by means of the first hinges 20 and hinging the second side walls 8 directly to the bottom rim 14 by means of the second hinges 24 makes it possible for the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 to be arranged, in the folded transport position, entirely within and, in the height direction of the foldable container 2, entirely below the bottom rim 14, as schematically shown in Fig. 4. By positioning the first hinges 20 directly on the bottom plate 4, the first pivot axis 22 can be arranged lower than if it were accommodated in the bottom rim 14. If the first pivot axis 20 can be arranged lower, the second pivot axis 25 can also be arranged relatively lower. Thus, the height of the bottom plate 4, including the bottom rim 14, can be reduced. This allows the height of the foldable container 2 in the folded transport position to be determined by the height of the bottom rim 14. In other words, the hinging of the side walls 6, 8 by way of the hinges 20, 24 according to the disclosure allows the height of the foldable container 2 in the folded transport position to be reduced. Owing to its closed and circumferential geometry, the bottom rim 14 also ensures sufficient torsional rigidity of the foldable container 2 in the folded transport position. Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of a corner region of the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment. It can be seen that the first side wall 6 and the second side wall 8 each have a reinforcing matrix 26 in corner regions / edge regions in which they abut one another in the erected use position. The reinforcing matrix 26 is formed by reinforcing projections 28 and reinforcing recesses 30. The reinforcing projections 28 protrude outward from the respective side wall 6, 8 as a positive profile, whereas the reinforcing recesses 30 recede inward from the respective side wall 6, 8 as a negative profile, i.e. into the container interior 10. As can be seen in Fig. 5, the reinforcing projections 28 and the reinforcing recesses 30 are arranged alternately both in the height direction of the foldable container 2 and in the corresponding longitudinal directions or width directions of the side walls 6, 8. That is, in both the height direction and the longitudinal direction, each reinforcing projection 28 is followed by a reinforcing recess 30, and so forth. The reinforcing matrix 26 is thus formed in the shape of a checkerboard pattern. According to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing matrix 26 extends over the entire side walls 6, 8 in the height direction of the foldable container 2. In the longitudinal direction, two reinforcing recesses 30 and one reinforcing projection 28 are formed on each side wall 6, 8. In other words, the reinforcing matrix 26 is formed from the reinforcing projections 28 and the reinforcing recesses 30, which are arranged alternately in rows (horizontal rows) and columns (vertical rows). That is, a reinforcing recess 30 is provided next to (in the vertical and horizontal directions) a reinforcing projection 28, or vice versa. In the longitudinal direction, three columns of the reinforcing matrix 26 are formed on each of the side walls 6, 8, whereas the reinforcing matrix 26 extends over the entire height of the foldable container 2. Fig. 6 shows a side view of the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment, in particular of one of the second side walls 8, whereas Fig. 7 shows a side view of one of the first side walls 6. As mentioned above, in the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment, each of the first side walls 6 and the second side walls 8 has a respective grip opening 12. Furthermore, the reinforcing matrix 26 is formed in the corner regions of the foldable container 2 both on the first side walls 6 and on the second side walls 8. To increase the stability of the side walls 6, 8, in particular against buckling when a force acts in the height direction of the foldable container 2, each of the side walls 6, 8 has at least one positive reinforcing profile 32 and at least one negative reinforcing profile 34. The positive reinforcing profile 32 is configured in the manner of a bead which is open toward the container interior 10. The negative reinforcing profile 34 is also configured such that it is open toward the exterior of the container. As can be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the positive reinforcing profile 32 and the negative reinforcing profile 34 are formed directly alongside one another on the side walls 6, 8 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the respective side wall 6, 8 over the entire side wall 6, 8. Furthermore, the positive reinforcing profile 32 and the negative reinforcing profile 34 are arcuate, with the reinforcing profiles 32, 34 being bent upward from the bottom plate 4 and an apex of the arc being located in a central region of the side wall 6, 8, i.e. in the center of the side wall. In the foldable container 2, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the apex of the arc of the arcuate reinforcing profiles 32, 34 lies directly above the lateral grip opening 12. In this way, a force acting on the respective side wall 6, 8 in the erected use position can be transmitted by way of the arcuate reinforcing profiles 32, 34 into the corner regions reinforced by the reinforcing matrix 26, resulting in increased stability of the side walls 6, 8. It may also be advantageous for the reinforcing projections 28 and reinforcing recesses 30 of the reinforcing matrix 26 in the corner regions to approach the arcuate reinforcing profiles 32, 34 in shape, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In other words, the reinforcing projections 28 and reinforcing recesses 30 can be formed as a plurality of arcuate-segment-shaped positive or negative reinforcing profile portions. Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, arcuate-segment-shaped positive reinforcing ribs 36, which protrude towards the exterior of the container, are formed on the side walls 6, 8 to further improve the (torsional) rigidity of the side walls 6, 8. Alternatively, these reinforcing ribs 36 may also be configured as negative reinforcing geometries, for example reinforcing grooves projecting into the container interior 10. The reinforcing ribs 36 are arranged in opposite directions to the reinforcing profiles 32, 34. That is, the reinforcing ribs 36 are bent downward from the upper edge of the side wall 6, 8 in the height direction of the foldable container 2, such that the apex of the arc is located in the center of the side wall, in particular directly below the grip opening 12. According to the preferred exemplary embodiment, it is advantageous for the reinforcing ribs 36 and the reinforcing profiles 32, 34 to intersect or overlap. In order to lock the side walls 6, 8 to one another in the unfolded use position, a locking mechanism 38 is provided in each of the four corner regions of the foldable container 2, as shown in Fig. 8. In the foldable container 2 according to the preferred exemplary embodiment, the locking mechanism 38 comprises a locking element 40 shown in Fig. 9. The locking element 40 is arranged in a fixed position on the second side wall 8. In particular, the locking element 40 may be formed integrally with the second side wall 8 from the same material. Alternatively, the locking element 40 may also be received as a separate component in a receiving opening 42 of the second side wall 8. As mentioned above, the locking element 40 is arranged on the second side wall 8 in order to block / prevent a folding movement of the first side wall 6 from the unfolded use position into the folded transport position (to the right in Fig. 9). For this purpose, the locking element 40 has a main body portion 44, a first spring portion 46, a second spring portion 48 and a locking portion 50. The first spring portion 46 biases the main body portion 44 and the locking portion 50 against the second side wall 8. In particular, the first spring portion 46 presses the main body portion 44 of the locking element 40 against the second side wall 8 or through the receiving opening 42 of the second side wall 8 toward the exterior of the container (upward in Fig. 9). Accordingly, the first spring portion 46 presses the locking portion 50 toward the container interior 10, such that the locking portion 50 rests against the first side wall 6 in the unfolded use position and in this way blocks the folding movement into the folded transport position. The second spring portion 48, on the other hand, resiliently biases the main body portion 44 and the locking portion 50 relative to one another. In order to release the locking mechanism 38, a manual force F1 can now be applied to the main body portion 44, on the one hand, from the outside, i.e. from the exterior of the container toward the container interior 10 (downward in Fig. 9). This force F1 acts against the spring force of the first spring portion 46, as a result of which the locking portion 50 can be pivoted away from the container interior 10 in order to release the folding movement of the first side wall 6. Furthermore, the locking mechanism 38 can also be released by applying a force F2 from the outside to the first side wall 6, for example by knocking in the first side wall 6. This force F2 acts against the spring force of the second spring portion 48. The second spring portion 48 is thereby compressed, so that the locking portion 50 can move toward the main body portion 44 (to the right in Fig. 9), in order to enter into the receiving opening 42 and thereby clear a path of movement for the folding movement of the first side wall 6. The locking of the first side wall 6 and the second side wall 8 by the locking mechanism 38 can therefore be released, on the one hand, by knocking in the first side wall 6 and, on the other hand, by manually unlocking the locking mechanism 38. Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the locking mechanism 38 arranged on the container 1. Here, the locking mechanism 38 is in a locking position in which the locking mechanism 38 locks the first side wall 6 to the second side wall 8. Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism 38 in the locking position. In the locking position, the first spring portion 46 presses the main body portion 44 such that the main body portion 44 is oriented parallel to the second side wall 8. A projection on the locking portion 50 interacts with a projection on the first side wall 6 which protrudes toward the center of the container, and thus prevents the first side wall 6 from being moved toward the bottom plate 4 (without external force being applied). Here, the first spring portion 46 is configured to be less complex than in Fig. 9. More precisely, the first spring portion 46 has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional area. If the locking position is released by knocking in the first side wall 6 toward the center of the container, only the second spring portion 48 deforms, whereas the first spring portion 46, as configured in Fig. 11, does not move or deform. Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of an alternative bottom plate 4 of the foldable container 2. In contrast to the foldable container 2 according to the first exemplary embodiment, this foldable container 2 has no stacking geometry at the upper edge of its bottom rim 14. Along the two short edges of the bottom rim 14, at least the first hinge 22 for hinging the first side wall 6 is arranged or formed on the bottom plate 4. As in the first exemplary embodiment, in the second exemplary embodiment four first hinges 22 are formed directly on the bottom plate 4 for each of the two first side walls 6. At least one second hinge 24 for hinging the at least one second side wall 8 is provided along the two long edges of the bottom rim 14. As can be seen in Fig. 7, the at least one second hinge 24 is arranged or formed directly on the bottom rim 14. Four second hinges 24 are provided for each of the two second side walls 8 in the foldable container 2 according to the second exemplary embodiment. Although the second hinges 24 are positioned directly on the bottom rim 14, they are not a section / part / element of the bottom rim 14. In the present case, the bottom rim 14 has no stacking geometry. Recesses 52 are provided in the long outer edge of the bottom rim 14. These recesses 52 can receive, for example, a label / tag, etc. These recesses 52 are no through-openings, and the bottom rim 14 is a continuously closed bottom rim even with the recesses 52. Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the foldable container 2 with an alternative bottom plate in the folded transport position. It can be seen that the second side wall 8 is folded over the first side wall 6. The first side wall 6 rests on the bottom plate 4 at least in portions. The second side wall 8 rests (substantially flat) on the first side wall 6. The upper side of the second side wall 8 lies in the same plane as the upper edge of the bottom rim 14. In other words, in the folded use position, no portion of the foldable container 2 protrudes beyond the upper edge of the bottom rim 14. Furthermore, Fig. 9 shows a stacking rim 54 projecting downward from the underside of the bottom plate 4. This stacking rim 54 is offset toward the center of the bottom plate 4 relative to the outer edge of the bottom plate 4 to such an extent that the stacking rim 54 is provided further inward than the bottom rim 14 (with respect to the center of the bottom plate 4). A stacking recess 56 is formed in the outer side or upper side of the second side wall 8 at the same height as the stacking rim 54, viewed in the vertical direction. In the folded state, a plurality of foldable containers 2 can be stacked one on top of another. In this case, the stacking rim 54 of an upper foldable container 2 engages in the stacking recess 56 of a lower foldable container 2. In this way, it is not necessary for the bottom rim 14 to have a stacking geometry. 5 The stacking rim 54 can also serve to stack a plurality of foldable containers 2 in the unfolded use position and in this case reduce / prevent an upper foldable container 2 from slipping relative to a lower foldable container 2. 10 List of Reference Signs 2    Foldable container 4    Bottom plate 6    First side wall 8   Second side wall 10   Container interior 12  Grip opening 14  Bottom rim 16  Upper end edge 18  Lower end edge 20   First hinge 22   First pivot axis 24  Second hinge 25  Second pivot axis 26  Reinforcing matrix 28  Reinforcing projection 30  Reinforcing recess 32 Positive reinforcing profile 34   Negative reinforcing profile 36  Reinforcing ribs 38  Locking mechanism 40  Locking element 42  Receiving opening 44  Main body portion 46   First spring portion 48  Second spring portion 50  Locking portion 52  Recess in the bottom rim 54  Stacking rim 56  Stacking recess

Claims

1. A foldable container (2) comprising a bottom plate (4) and side walls (6, 8) pivotably hinged to the bottom plate (4), which can be pivoted between a folded transport position and an erected use position,characterized in thatthe bottom plate (4) has a closed, fully circumferential and constant-height bottom rim (14) without through-openings, and the side walls (6, 8) are located entirely within the bottom rim (14) and entirely below an upper edge of the bottom rim (14) in the folded transport position.

2. The foldable container (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a first pivot axis (22), about which at least one first side wall (6) can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate (4), and a second pivot axis (25), about which at least one second side wall (8) can be pivoted relative to the bottom plate (4), are spaced apart from one another in the height direction of the foldable container (2).

3. The foldable container (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first pivot axis (22) is arranged below the second pivot axis (25) in the height direction of the foldable container (2).

4. The foldable container (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one first side wall (6) is pivotably hinged directly to the bottom plate (4), and the at least one second side wall (8) is pivotably hinged directly to the bottom rim (14).

5. The foldable container (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one first side wall (6) and the at least one second side wall (8) are oriented perpendicularly to one another in the erected use position and abut one another in corner regions of the foldable container (2).

6. The foldable container (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further characterized by two first side walls (6) and two second side walls (8), each of which is arranged on opposite edges of the preferably rectangular bottom plate (4).

7. The foldable container (2) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one side wall (6, 8) has, in the corner regions in which two side walls (6, 8) abut one another in the erected use position, a reinforcing matrix (26) having positive reinforcing projections (28) and negative reinforcing recesses (30) arranged alternately in a height direction and a longitudinal direction of the at least one side wall (6, 8), which are located entirely below the upper edge of the bottom rim (14) in the folded transport position.

8. The foldable container (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the reinforcing matrix (26) extends over the entire at least one side wall (6, 8) in the height direction of the at least one side wall (6, 8).

9. The foldable container (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that at least two positive reinforcing projections (28) and / or at least two negative reinforcing recesses (30) are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the at least one side wall (6, 8).

10. The foldable container (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one side wall (6, 8) has at least one arcuate positive or negative reinforcing profile (32, 34), in particular two positive and negative reinforcing profiles (32, 34) extending alongside one another.

11. The foldable container (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that the arcuate reinforcing profile (32, 34) extends over the entire at least one side wall (6, 8) in a longitudinal direction of the side wall (6, 8).

12. The foldable container (2) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the arcuate reinforcing profile (32, 34) is bent upward from the bottom plate (4) in the manner of an arch brace, wherein an apex of the arcuate reinforcing profile (32, 34) ispreferably arranged directly above a grip opening or recess (12) in the height direction of the foldable container.

13. The foldable container (2) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the at least one side wall (6, 8) has oppositely directed, arcsegment-shaped positive or negative reinforcing geometries, in particular reinforcing ribs (36) or reinforcing grooves, which are preferably formed in opposite directions on the at least one side wall (6, 8) such that they are bent downward from an upper edge of the side wall (6, 8), in particular such that an apex of the oppositely directed reinforcing geometries is arranged directly below the grip opening or recess (12).

14. The foldable container (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by comprising a locking mechanism (38) having two function portions (46, 48) which are spatially separate and operate differently, in order to release the locking of the first and second side walls (6, 8), on the one hand by knocking in the first or second side walls and on the other hand by manually unlocking the locking mechanism.

15. The foldable container (2) according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking mechanism (38) has a locking element (40) arranged on a side wall (8), in particular an integral locking element, which blocks the folding movement of the other side wall (6) from the use position into the transport position, wherein the locking element (40) is elastically resiliently mounted or formed in two mutually perpendicular directions of movement, in particular in a first direction of movement perpendicular to the one side wall (6) and in a second direction of movement perpendicular to the other side wall (8), and thus releases the locking of the side walls (6, 8) both in the first and in the second direction of movement.

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