Foldable container

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable container which comprises a base and side plates hinged to the base, the side plates comprise the first side plate and the second side plate, and the first side plate is provided with a first side plate upper plate and a first side plate lower plate which are connected through a hinge; the first side plate upper plate has a fixed state in which the first side plate upper plate is fixedly connected with the first side plate lower plate and the second side plate, and a folded state in which the first side plate upper plate is unlocked from the second side plate and can be folded relative to the first side plate lower plate; a locking device is arranged on the upper plate of the first side plate; when the first side plate upper plate is converted from a folded state to a fixed state, the locking device can automatically lock the first side plate upper plate and the second side plate so as to keep the first side plate upper plate in the fixed state; when the first side plate upper plate is converted from the fixed state to the folded state, the locking mechanism can be unlocked only through manual operation, and the problem that an existing container side plate is prone to being automatically unlocked due to vibration in the transportation process is solved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of logistics containers, in particular to a foldable container. BACKGROUND

[0002] The existing turnover container carrier generally comprises a box body and a box cover. In actual packaging carrier use, after semi-finished products or prefabricated parts are produced and processed, they are loaded into the turnover container, and the box cover is closed after filling is completed. Unloading is carried out after the container arrives at the customer end or destination. The current unloading method is mainly to discharge through the discharge device arranged at the bottom of the box or to use external supporting equipment to lift the container for dumping to complete the unloading operation of the goods in the box.

[0003] Such a packaging and transportation container has increased volume, and the side plates also need to be increased in height and length. In order to fold the side plates and store them in the base range, the side plates need to be split into at least two sections. When the upper section of the side plates is unfolded, it needs to rotate around the hinge (from the outside to the inside) to reach the preset upright position. When the upper section of the side plates is lowered, the upper section of the side plates is engaged into the opposite engagement of the other pair of side plates for engagement and fixation. For such double-folded side plates, there is no locking device in the vertical direction. During the storage and transportation of the packaging container, the side plate engagement will automatically displace upward under the action of transportation vibration or pressure deformation of the prefabricated parts in the box, causing the engagement of the upper section of the side plates to separate and unlock and causing the goods in the box to be thrown out and exposed.

[0004] Although some folding containers in the prior art are provided with a locking mechanism to fix adjacent side plates, the locking and unlocking processes are relatively complex, increasing the operation difficulty. SUMMARY

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide a foldable container that can automatically lock adjacent side plates.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical scheme adopted by the present application is as follows:

[0007] A foldable container comprises a base and a side plate hinged to the base. The side plate comprises a first side plate and a second side plate. The first side plate has a first side plate upper plate and a first side plate lower plate connected by a hinge. The first side plate upper plate has a fixed state of being fixedly connected with the first side plate lower plate and the second side plate, and a folding state of being unlocked from the second side plate and foldable relative to the first side plate lower plate. The first side plate upper plate is provided with a locking device.

[0008] When the first side plate upper plate is converted from the folding state to the fixed state, the locking device can automatically lock the first side plate upper plate and the second side plate to maintain the first side plate upper plate in the fixed state.

[0009] When the first side plate upper plate is switched from the fixed state to the folded state, the locking mechanism needs to be unlocked by manual operation.

[0010] In one embodiment, the lock device comprises a movable lock tongue and a first reset member providing a reset force to maintain the lock state for the lock tongue; in the lock state, the lock tongue is located in a lock slot provided on the second side plate.

[0011] In one embodiment, the lock device further comprises an operating member connected with the lock tongue, and the lock tongue is separated from the lock slot by operating the operating member.

[0012] In one embodiment, the operating member is a handle movably connected with the first side plate upper plate and having a handle driven part acting on the lock tongue.

[0013] In one embodiment, the handle is pivoted with the first side plate upper plate and drives the handle driven part to act on the lock tongue to separate from the lock slot by rotating movement.

[0014] In one embodiment, the handle is connected with the first side plate upper plate through a sliding pair and drives the handle driven part to act on the lock tongue to separate from the lock slot by linear movement.

[0015] In one embodiment, the lock tongue is provided with a lock tongue guide part, and the operating force of the handle is converted into an unlocking force to drive the lock tongue to move by the slope cooperation between the handle driven part and the lock tongue guide part.

[0016] In one embodiment, the lock tongue guide part is a slope formed on the lock tongue, and the handle driven part is provided with a convex arc surface or a slope matched with the slope.

[0017] In one embodiment, the lock tongue guide part is a guide column formed on the lock tongue, and the handle driven part is provided with a slope matched with the guide column.

[0018] In one embodiment, the lock device further comprises a second reset member acting on the operating member, and the second reset member generates a reset force to reset the operating member to the initial position.

[0019] In one embodiment, the second reset member is an elastic structure integrally formed with the operating member.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first side plate upper plate and the second side plate are respectively provided with one of a first engaging part and a second engaging part which cooperate with each other, and when the first side plate upper plate is in a fixed state, the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged with each other; and when the first side plate upper plate is in a folded state, the first engaging part and the second engaging part are separated from each other.

[0021] In one embodiment, the locking mechanism is configured to act on the first side plate upper plate while operating the locking mechanism to release the locking state, and the action causes the first engaging part to form a movement of engaging and separating relative to the second engaging part.

[0022] In one embodiment, the hinge is a lifting hinge, and the lifting hinge is configured to allow the first side plate upper plate to produce a downward linear displacement to achieve the engagement of the first engaging part and the second engaging part, and to allow the first side plate upper plate to produce an upward linear displacement to achieve the separation of the first engaging part and the second engaging part after the lifting hinge is unlocked.

[0023] In one embodiment, the first engaging part is a clamping block arranged at an end of the first side plate upper plate, and the second engaging part is a limiting groove arranged at an end of the second side plate, and when the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged with each other, the clamping block is located in the limiting groove.

[0024] In one embodiment, the clamping block and the limiting groove are configured to limit each other in directions other than the upward linear displacement direction of the first side plate upper plate.

[0025] The present application has the beneficial effects that the locking device is provided with automatic locking and manual unlocking, which fundamentally solves the risk of accidental unlocking of the folding container side plate due to vibration during transportation, and significantly improves the transportation safety. The locking device also cooperates with the lifting hinge to achieve the convenient operation of automatic locking by pressing down when unfolding and one-key unlocking by pulling before folding, so as to effectively ensure the use reliability and operation convenience of the container by a simple and reliable structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the foldable container when the locking device locks the adjacent side plates.

[0027] Figure 2 is Figure 1 is an enlarged view of A in FIG. 4.

[0028] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the foldable container when the locking tongue of the locking device is separated from the locking groove.

[0029] Figure 4 isFigure 3 Enlarged view at B.

[0030] Figure 5 is a schematic view of the foldable container after the long side upper plate is lifted to a certain height.

[0031] Figure 6 is a schematic view of the foldable container after the long side upper plate is lifted to a certain height. Figure 5 Enlarged view at C.

[0032] Figure 7 is a schematic view of the foldable container after the long side upper plate is lifted to a certain height.

[0033] Figure 8 is a schematic view of the foldable container after the long side upper plate is lifted to a certain height.

[0034] Figure 9 is a schematic view of another handle structure of the locking device.

[0035] Figure 10 is a schematic view of another handle structure of the locking device.

[0036] Figure 11 is a schematic view of the first and second engaging parts in the engaging state.

[0037] Figure 12 is a schematic view of the first and second engaging parts in the disengaging state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The preferred embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and therefore the description will be given only with respect to the differences from the previous embodiments. It is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not limiting to the scope of the present application, but are merely intended to illustrate the essential spirit of the technical solutions of the present application.

[0039] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. It will be appreciated, however, that embodiments can be practiced in many different inventive ways without resorting to the details that are presented. In other instances, well-known apparatuses, structures, and techniques have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring this description.

[0040] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to".

[0041] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0042] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should be noted that the term "comprising" typically is used herein to mean "including at least the recited elements," and is not intended to be construed as limiting.

[0043] In the following description, for purposes of clarity, directional terms are used, such as forward, rearward, left, right, outer, inner, outwardly, inwardly, up, down, etc. These directional terms are used for convenience and are not intended to be limiting.

[0044] In addition, the terms "horizontal," "vertical," "suspended," and the like, do not mean that the components must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but can be slightly inclined. For example, "horizontal" simply means that the orientation is more horizontal than "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be absolutely horizontal, but can be slightly inclined.

[0045] In the description of the present application, it is further necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "setting", "mounting", "connecting", "connecting" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the communication inside two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] As Figures 1-8 As shown in FIG. 1, the present application provides a foldable container, which comprises a base 1 and a plurality of side plates connected with the base in a foldable manner through the hinge structure at the bottom of the side plates. The side plates comprise a pair of first side plates and a pair of second side plates, in this example, the first side plates are long side plates 21, and the second side plates are short side plates 22, and a pair of short side guards 11 and a pair of long side guards 12 are arranged on the base 1, wherein the long side plates are connected with the short side guards, and the short side plates are connected with the long side guards, and both pairs of side plates can be accommodated within the range of the base when folded relative to the base.

[0047] The long side plate 21 comprises a long side upper plate 21a and a long side lower plate 21b, the bottom of the long side upper plate 21a is connected to the top of the long side lower plate 21b through the liftable hinge 3. The left and right ends of the long side upper plate 21a, which are connected with the short side plate 22, are provided with first engaging parts 211, and the front and rear ends of the short side plate 22 are provided with second engaging parts 221 which are matched with the first engaging parts 211. The long side upper plate 21a is rotatably connected to the long side lower plate 21b through the liftable hinge 3 and can be pulled up relative to the long side lower plate 21b, and after the long side upper plate 21a is pulled up by a certain distance, it can be flipped around the liftable hinge 3. The long side upper plate 21a has a fixed state of being connected and fixed with the long side lower plate 21b and the short side plate 22, and a folding state of being unlocked with the short side plate and being foldable relative to the long side lower plate 21b.

[0048] In the folding state, when the operator rotates the long side upper plate 21a to the upright position and presses it down, the first engaging parts 211 at both ends of the long side upper plate 21a engage with the second engaging parts 221 of the adjacent short side plate 22, achieving the fixation between the long side upper plate 21a and the long side lower plate 21b and the short side plate 22, at this time the long side upper plate is converted to the fixed state.

[0049] In the fixed state, when the operator pulls up the long side upper plate 21a by a certain distance, the first engaging parts 211 and the second engaging parts 221 are disengaged and disengaged from the adjacent short side plate, at this time the long side upper plate 21a can be flipped around the liftable hinge, so that the long side upper plate 21a can be folded relative to the long side lower plate 21b, and can be flipped to the outside of the long side lower plate 21b and be attached to the long side lower plate 21b, at this time the long side upper plate 21a is converted to the folding state.

[0050] In order to avoid the disengagement between the first engaging parts 211 and the second engaging parts 221 caused by the upward movement of the long side upper plate 21a in the upright position due to transportation vibration or deformation of the preform in the box, etc., the embodiment further provides a locking device on the long side upper plate 21a, which can automatically enter the locked state when the long side upper plate 21a is converted from the folding state to the fixed state, so as to prevent the long side upper plate 21a from disengaging the engaging position in the vertical direction; and when the long side upper plate 21a is converted from the fixed state to the folding state, the locking mechanism needs to be manually operated to release the locked state.

[0051] Referring to Figure 2The locking device includes a lock tongue 41, a first reset member 42 and a handle 43 arranged in the cavity of the long side upper plate 21a, and a lock slot 222 arranged on the short side plate 22. The cavity of the long side upper plate 21a is provided with a guide slot matched with the lock tongue 41, and the lock tongue 41 is movably arranged in the guide slot. The first reset member 42 acts on the lock tongue 41 to generate a force for extending the lock tongue 41 into the lock slot 222 to maintain the locking state. In the embodiment, the first reset member 42 is a spring. When the long side upper plate 21a is rotated to the upright position and is pressed down, the lock tongue 41 is retracted into the guide slot by abutting against the edge of the short side plate 22. When the long side upper plate 21a is pressed down to the position where the lock tongue 41 is opposite to the lock slot 222, the lock tongue is extended into the lock slot 222 by the force of the first reset member 42, thereby achieving the locking. At this time, the first engagement portion 211 of the long side upper plate and the second engagement portion 221 of the short side plate are also engaged. That is, the locking force generated by the locking device also enables the engagement between the long side upper plate 21a and the short side plate 22, and the locking and the engagement between the long side upper plate and the short side plate are simultaneously achieved by one action, thereby reducing the operation difficulty.

[0052] One end of the handle 43 is a handle rotating shaft portion 431, which is pivotally connected with a handle mounting portion 212 arranged on the long side upper plate 21a, so that the handle 43 can rotate about the handle rotating shaft portion 431 as a fulcrum. The other end of the handle 43 is a handle driven portion 432, which acts on the lock tongue 41 to generate an unlocking force for separating the lock tongue 41 from the lock slot 222. When unlocking is needed, the handle 43 is lifted upward, and the handle driven portion 432 of the handle 43 drives the lock tongue 41 to move against the force of the first reset member 42, so that the lock tongue is separated from the lock slot 222, thereby achieving the unlocking of the lock tongue 41 and the lock slot 222. When the handle 43 is lifted upward, the long side upper plate 21a is also moved upward, so that the first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 221 are separated, and the engagement between the long side upper plate 21a and the short side plate 22 is also separated. That is, the unlocking force generated by the locking device also enables the engagement between the long side upper plate 21a and the short side plate 22 to be separated, and the unlocking and the engagement between the long side upper plate and the short side plate are simultaneously achieved by one action, thereby reducing the operation difficulty.

[0053] In an embodiment, the locking device further includes a second reset member 44, which acts on the handle 43 to generate a force in the downward direction. When the unlocking operation is performed on the lock tongue 41, the force generated by the second reset member 44 on the handle 43 needs to be overcome.

[0054] Referring again to Figure 2The side end face of the lock tongue 41 facing the lock slot 222 is provided with a first lock tongue guide part 411, and when the long side upper plate 21a is converted from the folded state to the fixed state, the lock tongue 41 can be guided into the lock slot 222 by the guiding action of the first lock tongue guide part 411. The side end face of the lock tongue 41 away from the lock slot 222 is provided with a second lock tongue guide part 412, and the handle driven part 432 cooperates with the second lock tongue guide part 412 to realize the movement of the lock tongue 41 away from the lock slot 222, thereby realizing the disengagement operation between the lock tongue 41 and the lock slot 222.

[0055] Referring to Figure 2 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 , in Figure 2 , the part of the handle driven part 432 in contact with the second lock tongue guide part 412 is a generally arc-shaped structure, and the second lock tongue guide part 412 is a slope surface matched therewith, and the movement of the handle driven part 432 along the slope surface of the second lock tongue guide part 412 realizes the movement of the lock tongue 41 away from the lock slot 222. In Figure 9 , the surfaces of the handle driven part 432 in contact with the second lock tongue guide part 412 are both slope surfaces, and the cooperation between the two slope surfaces realizes the movement of the lock tongue 41 away from the lock slot 222. In Figure 10 , the part of the handle driven part 432 in contact with the second lock tongue guide part 412 is a slope surface, and the second lock tongue guide part 412 is a cylindrical guide column, and the cooperation between the arc surface of the guide column and the slope surface of the handle driven part 432 realizes the movement of the lock tongue 41 away from the lock slot 222.

[0056] Referring to Figure 2 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 , the second reset member 44 in the embodiment is an elastic ring or a part of an elastic ring integrally formed with the handle 43.

[0057] Referring to Figure 9 and Figure 10 , the side end part of the handle 43 away from the handle driven part 432 is movably connected with the long side upper plate 21a by a limiting structure. Specifically, referring to Figure 9 , the handle 43 is provided with a handle sliding limiting cavity part 433, and the long side upper plate 21a is provided with a side plate stop part 213 located in the handle sliding limiting cavity part 433, and the cooperation between the upper and lower end faces of the side plate stop part 213 and the upper and lower wall faces of the handle sliding limiting cavity part 433 guides the movement of the handle in the up-down direction.

[0058] Referring to Figure 10The long-side upper plate 21a is provided with a side plate sliding limiting cavity 214, the handle 43 is provided with a handle stop portion 434 located in the side plate sliding limiting cavity 214, and the handle 43 is guided to move in the up-down direction by the cooperation between the upper and lower end faces of the handle stop portion 434 and the upper and lower wall faces of the side plate sliding limiting cavity 214.

[0059] Referring to Figures 7-12 The end portions of the front and back sides of the short-side plate 22 are formed into engagement sections 223 bent in the direction of the long-side upper plate 21a, the end faces of the engagement sections 223 in the direction of the long-side upper plate are provided with a plurality of protrusions 224 arranged in the height direction, the second engagement portion 221 is a limiting groove arranged on the protrusions 224, and the first engagement portion 211 is a clamping block arranged on the left and right end faces of the long-side upper plate 21a, and when the first engagement portion 211 and the second engagement portion 221 engage with each other, the clamping block is located in the limiting groove.

[0060] Referring to Figure 11 and Figure 12 The cross sections of the limiting groove and the clamping block are both T-shaped, that is, the cross section of the groove body of the limiting groove is T-shaped, and the cross section of the clamping block is also T-shaped. This T-shaped engagement can form mechanical interlocking in three directions except the upward direction, and can effectively prevent the clamping block from being pulled out of the groove when a force perpendicular to the insertion direction is applied, and the engagement stability is good.

[0061] The preferred embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, after reading the above description of the present application, those skilled in the art can make various modifications or changes to the present application. These equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the claims attached hereto.

Claims

1. A foldable container comprising a base and a side panel hinged to the base, the side panel comprising a first side panel and a second side panel, the first side panel having a first side panel upper panel and a first side panel lower panel connected by a hinge, the first side panel upper panel having a fixed state in which it is fixedly connected to the first side panel lower panel and the second side panel, and a folded state in which it is unlocked from the second side panel and foldable relative to the first side panel lower panel; characterised in that: The first side plate upper plate is provided with a lock device; When the first side plate upper plate is converted from the folded state to the fixed state, the lock device can automatically lock the first side plate upper plate and the second side plate to maintain the first side plate upper plate in the fixed state; When the first side plate upper plate is converted from the fixed state to the folded state, the lock mechanism needs to be manually operated to be unlocked.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein, The lock device comprises a movable lock tongue and a first reset member for providing a reset force to maintain the lock state of the lock tongue; in the locked state, the lock tongue is located in the lock slot provided on the second side plate.

3. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein, The lock device further comprises an operating member connected with the lock tongue, and the lock tongue is separated from the lock slot by operating the operating member.

4. The collapsible container of claim 3, wherein, The operating member is a handle, which is movably connected with the first side plate upper plate and has a handle driven part acting on the lock tongue.

5. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein, The handle is pivoted with the first side plate upper plate and drives the handle driven part acting on the lock tongue to separate from the lock slot through rotary motion.

6. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein, The handle is connected with the first side plate upper plate through a sliding pair and drives the handle driven part acting on the lock tongue to separate from the lock slot through linear motion.

7. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein, The lock tongue is provided with a lock tongue guide part, and the operating force of the handle is converted into an unlocking force to drive the lock tongue to move through the slope cooperation between the handle driven part and the lock tongue guide part.

8. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein, The lock tongue guide part is a slope formed on the lock tongue, and the handle driven part is provided with a convex arc surface or a slope matched with the slope.

9. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein, The lock tongue guide part is a guide column formed on the lock tongue, and the handle driven part is provided with a slope matched with the guide column.

10. The collapsible container of claim 3, wherein, The lock device further comprises a second reset member acting on the operating member, which generates a reset force to reset the operating member to the initial position.

11. The collapsible container of claim 10, wherein, The second reset member is an elastic structure integrally formed with the operating member.

12. The collapsible container of claim 1 wherein, The first side plate upper plate and the second side plate are respectively provided with one of a first engaging part and a second engaging part matched with each other, the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged when the first side plate upper plate is in the fixed state, and the first engaging part and the second engaging part are separated when the first side plate upper plate is in the folded state.

13. The collapsible container of claim 12, wherein, The lock mechanism is configured to generate an action on the first side plate upper plate when the lock mechanism is operated to be unlocked, and the action allows the first engaging part to form a movement of engaging and separating relative to the second engaging part.

14. The collapsible container of claim 13, wherein, The hinge is a lifting hinge, which is configured to allow the first side plate upper plate to generate a downward linear displacement to realize the engagement of the first engaging part and the second engaging part, and to allow the first side plate upper plate to generate an upward linear displacement to realize the engagement and separation of the first engaging part and the second engaging part after the lifting hinge is unlocked.

15. The collapsible container of claim 14, wherein, The first engaging part is a clamping block provided at the end of the first side plate upper plate, and the second engaging part is a limiting slot provided at the end of the second side plate, and the clamping block is located in the limiting slot when the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged.

16. The collapsible container of claim 15, wherein, The card block and the limiting groove are configured to limit each other in directions other than the linear upward displacement direction of the first side plate.

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