Hinge piece and foldable box

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hinge piece and a foldable box having a box body having a base and a pair of opposing first and second side panels foldably connected to the base, and a box cover having an edge hinged to the top end of the box body, the foldable container being provided with a single box cover, when not in use, the box cover is folded and the box cover is stored in the base safe edge.

Description

[0001] This invention is a divisional application filed on June 13, 2019, with application number 201910510930.4 and invention title "Foldable Box". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a container, and more specifically to a hinge and a foldable box. Background Technology

[0003] Existing collapsible containers require their side panels to unfold and stand upright during use, with the four side panels interlocking to form a relatively enclosed space to hold goods. This relative enclosure is crucial when collapsible containers are used to transport fresh produce, especially during cold chain transportation, as fresh food is highly susceptible to contamination and spoilage from the external environment. Most of these containers are typically open-topped, leaving the top of the container untouched and easily affected by external conditions. Existing covered containers, however, cannot be folded, making storage and transportation extremely inconvenient.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the field for a foldable container with a lid that can ensure relative sealing when unfolded and upright, and can be easily folded and stored when not in use. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hinge that can be folded and the flap stored inside the base guard when not in use.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] A hinge member for hinged to a side panel of a box body, the hinge member having a first edge adjacent to the box cover and a second edge adjacent to the side panel, the first edge and the second edge of the box cover respectively having a first main hinge portion and a second main hinge portion, the first main hinge portion being hinged to the box cover, and the second main hinge portion being hinged to the side panel.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first edge and the second edge of the hinge are parallel to each other.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first main body hinge portion of the hinge member is provided with a plurality of grooves spaced apart from each other along a first edge, the grooves being configured to accommodate at least a portion of the lid.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first main body hinge portion includes a plurality of first main body protrusions spaced apart from each other, each first main body protrusion having a hinge hole or a hinge shaft; the second main body hinge portion includes a plurality of second main body protrusions spaced apart from each other, each second main body protrusion having a hinge hole or a hinge shaft.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable container having a single lid that is folded and stored in the base guard when not in use.

[0012] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0013] A foldable case has a case body and a lid, wherein the case body has a base and side panels foldably connected to the base, the side panels including a pair of opposing first side panels and a pair of opposing second side panels, the lid being a single lid structure, the lid having a first edge adjacent to the first side panel, the first edge of the lid being hinged to the top of one of the pair of first side panels by a hinge.

[0014] The hinge has a first edge adjacent to the box cover and a second edge adjacent to the side plate, and the first edge and the second edge of the box cover are respectively provided with a first main hinge portion and a second main hinge portion;

[0015] The first edge of the box cover is provided with a box cover hinge, and the top of one of the pair of first side plates is provided with a side plate hinge.

[0016] The hinged part of the box cover and the hinged part of the first main body are hinged to each other, and the hinged part of the side plate and the hinged part of the second main body are hinged to each other.

[0017] In one embodiment, when the foldable case is in the storage state, the side panel is folded onto the base, the case lid is rotated and folded to the outside of the side panel, and the second edge of the case lid opposite to the first edge does not extend beyond the bottom end of the side panel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the inner side of the top of the other of the pair of opposing first side panels is provided with a groove that opens upward and faces the interior of the box, the groove receiving the second edge of the box lid in use.

[0019] In one embodiment, the lid hinge portion includes a plurality of lid protrusions spaced apart from each other, each lid protrusion extending horizontally from the edge of the lid along the plane of the lid; the side panel hinge portion includes a plurality of side panel protrusions spaced apart from each other, each side panel protrusion extending upward from the top of the side panel along the plane of the side panel; the first main body hinge portion and the second main body hinge portion respectively include a plurality of first main body protrusions and second main body protrusions spaced apart from each other; each lid protrusion and each first main body protrusion are staggered, and the hinge between the hinge member and the lid is realized through a first hinge axis; each side panel protrusion and each second main body protrusion are staggered, and the hinge between the hinge member and the side panel is realized through a second hinge axis.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first hinge axis and the second hinge axis are parallel to each other.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first main body hinge portion of the hinge member is provided with a plurality of grooves spaced apart from each other along the first edge, and each lid protrusion of the lid hinge portion is located in the corresponding groove of the first main body hinge portion.

[0022] In one embodiment, a hinge seal is connected to the lower side of the hinge member, and a first side edge of the hinge seal is operably abutted against the first side plate.

[0023] In one embodiment, a seal is provided at the connection between the box cover and the first side plate and the second side plate, and the hinge seal at least partially overlaps with the seal on the box cover on the second side adjacent to the box cover.

[0024] The foldable case of this application can be folded up while the lid is stored inside the protective edge of the base. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the side panel, hinge, and lid of the foldable case according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the foldable box according to the present invention in a folded state.

[0028] Figure 3A yes Figure 3 A magnified view of detail A.

[0029] Figure 3B yes Figure 3 A magnified view of detail B.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the foldable box according to the invention with a pair of side panels removed.

[0031] Figure 4A yes Figure 4 A magnified view of detail A.

[0032] Figure 4B yes Figure 4 A magnified view of detail B.

[0033] Figure 5 It is a 3D view of the lid folding outwards relative to the side panel.

[0034] Figure 5A yes Figure 5 A magnified view of detail A.

[0035] Figure 6A This is a perspective view of a pair of opposing side panels of a foldable box according to the invention folded relative to a base.

[0036] Figure 6B This is a perspective view of the side panel of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 6C This is a schematic diagram of the side panel of the foldable box according to the present invention detaching from the base.

[0038] Figure 6D yes Figure 6C A magnified view of detail D.

[0039] Figure 7 This is a partially exploded perspective view of a foldable case according to the invention, wherein a pair of opposing side panels are folded onto a base.

[0040] Figure 8 It is a partial sectional view of the side panel in an upright position relative to the base, with the hinge section cut out.

[0041] Figure 8A yes Figure 8 A magnified view of detail A.

[0042] Figure 9 This is a longitudinal sectional perspective view of a foldable box with an insulation layer.

[0043] Figure 9A and 9B They are Figure 9 Enlarged views of details A and B.

[0044] Figure 10 This is a partially sectional exploded perspective view of the base of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0045] Figure 10A yes Figure 10 A magnified view of detail A.

[0046] Figure 11This is a partially sectional exploded perspective view of the side panel of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0047] Figure 11A yes Figure 11 A magnified view of detail A.

[0048] Figure 12 This is a partially sectional exploded perspective view of the lid of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0049] Figure 12A yes Figure 12 A magnified view of detail A.

[0050] Figure 13 This is a partial sectional perspective view of the foldable case according to the present invention, wherein the intersection of the two side panels and the case lid is cut open.

[0051] Figure 13A yes Figure 13 A magnified view of detail A.

[0052] Figure 14 This is another partial sectional perspective view of the foldable box according to the invention, wherein the intersection of the two side panels and the base is cut open.

[0053] Figure 14A yes Figure 14 A magnified view of detail A.

[0054] Figure 15 This is another partial sectional perspective view of the foldable case according to the invention, wherein the bottom end of the side panel is cut open.

[0055] Figure 15A yes Figure 15 A magnified view of detail A.

[0056] Figure 16 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the side panel of the foldable case according to the present invention, wherein the hinge protrusion is cut open.

[0057] Figure 16A yes Figure 16 A magnified view of detail A.

[0058] Figure 17 This is a perspective view of a side panel and its seal of a foldable box according to the present invention.

[0059] Figure 18 This is a perspective view of the other side panel and its seal of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0060] Figure 19 This is a perspective view of the lid and seal of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0061] Figure 20This is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the foldable box according to the present invention.

[0062] Figure 20A yes Figure 20 A magnified view of detail A.

[0063] Figure 20B yes Figure 20 A magnified view of detail B.

[0064] Figure 21 It is a three-dimensional view of the hinge and its seal.

[0065] Figure 22 It is a three-dimensional view of the hinge and its seal assembled together.

[0066] Figure 22A yes Figure 22 A magnified view of detail A. Detailed Implementation

[0067] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to better understand the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are only for illustrating the essential spirit of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0068] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth for the purpose of illustrating various disclosed embodiments in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known apparatuses, structures, and techniques associated with this application may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0069] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its variations, such as “including” and “having”, shall be understood to have an open, inclusive meaning, that is, to be interpreted as “including, but not limited to”.

[0070] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the appearance of "in an embodiment" or "an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.

[0071] The singular forms “a” and “the” used in this specification and the appended claims include plural references unless otherwise expressly stated herein. It should be noted that the term “or” is generally used to mean “and / or” unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

[0072] In the following description, in order to clearly demonstrate the structure and working method of the present invention, a number of directional terms will be used. However, terms such as "front", "back", "left", "right", "outside", "inside", "outward", "inward", "up", and "down" should be understood as convenient terms and not as limiting terms.

[0073] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. See details. Figure 1 This illustration shows a foldable container 100 according to the present invention, comprising a base 1, two pairs of side plates 2 and 3, and a lid 4. Each pair of side plates 2 and 3 is hinged at its bottom end to the edge of the base 1 and can be folded relative to the base 1. The lid 4 is hinged to the top of one of the side plates 2 via a hinge 5. Each of the longitudinal ends of the side plates 2 and 3 is provided with interlocking portions 202 and 302. When each side plate is upright relative to the base 1, the side plates 2 and 3 are connected by interlocking portions 202 and 302, thereby forming the internal volume of the foldable container 100 together with the base 1. The lid 4 can cover the top opening of the foldable container 100. When the side plates 2 and 3 and the lid 4 are folded relative to the base 1, the foldable container 100 can be conveniently stored and transported. It should be understood that the connection method between the side plates 2 and 3 is not limited to the above-described interlocking method, as long as they can be joined end-to-end to enclose the internal space. The bottom ends of side plates 2 and 3 are provided with side plate hinges to be hinged to the outer edge of the base 1.

[0074] Figure 2 The figure shows an exploded perspective view of a side panel 2, a hinge 5, and a lid 4 of a foldable case 100. As shown, the lid 4 has a lid hinge portion 411 along a first edge 41 adjacent to the side panel 2, and the top 21 of the side panel 2 (also referred to as the long side panel or the first side panel) has a side panel hinge portion 211. The hinge 5 has a first edge 51 adjacent to the lid 4 and a second edge 52 adjacent to the side panel 2. The first edge 51 and the second edge 52 of the hinge 5 have a first main body hinge portion 511 and a second main body hinge portion 521, respectively. The lid hinge portion 411 is hinged to the first main body hinge portion 511, and the side panel hinge portion 211 is hinged to the second main body hinge portion 521.

[0075] In addition, in order to better close the lid 4 on the top opening, a groove with the opening facing upward and towards the inside of the box is preferably provided on the inner side of the top of the other of the pair of opposing side plates 2, so as to receive the second edge 42 of the lid 4 in the use state.

[0076] In the illustrated embodiment, the aforementioned pair of side plates 2 are the longer of two pairs of opposing side plates, while the other pair of side plates 3 (also referred to as short side plates or second side plates) are shorter. The lid 4 is hinged to the top end 21 of one of the long side plates 2. However, it should be understood that the lid 4 can also be hinged to the top end of one of the short side plates 3 by means of a hinge without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0077] exist Figure 2 In the specific embodiment shown, the lid hinge portion 411 includes a plurality of lid protrusions 4111 spaced apart from each other. Each lid protrusion 4111 extends horizontally from the edge 41 of the lid 4 along the plane of the lid 4, and each lid protrusion 4111 is provided with a hinge hole 4112, which extends approximately along the direction of the first edge 41. The side panel hinge portion 211 includes a plurality of side panel protrusions 2111 spaced apart from each other. Each side panel protrusion 2111 extends upward from the top end 21 of the side panel 2 along the plane of the side panel 2, and each side panel protrusion 2111 is provided with a hinge hole 2112, which extends approximately along the direction of the top end 21 of the side panel 2. The first main body hinge portion 511 and the second main body hinge portion 512 respectively include a plurality of first main body protrusions 5111 and second main body protrusions 5121 spaced apart from each other. Each first main body protrusion 5111 is provided with a hinge hole 5112, and each second main body protrusion 5121 is provided with a hinge hole 5122. The hinge holes 5112 and 5122 extend approximately along the edges 51 and 52 of the hinge body 5, respectively. Preferably, each hinge hole 4112 is aligned with each other, and each hinge hole 5112 is also aligned with each other. Therefore, when each cover protrusion 4111 and each first main body protrusion 5111 are placed alternately, each hinge hole 4112 and each hinge hole 5112 are aligned with each other, thereby enabling the hinge member 5 and the cover 4 to be hinged by passing the first hinge shaft 53 through each hinge hole 4112 and each hinge hole 5112. Preferably, the hinge holes 2112 and 5122 are aligned with each other. Therefore, when the side panel protrusions 2111 and the second main body protrusions 5121 are staggered, the hinge holes 2112 and 5122 are also aligned, allowing the hinge member 5 to be hinged to the side panel 2 by passing the second hinge shaft 54 ​​through the hinge holes 2112 and 5122. More preferably, the first edge 51 and the second edge 52 of the hinge member 5 are parallel to each other. Thus, after the lid 4 is hinged to the side panel 2 via the hinge member 5, the first hinge shaft 53 and the second hinge shaft 54 ​​are parallel to each other.

[0078] Preferably, the first main hinge portion 511 of the hinge member 5 is provided with a plurality of grooves 512 spaced apart from each other along the first edge 51, and at least a portion of the lid hinge portion 411 of the lid 4, specifically each lid protrusion 4111 of the lid hinge portion 411, is located within the groove 512. Preferably, when the lid 4 closes the opening of the foldable container 100, each lid protrusion 4111 is fitted into the groove 512, thereby further ensuring the closure of the opening.

[0079] Furthermore, in an embodiment not shown, one of the lid protrusion 4111 and the first main body protrusion 5111 may be provided with a hinge shaft, while the other may be provided with a hinge hole for engaging with the hinge shaft, thereby achieving the hinge connection between the lid 4 and the hinge member 5 by engaging the hinge shaft into the hinge hole. Alternatively or additionally, one of the side plate protrusion 2111 and the second main body protrusion 5121 may be provided with a hinge shaft, while the other may be provided with a hinge hole for engaging with the hinge shaft, thereby achieving the hinge connection between the side plate 2 and the hinge member 5 by engaging the hinge shaft into the hinge hole.

[0080] Of course, it should be understood that the hinge between the lid 4 and the hinge 5, and the hinge between the side plate 2 and the hinge 5, are not limited to the above-described manner. Other conventional hinge methods in the art can also be used, such as hinged together by flexible thinning portions without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the present invention, when the lid 4 is hinged to the side plate 2 via the hinge 5, the lid 4 can rotate more than 270° relative to the side plate 2 around the top of the side plate 2, such as... Figure 5 As shown. When the foldable case 100 is in use, the lid 4 is perpendicular to the side panel 2 and closes the opening of the foldable case 100. When the foldable case 100 is in the storage state, the lid 4 can rotate relative to the top of the side panel 2 to rest on the outer surface of the side panel 2, so that after the other three side panels are folded and placed on the base 1, the side panel 2 and the lid 4 can be folded and placed on the other three side panels. Thus, the foldable case 100 in the storage state is convenient for storage and transportation.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in the figure, the hinge 5 is a component separate from the side panel 2 and the lid 4, and the lid hinge portion 411 is provided only along the first edge 41 of the lid 4. However, it should be understood that the hinge 5 may also be integrally formed with one or both of the side panel 2 and the lid 4 without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as mentioned above, the hinge 5 may be hinged to the top end 21 of the side panel 2 and / or the first edge 41 of the lid 4 via a flexible thinning portion. Preferably, the thickness of the hinge 5 is equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the side panel 2 and the lid 4, so that when the lid 4 is folded onto the outer surface of the side panel 2, it can fit snugly against the outer surface of the side panel 2 without protruding upwards.

[0082] When the foldable case 100 is in use, the size of the assembly formed by the hinge 5 and the lid 4 hinged together matches the size of the opening of the foldable case 100, thus enabling the opening of the foldable case 100 to be closed. When the foldable case 100 is in use... Figure 3 When the box is in the storage state, the side panel 2 is folded onto the base 1, and the lid 4 is rotated and folded to the outside of the side panel 2. At this time, the second edge 42 of the lid 4, which is opposite to the first edge 41, does not extend beyond the bottom of the side panel 2, thereby ensuring that the second edge 42 of the lid 4 does not extend beyond the outer edge of the base 1 in the folded state.

[0083] Figure 2 The box cover 4 shown has a plate-shaped body. The other three edges of the box cover 4, excluding the first edge 41, are operably overlapped with the tops of the other side plate 2 and the two side plates 3, respectively. Figure 4 As shown.

[0084] exist Figure 1 In the foldable case 100 shown, the base 1 has a plate-shaped body 11 and a pair of opposing guards 12 extending upward from a pair of opposing edges of the plate-shaped body 11. Figure 6A The image shows a foldable box 100 with its side panel 2 folded. Figure 6C A perspective view is shown with side panel 2 detached from base 1. Figure 6D A magnified view of a portion of it is shown. For example... Figure 6DAs shown, the edge guard 12 has an upward-facing and inward-facing open cavity 121. The upper part of the two end walls of the cavity 121 has a first base limiting protrusion 1211. The center of the cavity 121 has a base limiting portion 1212 extending integrally upward from the bottom wall of the cavity 121, and a base guide portion 1213 located within the base limiting portion and opening inward. The base limiting portion 1212 has a "T"-shaped cross-section, thus forming two elongated open grooves 1214 on both sides with the side walls of the cavity 121. The base guide portion 1213 is a longitudinally extending cavity. The base guide portion 1213 extends upward (longitudinally) a predetermined distance from a position at a predetermined distance from the base limiting portion. The bottom end of the side plate 2 has multiple downward-extending, spaced-apart hinge protrusions 22. When the side plate 2 is upright relative to the base 1, the hinge protrusions 22 are accommodated within the cavity 121. The hinge extension 22 includes two side plate limiting portions 221 extending downward from the side plate 2. Side plate hinge shafts 223 are provided on the opposing sides of the two side plate limiting portions 221. The side plate hinge shafts 223 can rotate and slide up and down within the groove 1214 to switch the side plate 2 between an upright state and a folded state relative to the base 1. A side plate guide portion 222 is also provided between the two side plate limiting portions 221. The side plate guide portion 222 consists of a plate-shaped portion 222a connected between the two side plate limiting portions 221 and a guide block 222b extending perpendicularly to the plate-shaped portion 222a. The guide portion is slidably connected to the base guide portion. When the side plate 2 is in an upright state, the guide block 222b engages within the base guide portion 1213, thereby fixing the side plate 2 to the guard edge 12. Figure 8 Partial sectional view and partial magnification Figure 8A As shown. The structure of the base guide portion 1213 and the side plate guide portion 222 ensures that when the side plate is in the folded state, the connection between the side plate and the base is flat and without any recesses. When the side plate 2 is in the folded state, the first base limiting protrusion 1211 blocks the side plate limiting portion 221 to prevent the side plate 2 from separating upward from the base 1. The figure shows four recesses 121 provided on the guard edge 12 and four hinge protrusions 22 provided at the bottom end of the side plate 2, but it should be understood that any suitable number of recesses 121 and hinge protrusions 22 can be provided as needed.

[0085] Preferably, the lid 4 is also provided with a locking mechanism for locking the lid 4 to the side panel. The locking mechanism is located on the portion of the lid 4 away from the first edge 41, so as to more securely close the lid 4 to the side panel.

[0086] The foldable case 100 of the present invention can also have a heat-insulating function by providing a heat-insulating layer inside the base 1, side panels 2 and 3, and case lid 4. For example... Figure 9 and 9AAs shown in Figure 9B, each of the first side panel 2, the second side panel 3, and the box cover 4 is composed of an inner panel and an outer panel welded together, with an insulation layer between the inner and outer panels. Figure 10 and 10A As shown, the plate-shaped main body 11 and the edge guard 2 of the base 1 are also provided with an insulation layer 16. The aforementioned insulation layers can be pre-fabricated insulation boards placed in the base, side panels, and lid, or they can be filled with insulation material after the base, side panels, and lid are manufactured. The insulation material can be polyurethane foam, polystyrene board, phenolic foam, etc.

[0087] exist Figure 9A The enlarged detail view shows the internal structure at the top 21 of the side panel 2 and the internal structure at the first edge 41 of the lid 4. The side panel 2 is formed by welding an outer side panel 23 and an inner side panel 24 together, and the lid 4 is formed by welding an outer lid panel 43 and an inner lid panel 44 together. A weld rib 25 is provided on the inner periphery of the inner panel 24 of the side panel 2. The weld rib 25 extends generally along the outer periphery of the inner panel 24 and from the outer surface of the inner side panel 24 toward the inner surface of the outer side panel 23, and is used to weld to the inner surface of the outer side panel 23 at its end. However, it should be understood that the weld rib 25 may also be provided on the inner periphery of the outer side panel 23 and extend from the inner surface of the outer side panel 23 toward the outer surface of the inner side panel 24, and is used to weld to the outer surface of the inner side panel 24 at its end. It should also be understood that weld ribs 25 may be provided on both the inner periphery of the outer side panel 23 and the inner periphery of the inner side panel 24, with the ends of the weld ribs 25 welded together. Preferably, as shown in the figure, the side panel 2 is provided with two parallel and spaced-apart weld ribs 25. When the side panel 2 and lid 4 of the foldable case 100 are made of plastic, the welding of the weld ribs 25 to the outer surface of the inner panel 24, the inner surface of the outer panel 23, or to another weld rib 25 is achieved by ultrasonic welding to better ensure the seal of the weld. An insulation layer 26 is provided within the internal space enclosed by the inner panel 23, the outer panel 24, and the weld ribs 25. The arrangement of the two spaced-apart weld ribs 25 further ensures the airtightness of the space enclosed by the outer panel, the inner panel, and the weld ribs relative to the outside. Furthermore, for ease of manufacturing, preferably, the aforementioned side panel interlocking portion and side panel hinge portion are integrally formed on the outer panel 23.

[0088] Side panel 3 can also be welded together from outer panel 30 and inner panel 31, with insulation layer 36 filling the gap. Its specific structure is the same as that of side panel 2, and will not be described in detail here.

[0089] With two weld bars 25 provided, the top of the side plate 2 is provided with a sealed cavity, which is formed by the two weld bars 25, the inner plate 24 and the outer plate 23.

[0090] For example Figure 9AAs shown, a weld rib 45 is provided on the outer periphery of the outer plate 43 of the lid 4. The weld rib 45 extends generally along the outer periphery of the outer plate 43 and extends from the inner surface of the outer plate 43 toward the outer surface of the inner plate 44 of the lid, and is used to weld to the outer surface of the inner plate 44 of the lid at its end. However, it should be understood that the weld rib 45 may also be provided on the inner side of the outer periphery of the inner plate 44 of the lid and extend from the outer surface of the inner plate 44 of the lid toward the inner surface of the outer plate 43 of the lid, and is used to weld to the inner surface of the outer plate 43 of the lid at its end. It should also be understood that weld ribs 45 may be provided on the inner side of the outer periphery of the lid 23 and the inner side of the outer periphery of the lid 24, and the ends of the weld ribs 45 are welded to each other. Preferably, as shown in the figure, the lid 4 is provided with two parallel and spaced apart weld ribs 45. When the lid 4 of the foldable case 100 is made of plastic, the welding of the weld rib 25 to the outer surface of the inner panel 44, the inner surface of the outer panel 43, or to another weld rib 45 is achieved by ultrasonic welding to better ensure the seal of the weld. An insulation layer 46 is provided within the internal space enclosed by the outer panel 43, the inner panel 44, and the weld rib 45. The arrangement of two spaced-apart weld ribs 45 further ensures the airtightness of the space enclosed by the outer panel, the inner panel, and the weld rib relative to the outside.

[0091] Figure 12 An exploded perspective view of the lid 4 from below is shown. The lid 4 has four edges 41, 42, 47, and 48. Preferably, the first edge 41 has a lid hinge 4111, and the outer plate 43 at the second edge 42 extends beyond the inner plate 44 and overlaps the inside of the side plate 2 when the lid is closed. Specifically, as shown... Figure 4B As shown, the outer panel 43 may have a retaining edge 4a along its edge, while the inner top of the side panel 2 has an upward-facing groove 2a into which the retaining edge 4a can be engaged. In another embodiment, the outer panel at the second edge 42 is flush with the inner panel. At the other two edges 47 and 48, the outer panel 43 extends beyond the inner panel 44. Preferably, when the foldable case 100 is in use, the portion of the outer panel 43 extending beyond the inner panel 44 overlaps the side panel 3.

[0092] Figure 9B A cross-sectional view of the base 1 at the edge 12 is shown. Figure 10 and 10AAn exploded view and a detailed enlarged view of the base 1 are shown. As can be seen from the figures, the base 1 is formed by welding a base body 14 and a base plate 15 together. The base body 14 has a downward-opening plate-shaped main body cavity 142 and two pairs of opposing edge-protecting cavities 143, which are spaced apart by base welding ribs 141. The base body 14 includes a base plate 145, which is rectangular. The edge protector 12 is formed by an inner edge protector plate 124 and an outer edge protector plate 123, which form the inner and outer surfaces of the edge protector 12, respectively. The inner edge protector plate 124 extends upward from the edge of the base plate 145, while the base welding ribs 141 extend downward from the edge of the base plate 145 and are used for welding to the upper surface of the base plate 15. The lower end of the outer edge protector plate 123 is also welded to the upper surface of the base plate 15, preferably to the edge of the upper surface of the base plate 15. The inner edge panel 124, the outer edge panel 123, and the base welding rib 141 together form the edge cavity 143, while the base substrate 145 and the base welding rib 141 together form the plate-shaped main body cavity 142. Insulation layers are respectively provided in the edge cavity 143 and the plate-shaped main body cavity 142. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the edge 12 also has multiple recesses 121, and an insulation layer is also provided in the portion of the edge 12 located between the recesses 121. The insulation layer is typically made of lightweight foam.

[0093] The foldable box 100 with the above structure has good thermal insulation performance and can be used to store fresh products.

[0094] According to the present invention, a sealing structure may also be provided for the foldable box 100 to better form a seal and provide thermal insulation. Specifically, as follows... Figure 14-22A As shown, in the foldable case 100, sealing elements are provided at the connection between the case cover 4 and the side plates 2 and 3, the connection between the base 1 and the side plates 2 and 3, and the connection between the side plates 2 and 3, so as to achieve the sealing of the inside of the foldable case 100 relative to the outside.

[0095] like Figure 19 As shown, a sealing element 401 between the lid 4 and side plates 2 and 3 is disposed on the outer periphery of the bottom side of the lid 4 and fixedly connected to the lid 4. Specifically, the sealing element 401 is rectangular and has two pairs of opposing sides. The sealing element 401 is connected to the outer edge of the inner plate 44 of the lid 4. The sealing element 401 can be connected to the outer edge of the inner plate 44 in any suitable manner. For example, several protrusions can be provided on the outer edge of the inner plate 44, and several matching grooves can be provided on the sealing element 401 to engage the sealing element 401 with the inner plate 44. Alternatively, several protrusions can be provided on the sealing element 401, and corresponding recesses can be provided on the edge of the inner plate 44 to accommodate the protrusions. It is also conceivable that a protruding strip can be provided on the sealing element 401, and a corresponding groove can be provided on the outer edge of the inner plate 44 to receive and retain the protruding strip.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing element 401 of the cover 4 has a sealing element body 4011 and at least one row of mounting posts 4012 protruding from the sealing element body 4011, with a snap fastener at the end of each mounting post 4012. The cover 4 has corresponding mounting holes, and the snap fastener engages with the mounting holes to install the sealing element on the cover.

[0097] exist Figure 20 In the preferred embodiment shown, in the use state of the foldable case 100, when the case lid 4 is closed at the top opening, a pair of sides of the seal 401 located at edges 47 and 48 extend beyond the outer edge of the inner panel of the side panel 3, while the side located at edge 42 operably abuts against the side panel 2. Preferably, the inner top of one of the side panels 2 not hinged to the case lid 4 has a groove 2a with an upward opening facing the interior of the case, and the retaining edge 4a of the seal 401 located at edge 42 operably abuts against this groove 2a. Figure 20B .

[0098] Figure 20A The image shows a partially enlarged sectional view of the box cover 4 and one of the side panels 2, hinged by a hinge 5. (See image.) Figure 21 , 22 As shown in Figure 22A, a hinge seal 501 is connected to the lower side of the hinge 5. The first side 5011 of the hinge seal 501 is operably abutted against the side plate 2, wherein the first side 5011 is the side of the hinge seal 501 away from the lid 4. Preferably, the second side 5011 of the hinge seal 501 adjacent to the lid 4 at least partially overlaps with the seal 401 on the lid 4.

[0099] Side plates 2 and 3 are also equipped with sealing elements 201 and 301, respectively. Figure 15 and 15A The seal 201 of side plate 2 is shown in the figure. Figure 16 and 16A The seal 301 of side plate 2 is shown in the image. Figure 17 and 18 The side plate 2 and its seal 201 and the side plate 3 and its seal 301 are further shown in the figure.

[0100] As mentioned above, each side plate 2 has a hinge extension 22 at its bottom end for hinged connection with the cavity 121 on the base 1. Preferably, each side plate 3 also has a hinge extension 32 at its bottom end, and in order to hinge the side plate 3 to the base 1, a protective edge 16 is also provided on the corresponding pair of edges of the base 1, such as... Figure 14 As shown. A recess 161 is also provided inside the edge guard 16. The recess 161 and the hinge extension 32 can adopt the same structure as the recess 121 and the hinge extension 22, respectively, which will not be described in detail here.

[0101] exist Figure 17 and 18 In the illustrated embodiment, the seal 201 of side plate 2 is located only at the bottom of side plate 2, while the seal 301 of side plate 3 is a generally rectangular ring, including portions located at the four edges of side plate 3. Thus, the seal between side plate 2 and side plate 3 is achieved through the left and right edge portions of the seal 301 of side plate 3. However, it should be understood that the seal 201 of side plate 2 can also be configured to be a generally rectangular ring, including portions located at the four edges of side plate 2, while the seal 301 of side plate 3 is located only at the bottom of side plate 3, thereby achieving the seal between side plate 2 and side plate 3 through the left and right edges of the seal 201 of side plate 2.

[0102] like Figure 17 As shown, the seal 201 at the bottom of the side plate 2 includes multiple "n"-shaped portions in the middle and half "n"-shaped portions on both sides. Each "n"-shaped portion has two legs that cover the inner surfaces of the adjacent side plate limiting portions 221 of two adjacent hinge protrusions 22. The half "n"-shaped portions on both sides cover the inner surfaces of the outer end side plate limiting portions 221 of the hinge protrusions 22 on the left and right sides of the side plate 2. The aforementioned "n"-shaped portions and half "n"-shaped portions are separate seals, and the number of "n"-shaped portions is determined by the number of hinge protrusions 22. Specifically, the seal 201 is located on the left and right sides and below the hinge protrusions and extends beyond the left and right sides and below the hinge protrusions. This effectively seals the gap between the left and right sides of the hinge protrusions and the base guard, as well as the gap between the hinge protrusions and the bottom of the recesses on the base guard, i.e., it covers the gap between the hinge protrusions and the bottom of the recesses on the base guard. In one embodiment, the seal installed on the hinge protrusion has vertical grooves 201a on its left and right edges and a horizontal groove 201b on its lower edge, such as... Figure 8A As shown.

[0103] The portion of seal 301 located at the bottom of side plate 3 has the same structure and will not be described again here. The structure of the portion of seal 301 extending beyond the left and right sides and the bottom of the hinge protrusion is shown in Figure 18, consisting of protruding strips 301a and 301b relative to the body of the seal. Seal 201 has a similar structure. The connection between seals 201 and 301 and side plates 2 and 3 can be any suitable method, referring to the description above regarding the installation method of seal 401. In an embodiment not shown, the seal between the bottom of the side plate and the base cavity can also be provided in the base cavity, or seals can be provided in both the bottom of the side plate and the base cavity. The seal between the bottom of the side plate and the base cavity is arranged to cover the gap between the hinge protrusion and the bottom of the cavity on the base guard.

[0104] As described above, in a preferred embodiment, interlocking portions 202 and 302 are provided at both longitudinal ends of side plates 2 and 3. When each side plate is upright relative to the base 1, side plates 2 and 3 are connected by interlocking portions 202 and 302. A sealing member 301 is connected to the interlocking portion 302 of the side plate 3, and the sealing member 301 extends laterally beyond the interlocking portion 302, so that when side plates 2 and 3 are connected in the use state of the foldable case 100, they can abut against side plate 2 to seal the seam between them. The connection between the sealing member 301 and the interlocking portion 302 can be achieved in any suitable manner, for example, by providing a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions on the elongated plate-like body of the sealing member 301 located at its longitudinal edge, and providing corresponding grooves in the interlocking portion 302 of the side plate for operably fixing the protrusions. When the seal 201 includes portions located at its four edges, and the seal 301 is located only at the bottom of the side plate 3, the seal 201 connects to the engagement portion 202 of the side plate 2 and extends laterally beyond the engagement portion 202. This allows the seal 201 to abut against the side plate 3 to seal the seam between them when the side plate 2 and side plate 3 are connected in the use state of the foldable case 100. Multiple spaced-apart protrusions are provided on the elongated plate-like body of the seal 201 located at its longitudinal edge, and corresponding grooves are provided in the side plate engagement portion 202 for operably fixing the protrusions.

[0105] Figure 20 The hinge 5 and its seal 501 are shown in the figure. Figure 22 A perspective view shows the hinge 5 and its seal 501 assembled together. Figure 22A It shows Figure 22 A magnified view of detail A. Seal 501 is mounted flush against the underside of hinge 5. When the lid 4 closes the opening of the collapsible case 100, seal 501 at least partially overlaps with seal 401 of the lid 4, thereby ensuring a seal at the joint between the lid 4 and hinge 5. The connection between seal 501 and hinge 5 can be any suitable method, referring to the description above regarding the installation method of seal 401.

[0106] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to utilize aspects, features, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide other embodiments.

[0107] In light of the detailed description above, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments. Generally, the terminology used in the claims should not be considered limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood to include all possible embodiments together with the full scope of equivalents enjoyed by these claims.

Claims

1. A hinge for hingedly connecting a lid to a side panel of a case, characterized in that, The hinge has a first edge adjacent to the lid and a second edge adjacent to the side panel, the first edge and the second edge of the lid are respectively provided with a first main hinge part and a second main hinge part, the first main hinge part is used for hinge connection with the lid, and the second main hinge part is used for hinge connection with the side panel.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein The first edge and the second edge of the hinge are parallel to each other.

3. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein The first main hinge part of the hinge is provided with a plurality of grooves spaced apart from each other along the first edge, and the grooves are configured to accommodate at least a part of the lid.

4. The hinge of claim 1, wherein, The first main hinge part comprises a plurality of first main protrusions spaced apart from each other, and each first main protrusion is provided with a hinge hole or a hinge shaft; the second main hinge part comprises a plurality of second main protrusions spaced apart from each other, and each second main protrusion is provided with a hinge hole or a hinge shaft.

5. A foldable box, the foldable box has a box body and a box lid, wherein the box body has a base and side panels foldably connected to the base, the side panels include a pair of opposite first side panels and a pair of opposite second side panels, the box lid is a single lid structure, the box lid has a first edge adjacent to the first side panel, and the first edge of the box lid is hingedly connected to the top end of one of the pair of first side panels through a hinge, characterized in that, the hinge has a first edge adjacent to the lid and a second edge adjacent to the side panel, the first edge and the second edge of the lid are respectively provided with a first main hinge part and a second main hinge part; the first edge of the lid is provided with a lid hinge part, and the top end of one of the pair of first side panels is provided with a side panel hinge part; the lid hinge part and the first main hinge part are hingedly connected to each other, and the side panel hinge part and the second main hinge part are hingedly connected to each other.

6. The foldable box according to claim 5, wherein, When the foldable box is in a storage state, the side panels are folded onto the base, the box lid is rotated and folded to the outside of the side panels, and the second edge of the box lid opposite to the first edge does not extend beyond the bottom end of the side panels.

7. The foldable box according to claim 5, wherein, The inside of the top end of the other of the pair of opposite first side panels is provided with a groove opening upward and toward the inside of the box body, and the groove receives the second edge of the box lid in a use state.

8. The foldable box according to claim 5, wherein, The lid hinge part comprises a plurality of lid protrusions spaced apart from each other, each lid protrusion extends horizontally along the plane of the lid from the edge of the lid; the side panel hinge part comprises a plurality of side panel protrusions spaced apart from each other, each side panel protrusion extends upward along the plane of the side panel from the top end of the side panel; the first main hinge part and the second main hinge part respectively comprise a plurality of first main protrusions and second main protrusions spaced apart from each other; each lid protrusion and each first main protrusion are staggered with each other, and the hinge between the hinge and the lid is realized through a first hinge shaft; each side panel protrusion and each second main protrusion are staggered with each other, and the hinge between the hinge and the side panel is realized through a second hinge shaft.

9. The foldable box according to claim 8, wherein, The first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft are parallel to each other.

10. The foldable box according to claim 8, wherein, The first body hinge part of the hinge member is provided with a plurality of grooves spaced apart along the first edge, and each of the lid extensions of the lid hinge part is located in a corresponding groove of the first body hinge part.

11. The foldable box according to claim 5, wherein, A hinge member seal is connected to the lower side of the hinge member, and a first side of the hinge member seal is operably abuttable against the first side panel.

12. The foldable box according to claim 11, wherein, A seal is provided at the junction between the lid and the first and second side panels, and a second side of the hinge member seal adjacent the lid at least partially overlaps the seal on the lid.

Images