Foldable storage box

Abstract

A foldable storage box comprises: a bottom plate; the side plate is connected to the bottom plate through a hinge; a hinge including a hinge member joined to the side plate and a hinge receiver joined to the bottom plate, the hinge receiver for receiving a hinge pin body of the hinge member; the hinge pin body includes a non-cylindrical portion having a plurality of widths including a first width, the first width being a minimum width, the non-cylindrical portion being configured to form a non-cylindrical shape only when a direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the base plate. The hinge pin body is allowed to be disengaged from the hinge receiver only when the first width is in a direction substantially parallel to the base plate, where the side plate is between the use position and the folded position when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the base plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a foldable storage box, and more particularly to a foldable storage box with an improved hinge. Background Art

[0002] Molded plastic foldable storage boxes are known. Each of the four side panels is connected to the bottom panel by a hinge. The side panels can be selectively moved about the hinges between a use position generally perpendicular to the bottom panel and a folded position parallel to the bottom panel. Adjacent side panels are connected at the corners using any of a variety of methods to selectively lock the storage box in the use position. When not in use, the side panels are moved to the folded position to save space. However, the side panels of existing foldable storage boxes are easily separated from the bottom panel when in the folded position, which increases the possibility of collision damage during transportation. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of the present application is to provide a foldable storage box, which has many advantages over the prior art. In order to provide a basic understanding of the present application, a simplified overview of some embodiments of the present application is given below. This overview is not a broad overview of the present application, and is not intended to determine the key elements of the present application or to describe the scope of the present application. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the present application in a simplified form.

[0004] A foldable storage box provided in a first embodiment of the present application comprises: a bottom plate; a side plate, which is connected to the bottom plate by a hinge and can rotate around the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the bottom plate and a folded position parallel to the bottom plate; the hinge comprises a hinge member engaged to the side plate and a hinge receiver engaged to the bottom plate, the hinge receiver is used to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion, the non-cylindrical portion has a plurality of widths including a first width, the first width is a minimum width, the non-cylindrical portion is configured such that the hinge pin body is allowed to detach from the hinge receiver only when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, wherein when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folded position.

[0005] As in the foldable storage box described above, when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folded position and the angle between the side plate and the bottom plate is 30-60 degrees.

[0006] As in the above-mentioned foldable storage box, when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folded position and the angle between the side plate and the bottom plate is 45 degrees.

[0007] As in the above-mentioned foldable storage box, the hinge member is integrally molded with the lower edge of the side panel and extends downward from the lower edge.

[0008] As in the above-mentioned foldable storage box, the hinge receiver is integrally molded with the bottom plate and extends upward from the bottom plate.

[0009] As in the above-mentioned foldable storage box, the hinge receiver has a pair of opposite tangs, and the non-cylindrical portion is received between the tangs.

[0010] As in the above-mentioned foldable storage box, at least one of the tangs is configured to be slightly deformable.

[0011] A foldable storage box provided in a second embodiment of the present application comprises: a bottom plate; a side plate connected to the bottom plate by a hinge and rotatable around the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the bottom plate and a folding position parallel to the bottom plate; the hinge comprises a hinge member coupled to the side plate and a hinge receiver coupled to the bottom plate, the hinge receiver being used to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; the hinge pin body comprises a non-cylindrical portion, a circumferential surface of the non-cylindrical portion is provided with a first side and a fourth side opposite to each other, and a second side and a fifth side opposite to each other, the first side and the fourth side are circumferential surfaces, the second side and the fifth side are planes, the width between the second side and the fifth side is smaller than the width between the first side and the fourth side, the non-cylindrical portion is configured such that the hinge pin body is allowed to detach from the hinge receiver only when the second side and the fifth side are substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate, wherein when the second side and the fifth side are substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folding position.

[0012] As in the foldable storage box described above, the non-cylindrical portion further includes a third side and a sixth side arranged opposite to each other, the third side and the sixth side are planes, and the cross-sectional widths of the third side and the sixth side are smaller than the cross-sectional widths of the second side and the fifth side.

[0013] As in the foldable storage box described above, the hinge assembly also includes two support members connecting the hinge pin body to the side panels, the non-cylindrical portion is located between the two support members, and the hinge pin body also includes two cylindrical end portions located outside the two support members; the hinge receiver includes two opposite, generally concave brackets and two opposite tangs between the brackets, the two brackets are used to receive the two cylindrical ends, and the non-cylindrical portion is received between the two tangs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative labor.

[0015] Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage box provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded diagram of a storage box;

[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A front view of a portion of the inner side of a side panel of the storage box;

[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the side panel taken along line AA;

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A perspective view of a portion of the inner side of the bottom plate of the storage box;

[0020] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the storage box in the installation separation position;

[0021] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the side panel and the bottom panel of the storage box in an installation and combination position;

[0022] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the side panels and the bottom panel of the storage box in the use position;

[0023] Fig. 9 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the storage box with the side panels and the bottom panel in a folded position;

[0024] Fig.10 for Figure 1 A front view of a door panel of a storage box combined with a door panel frame;

[0025] Fig.11 for Figure 1 A front view of a door panel frame of a storage box;

[0026] Fig.12 for Figure 1 A perspective view of a door panel of a storage box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the following description, different embodiments of the present application will be described. For the purpose of explanation, specific structures and details are proposed in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, for those skilled in the art, the present application can be implemented without specific details. In addition, in order to make the described embodiments clear, known features will be omitted or simplified.

[0028] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 A perspective view of a storage box 10 according to an embodiment is shown. Figure 2 An exploded schematic diagram of a storage box 10 is shown. The storage box 10 generally includes a bottom panel 12, a side panel 14, a side panel 16, a side panel 18, a door panel frame 20, a top panel 22, and two door panels 24. The side panels 14, the side panels 16, the side panels 18, and the door panel frame 20 are connected to the bottom panel 12 by a plurality of hinges. The side panels 14, the side panels 16, the side panels 18, and the door panel frame 20 can rotate around the hinges between a use position and a folded position. In the use position, the side panels 14, the side panels 16, the side panels 18, and the door panel frame 20 are generally perpendicular to the bottom panel 12, and in the folded position, the side panels 14, the side panels 16, the side panels 18, and the door panel frame 20 are generally parallel to the bottom panel 12.

[0029] Each hinge includes a hinge member 30 and a hinge receiver 32. The hinge member 30 is integrally molded with and extends downwardly from the lower edges of the side panels 14, 16, 18, and door panel frame 20, and the hinge receiver 32 is integrally molded with and extends upwardly from the bottom panel 12.

[0030] During transportation or storage, the side panels 18 and the door panel frame 20 are folded onto the bottom panel 12, and then the side panels 14 and 16 are folded onto the side panels 18 and the door panel frame 20. Alternatively, the side panels 14 and 16 can be folded onto the bottom panel 12, and the side panels 18 and the door panel frame 20 are folded onto the side panels 14 and 16.

[0031] Figure 3 1 is a schematic diagram of one hinge member 30 on the side panel 14 when viewed from the inner surface of the side panel 14. The other hinge members 30 are the same or substantially similar.

[0032] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the hinge member 30 includes a hinge pin body 36 fixed to the lower edge of the side panel 14 via a base. An opening 38 is formed approximately in the center of the base of the hinge member 30 so that the base forms a pair of supports 40 connecting the hinge pin body 36 to the lower edge of the side panel 14. The hinge pin body 36 includes two cylindrical ends 42 located outside the two supports 40 and a non-cylindrical portion 44 located between the two supports 40.

[0033] The non-cylindrical portion 44 includes a first side 46 formed on a portion of a circumferential surface of the non-cylindrical portion 44, a second side 48 adjacent to the first side 46 and extending from the first side 46, a third side 50 adjacent to the second side 48 and extending from the second side 48, a fourth side 52 adjacent to the third side 50 and extending from the third side 50, a fifth side 54 adjacent to the fourth side 52 and extending from the fourth side 52, and a sixth side 56 adjacent to the fifth side 54 and extending from the fifth side 54. The sixth side 56 is arranged adjacent to the first side 46. The first side 46 and the fourth side 52 are circumferential surfaces or cylindrical surfaces, and the first side 46 is substantially opposite to the fourth side 52. The second side 48 and the fifth side 54 are planes, and the second side 48 is substantially opposite to and parallel to the fifth side 54. The third side 50 and the sixth side 56 are planes, and the third side 50 is substantially opposite to and parallel to the sixth side 56. The cross-sectional widths of the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 are greater than the cross-sectional widths of the third side 50 and the sixth side 56. The first side 46 and the fourth side 52 are set as circumferential surfaces in order to improve the rotation flexibility of the non-cylindrical part 44 in the hinge receiver 32. In the case of reducing flexibility, at least one of the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 can also be set as a plane. The improvement of the hinge in the present application is that the width between the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 is the minimum width (or thickness) of the non-cylindrical part 44, which will be further described below. Since the non-cylindrical part 44 does not have a uniform periphery, the width described in the present application is the width between two straight lines tangent to and parallel to the periphery of the cross section of the non-cylindrical part 44. It should be understood that the sizes of the two opposite sides of the non-cylindrical part 44 may not be equal.

[0034] Figure 5 1 is a partial perspective view of the interior of the base plate 12, showing the hinge receiver 32. The hinge receiver 32 includes a pair of opposing, generally concave brackets 58, the brackets 58 including a concave circular surface 60 and two vertical surfaces 62 extending upward on both sides of the circular surface 60. A pair of opposing tangs 64 are defined between the pair of brackets 58, wherein at least one of the tangs 64 is configured to be slightly deformable, and each tang 64 includes an inclined surface 66 located at the upper end of the tang 64 facing the opposite tang 64, thereby forming a downwardly gradually narrowing flare between the two tangs 64. Each tang 64 also includes an arcuate surface 68 connected to the lower edge of the inclined surface 66. Optionally, the hinge receiver 32 has a hollow bottom 70. Optionally, one of the tangs 64 can be replaced by a wall of the base plate 12 so that the hinge receiver 32 has only one tang 64.

[0035] like Figure 6As shown, the side panel 14 and the bottom panel 12 are in a separated installation position, which is between the use position and the folded position, and the angle between the side panel 14 and the bottom panel 12 is greater than the angle in the folded position and smaller than the angle in the use position, that is, greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, preferably the closer the angle is to 45 degrees, the better, for example, 30-60 degrees, and the most preferred angle is 45 degrees. In this position, the direction of the minimum width of the non-cylindrical portion 44 is substantially parallel to the bottom panel 12, and the two cylindrical ends 42 of the hinge member 30 are aligned with the two brackets 58 of the hinge receiver 32. In the downward direction, the hinge member 30 is inserted into the hinge receiver 32, the third side 50 of the hinge member 30 contacts the inclined surface 66 of one of the tangs 64, and the fifth side 54 of the hinge member 30 contacts the inclined surface 66 of the other tang 64. When a proper force is applied, the slightly deformable tang 64 is deflected outward to allow the hinge pin body 36 to be fully inserted into the hinge receiver 32 from the flare. At this time, the two cylindrical ends 42 of the hinge member 30 are received in the two brackets 58 of the hinge receiver 32, and the non-cylindrical portion 44 of the hinge member 30 is located between the two tangs 64 of the two hinge receivers 32. Similarly, if Figure 7 As shown, the side panel 14 and the base panel 12 are in an installed and combined position, which has the same angle as the installed and separated position, except that the hinge member 30 of the side panel 14 has been inserted into the hinge receiver 32 of the base panel 12. At this position, the hinge member 30 inserted into the hinge receiver 32 can also be disengaged from the hinge receiver 32 in an upward direction. When disengaged, the second side 48 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arc surface 68 of one of the tangs 64, and the sixth side 56 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arc surface 68 of the other tang 64. When an appropriate force is applied, the slightly deformable tang 64 is deflected outward to allow the hinge pin body 36 to disengage from the hinge receiver 32 from the bell mouth. The third side 50 and the sixth side 56 of the hinge component 30 are equivalent to the guiding surfaces, and the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 are the key surfaces for the hinge component 30 to be inserted into or detached from the hinge receiver 32. Therefore, in other embodiments, the non-cylindrical part 44 may also not have the third side 50 and the sixth side 56, so that the second side 48 is adjacent to the fourth side 52, and the fifth side 54 is adjacent to the first side 46. When the hinge component 30 is inserted into the hinge receiver 32 or detached from the hinge receiver 32, the inclined surface 66 or the arc surface 68 of the tang foot 64 is contacted by the second side 48 and the fifth side 54 respectively.

[0036] like Figure 8As shown, in the use position, the first side 46 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arcuate surface 68 of one of the tangs 64, and the fourth side 52 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arcuate surface 68 of the other tang 64. Since the width between the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 is greater than the width between the second side 48 and the fifth side 54, and the width between the first side 46 and the fourth side 52 is configured such that even if the tang 64 deflects outward, it is not enough to make the hinge member 30 disengage from the hinge receiver 32, so each hinge member 30 is locked in the hinge receiver 32. Similarly, as Fig. 9 As shown, in the folded position, the first side 46 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arc surface 68 of one of the tangs 64, and the second side 48 of the hinge member 30 contacts the arc surface 68 of the other tang 64. Since the maximum width extending between the first side 46 and the second side 48 is also greater than the width between the second side 48 and the fifth side 54, and the maximum width between the first side 46 and the second side 48 is configured so that even if the tang 64 deflects outward, it is not enough to make the hinge member 30 disengage from the hinge receiver 32, each hinge member 30 is also locked in the hinge receiver 32. Through the above structure, it is ensured that the hinge member 30 cannot be disengaged from the hinge receiver 32 when the storage box 10 is in the use position and the folded position, thereby ensuring the user's use experience, and at the same time, it can prevent the storage box 10 from being disengaged from the hinge receiver 32 due to vibration during transportation, resulting in backlog and loss.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 8 As shown, the abutment 69 is fixed to the lower edge of the side panel 14 and is located in the opening 38. When the side panel 14 is rotated to the use position, the abutment 69 abuts against the inner surface of the bottom panel 12, which can prevent the side panel 14 from further rotating in the direction opposite to the folded position. The side panel 16, the side panel 18 and the door panel frame 20 have the same or similar abutment 69.

[0038] like Figure 10-12 As shown, the door panel frame 20 includes two upright frame members 70, and also includes an upper cross member 74 and a lower cross member 76 located between the two upright frame members 70. Each door panel 24 includes a rotation axis side 78 and an opposite free side 80, and the rotation axis sides 78 of the two door panels 24 are respectively adjacent to the two upright frame members 70 and engaged between the upper cross member 74 and the lower cross member 76, and the two door panels 24 can rotate around their respective rotation axis sides 78.

[0039] The door panel frame 20 defines an opening 82, and when the two door panels 24 rotate to make the two free sides 80 face each other and be located in the opening 82, the two door panels 24 close the opening 82. The upper cross member 74 of the door panel frame 20 includes two blocking members 88 extending downward, and the two blocking members 88 can block the two door panels 24 from further rotating into the storage box 10. The two corresponding door panels 24 have avoidance recesses 90 corresponding to the positions of the blocking members 88, so that when the door panels 24 close the opening 82, the surfaces of the door panels 24 and the door panel frame 20 are kept flush.

[0040] The door panel frame 20 further includes a latch 92, which is substantially disposed in the middle of the upper cross member 74. The latch 92 includes a switch 94, which slides along a slide groove 96 on the upper cross member 74, and the extending direction of the slide groove 96 is consistent with the length direction of the upper cross member 74. Two latches 98 are integrally molded with the lower edge of the switch 94 and extend downward from the lower edge, so that the latches 98 can slide along the length direction of the upper cross member 74 by sliding the switch 94.

[0041] Each door panel 24 includes an upper side 100 facing the upper cross member 74 of the door panel frame 20 when the opening 82 is closed, and a lock slot with an open top is provided at a position of the upper side 100 corresponding to the latch pin 98 of the latch 92. The lock slot includes a first portion 104 extending in the length direction of the upper cross member 74 and a second portion 106 extending in the width direction of the upper cross member 74, and the first portion 104 and the second portion 106 are connected to form a substantially L-shaped lock slot. The end of the second portion 106 away from the first portion 104 faces the inside of the storage box 10 and has a notch 108 corresponding to the latch pin 98, and the latch pin 98 can slide to align with the notch 108 and enter the lock slot from the notch 108 (the length of the latch pin 98 extending downward from the switch 94 allows it to enter or leave the lock slot only through the notch 108, and the open top of the lock slot allows the latch pin 98 to slide in the lock slot). The lock slot and the latch 98 are configured such that, when the door panel 24 closes the opening 82 and the latch 98 is aligned with the slot 108, the latch 98 enters the lock slot from the slot 108 and is located at a position where the first portion 104 is connected to one end of the second portion 106. In this position, the sliding switch 94 can move the latch 98 along the extension direction of the first portion 104 toward the end away from the second portion 106. When the latch 98 is located in the first portion 104 and moves to a position where it is not aligned with the slot 108, the door panel 24 will be prevented from opening.

[0042] A latch 110 having the same structure as the latch 92 may be provided on the lower cross member 76 of the door panel frame 20, and a lock groove may be provided on the lower cross member 76 accordingly. As required, the latch and the lock groove may be provided only on the upper cross member 74 or the lower cross member 76. A blocking member 112 having the same structure as the blocking member 88 may be provided on the lower cross member 76, and an avoidance recess (not shown) may be provided at a position of the door panel 24 corresponding to the blocking member 112. As required, the blocking member may be provided only on the upper cross member 74 or the lower cross member 76.

[0043] It should be noted that the above-mentioned specific embodiments are exemplary, and those skilled in the art can come up with various solutions inspired by the contents disclosed in the present utility model, and these solutions also belong to the disclosure scope of the present utility model and fall within the protection scope of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present utility model specification and its drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The scope of protection of the present utility model is defined by the claims and their equivalents. The present invention specification contains multiple inventive concepts, such as "preferably", "alternative embodiment" or "optionally", all of which indicate that the corresponding paragraph discloses an independent concept, and the applicant reserves the right to file a divisional application based on each inventive concept. Throughout the text, the features guided by "preferably" are only an optional method and should not be understood as being required. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete the relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A foldable storage box, characterized in that: include: Base plate; A side panel, which is connected to the base panel by a hinge and can rotate around the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the base panel and a folded position parallel to the base panel; the hinge includes a hinge member engaged to the side panel and a hinge receiver engaged to the base panel, the hinge receiver is used to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; the hinge pin body includes a non-cylindrical portion, the non-cylindrical portion has multiple widths including a first width, the first width is the minimum width, the non-cylindrical portion is configured so that the hinge pin body is allowed to disengage from the hinge receiver only when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the base panel, wherein when the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the base panel, the side panel is located between the use position and the folded position.

2. The foldable storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folding position and the angle between the side plate and the bottom plate is 30-60 degrees.

3. The foldable storage box according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the direction of the first width is substantially parallel to the bottom plate, the side plate is located between the use position and the folded position and the angle between the side plate and the bottom plate is 45 degrees.

4. The foldable storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge member is integrally molded with a lower edge of the side panel and extends downwardly from the lower edge.

5. The foldable storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge receiver is integrally molded with the base plate and extends upwardly from the base plate.

6. The foldable storage box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hinge receiver has a pair of opposing tangs, and the non-cylindrical portion is received between the tangs.

7. The foldable storage box according to claim 6, characterized in that: At least one of the tangs is configured to be slightly deformable.

8. A foldable storage box, characterized in that: include: Base plate; A side panel, which is connected to the bottom panel by a hinge and can rotate around the hinge between a use position perpendicular to the bottom panel and a folding position parallel to the bottom panel; the hinge includes a hinge member engaged to the side panel and a hinge receiver engaged to the bottom panel, the hinge receiver is used to receive a hinge pin body of the hinge member; the hinge pin body includes a non-cylindrical portion, the circumferential surface of the non-cylindrical portion is provided with a first side and a fourth side opposite to each other, and a second side and a fifth side opposite to each other, the first side and the fourth side are circumferential surfaces, the second side and the fifth side are planes, the width between the second side and the fifth side is smaller than the width between the first side and the fourth side, the non-cylindrical portion is configured so that the hinge pin body is allowed to disengage from the hinge receiver only when the second side and the fifth side are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, wherein when the second side and the fifth side are substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, the side panel is located between the use position and the folding position.

9. The foldable storage box according to claim 8, characterized in that: The non-cylindrical portion further includes a third side and a sixth side that are oppositely disposed, the third side and the sixth side are planes, and the cross-sectional widths of the third side and the sixth side are smaller than the cross-sectional widths of the second side and the fifth side.

10. The foldable storage box according to claim 8, characterized in that: The hinge assembly also includes two support members connecting the hinge pin body to the side plates, the non-cylindrical part is located between the two support members, and the hinge pin body also includes two cylindrical ends located outside the two support members; the hinge receiver includes two opposite, generally concave brackets and two opposite tangs between the brackets, the two brackets are used to receive the two cylindrical ends, and the two tangs are used to receive the non-cylindrical part.

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