Knock down container

Abstract

The knock-down container has a number of panels each having a margin which extends inward from an outer edge. Each margin has an elongated groove formed therein. A number of elongated couplings interconnects adjacent panels. Each coupling has at least one central wall and a pair of spaced apart inner and outer walls extending outwardly from opposite sides of the central wall. The central wall is disposed between the edges of adjacent panels. Each pair of inner and outer walls define an elongated recess for receipt of one edge and the adjacent margin of one of the adjacent panels. The coupling further has a hook or barb at an end of one of the outer wall and the inner wall. The barb extends into the groove of whichever panel is adjacent thereto to removably interconnect the adjacent panels and the coupling.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A knock-down container comprising: a plurality of panels each having oppositely facing interior and exterior walls and a margin terminating at an edge, each said margin having an elongated groove formed therein; a plurality of elongated couplings for interconnecting adjacent said panels, each said coupling having at least one central wall and a pair of spaced apart inner and outer walls extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central wall, said central wall being disposed between the edges of adjacent said panels, each said pair of inner and outer walls defining an elongated recess for receipt of one said edge and the adjacent said margin of one of said adjacent panels, said coupling further having a barb at an end of one of said outer wall and said inner wall said barb extending into the groove of whichever said panel is adjacent thereto to removably interconnect said adjacent panels with said coupling.  
     
     
         2 . The container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said coupling has one only said central wall which terminates at a pair of said inner walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining one said recess.  
     
     
         3 . The container as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the outer and inner walls which define each recess are parallel to one another and said outer walls are perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         4 . The container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said coupling has a pair of central walls each having an inner wall which extends outwardly therefrom, said coupling further having a web which interconnects said outer walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining a recess for removable receipt of one said panel, said web being rigid save and except for a flexible central area such that said web is pivotal from a closed position in which the interior faces of panels received in said recesses are parallel to one another to at open position in which the latter said interior faces are coplanar.  
     
     
         5 . The container as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said coupling has a pair of central walls each having an inner wall which extends outwardly therefrom, said coupling further having a rigid web which interconnects said outer walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining a recess for removable receipt of one said panel, the interior faces of panel received in said recesses being coplanar.  
     
     
         6 . The container as claimed in  claim 5  further including a pair of intermediate walls disposed between said central walls, said intermediate walls defining a recess for receipt of one said panel, the interior face of the latter said panel being perpendicular to the interior faces of panels within the recesses defined by said outer walls.  
     
     
         7 . The container as claimed in  claim 6  wherein one of said intermediate walls has a barb which extends into the groove of whichever said panel is adjacent thereto to removably interconnect the latter said panel to said coupling.  
     
     
         8 . A coupling for interconnecting adjacent panels of a knock-down container, each said panel having oppositely facing interior and exterior walls and a margin terminating at an edge, each said margin having an elongated groove formed therein, said coupling comprising at least one central wall; a pair of spaced apart inner and outer walls extending outwardly from opposite sides of said central wall, said central wall being adapted to be disposed between the edges of adjacent said panels, each said pair of inner and outer walls defining an elongated recess for receipt of one said edge and the adjacent said margin of one of said adjacent panels; and a barb at an end of one of said outer wall and said inner wall, said barb extending into the groove of whichever said panel is adjacent thereto to removably interconnect said adjacent panels with said coupling.  
     
     
         9 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said coupling has one only said central wall which terminates at a pair if said inner walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining one said recess.  
     
     
         10 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the outer and inner walls which define each recess are parallel to one another and said outer walls are perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         11 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said coupling has a pair of central walls each having an inner wall which extends outwardly therefrom, said coupling further having a web which interconnects said outer walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining a recess for removable receipt of one said panel, said web being rigid save and except for a flexible central area such that said web is pivotal from a closed position in which the interior faces of panels received in said recesses are parallel to one another to an open position in which the latter said interior faces are coplanar.  
     
     
         12 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said coupling has a pair of said central walls each having an inner wall which extends outwardly therefrom, said coupling further having rigid web which interconnects said outer walls, each said outer wall and a respective one of said inner walls defining a recess for removable receipt of one said panel, the interior faces of panels received in said recesses being coplanar.  
     
     
         13 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 12  further including a pair of intermediate walls disposed between said central walls, said intermediate walls defining a recess for receipt of one said panel, the interior face of the latter said panel being perpendicular to the interior faces of panels within the recesses defined by said outer walls.  
     
     
         14 . The coupling as claimed in  claim 13  wherein one of said intermediate walls has a barb which extends into the groove of whichever said panel is adjacent thereto to removably interconnect the latter said panel to said coupling.