Foldable transportation container

Abstract

A foldable transportation container comprises a container body formed into a box having a rectangular bottom, and a pair of first side walls and a pair of second side walls provided along the periphery of the bottom wall, rotating means provided on the lower ends of the side walls so that the side walls can be folded inward of the container body, an engagement member provided on the outside face of the first side wall. Engagement portions are provided on both ends of each second side wall. The first side walls are folded onto the upper face of the bottom wall and then the second side walls are folded onto the first side walls. An operation portion is provided at the substantial center of each engagement member. Engagement projections are provided at the ends of each engagement member. The engagement portions are engaged with the engagement projections to limit inward rotation of the first side walls. The operation portions of the engagement members are moved up or down to release engagement between the engagement projections and the engagement portions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldable transportation container comprising: 
 a container body having a rectangular bottom wall, a pair of first side walls, and a pair of second side walls, wherein the first and second side walls are provided along the periphery of the bottom wall;    rotating means provided on the lower ends of the side walls, the rotating means permits the side walls to be folded inward of the container body, wherein the first side walls are folded onto the upper face of the bottom wall and then the second side walls are folded onto the folded first side walls;    engagement members, each of which being provided on the outer surface of one of the first side walls, wherein an operation portion is provided on the substantial center of each the engagement member, and wherein a projection is provided at each end of each engagement member; and    engagement portions provided on both ends of the second side walls, wherein the engagement portions are engaged with the engagement projections to limit rotation of the first side walls inward of the container body, and wherein the operation portions of the engagement members are moved up or down to release engagement between the engagement projections and the engagement portions.    
     
     
         2 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , further comprising biasing means located at the contacting sections of the first side walls and the engagement projections, wherein the biasing means biases the engagement projections in predetermined directions to maintain engagement between the engagement projections and the engagement portions.  
     
     
         3 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement projections are disengaged from the engagement portions by moving down the operation portions.  
     
     
         4 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein each engagement member is constituted by a plurality of parts, and the parts constituting each engagement member are connected to one another when attached to the container body.  
     
     
         5 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein each second side wall is provided on its both ends with limiting boards for limiting the first side walls to rotate outwardly.  
     
     
         6 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 5 , wherein limiting means for limiting outward rotation of the second side walls is provided at the contacting sections between the limiting boards and the ends of the first side walls.  
     
     
         7 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein each engagement projection has a slanting face at a portion that contacts the corresponding engagement portion.  
     
     
         8 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein each engagement portion has a slanting face at a portion that contacts the corresponding engagement projection.  
     
     
         9 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein a handle portion for holding the container body is provided near each operation portion, and each operation portion can be operated with a hand holding the corresponding handle portion.  
     
     
         10 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein each operation portion is provided at the lateral center of the corresponding first side wall.  
     
     
         11 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein the movement of the operation portions of the engagement members is limited within a predetermined range.  
     
     
         12 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body and the engagement members, are made of an elastically deformable synthetic resin.  
     
     
         13 . A foldable transportation container comprising: 
 a container body having a rectangular bottom wall, a pair of first side walls, and a pair of second side walls, wherein the first and second side walls are provided along the periphery of the bottom wall;    rotating means provided on the lower ends of the side walls, the rotating means permits the side walls to be folded inward of the container body, wherein the first side walls are folded onto the upper face of the bottom wall and then the second side walls are folded onto the folded first side walls;    engagement members, each of which being provided on the outer surface of one the first side walls, wherein each engagement member includes a vertical sliding member and a pair of horizontal sliding members, wherein the vertical sliding member is vertically slidable, and the horizontal sliding members are connected with the vertical sliding member and are horizontally slidable, wherein an operation portion is provided on the substantial center of each vertical sliding member, and wherein an engagement projection is provided at the outer end of each horizontal sliding member;    sliding conversion means provided in connected sections of each vertical sliding member and the corresponding horizontal sliding members, wherein the sliding conversion means transmits movement of each vertical sliding member to the corresponding horizontal sliding members, thereby moving the horizontal sliding members; and    engagement portions provided on both ends of the second side walls, wherein the engagement portions are engaged with the engagement projections to limit rotation of the first side walls inward of the container body, and wherein the operation portions of the engagement members are moved up or down to release engagement between the engagement projections and the engagement portions.    
     
     
         14 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , further comprising biasing means located at the contacting sections of the first side walls and the engagement projections, wherein the biasing means biases the engagement projections in predetermined directions to maintain engagement between the engagement projections and the engagement portions.  
     
     
         15 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the sliding conversion means comprises: 
 sliding engagement holes, which are obliquely formed in the ends of the vertical sliding members;    sliding engagement protrusions, which are the proximal ends of the horizontal sliding members, wherein the sliding engagement protrusions are engaged with the sliding engagement holes; and    sliding guide portions for guiding sliding of the horizontal sliding members.    
     
     
         16 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the engagement projections are disengaged from the engagement portions by moving down the operation portions.  
     
     
         17 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the second side wall is provided on its both ends with limiting boards for limiting the first side walls to rotate outwardly.  
     
     
         18 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 17 , wherein limiting means for limiting outward rotation of the second side walls is provided at the contacting sections between the limiting boards and the ends of the first side walls.  
     
     
         19 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein each engagement projection has a slanting face at a portion that contacts the corresponding engagement portion.  
     
     
         20 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion has a slanting face at a portion that contacts the corresponding the engagement projection.  
     
     
         21 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein a handle portion for holding the container body is provided near each operation portion, and each operation portion can be operated with a hand holding the corresponding handle portion.  
     
     
         22 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein each operation portion is provided at the lateral center of the corresponding first side wall.  
     
     
         23 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the movement of the operation portions of the engagement members is limited within a predetermined range.  
     
     
         24 . The foldable transportation container according to  claim 13 , wherein the container body and the engagement members are made of an elastically deformable synthetic resin.