Foldable plastic box, assemblable, having 5 cavities, with or without folding upper covers, to contain agricultural products

Abstract

Box of 5 pieces or cavities made in plastic material, that comprises a base, greater and smaller walls, with or without upper covers, with hinged means that allow to lower the walls on the base in order to reduce the dimensions of the box and to adopt a storing position; and with press fit means of easy manipulation that allow to lock the walls permitting the box to adopt an using position, and to unlock the walls to lower them on the base. In addition the box to the present invention comprises rigid male/female means, that can be flattened, arranged in their upper corners of the greater walls, that allow to flatten the male protrusions in order to give an improved security in the process of stacking of pallets on finished product pallets, avoiding with it the risks of lateral failings of columns boxes and whole pallets. Besides, it provides more space in shelves in the market. Also, the box comprises greater and smaller walls slightly widened towards its corners that gives to it an improved resistance to support the diverse loads and stresses which are exerted to the box when it is being used, specially the ones generated in the stacking.

1 . Foldable, assemblable, stackable and re-usable box, to store, to transport and to exhibit agricultural products, such as diverse horticultural and fruit products, of the type conformed by five pieces or cavities among which one corresponds to the base, two to greater walls and two to the smaller walls, with or without folding upper covers, with hinged means which allow to lower the walls on the base in order to reduce to the dimensions of the box adopting a storing position, with locking and unlocking means of the walls to each other, with stacking means of male-female type arranged in the corners, with structural columns that give rigidity to the box, with arranged perforations that allow to observe and to ventilate the interior of the box, with or without clips for cards, with or without incorporated handles, characterized in that it comprises reinforced greater and smaller walls and with greater thickness in the columns located in the corners (widened in its corners) that give them greater resistance to support the diverse loads and stresses which are exerted to the box when it is being used, specially the ones generated in the stacking; simultaneously it comprises opening and closing press fit means of the box which involve an easy manipulation, which allow to assemble or disassemble the box easily; also it comprises rigid male/female means and simultaneously being able to become flatten that allow to flatten the protruding male elements to permit that the columns of stacking loaded boxes that get in contact with pallets, preventing unstable columns that may turn upside down causing damages to the content of the boxes; and in addition by its structure they are boxes that save space when they are placed in shelves in the market.  
   
   
       2 . The box according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a base ( 1 ) that includes a perimetric structural rib ( 9 ), having a right trapezium cross-section, defined by an inclined inner side ( 9   a ) that connects with this base ( 1 ) and that, by an arc, in its top connects with a horizontal upper side ( 9   b ), which connects with a vertical outer side ( 9   c ) that finishes level with the surface of this base ( 1 ); said perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) has a little height in the smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box and a greater height in the greater walls ( 2 ), besides, it defines a lower perimetric channel ( 10 ), which includes concave connections in the vertexes coinciding with the convex lower rounded corners ( 11 ), that are arranged in the lower ends of the smaller walls ( 3 ).  
   
   
       3 . The box according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the lower perimetric channel ( 10 ) located in the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) of the base ( 1 ) includes a plurality of transversal ribs ( 12 ), that fill the height and width of this channel ( 10 ) in the ends of the articulated hinges ( 4 ) as much in the greater walls ( 2 ) as in the smaller ones ( 3 ), these ribs ( 12 ) include great rectangular grooves, forming L shaped ribs perpendicular to the base ( 1 ).  
   
   
       4 . The box according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) located in the base ( 1 ) includes upper male protrusions ( 6   b ) generally having a pyramidal trunk with a square base shape, arranged in the corners, which agree with the complementary groove or cavity ( 14 ). arranged in the lower ends of the greater walls ( 2 ) of the box, so that these protrusions ( 6   b ) and said grooves or cavities ( 14 ) connect with each other increasing the resistance to the load that is applied on the corners when the box is assembled and stressed by vertical compression forces.  
   
   
       5 . The box according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the male protrusions with a square base ( 6   b ) arranged in the corners of the base ( 1 ) fit in a same vertical axis with the perimetric channel ( 10 ) of the base ( 1 ), where it is located a stacking female cavity ( 6   a ), which defines a system that serves to stack the boxes in a storing position, being these boxes perfectly assembled and secured.  
   
   
       6 . The box according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the greater walls ( 2 ) include upper male pyramidal protrusions ( 6   c ) arranged in the corners, that fit in a same vertical axis with the perimetric channel ( 10 ) of the base ( 1 ), right where the female stacking ( 6   a ) cavities are located, which defines a system that serves to stack the assembled boxes in a using position; also, the upper male pyramidal protrusions ( 6   c ) of the last upper row of the pallet are flattened by the weight of a pallet that is placed on it, and thus protruding elements, that could make unstable the load placed on it, are eliminated.  
   
   
       7 . The box according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the greater walls ( 2 ) are of smaller height compared with the smaller walls ( 3 ), so that when they are connected to the base ( 1 ) and in using position the greater walls ( 2 ) and the smaller walls ( 3 ) reach a same height.  
   
   
       8 . The box according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a base ( 1 ) that includes a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 8 ), generally extended, which are arranged at regular intervals and distributed by quadrants with its greater axes oriented towards the quadrant diagonally opposed or the center of the base ( 1 ).  
   
   
       9 . The box according to  claim 2 , characterized in that in the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) there are articulated hinges ( 4 ) along the perimeter of the base ( 1 ), when it is seen from the top, which have a male component and a female component; the female hinge ( 13 ) has a plurality of oblong rectangular perforations ( 13   a ) arranged in the inclined walls ( 9   a ), which prolong its central part in the upper walls ( 9   b ) where they define square shaped perforations ( 13   b ), inside each one of these perforations is included an “L” shaped partition ( 13   c ) that is connected to the lower edge of the rectangular perforation ( 13   a ) and to the outer edge of the square shaped perforation ( 13   b ), and which additionally includes lateral protrusions ( 13   d ) connected to said upper wall ( 9   b ), defining complementary concave profiles following a same arc of curvature with a concave channel ( 13   e ) included in the horizontal portion of this inner partition ( 13   c ), so that each one of these perforations can allow an inverted “T” type male hinge ( 37 ) to enter in it and to connect with it in a simple manner; this male hinge ( 37 ) is connected to the greater walls ( 2 ) and smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box and includes a “T” shaped perimetric rib ( 37   a ), an upper end ( 37   b ), a lower end ( 37   c ), and a “T” inner channel of smaller thickness ( 37   d ).  
   
   
       10 . The box according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises greater walls ( 2 ) which are conformed in the upper and lower part by a “C” type longitudinal profile ( 15 ), opened towards the outside of the box, where the height of the upper “C” type profile ( 15   b ) is greater than the height of the lower one ( 15   a ), and both are distanced and simultaneously connected by semi cylindrical central columns ( 16 ) arranged vertically, which are also opened towards the outside of the box; these greater walls ( 2 ) have their corners conformed by structural columns ( 17 ) which are rectangular and composed by three vertically arranged bodies, with concave and convex shapes, two of which, that are contiguous and simultaneously opposite, have the shape of a “C” profile, and the third body, located in the edge, have the shape of a “L” in which the male locking means are located ( 5 ).  
   
   
       11 . The box according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises smaller walls ( 3 ) which include a longitudinal lower “L” type profile ( 18 ), arranged horizontally level with the outer part the box, and a rectangular longitudinal upper “C” type profile ( 19 ), arranged horizontally and opened towards the outside the box, this last profile is equal in height than the longitudinal upper profile ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ), and both profiles ( 18 ) and ( 19 ) are separated and simultaneously connected through vertically arranged semi cylindrical central columns ( 20 ), also opened towards the outside of the box; these smaller walls ( 3 ) have their corners conformed by structural columns ( 21 ) which are rectangular and composed by three vertically arranged bodies, with concave and convex shapes, two of which, that are contiguous and simultaneously opposite, have the shape of a “C” profile, and the third body, located in the edge, have the shape of a “L” because of a groove along the column that permits a perfect connection with the grater walls ( 2 ); in this last body rectangular cavities ( 24 ) are included which represent the “female” that receives the “male” locking mean ( 5 ) when the box is assembled.  
   
   
       12 . The box according to claims  10  and  11 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) and ( 19 ), of the greater walls ( 2 ) and smaller walls ( 3 ), respectively, have the same height.  
   
   
       13 . The box according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the lateral ribs, centred ( 17   a ), upper ( 15   b ), and lower ( 15   a ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include a plurality of reinforcing inner transversal ribs ( 22 ).  
   
   
       14 . The box according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the structural column corners ( 21 ) and the longitudinal “C” type profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include a plurality of reinforcing inner transversal ribs ( 22 ).  
   
   
       15 . The box according to claims  10  and  11 , characterized in that the structural column corners ( 17 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in almost all their height an “L” shaped cross section lateral rim ( 23   a ), vertically arranged, level with the upper and outer profiles of the box, opened towards the nearest smaller wall ( 3 ), and connected with a “L” shaped complementary groove ( 23   b ), which is vertically arranged in the smaller walls ( 3 ), so that these rims ( 23   a ) and grooves ( 23   b ) conform reinforcement structures in the corners of the box when the greater walls ( 2 ) and the smaller walls ( 3 ) are in the use position (assembled box).  
   
   
       16 . The box according to  claim 15 , characterized in that each “L” shaped lateral rim ( 23   a ) arranged in the greater walls ( 2 ) include a plurality of male locking means ( 5 ) arranged perpendicularly and projected towards the inside of the box, that penetrates in the rectangular cavity locking means ( 24 ) which are located in the respective complementary groove ( 23   b ) arranged in the smaller walls ( 3 ), permitting a greater resistance and structural closing in the corners of the box.  
   
   
       17 . The box according to the  claim 15 , characterized in that each structural column ( 17 ) located in the corner of the greater walls ( 2 ) includes in the upper part a hexagonal upper perforation ( 25   a ) and a circular lower perforation ( 25   b ), both connected by a rectangular intermediate perforation ( 25   c ), within this upper perforation ( 25   a ) is included a hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ) that protrudes towards the outside of the box and that is connected to a central pivot ( 26   b ), which is connected with a circular disc ( 26   c ) that protrudes inclined towards the outside of the box; the central pivot ( 26   b ) in its central part is connected to a transversal partition ( 26   d ) which is joined by its ends to two sides of the perimeter of the intermediate perforation ( 25   c ); this piece conforms a clip for an easy opening, assembling and folding of the box.  
   
   
       18 . The box according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in the lateral profile of the structural column ( 21 ) located in the corner a cavity of three sides ( 27 ) to receive the clip for an easy opening, assembling and folding of the box, where fits perfectly well the hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ), allowing to close and to lock easily the walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) securing them in an assembled position, and also they allow to unlock them easily, by exerting a slight pressure in said circular disc ( 26   c ), which unlocks the hexagonal protrusion ( 26   a ), it is uncoupled from the cavity of three sides ( 27 ), in order to allow that these walls ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) can be lowered to the storing position.  
   
   
       19 . The box according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the profiles and columns ( 15   a ), ( 15   b ), ( 16 ) and ( 17 ) arranged in the greater walls ( 2 ) support a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 28 ) that conform a homogenous arrangement in the greater walls ( 2 ), where this arrangement is level with the outer side of the box, except in the arrangement of the quadrants where the card clip ( 36 ) and ( 37 ) is located, in this case the arrangement of the greater walls ( 2 ) is located in an average depth.  
   
   
       20 . The box according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the profiles and columns ( 19 ), ( 20 ) and ( 21 ) arranged in the smaller walls ( 3 ) also take step to a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 28 ) that conform homogenous arrangement in the smaller walls ( 3 ), being this arrangement level with the outer profile of the box.  
   
   
       21 . The box according to claims  19  and  20 , characterized in that the perforations ( 28 ) of said arrangements are regular hexagons.  
   
   
       22 . The box according to claims  19  and  20 , characterized in that the perforations ( 28 ) of said arrangements are hexagons which do not have equidistant edges.  
   
   
       23 . The box according to the  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes perforations that can adopt diverse sizes and shapes but always constituting geometric figures of 6 sides, such as hexagons.  
   
   
       24 . The box according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper “C” type profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in their vertical side a plurality of extended hexagonal perforations ( 29 ), with its greater axis arranged horizontally, which conform a row of perforations separated a little distance between each other.  
   
   
       25 . The box according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper “C” type profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in their vertical profile a plurality of extended hexagonal perforations ( 29 ) having their greater axis horizontally arranged, which conform a row of perforations separated a little distance between each other.  
   
   
       26 . The box according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) are slightly depressed of the internal side of the box in relation to the structural columns ( 17 ) located in the corners.  
   
   
       27 . The box according to claims  2  and  10 , characterized in that the structural columns ( 17 ) located in the corners of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in their upper profile a hollow male pyramidal protrusion ( 6   c ) opened towards the opposed wall, that fits in the same vertical axis with the perimetric channel ( 10 ) of the base ( 1 ), so that when stacking the boxes in the using position they are secured, since this pyramidal projection ( 6   c ) fits perfectly with the female stacking cavity ( 6   a ) that forms part of the perimetric channel ( 10 ) in the lower corner.  
   
   
       28 . The box according to  claim 27 , characterized in that the hollow male pyramidal protrusion ( 6   c ) arranged in the greater walls ( 2 ) can be flattened in order to eliminate from the box protuberances when it is in the using position.  
   
   
       29 . The box according to  claim 20 , characterized in that at least one of the arrangements with hexagonal perforations ( 28 ) arranged between the profiles and structural columns ( 19 ), ( 20 ) and ( 21 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) includes a panel for labels ( 34 ).  
   
   
       30 . The box according to  claim 19 , characterized in that one of the quadrants of the arrangements with hexagonal perforations ( 28 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) located near the corner of the box includes a pair of cross type perforations ( 35 ) with a central pivot ( 36 ) for securing cards, conforming a clip for cards.  
   
   
       31 . The box according to claims  9  and  10 , characterized in that the longitudinal lower profiles ( 15   a ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) include in their lower part a plurality of inverted “T” type male hinges ( 37 ) conformed by inverted “T” type perimetric protrusions ( 37   a ), with rectangular cross section having an upper ( 37   b ) and a lower ( 37   c ) convex ends and with an inner channel “T” of smaller thickness ( 37   d ) which fit in the female hinges ( 13 ) located in the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) of the base ( 1 ), allowing to lower these greater walls ( 2 ) from a vertical position of use to another horizontal storing position.  
   
   
       32 . The box according to claims  9  and  11 , characterized in that the longitudinal lower “L” type profile ( 18 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in their lower part a plurality of inverted “T” type male hinges ( 37 ) conformed by inverted “T” type perimetric protrusions ( 37   a ), with rectangular cross section having an upper ( 37   b ) and a lower ( 37   c ) convex ends and with an inner channel “T” of smaller thickness ( 37   d ) which fit in the female hinges ( 13 ) located in the perimetric structural rib ( 9 ) of the base ( 1 ), allowing to lower these smaller walls ( 3 ) from a vertical position of use to another horizontal storing position.  
   
   
       33 . The box according to claims  31  and  32 , characterized in that the hinges ( 37 ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) and the smaller walls ( 3 ) are connected in the perforations ( 13   a ) and ( 13   b ) of the base ( 1 ) allowing to lower these smaller walls ( 3 ) on the base ( 1 ), and then these greater walls ( 2 ) on the smaller walls ( 3 ), in order to let the box to adopt a storing position.  
   
   
       34 . The box according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper “C” type profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in the upper part, two equidistant female cavities for cover clips ( 30 ), composed by a semi-depressed zone ( 30   a ) and a centred rectangular perforation ( 30   b ); in which cavity fit tightly the male protrusions ( 31 ) of the cover clip which are composed by a trapezoidal protrusion ( 31   a ) and an additional lateral rib ( 31   b ) arranged in the covers ( 7 ).  
   
   
       35 . The box according to clam  11 , characterized in that the longitudinal upper profiles ( 19 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) include in their upper-inner edge, near the corners, a pair of rectangular flaps ( 32 ) for additional joining, which connect in an overlapped manner with a similar pair of flaps ( 33 ) for additional joining arranged in the covers ( 7 ).  
   
   
       36 . The box according to claims  10  and  11 , characterized in that it includes two flat rectangular upper covers ( 7 ) with two reduced vertexes ( 38 ) which are complementary with the structural columns that are slightly widened towards the corners of the box, each one of which is connected to the upper-outer edge of the longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ) of the box by means of flexible thin membrane hinges ( 39 ), which are placed along the cover in an intermittent manner, so when the box is in closed position said covers ( 7 ) lean on these longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) and simultaneously lean by means of flat rectangular prolongations ( 40 ) on the female cavities ( 30 ) located in the smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box.  
   
   
       37 . The box according to  claim 36 , characterized in that each cover ( 7 ) covers all the length of the box and has a width equal to the height of the box formed by the base ( 1 ) and the greater wall ( 2 ); in addition, the covers do not cover the whole upper surface of the box.  
   
   
       38 . The box according to claims  26  and  36 , characterized in that the covers ( 7 ) have a suitable thickness in order to fit perfectly in the longitudinal slot that is generated in the surface of the longitudinal upper profiles ( 15   b ) of the greater walls ( 2 ), reason why when the covers ( 7 ) and the box are in the closed position said covers ( 7 ) reach a same height that the structural columns ( 17 ) located in the corners of the box.  
   
   
       39 . The box according to claims  35 ,  36  and  38 , characterized in that the covers ( 7 ) include in their ends complementary flaps ( 33 ) that are locked with the flaps ( 32 ) of the smaller walls ( 3 ) of the box in order to allow an additional securing for the locking and closing of the covers ( 7 ) when the box is assembled.  
   
   
       40 . The box according to  claim 36 , characterized in that the covers ( 7 ) include a uniform channel without perforations ( 41 ) in 3 sides of their outer surface, adjacent to the lateral edges and longitudinal opposed to the flexible thin membrane hinge ( 39 ).  
   
   
       41 . The box according to  claim 36 , characterized in that the covers ( 7 ) include a plurality of hexagonal perforations ( 42 ) that conform an homogenous arrangement that covers the adjacent surface to this uniform channel without perforations ( 41 ), and also covers up to a little distance from the flexible thin membrane hinges ( 39 ).  
   
   
       42 . The box according to the  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes covers ( 7 ) with perforations that can have diverse sizes and shape, but always constituting geometric figures of 6 sides, such as hexagons.  
   
   
       43 . The box according to  claims 1  to  35 , characterized in that the box is fabricated in plastic material or a similar material.  
   
   
       44 . The box according to  claims 36  to  42 , characterized in that the cover ( 7 ) is fabricated with a plastic material or a similar material.  
   
   
       45 . The box according to anyone of the previous claims, characterized in that it can become a box with covers and/or without covers, and it may have different dimensions, such as: 
 20″ length×16″ width×117.6 mm height;    600 mm length×400 mm width×117.6 mm height;    500 mm length×300 mm width×153 mm height.    
   
   
       46 . The box according to anyone of  claims 1  to  44 , characterized in that it can become a box with covers and/or without covers, with different combinations in its dimensions according to requirement.