Folding container with elastically suspended floor

Abstract

A container ( 10, 30 ) has a floor ( 20 ) for supporting produce suspended via elastic suspension elements ( 22 ) from the walls ( 12, 14, 16, 18 ) of the container so as to automatically adjust the height of the floor, and hence of the produce, as a function of the weight of the produce within the container. Optionally, an adjustment mechanism ( 32 ) is provided to allow adjustment of an effective length of the elastic suspension elements ( 22 ).

1 . A container comprising:
 (a) a set of four walls, each of said walls being implemented as a folding wall having at least one folding portion deployable between an upright container-forming position and a folded position;   (b) a floor deployed within and vertically displaceable relative to said set of walls; and   (c) a suspension arrangement including at least four elastic suspension elements, said suspension arrangement being deployed to suspend said floor relative to said set of walls such that, when said floor is loaded with a first load, said floor assumes a lowered position and, when a part of the load is removed, said suspension arrangement raises said floor towards a raised position.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of said elastic suspension elements includes a length of an elastomeric material. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said set of walls feature an arrangement of stopper features deployed to engage said floor so as to define a fully raised position. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of said suspension elements is attached to said folding portion of one of said walls. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a base fixedly attached to said set of walls below said floor. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein said base is configured to provide at least one channel for insertion of a pallet jack for lifting the container. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension arrangement further includes an adjustment mechanism configured for adjusting an effective length of said elastic suspension elements. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an effective length of said elastic suspension elements between an operative length wherein said floor is elastically biased towards a raised position and an inoperative length wherein said floor assumes said lowered position even in the absence of an applied load. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured to simultaneously adjust an effective length of all of said elastic suspension elements substantially equally. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable drum associated with said floor, each of said elastic suspension elements being linked to said drum so that rotation of said drum effects simultaneous adjustment of an effective length of all of said elastic suspension elements. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein said adjustment mechanism further includes a ratchet arrangement for allowing rotation of said drum to shorten an effective length of said elastic suspension elements and to inhibit rotation of said drum to lengthen an effective length of said elastic suspension elements. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said adjustment mechanism further includes a ratchet override mechanism selectively operable to release said ratchet arrangement to allow rotation of said drum to lengthen an effective length of said elastic suspension elements. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension arrangement is configured such that a number of suspension elements deployed to suspend said floor relative to said set of walls may be varied to accommodate produce of different weights. 
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said suspension arrangement includes a plurality of suspension elements having different thicknesses interchangeably deployable to suspend said floor relative to said set of walls.