Collapsible crate

Abstract

A collapsible crate having a four sided base with at least one pair of parallel sides, upstanding opposing semi-rigid side walls and upstanding opposing semi-rigid end walls, the side walls being connected to the end walls via hinges, the base comprising a flexible web connected to the lower end of at least two of the opposing walls and a semi-rigid flap connected via a hinge to the lower end of one of the side walls such that the flap overlies and is supported by the flexible web when the crate is in a constructed state and is upstanding when the crate is in a collapsed state for flat packing, wherein the semi-rigid side and end walls and the flap each have a sandwich construction of a semi-rigid panel or panels between flexible webs, and wherein each end wall comprises at least two semi-rigid sections connected via a central upstanding hinge.

1 . A collapsible crate having a four sided base with at least one pair of parallel sides, upstanding opposing semi-rigid side walls and upstanding opposing semi-rigid end walls, the side walls being connected to the end walls via hinges, the base comprising a flexible web connected to the lower end of at least two of the opposing walls and a semi-rigid flap connected via a hinge to the lower end of one of the side walls such that the flap overlies and is supported by the flexible web when the crate is in a constructed state and is upstanding when the crate is in a collapsed state for flat packing, wherein the semi-rigid side and end walls and the flap each have a sandwich construction of a semi-rigid panel or panels between flexible webs, and wherein each end wall comprises at least two semi-rigid sections connected via a central upstanding hinge. 
     
     
         2 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the base web is connected to the lower end of each of the side and end walls. 
     
     
         3 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the side and end walls are planar when the crate is in a constructed state. 
     
     
         4 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is a rectangle. 
     
     
         5 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is a trapezium. 
     
     
         6 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the end walls are parallel when the crate is in a constructed state. 
     
     
         7 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid flap further comprises a handle on the opposite side to the hinge for raising and lowering the flap when constructing and collapsing the crate. 
     
     
         8 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lid, connected to the upper end of one of the side walls via a hinge. 
     
     
         9 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid is semi-rigid and has a sandwich construction of a semi-rigid panel or panels between flexible webs. 
     
     
         10 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 8 , further comprising securing means for securing the lid to at least the upper end of the side wall opposite the lid hinge and preferably also for securing the lid to the upper end of each end wall. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 10 , wherein the securing means comprises one or more zips. 
     
     
         12 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 10 , wherein the securing means comprises hook and loop fastening strips, one strip of which being arranged to extend from the lid and the other strip being disposed on the inner side of the respective side or end walls. 
     
     
         13 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 10 , wherein the securing means comprises one or more tabs extending from the lid for engagement within a slot disposed on the inner side of the respective side or end walls. 
     
     
         14 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more carry handles. 
     
     
         15 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web material includes at least one of the group comprising: plastics, paper, natural fibres, a corn based plastic, polylactic acid (PLA), and jute. 
     
     
         16 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web material is biodegradable. 
     
     
         17 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web material is a woven fabric. 
     
     
         18 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid panel material includes at least one material selected from of the group consisting of hardboard, cardboard, plywood, wood, plastics, metal, a corn based plastic, polylactic acid (PLA), and jute. 
     
     
         19 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid panel material is biodegradable. 
     
     
         20 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein when the base is rectangular the crate has dimensions according to a standard crate size selected from the group consisting of BDCM1, BDCM2, NL1, or NL2. 
     
     
         21 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web material is stitched. 
     
     
         22 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the hinges are made of flexible web material. 
     
     
         23 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1  adapted for packaging loose items for shipment or for storing loose items. 
     
     
         24 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the said walls has dimensions which conform with the internal surfaces of a shopping trolley. 
     
     
         25 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 1 , wherein each side wall and each end wall have dimensions which conform with the internal surfaces of a shopping trolley. 
     
     
         26 . A stackable crate system comprising:
 a first collapsible crate according to  claim 1 ;   a second collapsible crate according to  claim 1 ; wherein the second crate is adapted for insertion into and removal from the first crate.   
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 26 , wherein the second crate has at least one wall that conforms with the internal dimensions of the first crate such that at least three of the walls stand adjacent the respective walls of the first crate when the second crate is inserted into the first crate. 
     
     
         28 . A collapsible crate according to  claim 26 , wherein the second crate further comprises one or more carry handles for insertion and removal from the first crate. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 26  further comprising a third collapsible crate adapted for insertion and removal from either of the first or second crates, the third crate comprising:
 a four sided base with at least one pair of parallel sides, upstanding opposing semi-rigid side walls and upstanding opposing semi-rigid end walls, the side walls being connected to the end walls via hinges, the base comprising a flexible web connected to the lower end of at least two of the opposing walls, wherein the semi-rigid side and end walls each have a sandwich construction of semi-rigid panels between flexible webs, and wherein each end wall and side wall comprise two semi-rigid sections connected via a central upstanding hinge. 
 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 29  wherein the third collapsible crate further comprises a plurality of stitched flexible webs to the side and end walls to define compartments within the third crate.