Crate of multiple uses

Abstract

A crate of multiple uses, regular or foldable or dismantable, whose height is adjustable. A plastic component (M) is provided on at least two opposite vertical sides of the crate, this component being adapted to slide within the channels provided therein, being fixed at the desired position by moving the extension (M4) so as to insert the protrusions (M7, M7, M8) into notches. When the crate is foldable and dismantable at the same time the two vertical sides are separate items, while the remaining part of the crate consists of a single surface that is cut and folded accordingly or it consists of independent molded parts, which are pivotally connected. A mechanism K is provided onto the vertical sides that forms an appropriate notch adapted to receive therein parts of the folded material to form the dismantable crate. Dismantling of the crate is effected with the disengagement of mechanism K and the rotation thereof towards the interior of the crate, while the formation and stabilization thereof is performed with a single movement.

1 . Crate of multiple uses (A), regular or foldable or dismantable, comprising four vertical sides (B, C, D, E) and a basement (F), characterized in that at least two of the four opposite vertical sides (B) and (C) are being adapted to slide in the vertical direction within channels (C 2 , C 3 , C 4 ) of side (C) and within similar channels of side (B),
 wherein each of these sides comprises a plastic component (M) that consists of a horizontally extending bar (M 1 ) abutting the upper part of the side of the crate and constituting the top thereof, a pair of vertical extensions (M 2 ) and (M 3 ) emanating from said plastic component (M) and adapted to slide within the channels (C 2 ) and (C 3 ) of side (C) in a manner that ensures that component (M) can move in the vertical direction only,   a groove (M 5 ′) being provided at the middle and underneath the horizontally extending bar (M 1 ), said groove being adapted to receive a correspondingly formed protrusion (M 5 ) provided at the top of a plastic surface (M 4 ), thereby forming a hinged connection that allows a slight rotation of the surface (M 4 ) within channel (C 4 ), said surface (M 4 ) being adapted to freely slide within the associated larger channel (C 4 ), protrusions (M 6 , M 7 , M 8 ) being provided longitudinally along the surface (M 4 ), wherein, depending on the crate height being selected, one of said protrusions (M 6 , M 7 , M 8 ) is being inserted within a horizontally extending bar (C 1 ) of side (C), said bar (C 1 ) being a H-section rotated by 90° so as to allow insertion of the protrusions (M 6 , M 7 , M 8 ) within the gap thereof,   a projection (M 9 ) with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped being provided onto the surface (M 4 ) at the opposite side of that with the protrusions, the top of projection (M 9 ) abutting onto side (C) and playing the role of a spring that exerts a constant pressure onto (M 4 ) so as to securely lock the protrusion that corresponds to the selected height of the crate within the bar (C 1 ), said protrusion being released only after exercising an opposite force,   whereas, with a scope of facilitating the quest for a newly selected height for the crate, small slots are being provided onto side (C) and at the side thereof that abuts onto the projection (M 9 ), said slots correspondingly provided at the positions of the extensions (M 6 , M 7 , M 8 ), so as to nest projection (M 9 ) at one position and to securely lock at the same time the corresponding one of the projections (M 6 , M 7 , M 8 ) onto the bar (C 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . Crate of multiple uses according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises:
 two vertical plastic sides (B, C) each of which incorporates a plastic component (M);   two plastic mechanisms (K), one at each side (B) and (C), said mechanism (K) being pivotally mounted and appropriately fixed in abutting the interior of side (B) and side (C);   four plastic mechanisms (Z), one pair of these mechanisms being incorporated in the outer surface of each one of the sides (B) and (C);   a surface in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped from any material that can be cut and folded or comprising cast surfaces, which are pivotally connected by means of a film or other connecting methods;   two plastic mechanisms (N) that stabilize the crate;   extensions (BE, BF, BD) and (CE, CF, CD) of a rectangular parallelepipedal shape are respectively provided perpendicularly at the sides of the bottom of the vertically extending sides (B) and (C) oriented towards the interior of the crate, said plastic mechanism (K) having a shape of an inverted II-section with vertical sides (K 1 , K 3 ) and a horizontal side (K 2 ), wherein, in side (C), side (K 1 ) is parallel to a parallelepiped (CE), (K 2 ) is parallel to (CF) and (K 3 ) to (CD) and wherein, accordingly in side (B), side (K 1 ) is parallel to (BE), (K 2 ) is parallel to (BF) and (K 3 ) to (BD), the mechanism (K) being rotated around an axis (K 4 ) that is located at the upper end of (K 1 ) and is perpendicular thereto and around an axis (K 5 ) that is located at the upper end of (K 3 ) and is perpendicular thereto, said axes (K 4 , K 5 ) passing through corresponding holes (K 4 ′) and (K 5 ′) provided onto (CE) and (CD) respectively so as to allow rotation of mechanism (K) by at least 90° in relation to side (C) and at the other side so as to allow rotation of mechanism (K) by at least 90° in relation to side (B), at least two protrusions (K 6 ) and (K 7 ) being provided perpendicular to (K 2 ) and extending towards the interior thereof, said protrusions (K 6 ) and (K 7 ) passing through sides (B) and (C) and having a length such that they may in no case protrude beyond side (B) and side (C) respectively, while corresponding holes (K 6 ′) and (K 7 ′) are provided at the positions of (K 6 ) and (K 7 ) on side (C), as well as on side (B), such that to allow insertion therein of said protrusions when the mechanism (K) abuts onto side (C) and similarly onto side (B), an horizontally extending hole being provided at the end of protrusions (K 6 ) and (K 7 ),   said plastic mechanisms (Z) extending longitudinally along sides (B) and (C) and incorporated therein so as not to protrude therefrom, said mechanism (Z) comprising a plastic ring (Z 1 ) with angular extensions (Z 2 ) and (Z 3 ) and a horizontally extending pin (Z 4 ) which is being inserted within the hole of protrusion (K 6 ) of mechanism (K 0 , whereas the other symmetrical mechanism (Z) that is provided at the other end of the same plastic side is provided with a pin that is being inserted within the hole of protrusion (K 7 ), so as to securely hold mechanism (K) against side (B) and side (C), wherein the dimensions of ring (Z 1 ) and the distance between the two mechanisms (Z) lying on the same side are such as to accommodate the thumb in one mechanism and the middle finger of a practitioner in the other, so that when the mechanisms are being pulled they may lead to projections Z 2  and Z 3  being deformed so that one pin (Z 4 ) is being withdrawn from the hole of the protrusion (K 6 ) and the other pin (Z 4 ) is being withdrawn from the hole of the projection (K 7 ), thereby releasing the mechanism (K), whereas as soon as the external force acting onto the two mechanisms Z is removed the extensions (Z 2 ) and (Z 3 ) which were bent tend to return to their original position thereby leading to pins (Z 4 ) being inserted within the holes of protrusions (K 6 ) and (K 7 ) respectively;   the basement (F) of the crate and the other two vertical sides (D) and (E) thereof are being formed from a single surface of an appropriate material or they are discrete molded surfaces which are connected together, such surface being provided with folds/hinges so as to form surfaces (E 1 , E 2 ) on side (E), corresponding surfaces (D 1 , D 2 ) on side (D) and surfaces (F 1 , F 2 ) on the basement (F), wherein sides (E) and (D) are being rotated towards the interior of the crate and perpendicularly to the basement (F) around an axis with the corresponding fold/hinge S 2 , the surfaces (E 1 , F 1 , D 1 ) on one side and (E 2 , F 2 , D 2 ) on the other side being rotated towards the interior of the crate around an axis with their corresponding fold/hinge S 1 , thereby being entrapped within the slots formed between side (B) and mechanism (K) on one side and between side (C) and mechanism (K) on the other side thereby forming the crate;   the crate being dismantled through pulling of mechanisms (Z) provided on either side thereof, thereby releasing mechanism (K) which rotates towards the interior of the crate and releases the sides (D, E) and the basement (F) of the crate from the other sides (B) and (C) thereof, wherein folds/hinges (S 4 , S 5 , S 6 ) are additionally provided onto the vertically extending sides (E, D) and folds/hinges (S 3 ) are additionally provided onto the basement (F), thereby forming the surfaces (F 3 ) onto the basement (F), the surfaces (E 3 , E 4 , E 5 , E 6 , E 7 ) onto side (E) and the corresponding surfaces (D 3 , D 4 , D 5 , D 6 , D 7 ) onto side (D), wherein the angle formed in between the folds/hinges (S 4 , S 5 ) is 45°, whereby exerting pressure onto surfaces (E 7 ) and (D 7 ) towards the interior of the crate leads to the crate being folded since sides (B) and (C) are rotated towards the interior of the crate around an axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges (S 3 ) provided on either side of the basement (F), whereas portions (E 7 ) and (D 7 ) are rotated towards the interior of the crate around an axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges (S 2 ) provided on either side of the basement (F), portions (E 5 ) and (E 6 ) of side (E) move in the opposite direction around an axis of rotation being determined by the folds/hinges (S 4 , S 5 ) for one of them and (S 4 , S 6 ) for the other until their exterior surface eventually abuts the exterior surface of portion (E 7 ) of side (E), whilst their internal surface abuts the internal surfaces of sides (B) and (C) respectively, whereby sides (B) and (C) are eventually becoming parallel to the basement (F) of the crate;   a mechanism (N) being provided in each one of the sides (E) and (D), said mechanism having the shape of a II-section with unequal vertical parallelepipedal sides (N 1 ) and (N 2 ) and a horizontal parallelepipedal side (N 3 ), wherein the height of (N 1 ) is larger than that of (N 2 ) with the distance in between them being equal to or greater than the material thickness of (ES, E 6 , E 7 ), protrusions (N 4 ) and (N 5 ) shaped in the form of a mushroom and having a body with a height greater than the thickness of (E 7 ) being provided in the parallelepiped (N 1 ), vertically extending notches (N 4 ′) and (N 5 ′) being provided onto portions (E 7 ), (D 7 ) of sides (E), (D) respectively, said protrusions (N 4 ) and (N 5 ) being adapted to move within the notches (N 4 ′) and (N 5 ′) so that mechanism (N) slides longitudinally along them without being exerted therefrom with the parallelepiped (N 1 ) abutting the interior of side (E) and (N 2 ) the exterior thereof, whereby as sides (B) and (C) are rotated to a vertical position relatively to the basement (F) of the crate thereby forming the crate, sides (E) and (D) that comprise a plurality of portions or pieces are being unfolded as their surfaces are rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the same during folding of the crate, wherein, with a scope of stabilization of the crate, mechanisms (N) slide within the notches of portions (E 7 ), (D 7 ) until the interior of parallelepiped (N 3 ) abuts the upper part of (ES, E 6 , E 7 ) and of (D 5 , D 6 , D 7 ) respectively thereby restraining them from being folded whereby the crate is being formed and fixedly secured in this position with a single motion only, while the length of mechanism (N) is such that it may allow the unobstructed folding of the crate, wherein folding of the crate is being effected with the mechanisms (N) being lifted so that the bottom of the parallelepiped (N 2 ) of mechanism (N) reaches a height higher than that of the sides (E) and (D) and thereafter with exerting pressure onto (E 7 ) and (D 7 ) towards the interior of the crate to initiate folding thereof.   
     
     
         3 . Crate of multiple uses according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the notches being formed between side (B) and mechanism (K) abutting the same on the one hand and between side (C) and mechanism (K) abutting the same on the other, wherein, with a scope of forming the crate, surfaces (E 1 , F 1 , D 1 ) on one side and (E 2 , F 2 , D 2 ) on the other side must be entrapped within said notches, a groove being formed by (CD, C, K 3 ) and identical grooves being further formed by (CE, C, K 1 ), (CF, C, K 2 ), (BE, B, K 1 ), (BF, B, K 2 ), (BD, B, K 3 ), the groove consisting of a triangle with vertices (K 11 , K 12 , K 13 ) and with a right angle whose sides are the intersection of a portion of side (C) and the perpendicular to this (CD), wherein a side (K 12 , K 13 ) of the triangle abuts side (C), a side (K 13 , K 11 ) of the triangle is being extended by a few millimetres, the distance of point (K 12 ) from (CD) depending on the maximum thickness of the material to be used for the manufacture of (E, F, D) and the distance of the point where the extension of side (K 13 , K 11 ) ends from (CD) should be greater than twice the thickness (D) or than the thickness of (D) plus the thickness of (D 2 ) in case it differs in this part, the angle being formed by the sides of the triangle (K 11 , K 12 ) and (K 12 , K 13 ) being greater than 10° with the length of (D 2 ) being less than the length of side (K 11 , K 12 ) so that the portion (D 2 ) of side (D) would hook into this groove by the extension of side (K 13 , K 11 ) when the surfaces (E 1 , F 1 , D 1 ) are rotated around an axis of their fold/hinge (S 1 ) in order to be inserted into the notches. 
     
     
         4 . Crate of multiple uses according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the surfaces (E 1 , F 1 , D 1 ) on one side and surfaces (E 2 , F 2 , D 2 ) on the other side are rotated towards the interior of the crate by 90° around an axis of rotation of the corresponding fold/hinge (S 1 ) thereof and are being entrapped within the grooves being formed between side (B) and mechanism (K) on the one hand and between side (C) and mechanism (K) on the other, wherein at first (E 1 , F 1 , D 1 ) and (E 2 , F 2 , D 2 ) are being brought in contact with sides (B) and (C) respectively and thereafter mechanisms (K) are rotated in order to entrap them in this position thereby forming the crate (A), wherein a section of the groove being formed by (CD, C, K 3 ) identical grooves being further formed by (CE, C, K 1 ), (CF, C, K 2 ), (BE, B, K 1 ), (BF, B, K 2 ), (BD, B, K 3 ) is a right angled triangle with vertices (K 21 , K 22 , K 23 ) and a rectangle with vertices (K 21 , K 24 , K 25  , K 26 ) and a right angle whose sides are the intersection of a portion of side C and the perpendicular therein (CD), wherein the side (K 22 , K 23 ) of the triangle abuts side (C) and the distance between the side (K 24 , K 25 ) from (CD) is equal to the thickness of (D) and the distance of the side (K 25 , K 26 ) from (C) is equal to the thickness of the portion (D 2 ).