Collapsible pallet container

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible superstructure ( 30 ), a frame system ( 20 ), a lid ( 40 ) and a load handling system in the form of a pallet ( 10 ) with other components thereon. The superstructure ( 30 ) comprises a downward-extending protrusion in the corner portions ( 33 a - d ) for forming a step which is arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet ( 10 ) on which the superstructure ( 30 ) is intended to be placed. When the superstructure ( 30 ) is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet ( 10 ), each corner portion ( 33 a - d ) can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into each recess of the pallet ( 10 ). The collapsible sides ( 32 a - b ) comprise respective lower locking portions arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet ( 10 ) in such a way that, when the superstructure ( 30 ) is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet ( 10 ), the locking portion of the superstructure ( 30 ) can pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet ( 10 ) in an outward movement (L) and thereby enable the superstructure ( 30 ) to place itself in a fully raised position.

1 . A collapsible superstructure for a pallet, comprising:
 (a) a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides, the sides being arranged, in a raised position of the superstructure, to be upright in such a way that:
 the sides of the first pair are opposite each other; 
 the sides of the second pair are opposite each other; and 
 the sides of the first pair are connected to the sides of the second pair in a raised position of the superstructure in order to form a superstructure in the shape of a rectangular cuboid with four upright corner portions; 
   (b) each one of the sides of the second pair being divided into two parts that are connected to a first hinge joint, which is upright in a raised position of the superstructure;   (c) the superstructure being provided with, in a raised position of the superstructure, upright second hinge joints arranged at the corner portions so that said parts of the sides of the second pair are foldable in relation to the side of the first pair to which each part of the sides of the second pair is connected;   (d) each of the four corner portions comprising a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends below (d) a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms a downward-extending step;   (e) the connecting portion being formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, a lower edge portion of each side of the second pair;   (f) the step being arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, each corner portion can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into a respective recess of the pallet when the superstructure is placed partly or fully in a raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is placed with its protrusions in the recesses of the pallet, the interaction between the step formed by the protrusion of the superstructure and the edge of the recess of the pallet prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair;   (g) each one of the sides of the second pair comprising a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the lower edge portion of each side;   (h) the locking portion being arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the locking portion of the superstructure is able to pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the pallet locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward; and   (i) the locking portion being designed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as a downward-extending locking protrusion and being arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to drop down into and interact with a recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed, or being formed by the lower edge portion having an edge which is arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to be able to pass across in an outward movement and drop down onto the outside of an upward-extending protrusion of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed.   
     
     
         2 . The superstructure according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portions of the superstructure are arranged in a centre portion of each side of the second pair,
 wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions that are closer to the first hinge joint of each side than the second hinge joints of each side.   
     
     
         3 . The superstructure according to  claim 1 , wherein the superstructure in each of the four corner portions comprises a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends above a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms an upward-extending step,
 (a) wherein the connecting portion is formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, an upper edge portion of each side of the second pair;   (b) wherein said step is arranged to interact with an edge of an upward-extending recess of a lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the lid is placed with the superstructure protrusion in the recess of the lid, the interaction between the step formed by the superstructure protrusion and the edge of the lid recess prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair;   (c) each one of the sides of the second pair comprising a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the upper edge portion of each side;   (d) wherein the locking portion is arranged to interact with a locking portion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the lid locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward; and   (e) wherein the locking portion is formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as an upward-extending locking protrusion, and is arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to extend up into and to interact with a recess of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure, or formed by the upper edge portion having an edge which is arranged to extend up on the outside of a downward-extending protrusion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure.   
     
     
         4 . A frame system arranged to be used for securing a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides on a rectangular pallet with four lateral edges, comprising:
 four recesses in which each one is arranged to be located in a respective corner of the pallet, which recesses extend down to form an upward-extending edge from the recess base, the edge being arranged to allow a protrusion of a corner portion of a superstructure to pass the edge so that the recess is able to receive the protrusion when the superstructure is in an upright partly or fully raised position, and which edge is arranged, when the protrusion is received in the recess, to interact with the protrusion and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure;   two locking portions arranged to be located at two opposite lateral edges of the pallet, along which two lateral edges the collapsible sides of the superstructure are intended to be located;   the locking portions being designed with an edge and arranged to interact with locking portions of each of the collapsible sides of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the superstructure locking portion is able to pass the edge of the frame system locking portion in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the frame system locking portion and the superstructure locking portion prevents the superstructure collapsible sides from being inadvertently pushed inward; and   the locking portions for forming said edge being formed as downward-extending recesses for forming an upward-extending edge from the base of each recess, each edge being arranged to allow a downward-extending locking protrusion of each collapsible side of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet to pass the edge so that the recess is able to receive the locking protrusion when the superstructure places itself in the fully raised position, or being formed as upward-extending protrusions, each protrusion, being arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to allow a lower edge portion of the superstructure to pass across the protrusion in an outward movement and to drop down onto the outside of the protrusion, which outside of the protrusion, forms said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.   
     
     
         5 . The frame system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the locking portions of the frame system are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each lateral edge of the pallet; and   the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each lateral edge than the end points of each lateral edge.   
     
     
         6 . The frame system according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame system is formed in two separate parts which are each arranged to be fastened on a pallet, wherein each one of the parts comprises two corner wall portions and a locking portion arranged in between these corner wall portions. 
     
     
         7 . The frame system according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame system further comprises four corner wall portions, of which each one is arranged to be located in a corner of the pallet, and each one comprises a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located. 
     
     
         8 . A lid arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure with two opposite collapsible sides arranged on a pallet, the lid comprising:
 (a) four recesses, each one arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure and to receive upward-extending protrusions of the superstructure, which recesses extend upward in order to form a downward-extending edge from the top of the recess, the edge being arranged to interact with the protrusion when the protrusion is received in the recess and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure;   (b) two locking portions arranged to be located at the two opposite collapsible sides of the superstructure;   (c) the locking portions being formed with an edge and being arranged to interact with locking portions of each respective collapsible side of the superstructure on which the lid is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the locking portion of the lid and the locking portion of the superstructure prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward; and   (d) the locking portions for forming said edge being formed as an upward-extending recess for forming a downward-extending edge from each top of the respective recess, or formed as downward-extending protrusions, an outside of the protrusion forming said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.   
     
     
         9 . The lid according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the locking portions of the lid are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each collapsible side of the superstructure; and   wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each side than the end points of each side.   
     
     
         10 . The lid according to  claim 8 , wherein the lid further comprises four corner wall portions which are each arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure, and which each comprise a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, wherein the wall portions are arranged to form a physical outer, geometrically rectangular limitation on outward skewing for the corner portions of the superstructure. 
     
     
         11 . A load handling system comprising a pallet provided with a frame system according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A load handling system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a superstructure according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A load handling system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a lid according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         15 . A load handling system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a lid according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         16 . A load handling system comprising a pallet provided with a superstructure according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The load handling system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a frame system according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         18 . The load handling system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a lid according to  claim 8 .