Foldable container with shelf and method of folding the foldable container

Abstract

The current invention relates to a foldable container comprising a pallet and a foldable sidewall, wherein the pallet forms a loading surface, wherein the foldable sidewall is a rectangular tube with open ends formed by a first, a second, a third and a fourth side panel, wherein the foldable sidewall is detachable installable on the pallet in order to define a loadable volume, wherein the foldable container comprises a shelf suitable to be loaded with objects, wherein the shelf is hinged to the first side panel, wherein the shelf comprises a first fold line parallel to the first side panel, wherein the foldable container comprises support means to support the shelf at the second side panel, opposite to the first side panel. The invention also relates to a method and a kit.

1 . A foldable container for transportation and storage of objects comprising:
 a pallet and a foldable sidewall:
 wherein the pallet forms a loading surface, 
 wherein the foldable sidewall is able to be folded in case of no loaded stored objects in the foldable container, 
 wherein the foldable sidewall is a rectangular tube with open ends formed by a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, 
 wherein the foldable sidewall is detachable installable on the pallet in order to define a loadable volume; 
   a shelf suitable to be loaded with objects,   wherein the shelf is hinged to the first side panel and the shelf includes a first fold line parallel to the first side panel of the foldable sidewall; and   support means to support the shelf at the second side panel, opposite to the first side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the foldable sidewall is foldable in each corner formed by two adjacent side panels of the foldable sidewall and wherein the foldable sidewall is foldable at a second fold line comprised in the third side panel and a third fold line comprised in the fourth side panel, wherein the second fold line and the third fold line are transverse to the loading surface of the pallet. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable container according to  claim 2 , wherein the shelf includes a bar that is next to the first fold line, wherein the foldable container comprises further support means to support the bar at the third side panel and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable container according to  claim 3 , wherein the further support means includes hooks at opposite ends of the bar and eyes at the third side panel and the fourth side panel, wherein a first eye is positioned at the second fold line and a second eye at the third fold line and wherein the first eye is attached to the third side panel aside the second fold line and the second eye is attached to the fourth side panel aside the third fold line. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable container according to  claim 4 , wherein the support means to support the shelf at the second side panel includes of hooks attached to the shelf and of eyes at the second side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf is hinged to the first side panel at a height A measured in a direction transverse to the loading surface of the pallet, wherein the first fold line is at a distance B from the first side panel measured in a direction transverse to the first side panel, and wherein A+B is smaller than or equal to the depth of the foldable container. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , further comprising attachment means for holding the shelf folded against the first side panel. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the second side panel comprises a door, wherein the door is positioned above the shelf and further including locking means for holding the door in a closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lid, wherein the lid has a locking means, wherein in an unfolded state an open top side of the foldable container is coverable by the lid, wherein in a folded state, the lid is attachable with use of the locking means to the pallet and the foldable side wall is containable in a volume formed by the pallet and the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the foldable sidewall and the shelf are made of polypropylene plates with a minimum thickness of 5 mm and a minimum weight of 1000 g/m 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The foldable container according to  claim 1 , wherein the foldable sidewall is foldable twice in a corner formed by the first side panel and the third side panel and in a corner formed by the first side panel and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         12 . A method for unloading a foldable container, the foldable container comprising a pallet, a foldable sidewall and a shelf, wherein the foldable sidewall is a rectangular tube with open ends formed by a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, wherein the shelf is hinged to the first side panel and comprises a first fold line parallel to the first side panel and wherein the shelf is supported at the second side panel, opposite to the first side panel, by support means, comprising the steps of:
 removing objects from the foldable container placed on the shelf;   folding the shelf along the first fold line;   folding the shelf against the first side panel;   removing objects from the foldable container placed on a loadable surface of the pallet;   detaching the foldable sidewall from the pallet;   folding the foldable sidewall in a parallel stack of the first side panel, second side panel, third side panel and fourth side panel; and   placing the folded foldable sidewall on the pallet in a lying position.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the method comprises the additional step of placing a lid on the folded foldable sidewall on the pallet, wherein the lid comprises locking means, wherein the lid is locked to the pallet using the locking means and wherein the foldable side wall is contained within a volume formed by the pallet and the lid. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the foldable container is loaded in reverse order. 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising:
 a pallet and a folded sidewall, wherein the pallet forms a loading surface, wherein the folded sidewall in unfolded state is a rectangular tube with open ends formed by a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, wherein the foldable sidewall is folded in each corner formed by two adjacent side panels of the foldable sidewall and wherein the third side panel and the fourth side panel are folded between the first side panel and the second side panel, resulting in a parallel stack of the first side panel, second side panel, third side panel and fourth side panel, wherein a shelf is hinged to the first side panel, wherein the foldable sidewall is detachable installable on the pallet in order to define a loadable volume, and the foldable sidewall includes support means to support the shelf at the second side panel, opposite to the first side panel, and that the shelf is folded along a first fold line parallel to the first side panel and folded against the first side panel.