Open five-piece container with bail bar arrangements

Abstract

A five-piece open container wherein opposite side edges and opposite end edges are pivotally foldable onto a bottom piece includes a pair of bail bar arrangements pivotally mounted to the upper edges of the end pieces and adapted to engage the upper edges of the opposite side edges of the container to thereby reinforce the open five-piece container when in the erected position.

1 . A container comprising: 
 a bottom piece having opposite side edges and opposite end edges;    a pair of opposite side pieces, each having an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge hingedly connected to an associated side edge of said bottom piece;    a pair of opposite end pieces, each having an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge being hingedly connected to associated end edge of said bottom piece;    latching means for securing said side pieces and said end pieces to one another in a vertical condition so as to form an open five-piece container;    a pair of bail bar arrangements having one end hingedly connected to the upper edge of said end pieces and an opposite end;    said upper edges of said side pieces having lodging means receiving opposite end portions of said opposite end of said bail bar arrangement;    whereby said bail bar arrangements are pivotable between a first position wherein said bail bar arrangements rests substantially horizontally on said side pieces to reinforce said side pieces and a second position substantially parallel to outer faces of said end pieces.    
   
   
       2 . A container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each said bail bar arrangement consists of a Π-shaped configuration consisting of two parallel arms having one end hingedly connected to said end piece and an opposite end integral with a transverse rod having opposite ends engaged in said upper edges of said side pieces.  
   
   
       3 . A container as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the upper edges of said side pieces define a recess configured to provide a snap-in engagement of said opposite ends of said rod.  
   
   
       4 . A container as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said ends of said arms pivotally connected to said end pieces are configured to be received in recesses in the upper edges of said end pieces through a snap-in engagement.  
   
   
       5 . A container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side pieces and said end pieces are inwardly pivotable to lie in planes parallel to said bottom piece; said bail bar arrangement being pivotable to lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said end pieces when folded horizontally over said bottom piece; said bail bar arrangements extending in the prolongation of said end pieces.  
   
   
       6 . A container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said container is entirely formed of plastic material.