Collapsible crate

Abstract

A container includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a base. The walls are movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. Supports are pivotably mounted to the end walls. Ends of the supports are received in arcuate channels in the side walls. A tab or other projection downward from the base is aligned with arcuate channel to engage the spring-loaded fingers on a dolly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base having a pair of opposed upstanding side members, at least one of the side members including a vertical channel, the base including a downward projection aligned with the vertical channel;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base, the plurality of walls including a first wall and an adjacent second wall; and   at least one support pivotably mounted to the first wall and movable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container to a support position, the support including an end received in the vertical channel as the first wall is collapsed onto the base.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the downward projection is a tab or rib. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the downward projection is spaced inwardly from the exterior periphery of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  further including a plurality of drag feet extending downward from the base. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the second wall is pivotably mounted to the at least one of the side members, the container further including at least one rib on an exterior of the second wall, the rib including a recess formed therein to accommodate the downward projection of an identical container stacked thereon when the plurality of walls of the container are collapsed on the base. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5  wherein the second wall includes an arcuate recess on an interior surface thereof to accommodate the support when the first wall is moved to the collapsed position, the second wall including an opening formed through the arcuate channel to accommodate the downward projection of the identical container stacked thereon when the container is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  on a dolly having a spring-biased finger projecting upward from a deck, the collapsible container supported on the deck and partially compressing the finger, the downward projection abutting the finger to prevent the container from sliding off the dolly. 
     
     
         8 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base having a pair of opposed upstanding side members, the side members each including a pair of vertical channels, the base including a downward projection aligned with at least one of the vertical channels;   a plurality of walls extending upward from the base, the plurality of walls movable between an upright position and a collapsed position onto the base, the plurality of walls including a pair of opposed side walls pivotably mounted to the upstanding side members and a pair of opposed end walls; and   a support pivotably mounted to each of the end walls and movable from a retracted position toward an interior of the container to a support position, each opposing end of each support received in one of the vertical channels as the end wall is collapsed onto the base.   
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the downward projection is a tab or rib. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 9  wherein the downward projection is spaced inwardly from the exterior periphery of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  further including a plurality of drag feet extending downward from the base. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  wherein each side wall includes at least one rib on an exterior surface, the rib including a recess formed therein to accommodate the downward projection of an identical container stacked thereon when the plurality of walls of the container are collapsed on the base. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the side walls each includes an arcuate recess on an interior surface thereof to accommodate the ends of the supports when the end walls are moved to the collapsed position, the side walls including an opening formed through at least one arcuate channel to accommodate the downward projection of the identical container stacked thereon when the container is in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 13  on a dolly having a spring-biased finger projecting upward from a deck, the collapsible container supported on the deck and partially compressing the finger, the downward projection abutting the finger to prevent the container from sliding off the dolly.