Collapsible transport container and retention mechanism for use therewith

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to collapsible transport containers with hinged and/or removable side walls to facilitate container collapse, as well as latching mechanisms capable of securing the side walls of such containers to one another and releasing said side walls from one another without the need for tools. Embodiments of the invention are also directed to keeper assemblies that allow said latching mechanisms to guard against inadvertent unlatching and possible unintentional collapse of one or more container side walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible transport container, comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of side walls removably and/or hingedly connected to the base such that the side walls substantially enclose the perimeter of the base when in an erected orientation;   a side wall retention mechanism located at each corner of the container, a first portion of each retention mechanism located on one side wall and a cooperating second portion of each retention mechanism located on an adjacent side wall, the retention mechanisms operable to releasably secure the side walls of the container to one another; and   a keeper assembly associated with each retention mechanism, each keeper assembly adapted to engage a latch element of a respective retention mechanism so as to inhibit inadvertent unlatching thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are removable from the base and may be removed and laid one on top of the other on the base when the container is collapsed. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the side walls are hinged to the base and may be rotated inward to lie on the base when the container is collapsed. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of each side wall retention mechanism is a latch-carrying portion and the cooperating second portion of each side wall retention mechanism is a retention slot. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 5 , wherein there are four side walls, the latch carrying portions of the side wall retention mechanisms are disposed in spaced pairs on opposite ends of one side of two opposed walls, and the retention slot portions of the side wall retention mechanisms occur at opposite ends of the remaining two side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a mounting plate that is attached to a side wall of the container and carries the elements of the first portion of the retention mechanism, and wherein the second portion of the retention mechanism comprises a retention slot in an adjacent side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the retention mechanism includes a latch rod that is slidably displaceable along the mounting plate to engage the retention slot in the adjacent side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 7 , wherein the latch rod includes a latching portion having a bent distal end for engaging the retention slot and a handle portion for facilitating operation of the latch rod. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 8 , wherein the retention slot is shaped such that the bent distal end of the latch rod may pass therethrough when the latch rod is rotated away from a stored orientation but cannot pass therethrough when the latch rod resides in a stored orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 7 , further comprising a keeper assembly associated with the mounting plate and adapted to releasably engage a portion of the latch rod when the latch rod is in a stored latched or unlatched orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 10 , wherein the keeper assembly includes at least one projecting retention tab and an associated latch rod retention element disposed at some distance therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one projecting retention tab and the associated latch rod retention element of the keeper assembly cooperate to releasably retain a portion of the latch rod when the latch rod is in a stored orientation. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible transport container of  claim 12 , wherein the portion of the latch rod that will be releasably retained by the keeper assembly is a leg of the latch rod handle. 
     
     
         14 . A retention mechanism for use with a collapsible transport container, comprising:
 a mounting plate for attachment to a side wall of the container;   a latch rod slidably retained on the mounting plate, the latch rod including a latching portion having a bent distal end and a handle portion for facilitating operation of the latch rod;   a retention slot located in a side wall that is adjacent to the side wall to which the mounting plate will be attached, the retention slot shaped such that the bent distal end of the latch rod may pass therethrough when the latch rod is rotated away from a stored orientation but cannot pass therethrough when the latch rod resides in a stored orientation;   a keeper assembly associated with the mounting plate, the keeper assembly including at least one projecting retention tab and an associated latch rod retention element disposed at some distance therefrom, the at least one projecting retention tab and associated latch rod retention cooperative to engage and releasably retain a portion of the latch rod when the latch rod is in a stored latched or unlatched orientation.   
     
     
         15 . The retention mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the latch rod retention element of the keeper assembly is shaped so as to provide a limited area of reduced gap with the cooperating retention tab and a limited area of increased resistance to passage of the affected portion of the latch rod. 
     
     
         16 . The retention mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the latch rod retention element of the keeper assembly is comprised of a material having a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         17 . The retention mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein there are two projecting retention tabs and the latch rod retention element is located substantially equidistantly therebetween to releasably retain the latch rod in either a stored latched or stored unlatched orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The retention mechanism of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the latch rod that is releasably retained by the keeper assembly is a leg of the latch rod handle. 
     
     
         19 . A keeper assembly for use with a collapsible transport container retention mechanism having a slidable latch rod, the keeper assembly comprising:
 a mounting plate for attachment to a side wall of the container;   a pair of retention tabs projecting outwardly from the mounting plate;   a latch rod retention element extending outwardly from the mounting plate and disposed substantially equidistantly therebetween, the latch rod retention element being shaped so as to provide a limited area of reduced gap with the retention tabs and a resulting limited area of increased resistance to passage of an affected portion of a retention mechanism latch rod, such that the retention tabs and associated latch rod retention element are cooperative to engage and releasably retain the affected portion of the latch rod when the latch rod is in a stored latched or unlatched orientation.   
     
     
         20 . The keeper assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the latch rod retention element of the keeper assembly is comprised of a material having a low coefficient of friction.