Collapsible crate

Abstract

A collapsible crate includes a structural base and at least one collapsible corner post assembly coupled to the base. The corner post assembly includes supports configured to provide lateral protection to a payload in the crate. The corner post assembly is moveable between an upright position and a collapsed position. The crate can further be stackable and/or returnable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible crate, comprising:
 a structural base for supporting a payload and having at least one corner; and   a collapsible corner post assembly coupled with the structural base, and comprising:
 a post mount coupled to the at least one corner; and 
 an elongated post coupled to the post mount; and 
   wherein the elongated post is moveable relative to the post mount between:
 an upright position in which the post extends upwardly from the post mount, substantially vertically relative to the structural base; and 
 a collapsed position in which the post extends laterally from the post mount, substantially horizontally relative to the structural base. 
   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the corner post assembly further comprises a pin-in-slot joint between the elongated post and the post mount, whereby the elongated post can slide and pivot relative to the post mount for movement between the upright position and the collapsed position. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible crate of  claim 2 , wherein the pin-in-slot joint comprises a slot provided one of the elongated post and the post mount, and a pin fixed to the other of the elongated post and the post mount. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible crate of  claim 3 , wherein the slot is angled. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible crate of  claim 3 , wherein the slot comprises a dogleg shape. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated post comprises a telescoping post moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the telescoping post is longer in the extended position than in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible crate of  claim 6 , wherein the telescoping post comprises:
 a main upright defining an at least partially hollow interior and having an open upper end and a lower end which couples with the post mount; and   a post insert at least partially received in the open upper end and slidable within the main upright.   
     
     
         8 . The collapsible crate of  claim 7 , wherein a plurality of holes are formed in each of the main upright and post insert, and the corner post assembly further comprises a mechanical fastener adapted to be inserted through a set of aligned holes in each of the main upright and post insert to releasably set the telescoping post at a desired length. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible crate of  claim 6 , wherein the corner post assembly further comprises:
 an attachment plate mounted to the structural base in spaced relation to the post mount; and   a diagonal brace extending diagonally between the telescoping post and the attachment plate.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible crate of  claim 6 , wherein the telescoping post comprises a first end coupled to the post mount and a second end comprising a nesting feature adapted to nest with another crate, allowing multiple assembled crates to be stacked. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated post comprises a nesting feature adapted to nest with another crate, allowing multiple assembled crates to be stacked. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated post comprises a locator pin on an upper end thereof that is adapted to nest into a post mount of another collapsible crate for securing stacking the crates. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated post comprises at least one toothed edge on an upper end thereof that is adapted to dig into a base of another collapsible crate for securing stacking the crates. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the post mount comprises a vertical mounting plate coupled to one side of the at least one corner, a horizontal mounting plate coupled to another side of the at least one corner, and a post receiver coupled with the elongated post. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible crate of  claim 14 , wherein the post receiver comprises an elongated tubular body extending upwardly beyond the horizontal mounting plate and having an upper end which abuts the elongated post when the elongated post is in the upright position. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible crate of  claim 14 , wherein post receiver comprises a U-shaped body defining an at least partially hollow interior which receives a lower end of the elongated post and comprising an open upper end and an open side, wherein the elongated post moves through the open upper end and the open side when moving between the upright and collapsed positions. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the post mount comprises at least one locator tab, wherein, when the elongated post is in the collapsed position, the at least one locator tab extends beyond the elongated post and is adapted to nest into a post mount of another crate for securing stacking the crates. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible crate of  claim 17 , wherein, when the elongated post is in the upright position, the at least one locator tab extends into the elongated post. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible crate of  claim 1 , wherein the structural base comprises a plurality of wooden boards mechanically fastened to each other and the collapsible corner post assembly is fabricated from metal. 
     
     
         20 . A corner post assembly for a crate comprising a structural base, the corner post assembly comprising:
 a post mount configured to couple to a corner of the structural base; and   an elongated post coupled to the post mount; and   wherein the elongated post is moveable relative to the post mount between:
 an upright position in which the post extends upwardly from the post mount; and 
 a collapsed position in which the post extends laterally from the post mount.