Crates

Abstract

A collapsible crate for transporting goods, the crate having an upstanding wall, at least a portion of which is movable, locating feature and releasable locking feature for releasably securing the movable wall portion relative to the crate, wherein the locating feature has a projection receivable within a recess or aperture to align, in use, the movable wall portion relative to the crate such that the movable wall portion is releasably securable by the locking feature.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A collapsible crate having an erected and a collapsed condition for transporting goods in the erected condition, the crate having a base and upstanding walls,
 i) at least one of the upstanding walls comprising a frame and a removable wall portion, the frame including a cross member and the frame being hingedly attached to the base portion, the removable wall portion having a lower member;   ii) locating means; and   iii) releasable locking means for releasably securing in the erected condition the movable wall portion relative to the frame,   iv) the locating means being provided by an upwardly extruding projection of the lower member of the removable wall portion co-operating with a recess in the cross member of the frame to align, in use, the removable wall portion relative to the frame such that the removable wall portion is releasably securable in the erected condition by the releasable locking means and on release of the releasably locking means to permit the removeable wall portion to be pivoted outwardly relative to the frame about the locating means.   
     
     
       2. The crate according to  claim 1 , further comprising further releasable locking means at or adjacent an upper portion of the removable wall portion. 
     
     
       3. The crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking means to secure the lower portion of the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       4. The crate according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection is provided on one of the removable wall portion and the frame. 
     
     
       5. The crate according to  claim 4 , wherein the recess or aperture is provided in the other of the removable wall portion and the frame. 
     
     
       6. The crate according to  claim 1 , further comprising a further locating means located at or adjacent an upper end or edge of the removable wall portion. 
     
     
       7. The crate according to  claim 6 , wherein said further locating means comprises a projection, which is provided on one of the removable wall portion and an adjacent portion of the frame. 
     
     
       8. The crate according to  claim 7 , wherein the projection of said further locating means is receivable within a recess or aperture, in the other of the removable wall portion and the adjacent portion of the frame. 
     
     
       9. The crate according to  claim 6 , wherein the further locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking means to secure the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       10. The crate according to  claim 7  wherein the further locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking means to secure the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       11. The crate according to  claim 7  wherein the projection of said further locating means is receivable within a recess or aperture in the other of the removeable wall portion and the adjacent portion of the frame and wherein the further locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking means to secure the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       12. The crate according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the upstanding walls comprising the frame and the removeable wall portion is connected to the base by a pivotable and vertically moveable connection. 
     
     
       13. A collapsible crate having an erected and a collapsed condition for transporting goods in the erected condition, the crate having a base and upstanding walls,
 i) at least one of the upstanding walls comprising a frame and a removable wall portion, the frame including a cross member and the frame being hingedly attached to the base, the removable wall portion having a lower member;   ii) locating means; and   iii) a releasable locking mechanism for releasably securing in the erected condition the removable wall portion relative to the frame,   iv) the locating means being provided by an upwardly extending projection of the cross member of the frame co-operating with a recess in the lower member of the removable wall portion to align, in use, the removable wall portion relative to the frame such that the removable wall portion is releasably securable in the erected condition by the releasable locking mechanism and on release of the releasable locking mechanism to permit the removable wall portion to be pivoted outwardly relative to the frame about the locating means,   wherein the projection is within the recess,   the recess being partially defined by an outer portion of the lower member disposed outward of the projection, and the recess being partially defined by an inner portion of the lower member disposed inward of the projection,   wherein the removable wall portion has freedom to pivot while the projection is within the recess,   wherein the projection comprises upwardly converging inner and outer wall portions that meet at a rounded apex, and   wherein the inner and outer portions that define the recess converge upwardly and meet above the apex of the projection.   
     
     
       14. The collapsible crate of claim 13 wherein the removable wall portion extends to the top of the collapsible crate when the collapsible crate is in an erected condition. 
     
     
       15. The collapsible crate of claim 13 wherein the lower member of the removable wall portion is formed of tubular steel. 
     
     
       16. The collapsible crate of claim 13 wherein the releasable locking mechanism is at or adjacent an upper portion of the removable wall portion. 
     
     
       17. The collapsible crate of claim 13 wherein the locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking mechanism to secure the lower portion of the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       18. The collapsible crate of claim 13 further comprising a further locating means located at or adjacent an upper end or edge of the removable wall portion wherein the further locating means is operably cooperable, in use, with the releasable locking mechanism to secure the removable wall portion against movement thereof. 
     
     
       19. The crate according to claim 18, wherein said further locating means comprises a projection, which is provided on one of the removable wall portion and an adjacent portion of the frame. 
     
     
       20. The crate according to claim 19, wherein the projection of said further locating means is receivable within a recess or aperture, in the other of the removable wall portion and the adjacent portion of the frame. 
     
     
       21. The crate according to claim 13 wherein the frame is hingedly attached to the base by a pivotable and vertically moveable connection.