Collapsible Container

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel and improved collapsible container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The folding box disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,114,803 comprises a box suitable for use as a shipping container and having loose foldable flaps. However, access to this box requires tearing its walls or cutting its tied cord, thereby preventing multiple container collapsing operations.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,362,129; 1,501,913; and 1,555,054 disclose collapsible boxes or containers, each having a separate lid or cover in addition to a main body portion. Furthermore, containers disclosed in these patents are of complicated design, and are relatively difficult to erect and collapse.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,509,454 discloses a collapsible lunch box having a foldable cover or lid. However, this container is also of complicated design, and is relatively difficult to erect.

The present invention comprises a simple, inexpensive, readily erected or collapsed, and structurally sturdy container. The present invention is collapsible to a flat structure for easy storage, and is easily erected into a container by a simple single step, in contrast to multiple steps necessary to erect prior known folding containers. The container can be applied to various uses, and is suitable, for example, for use as a toiletries kit container, shoe tote, or reusable package for merchandise.

In general, the present invention comprises a collapsible container having at least one base panel and preferably top and bottom panels, having at least three edges, at least one side wall panel for each of these edges, and hingedly connected to the base panel respectively along associated edges thereof, the base panel being hingedly interjoined along interconnection edges thereof and being adjacently disposed outwardly of the base panel when the container is collapsed. The sides of each of the side wall panels are so arranged as to abut against the adjacent side wall panels when both are pivoted out of the plane of the base. The container further comprises rigidifying means for restraining the side wall panels in their abutting position. All of the mentioned panels are preferably made of a relatively rigid material to afford protection for contents contained in the container.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the rigidifying means may be a simple draw string (or other flexible, relatively nonstretching member) encircling the interconnection edge in a tube or sleeve. By simply drawing down the string and shortening its length, the side walls of the container may be caused to move together and abut each other and the container become rigid.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the rigidifying means may be a rigid frame sized and shaped to the outline of the erected container, which may be pivoted at one outer edge of the sidewall thereof, and pivoted over the remainder of the outer edges of the side walls when they are moved into the erected configuration.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims and reference should also be made to those features. The invention, together with further advantages thereof, can be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the basic features of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible container of the present invention, shown in its erect position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the collapsible container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated in its collapsed position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2 with parts broken away, illustrating the interconnection edges of a single pair of upper and lower side wall panels and a string-containing tube means;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the present invention having six sides;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred hinged connection between a side wall panel and one of the top and bottom panels when the container is in collapsed position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a collapsed and disassembled container, showing the preferred integral interconnection between various component parts thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an access door in the top of the collapsible container;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the bottom of the collapsible container;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view with parts broken away, illustrating a collapsible container having a rotatable handle for erection thereof;

FIG. 11 illustrates string drawing upon rotation of the handle of the container illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 of another alternative construction for a container incorporating features of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 12 in its collapsed state.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 9, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a collapsible container, generally designated by reference numeral 15, having a top horizontal rectangular panel 16 (FIG. 1) and a substantially identical oppositely disposed horizontal bottom panel 17 (FIG. 9), the top panel having opposing pairs of edges 18, 19 and 21, 22, with the bottom panel having opposing pairs of edges 23, 24 and 25, 26.

Container 15 comprises a pair of collapsible upper and lower side wall panels for each of the four edges of the rectangular top and bottom panels 16, 17. An upper side wall panel 27 and a lower side wall panel 28 are provided for corresponding upper and lower edges 18 and 23 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 9). Similarly, an upper side wall panel 29 and a lower side wall panel 31 are provided for corresponding upper and lower edges 21 and 25. An upper side wall panel 32 and a lower side wall panel 33 are provided for corresponding upper and lower edges 19 and 24. Finally, an upper side wall panel 34 and a lower side wall panel 35 are provided for corresponding upper and lower edges 22 and 26. All of the panels are preferably constructed of a relatively rigid material, such as injection molded plastic or cardboard, in order to provide protection for container contents.

Each top and bottom panel of the collapsible container of the present invention contains at least three edges thereof, a pair of side wall panels being provided for each of these edges.

The upper and lower side wall panels of each pair thereof have edges hingedly connected or otherwise flexibly joined to top and bottom panels respectively, along associated edges thereof. Upper panel 27 has an upper horizontal edge hingedly connected to top panel 16 along edge 18 thereof, while lower side wall panel has a lower horizontal edge hingedly connected to bottom panel 17 along edge 23, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 9. Similarly, upper side wall panel 29 has an upper edge hingedly connected to top panel 16 along edge 21, and lower side wall panel 31 has a lower edge hingedly connected to bottom panel 17 along edge 25. Upper side wall panel 32 has an upper edge hingedly connected to top panel 16 along edge 19, and lower side wall panel 33 has a lower edge hingedly connected to the bottom panel 17 along edge 24. Finally, upper side wall panel 34 has an edge hingedly connected to top panel 16 along edge 22, while lower side wall panel 35 has a lower edge hingedly connected to bottom panel 17 along edge 26. Each hinged connection between these adjoining panels preferably comprises a V-shaped groove shown in FIG. 6, the inverted V opening toward the interior of container 15.

The upper and lower panels in each pair are hingedly interjoined along interconnection edges thereof, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9. Upper side wall panel 27 is hingedly interjoined with lower side wall panel 28 along interconnection edges 36 and 37 respectively. Similarly, upper side wall panel 29 and lower side wall panel 31 are hingedly interjoined along interconnection edges 38 and 39 respectively. Upper side wall panel 32 and lower side wall panel 33 are hingedly interjoined along interconnection edges 41 and 42 thereof respectively. Finally, upper side wall panel 34 and lower side wall panel 35 are hingedly interjoined along interconnection edges 43 and 44 thereof respectively. The upper and lower side wall panels in each pair thereof are preferably identical, with the interconnection edges being longer than the other hingedly connected edges, such that the side wall panels are disposed outwardly of the top and bottom panels 16, 17 when container 15 is erected. As shown in FIG. 7, typical interconnection edge 38 is offset 15.degree. with respect to its upper edge, which is coextensive with edge 21.

A tube means is disposed longitudinally along associated pairs of interconnection edges, preferably exteriorly of the side wall panels, and integrally formed therewith. A tube means 45 is longitudinally disposed along interconnection edges 36 and 37, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 9. Similarly, a tube means 46 is disposed along interconnection edges 38 and 39. A tube means 47 is disposed along interconnection edges 41 and 42. Finally, a tube means 48 is disposed along interconnection edges 43 and 44. With reference to FIG. 4, which illustrates a portion of the upper and lower side wall panels 27 and 28, tube means 45 is preferably integrally formed with panels 27 and 28 exteriorly thereof at interconnection edges 36 and 37, thereby effecting hinged interconnection between the upper and lower side wall panels and pivotal rotation thereof about upper and lower pivot or bend points 49 and 51 respectively. Similar structure is provided for other tube means 46, 47, and 48.

In FIG. 6 the typical hinge construction is depicted. In this particular case the hinge 25 is formed by a V-shaped groove between the panels 17 and 31. Of course, other hinge constructions may be employed without departing from at least the broader principles of the present invention.

As best shown in FIG. 7, upper side wall panels 27, 29, 32, and 34 are preferably integrally formed with top panel 16 to facilitate manufacturing of the container 15, lower side wall panel 31 being integrally formed with bottom panel 17. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, integrally attached to lower side wall panels 28, 33, and 35 are provided tabs 52, 53, and 54 respectively, for connection to the bottom panel 17 on the inner side thereof along edges 23, 24, and 26 respectively, such as by gluing, upon container assembly.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower panels in each paid thereof are adjacently disposed outwardly of the top and bottom panels 16, 17 when the container 15 is in a flat or collapsed position. A tightening string means 55 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11) made of any suitable material such as jute cord, nylon or wire and having ends 56 and 57 thereof is threadedly disposed or housed within all of the tube means 45, 46, 47, 48 around the outside of container 15, whereby drawing the string serves to erect the container 15 by retracting the side wall panels inwardly (from their FIG. 3 position) to vertically separate the top and bottom panels 16 and 17 (to assume their FIGS. 1, 2, and 9 position). As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7, tube means 45 preferably comprises two spatially separated tube sections 58 and 59, the ends 56 and 57 of string 55 being threaded through a bead 61 and interjoined by a clasp 62, whereby container 15 is very easily erected by holding the string ends with one hand and tightening or drawing the string by sliding the bead into position against edges 36 and 37 with the other hand. Container 15 is easily collapsed by simply sliding bead 61 away from edges 36 and 37. Thus, structurally sound corners are provided by means of drawstring 55.

Each edge of each side wall panel is preferably coextensive with the edge hingedly connected thereto, and the side wall panels in each pair thereof are preferably substantially identical in size, such that upon side wall panel retraction, the panels are disposed in perpendicular end-to-end relationship to form corners of a closed container, the panels being preferably beveled to form simple 45.degree. miter joints. Of course, any other suitable type of butt or overlap mating could be used, including use of edge liners or rubber inserts to render container 15 watertight. With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, it is seen that typical upper and lower side wall panels 27, 28 are angularly disposed 150.degree. with respect to each other and outwardly of the top and bottom panels 16, 17 when container 15 is in its erect position, since interconnection edges 36, 37 are slightly longer than edges 18, 23 of the top and bottom panels 16, 17 respectively, edges 18, 23 being coextensive with the upper and lower edges of the upper side wall panel 27 and the lower side wall panel 28 respectively. Maintenance of the collapsible side wall panels outwardly with respect to the top and bottom panels 16, 17 prevents their collapsing inwardly, and also facilitates collapsing of container 15.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, collapsible container 15 preferably comprises an access door 63 hingedly disposed in top panel 16 along an edge 64 parallel to edge 22, the access door having a tab handle 65 to facilitate opening thereof. In order to retain access door 63 in generally flush relationship with its associated panel 16 when closed, retaining tabs 66, 67, and 68 are attached to top panel 16 on the interior side thereof.

With reference to FIG. 10, as an alternative to using a bead 61 to facilitate drawing string 55, typical side wall panel 27 comprises a rotatable handle 69 mounted to rotate about a pivot point 71 about an axis normal to side wall panel 27, opposite ends 56 and 57 of the string 55 being connected to opposite sides 71, 72 of the handle respectively, whereby rotation of the handle serves to retract the pairs of side wall panels inwardly to erect the container, as illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 11(a) illustrates string 55 in its extended position when container 15 is collapsed. As handle 69 is rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11(b) to erect container 15, string 55 is drawn or tightened. As shown in FIG. 11(c), which illustrates string 55 upon container erection, end 57, which was formerly at the right-hand side of container 15, assumes a left-hand position; similarly, handle rotation draws left end 56 rightward, thereby tightening or drawing the string.

With reference to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment 15' of the present invention comprises hexagonal top panel 16' and bottom panel and six pairs of upper and lower side wall panels.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a further modification, wherein instead of the drawstring 55, a rigid frame 550, corresponding to the shape of the rigid container about its lateral edges, is provided as the rigidifying means. Although this embodiment does not collapse as flat as that of previous embodiment, it has the advantage of even greater rigidity in the erect state.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of its component parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.