Collapsible/foldable container

• US 5,492,269 A
• Filed: 04/26/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunglare Merchandising Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunglare Merchandising Incorporated
• Inventors: Sung, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCDONALD, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US08/233,300
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.01, 229/117.05, 229/117.06, 229/405, 229/123, 383/120
• US Class Current: 229/117.06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body

Abstract

A collapsible or foldable container formed by sheet material comprising at least a bottom (15), a first pair of opposite side walls (12) (14) and a second pair of opposite side walls (11) (13). The bottom (15) and the second pair of side walls (11) (13) are respectively provided with folding guider means along their middle lines (42) (29) (32) which are coplanar. Also the two legs of two respective isosceles triangles defined by two isosceles triangular zones at the lower part of the two side walls (11) (13) are also provided with folding guider means. Thus the container can be easily collapsed into a planar structure to facilitate its carrying, storage, transport or disposal.

Claims

1. A container formed by sheet material, said container comprising:

a bottom having the shape of a tetragon having four interior angles equal to 90°

,

a first pair of opposite side walls, and

a second pair of opposite side walls having an upper part and a lower part,

folding guiders to facilitate said container to be folded up into a planar structure,

said folding guiders being provided along a respective middle line of each of said second pair of opposite side walls, along a middle line of said bottom extending continuously between said folding guiders of said second pair of opposite side walls and along each of two equal legs of two respective isosceles triangles defined by two isosceles triangular zones located at said lower part of said second pair of opposite side walls with a base of said isosceles triangles being coincident with a bottom edge of said second pair of opposite side walls,

at least part of said folding guiders located in said two respective isosceles triangles being further provided with spaced parallel scores perpendicular thereto, said spaced parallel scores extending only partially across said two respective isosceles triangles located at said lower part of said second pair of opposite side walls.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said folding guiders being further provided along a respective middle line of said first pair of opposite side walls at least from a top edge of said walls for at least part of the length thereof.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein an upper section of each of the folding guiders in said upper part of said second pair of opposite sides walls above the apexes of the legs of the isosceles triangles are mechanically treated for an outward folding, while said folding guiders in said lower part of said second pair of opposite sides walls below the apexes are treated for an inward folding.

4. A container comprising:

a bottom having a shape of a tetragon,

a first pair of opposite sides walls extending from said bottom,

a second pair of opposite sides walls extending from said bottom, said second pair of opposite sides walls having an upper part and a lower part, and

folding guiders positioned to fold the container into a planar structure,

said folding guiders extending continuously along a middle line of one of said second pair of opposite side walls, across a middle line of said bottom and along a middle line of the other of said second pair of opposite sides walls, and also along each of two legs of two respective isosceles triangles located at said lower part of said second pair of opposite sides walls with an apex of said two respective isosceles triangles positioned on said middle lines of said second pair of opposite side walls and spaced from said bottom,

at least part of said folding guiders located in said two respective isosceles triangles being further provided with spaced parallel scores perpendicular thereto, said spaced parallel scores extending only partially across said two respective isosceles triangles located at said lower part of said second pair of opposite side walls.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein said folding guiders being further provided along a respective middle line of said first pair of opposite side walls at least from a top edge of said walls for at least part of the length thereof.

6. The container according to claim 4, wherein an upper section of each of the folding guiders in said upper part of said second pair of opposite sides walls above the apexes of the legs of the isosceles triangles are mechanically treated for an outward folding, while said folding guiders in said lower part of said second pair of opposite sides walls below the apexes are treated for an inward folding.

7. A container comprising:

a bottom having four sides,

a first pair of opposite sides walls extending from said bottom,

a second pair of opposite sides walls extending from said bottom and connected with said first pair of opposite sides walls, and

fold lines extending along a middle of said second pair of opposite sides walls, a middle of said bottom, and two legs of two respective isosceles triangles located at a lower part of said second pair of opposite side walls with an apex of said two respective isosceles triangles located along said fold lines of said second pair of opposite side walls for folding of said second pair of opposite side walls and said bottom into a planar structure

at least part of said folding guiders located in said two respective isosceles triangles being further provided with spaced parallel scores perpendicular thereto, said spaced parallel scores extending only partially across said two respective isosceles triangles located at said lower part of said second pair of opposite side walls.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein said fold lines being further provided along a respective middle line of said first pair of opposite side walls at least from a top edge of said walls for at least part of the length thereof.

9. The container according to claim 7, wherein an upper section of each of the fold lines in said upper part of said second pair of opposite sides walls above the apexes of the legs of the isosceles triangles are mechanically treated for an outward folding, while said folding guiders in said lower part of said second pair of opposite sides walls below the apexes are treated for an inward folding.