Collapsible shipping containers
AssigneeReusables Development Group, LLC
InventorsTodd T. Turner, Daniel Jakubiak, Jeffrey Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Collapsible bulk shipping containers comprising sidewalls which interlock with another in a unique stair step arrangement, a series of curved protrusions (or arches) which extend along the entire length and/or the entire height of the sidewalls, collapsible sidewalls which permit the shipping containers to fold flat in a much smaller fraction than conventional bins, and a base having one or more support grids with a series of curved ribs. In some embodiments, the shipping containers are not collapsible and comprise the series of curved protrusions (or arches) which extend along a length and/or a height of one or more of the sidewalls.
Claims20
A shipping container, comprising:
- a first pair of opposing sidewalls;
- a second pair of opposing sidewalls;
- a base;
- and
- a series of curved horizontal protrusions positioned along a length of at least one of the sidewalls in a set of rows;
- wherein a vertical column extends from an inner surface of a middle portion of at least one of the first pair of opposing sidewalls;
- wherein the base further comprises a base rim which extends vertically from an external edge of said base;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are pivotably connected to said base rim;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are adapted to move from an upright position to a collapsed position, and from the collapsed position to the upright position;
- wherein the base further comprises a top surface having a middle recess being adapted to receive the vertical column when one of the first pair of opposing sidewalls is in the collapsed positioned.
A collapsible shipping container, comprising:
- a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls each having an inner surface and opposing side edges;
- and
- a base having a base rim which extends vertically from an external edge of said base;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are pivotably connected to said base rim;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are adapted to move from an upright position to a collapsed position, and from the collapsed position to the upright position;
- wherein each of the first pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a wrap-around extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said first sidewalls;
- wherein each of the second pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a receiving extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said second sidewalls;
- wherein the receiving extension is adapted to receive the wrap-around extension and the side edge of the first pair of sidewalls when the sidewalls are in the upright position;
- wherein each of the wrap-around extensions comprise a first component integrally connected to a second component, wherein the first component extends towards the inner surface of each first sidewall and the second component extends outwards away from said opposing sides edge of each first sidewall;
- wherein the first and second components define about a two-hundred and seventy degree angle which extends along an entire height of the inner surface of said first sidewalls.
A collapsible shipping container, comprising:
- a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls each having an inner surface, opposing side edges, and a top edge;
- a base having a base rim which extends vertically from an external edge of said base;
- a series of curved horizontal protrusions positioned along a length of the first and second pairs of sidewalls in a set of parallel rows;
- and
- a series of curved vertical protrusions positioned along a height of the first and second pairs of sidewalls in a set of parallel columns;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are pivotably connected to said base rim, wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are adapted to move from an upright position to a collapsed position, and from the collapsed position to the upright position;
- wherein each of the first pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a wrap-around extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said first sidewalls, said wrap-around extension being flush with the top edge of each first sidewall;
- wherein each of the second pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a receiving extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said second sidewalls, said receiving extension being flush with the top edge of each second sidewall;
- wherein the receiving extension is adapted to receive the wrap-around extension and the side edge of the first pair of sidewalls when the sidewalls are in the upright position.
A collapsible shipping container, comprising:
- a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls each having an inner surface and opposing side edges;
- and
- a base having a base rim which extends vertically from an external edge of said base;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are pivotably connected to said base rim;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are adapted to move from an upright position to a collapsed position, and from the collapsed position to the upright position;
- wherein each of the first pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a wrap-around extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said first sidewalls;
- wherein each of the second pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a receiving extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said second sidewalls;
- wherein the receiving extension is adapted to receive the wrap-around extension and the side edge of the first pair of sidewalls when the sidewalls are in the upright position;
- wherein each of the wrap-around extensions comprise a first component integrally connected to a second component, wherein the first component extends towards the inner surface of each first sidewall and the second component extends outwards away from said opposing sides edge of each first sidewall;
- wherein each of the receiving extensions extend at an inward angle towards the inner surface of each second sidewall;
- wherein each of the receiving extensions further comprise a series of stair steps positioned along an inner and an outer side of each receiving extension.
A collapsible shipping container, comprising:
- a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls each having an inner surface and opposing side edges;
- and
- a base having a base rim which extends vertically from an external edge of said base;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are pivotably connected to said base rim;
- wherein the first and second pairs of sidewalls are adapted to move from an upright position to a collapsed position, and from the collapsed position to the upright position;
- wherein each of the first pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a wrap-around extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said first sidewalls;
- wherein each of the second pair of opposing sidewalls further comprise a receiving extension extending from each intersection between the opposing side edges and the inner surface of said second sidewalls;
- wherein the receiving extension is adapted to receive the wrap-around extension and the side edge of the first pair of sidewalls when the sidewalls are in the upright position;
- further comprising a series of curved horizontal protrusions positioned along a length of the first and second pairs of sidewalls in a set of parallel rows and a series of curved vertical protrusions positioned along a height of the first and second pairs of sidewalls in a set of parallel columns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.