Selectively reinforceable container
OwnerRobert I. Nurseinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container. The container has a plurality of upstanding sidewalls interconnected by a floor pan. The sidewalls are selectively reinforceable with upstanding struts. The struts are removable from the sidewall and transformable between reinforcing and nonreinforcing positions preferably without separation from the container. The floor pan of the container may also be reinforced. If so, the floor pan support and sidewalls struts may be made of a contiguous articulable, planar reinforcement. The sidewall struts may be articulated about proximal ends juxtaposed with the floor pan. The sidewall struts are particularly useful for collapsible containers.
Claims20
A container having a plurality of upstanding sidewalls interconnected by a floor pan, at least one of said sidewalls being reinforceable with an upstanding strut, said strut being removable from said sidewall without separation from said container.
A container having a plurality of upstanding sidewalls interconnected by a floor pan, said sidewalls being arranged in alternating and opposed pairs, at least one pair of said sidewalls being reinforceable with removable struts, whereby a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposed thereto has a first strut and a second strut associated therewith, respectively, said struts being reversibly transformable between a first position wherein said struts provide reinforcement to said sidewalls and a second position wherein said struts do not provide reinforcement to said sidewalls, said struts being reversibly transformable between said first position and said second position.
A method of reinforcing a container, said method comprising the steps of providing a container having sidewalls interconnected by a floor pan, said container further comprising struts attachable to said sidewalls and removable therefrom without separation from said container, said struts being unattached to said sidewalls, said struts having a proximal end joined to said container and a distal end articulable about said proximal end;
- articulating said struts to be proximate said sidewalls whereby said struts are disposed in a plane substantially parallel said sidewalls;
- and
- attaching said struts to said sidewalls, at said distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.