Snap-fold containers
AssigneeMandarin Associates Ltd.
InventorBarro de Gast
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention disclosed includes various durable containers constructed from sheet materials including a plurality of living hinges. The containers are configured to snap into an assembled position from a relatively flat position by the application of pressure to one or more sidewalls wherein that pressure deforms the one or more sidewalls into a concave position, thereby holding the container into place until the contain is collapsed once again for storage or cleaning.
Claims20
A collapsible container constructed from a single sheet of material comprising:
- first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls defined on the sheet of material, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall;
- a substantially planar bottom surface defined on the sheet of material;
- an interior compartment surrounded on four sides by said first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls and on the bottom by said substantially planar bottom surface;
- an upper rim projecting inwardly from each of the sidewalls;
- and
- at least three living hinges integrally formed in each of said first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein said living hinges are positioned in a manner permitting the container to be easily snapped into an assembled position, and further wherein a first top living hinge at the juncture of the upper rim and the first sidewall follows a curved path, and a second top living hinge at the juncture of the upper rim and the third sidewall follows a curved path.
A collapsible container constructed from flat sheet material comprising:
- first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall;
- a bottom surface, the bottom surface integrally formed with at least one of the sidewalls;
- an interior compartment defined on four sides by the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls and on the bottom by the bottom surface;
- wherein the sheet material comprises a polymer plastic material;
- and
- wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls collectively comprise at least six living hinges, and further wherein at least two of the living hinges follow a curved path;
- whereby the collapsible container is selectively configurable between a first position in which the collapsible container is substantially flat, and a second position in which the collapsible container is expanded and in which the sidewalls and bottom surface define an interior space.
A configurable container, comprising:
- first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall;
- a floor integrally formed with at least one of the sidewalls;
- the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls being joined to the floor to form an interior space;
- at least one of the sidewalls or the floor further comprising a plurality of through-holes formed in interior locations of the sidewall or the floor;
- each of the sidewalls and the floor being formed from sheet material, the container further comprising a plurality of living hinges, at least two of the plurality of living hinges following a curved path;
- whereby the container is selectively configurable between a first position in which the collapsible container is substantially flat, and a second position in which the collapsible container is expanded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.