Collapsible medical containers
OwnerMiguel David Ramosinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Containers that are capable of transitioning from a collapsed configuration to an uncollapsed configuration. The containers, when in a collapsed configuration, may have a relatively low profile. When in an uncollapsed configuration, the containers can function as receptacles for receiving solids or liquids. Some containers can be manufactured by folding a foldable sheet that includes a plurality of openings.
Claims24
A collapsible container comprising:
- an interior side wall comprising a plurality of planar wall segments;
- and
- an exterior side wall comprising a plurality of planar wall segments;
- wherein the collapsible container is configured to transition from a collapsed configuration in which the planar wall segments of the interior side wall and the planar wall segments of the exterior side wall lie substantially in a single plane to an uncollapsed configuration in which the interior side wall and the exterior side wall each form a convex polygon with internal angles that are each greater than or substantially equal to 30°.
A collapsible container configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an uncollapsed configuration, the collapsible container comprising:
- a sheet of foldable material, the sheet comprising a plurality of openings that lie along a longitudinal axis of the sheet when the sheet is disposed flat as a single layer;
- wherein the collapsible container is configured to transition from a collapsed configuration in which the collapsible container is disposed in substantially a single plane to an uncollapsed configuration in which the collapsible container forms a three-dimensional structure having a plurality of lateral sides and a base;
- wherein the number of openings that lie along the longitudinal axis of the sheet is one less than the number of lateral sides of the three-dimensional structure;
- wherein the plurality of lateral sides and the base are portions of the sheet of foldable material;
- and
- wherein an interior side wall and an exterior side wall form the plurality of lateral sides of the three-dimensional structure.
A method of manipulating a collapsible container, the method comprising:
- obtaining a collapsible container in a substantially planar configuration, the collapsible container comprising:
- an interior wall comprising a plurality of planar wall segments;
- and
- an exterior wall comprising a plurality of planar wall segments;
- manipulating the collapsible container to adopt a three-dimensional structure in which the planar wall segments of the interior wall and the planar wall segments of the exterior wall each form a convex polygon;
- and
- displacing the interior wall in a downward direction such that the interior wall is disposed directly inward of the exterior wall;
- and
- wherein displacing the interior wall in a downward direction causes formation of a base of the collapsible container.
The method of claim 26, wherein the convex polygon is a regular polygon.
A method of manufacturing a container, the method comprising:
- obtaining a foldable sheet comprising a plurality of openings that lie along a longitudinal axis of the sheet;
- folding the foldable sheet to form a three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality of lateral side walls and a base;
- and
- coupling a first side wall of the plurality of side walls to a second side wall of the plurality of side walls;
- wherein the container is a collapsible container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.