Method and apparatus for collapsible container
AssigneeHeskamp United Collapsible Containers, LLC
InventorWilliam Herbert Heskamp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hollow container or box formed from a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, opposed end panels, and a base panel placing the container or box in a fully assembled position. The second side panel is releasably coupled to the base panel and each of the other panels are hingedly coupled to one another. Upon rotating each of the opposed end panels, the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel relative to one another and various axis rotation in combination with releasably detaching the second side panel from the base panel, the container or box is transitioned from a fully assembled position into a flat, parallel orientation, fully collapsed position.
Claims19
A collapsible container, comprising:
- a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, opposed end panels, and a base panel forming a box in a fully assembled position and defining a hollow center;
- a first hinge means for attaching the top panel to the first side panel and permitting the top panel to rotate through substantially one hundred and eighty degrees, and the second side panel to rotate through substantially ninety degrees;
- a second hinge means for attaching the top panel to the second side panel and permitting the top panel to rotate through substantially ninety degrees;
- a third hinge means for attaching the first side panel to the base panel and permitting the first side panel to rotate through substantially ninety degrees;
- a fourth hinge means for attaching the opposed end panels to the second side panel and permitting the opposed end panels to rotate through substantially two hundred and seventy degrees;
- and
- whereby, upon the rotation of the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the opposed end panels through the rotations about the first hinge means, the second hinge means, the third hinge means, and the fourth hinge means, the box is transitioned from the fully assembled position into a fully collapsed position.
A collapsible container, comprising:
- a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, opposed end panels, and a base panel forming a box in a fully assembled position and defining a hollow center;
- the top panel is hingedly coupled to the first side panel and defining a first axis of rotation;
- the top panel is hingedly coupled to the second side panel and defining a second axis of rotation;
- the first side panel is hingedly coupled to the base panel and defining a third axis of rotation;
- the opposed end panels are hingedly coupled to the second side panel and defining a fourth axis of rotation;
- whereby, the box is transitioned from the fully assembled position into a fully collapsed position by:
- rotating each of the end panels through substantially two hundred and seventy degrees about the fourth axis of rotation;
- rotating the top panel through substantially ninety degrees about the second axis of rotation;
- rotating the top panel through substantially one hundred and eighty degrees about the first axis of rotation;
- rotating the second side panel through substantially ninety degrees about the first axis of rotation;
- and
- rotating the first side panel through substantially ninety degrees about the third axis of rotation.
A method for collapsing a container from a fully assembled position to a fully collapsed position, comprising the steps of:
- providing a box in the fully assembled position and defining a hollow center formed from a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and opposed end panels each hingedly coupled to one another, the first side panel hingedly coupled to a base panel, and the second side panel releasably coupled to the base panel;
- rotating each of the opposed end panels about a first axis of rotation in relation to the second side panel and stacking each of the opposed end panels adjacent to and parallel to the second side panel;
- rotating the top panel about a second axis of rotation in relation to the second side panel and stacking the top panel adjacent to and parallel to the second side panel on the opposite side of the opposed end panels;
- rotating the top panel about a third axis of rotation in relation to the first side panel and rotating the first side panel about the third axis of rotation in relation to the top panel and stacking the first side panel adjacent to and parallel to the top panel on the opposite side of the second side panel;
- rotating the first side panel about a fourth axis of rotation in relation to the base panel and stacking the first side panel adjacent to and parallel to the base panel;
- defining the box in the fully collapsed position with the stacking of the opposed end panels on top of the second side panel on top of the top panel on top of the first side panel on top of the base panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.