Fold flat foam storage bin
AssigneeWelli Bins Co.
InventorsKathleen McIntyre, Andrew McIntyre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An organizational bin formed from molded foam and capable of being folded flat into a planar configuration for transportation and unfolded to provide a useful volume for use by a consumer. The bin has a base and four walls, all of which are integrally formed and coupled to each other by living hinges. The base includes a series of living hinges extending outwardly from a midpoint. The living hinges are positioned to allow base to fold outwardly relative to with walls pivoting relative to each other so that bin folds into a flat configuration. A flat folded bin will reduce shipping costs by more than five times by reducing the volume bin occupies when shipped and also significantly reduces the carbon footprint of shipping the bin.
Claims20
An organizational bin, comprising:
- a base having a plurality of corners and a first set of living hinges extending from a midpoint of the base to each of the plurality of corners;
- and
- a plurality of walls integrally formed with the base and each other to define a cavity therein, wherein each wall is coupled to the base by a second set of living hinges and integrally coupled to each adjacent wall of the plurality of walls by a third set of living hinges.
A method of manufacturing an organizational bin, comprising:
- molding a foam material to form an organizational bin component;
- and
- shaping the organizational bin component to form a base having a plurality of corners and a first set of living hinges extending from a midpoint of the base to each of the plurality of corners and a plurality of walls integrally formed with the base and each other to define a cavity therein, wherein each wall is coupled to the base by a second set of living hinges and integrally coupled to each adjacent wall of the plurality of walls by a third set of living hinges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.