Returnable shipping rack

Abstract

A shipping rack for transporting rolls of flexible material includes a generally flat base for supporting a lower end of the rolls of flexible material thereon. A lid is spaced from the base for supporting an upper end of the rolls of flexible material, and a plurality of upright columns extend vertically between the base and the lid at a perimeter of the base. At least two hinges are defined in each of the upright columns to permit each of the upright columns to be moved between a vertical extended configuration wherein lower, intermediate and upper portions of the upright column are aligned and a collapsed configuration wherein the lower, intermediate and upper portions are obliquely arranged with respect to one another. A latch is associated with each of the hinges to selectively maintain the upright columns in the extended configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.