Claims
- 1. A collapsible container having adjustable height walls, the container comprising:
a base defining the bottom wall of the container; an opposing pair of side walls and an opposing pair of end walls, the side walls and end walls comprising first hinges that pivotally connect the side walls and end walls to the base, wherein the side walls and end walls are pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed position over the base; the side walls and end walls further comprising first latches to releasably engage respective adjacent pairs of side edges of the side walls and end walls when the side walls and end walls are in their upright position; and the side walls and end walls each further comprising extension walls movably connected thereto between a nested, unextended position and an upright, extended position, wherein the extension walls further comprise second latches to releasably engage respective adjacent pairs of side edges of the extension walls when the extension walls are in an upright, extended position; whereby the container is collapsible for storage and has extendible side walls and end walls.
- 2. A collapsible container as described in claim 1, wherein the extension walls further comprise second hinges that pivotally connect the extension walls to their respective side walls and end walls on the opposite side edges of the side walls and end walls from the side edges that connect to the base, wherein the extension walls are pivotable between the nested, unextended position and the upright, extended position.
- 3. A collapsible container as described in claim 2, wherein the extension walls pivot to the outside of their respective side walls and end walls.
- 4. A collapsible container as described in claim 2, wherein the extension walls pivot to the inside of their respective side walls and end walls.
- 5. A collapsible container as described in claim 1, wherein each of the side walls and end walls comprises a cavity and a slot along substantially the entire length of the side edge of the side walls and end walls opposite the side edge of the side walls and end walls that connect to the base, and
the extension walls are adapted to nest within the respective side wall and end wall cavities when in the unextended position and telescope out of the cavities when in the extended position.
- 6. A collapsible container as described in claim 5, wherein each of the end walls and side walls further comprise a lock for releasably fixing the respective extension walls to each side wall and end wall.
- 7. A collapsible container as described in claim 6, wherein each lock comprises a plurality of height positions, whereby the extension walls may be releasably fixed at a plurality of heights.
- 8. A collapsible container as described in claim 1, wherein the extension walls are slidably mounted adjacent to each respective side wall and end wall to allow movement of the extension walls from the nested, unextended position to the upright, extended position.
- 9. A collapsible container as described in claim 8, wherein, when the side walls and end walls are in the unextended position, the extension walls are mounted on the outside of the container.
- 10. A collapsible container as described in claim 8, wherein, when the side walls and end walls are in the unextended position, the extension walls are mounted on the inside of the container.
- 11. A collapsible container as described in claim 8, wherein each of the side walls and end walls further comprise a lock for releasably fixing the extension walls with respect to each respective side wall and end wall.
- 12. A collapsible container having adjustable height walls, the container comprising:
a base defining the bottom wall of the container; an opposing pair of side walls and an opposing pair of end walls, the side walls and end walls comprising means for pivotally connecting the side walls and end walls to the base, wherein the side walls and end walls are pivotable between an upright position and a collapsed position over the base; the side walls and end walls further comprising means for releasably engaging respective adjacent pairs of side edges of the side walls and end walls when the side walls and end walls are in their upright position; and the side walls and end walls each further comprising extension walls movably connected thereto between a nested, unextended position and an upright, extended position, wherein the side walls and end wall further comprise means for releasably engaging respective adjacent pairs of side edges of the extension walls when the extension walls are in an upright, extended position; whereby the container is collapsible for storage and has extendible side walls and end walls.
- 13. A container having adjustable height walls, the container comprising:
a base defining the bottom wall of the container; an opposing pair of side walls and an opposing pair of end walls; the side walls and end walls each comprising extension walls movably connected thereto between a nested, unextended position and an upright, extended position, wherein the extension walls further comprise latches to releasably engage respective adjacent pairs of side edges of the extension walls when the extension walls are in an upright, extended position; whereby the container has extendible side walls and end walls.
- 14. A container as described in claim 13, wherein the extension walls further comprise hinges that pivotally connect the extension walls to their respective side walls and end walls on the opposite side edges of the side walls and end walls from the side edges that connect to the base, wherein the extension walls are pivotable between the nested, unextended position and the upright, extended position.
- 15. A container as described in claim 13, wherein each of the side walls and end walls comprises a cavity and a slot along substantially the entire length of the side edge of the side walls and end walls opposite the side edge of the side walls and end walls that connect to the base, and
the extension walls are adapted to nest within the respective side wall and end wall cavities when in the unextended position and telescope out of the cavities when in the extended position.
- 16. A container as described in claim 13, wherein the extension walls are slidably mounted adjacent to each respective side wall and end wall to allow movement of the extension walls from the nested, unextended position to the upright, extended position.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/467,779, filed May 5, 2003; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/528,392, filed Dec. 8, 2003. Those applications are explicitly incorporated herein by reference as is set forth in their entirety.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60467779 |
May 2003 |
US |
|
60528392 |
Dec 2003 |
US |