Collapsible container

Abstract

A collapsible container having a base with top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of support members, legs attached to the base and configured to support a second collapsible container placed on a first collapsible container and a plurality of side panels, wherein at least one of the side panels is configured to lock in place in at least one position, wherein at least one of the side panels has both a foldable portion and a fixed portion and wherein the system provides for load bearing members for securing another collapsible container or device on top of a first collapsible container in either the folded or the extended configuration. Some embodiments of the collapsible container include an anchor member configured to anchor the collapsible container to a surface. Methods of stacking and methods of manufacturing the above embodiments are also disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will be readily apparent from the description below and the appended drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout, which are meant to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container illustrating all side panels and end panels in upright and locked positions.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible container of FIG. 1, illustrating all side panels and end panels in folded positions.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an end panel.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a side panel.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of a slam latch for use in the collapsible container.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away view of the collapsible container of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 6-6 and viewed in the direction of the arrows labeled 6.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away view of the collapsible container of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 7-7 and viewed in the direction of the arrows labeled 7.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating two collapsible containers stacked one on top of the other with all panels in upright and locked positions.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the two collapsible containers of FIG. 8 stacked one on top of the other with all panels in folded positions.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a collapsible container in a folded position with a pallet placed on top.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a collapsible container.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a collapsible container.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a cable assembly for use in a collapsible container.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a method of manufacturing a collapsible container.

Claims

1. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces;a plurality of support members attached to said base and configured to support said collapsible container;legs configured to attach to said base, said legs configured to support a second collapsible container placed on top of said collapsible container; anda plurality of side panels having edges, one of said edges of each of said side panels connecting said side panel to said base, wherein at least one of said side panels is configured to lock in at least one position and wherein at least one of said side panels has a foldable portion and a fixed portion.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein each of said side panels attached to said base is positioned on an opposite side of said base from another of said side panels.

3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said side panels are comprised substantially of a wire matrix.

4. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein at least one of said side panels is locked in place via at least one guidebolt.

5. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein at least one of said side panels is locked in place via at least one spring-loaded slam latch.

6. The collapsible container of claim 5, wherein said at least one spring-loaded slam latch is configured to release said at least one of said side panels when a cable assembly is pulled.

7. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said legs are steel tubes.

8. The collapsible container of claim 7 wherein said steel tubes are positioned at corners of said base.

9. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein at least four support members are attached to said base.

10. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein at least one of said support members is a fixed position caster.

11. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein at least one of said support members is a swivel caster.

12. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said at least one position includes an upright position substantially perpendicular to said base.

13. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said at least one position includes a position substantially parallel to said base.

14. The collapsible container of claim 5 comprising means for releasing said at least one spring-loaded slam latch.

15. The collapsible container of claim 5 comprising means for locking said at least one slam latch.

16. The collapsible container of claim 1 comprising means for folding a side panel.

17. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces;legs attached to said base;a plurality of side panels attached to said base; andleg extension members rotationally attached to said legs, such that in an upward configuration said leg extension members may support a load placed on top of said collapsible container and such that in a folded configuration said legs are the primary load bearing members for a load placed on top said collapsible container.

18. A collapsible container comprising: a base with top and bottom surfaces;legs attached to said base;a plurality of side panels attached to said base; andleg extension members, wherein said leg extension members comprise cavities for receiving and securing a load placed on top of said collapsible container when said leg extension members are in an upright configuration and wherein said legs comprise divots for receiving and securing said load placed on top of said collapsible container, which are exposed when said leg extension members are in a folded configuration.

19. A container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces;legs attached to said base;a plurality of side panels having edges, one edge of each of said side panels connecting said side panels to said base; andat least one anchor member attached to said base and extending downwardly from said base, said anchor member configured to anchor said container.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein said anchor member is configured to anchor said container to a substantially horizontal surface and thereby substantially prevent lateral movement of said container.

21. The container of claim 19, wherein said anchor member is configured to anchor said container to a mechanical system for lateral migration of said container.

22. The container of claim 19, wherein said anchor member is configured to anchor said container to a moving vehicle.

23. The container of claim 19, wherein said anchor member is a tow pin.

24. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces,four side walls connected to and extending upward from said base, wherein said four side walls are fixed;two side panels, each of said side panels having an edge which is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to an edge of said four side walls, wherein said two side panels are configured to fold toward said base;two end panels, each of said end panels having an edge which is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to an edge of said four side walls, wherein said two end panels are configured to fold toward said base; andwherein said two side panels and said two end panels may be locked in a position extending upward from said base so that said base, said four side walls, said two side panels and said two end panels form five sides of a cube.

25. The collapsible container of claim 24, wherein said two side panels are configured to remain attached to said collapsible container when folding towards said base and when in a completely folded position.

26. The collapsible container of claim 24, wherein said two end panels are configured to pivot inward or outward when folding towards said base.

27. The collapsible container of claim 24, wherein said two side panels are configured to remain attached to said collapsible container when folding inward and towards said base.

28. The collapsible container of claim 24 further comprising legs that are attached to said base and that extend upward from said base and are configured to provide support for at least one of said four walls.

29. The collapsible container of claim 28, wherein said legs are steel tubes with each steel tube leg having at least two ends.

30. The collapsible container of claim 29 further comprising divots on one end of said steel tube legs and protrusions on another end of said steel tube legs, wherein said protrusions are configured to rest in said divots when one collapsible container is stacked upon another.

31. The collapsible container of claim 24, wherein a plurality of said collapsible containers are configured to be stacked three high when said collapsible containers are empty and/or when said end panels and said side panels comprising leg extension members are in a folded position.

32. The collapsible container of claim 31, wherein said collapsible containers are configured be stacked two high when said side panels and said leg extension members are locked in an upright position.

33. The collapsible container of claim 24 further comprising a label holder pocket.

34. The collapsible container of claim 24 further comprising a board for routing and/or handling information.

35. The collapsible container of claim 24 comprising means for folding a side panel about an axis.

36. The collapsible container of claim 24 comprising means for folding an end panel about an axis in an inward or outward direction.

37. A method of stacking collapsible containers that comprise side panels and end panels wherein at least one side panel or end panel comprises a fixed portion and a moveable portion, which extends upwardly from said fixed portion and wherein said at least one side panel in an upward configuration exposes a cavity on the top of a leg extension member attached to the end of said at least one side panel and wherein said at least one side panel in a folded configuration exposes a divot in the top of a leg of said collapsible container said method comprising: aligning a protrusion on said leg of one of said collapsible containers with said cavity or said divot on another of said collapsible containers; andplacing one collapsible container on top of another.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising folding at least one of said side panels or at least one of said end panels about an axis in an inward or outward direction.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising lowering at least one pallet to rest on one of said collapsible containers.

40. A collapsible container comprising side panels and end panels wherein at least one side panel or end panel comprises a fixed portion and a moveable portion, said collapsible container further comprising: means for folding said movable portion of at least one of said side panels or at least one of said end panels about an axis in an inward or outward direction from an open to a folded configuration; andmeans for securing one of said collapsible containers on top of another of said collapsible containers when said panels are in either folded or open positions.

41. A method of manufacturing a collapsible container comprising: attaching four walls to a base;attaching legs to said base;attaching at least one side panel to said legs via a pivot or hinge; andlocking said side panels in an upright position through the use of a guidebolt and/or spring-loaded slam latch.

42. A method of manufacturing a collapsible container comprising: attaching panels to a base;attaching legs to said base; andattaching an anchor member to said base configured to anchor said collapsible container when said anchor member is lowered from said base to a surface.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising attaching a spring-loaded slam latch to at least one of said panels; andattaching a cable to said spring-loaded slam latch, such that said spring-loaded slam latch is configured to release said at least one of said panels from a locked position when said cable assembly is pulled.