Folding container

The folding container of the present invention comprises a polygonal container, one embodiment of which is a rectangular box having a bottom wall, a top wall, a rear wall, a front wall and two opposite side walls. The two opposite side walls each include three spaced apart panels which form front and rear inner slots and an outer slot therebetween. Flaps from the opposite ends of the front and rear walls extend within the front and rear slots, respectively, and downwardly extending flaps from the top wall extend into the outer slots in the lateral sidewalls. The front wall includes two spaced apart panels, and a flap from the top wall extends downwardly into the space between the two panels of the front wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a folding container. 
One problem encountered with shipping containers is the requirement that 
the container be capable of withstanding numerous forces and pressures 
during shipment. Many containers collapse in response to the rigors of 
handling and transportation. 
Another important requirement for shipping containers is the ability of the 
container to provide the maximum strength with the minimum amount of 
weight. Preferably the container should be constructed of paperboard or 
some other light material. 
Another problem encountered with shipping containers is the necessity for 
storing the containers when they are not being used. The preferred manner 
for doing this is to provide a foldable container which is flat during 
nonuse, but which can be rapidly and easily folded into the desired shape 
for use. 
A further problem encountered in shipping containers is the requirement 
that the shipping container be secure during shipment. Many containers 
fall apart or become opened during shipment. 
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an 
improved folding container. 
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a folding 
container which is light in weight. 
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a folding 
container which is sufficiently strong to withstand the forces encountered 
during shipping, handling and storing. 
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a folding 
container which can be maintained in a flat state for storage, but which 
can be folded rapidly and easily to provide the desired shipping 
container. 
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a folding 
container which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and 
efficient in operation. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention utilizes a folding container which is polygonal in 
shape. One embodiment is a rectangular container which includes a top 
wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, a front wall and two opposite lateral 
side walls. 
The lateral sidewalls each include three panels which are held apart by 
spacers therebetween so as to form an inner space and an outer space 
therebetween. The inner space is adapted to receive locking flaps 
positioned at the ends of the rear wall and the front wall, respectively. 
The outer space of the lateral side walls is adapted to receive the 
downwardly extending flaps at the lateral sides of the top wall. The front 
wall of the shipping container is comprised of two panels held apart by a 
spacer therebetween. The space between these two panels of the front wall 
receives a downwardly extending flap, extending from the front edge of the 
top wall. 
The container is easy to assemble and fold into the desired configuration. 
It can be made of any size and because of its multi-panel construction, it 
is very sturdy so as to resist crushing or breaking or opening during 
shipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates one 
embodiment of the folding container of the present invention. Container 10 
is rectangular in shape and includes a top wall 12, two opposite side 
walls 14, 16, a front wall 18, a rear wall 20, and a bottom wall 22. 
Bottom wall 22, rear wall 20, and top wall 12 are all of single panel 
construction and are integral with one another. Top wall 12 includes a 
pair of top wall side flaps 24, 26 and a top wall front flap 28. 
Rear wall 20 has at its opposite ends a pair of rear wall locking flaps 30, 
32. 
Side walls 14, 16 are each comprised of an inner side wall panel 34, a 
central side wall panel 36, and an outer side wall panel 38. Central panel 
36 is integral with bottom wall 22 as can readily be seen in FIG. 2. An 
interior spacing member 40 is positioned between inner panel 34 and 
central panel 36, and an exterior spacing member 42 is between central 
panel 36 and outer panel 38. Interior spacing member 40 includes cut-outs 
or notches 44 therein shaped to receive flaps 30, 32 of rear wall 20, and 
exterior spacing member 42 includes an upwardly presented slot or cut-out 
46 which is shaped to receive the flaps 24, 26 of top wall 12. Panels 34, 
36, 38 are secured together in spaced apart relationship with spacing 
members 40 and 42 interposed therebetween as shown in FIG. 7. This 
construction results in an exterior slot 48 being formed between panels 
36, 38 and an interior slot 50 being formed between interior panel 34 and 
central panel 36. 
Front wall 18 comprises an inner front wall panel 52 and an outer front 
wall panel 54 which are spaced apart from one another by a spacer member 
56. Spacer member 56 includes a cut-out portion 58 adapted to mate with 
front flap 28 of top wall 12. Spacer 56 provides a front slot 60 between 
front panels 52, 54 for receiving front flap 28 of top wall 12. Inner 
front panel 52 is integral with bottom wall 22 and includes at its 
opposite ends a pair of locking flaps 61, 62 which are similar in shape to 
flaps 30, 32 of rear wall 20. 
In manufacturing the container 10, panels 34, 36, 38 and spacer members 40, 
42 are secured together by gluing or the like in the spaced apart relation 
described above. Similarly interior panel 52, exterior panel 54 and spacer 
member 56 are glued together in the arrangement described above. 
To assemble the container into a rectangular box such as shown in FIG. 1, 
the side walls 14 are folded upwardly into a vertical position. Flaps 30, 
32 of rear wall 20 are inserted into the interior slot 50, and similarly 
the flaps 61-62 of front wall 18 are slidably inserted into the slot 50. 
Top wall 12 is then folded downwardly with side flaps 24, 26 fitting 
within exterior slot 48 and with front flap 28 fitting within slot 60 of 
front wall 18. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cut-outs 46, 58 in 
spacer members 42, 56 are shaped to receive the flaps 26, 28 of top wall 
12. Similarly, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the cut-outs 44 are shaped to 
matingly receive flaps 61, 62 and 30, 32. 
A plurality of locking tabs 64 are used on central panel 36 and also on 
flaps 30, 32 and 61, 62 so as to insure the locking engagement of flaps 
30, 32 and 61, 62 within slots 50. The locking tabs 64 are well known in 
the art, and various types of locking tabs can be used without detracting 
from the invention. 
After the container 10 has been assembled into the shape shown in FIG. 1, 
it is secure and strong. During use, the box may be further secured by 
fastening tape along or across the upper corner seams of the box so as to 
insure that the box will not become unfolded. The box is extremely strong 
due to the double and triple panel thicknesses at the front and side walls 
of the box. The interior of the container is secure from being exposed to 
the exterior of the box. The box can be easily opened after usage by 
removing the tape from the seams. The box can then be unfolded in the 
reverse manner as described above. It can then be used additional times 
for shipping. 
It is understood that the shape of the container is not limited to 
rectangular, but may be of any polygonal shape with interlocking flaps 
without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
Thus, it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its 
stated objectives.