Patent Publication Number: US-9403617-B2

Title: Collapsible containers

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Multiple objects may be stored in a container. A person or machinery may be used to transport the container with the objects stored therein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a drawing of a container according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a drawing of the container of  FIG. 1  with an open flap according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a drawing of the container of  FIG. 1  being collapsed according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing of the container of  FIG. 1  being folded according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing of the container of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed configuration according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes various containers. According to various embodiments, the container may include pliable panels that facilitate accommodating objects that may otherwise not fit into a container with rigid panels. The pliable panels and/or other portions of the container may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene to provide a relatively high strength container that is mildew resistant. When the container is not in use, the container may be collapsed and folded to reduce the amount of volume that is occupied by the container. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is an example of a container  103  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The container  103  may include multiple side panels  106   a - 106   d  that are attached and positioned between a first end panel  109  and a second end panel  111 . 
     At least a portion of the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may be pliable. In this regard, at least a portion of the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may be flexible. By being pliable, the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may facilitate objects being placed in the container  103  that would otherwise not fit in a similar container  103  formed by side panels  106   a - 106   d  that were rigid. To provide pliability, the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene and/or any other suitable material. 
     One or more side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may be attached to the respective side panels  106   a - 106   b . It is noted that the side panel support members  113   c - 113   d  are not visible in  FIG. 1 . The side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may provide structural support for the side panels  106   a - 106   d . For example, the side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may provide support so that the side panels  106   a - 106   d  are substantially planar when in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . To provide structural support, the side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may be constructed at least in part from rigid materials, such as metal, plastic, wood, and/or any other suitable material. The side panel support members  113   a - 113   b  shown in  FIG. 1  are embodied in the form of U-shaped rods, but the side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may take the form of other shapes in alternative embodiments. 
     The side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may be attached to the respective side panels  106   a - 106   d  in various ways. As a non-limiting example, the side panel support members  113   a - 113   d  may be attached to the side panels  106   a - 106   d  by being positioned between the side panels  106   a - 106   d  and support member attachments  114   a - 114   b  that are sewn onto the respective side panels  106   a - 106   d . The support member attachments  114   a - 114   b  may comprise pliable materials, such as woven polypropylene and/or any other suitable material. 
     One or more of the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may include a pocket  116  for a label  119 . In some embodiments, the pocket  116  may comprise a material that is transparent to visible light so that markings on the label  119  are visible through the pocket  116 . In alternative embodiments, a user may provide markings directly on the pocket  116  using, for example but not limited to, a non-permanent ink marker. 
     Additionally, one or more of the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may include one or more loops (not shown) that may be slid over, for example, the forks of a forklift. The loops in some embodiments may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene or any other suitable material. 
     One or more of the side panels  106   a - 106   d  may include one or more side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b . The side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  may be used to restrict the container  103  in a collapsed and/or folded position when the container  103  is in a collapsed configuration, as will be described in further detail below. In this regard, when fastened, the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  may maintain the side panels  106   a - 106   d  in position so that the container  103  remains in the collapsed configuration until the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  are unfastened. According to various embodiments, the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  may be embodied in the form of hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, tie straps, adhesive strips, and/or any other suitable component that may be used to restrict the side panels  106   a - 106   d  to a collapsed position when the container  103  is in the collapsed configuration. 
     Additionally, one or more straps  126   a - 126   b  may be attached to one or more of the side panels  106   a - 106   d . The straps  126   a - 126   b  may be held by a user or a machine to facilitate carrying the container  103 . The straps  126   a - 126   b  may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene or any other suitable material. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the straps  126   a - 126   b  may be attached to edges formed between the side panels  106   a - 106   d . In alternative embodiments, one or more straps  126   a - 126   b  may be attached to the first end panels  109  and/or the second end panel  111 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first end panel  109  may be attached to the side panels  106   a - 106   d . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the first end panel  109  may be pliable. To provide pliability, the first end panel  109  may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene and/or any other suitable material. 
     The first end panel  109  may include a first flap  129 . The first flap  129  may take the form of various shapes according to various embodiments. For example, the first flap  129  shown in  FIG. 1  is rectangular. In alternative embodiments, the first flap  129  may be circular, triangular, and/or any other suitable shape. The first flap  129  shown in  FIG. 1  has three ends that are separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first end panel  109 . Various types of fasteners may be used so that the first flap  129  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first end panel  109 . For example,  FIG. 1  shows a first zipper  133  being used as a fastener so that the first flap  129  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first end panel  109 . In alternative embodiments, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, buttons, and/or any other suitable fastener may be used so that the first flap  129  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first end panel  109 . 
     One or more flap support members  134  may be attached to the first flap  129 . The flap support member  134  may provide structural support for the first end panel  109 . For example, the flap support member  134  may provide support so that the first end panel  109  is substantially planar when the container  103  is in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . To provide structural support, the flap support member  134  may be constructed at least in part from a rigid material, such as metal, plastic, wood, and/or any other suitable material. The flap support member  134  shown in  FIG. 1  is embodied in the form of a U-shaped rod, but the flap support member  134  may take the form of other shapes in alternative embodiments. 
     The first flap  129  may also include one or more second flaps  136 . The second flap  136  may also take the form of various shapes according to various embodiments. For example, the second flap  136  shown in  FIG. 1  takes the shape of a rectangle having a semicircular end. Alternative embodiments may be rectangular, triangular, curved, and/or any other suitable shape. At least a portion of the second flap  136  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first flap  129 . For example,  FIG. 1  shows a second zipper  139  being used so that the second flap  136  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first flap  129 . In alternative embodiments, hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, buttons, and/or any other suitable fastener may be used so that the second flap  136  is separable and closable with respect to the remainder of the first flap  129 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , one or more flap handles  143  may be attached to the second flap  136 . In alternative embodiments, one or more flap handles  143  may be attached to the first flap  129 . The flap handle  143  may facilitate a user opening and/or closing the first flap  129  and/or the second flap  136 . Additionally, the flap handle  143  may facilitate a user carrying the container  103 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second end panel  111  may also be attached to each of the side panels  106   a - 106   d . Additionally, at least a portion of the second end panel  111  may be pliable. To provide pliability, the second end panel  111  may be constructed at least in part from woven polypropylene and/or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, no rigid support elements are attached to the second end panel  111 . By not having rigid support elements attached to the second end panel  111 , the second end panel  111  may facilitate the container  103  being collapsible, as will now be described. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , shown is the container  103  with the first flap  129  opened. A user may open the first flap  129  to begin the process of collapsing the container  103 . To this end, the user may unfasten the first zipper  133 , and the first flap  129  may be positioned within the space formed between the side panels  106   a - 106   d , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , shown is the container  103  being collapsed according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. To cause the container  103  to be in the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , a user may press against the edge  303  formed between the side panels  106   a - 106   b  and the edge  306  formed between the side panels  106   c - 106   d  so that the edge  303  moves closer to the edge  306 . This maneuver causes the side panel  106   a  and/or the side panel  106   d  to be rotated about the edge  309  formed between the side panel  106   a  and the side panel  106   d . As a result, the angle formed between the side panel  106   a  and the side panel  106   d  is reduced. Similarly, the side panel  106   b  and/or the side panel  106   c  to be rotated about the edge  313  formed between the side panel  106   b  and the side panel  106   c . As a result, the angle formed between the side panel  106   b  and the side panel  106   c  is reduced. When the container  103  has been collapsed, the edge  303  formed between the side panel  106   a  and the side panel  106   b  may be positioned adjacent to the edge  306  formed between the side panel  106   c  and the side panel  106   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second end panel  111 , which may not have any support members attached thereto, may crumple or fold as the edge  303  is brought closer to the edge  306 . Thus, the pliability of the second end panel  111  may facilitate the container  103  being collapsible. A user may also position the straps  126   a - 126   b  in the space formed between the side panels  106   a - 106   c  during the collapsing process. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , shown is the container  103  being folded according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the container  103  has been collapsed so that the side panel  106   a  is substantially flat with respect to the side panel  106   d  and so that the side panel  106   b  is substantially flat with respect to the side panel  106   c . Additionally, the edge  303  is positioned adjacent to the edge  306 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     A user may fold the container  103  by rotating the side panels  106   a - 106   b  about the edge  303  while simultaneously rotating the side panels  106   c - 106   d  about the edge  306  in the directions indicated by the arrows  403  and  406 . This maneuver brings the edge  309  closer to the edge  313 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , shown is the container  103  in a collapsed configuration after the container  103  has been folded. As shown, the side panels  106   a - 106   d  are substantially flat with respect to each other. As such, the volume occupied by the container  103  is less than the volume that a non-collapsible container would occupy. 
     A user may also fasten the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b . When fastened, the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  may be used to restrict the side panels  106   a - 106   d  to be in the position shown in  FIG. 5 . In this regard, the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123   b  may maintain the side panels  106   a - 106   d  in the position shown in  FIG. 5  so that the container  103  remains in the collapsed configuration until the side panel fasteners  123   a - 123  are unfastened. 
     It is emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.