Patent Publication Number: US-10308423-B1

Title: Portable collapsible container

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     I. FIELD 
     The disclosure of the present patent application relates to storage containers and the like, and particularly to a portable collapsible container that is selectively expandable and collapsible. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Foldable and collapsible containers are relatively old and well known. Such containers are typically in the form of luggage or baggage, allowing a suitcase, briefcase or the like to be expanded to accommodate materials of different sizes to facilitate transport. Such containers typically have accordion-like, collapsible sidewalls positioned between conventional front and rear walls. As such, they are often limited in their versatility, i.e., although expandable and collapsible, they offer only slight variability in overall thickness, and are still limited to their basic functions and what can be carried within. 
     Although larger scale foldable and collapsible containers are known, such as collapsible truck trailers and shipping containers, the mechanical couplings required to expand and collapse these containers are typically very heavy and complex, often requiring the use of heavy machinery to manipulate the container. It would obviously be desirable to provide the diverse functionality of a collapsible container, but with greater versatility than exists with conventional collapsible luggage, and with far greater ease of use than exists with collapsible shipping containers, truck trailers and the like. Thus, a portable collapsible container solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     The portable collapsible container includes a collapsible frame assembly having a plurality of open frames, a plurality of scissor linkages, and a plurality of hinged vertically extending panels. The open frames include opposed first and second end frames, which are positioned on either side of a set of inner frames. Adjacent open frames are adjustably coupled to one another by a respective scissor linkage. 
     Each scissor linkage includes first and second linkage members pivotally secured to one another, the first linkage member of each scissor linkage having opposed first and second ends, and the second linkage member of each scissor linkage also having opposed first and second ends. The first ends of the first and second linkage members are slidably mounted to one of the open frames, and the second ends are slidably mounted to a corresponding adjacent open frame. Additionally, a plurality of jib links may be provided, each jib link having opposed first and second ends, the first end of the jib link being pivotally attached to a central portion of the base end of one of the open frames, and the second end of the jib link being pivotally attached to a central portion of the first linkage member of a corresponding one of the scissor linkages. 
     Each of the hinged vertically extending panels is pivotally mounted to, and extends between, a pair of adjacent open frames. A first cover member is secured to the first end frame and a second cover member is secured to the second end frame. A first end of an upper foldable panel is secured to an upper end of the first cover member, and a first end of a lower foldable panel is secured to a lower end of the first cover member. 
     Pulling the second cover member away from the first cover member expands the collapsible frame assembly and deploys the plurality of hinged vertically extending panels to form sidewalls of the portable collapsible container. The upper and lower foldable panels may then be deployed to form the top wall and the bottom wall, respectively, of the portable collapsible container by pulling the respective second ends thereof in the direction of the second cover member. A linear actuator may be provided to drive expansion and collapse of the collapsible frame assembly. 
     These and other features of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable collapsible container, shown in an expanded configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , shown in a collapsed configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a collapsible frame assembly of the portable collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , showing the scissors linkage assembly extended. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the collapsible frame assembly of  FIG. 3 , showing the scissors linkage assembly extended. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a single open frame of the collapsible frame assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the collapsible frame assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , showing the scissors linkage assembly extended and a single hinged sidewall mounted thereon to show details thereof. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the box-shaped rear member of the portable collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , shown with the foldable top wall stored therein and the foldable bottom wall partially extended therefrom. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the portable collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , showing the scissors linkage assembly extended and showing both the top wall and the bottom wall partially extended from the rear member. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the portable collapsible container of  FIG. 1 , shown in the extended configuration with only a single sidewall mounted thereon to show details thereof, and with the front wall folded down to serve as a ramp. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a portable collapsible container having telescoping actuators in lieu of the scissors linkage. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The portable collapsible container  10  is an expandable and collapsible storage container.  FIG. 1  shows the portable collapsible container  10  in a fully expanded condition, and  FIG. 2  shows the portable collapsible container  10  in a relatively compact collapsed condition. It should be understood that the overall configuration and relative dimensions of the portable collapsible container  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are shown for exemplary purposes only. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 , the portable collapsible container  10  includes a collapsible frame assembly  12  having a plurality of open frames  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  22 , a plurality of scissor linkages  20 , and a plurality of hinged vertically extending panels  70 . The plurality of open frames include opposed first and second end frames  14 ,  16 , respectively, which are positioned on either side of a set of inner frames  18 ,  22 . Adjacent open frames are adjustably coupled to one another by a respective one of the scissor linkages  20 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show four open frames  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  22 . However, it should be understood that any desired number of inner frames may be positioned between the first end frame  14  and the second end frame  16 . In  FIG. 3 , each of the open frames  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  22  is rectangular, and it should be understood that each open frame is identical in construction. As shown in  FIG. 5  (which illustrates open frame  22 ), each open frame may include an upper end  38 , a base end  44 , and a pair of side members  40 ,  42 . 
     Each scissor linkage  20  includes first and second linkage members  24 ,  26 , respectively, which are pivotally secured to one another at their centers by a pivot pin or axle, as is conventionally known with single degree of freedom scissor linkages. The first linkage member  24  of each scissor linkage  20  has opposed first and second ends  30 ,  32 , respectively, and the second linkage member  26  also has opposed first and second ends  34 ,  36 , respectively. The first ends  30 ,  34  of the first and second linkage members  24 ,  26 , respectively, are slidably mounted to one of the plurality of open frames (such as open frame  22  in  FIG. 4 , for example), and the second ends  32 ,  36  thereof are slidably mounted to a corresponding adjacent open frame (such as open frame  16  in  FIG. 4 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a bar  46  may be mounted adjacent and parallel to base end  44  of each open frame (open frame  22  in the example of  FIG. 5 ), defining a channel for the ends of the scissor linkage members to slide in. A pair of horizontally extending slots  52 ,  54  may be formed through base end  44  and, as shown, a corresponding pair of horizontally extending slots  48 ,  50  may be formed through bar  46 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the first linkage member  24  of each scissor linkage  20  comprises a pair of parallel, spaced apart bars, while the second linkage member  26  of each scissor linkage  20  is a square or rectangular bar that slides between the spaced apart flat bars of the first linkage member. A pivot pin or retainer pin extends through the first end  30  of the first linkage members  24  and the second end  36  of the second linkage member of the scissors linkage  20  of the adjoining frame and is slidably mounted in slots  48 ,  52 , and a pivot pin or retainer pin extends through the first end  34  of the second linkage member  26  and the second end  32  of the first linkage member of the scissors linkage of the adjoining frame and is slidably mounted in slots  50 ,  54 . In this way, the scissors linkages  20  in consecutive frames are linked together so that the scissors linkages  20  expand and contract simultaneously to expand and contract the container  10 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 4 , the collapsible frame assembly  12  further includes a plurality of jib links  28 . Each jib link  28  is one-quarter the length of the linkage members  24 ,  26  and has opposed first and second ends  60 ,  62 , respectively, the first end  60  being pivotally attached by a pivot pin or axle to the center  32  of the base end  44  of one of the plurality of open frames (such as open frame  18 , for example), and the second end  62  being pivotally attached by a pivot pin or axle to the first linkage member  24  of a corresponding one of the plurality of scissor linkages  20  about one-quarter of the length of the linkage member  24  from open frame  18 , i.e., about midway between attachment of the first end  30  of linkage member  24  to the open frame  18  and the center pivot pin connecting linkage members  24  and  26 . Referring again to  FIG. 5 , a pair of holes  56 ,  58  may be respectively formed through bar  46  and base end  44  for pivotal mounting of the first end  60  of jib link  28  to the open frame. 
     Each of the hinged vertically extending panels  70  is mounted to, and extends between, adjacent ones of the plurality of open frames  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  22 . In  FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 , only one set of hinged vertically extending panels  70  is shown, i.e., in  FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 , one side of the portable collapsible container  10  appears open and uncovered. It should be understood that this is for purposes of clarity and illustration only. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a second set of hinged vertically extending panels  70  is provided, horizontally opposed from the set shown in  FIGS. 6, 8 and 9 , such that both sides of the portable collapsible container  10  are covered by a respective sidewall formed from the expanded hinged vertically extending panels  70 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a first cover member  80  is secured to the first end frame  14  and a second cover member  106  is secured to the second end frame  16 . The second cover member  106 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , may include an open cover frame  120  and a door  108  pivotally secured thereto. Further, the first cover member  80  may have a set of wheels  122  rotatably mounted thereon and, similarly, the second cover member  106  may have a set of wheels  124  rotatably mounted thereon. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a first end  94  of an upper foldable panel  82  is secured to an upper end  96  of the first cover member  80 . A first end  102  of a lower foldable panel  84  is secured to a lower end  98  of the first cover member  80 . The upper foldable panel  82  has a plurality of upper rollers  110  rotatably mounted thereon, and the lower foldable panel  84  also has a plurality of lower rollers  112  rotatably mounted thereon. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the plurality of hinged vertically extending panels  70  each have a set of upper rails  90  and a set of lower rails  92  mounted thereon, such that the set of upper rails  90  receive the plurality of upper rollers  110 , and the set of lower rails  92  receive the plurality of lower rollers  112 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , similar upper and lower rails  86 ,  88  are mounted within first cover member  80 , such that upper rails  86  form a continuous path of upper rails  90  and, similarly, lower rails  88  form a continuous path with lower rails  92 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , each of the plurality of hinged vertically extending panels  70  includes first and second sheets  72 ,  74 , respectively. First sheet  72  has first and second vertically extending edges  76 ,  78 , respectively, and second sheet  74  has first and second vertically extending edges  81 ,  83 , respectively. The first vertically extending edge  76  of the first sheet  72  is pivotally secured to side member  42  of one of the plurality of open frames (such as open frame  14 , for example), and the second vertically extending edge  83  of the second sheet  74  is pivotally secured to the side member  42  of a corresponding adjacent one of the plurality of open frames (such as open frame  18 , for example). The second vertically extending edge  76  of the first sheet  72  is pivotally secured to the first vertically extending edge  81  of the second sheet  74 . 
     Pulling the second cover member  106  away from the first cover member  80  expands the collapsible frame assembly  12  and deploys the plurality of hinged vertically extending panels  70  to form sidewalls of the portable collapsible container  10 . The upper and lower foldable panels  82 ,  84  may then be deployed to form top and bottom walls of the portable collapsible container  10  by pulling their respective second ends  100 ,  104  in the direction of the second cover member  106 . The rollers  110  of the upper foldable panel  82  travel smoothly and linearly through the upper set of rails  90 , and the rollers  112  of the lower foldable panel  84  travel smoothly and linearly through the lower set of rails  92 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a linear actuator  64  may be provided to drive expansion and collapse of the collapsible frame assembly  12 . Linear actuator  64  has opposed first and second ends, with the first end thereof being pivotally secured to the central portion  68  of the first linkage member  24  of one of the plurality of scissor linkages  20 . The opposed second end is pivotally secured to the central portion  66  of the base end  44  of a corresponding one of the plurality of open frames (open frame  22  in the example of  FIG. 4 ). It should be understood that linear actuator  64  may be installed between any two adjacent open frames. The linear actuator  64  may be a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric cylinder with a piston extendable therefrom. 
     The alternative embodiment of  FIG. 10  is similar to the previous embodiment, the portable collapsible container  200  including a collapsible frame assembly  212  having a plurality of open frames  214 ,  216 ,  218 , a plurality of hinged vertically extending panels  270 , a first cover member  280 , a second cover member  206 , a lower foldable panel  284 , and an upper foldable panel  282 . However, as shown, the scissor linkages  20  of the previous embodiment have been replaced by corresponding telescoping actuators  220 . 
     It is to be understood that the portable collapsible container is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.