Patent ID: 8511494

Claim:
A four-sided container comprising: a preformed, rigid U-shaped member having a U-shaped cross-section, the U-shaped member having a base wall and opposing side walls, the opposing side walls each having, a free end, the base wall and side walls and an intersection of the base wall and side walls being rigid, the base wall having an outer surface, a thickness, and having an open slot formed therein, the open slot extending continuously longitudinally along the base wall and formed in an inner surface thereof into the thickness of the base wall, the open slot extending from the inner surface, through about 75 percent to about 85 percent of the base wall thickness, the open slot defining base wall sections adjacent and connected to one another by a portion of the thickness of the base wall, the outer surface of the base wall being substantially smooth, the base wall portions and the side walls adjacent thereto foldable inward along the open slot such that the opposing side wall free ends lie adjacent to one another so as to form a four-sided, generally rectangular shaped cross-section container, and wherein the base wall portions and the side walls adjacent thereto are foldable outward along the open slot so as to form a generally M-shaped cross-section.