Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Plastic bags are associated with numerous problems in the environment. For example, plastic bags are not biodegradable, have a negative impact on marine life, and cause other problems. Accordingly, increased amounts of paper bags are being used. However, conventional paper bags also have a variety of shortcomings, including lack of durability for repeated use, storage, space requirements and difficulty of carrying. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Included are embodiments for a collapsible container. At least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a bottom panel; two first side walls, each of the first side walls being adjoined to a corresponding first edge of the bottom panel; two second side walls, each of the second side walls being adjoined to a corresponding second edge of the bottom panel; a border reinforcement, the border reinforcement being adhesively continuously disposed along to a top portion of each of the first side walls and each of the second side walls; and a mechanism for carrying the container. The container extends to form the shape of a box when in an unfolded state. The container also folds and lies flat such that the top edges of the second side walls are aligned with a corresponding one of the second edges of the bottom panel. 
         [0003]    Other embodiments and/or advantages of this disclosure will be or may become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional units, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    Many aspects of the 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 present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. While one exemplary embodiment is described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows the container unfolded, open and ready for use. 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  shows the container partially folded. 
         [0007]      FIG. 3  shows the container collapsed and closed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary container  10 , which may be a collapsible container, in an open position that includes a bottom panel  13 , two first side walls  16 , two second side walls  19 , a border reinforcement portion  23 , and one or more handles  26 . Each of the first side walls  16  is adjoined to a corresponding first edge of the bottom panel  13 . Each of the second side walls  19  is adjoined to a corresponding second edge of the bottom panel  13 . The border reinforcement portion  23  is, in this non-limiting example, attached to a top portion of the first side walls  16  and a top portion of the second side walls  19 . 
         [0009]    Collapsible container  10  may be configured in any of a number of materials, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. As nonlimiting examples, collapsible container may be configured of a fiber-based material, such as paper, plastic, fiberboard, cardboard, and/or any other material as described herein. 
         [0010]    In the non-limiting example shown in  FIG. 1 , the edge formed by second side wall  19  and bottom panel  13  is greater in length than the edge formed by first side wall  16  and side wall  19 . This dimension gives container  10  a rectangular box shape when open, that is, such that container  10  is wider than it is tall. It should be noted, however, that in another non-limiting example, the edge formed by second side wall  19  and bottom panel  13  may be substantially equal in length to the edge formed by first side wall  16  and side wall  19 . In this configuration, the bottom panel  13  may be substantially square. 
         [0011]    Handles  26  may comprise apertures, straps, and/or other mechanisms for carrying the container  10 , as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Handles  26  may be secured to container  10  at border reinforcement portion  23 . Instead of the handles  26  shown in  FIG. 1 , straps and/or other carrying/support mechanisms may be implemented, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. 
         [0012]    The border reinforcement portion  23  may comprise a semi-rigid material, such as, for example, paperboard, cardboard, kraft paper, corrugated fiberboard, plastic, and/or other material. Border reinforcement portion  23  may comprise one or more bonded pieces of material to provide added strength to container  10 . Similarly, the bottom panel  13  may comprise a semi-rigid material, such as, for example, paperboard, cardboard, kraft board, corrugated fiberboard, and/or other material. 
         [0013]    In an open position, container  10  may exhibit qualities of a box in that container  10  and its portions, as described above, may provide rigid support for transporting and/or packaging objects, products, and/or other items. In this respect, the border reinforcement portion  23  may provide additional support for each of the first side walls  16  and each of the second side walls  19  such that the container  10  can generally obtain a box shape with additional shape stability. In this respect, the border reinforcement portion  23  may provide additional support to help to prevent and/or minimize tearing when the container  10  is carried using one or more handles  26 . 
         [0014]    As illustrated in the non-limiting example of  FIG. 1 , each of first side walls  16  may include a first fold line  29 . The first fold line  29  may extend along a central portion of the respective first side wall  16 . Each of the first fold lines  29  in this non-limiting example may be substantially and/or approximately perpendicular to a respective first edge of the bottom panel  13 . 
         [0015]    In addition, each of the first side walls  16  may include two or more second fold lines  33 . Each of the second fold lines  33  may extend diagonally from a corresponding corner of the respective first side wall  16  to the respective one of the first fold lines  29 . In addition, each of the first side walls  16  may also include a corresponding third fold line  34 . The third fold line  34  may extend parallel to a respective edge of the bottom panel  10  and intersect the respective fold line  29  at a central point. 
         [0016]    As a non-limiting alternative embodiment, container  10  may also include a support portion  14  that may be positioned inside container  10  on top of bottom panel  13 . Support portion  14  may comprise materials of increased strength for supporting heavier loads in container  10 , such as, as a nonlimiting example, corrugated cardboard. Support portion  14  may be configured to either be permanently attached to bottom panel  13  by, for example, glue or other fastening techniques, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, or it may be configured to merely rest in the bottom of container  10  to be removed, as needed. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative view of the exemplary container  10  from  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in the non-limiting example of  FIG. 2 , the container  10  may include two second side walls  19 . Each of the second side walls  19  may include a corresponding fourth fold line  36 . Each of the fourth fold lines  36  may extend across the length of the respective second side wall  19  parallel. 
         [0018]    On first side wall  16 , the first fold lines  29 , the second fold lines  33 , third fold lines  34  and the fourth fold lines  36  are configured to make it easier to fold, collapse, expand, unfold, and/or otherwise manipulate the container  10 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 . As shown in the non-limiting example of  FIG. 2 , each of the first fold lines  29  enable the first side walls  16  to be folded inward towards the center of the container  10 . The second fold lines  33  enable the container  10  to be folded downward towards the bottom panel  13 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a collapsed view of the exemplary container  10  from  FIG. 1 . The third fold lines  34  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and the fourth fold lines  36  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) enable the container  10  to be folded to a respective side of the bottom panel  10  and allow the container  10  to collapse and lay flat, as shown in the non-limiting example of  FIG. 3 . In this configuration, container  10  exhibits qualities of a foldable bag. 
         [0020]    One should also note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular embodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. 
         [0021]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of this 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.

Technology Category: 7