Expandable container with pull cord

Abstract

An expandable container for holding articles includes a pull cord to facilitate expansion of the container. The container includes at least two walls pivotably inter-connectable along at least two junctures. The walls are designed to collapse so as to lie substantially flat in a collapsed position. A flap attachable to at least one of the walls is capable of pivotable movement with respect to the walls so that pivoting the flap with respect to the walls expands the walls apart from one another from the collapsed position to an expanded position. The pull cord is attachable to the flap to facilitate expansion of the container from a collapsed position to an expanded position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An expandable container comprising: 
 at least two walls pivotably inter-connectable along at least two junctures so as to lie substantially flat in a collapsed position;    a flap attachable to at least one of said walls and capable of pivotable movement with respect to said at least one wall; and    a pull cord attachable to said flap whereby pulling said cord pivotably moves said flap with respect to said walls, thereby expanding said walls apart from one another from the collapsed position to an expanded position.    
     
     
         2 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said walls and flap fold to a substantially flat, collapsed position.  
     
     
         3 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said walls and flap are of unitary construction.  
     
     
         4 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said walls are oriented perpendicular to said flap when in said expanded position.  
     
     
         5 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said walls that are adjacent one another are oriented perpendicular to one another.  
     
     
         6 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said walls are not perpendicular to said flap when in said expanded position.  
     
     
         7 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said walls are inwardly directed toward one another.  
     
     
         8 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said container is generally pyramid-shaped, wherein said flap forms a base of the pyramid and said walls form sides of the pyramid.  
     
     
         9 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 8  wherein at least one of said walls defines a void, creating an opening in the pyramid.  
     
     
         10 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said void is located near the peak of the pyramid so that when the base of the container is directed downward, the opening is upwardly opening.  
     
     
         11 . An expandable container comprising: 
 at least two panels pivotably inter-connectable along at least two junctures so as to lie substantially flat in a collapsed position, at least one of said panels being capable of pivotable movement with respect to another of said panels; and    a pull cord attachable to at least one of said panels whereby pulling said pull cord pivotably moves said panel with respect to said another panel, thereby expanding said panels from the collapsed position to an expanded position.    
     
     
         12 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said pull cord is threadably connectable with at least two panels.  
     
     
         13 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said pull cord includes two free ends extendable from the container for pulling simultaneously to expand said panels from the collapsed position to the expanded position.  
     
     
         14 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said pull cord is threadably connectable with at least two panels that act as container sides when the container is in the expanded position.  
     
     
         15 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said pull cord is threadably connectable with six panels, said panels acting as container sides when the container is in the expanded position.  
     
     
         16 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 15  wherein at least one of said panels constitutes a bottom of said container.  
     
     
         17 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 11  wherein at least one of said panels acts as a pivotable flap of said container.  
     
     
         18 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said panels are oriented generally perpendicular to said flap when in the expanded position.  
     
     
         19 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said flap is generally circular, so that at least one of said panels is urged into an arcuate shape, closely corresponding to the outline of the circular flap.  
     
     
         20 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said flap is generally semi-circular, a straight portion of said flap attachable to and pivotable with at least one of said panels, wherein another of said panels is urged into an arcuate shape, closely corresponding to the outline of the semi-circular flap, when the container is in its expanded position.  
     
     
         21 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said flap is an extension of a panel, wherein expansion of the container to an expanded position creates an interference fit between the flap and a juncture between two adjacent panels, thereby securing said container in the expanded position.  
     
     
         22 . An expandable container as set forth in  claim 21  wherein at least one of said panels includes an outline of a recognizable object, so that the container shape is suggestive of said recognizable object.  
     
     
         23 . An expandable container comprising: 
 at least two walls pivotably inter-connectable along at least two junctures so as to lie substantially flat in a collapsed position;    a flap attachable to at least one of said walls and capable of pivotable movement with respect to said at least one wall; and    a pull cord attachable to said flap whereby pulling said cord pivotably moves said flap with respect to said walls, thereby expanding said walls apart from one another from the collapsed position to an expanded position, said walls and flap being capable of folding to a substantially flat, collapsed position and wherein said walls are perpendicular to said flap when in said expanded position and wherein said walls that are adjacent one another are oriented perpendicular to one another when in said expanded position.    
     
     
         24 . An expandable container comprising: 
 at least two walls pivotably inter-connectable along at least two junctures so as to lie substantially flat in a collapsed position;    a flap attachable to at least one of said walls and capable of pivotable movement with respect to said at least one wall; and    a pull cord attachable to said flap whereby pulling said cord pivotably moves said flap with respect to said walls, thereby expanding said walls apart from one another from the collapsed position to an expanded position,    wherein said walls are not perpendicular to said flap when in said expanded position and said walls are inwardly directed toward one another when in said expanded position, wherein said container is generally pyramid-shaped, wherein said flap forms a base of the pyramid and said walls form sides of the pyramid, said walls and flap being capable of folding to a substantially flat, collapsed position.