Collapsible play box

Abstract

A child's play box includes a pliable base piece and four semi- rigid, planar sidewalls. The base piece has four edges, and each sidewall is joined to the base piece by a folding joint that permits the sidewall to pivot with respect to the base piece. Furthermore, each sidewall is joined to adjacent sidewalls by folding joints that permit the adjacent sidewalls to pivot with respect to each other. The folding joints collectively allow the play box to be manipulated between an open configuration in which the sidewalls extend perpendicularly from the base piece to define an internal cavity and a closed configuration in which all of the sidewalls are arranged in a stack.

1 . A child's play box comprising: 
 a pliable base piece having four edges; and    four semi-rigid planar sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is joined to a respective one of said edges of said base piece by a folding joint that permits said sidewall to pivot with respect to said base piece, and wherein each sidewall is joined to adjacent sidewalls by folding joints that permit said adjacent sidewalls to pivot with respect to each other, said folding joints collectively allowing said play box to be manipulated between an open configuration in which said sidewalls extend perpendicularly from said base piece to define an internal cavity and a closed configuration in which all of said sidewalls are arranged in a stack.    
   
   
       2 . The play box of  claim 1  wherein said base piece can be wrapped around said stack of sidewalls when said play box is in said closed configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The play box of  claim 2  further comprising means for retaining said base piece in a position wrapped around said stack of sidewalls.  
   
   
       4 . The play box of  claim 3  wherein said means for retaining comprises a fastener attached to said base piece.  
   
   
       5 . The play box of  claim 1  further comprising means for anchoring said play box to a support surface.  
   
   
       6 . The play box of  claim 5  wherein said means for anchoring comprises a plurality of suction cups attached to said base piece.  
   
   
       7 . The play box of  claim 1  further comprising a drain formed in one of said sidewalls or said base piece.  
   
   
       8 . The play box of  claim 1  wherein said base piece is rectangular.  
   
   
       9 . The play box of  claim 1  wherein two of said sidewalls are shorter than the other two of said sidewalls.  
   
   
       10 . The play box of  claim 1  wherein said base piece comprises a sheet of waterproof material.  
   
   
       11 . The play box of  claim 1  wherein each one of said sidewalls comprises a semi-rigid panel enclosed by a waterproof material.