Collapsible storage bin with attached lower pallet-like support

Abstract

A collapsible bin for the storage and transport of goods, which includes a collapsible sidewall structure and upper and lower pallet-like supports. A securing structure secures the sidewall structure to the lower pallet-like support while permitting the sidewall structure to be placed in either a collapsed or non-collapsed state. The first and second pallet-like supports each include a base and a border that projects out from and runs along an edge of the respective base. A portion of the border located at each corner of the base of each pallet-like support is notched out, allowing the first and second pallet-like supports to cooperate with and nest within each other when the storage bin is placed in a collapsed state.

1 . A storage bin comprising: 
 a sidewall structure including a pair of sheet-like sidewalls joined together by a pair of sheet-like end walls, said end and sidewalls having vertical edges joined together along a fold which permits relative horizontal swinging movement between the adjacent end and sidewalls to permit collapsing of said sidewall structure, said sidewall structure when in a non-collapsed condition defining a vertically extending opening therethrough;    a top pallet-like member removably engaged with an upper edge of said sidewall structure to close off an upper end of said opening;    a bottom pallet-like member engaged with a lower edge of said sidewall structure to close off a lower portion of said opening, said bottom member having a base portion and a flange which is joined to and extends upwardly from a peripheral edge portion of said base portion in transverse relation thereto, said base and said flange together defining an opening within said bottom member which opens upwardly; and    a securing member fixedly securing said sidewall structure to said bottom member to prevent detachment therefrom, said securing member being configured to permit collapsing of said sidewall structure and folding of said collapsed sidewall structure into said bottom member such that said sidewall structure is disposed within said opening of said bottom member and surrounded by said flange thereof.    
   
   
       2 . The storage bin of  claim 1 , wherein said top member has a base portion and a flange which is joined to and extends downwardly from a peripheral edge portion of said base portion in transverse relation thereto, said flanges of said top and bottom members being configured to nest with one another with said collapsed sidewall structure disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The storage bin of  claim 1 , wherein said securing member includes a first generally planar portion which is fixed to one of said sidewalls in superimposed relation therewith, and a second generally planar portion which is fixed to said bottom member in superimposed relation therewith.  
   
   
       4 . The storage bin of  claim 3 , wherein said securing structure includes a third portion disposed between said first and second portions and joined thereto by respective parallel fold lines which define respective hinges of said securing member.  
   
   
       5 . The storage bin of  claim 4 , wherein said first portion is fixed to and superimposed upon an inner surface of said one sidewall, and said second portion is fixed to and superimposed upon an upper surface of said base portion of said bottom member.  
   
   
       6 . The storage bin of  claim 1 , wherein said top member has a base portion and a flange which is joined to and extends downwardly from a peripheral edge portion of said base portion in transverse relation thereto, said top and bottom members being generally rectangular in shape and said flanges of said top and bottom members each defining a plurality of corner regions, said corner regions of said top member being disposed in vertical alignment with the respective corner regions of said bottom member, each said corner region defining a notch therein which opens outwardly towards a free edge of the respective flange, said notches of the respective flanges permitting nesting of said top and bottom members with one another in a storage configuration of said storage bin when said sidewall structure is collapsed and folded onto said bottom member.  
   
   
       7 . The storage bin of  claim 1 , wherein said securing member is a separate component from said sidewall structure.  
   
   
       8 . The storage bin of  claim 6 , wherein said top and bottom members each have a width and a length dimension, said width dimension being defined between a first pair of opposed parallel portions of the corresponding said flange and said length dimension being defined between a second pair of opposed parallel portions of the corresponding said flange, said width and length dimensions of said top member being identical to the respective width and length dimensions of said bottom member.  
   
   
       9 . A collapsible storage bin comprising: 
 top and bottom pallet members each having a generally planar and rectangular base portion and a lip which extends transversely with respect to said base portion about a peripheral edge thereof and terminates in a free edge, said base portion and said lip of each said pallet member together defining a compartment which opens outwardly towards the other said pallet member;    a collapsible and generally tubular and open-ended sidewall member disposed between said top and bottom pallet members inwardly of said lips thereof, said sidewall member being defined by a pair of generally parallel and laterally spaced sidewalls and a pair of generally parallel and laterally spaced end walls which extend transversely between and interconnect the respective sidewalls to one another, said end walls each having a pair of vertical edges which are hingedly joined to respective vertical edges of said sidewalls, each said end wall defining therein a vertical hinge disposed between said vertical edges of said end wall to permit folding of said end walls inwardly and into superimposed relation with the respective sidewalls to define a collapsed and generally flat configuration of said sidewall member which is dimensioned to fit entirely within said compartment of said bottom pallet member; and    a securing element hingedly joined to one of said sidewalls and hingedly joined to said base member of said bottom pallet member to prevent detachment of said sidewall member from said bottom pallet member while allowing collapsing of said sidewall member;    said lips of said top and bottom pallets defining notches therein which open through said free edges thereof adjacent corners of the respective top and bottom pallets, said notches permitting nesting of said top and bottom pallets with one another in a collapsed configuration of said storage bin wherein said sidewall member is enclosed between said top and bottom pallets.    
   
   
       10 . The collapsible storage bin of  claim 9 , wherein said base portion of said top pallet has width and length dimensions which are identical to respective width and length dimensions of said base portion of said bottom pallet.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsible storage bin comprising: 
 a collapsible sidewall structure which, when in a non-collapsed state, is of a generally rectangular shape and defines a generally vertically extending opening therethrough, said sidewall structure including a pair of substantially parallel and sheet-like sidewalls joined together by a pair of substantially parallel sheet-like end walls, said end and sidewalls having adjacent vertical edges joined together along a fold which permits relative horizontal swinging movement between the adjacent end and sidewalls to permit collapsing of said sidewall structure;    a first pallet-like member engaged with an upper terminal edge of said sidewall structure, said first member including a generally rectangular base and a border which projects transversely outwardly from and extends along a peripheral edge of said base, a portion of said border disposed adjacent each corner of said base being recessed inwardly to define a notch; and    a second pallet-like member engaged with a lower edge of said sidewall structure, said second member including a generally rectangular base and a border which projects transversely outwardly from and extends along a peripheral edge of said base, a portion of said border of said second member disposed adjacent each corner of said base of said second member being recessed inwardly to define a notch, said notches of said first and second members allowing cooperative nesting of said first and second supports with one another while containing therein the collapsed sidewall structure.    
   
   
       12 . The storage bin of  claim 11 , wherein said border of each said first and second member includes a border portion defined between each pair of adjacent notches, and at least one border portion of each said first and second member is disposed exteriorly of and in superimposed relation with an adjacent border portion of the opposite member when said first and second members are nested with one another.  
   
   
       13 . The storage bin of  claim 11 , further including a sheet-like securing member which interconnects said sidewall structure to said second member to prevent detachment therefrom.  
   
   
       14 . The storage bin of  claim 11 , wherein said borders of said first and second members terminate in respective free edges, said notches opening through said free edges.  
   
   
       15 . The storage bin of  claim 11 , wherein said bases of the respective first and second members have identical width and length dimensions.  
   
   
       16 . The storage bin of  claim 16 , wherein each said border includes a border portion defined between two neighboring notches, two adjacent border portions of said first member being disposed exteriorly of and in superimposed relation with two adjacent border portions of said second member in a nested configuration of said first and second members.  
   
   
       17 . The storage bin of  claim 11 , wherein each said end wall defines a vertical hinge therein between said vertical edges thereof which permits inward folding of the respective end walls to allow collapsing of said sidewall member.  
   
   
       18 . The storage bin of  claim 13 , wherein said securing member includes a first generally planar portion which is fixedly secured to an interior surface of one of said sidewalls and a second generally planar portion which is fixedly secured to an upper surface of said base of said second member.  
   
   
       19 . The storage bin of  claim 18 , wherein said securing member includes a third portion disposed between and interconnecting said first and second portions, said third porting being joined to said first and second portions through respective parallel fold lines which define respective hinges of said securing member.  
   
   
       20 . The storage bin of  claim 19 , wherein said securing member is a separate component from said sidewall structure and is attached to said one sidewall and said base by a fastening arrangement.