Flexi-resilient to rigid container including horizontally hinged sides

Abstract

An erectable and collapsible container including a support structure formed by a bottom wall and a pair of opposing end walls articulable relative to the bottom wall about respective hinges. The end walls include flexi-resilient sections connected along hinges for articulated movement of the end walls between collapsed and erected configurations. A pair of flexible opposing side walls extend between the end walls and include sections foldable about hinges during articulated movement of the end walls. A pair of opposed flexible panels extend from the side walls and define a bag-like upper portion extending from the support structure and forming a sealable opening for the container.

1 . An erectable and collapsible container comprising: 
 a structure comprising a bottom wall and at least a pair of end walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall;    said end walls each comprising a plurality of end wall sections having an end wall hinge disposed therebetween;    an upper portion comprising a sheet of material attached to said structure, said upper portion comprising engageable sides defining a closable opening for said container; and    wherein said end walls are articulable about said end wall hinges when said pair of end walls moves from a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  including side walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall and extending between said end walls, said side walls each comprising plurality of side wall sections having a side wall hinge disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said end wall hinges move away from each other and said side wall hinges move away from each other when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein said end wall sections and said side wall sections move from a position substantially parallel to said bottom wall toward a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 2  wherein each said side wall includes a pair of gusset portions extending between said side wall sections and adjacent end walls, each said gusset portion including a gusset hinge articulable relative an adjacent end wall hinge of an adjacent end wall.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein each said gusset hinge is movable from a position substantially parallel to said adjacent end wall hinge toward a position substantially perpendicular to said adjacent end wall hinge when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said end wall hinges extend substantially parallel to said bottom wall.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position in response to a force producing oppositely directed resultant forces upon said end walls.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said sheet of material comprises a pair of flexible panels.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 8  including means for closing said upper portion.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  including a frangible connection between said structure and said upper portion and defining a location for separating said upper portion from said support structure.  
   
   
       12 . An erectable and collapsible container comprising: 
 a structure comprising a bottom wall and at least a pair of end walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall;    said end walls each comprising a plurality of end wall sections having an end wall hinge disposed therebetween;    side walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall and extending between said end walls, said side walls each comprising a plurality of side wall sections having a side wall hinge disposed therebetween;    an upper portion attached to said structure; and    wherein said end walls are articulable about said end wall hinges when said pair of end walls moves from a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall.    
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein said end wall hinges move away from each other and said side wall hinges move away from each other when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said end wall sections and said side wall sections move from a position substantially parallel to said bottom wall toward a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 12  wherein said side walls comprise flexible sheets of material.  
   
   
       16 . An erectable and collapsible container comprising: 
 a structure comprising a bottom wall and at least a pair of end walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall;    said end walls each comprising a plurality of end wall sections having an end wall hinge disposed therebetween;    side walls pivotably attached to said bottom wall and extending between said end walls and including gusset portions extending between said side walls and adjacent end walls, each said gusset portion including a gusset hinge articulable relative an adjacent end wall hinge of an adjacent end wall; and    wherein said end walls are articulable about said end wall hinges and said gusset hinges are articulable relative to said adjacent end wall hinges when said pair of end walls moves from a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall.    
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein each said gusset hinge is movable from a position substantially parallel to said adjacent end wall hinge toward a position substantially perpendicular to said adjacent end wall hinge when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 16  wherein said side walls each comprise a plurality of sections having a sidewall hinge disposed therebetween.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein said end wall hinges move away from each other and said side wall hinges move away from each other when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 16  wherein said end wall sections move from a position substantially parallel to said bottom wall toward a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall when said pair of end walls moves from said first position to said second position.