Flexi-resilient to rigid container including vertically hinged sides

Abstract

An erectable and collapsible container including a plurality of side walls joined along a plurality of wall hinges providing articulation between the side walls. A bottom wall is attached to the side walls at edge hinges providing articulation between the side walls and the bottom wall. At least one flexible gusset portion is provided extending between one or more of the side walls and the bottom wall, and the gusset portion is movable with the bottom wall in response to movement of the side walls and the bottom wall between collapsed and erected configurations. Structure is provided for maintaining the side walls in the erected configuration such that the side walls define a generally rigid or semi-rigid structure. 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 plurality of side walls, each of said side walls being joined to an adjacent side wall by a hinge, each of said hinges providing articulation between adjacent side walls;    a bottom wall hingedly attached to at least two of said plurality of said side walls at hinged attachment locations, said hinged attachment locations providing articulation between said at least two of said side walls and said bottom wall;    at least one gusset structure extending between at least a first pair of said side walls and said bottom wall; and    wherein said at least one gusset structure comprises a first surface, said first surface being capable of articulation 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 a second gusset structure extending between at least a second pair of said side walls and said bottom wall.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said gusset structures comprise a flexible material.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said at least one gusset structure comprises a flexible material.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said at least one gusset structure is articulable between said first pair of side walls and said bottom wall.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said bottom wall comprises at least two portions articulable relative to each other.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said first surface is substantially parallel said bottom wall in said first position and is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall in said second position.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said container is transformable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially erect configuration.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein said container is transformable from said substantially collapsed configuration to said substantially erect configuration in response to an applied force to at least one of said plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein said applied force produces oppositely directed resultant forces upon said plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1  including a flexible panel portion attached to said plurality of side walls and defining an opening for said container.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein said flexible panel portion includes a reusable closure for sealing said opening.  
   
   
       13 . An erectable and collapsible container comprising: 
 a plurality of side walls, each of said side walls being joined to an adjacent side wall by a hinge, each said hinge providing articulation between adjacent side walls;    a bottom wall hingedly attached to at least two of said plurality of said side walls hinged attachment locations, said hinged attachment locations providing articulation between said at least two of said side walls and said bottom wall, said bottom wall including at least two portions articulable relative to each other;    first and second gusset structures extending between respective first and second pairs of said plurality of said side walls and said bottom wall; and    wherein said at first and second gusset structures each comprise a first surface, said first surfaces being capable of articulation from a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall.    
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said first and second gusset structures each comprise a flexible material.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said first surfaces are substantially parallel said bottom wall in said first position and are substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall in said second position.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said container is transformable from said substantially collapsed configuration to said substantially erect configuration in response to an applied force to at least one of said plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein said applied force produces oppositely directed resultant forces upon said plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       18 . An erectable and collapsible container comprising: 
 a plurality of side walls, each of said side walls being joined to an adjacent side wall by a hinge, each said hinge providing articulation between adjacent side walls;    a bottom wall hingedly attached to at least two of said side walls at hinged attachment locations, said hinged attachment providing articulation between at least a first pair of said side walls and said bottom wall;    at least one gusset structure extending between at least two of said plurality of said side walls and said bottom wall;    said at least one gusset structure comprises a first surface, said first surface being capable of articulation from a first position relative to said bottom wall to a second position relative to said bottom wall;    a flexible panel portion attached to said plurality of side walls and defining a sealable opening for said container; and    wherein said container is transformable from a substantially collapsed configuration to a substantially erect configuration in response to an applied force to at least one of said plurality of side walls.    
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein said applied force produces oppositely directed resultant forces said plurality of side walls.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 18  wherein said first surface is substantially parallel said bottom wall in said first position and is substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall in said second position.