Collapsible container

Abstract

The invention includes a collapsible container that is particularly useful for lawn debris. The container includes a bottom panel and multiple side panels including a plurality of fold lines that allow the side panels to collapse. When the side panels are collapsed, they are positioned adjacent to the bottom panel and the container is substantially flat. At least part of the bottom panel is exposed when the side panels are collapsed. In use, debris may be swept, raked or otherwise placed onto the collapsed container. When the desired amount of debris has been accumulated, the sides of the container can be raised to contain the debris.

1 . A container comprising: 
 an opening;    a plurality of side panels comprising a plurality of fold lines; and    a bottom panel;    wherein the side panels collapse along the fold lines to be substantially contiguous with the bottom panel; and    wherein at least a portion of the bottom panel is exposed when the side panels are collapsed.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is self-supporting.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed from a degradable material.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the container is constructed from paper.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the paper is coated with a water-resistant substance.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed from a single blank.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising structure for closing the top opening.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the structure for closing the top opening is a drawstring.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flaps along a top edge of the container.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , further comprising at least two handles, wherein each handle joins two flaps.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises four side panels.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising printed text on at least one of the side panels.  
   
   
       13 . A container constructed from a single blank comprising: 
 a top opening;    structure for closing the top opening;    a plurality of side panels comprising a plurality of fold lines; and    a bottom panel;    wherein the side panels collapse along the fold lines to be substantially contiguous with the bottom panel;    wherein at least a portion of the bottom panel is exposed when the side panels are collapsed; and    wherein the container is self-supporting and is constructed from a degradable material.    
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of flaps along a top edge of the container.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising at least two handles, wherein each handle joins two flaps.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the structure for closing the top opening is a drawstring.  
   
   
       17 . A blank of material for forming a container comprising: 
 a first side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a second side panel connected to the second side edge of the first side panel, the second side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a third side panel connected to the second side edge of the second side panel, the third side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a first bottom panel connected to the bottom edge of the first side panel, the first bottom panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a second bottom panel connected to the bottom edge of the second side panel, the second bottom panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a third bottom panel connected to the bottom edge of the third side panel, the third bottom panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a plurality of horizontal fold lines on the first, second and third side panels, the horizontal fold lines being substantially continuous across the side panels; and    a plurality of angled fold lines separating the first, second and third side panels, wherein a bottom end of each angled fold line joins a top end of the next angled fold line and wherein each angled fold line is angled in an opposite direction from the next angled fold line.    
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a first top flap connected to the top edge of the first side panel, the first top flap having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a second top flap connected to the top edge of the second side panel, the second top flap having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; and    a third top flap connected to the top edge of the third side panel, the third top flap having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge.    
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a fourth side panel connected to the second side edge of the third side panel, the fourth side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a fifth side panel connected to the second side edge of the fourth side panel, the fifth side panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge;    a fourth bottom panel connected to the bottom edge of the fourth side panel, the fourth bottom panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge; and    a fifth bottom panel connected to the bottom edge of the fifth side panel, the fifth bottom panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge and a second side edge.    
   
   
       20 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the first side panel is connected to the fifth side panel when a container is constructed from the blank.