Collapsible rigid container

Abstract

Disclosed is a collapsible rigid box comprising a rectangular sleeve of rigid chip board and having an exterior panel hingedly connected to the base of the sleeve and dimensioned to fit snugly within the sleeve. An interior shallow tray has a Hymes bottom and integral and overlapping triangular sections which form the base. The blanks for the Hymes bottom have integrally formed marginal wings which are folded to form the shallow tray. An interior panel is hingedly mounted along one side and interior to the tray. One of the blanks making up the Hymes bottom has an aperture therein. One half of a Velcro connector is secured to each of the interior and exterior panels so as to mate through the aperture on opposed sides of the blank. The box is held together by strong cover paper which connects the sleeve side panels. The exterior bottom panel is hingedly connected to the side panel by the cover paper. The interior panel is hingedly secured to one of the bottom blanks of the shallow tray. A rectangular collapsible lid is provided in which sides of the lid are joined to the top by cover paper. A gusset is provided at each edge of the side panels where they meet. The gusset is rectangularly shaped and folds upon itself. Adhesive is used to glue the gusset together to thereby form the sides of the lid.

1 . A rigid collapsible container comprising: 
 a) container means including 
 I) flexible bottom means, and  
 ii) container side panel means;  
   b) said bottom means and said container side panel means defining therebetween a predetermined configuration open at at least one side and closed at one end by said bottom means to define therebetween the interior volume of the container;    c) said bottom means comprises at least a pair of interlocking panels; and    d) exterior bottom panel means hingedly connected to said container means so as to fold over and enclose said bottom means within the container.    
   
   
       2 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 1  wherein said bottom means further comprises inside panel means hingedly secured to said bottom means for covering said interlocking panels on the inside of said container.  
   
   
       3 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 2  further comprises closure means secured to said inside panel and said bottom panel for releasably locking said inside and bottom panels together when both panels are disposed against opposite sides of said interlocking panels.  
   
   
       4 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 3  wherein said bottom panel means comprises a tray; said tray comprises said two interlocking panels, each of said interlocking panels comprise foldable side panels so that upon folding said interlocking panels are joined to one another to define said tray.  
   
   
       5 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 4  wherein said tray side panels being so dimensioned as to fit snugly within said container side panels to thereby form the bottom of the container.  
   
   
       6 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 5  wherein said container side panels and said tray are rectangular.  
   
   
       7 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 6  wherein said container side panels are constructed of chip board.  
   
   
       8 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 7  wherein said interlocking bottom comprises a Hymes bottom.  
   
   
       9 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 8  wherein said interlocking bottom further comprises each panel being a mirror image of the other and comprises a triangular panel section joined to said Hymes bottom such that a complete bottom is formed from said interlocking panels.  
   
   
       10 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 9  wherein said interior panel is hingedly connected to said tray along one interior side thereof and said exterior panel is hingedly connected to said sleeve along the corresponding side of said sleeve.  
   
   
       11 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 10  wherein one of said interlocking panels having therethrough an aperture; said closure means comprises mating connectors secured respectively to said interior and exterior panels so as to releasably engage one another through said aperture.  
   
   
       12 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 13  further comprises cover paper to hold said panels of said container together and having at least one extending paper panel; and wherein said container side panels and said exterior panels comprises individual rectangular panels and said exterior bottom panel is hingedly connected to said sleeve by said extending cover paper panel.  
   
   
       13 . A rigid collapsible container as recited in  claim 12  upon pivoting outwardly said exterior panel and pivoting said interior panel by pushing through said aperture, the container being collapsible against said side panels.  
   
   
       14 . A rigid container of the type of having a collapsed and an erect state, said container comprising: 
 a) housing means including 
 I) bottom means, and  
 ii) container side panel means;  
   b) said bottom means and said container side panel means defining therebetween a predetermined configuration open at at least one side and closed at one end by said bottom means to define therebetween the interior volume of the container when the container is erect;    c) joining means secured to said bottom means;    d) closure panel means for being removably positionable within said housing and against said bottom means; and    e) said insert panel means comprising engaging means for releasably connecting with said joining means so that said insert panel means releasably and rigidly holds said bottom means and said container side panel means such that container is in the erect state.    
   
   
       15 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 14  wherein said joining means comprises at least a joining magnet or magnet receptor and said bottom engaging means comprises at least an engaging magnet or magnet receptor.  
   
   
       16 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 15  wherein said bottom means comprises a bottom wall of said container; said bottom wall comprises at least two substantially planar panels which, together with said container side panel means, define said container in the erect state; said bottom wall having an aperture therethrough; said engaging magnet or magnet receptor secured to the outer side of said bottom wall of at least one of said panels; said joining magnet or magnet receptors magnetically coupling to said engaging magnet or magnet receptor to hold the container erect.  
   
   
       17 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 16  wherein said closure panel means comprises a substantially planar panel for being insertable into said housing and abutting said bottom wall when the container is erect; said joining magnet or magnetic receptor being joined to the side of said closure panel that abuts said bottom wall.  
   
   
       18 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 17  further comprises tape means for joining said panels and said bottom panels together.  
   
   
       19 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 18  wherein said tape means comprises adhesive tape.  
   
   
       20 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 18  wherein said tape means comprises wrapping paper.  
   
   
       21 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 18  wherein each of said container side panel means comprises a multiplicity of substantially planar members, each one of said planar members foldably connected to at least one adjoining one of said substantially planar members.  
   
   
       22 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 21  wherein said container side panel means comprises four side panels two of which two are square and two are rectangular, said bottom members comprise two triangular panels and two isosceles trapezoids; the shorter parallel side of said isosceles trapezoids having therein a notch; said notches mating said bottom aperture; the longer parallel side of each of said isosceles trapezoids being secured to a marginal edge of said rectangular side panels; one side of each of said triangular panels being secured to a marginal edge of each one said square side panels.  
   
   
       23 . A rigid container as recited in  claim 21  wherein said container side panel means comprises four equally dimensioned side panels; said bottom means comprising four frusto triangular members; a side of each triangular members being pivotally secured to a marginal edge of one of said side panels; upon said triangles contacting one another along adjacent sides, said bottom being defined; said triangles upon coming together to define said bottom, said frusto ends defining therebetween an aperture in said bottom wall means; said joining magnet or magnet receptor being affixed to the outside surface of one of said triangles.  
   
   
       24 . A rigid container of the type of having a collapsed and an erect state, said container comprising: 
 a) housing means including container side panel means;    b) bottom means; said container side panel means together with said bottom means defining a predetermined configuration open at at least one side and closed at one end by said bottom means to define the interior volume of the container when the container is erect;    c) said bottom means comprises at least one bottom panel;    d) bottom joining means secured to said bottom panel;    e) side joining means secured to at least one of said side panels for engaging said bottom joining means such that, upon engagement of said bottom and side joining means, the container is substantially locked in the erect state.    
   
   
       25 . A container as recited in  claim 24  wherein said joining means comprises magnets or magnetic receptors.  
   
   
       26 . A container as recited in  claim 25  wherein said side panel having attached proximate the end thereof for being joined to said bottom panel having said side wall magnet or magnet receptor secured to said side panel and said bottom magnet or magnet receptor being secured to said bottom.  
   
   
       27 . A container as recited in  claim 26  wherein each of said side panels has secured at least one magnet or magnetic receptors; said bottom comprising a closure lid having upstanding side walls; said base magnet or magnet receptors being affixed to said upstanding sides and in registry with each of said side panel magnets or magnet receptors to thereby magnetically lock said bottom to said sides.  
   
   
       28 . A container as recited in  claim 27  further comprises surface adhering means secured to the interior walls of said housing and adhering means secured to said closure upstanding walls such that adhering means mating with a higher coefficient of friction  
   
   
       29 . A container comprising: 
 a) a housing having an interior volume and side panels, said side panel interior surfaces defining therebetween at least a part of said interior volume;    b) at least one closing panel having surfaces for removably engaging at least a part of said interior surfaces of said side panels;    c) said side panel interior surfaces relative to said engaging surfaces of said closing panel having a first coefficient of friction;    d) first means secured to interior surfaces of said side panels;    e) second means secured to said engaging surfaces of said closing panel; and    f) upon said closing panel engaging said side panels, said first and second secured means nonadhesively contacting one another and having a second coefficient of friction greater than said first coefficient of friction so as to hold said closing panel to said side panels fixedly in position.    
   
   
       30 . The container as recited in  claim 29  further comprises magnetic means secured to said side panels and said closing panel means, with said first and second secured means in engagement, said magnetic means magnetically engaging one another to position said closing panel with respect to said side walls.  
   
   
       31 . The container as recited in  claim 29  wherein said first and second secured means comprises PVC tape.  
   
   
       32 . The container as recited in  claim 30  wherein said magnetic means comprises magnetically coupleable magnets or magnetic receptors in registry with one another in said side panels and said closing panel.  
   
   
       33 . The container as recited in  claim 32  wherein said closing panel comprises a lid structure with upstanding walls; said upstanding walls contacting said interior surfaces of said side panels; said magnetic receptors and said magnets comprise disk-like elements adhered respectively to said interior surface of said side panels and to said closing panel.  
   
   
       34 . A method of making a rigid collapsible container comprising: 
 a) providing a container with flexible bottom means and container side panel means open at at least one side and closed at one end by said bottom means to define therebetween the interior volume of the container;    b) providing at least a pair of interlocking panels to form the bottom means; and    c) providing an exterior bottom panel means    d) hingedly connecting the bottom panel means to the container means so as to fold over and enclose the bottom means within the container.    
   
   
       35 . The method as recited in  claim 34  wherein the step of providing a bottom panel comprises providing a tray with two interlocking panels; providing the container with side panels; fitting the tray and fit snugly within said container side panels to thereby form the bottom of the container.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprises providing the interlocking panels with an aperture; attaching mating connectors secured respectively to said interior and exterior panels so as to releasably engage one another through either side of the aperture.  
   
   
       37 . A method of providing a container having a collapsed and an erect state, the method comprising: 
 a) providing housing means including bottom means, and container side panel means which together define a predetermined configuration open at least one side;    b) closing one end with the bottom means to define therebetween the interior volume of the container when the container is erect;    c) providing joining means to be secured to the bottom means;    d) providing closure panel means that is removably positionable within the housing and against the bottom means; and    e) providing insert panel means which includes engaging means for releasably connecting with the joining means so that the insert panel means releasably and rigidly holds the bottom means and the container side panel means such that container is in the erect state.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the step of providing joining means joining means comprises providing a joining magnet or magnet receptor and the step of providing the bottom engaging means comprises providing an engaging magnet or magnet receptor; the step of providing the bottom means comprises providing a bottom wall of the container with at least two substantially planar panels which, together with the container side panel means, define the container in the erect state; providing the bottom with an aperture therethrough; securing the engaging magnet or magnet receptor to the outer side of the bottom wall of at least one of said panels; providing the closure panel means comprises providing a substantially planar panel insertable into the housing and abutting the bottom wall when the container is erect; positioning the joining magnet or magnetic receptor to the side of the closure panel that abuts the bottom wall.  
   
   
       39 . The method of making a container comprising: 
 a) providing a housing with an interior volume and side panels, the side panel interior surfaces defining therebetween at least a part of the interior volume;    b) providing at least one closing panel having surfaces for removably engaging at least a part of the interior surfaces of the side panels;    c) providing the side panel interior surfaces relative to the engaging surfaces of said closing panel with a first coefficient of friction;    d) providing first means secured to the interior surfaces of the side panels;    e) providing second means secured to the engaging surfaces of the closing panel; and    f) bringing the first and second secured means into contact upon the closing panel engaging the side panels, and providing the contacting first and second secured means with a second coefficient of friction greater than the first coefficient of friction so as to hold the closing panel to the side panels fixedly in position.    
   
   
       40 . The method as recited in  claim 39  wherein providing PVC tape as the first and second secured means; providing the closing panel with a lid structure having upstanding walls; contacting the interior surfaces of the side panels with the lid upstanding walls; providing magnetic receptors and magnets adhered respectively to the interior surface of said side panels and to said closing panel to position the closing panel with respect to the side panels.