Inverting leak-proof floating container support

Abstract

A leak-proof, box-like, open-top, double-wall corrugated plastic floating container support with a means of retaining at least 4 hingededly-mated triangular shape corner flaps 46 exteriorly positioned to said container's cavity area 36 which retain and cooperatingly support said container's structure and shape, while also supporting said structure in a plurality of supporting roles comprising gusset-like corner support properties, carrying handle-like support properties, and aerodynamic rudder-like support properties. Its multiplicity of uses may be best described as a floating container support for human users and/or their objects, and whether upon land or water. Its construction may be made without a single completely through-cut or aperture made in its initial rectangular and planar 40 shape of corrugated plastic sheeting, and with only a nominal amount of weakened hinge line folds 50,52, and with as few as 2 locations of retension 74 required, and within specific alternative embodiments, without a need for any foreign material substrate or fastening material other than its own material, and with no need for any physical change of transforming alterations, other than a vertically directional inverting of said floating container support's position.

1 . An inverting leak-proof floating container support structure, formed from a rectangular and planar double wall corrugated plastic sheet substrate with elongate flute channels extending from one elongate end of said substrate to an opposite end, and wherein said container is formed via and comprising; 
 (i) at least one or more means of forming a plurality of weakened hinge lines;    of which portions of said plurality of weakened hinge lines are straight and/or slightly curved, and which are continuous or serratingly intermittent in their elongate length, and of which other portions of said plurality of hinge lines are generally parallel to any one or more of said rectangular sheet substrate's planar perimeter edge(s), and wherein said portions are distanced from said edge(s) to determine a wall's dimensional and vertical height, and of which portions of said lines abut and/or intersect each other, and of which portions may extend completely or not from one end to an opposite end of said edge(s); and wherein other portions of said plurality of weakened hinge lines extend inwardly from each corner of said sheet substrate, and angularly to said substrate's planar perimeter edge(s) until abutting and/or intersecting a closest said generally parallel hinge line;    and wherein and with an inward folding of said walls and/or within areas of said substrate's perimeter edges which are located between substrate's corners, said angular lines cooperate with said portions of said parallel lines to form;    (ii) a plurality of exteriorly protruding hingededly-mated triangular shape, gusset-like, handle-like, aerodynamic flaps;    and which are retained via;    (iii) at least one or more means of retension for retaining a planar surface of a first half of said hingededly-mated flap abuttingly and/or parallelingly facing to a planar surface of a second half of said hingededly-mated flap;    and which are retained in as few as;    (iv) at least 2 or more locations of said means of retension;    and whereas said exteriorly retained flaps provide a plurality of container supporting roles and/or a human user and/or their objects supporting roles,    and wherein upon land or water;    and whereby said plurality of roles comprises a securement of said container's structural integrity, with said gusset-like, handle-like, aerodynamic properties.    
     
     
         2 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas one said means to form said plurality of weakened hinge lines are crimps made on one or both planar surfaces of said substrate,    wherein a weakening of one or both walls of said double wall substrate results in leak-proof said hinge lines.    
     
     
         3 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas one said means to form said plurality of weakened hinge lines are slits cut through a first planar wall of said double wall substrate,    wherein a second planar wall of said substrate remains a leak-proof planar surface with resulting leak-proof said hinge lines.    
     
     
         4 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas one said means of retension is a tie-strap fastener for threading through at least one said flute channel of a first half of said hingededly-mated triangular shape flap to encompass and abuttingly retain a second half of said flap to said first half of said flap.    
     
     
         5 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas one said means of retension is a serrated pull strip fastener which is a part of said substrate's own material, and is stripped from said substrate's elongate edge for threading through at least one said flute channel of a first half of said hingededly-mated triangular shape flap to encompass and abuttingly retain a second half of said flap to said first half of said flap.    
     
     
         6 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas a plurality of through-cut apertures are matchingly located within said hingededly-mated triangular shape flaps, and located near a perimeter edge of said substrate to further facilitate various fasteners to serve as said means of retension.    
     
     
         7 . A container as in  claim 6;   whereby a tie-strap fastener(s) threaded through said aperture(s) serve(s) as said means of retension.    
     
     
         8 . A container as in  claim 6;   whereby a cord-type fastener(s) threaded through said aperture(s) serve(s) as said means of retension.    
     
     
         9 . A container as in  claim 6;   whereby threaded fastener(s) secured through said aperture(s) serve(s) as said means of retension.    
     
     
         10 . A container as in  claim 6;   whereby a bungee-type stretching cord(s) threaded through said aperture(s) serve(s) as said means of retension.    
     
     
         11 . A container as in  claim 1;  whereby clamps serve as said means of retension.  
     
     
         12 . A container as in  claim 1;  whereby clips serve as said means of retension.  
     
     
         13 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereby an adhesive(s) serves as said means of retension.    
     
     
         14 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas at least one or more through-cut aperture(s) are located near said substrate's perimeter edge to additionally serve as a human user's hand-hold(s).    
     
     
         15 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereas said triangular shape flaps' protruding apex points are chamfered.    
     
     
         16 . A container as in  claim 1;   wherein said container serves to support a human user and/or their objects as a floating container;    whereby said triangle shape multi-supporting leak-proof flaps further support as said floating bed's straight guiding aerodynamic rudders which cooperate to further supportingly guide said leak-proof structure without a need for any physical change of transforming alterations, other than a vertically directional inverting of said container's position.    
     
     
         17 . A container as in  claim 1;   wherein said container serves to support a human user and/or their objects as a supporting container;    whereby said triangle shape multi-supporting leak-proof flaps further support as said supporting container's gusset-like corner supports which cooperate to further support said leak-proof structure without a need for any physical change of transforming alterations, other than a vertically directional inverting of said container's position.    
     
     
         18 . A container as in  claim 1;   wherein said container serves to support a human user and/or their objects as a transporting container;    whereby said triangle shape multi-supporting leak-proof flaps further support as said container handles which cooperate to further support    said leak-proof structure without a need for any physical change of transforming alterations, other than a vertically directional inverting of said container's position.    
     
     
         19 . A container as in  claim 1;   whereby and when said single wall cutting slits and/or slots are used near both said elongate ends of said substrate, and when said slits and/or slots are exterior to said container's cavity area, said elongate flute channels are exposed to further serve as straight guiding rudder-like channels when said flutes are positioned beneath a water's surface when said flutes' elongate direction parallels a user's direction of travel.    
     
     
         20 . An alternative embodiment of a container as in  claim 1;   whereby said flute channel openings are closingly plugged to further aid said container's buoyancy.