Collapsible container

Abstract

A collapsible container that may be configured in a collapsed condition or an erected condition, including a base ( 102 ), a pair of side walls ( 104 ) and a pair of side walls ( 106 ) that are pivotally attached to the base. The walls ( 104,106 ) are arranged to lie substantially parallel with the base ( 102 ) when collapsed and to stand substantially perpendicular to the base when erected. The free edges of the erected walls define an open mouth. A pair of stacking elements ( 116 ) are located adjacent to the free edges of the end walls ( 106 ) for supporting the base of another container stacked on the first container. The end walls ( 106 ) lie adjacent the base ( 102 ) and side walls ( 104 ) overlie the end walls when collapsed.

1 . A collapsible container that may be configured in a collapsed condition or an erected condition, including a base and a plurality of walls that are pivotally attached to the base and arranged to lie substantially parallel with the base when collapsed and to stand substantially perpendicular to the base when erected, said walls having free edges that define a mouth when the container is an erected condition, and at least one stacking element carried by one of said walls and located towards a free edge of said carrying wall for supporting the base of a second container stacked on the collapsible container, wherein the plurality of walls include two shorter walls that lie adjacent the base when collapsed and two longer walls that overlie the shorter walls when collapsed.  
   
   
       2 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the shorter walls is less than the separation of the erected longer walls, whereby the shorter walls can pivot between the erected longer walls.  
   
   
       3 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , including a pair of stacking elements carried by an opposed pair of walls.  
   
   
       4 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to the carrying wall and is constructed and arranged to be configured in a deployed condition for stacking in which it extends at least partially into the mouth of the container, or a retracted condition in which it is withdrawn from the mouth of the container.  
   
   
       5 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to an inner face of the carrying wall  
   
   
       6 . A collapsible container according to  claim 5 , in which the stacking element is constructed and arranged to retract into a recess in the wall.  
   
   
       7 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to an upper edge of the carrying wall.  
   
   
       8 . A collapsible container according to  claim 7 , in which the stacking element is constructed and arranged to retract to an upright position in which it extends upwards from the upper edge of the carrying wall.  
   
   
       9 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is constructed and arranged to deploy automatically when the container is erected, and to retract when the container is collapsed.  
   
   
       10 . A collapsible container according to  claim 9 , in which the stacking element is constructed and arranged to deploy under gravity.  
   
   
       11 . A collapsible container according to  claim 9 , including resilient biasing means to cause deployment.  
   
   
       12 . A collapsible container according to  claim 11 , in which the resilient biasing means is constructed and arranged to bias the stacking element when the container is in an erected condition, and to apply no bias when the container is collapsed.  
   
   
       13 . A collapsible container according to  claim 12 , in which the resilient biasing means is constructed and arranged to engage a support element on a wall adjacent the carrying wall when the container is in an erected condition.  
   
   
       14 . A collapsible container according to  claim 12 , in which the resilient biasing means is provided on a wall adjacent the carrying wall.  
   
   
       15 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element includes end portions that are constructed and arranged so that when deployed they engage and support adjacent walls of the erected container.  
   
   
       16 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element extends along substantially the entire length of the carrying wall.  
   
   
       17 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which stacking elements are located towards the ends of the longer walls.  
   
   
       18 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to a shorter wall.  
   
   
       19 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to a longer wall.  
   
   
       20 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , in which the stacking element is immovably attached to an inner face of the carrying wall.  
   
   
       21 . A collapsible container according to  claim 20 , in which the stacking element is attached to a longer wall.  
   
   
       22 . A collapsible container according to  claim 21 , in which the stacking element extends along substantially the entire length of a longer wall.  
   
   
       23 . A collapsible container according to  claim 21 , in which stacking elements are located towards the ends of a longer wall.  
   
   
       24 . A collapsible container according to  claim 4 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to the free edge of the carrying wall and is constructed and arranged to be configured in a deployed condition for stacking in which it extends inwards from the wall, or a retracted condition in which it is located against an outer face of the wall.  
   
   
       25 . A collapsible container according to  claim 24 , in which the stacking element is pivotally attached to a shorter wall.  
   
   
       26 . A collapsible container according to  claim 25 , in which the stacking element includes locking elements that are constructed and arranged to engage the longer walls when deployed.