Collapsible Shopping Bag With Closed End Formed By Overlapping Interlocking Portions

Abstract

A collapsible shopping bag ( 10 ) of the general form of a pillow pack having an inwardly collapsible base formed with fold lines which enable the base to be shaped to extend in a generally planar form between the rectangular outwardly convex sidewalls ( 11 ) of the bag when expanded and inwardly of the sidewalls ( 11 ) when collapsed. The base or closed end is formed by a plurality of overlapping interlocking portions ( 12 ) extending between opposed edges ( 13 ) of sidewalls ( 11 ) and each portion ( 12 ) is inwardly foldable of the bag ( 10 ) about fold lines ( 14, 16 ) as sidewalls ( 11 ) are collapsed together. The portions ( 12 ) have tabs ( 17 ) which are adhered or glued to opposing base portions. The bag is made of semi-rigid materials such as cardboard and plastics, and has handles ( 22 ).

1 . A container having at least one closed end, wherein the container, when assembled, comprises at least a pair of interconnected substantially rectangular outwardly convex side panels adapted to collapse flat when the container is dissembled, the closed end formed by a portion connecting closed end edges of respective side panels, said portion being or collapsible inwardly of the container, about a first fold line in a plane containing a pair of opposed edges of the side panels, as the side panels are collapsed together and wherein the portions are such that adjacent portions lie substantially flat and overlap to form an interlock therebetween when the container is assembled, so as to resist outward displacement of the portions from the container. 
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the additional fold lines include perforations there along. 
   
   
       4 . A container as in  claim 2  or  3  wherein the additional fold lines are angled substantially perpendicular to the plane containing the first fold line when the container is assembled. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the additional fold lines, when the container is assembled, are angled at differing and reducing angles relative to a plane from a mid-point between opposed side edges toward each of the opposed side edges. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the closed end of the container provides a base thereof and an end opposite the closed end of the container is open to permit insertion of articles into the container. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a base board is positioned within and releasably affixed to an inside of a sidewall. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the overlapping portions are adhered together when the container is assembled. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein an open end of a container is provided with handles. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a single piece blank which is cut, folded and glued. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a pack or a bag. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the additional fold lines, when the container is assembled, are angled at differing and reducing angles relative to a plane from a mid-point between opposed side edges toward each of the opposed side edges. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the portion is a single piece when the container has been formed and includes additional fold lines, which facilitate collapse of the portion inwardly of the side panels as the container is collapsed together.