Collapsible Container For Air Shipment of Cargo Having Peaked Top and Method of Use

Abstract

A collapsible cargo container is configurable into an erected condition and a collapsed condition. The container comprises a base, a pair of opposed side walls hinged to the base, a top hinged to the side walls joined in a unitary ring, a front wall hinged to the base, a back wall hinged to the base, flaps hinged to the side walls and top, and a door formed in one of the walls. Fasteners secure the flaps to the front and back walls when the container is in the erected condition. The front and back walls are collapsible upon the base and the side walls and top are collapsible upon the front and back walls when the container is in the collapsed condition.

1 . A collapsible cargo container configurable into an erected condition
 and a collapsed condition, said container comprising:   a base,   a pair of opposed side walls hinged to said base, each of said side walls having two sections joined by a living hinge,   a top hinged to said side walls, said top having a peak and two inclined sections extending downwardly from said peak,   a front wall hinged to said base,   a back wall hinged to said base,   flaps hinged to said side walls and top,   a door formed in one of said walls,   fasteners securing said flaps to said front and back walls when said container is in the erected condition,   said front and back walls being collapsible upon said base and   wherein each of said side walls is hinged to form an upper section and a lower section, such that when said container is collapsed, said upper section of said side wall overlies said lower section of said side wall.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said base, top, side walls, front wall, and back wall are plastic. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said fasteners are rotatable latches. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein each of said rotatable latches are attached to said flaps, and said front and back walls are provided with openings for receiving said rotatable latches. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of said side walls has an upper side wall section co-planar with a lower side wall section when said container is in the erected condition. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said back wall has an upper portion hinged to a lower portion, such that when said container is collapsed, said upper portion of said back wall overlies said lower portion of said back wall. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said door is lockable in a closed position. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said base, side walls, and top are hinged together via living hinges. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said base, side walls, top and flanges are hinged together via living hinges. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said front and back walls are hinged to said base via extruded hinges. 
   
   
       11 . A method of erecting a collapsed cargo container comprising the steps of:
 providing a collapsed cargo container having a base, a pair of opposed side walls hinged to the base, a top hinged to the side walls, a front wall hinged to the base, a back wall hinged to the base, flaps hinged to the side walls and top, and a door formed in one of the walls,   lifting the top and side walls of the container to thereby erect the side walls of the container,   lifting the front wall of the container to pivot the front wall of the container forwardly relative to the base of the container,   fastening flaps on the side walls and top to the front wall with fasteners,   lifting the back wall of the container to pivot the back wall of the container rearwardly relative to the base of container, and   fastening flaps on the side walls and top to the back wall with fasteners such that when fully erected the side walls of the container are vertical.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fasteners are rotatable latches attached to the flaps, and further comprising the steps of:
 providing openings in the front and back walls,   passing the rotatable latches through the openings, and   rotating the latches.   
   
   
       13 . A collapsible cargo container configurable into an erected condition and a collapsed condition, said container comprising:
 a base,   a pair of opposed side walls hinged to said base,   a top hinged to said side walls, wherein said base, side walls and top are integral with each other,   a front wall hinged to said base,   a back wall hinged to said base,   flaps hinged to said side walls and top with living hinges,   a door formed in one of said walls,   fasteners securing said flaps to said front and back walls when said container is in the erected condition,   said side walls, top, front wall, and back wall being collapsible so as to be substantially parallel to, and generally in close proximity to, said base when said container is in the collapsed condition.   
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said base, top, side walls, front wall, and back wall are plastic. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said fasteners are rotatable latches. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein each of said rotatable latches are attached to said flaps, and said front and back walls are provided with openings for receiving said rotatable latches. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 13  wherein each of said side walls has an upper side wall section hinged to a lower side wall section. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 13  wherein each of said side walls is hinged to form an upper section and a lower section, such that when said container is collapsed, said upper section of said side wall overlies said lower section of said side wall. 
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein said upper side wall sections are co-planar relative to said lower side wall sections when the container is erected. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said back wall has an upper portion hinged to a lower portion, such that when said container is collapsed, said upper portion of said back wall overlies said lower portion of said back wall. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20  wherein said upper portion of said back wall is angled forwardly relative to said lower portion of said back wall when the container is erected. 
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said door is lockable in a closed position. 
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said base, side walls, and top are hinged together via living hinges. 
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein said base, side walls, and top are a single structure or ring. 
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said front and back walls are hinged to said base via extruded hinges. 
   
   
       26 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said flaps that are secured to said front wall with fasteners are hinged to said side walls and top via living hinges. 
   
   
       27 . The container of  claim 24  wherein some of said flaps are secured to said ring with extruded hinges, and said some of said flaps are secured to said ring with living hinges. 
   
   
       28 . The container of  claim 13  wherein said door is formed in said front wall. 
   
   
       29 . A method of erecting a collapsed cargo container comprising the steps of:
 providing a collapsed cargo container having a base, a pair of opposed side walls hinged to the base, a top hinged to the side walls, a front wall hinged to the base, a back wall hinged to the base, flaps hinged to the side walls and top, and a door formed in one of the walls, the side walls, top, front wall, and back wall being collapsed so as to be substantially parallel to, and generally in close proximity to, the base,   in no particular order:   lifting the top and side walls of the container to thereby erect the side walls of the container into a vertical orientation,   lifting the front wall of the container to pivot the front wall of the container forwardly relative to the base of the container,   fastening flaps on the side walls and top to the front wall with fasteners,   lifting the back wall of the container to pivot the back wall of the container rearwardly relative to the base of container, and   fastening flaps on the side walls and top to the back wall with fasteners.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the fasteners are rotatable latches attached to the flaps, and further comprising the steps of:
 providing openings in the front and back walls,   passing the rotatable latches through the openings, and   rotating the latches.