Container

Abstract

A collapsible container includes a plurality of walls collapsible onto the base. At least one wall has a support pivotably mounted below a lip formed on an upper edge of the wall. The support is pivotable between a support position where it is partially supported on an adjacent wall and a retracted position. A cutout through the lip in the wall provides access for a user to flip the support from the retracted position to the support position. In the retracted position, the wall can be pivoted downward onto the base, with a portion of the support passing through a channel formed on the interior of the adjacent wall.

1 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a first wall pivotably mounted relative to the base, a lip projecting inwardly from an upper edge of the first wall, the lip including an inwardly-open cutout; and   a support pivotably mounted to the first wall below the lip, the support pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base between a support position and a retracted position, the support accessible via the inwardly-open cutout through the lip.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  further including an adjacent wall adjacent the first wall, the support supported by the first wall and the adjacent wall in the support position. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the support has a lower end pivotably attached to the first wall below the lip. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the first wall and the support are collapsible onto the base when the support is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the support includes a laterally-extending tab, the tab contacting the adjacent wall to support the support in the support position. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the adjacent wall includes a channel on an interior surface thereof, the tab passing through the channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the channel is an upper channel through an upper frame portion, the interior surface of the adjacent wall further including a lower channel through a lower frame portion and a recess between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, the tab passing through the upper channel, the recess and the lower channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6  further including an interlocking portion extending downwardly from the tab, the interlocking portion received behind a complementary interlocking portion formed on an inner portion of the channel. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  further including a window opening through the adjacent wall aligned with the complementary interlocking portion, such that the interlocking portion of the tab is visible through the window when the support is in the support position. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  further including a recessed channel formed in the base, the lip of the first wall received in the recessed channel when the first wall is in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the lip protrudes toward the interior of the container further than the rest of the first wall when the first wall is in the upright position. 
   
   
       12 . A container comprising:
 a base having an elongated recess formed therein;   a first wall pivotably mounted to the base and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position, the first wall having a lip projecting inwardly from an upper edge, the lip received in the elongated recess of the base when the first wall is in the collapsed position;   a second wall adjacent the first wall and movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on top of the first wall; and   a flap pivotably mounted adjacent an upper end of the first wall, the flap movable between a support position supported on the second wall and a retracted position below the lip of the first wall.   
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the flap and the first wall are movable to the collapsed position when the flap is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the second wall includes a channel on an interior surface thereof, the tab passing through the channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the channel is an upper channel through an upper frame portion, the interior surface of the adjacent wall further including a lower channel through a lower frame portion and a recess between the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion, the tab passing through the upper channel, the recess and the lower channel as the first wall and the support are pivoted relative to the base to a collapsed position on the base. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15  further including an interlocking portion extending downwardly from the flap, the interlocking portion received behind a complementary interlocking portion formed on an inner portion of the channel. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  further including a window opening through the second wall aligned with the complementary interlocking portion, such that the interlocking portion of the tab is visible through the window when the support is in the support position. 
   
   
       18 . A container comprising:
 a base;   a first wall pivotably mounted relative to the base; and   a support pivotably mounted to the first wall, the support pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the base between a support position and a retracted position, at least one of the support and the first wall including at least one interfering member retaining the support in the retracted position relative to the first wall.   
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  further including an adjacent wall adjacent the first wall, the support supported by the first wall and the adjacent wall in the support position. 
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein the support has a lower end pivotably attached to the first wall below a lip extending inwardly from an upper edge of the end wall. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20  wherein the first wall and the support are collapsible onto the base when the support is in the retracted position. 
   
   
       22 . The container of  claim 21  wherein the support includes a laterally-extending tab, the tab contacting the adjacent wall to support the support in the support position. 
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the at least one interfering member includes a projection extending from the support. 
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the at least one interfering member includes at least one flat portion on the support engaging a surface of the end wall in only one of the support position or the retracted position. 
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 18  wherein the support is pivotably mounted to the end wall with a hinge pin, the at least one interfering member includes a projection from the hinge pin.