Collapsible Container

Abstract

A collapsible container which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the container including: a housing in the form of a plurality of walls which in the deployed position are spaced-apart from one another to form a chamber; and a hinge assembly which is connected to a first wall and a second wall so as to provide rotation of the second wall about two or more discrete or continuous spaced-apart axes so as to provide an articulating second wall.

1 . A collapsible container which is adapted to move between a collapsed position and a deployed position, the container comprising: a housing in the form of a plurality of walls which in the deployed position are spaced-apart from one another to form a chamber; and a hinge assembly which is connected to a first wall and a second wall so as to provide rotation of the second wall about two or more discrete or continuous spaced-apart axes so as to provide an articulating second wall. 
   
   
       2 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each wall is connected to at least one adjacent wall by a hinge. 
   
   
       3 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the hinge assembly comprises one or more spaced-apart pivot elements, the or each pivot element being in the form of a follower suitable for following in an aperture. 
   
   
       4 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein an elongated aperture is provided which is disposed within a respective return edge of the articulated wall the arrangement being such that a telescoping articulated hinge is provided to allow the articulating second wall to extend and retract relative to the first wall. 
   
   
       5 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the articulated wall is in the form of a closure for the chamber when in the deployed position and includes a retention means for retaining the walls when in the deployed or collapsed positions. 
   
   
       6 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the retaining means is in the form of a lock to lock the second articulated wall to adjacent walls in the deployed position or collapsed position. 
   
   
       7 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 6  wherein the lock locks the second articulated wall to the base panel when the housing is in the collapsed position. 
   
   
       8 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein clamps are provided in order to secure adjacent walls together. 
   
   
       9 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the clamps are pivoting devices which are mounted on one wall and adapted to pivot during assembly to swing out of the path of a pivoting adjacent wall and then back into the path so as to engage a threaded bolt which holds the adjacent wall and the one wall together. 
   
   
       10 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the clamps are spring loaded with threshold press clips. 
   
   
       11 . A collapsible container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the housing may be made of any suitable material such as formed metal sheet or moulded plastic. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled)