Collapsible container

Abstract

A container for shipping, displaying and selling items, such as flower bulbs, includes a base to which four walls are hingeably connected, such that the walls can be collapsed onto the base. A front wall is a substantially open frame, providing access to the interior of the container. A rear wall, opposite the front wall, is hingeably connected to the base. The front wall and rear wall are latchable to a pair of opposed side walls, which are also hingeably attached to the base.

1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of walls hingeably connected to the base, such that the walls can be pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base, wherein at least one of the walls has a frame circumscribing an opening.   
   
   
       2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the opening in the at least one of the walls is more than ⅔ of the wall by area. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the opening in the at least one of the walls is approximately ⅘ of the wall by area. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the walls includes a lower frame member and an upper frame connected by opposed side frame members to circumscribe the opening. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the walls is reinforced. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5  wherein the at least one of the walls is of a reinforced material. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the walls is a front wall and wherein the front wall is of a material different from a remainder of the plurality of walls. 
   
   
       8 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the opening in the at least one of the walls is more than ⅔ of the wall by area. 
   
   
       9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the opening in the at least one of the walls is approximately ⅘ of the wall by area. 
   
   
       10 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  further including a divider movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base. 
   
   
       11 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  wherein the divider is pivotably connected to the base. 
   
   
       12 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  wherein the at least one of the plurality of walls includes a front wall, the plurality of walls further including a pair of opposed side walls and an end wall, the divider generally transverse to the front wall when in the upright position. 
   
   
       13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the divider and the pair of opposed side walls are collapsible onto the base and do not overlap one another. 
   
   
       14 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one of the walls is a front wall and wherein the base includes a pair of opposed, upstanding side flanges to which a pair of the plurality of side walls are hingeably attached, such that the front wall pivots about an axis lower than axes about which the side walls pivot. 
   
   
       15 . The collapsible container of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of walls further includes a rear wall pivotably mounted to an upstanding rear flange, shorter than the side flanges. 
   
   
       16 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base;   a pair of side walls and a rear wall pivotably connected to the base such that the side walls and rear wall can be pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position; and   a substantially open front wall hingeably connected to the base, such that the front wall can be pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position, the front wall molded of a material different from the side walls and the rear wall.   
   
   
       17 . The collapsible container of  claim 16  wherein an opening in the front wall is more than ⅔ of the front wall by area. 
   
   
       18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein the opening in the front wall is approximately ⅘ of the front wall by area. 
   
   
       19 . The collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein the front wall includes a lower frame member and an upper frame connected by opposed side frame members to circumscribe the opening. 
   
   
       20 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base;   a pair of side walls and a rear wall pivotably connected to the base such that the side walls and rear wall can be pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position;   a substantially open front wall hingeably connected to the base, such that the front wall can be pivoted between an upright position and a collapsed position; and   a divider movable between an upright position and a collapsed position on the base.   
   
   
       21 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein the divider is pivotably connected to the base. 
   
   
       22 . The collapsible container of  claim 21  wherein the divider is generally transverse to the front wall when in the upright position. 
   
   
       23 . The collapsible container of  claim 22  wherein the divider and the pair of opposed side walls are collapsible onto the base and do not overlap one another.