Folding seed box

Abstract

A collapsible bulk container for dry, flowable particulate material is provided with a frame to support a bottom wall having a discharge opening and a gate moveable between opened and closed positions relative to the discharge opening. Four side walls are pivotally connected to the frame, with the pivot axes being at different elevations, such that the side walls can be folded between an upright use position and a substantially flat storage position. Lid panels are pivotally connected to opposite side walls for moving between an open position adjacent the connected side wall and a closed position over the bottom wall. Multiple containers can be stacked one upon another in both the use and storage positions.

1 . A collapsible bulk container for dry, flowable particulate material, comprising:
 a lower frame;   a bottom wall within the frame and having a discharge opening;   a first side wall pivotally connected to the frame for movement between an upright use position and a substantially horizontal storage position;   a second side wall pivotally connected to the frame for movement between an upright use position and a substantially horizontal storage position;   a third side wall pivotally connected to the frame for movement between an upright use position and a substantially horizontal storage position;   a fourth side wall pivotally connected to the frame for movement between an upright use position and a substantially horizontal storage position;   each side wall pivoting at a different elevation such that the side walls fold down substantially flat, one upon another in the storage position;   a first lid panel pivotally connected to the third side wall for movement between an open position adjacent the third side wall and a closed position over the bottom wall; and   a second lid panel pivotally connected to the fourth side wall for pivotal movement between an open position adjacent the fourth side wall and a closed position over the bottom wall.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the walls fold down sequentially from the first wall to the fourth wall. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the first and second walls are opposite one another, and the third and fourth walls are opposite one another. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the first and second lid panels fold toward and away from one another between the closed and open positions. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the walls define container corners when in the use position, and further comprising pins removably extending through adjacent edges of the side walls at each corner to lock the side walls in the use position. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the lid panels each extend substantially one-half way over the bottom wall when in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall is sloped toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall is funnel-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  further comprising a gate on the bottom wall moveable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible bulk container of  claim 1  further comprising a second folded down collapsible hulk container stacked upon the frame. 
     
     
         11 . A foldable container for particulate material, comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall;   four side walls extending between the top and bottom walls and having upper and lower edges and opposite lateral edges;   the top wall being pivotally connected adjacent the upper edge of one of the side walls for movement between a use position over the bottom wall and a storage position adjacent the one side wall; and   the side walls each being pivotal about the lower edges for movement between a substantially vertical use position and a substantially horizontal storage position.   
     
     
         12 . The foldable container of  claim 11  wherein the side walls fold down to stack flat one above another in the storage position. 
     
     
         13 . The foldable container of  claim 11  wherein each side wall has a pivot axis, and the pivot axes are vertically offset with respect to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The foldable container of  claim 11  further comprising a base to which the bottom wall and side walls are mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The foldable container of  claim 14  wherein the side walls are locked together in the use position and unlocked from one another in the storage position. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable container of  claim 11  wherein the bottom wall includes a discharge opening. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable container of  claim 16  further comprising a gate on the bottom wall to open and close the discharge opening. 
     
     
         18 . The foldable container of  claim 16  wherein the bottom wall is sloped downwardly toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         19 . The foldable container of  claim 11  further comprising legs to support the bottom wall above the ground. 
     
     
         20 . The foldable container of  claim 11  wherein adjacent side walls have overlapping edges when folded up to the use position, and a lock pin removably extends through aligned holes in the overlapping edge to secure the adjacent side walls together in the use position.