Collapsible containment structure

Abstract

A containment structure with three sides and a triangular end is collapsible to a significantly smaller profile for ease in storage and transportation, yet keeps all major sections connected. Unique means of folds and hinging provide these advantages. Special applications (oriented upright or lying horizontal) from cleanup of lawn debris to emergency shelter of personnel and instruments can utilize the compact storage, ease of transport, quick setup, and shape advantages of the containment structure.

1 . A containment structure that is collapsible comprising:
 a) three four-sided polygon shaped sides connecting at parallel, adjacent edges to form a closed perimeter with triangular cross-section, said sides made from substantially rigid material,   b) at least one triangular, connecting end made from substantially rigid material, thereby affording the stability characteristic of three-sided hollow objects with a closed end,   c) a plurality of fold lines in said sides and said end with hinging means to collapse said structure to a small profile, said end and sides which remain connected and said profile having substantially less area than one-half of that combining one of said sides and said end section, whereby unusual advantage is attained in compact storage, transport and less risk of loss.   
     
     
         2 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein a part of said fold lines and a first part of said hinging means causes a close connection of said end with said sides in regions bisecting widths of adjacent edges of said end and sides, while allowing interim separation during collapse of said end and sides near corners of said end. 
     
     
         3 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein edges of connecting said sides and a second part of said hinging means specified as strip hinging allows for collapse in which the interior angle formed by said connecting sides decreases to substantially zero. 
     
     
         4 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein at least three of said fold lines in said sides substantially bisect each of said side areas and run parallel to the edges connecting sides to one another, two of such said folds maintaining close connection during inward collapse while again using second part of hinging means, and the other being a separable fold which disjoints at collapse, but connects when said structure is opened for use. 
     
     
         5 . The structure of  claim 4  wherein said separable fold is attendant with a third type of said hinging means comprising fastening, guides and at least one elastic strap perpendicular to said separable fold to affect closure of said disjoint when said structure is opened for use. 
     
     
         6 . The structure of  claim 4  wherein segments of the one of said sides disjointed by said separable fold are concomitant with an alternate third part of said hinging means comprising a flexible, elastic strip of sheet material bonded to or part of said segments and running generally parallel to said separable fold. 
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein said end has three of said fold lines that generally radiate from said end center to the three corners of said end, and second three of said fold lines that generally radiate from the center and bisect said end edges, both with a fourth part of said hinging means, also specified as strip hinging, that promotes outward folding of the first three of said fold lines and an inward folding of the second three of said fold lines during collapse. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein walls comprising said sides are maintained for open position of said structure by at least two push-on devices for said wall edges opposite said end edges, said devices closing over regions where said fold lines bisect said side edges, thereby giving alignment and stiffening for said sides. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 8  for which said push-on devices are hinged to said walls at one end, whereby they can be pulled from said wall in vicinity of said bisecting fold lines without being separated from said structure. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 1  for which said end is restrained from outward folding and collapse by at least one bar which crosses over said fold lines of said end, fastening to edges of at least two of said sides. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 1  for which a flexible, compressible, gasket-like stripping is attached near at least one edge of adjacent said end and corresponding said sides, whereby said stripping will seal gaps at said edge intersection for opened said structure, thus resisting penetration of air, gas, moisture and many liquids. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 1  augmented by a second end section which connects and folds in substantially the same manner as the first said end, thereby providing opportunity for said second end section to be equipped with a restrictive entrance to said structure. 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 1  wherein each of the walls for said end and said sides comprises inner and outer surface materials of predetermined thickness that promotes rigidity, attachment, portability and weather resistance. 
     
     
         14 . A receptacle structure with walls comprising three sides and a triangular end that collapses to a profile area smaller than half that of one side plus half that of the end, said sides and said end remaining connected during collapse, said collapse facilitated by a plurality of fold lines and hinges, said hinging comprising three types, the first of said types to allow interim separation along some regions of a particular fold line while remaining attached elsewhere along said particular fold line, the second of said types for folding along a line with continuous connection, and the third of said types to allow complete disjointing along one of said fold lines during collapse, thereby promoting efficiency of storage and transport while, for certain applications, said structure shape reduces labor time and exhaustion of users. 
     
     
         15 . Claim  14  wherein the first said type of hinge connects said structure end to said structure sides, and members of first said type hinges not only allow hinging rotation about an axis approximately parallel to the fold line, but also allow a swivel action about an axis perpendicular to at least one surface to which it is attached. 
     
     
         16 . Claim  15  wherein the first said type hinge allows said swivel action by virtue of being a flexible material. 
     
     
         17 . Claim  15  wherein the first said type hinging comprises a rigid hinge, mounted to one surface, and a rotatable connector to one surface allowing said swivel. 
     
     
         18 . Claim  14  wherein the second said type of hinge, specified as strip hinging, comprises a method of attachment about an interface of wall sections constituting a fold line and at least one member of a group including (a) a strip of flexible material attached over most of said fold line, (b) a plurality of parallel hinges fastened over a fold line and arranged to hinge about an axis parallel to said fold line, (c) a piano hinge strip, said strip hinging allowing collapse of said interface in a direction opposite the surface side of said attachment. 
     
     
         19 . Claim  14  wherein second said type of hinge, specified as strip hinging, is a thinned, continuous mold from said wall sections about said fold lines and is known in the art as a living hinge. 
     
     
         20 . Claim  14  wherein total of said sides, including corners where sides join, have five continuous fold lines with second said type hinging and one fold line with third said type hinging that disjoints, and said end has six continuous fold lines with type two hinging, and wherein said sides and end connect in three regions with six of first said type hinges allowing interim separation of end-to-side fold in regions near corners of said triangular end whenever said structure collapses.