Snap-fold containers

Abstract

The invention disclosed includes various durable containers constructed from sheet materials including a plurality of living hinges. The containers are configured to snap into an assembled position from a relatively flat position by the application of pressure to one or more sidewalls wherein that pressure deforms the one or more sidewalls into a concave position, thereby holding the container into place until the contain is collapsed once again for storage or cleaning.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A configurable container, comprising:
 first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls, wherein the first sidewall is provided opposite the third sidewall and the second sidewall is provided opposite the fourth sidewall;   a floor connected to the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls and forming an interior space defined by the floor and the sidewalls;   the first sidewall having a first lower living hinge extending along an interface of the floor and the first sidewall, and a first intermediate living hinge positioned between the first lower living hinge and an upper end of the first sidewall;   the second sidewall having a second lower living hinge extending along an interface of the floor and the second sidewall, and a second intermediate living hinge positioned between the second lower living hinge and an upper end of the second sidewall;   the third sidewall having a third lower living hinge extending along an interface of the floor and the third sidewall, and a third intermediate living hinge positioned between the third lower living hinge and an upper end of the third sidewall; and   the fourth sidewall having a fourth lower living hinge extending along an interface of the floor and the fourth sidewall, and a fourth intermediate living hinge positioned between the fourth lower living hinge and an upper end of the fourth sidewall;   the first lower living hinge following a curved path and the third lower living hinge following a curved path, the second lower living hinge following a straight path and the fourth lower living hinge following a straight path;   whereby when the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls are joined together to form an upper rim and the interior space, the container is selectively configurable between a first position in which the collapsible container is substantially flat, and a second position in which the collapsible container is expanded, the curved path of the first lower living hinge and the curved path of the third lower living hinge urging the first sidewall and the third sidewall toward the interior space when the container is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed from first, second, and third sheets of separate material. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the three separate sheets of material are formed from polymer plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed from a single sheet of polymer plastic sheet material. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover having a top and a bottom, wherein the cover is constructed from a single sheet of material and contains at least one opening positioned between the top and the bottom, the cover being sized to receive the collapsible container within the opening, wherein the floor of the container is positioned adjacent the bottom of the cover when the container is within the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5 , wherein the single sheet of material is a polymer plastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the curved paths of the first lower living hinge and the curved path of the third lower living hinge have substantially opposing radii of curvature. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container of  claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls are each connected to the floor in both the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 8 , wherein the first and third sidewalls are each connected to the second and fourth sidewalls in both the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth sidewalls are each configured to be connected to the floor in both the first position and the second position, and further wherein the first and third sidewalls are each configured to be connected to the second and fourth sidewalls in both the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 7 , further comprising a cover having a top and a bottom, the cover having at least one opening positioned between the top and the bottom, the cover being sized to receive the collapsible container within the opening, wherein the floor of the container is positioned adjacent the bottom of the cover when the container is within the cover. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 11 , wherein the cover further surrounds the second sidewall and the fourth sidewall when the container is within the cover.