Reusable, Collapsible Containers

Abstract

The disclosed invention provides a method (or methods) of collapsing specialized containers to permit transporting multiple said containers, when empty, to reduce the costs in returning them to their original location after deliveries of the containers' content has been made. The invention method includes providing containers with hingeably connected sides of a particular configuration to permit collapsing the specialized containers to maximize space savings.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . An improved shipping container, for commercial carrier use, comprising, in combination, a box, an access door on said box for loading and unloading of goods therein, and said box being collapsible by use of a series of hinges along the edges of the various sides, top and bottom that form said box, wherein at least two first sides containing middle hinges bend along a line of said hinges and two opposing second sides move, respectively, upward and downward to allow the movement of said first sides, said box including means of access for fork lift blades to allow the collapsed box to be moved. 
     
     
         2 . The improved shipping container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said container additionally includes fork lift blade access by provision of parallel runners on the bottom side of said improved shipping container. 
     
     
         3 . The improved shipping container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said container additionally includes provision the of an attachment on the approximate center of the top of the improved shipping container thereby creating a horizontal slot adequate for fork lift blade access. 
     
     
         4 . The improved shipping container as set forth in  claim 2  that also includes an attachment on the approximate center of the top of the improved shipping container thereby creating a horizontal slot adequate for fork lift blade access. 
     
     
         5 . The improved shipping container as set forth in  claim 3  that also includes fork lift blade access by provision of parallel runners on the bottom side of said improved shipping container.