Foldable container for transport of piece goods

Abstract

The current invention discloses a container for the transport of piece goods, whereby said container is selectably configurable between a folded configuration and an expanded operational configuration. Said container is comprised of a container body which has two pairs of side panels defining an internal compartment, a bottom and an open top surface. Said open top surface is closable by a lid attached to a side panel of said container and enclosing at least partially edges of those side panels not connected to said lid, characterized in that said lid is attached to said side panel by a hinge portion, whereby the container body in said folded configuration is rotatable along a longitudinal axis along said hinge portion to allow at least partial stowage in said lid.

1 . A container for the transport of piece goods, said container is configurable between a folded configuration and an expanded operational configuration, and whereby said container is comprised of a container body, said container body in its expanded operational configuration is comprised of 2 pairs of side panels defining an internal compartment, a bottom and an open top surface, said open top surface is closable by a lid attached to a side panel of said container body and enclosing at least partially the edges of those side panels not connected to said lid, wherein said lid is attached to said side panel by a hinge portion, whereby said container body in its folded configuration is rotatable along a longitudinal axis of said hinge portion to allow at least partial stowage of said folded container body in said lid. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , whereby said lid is at its outer surface provided with protrusions which allow stacking of multiple containers, either in folded or expanded configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said protrusions are located on the outer surface of said lid, in a spaced configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein said protrusions are located at at least three outer borders of said lid. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein said protrusions define external borders which allow stacking of a second, identical container. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinge portion is comprised of one or more film hinges. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said film hinge is formed as an extension of said lid. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said hinge portion is comprised of a flexible hinge comprising a textile material. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein said flexible hinge is stitched to one side of said lid and to said side panel of said container body. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container body is foldable along an axis of said container. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein one pair of opposite side panels is provided with a fold line or hinged portion, running from the bottom to the top surface of the container body. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the fold line or hinged portion is present in the middle of said side panel. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said pair of opposite side panels is foldable inwards along the fold line or hinged portion towards the internal compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container body comprises one pair of opposite side panels whereby at least one border is releasably attached to said second pair of side panels and which are foldable towards an outer surface of said second side panels. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said internal compartment is provided by one or more flexible textile dividers. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein said textile dividers are comprised of a woven or nonwoven fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein said bottom surface is formed by said textile dividers. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface is formed by a hard cover. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said side panels are formed by a polymeric or composite material comprising a honeycomb structure and optionally at least partially covered by a textile material. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein said side panels are connected via the textile of said textile dividers.