Collapsible Receptacle

Abstract

A receptacle is hereby presented, the receptacle comprising two pairs of generally parallel surfaces interconnected together into a hollowed cubic volume, a first pair of surfaces being collapsible surfaces and a second pair of surfaces being adapted to be coupling surfaces, a bottom surface connected to the two pairs of parallel surfaces to close a bottom of the receptacle, a retaining element disposed on the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces and a stiffening element secured with the retaining element to the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces, the stiffening element being adapted to increase self-standing receptacle capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receptacle comprising:
 two pairs of generally parallel surfaces interconnected together into a hollowed cubic volume, a first pair of surfaces being collapsible surfaces and a second pair of surfaces being adapted to be coupling surfaces;   a bottom surface connected to the two pairs of parallel surfaces to close a bottom of the receptacle;   at least one retaining element disposed on the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces; and   a stiffening element secured with each of the at least one retaining element to the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces, the stiffening element being adapted to increase self-standing receptacle capability.   
     
     
         2 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining element is adapted to secure a stiffening element vertically or horizontally on the exterior of the receptacle to increase the rigidity of the coupling surface. 
     
     
         3 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements are assembled in substantially orthogonal directions thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one retaining element is any one of a loop or a patch. 
     
     
         5 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein any of the receptacle's surfaces or of the at least one retaining element are made of flexible, mechanically resistant fabric material. 
     
     
         6 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining and stiffening elements are installed on an upper portion of the exterior surface of at least a coupling surface. 
     
     
         7 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements and stiffening elements are disposed on a coupling surface in a configuration including a gap between a vertical stiffening element and a horizontal stiffening element. 
     
     
         8 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements and stiffening elements are disposed on a coupling surface in a configuration including a point of contact between a vertical stiffening element and a horizontal stiffening element. 
     
     
         9 . The receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element includes any one of wood, composite material or polymer. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly of a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle being adjacent to at least another of the plurality of receptacles and comprising:
 two pairs of generally parallel surfaces interconnected together into a hollowed cubic volume, a first pair of surfaces being collapsible surfaces and a second pair of surfaces being adapted to be coupling surfaces;   a bottom surface connected to the two pairs of parallel surfaces to close a bottom of the receptacle;   at least one retaining element disposed on the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces; and   a stiffening element secured with each of the at least one retaining element, wherein two adjacent receptacles are secured together via their respective coupling surfaces with an intervening stiffening element disposed between the coupling surfaces, the stiffening element being adapted to increase self-standing receptacle capability.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the retaining element is secured to the exterior one of the coupling surfaces of the adjacent receptacles. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the retaining element is adapted to secure a stiffening element vertically or horizontally on the exterior of the receptacle to increase rigidity of the coupling surface. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the retaining elements are assembled in substantially orthogonal directions thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of the at least one retaining element is any one of a loop or a patch. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein any of the receptacle's surfaces or of the at least one retaining element are made of flexible, mechanically resistant fabric material. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the retaining elements and stiffening elements are disposed on a coupling surface in a configuration including a gap between a vertical stiffening element and a horizontal stiffening element. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the retaining elements and stiffening elements are disposed on a coupling surface in a configuration including a point of contact between a vertical stiffening element and a horizontal stiffening element. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the stiffening element includes any one of wood, composite material or polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of receptacles as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a coupling element for securing two adjacent receptacles via their respective coupling surfaces with the intervening stiffening element disposed between the coupling surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling receptacles, each receptacle comprising:
 two pairs of generally parallel surfaces interconnected together into a hollowed cubic volume, a first pair of surfaces being collapsible surfaces and a second pair of surfaces being adapted to be coupling surfaces;   a bottom surface connected to the two pairs of parallel surfaces to close a bottom of the receptacle; and   a retaining element disposed on the exterior of at least one of the coupling surfaces,
 wherein the method comprises the steps of: 
 disposing a stiffening element between two adjacent receptacles; and 
 securing the two adjacent receptacles together with the intervening stiffening element to increase the self-standing receptacle capability of the assembly.