Collapsible container

Abstract

A collapsible container includes a base having a pair of opposed first edges and a pair of opposed second edges. The base has a generally planar portion having a plurality of first drainage channels formed along the first edges, a plurality of second drainage channels formed along the second edges and a plurality of third drainage channels formed perpendicularly to the first drainage channels between the second drainage channels. The second drainage channels and the third drainage channels are in fluid communication with the first drainage channels. The first, second and third drainage channels form drag rails on an underside of the base that are the lowest surfaces of the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base having a pair of opposed first edges and a pair of opposed second edges, the base having a generally planar portion having a plurality of first drainage channels formed along the first edges, a plurality of second drainage channels formed along the second edges and a plurality of third drainage channels formed perpendicularly to the first drainage channels between the second drainage channels, wherein the second drainage channels and the third drainage channels are in fluid communication with the first drainage channels, wherein the first, second and third drainage channels form drag rails on an underside of the base that are the lowest surfaces of the base;   a pair of first walls pivotably connected to the pair of opposed first edges of the base; and   a pair of second walls pivotably connected to the pair of opposed second edges of the base.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of first drainage channels include three first drainage channels along each first edge. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the base further includes first flanges projecting upward at the first edges of the base and second flanges projecting upward at the second edges of the base, wherein the pair of first walls are pivotably connected to the first flanges and the pair of second walls are pivotably connected to the second flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the second walls have handle openings formed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 4  wherein the first, second and third drainage channels define a plurality of support surfaces therebetween, wherein the plurality of support surfaces constitute a majority of the surface area of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of support surfaces constitute more than 90% of the surface area of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of support surfaces includes a center support surface extending parallel to the first edges of the base and separating pairs of the plurality of second drainage channels. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container of  claim 7  wherein the center support surface separates pairs of the plurality of third drainage channels. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the drag rails on the underside of the base are spaced apart to define a longitudinal stacking channel extending through the entire longitudinal dimension of the underside of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 9  wherein the drag rails on the underside of the base are spaced apart to define a plurality of lateral stacking channels each extending through the entire lateral dimension of the underside of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of first drainage channels include three first drainage channels along each first edge. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 11  wherein the base further includes first flanges projecting upward at the first edges of the base and second flanges projecting upward at the second edges of the base, wherein the pair of first walls are pivotably connected to the first flanges and the pair of second walls are pivotably connected to the second flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein the second walls have handle openings formed therein. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 13  wherein the base has no openings therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible container of  claim 10  cross-stacked on an identical collapsible container, such that the one of the first walls or one of the second walls of the identical collapsible container is received in one of the longitudinal stacking channel or one of the plurality of lateral stacking channels of the collapsible container. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the base has no openings therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base having a pair of opposed first edges and a pair of opposed second edges, the base having a generally planar portion having a plurality of first drainage channels formed along the first edges, a plurality of second drainage channels formed along the second edges and a plurality of third drainage channels formed perpendicularly to the first drainage channels between the second drainage channels, wherein the second drainage channels and the third drainage channels are in fluid communication with the first drainage channels, wherein the first, second and third drainage channels form drag rails on an underside of the base that are the lowest surfaces of the base, the first, second and third drainage channels defining a plurality of support surfaces therebetween, the plurality of support surfaces constituting more than 90% of the surface area of the base, wherein the plurality of support surfaces includes a center support surface extending parallel to the first edges of the base and separating pairs of the plurality of second drainage channels and pairs of the plurality of third drainage channels;   a pair of first walls pivotably connected to the pair of opposed first edges of the base; and   a pair of second walls pivotably connected to the pair of opposed second edges of the base.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17  wherein the base further includes first flanges projecting upward at the first edges of the base and second flanges projecting upward at the second edges of the base, wherein the pair of first walls are pivotably connected to the first flanges and the pair of second walls are pivotably connected to the second flanges. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible container of  claim 18  wherein the second walls have handle openings formed therein. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible container of  claim 19  wherein the base has no openings therethrough.