Collapsible bowl and blank

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blank configured to form a collapsible bowl. The blank is intended to provide a device that can be easily transformed between a flat configuration and an erect configuration. The blank comprises, a first radial crease-line and a second radial crease-line, meeting at a centre point within the blank and forming a fold segment and a major segment. The major segment further includes an over-fold segment and an under-fold segment adjacent to the fold segment. The blank includes a base crease-line, that forms the boundary of the base section and the wall section. The blank is erected by rotating the fold segment around the center point until the over-fold segment overlaps the fold segment, and the under-fold segment underlays the fold segment. When erected the base section forms a conically shaped structure within the erected collapsible bowl.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blank configured to erect a collapsible bowl, the blank comprising:
 a blank edge that forms the perimeter of the blank;   a first radial crease-line originating at a center point within the blank and terminating at a first point on the blank edge;   a second radial crease-line originating at the center point and terminating at a second point on the blank edge;   a base crease-line configured to form a base section of the collapsible bowl, wherein the base section is formed by a bounded area of the blank between the center point and the base crease-line; wherein a wall section is formed by the area of the blank between the base crease-line and the edge of the blank;   wherein the first and second radial crease-lines form a fold segment and a major segment; The major segment comprising an over-fold segment and an under-fold segment adjacent to the fold segment, the over-fold segment overlaps the fold segment, and the under-fold segment underlays the fold segment to erect the collapsible bowl.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprises one or more connecting elements on the under-fold segment, fold segment, and over-fold segment configured to attach together to affix the collapsible bowl. one or more connecting elements may include cut-outs within the blank, snaps, hooks, clips, male-female latches, and hook-loop fasteners or any other known method of attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the edge of the blank is cut to form a shape including at least one of: a circular shape, a wavy shape, a polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, and any other shape with a closed boundary configured to form a variety of openings including at least one of: a circular shaped opening, a wavy shaped opening, polygonal shaped opening, an asymmetrical opening, and any other shaped opening, on the collapsible bowl. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank further comprises a rim crease-line configured to form a boundary of a rim section of the collapsible bowl, wherein the rim section is formed by area of the blank between the rim crease-line and the edge of the blank. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein the rim crease-line forms a shape including at least one of: a circular shape, a wavy shape, a polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, and any other shape with a closed boundary configured to form a variety of openings including at least one of: a circular shaped opening, a wavy shaped opening, polygonal shaped opening, an asymmetrical opening, and any other shaped opening, on the collapsible bowl. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the wall section comprises at least one: slits, cut-outs, insignia, tags, flaps, connecting elements, and handles. 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein the rim section comprises at least one: slits, cut-outs, insignia, tags, flaps, connecting elements, and handles. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the base crease-line, the rim crease-line, the first radial crease-line and the second crease-line is created by at least one of: scoring, creasing, and any known method to locally dent the blank to form indentations, thereby allowing the blank to be folded along the formed indentations. 
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank further comprises at least two additional facet crease-lines within at least one of: the base section, the wall section and the rim section of the major segment to form facets on the collapsible bowl. 
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the base crease-line having a shape including at least one of: a circular shape, a wavy shape, a polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, and any other shape with a closed boundary configured to form a base section with a variety of shapes including but not limited to: a circular shape, a wavy shape, polygonal shape, an asymmetrical shape, and any other shape. 
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank further comprises a first fold crease-line, a line close to, tangential or within with the boundary of the base crease-line that allows a portion of the wall section to rotate relative to the base section, and a second fold crease-line, originating at the center point and extending from the first radial crease-line, to allow the user to more easily erect the blank. 
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank includes first fold crease-line, a line close to, tangential or within with the boundary of the base crease-line that allows a portion of the wall section to rotate relative to the base section, and a second fold crease-line, originating at first point, on the blank edge, going through the centre point, and terminating at the opposite edge of the blank, to allow the blank to be folded. 
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein the folded blank is secured by at least one of: an adhesive, double sided tape and a method of connecting two surfaces, applied to portions of the fold segment and over-fold segment. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one panel extended from the wall section of the blank configured to cover the opening of the collapsible bowl. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein a detachable lid formed from a lid blank configured to mate with the opening of the collapsible bowl, the lid blank comprising:
 a central panel configured to match the opening of the collapsible bowl;   at least two flap panels extending from the central panel, configured to mate with the surface of the wall section of the collapsible bowl.   
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein a detachable lid formed from a lid blank configured to mate with the opening of the collapsible bowl and rim, the lid blank comprising:
 a central panel configured to match the opening of the collapsible bowl;   at least two flap panels extending from the central panel, configured to overlay the width of the rim of the collapsible bowl;   at least one slit within each flap panel configured to mate with the edge of the rim of the collapsible bowl.   
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein one or more blanks are adjoined on a portion of their respective wall sections to form a multiple bowl assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank is made of at least one of: plastic, cardboard, cardstock, paperboard and any other known stiff and flexible sheet material. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 1 , comprising multiple fold segment sizes created by at least one additional radial crease-line. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 1 , comprising multiple base section sizes, created by at least one additional base crease-line.