Collapsible shipping container

Abstract

A collapsible delivery container having hinged legs that fold inwardly to permit the top of the container to collapse toward the bottom of the container. The container is configured to permit it to be collapsed one side at a time. The container includes a handle on each side that extends between the intermediate hinges of the corresponding legs. The handle is configured to be accessible when the container is collapsed, yet out of the way when the container is raised. The container further includes a nesting structure that, among other things, retains the first collapsed side in proper alignment while the second side is collapsed. The nesting structure also provides a force path from the top of the container to base so that the hinges are not required to bear the weight of stacked containers. The container preferably includes a lift assist mechanism that bears some of the weight of the container as it is collapsed and raised.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A collapsible shipping container comprising: 
 a base;    a top;    a plurality of supports mounted between said base and said top, each of said supports including a top hinge, a bottom hinge and an intermediate hinge permitting each of said supports to fold inwardly and thereby permitting said container to be selectively movable between a raised position and a collapsed position; and    a handle movably mounted to at least one of said supports adjacent said intermediate hinge, said handle being accessible from an exterior of said container when said container is in said collapsed position.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein said handle is mounted between at least two of said supports.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein said handle is generally U-shaped having a first end connected to a first of said supports and a second end connected to a second of said supports.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said supports travels through a plane as the container moves between said raised position and said collapsed position, said handle including a portion extending into said plane, whereby said portion is capable of engaging at least one of said supports as the container moves between said raised position and said collapsed position.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 3  wherein an opening is defined between said first support and said second support, said opening being substantially unimpeded by said handle.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a first extension portion connected to a first of said supports, a second extension portion connected to a second of said supports and a cross member interconnecting said first extension portion and said second extension portion, wherein when said handle is in said raised position said first extension portion extends substantially along said first support, said second extension portion extends substantially along said second support and said cross member extends substantially along one of said top and said base, whereby said handle does not substantially impede access to an interior of said container through a space between said first support and said second support.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 6  wherein at least one of said supports includes a lift assist means for biasing at least one of said supports toward a raised position.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 6  further including a lift assist mechanism bearing at least a portion of the weight of the container as the container is moved between said raised position and said collapsed position.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 8  wherein at least one of said top and said bottom includes a nesting protrusion, the other of said top and said bottom including a nesting recess, whereby said nesting protrusion and said nesting recess nest when together said container is in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 7  wherein said list assist means includes at least one of an extension spring, a torsion spring and a gas assist cylinder.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  further comprising a locking sleeve movably fitted over at least one of said supports.  
     
     
         12 . A collapsible shipping container comprising: 
 a base;    a top;    a plurality of supports mounted between said base and said top, each of said supports including a top hinge, a bottom hinge and an intermediate hinge permitting each of said supports to fold inwardly and thereby permitting said container to be selectively movable between a raised position and a collapsed position;    a nesting means for nesting said top and said bottom when said container is moved into said collapsed position.    
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein said nesting means include an upper nesting section connected to said top and a lower nesting section mounted to said base.  
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein said nesting means includes an upper nesting section connected to said top in vertical alignment with one of said supports and a lower nesting section mounted to said base in vertical alignment with one of said supports.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible container of  claim 12  wherein said container includes a plurality of corners, said plurality of supports including a separate support disposed substantially in each of said corners, said nesting means including a plurality of upper nesting sections and a plurality of lower nesting sections, one of said upper nesting sections and one of said lower nesting sections being vertically aligned with a corresponding one of said supports.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 15  further comprising a handle mounted to at least one of said supports adjacent said intermediate hinge, said handle being accessible from an exterior of said container when said container is in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible container of  claim 15  wherein said handle is generally U-shaped having a first end connected to a first of said supports and a second end connected to a second of said supports.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 16  further including a lift assist mechanism.  
     
     
         19 . A collapsible container, comprising: 
 a base;    a top;    a plurality of supports mounted between said base and said top, each of said supports being hinged to permit each of said supports to fold inwardly, thereby permitting said container to be selectively movable between a raised position and a collapsed position; and    a lift assist means for bearing a portion of the weight of the container when the container is moved between said raised position and said collapsed position.    
     
     
         20 . The collapsible container of  claim 19  wherein said lift assist means includes a lift assist device mounted to at least one of said supports.  
     
     
         21 . The collapsible container of  claim 19  where said lift assist means includes a lift assist device mounted to each of said supports.  
     
     
         22 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said supports includes a first section hingedly secured to a second section, said lift assist device includes an extension spring mounted between said first section and said second section.  
     
     
         23 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein at least one of said supports includes a first section hingedly secured to a second section, said lift assist device includes a torsion spring mounted between said first section and said second section.  
     
     
         24 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein said lift assist device includes a gas assist cylinder mounted between at least one of said supports and at least one of said top and said base.  
     
     
         25 . The collapsible container of  claim 22  wherein said at least one support defines an internal void, said extension spring being disposed within said internal void.  
     
     
         26 . The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein each of said supports includes an intermediate hinge; and 
 further comprising a handle mounted to at least one of said supports adjacent said intermediate hinge, said handle being accessible from an exterior of said container when said container is in said collapsed position.  
 
     
     
         27 . The collapsible container of  claim 26  wherein said handle is generally U-shaped having a first end connected to a first of said supports and a second end connected to a second of said supports.  
     
     
         28 . The collapsible container of  claim 27  wherein said top includes an upper nesting portion and said base includes a lower nesting portion, said upper nesting portion interfitting with said lower nesting portion when said container is in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         29 . A collapsible delivery container having a first side and a second side, the container adapted to be raised and collapsed one side at a time, comprising: 
 a base;    a top;    a first pair of hinged supports extending between said base and said top on a first side of said container;    a second pair of hinged supports extending between said base and said top on a second side of said container, said second pair of supports being actuatable independently of said first pair of supports;    a first handle mounted to each support in said first pair of hinged supports, whereby said first handle facilitates simultaneous folding and unfolding of both supports of said first pair of supports; and    a second handle mounted to each support in said second pair of hinged supports, whereby said second handle facilitates simultaneous folding and unfolding of both supports of said second pair of supports.    
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29  wherein said first handle is U-shaped having a first end connected to one of said supports of said first pair of supports and a second end connected to the other of said supports of said first pair of supports.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30  wherein each of said support of said first pair of supports includes an intermediate hinge, said first end of said handle being mounted proximate to said intermediate hinge of one of said supports of said first pair of supports, said second end of said handle being mounted proximate to said intermediate hinge of the other of said supports of said first pair of supports.  
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31  wherein said handle is accessible from an exterior of said container when said container is in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 29  wherein said top includes a first upper nesting portion on said first side of said container and a second upper nesting portion on said second side of said container, said base includes a first lower nesting portion on said first side of said container and a second lower nesting portion on said second side of said container, said first upper nesting portion interfitting with said first lower nesting portion when said first side of said container is in said collapsed position, said second upper nesting portion interfitting with said second lower nesting portion when said second side of said container is in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 29  further comprising a lift assist means for bearing a portion of the weight of the container when the container is moved between said raised position and said collapsed position.  
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 29  further comprising a first lift assist device mounted to said first side of said container and a second lift assist device mounted to said second side of said container.  
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 35  where said first lift assist device includes at least one of an extension spring, a torsion spring and a gas assist cylinder.