Collapsible containers for use as vertical files and covers therefore

Abstract

Collapsible container formed from a flat, unitary plastic blank includes a front panel having opposite sides; a pair of side panels, each foldably connected to respective sides of the front panel and folded at substantially right angles to the front panel. Each side panel has a foldable rear panel folded at a substantially right angle to the respective side panel. One rear panel includes a locking slot and the other rear panel has a foldable locking tab inserted inside such slot to secure such rear panel to the other rear panel. Side panels have respective foldable bottom panels folded at a substantially right angle to respective side panels. One bottom panel includes a securing tab extending therefrom and the other bottom panel includes a securing slot into which such securing tab is inserted to secure the bottom panels together.

1 . A flat blank for forming a collapsible container for carrying paper articles comprising: 
 a first panel having opposite sides;    a pair of side panels, each foldably connected to a respective said side of said first panel and each adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said first panel;    each said side panel including a second panel foldably connected thereto and adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel;    one said second panel having at least one locking slot, another said rear panel having at least one foldable locking tab sized to fit inside said at least one locking slot to secure said one second panel to said another rear panel;    each said side panel having a bottom panel foldably connected to respective said side panel and adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel, one said bottom panel including at least one securing tab extending therefrom, another said bottom panel including at least one securing slot, said at least one securing tab being bendable to fit within said at least one securing slot to secure said one bottom panel to said another bottom panel.    
   
   
       2 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein said blank is constructed from a unitary resilient plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein said blank is constructed from a flexible translucent plastic material.  
   
   
       4 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein each said side panel includes a lower edge portion formed to include a pair of spaced feet for supporting a container formed of said blank.  
   
   
       5 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein one said second panel has upper and lower portions and further includes a flap panel foldably connected to said lower portion and adapted to be bent at a right angle to said one second panel to locate said flap panel over said bottom panels when said bottom panels are secured together to locate said flap panel inwardly of and to reinforce a bottom of a container formed from said blank.  
   
   
       6 . The blank as defined in  claim 5  wherein said first panel has upper and lower portions and further includes another flap panel foldably connected to said lower portion of said first panel and adapted to be bent at a right angle to said first panel to locate said another flap panel over said bottom panels when said bottom panels are secured together to locate said another flap panel inwardly thereof and to reinforce a bottom of a container formed from said blank.  
   
   
       7 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first panel has a finger hole therethrough to facilitate handling of a container formed from said blank.  
   
   
       8 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein said at least one locking slot includes a pair of spaced ends, said at least one locking tab having a pair of opposed arcuate notches formed therein, said notches engaging respective said spaced ends of said at least one locking slot when said at least one locking tab of one said second panel is fully inserted into said at least one locking slot of said another second panel.  
   
   
       9 . The blank as defined in  claim 1  wherein said one second panel includes at least another locking slot spaced from said at least one locking slot and said another second panel includes at least another foldable locking tab spaced from said at least one locking slot and insertable inside said at least another locking slot to secure said one second panel to said another second panel.  
   
   
       10 . A flat blank for forming a collapsible container for carrying paper articles comprising: 
 a generally rectangular first panel having opposite sides, a pair of side panels, each foldably connected to a respective said side of said first panel and each adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said first panel;    each said side panel including a generally rectangular second panel foldably connected thereto and adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel; one said second panel having a plurality of elongate locking slots, another said second panel having a plurality of foldable locking tabs sized to be insertable inside respective said locking slot to secure said one second panel to said another second panel;    each said side panel having a generally square bottom panel foldably connected to a respective said side panel and adapted to be folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel, one said bottom panel including a plurality of securing tabs extending therefrom, other said bottom panel including a plurality of generally rectangular securing slots, each said securing tab bendable to be insertable into respective said securing slot to secure one said bottom panel overlying and to said other bottom panel.    
   
   
       11 . The blank as defined in  claim 10  wherein each said locking tab has a pair of arcuate notches formed therein, said notches for engaging respective said locking slot when said one second panel is secured to said another second panel to locate said one second panel flat against said another second panel  
   
   
       12 . The blank as defined in  claim 10  wherein said front panel has upper and lower portions and further includes a first flap panel foldably connected to said lower portion of said first panel and said second panel has upper and lower portions and further includes a second flap panel foldably connected to said lower portion of said second panel, said first and second flap panels being bendable at right angles to locate said flap panels inside of an assembled container and resting against a bottom of such assembled container.  
   
   
       13 . The blank as defined in  claim 10  wherein said securing tabs are located inside a container assembled from said blank.  
   
   
       14 . The blank as defined in  claim 10  wherein said locking tabs are located flat against one said side panel when said locking tabs are inserted into respective said locking slots.  
   
   
       15 . A collapsible container for carrying paper articles comprising: 
 a first panel having opposite sides;    a pair of side panels, each foldably connected to a respective said side of said first panel and folded at a substantially right angle to said first panel;    each said side panel including a second panel foldably connected thereto and folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel, one said second panel having at least one locking slot, another said second panel having at least one foldable locking tab inserted inside said at least one locking slot to secure said one second panel to said another second panel;    each said side panel having a bottom panel foldably connected to respective said side panel and folded at a substantially right angle to said respective side panel, one said bottom panel including at least one securing tab extending therefrom, other said bottom panel including at least one securing slot, said at least one securing tab inserted within said at least one securing slot to secure said one bottom panel to said another bottom panel.    
   
   
       16 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said container is constructed from a unitary resilient plastic material.  
   
   
       17 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said container is formed of a flexible translucent plastic material.  
   
   
       18 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said foldable connections are fold lines formed in said blank.  
   
   
       19 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein one said second panel has upper and lower portions and further includes a flap panel foldably connected to said lower portion and bent at a right angle to said one second panel to locate said flap panel over said bottom panels when said bottom panels are secured together to locate said flap panel inwardly and to reinforce a bottom of said container.  
   
   
       20 . The container as defined in  claim 19  wherein said first panel has upper and lower portions and further includes another flap panel foldably connected to said lower portions of said first panel and bent at a right angle to said first panel to locate said another flap panel over said bottom panels when said bottom panels are secured together to locate said another flap panel inwardly and to reinforce a bottom of said container.  
   
   
       21 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said front panel has a finger hole therethrough to facilitate handling of said container.  
   
   
       22 . The container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said at least one locking tab has an upper portion having an arcuate notch formed therein and a lower portion having an arcuate notch formed therein, said notches for engaging said at least one locking slot when said one said second panel is secured to said another second panel.