Collapsible container

Abstract

A storage crate has a side access doorway, which is preferably closable by a hinged door. Preferred crates are also collapsible in some manner, most preferably using pivots disposed between the floor and two of the sides, and horizontally along in about the middle of those two sides. Depending on the configuration, collapsing can advantageously reduce the height of the crate by at least 50%, 75% or more. Preferred crates are also stackable, most preferably by virtue of at least two of the sides have sufficient wall strength such that one could safely stack of at least three of the crates when unfolded to an operating configuration, and when each of the crates are loaded with at least 10 kilograms of stored material.

1 . A utility crate comprising: 
 mechanically coupled first, second and third sides;    a floor mechanically coupled to at least the first side; and    a doorway in the second side.    
   
   
       2 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is pivotally coupled to the first and third sides.  
   
   
       3 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sides comprises hinged upper and lower sections.  
   
   
       4 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is pivotally coupled to the first side at a hinge, and further comprising at least one other hinge disposed such that the crate can be collapsed to a height no more than 25% of its unfolded configuration.  
   
   
       5 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the sides have sufficient wall strength such that one could safely stack of at least three of the crates when unfolded to an operating configuration, and when each of the crates are loaded with at least 10 kilograms of stored material.  
   
   
       6 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising upper and lower rims having mating configurations that provide additional stability when multiple ones of the crate are stacked.  
   
   
       7 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising a door that can at least substantially close the doorway, the door hingedly coupled to a body portion of the second side.  
   
   
       8 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the second side has a shorter horizontal lengths than the first and third sides.  
   
   
       9 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and third sides has a horizontal length at least twice that of the second side.  
   
   
       10 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth side mechanically coupled to the other sides.  
   
   
       11 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the sides at least partially define an upper rim, and further comprising a removable lid that mates with the upper rim.  
   
   
       12 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a first wheel extending from an underside of the crate.  
   
   
       13 . The crate of  claim 12 , wherein the wheel comprises a castor, and is user removable from the underside.  
   
   
       14 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle portion disposed in the first side.  
   
   
       15 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein the floor is substantially solid.  
   
   
       16 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sides is solid.  
   
   
       17 . The crate of  claim 1 , further comprising a door that can at least substantially close the doorway, and wherein each of the door and the second side are substantially solid.  
   
   
       18 . The crate of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the floor and sides comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       19 . The crate of  claim 18 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a plastic.