Foldable container

Abstract

A container movable between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The container comprises a substantially rectangular base panel, four side walls hingedly connected to each other and to the base panel, a median fold line crossing opposite two of the four side walls and the base panel so that each of the opposite side walls and the base panel are foldable along the median fold line, and two bottom fold lines formed on the base panel and extending substantially diagonally across the base panel so that the base panel is also foldable along the bottom fold lines. The side walls of the container have top edges defining an open top of the container. The container is formed of a substantially flat, single-piece blank.

1 . A container movable between an expanded position and a folded position, said container comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular bottom wall defined by four sides thereof;    four side walls hingedly connected to each other and to said bottom wall, said four side walls including first and second pairs of opposite side walls;    said side walls having top edges defining an open top of said container;    a median fold line crossing said second pair of opposite side walls and said bottom wall so that each of said opposite side walls and said bottom wall being foldable along said median fold line; and    two bottom fold lines formed on said bottom wall and extending substantially diagonally across said bottom wall so that said bottom wall being foldable along said bottom fold lines.    
   
   
       2 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second pair of opposite side walls and said bottom wall are foldable along said median fold line inwardly to said container.  
   
   
       3 . The container as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said bottom wall is foldable along said bottom fold lines inwardly to said container.  
   
   
       4 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom wall is substantially square in shape.  
   
   
       5 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side walls are substantially trapezoidal in shape so that parallel sides of said trapezoidal side walls extend along said sides of said bottom wall.  
   
   
       6 . The container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each of said trapezoidal side walls progressively tapers in the direction away from said bottom wall.  
   
   
       7 . The container as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said median fold line extends across said opposite side walls and said bottom wall substantially along axes of symmetry thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said container is formed of a substantially flat single-piece blank.  
   
   
       9 . The container as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said blank is made from water-impermeable material.  
   
   
       10 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said container is formed from a blank of a substantially flat single-piece sheet of foldable material, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular base panel defining said bottom wall and having four sides;    four side panels radially outwardly extending from corresponding sides of said base panel and separated therefrom by four base fold lines defining said four sides of said base panel, said four side panels including first and second pairs of opposite side panels;    four sets of web panels each provided between each two of said side panels, each of said sets of web panels including a plurality of web panels hingedly connected to each other;    a plurality of fold lines radially outwardly extending from said bottom panel for separating said sets of web panels and said side panels;    said median fold line crossing said second pair of opposite side panels and said base panel so that each of said second pair of opposite side panels and said base panel being foldable along said median fold line;    wherein each of said second pair of said opposite side walls is defined solely by one of said second pair of said opposite side panels; and    wherein each of said first pair of opposite side walls is defined by one of said first pair of opposite side panels and two sets of said web panels folded about said web fold lines and said side fold lines adjacent to corresponding one of said first pair of opposite side panels and secured thereto.    
   
   
       11 . The blank as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of said base panel.  
   
   
       12 . The blank as defined in  claim 10 , wherein each of said sets of web panels includes four web panels.  
   
   
       13 . The blank as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of said base panel.  
   
   
       14 . A blank for forming a foldable container, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular base panel having four sides;    four side panels radially outwardly extending from corresponding sides of said base panel and separated therefrom by four base fold lines defining said four sides of said base panel, said four side panels including first and second pairs of opposite side panels;    four sets of web panels each provided between each two of said side panels, each of said sets of web panels including a plurality of web panels hingedly connected to each other along web fold lines;    a plurality of side fold lines radially outwardly extending from said bottom panel for separating said sets of web panels and said side panels;    a median fold line crossing said second pair of opposite side panels and said base panel so that each of said second pair of opposite side panels and said base panel being foldable along said median fold line; and    two bottom fold lines formed on said bottom panel and extending substantially diagonally across said base panel so that said base panel being foldable along said bottom fold lines;    said blank being formed from a substantially flat single-piece sheet of foldable material.    
   
   
       15 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of said base panel.  
   
   
       16 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein each of said sets of web panels includes four web panels.  
   
   
       17 . The blank as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said web panels are substantially triangular in shape so as to widen toward a periphery of said blank from an acute angle apex at a respective corner of said base panel.  
   
   
       18 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said base panel is substantially square in shape.  
   
   
       19 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said side panels are substantially trapezoidal in shape so that parallel sides of said trapezoidal side panels extend along said sides of said base panel.  
   
   
       20 . The blank as defined in  claim 19 , wherein each of said trapezoidal side walls progressively tapers in the direction away from said base panel.  
   
   
       21 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said median fold line extends across said second pair of opposite side panels and said base panel substantially along axes of symmetry thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said sheet of said blank is made from water-impermeable material.  
   
   
       23 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising at least two tabs extending radially outwardly from an outer periphery of said blank at locations adjacent to the other opposite pair of said side panels and hingedly connected thereto.  
   
   
       24 . The blank as defined in  claim 14 , wherein said blank is foldable to form a container comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular single-ply bottom wall defined by said base panel;    four side walls hingedly connected to each other and to said bottom wall, said side walls having top edges defining an open top of said container, said four side walls including first and second pair of opposite side walls;    wherein each of said second pair of said opposite side walls is defined solely by one of said second pair of opposite side panels;    wherein each of said first pair of opposite side walls is defined by one of said first pair of opposite side panels and two sets of said web panels folded about said web fold lines and said side fold lines adjacent to each of said first pair of opposite side panels and secured thereto.