Collapsible and/or erectable substantially egg-shaped container

Abstract

A collapsible and/or erectable, shape-sustaining substantially egg-shaped container is selectively moveable from a substantially erect condition to a substantially collapsed condition and/or from a substantially erect condition to a substantially collapsed condition.

1 . A method of using a collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg in a substantially erect condition, the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an upper end, a lower end, a sidewall, and a receiving space, and the second portion having an upper end, a lower end, a sidewall, and a receiving space, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion is selectively moveable between a substantially collapsed condition and a substantially erect condition;   disposing at least one object in the first portion of the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg, wherein the second portion of the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg acts as a shield for a portion of the at least one object disposed in the first portion of the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg;   removing the at least one object from the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg; and   moving at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg from the substantially erect condition to the substantially collapsed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of providing a collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg, the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is further defined as a collapsible, shape-sustaining Easter egg. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in the step of disposing at least one object in the first portion of the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg, the object is selected from the group consisting of edible items, toys, figurines, stuffed animals, stickers, stationary, coins, money, decorative items and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of disposing the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg having the at least one object disposed therein in a basket prior to the step of removing the at least one object therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of at least one of the first and second portions has at least one condition modifying element to facilitate collapsing the container from the substantially erect condition to the substantially collapsed condition, wherein the at least one condition modifying element is selected from the group consisting of score lines, hinges, concentric sections, interlocking concentric sections, pivotally interlocking sections, sections of material which are thinner than the remainder of the container, sections of material which are more flexible than the remainder of the container, pleats, folds, perforations, creases, voids, partially or wholly cut through areas, removed portions of material, a V-shaped or U-shaped member, excess material, flexible material, stretchable material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting assembly for matingly connecting the first and second portions. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shape-sustaining member for maintaining the decorative egg in the substantially erect condition. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining member for maintaining the decorative egg in the substantially collapsed condition. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , further comprising a joining assembly that connects the first and second portions together. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a decorative pattern, decorative design, and color disposed on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, plastic, foamed polymeric material, cavitated polymeric material, expanded polymeric material, polymeric materials with differential densities, polymeric materials with differential thicknesses, polymeric materials with voids formed therein, paper, cardboard, cloth, metallized film, foil, metal, clay, feathers, peat moss, wood, and combinations, aggregates or laminations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is self erecting. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is manually erecting. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is self collapsing. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible, shape-sustaining decorative egg is manually collapsing. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using an erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg, comprising the steps of:
 providing an erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg in a substantially collapsed condition, the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an upper end, a lower end, a sidewall, and a receiving space, and the second portion having an upper end, a lower end, a sidewall, and a receiving space, wherein at least one of the first and second portions is selectively moveable between a substantially collapsed condition and a substantially erect condition;   moving at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially erect condition;   disposing at least one object in the first portion of the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg, wherein the second portion of the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg acts as a shield for a portion of the at least one object disposed in the first portion of the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein, in the step of providing an erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg, the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is further defined as an erectable, shape-sustaining Easter egg. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein, in the step of disposing at least one object in the first portion of the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg, the object is selected from the group consisting of edible items, toys, figurines, stuffed animals, stickers, stationary, coins, money, decorative items and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of disposing the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg having the at least one object disposed therein in a basket. 
     
     
         20 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of at least one of the first and second portions has at least one condition modifying element to facilitate erecting the container from the substantially collapsed condition to the substantially erect condition, wherein the at least one condition modifying element is selected from the group consisting of score lines, hinges, concentric sections, interlocking concentric sections, pivotally interlocking sections, sections of material which are thinner than the remainder of the container, sections of material which are more flexible than the remainder of the container, pleats, folds, perforations, creases, voids, partially or wholly cut through areas, removed portions of material, a V-shaped or U-shaped member, excess material, flexible material, stretchable material, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , further comprising a connecting assembly for matingly connecting the first and second portions. 
     
     
         22 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one shape-sustaining member for maintaining the decorative egg in the substantially collapsed condition. 
     
     
         23 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one retaining member for maintaining the decorative egg in the substantially collapsed condition. 
     
     
         24 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , further comprising a joining assembly that connects the first and second portions together. 
     
     
         25 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one of a decorative pattern, decorative design, and color disposed on at least a portion thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, plastic, foamed polymeric material, cavitated polymeric material, expanded polymeric material, polymeric materials with differential densities, polymeric materials with differential thicknesses, polymeric materials with voids formed therein, paper, cardboard, cloth, metallized film, foil, metal, clay, feathers, peat moss, wood, and combinations, aggregates or laminations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is self erecting. 
     
     
         28 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is manually erecting. 
     
     
         29 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is self collapsing. 
     
     
         30 . The erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg of  claim 16 , wherein the erectable, shape-sustaining decorative egg is manually collapsing.