Collapsible Container

Abstract

A collapsible container is assembled from a scored sheet of material. In one arrangement, the container is configured to allow for ease of disassembly. For example, a base of the container includes a pair of opposing end walls that include an outer end wall panel coupled to the base and an inner end wall panel coupled to the outer end wall panel. The inner wall panel includes set of tabs that engage corresponding openings defined by the base and a flexion portion that allows the inner wall panel to flex relative to the base. The outer wall panel defines an opening that is substantially aligned with the score line. To disassemble the container, a user applies a load through the opening and against flexion portion. The load causes the inner wall panel to fold thereby releasing the tabs from the openings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising:
 a base;   a first sidewall extending along a first direction from the base and a second sidewall extending along the first direction from the base, the first sidewall opposing the second sidewall; and   a first end wall extending along the first direction from the base and a second end wall extending along the first direction from the base, the first end wall opposing the second end wall and each of the first end wall and the second end wall disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;   each of the first end wall and the second end wall comprising:
 a first end wall panel coupled to the base and defining an opening; and 
 a second end wall panel hingedly coupled to the first end wall panel, the second ends wall panel defining a set of tabs configured to engage a set of slots defined by the base and further defining a panel flexion portion extending at least partially along a length of the second end wall panel, the panel flexion portion substantially aligned with the opening defined by the first end wall panel; 
 wherein the second end wall panel is configured to flex about the panel flexion portion in response to a load applied to the panel flexion portion through the opening defined by the first end wall panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprises:
 a first end flap hingedly coupled to a first end of the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first end flap disposed between the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel of the first end wall; and   a second end flap hingedly coupled to a second end of the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the second end flap disposed between the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel of the second end wall.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end flap comprises a first tab configured to engage a corresponding first slot defined by the base; and   the second end flap comprises a second tab configured to engage a corresponding second slot defined by the base.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first end flap defines a cutout portion configured to substantially align with the first opening defined by the first end wall panel of the first end wall; and 
 the second end flap defines a cutout portion configured to substantially align with the second opening defined by the first end wall panel of the second end wall. 
 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a corrugated material having a set of corrugations, a longitudinal axis of the corrugations extending between the first end wall and the second end wall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the base defines at least one opening configured to surround a corresponding support to allow stacking of the container in a substantially flat, unassembled state and in a substantially secure manner. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the panel flexion portion extends along the length of the second end wall panel substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corrugations. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a substantially continuous score line extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a substantially perforated score line extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a living hinge disposed between an upper second end wall panel portion and a lower second end wall panel portion, the extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel. 
     
     
         11 . A container form, comprising
 a base;   a first sidewall coupled to the base and a second sidewall coupled to the base, the first sidewall opposing the second sidewall, the first sidewall configured to rotate relative the base about a first fold line to extend from the base along a first direction, and the second sidewall configured to rotate relative the base about a second fold line to extend from the base along the first direction;   a first end wall coupled to the base and a second end wall coupled to the base, the first end wall opposing the second end wall and each of the first end wall and the second end wall disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first end wall configured to rotate relative the base about a third fold line to extend from the base along the first direction, and the second end wall configured to rotate relative the base about a fourth fold line to extend from the base along the first direction;   each of the first end wall and the second end wall comprising:
 a first end wall panel coupled to the base and defining an opening; and 
 a second end wall panel hingedly coupled to the first end wall panel, the second ends wall panel defining a set of tabs configured to engage a set of slots defined by the base and further defining a panel flexion portion extending at least partially along a length of the second end wall panel, the panel flexion portion configured to substantially align with the opening defined by the first end wall panel; 
 wherein the second end wall panel is configured to flex about the panel flexion portion in response to a load applied to the panel flexion portion through the opening defined by the first end wall panel. 
   
     
     
         12 . The container form of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall comprises:
 a first end flap hingedly coupled to a first end of the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the first end flap configured to be disposed between the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel of the first end wall; and   a second end flap hingedly coupled to a second end of the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the second end flap configured to be disposed between the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel of the second end wall.   
     
     
         13 . The container form of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first end flap comprises a first tab configured to engage a corresponding first slot defined by the base; and   the second end flap comprises a second tab configured to engage a corresponding second slot defined by the base.   
     
     
         14 . The container form of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first end flap defines a cutout portion configured to substantially align with the first opening defined by the first end wall panel of the first end wall; and 
 the second end flap defines a cutout portion configured to substantially align with the second opening defined by the first end wall panel of the second end wall. 
 
     
     
         15 . The container form of  claim 11 , wherein the container form comprises a corrugated material having a set of corrugations, a longitudinal axis of the corrugations extending between the first end wall and the second end wall. 
     
     
         16 . The container form of  claim 15 , wherein the base defines at least one opening configured to surround a corresponding support to allow stacking of the container form in a substantially flat, unassembled state and in a substantially secure manner. 
     
     
         17 . The container form of  claim 15 , wherein the panel flexion portion extends along the length of the second end wall panel substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corrugations. 
     
     
         18 . The container form of  claim 11 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a substantially continuous score line extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel. 
     
     
         19 . The container form of  claim 11 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a substantially perforated score line extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel. 
     
     
         20 . The container form of  claim 11 , wherein the panel flexion portion is configured as a living hinge disposed between an upper second end wall panel portion and a lower second end wall panel portion, the extending at least partially along the length of the second end wall panel.