Collapsible box

Abstract

A collapsible box with a plurality of sides connected at folding corners includes notches in the sides for accommodating hinge connectors which couple the sides together and allow the sides to be folded through a range of motion with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible box comprising:
 a plurality of sides, each side having at least one notched edge, with at least one notch therein, the at least one notch in register with a notch on an adjacent one of the sides;   at least one hinge connector connecting two of the sides and comprising:
 first and second fasteners mounted to a respective one of the two sides; and 
 a flexible strap between the first and second fasteners and aligned with the notches in register; 
   whereby, due to the aligned strap and notches, the two sides can be folded through a range of motion with respect to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the strap is at least partially received within the notches in register when the sides are oriented at less than 90 degrees to each other to allow the box to be folded flat. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the range of motion is 180-degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible box of  claim 3  and further comprising a gap between the two sides when the sides are oriented at 180 degrees to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fasteners are integrally formed on opposite ends of the strap. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fasteners comprises a plurality of nails extending laterally from the first and second fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible box of  claim 6  wherein some of the plurality of nails are disposed perpendicularly with respect to another some of the plurality of nails. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the first and second fasteners comprise first and second connector plates 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible box of  claim 8  wherein the first and second connector plates comprise a plurality of nails pressed through the strap to connect the at least one hinge connector to a respective one of the two sides. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sides comprises four sides, each of the four sides having first and second opposed notched edges disposed adjacent to another notched edge of another of the four sides, and wherein each set of adjacent sides is interconnected by at least one hinge connector. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible box of  claim 10  wherein the at least one hinge connector comprises two hinge connectors spaced from each another on the adjacent notched edges of the interconnected set of adjacent sides. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  and further comprising a base corresponding in periphery to an erected shaped of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  and further comprising a top corresponding in periphery to an erected shaped of the plurality of sides. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the at least one notch in each of the plurality of sides is rectangular. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sides comprise panels. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the flexible strap has a width corresponding to a width of the at least one notch and wherein at least a portion of the flexible strap is received within the notch on a corresponding side. 
     
     
         17 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the flexible strap comprises a metal strap. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sides comprise at least one of plywood, laminated veneer lumber, laminated strand lumber, parallel strand lumber, or oriented strand board. 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible box of  claim 1  wherein the at least one notched edge of each side comprises a chamfer. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible box of  claim 19  wherein the chamfers of two of the sides connected to the at least one hinge connector are provided opposite the at least one hinge connector on the sides.