Collapsible Container

Abstract

The invention is a collapsible container that transitions between an open configuration for use and a closed configuration for compact storage. It features strategically placed fold lines on its surfaces, which may form one or more triangular-shaped regions that facilitate an inward folding of the material forming the surface. These fold lines guide the material to fold in a specific manner when the container is collapsed thus ensuring the materials of the surface are disposed within the interior of the container when it is collapsed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible container, comprising:
 a body comprising a bottom surface, a front surface, a back surface, a left surface, and a right surface, wherein the bottom surface, front surface, back surface, left surface, and right surface collectively define an interior cavity;   wherein the front and back surfaces each comprises a first set of fold lines;   wherein the left and right surfaces each comprises a second set of fold lines;   wherein the first and second sets of fold lines cause material forming each of the front surface, back surface, left surface, and right surface to fold inwardly when the body is collapsed from an open configuration to a closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines on the front and back surfaces defines first and second triangular-shaped regions, wherein the first triangular-shaped region is disposed adjacent the left surface and wherein the second triangular-shaped region is disposed adjacent the right surface. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container of  claim 2 , wherein a hypotenuse of the first triangular-shaped region is disposed along the left surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the second triangular-shaped region is disposed along the right surface. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container of  claim 3 , wherein the first triangular-shaped region comprises an isosceles triangle, and wherein an apex of the first triangular-shaped region is disposed away from the hypotenuse of the first triangular-shaped region and the left surface. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines on the front surface comprises:
 a first line segment and a second line segment;   wherein the first line segment extends from a bottom, left portion near the bottom and left surfaces to a middle region of the front surface;   wherein the second line segment extends from a top, left portion near the left surface and opposite the bottom surface to the middle region of the front surface;   a third line segment and a fourth line segment;   wherein the third line segment extends from a bottom, right portion near the bottom and right surfaces to the middle region of the front surface; and   wherein the fourth line segment extends from a top, right portion near the right surface and opposite the bottom surface to the middle region of the front surface.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5 , wherein the left side of the front surface, the first line segment, and the second line segment define a first triangular-shaped region, and wherein the right side of the front surface, the third line segment, and the fourth line segment define a second triangular-shaped region. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein the left side of the front surface defines a hypotenuse of the first triangular-shaped region, and wherein the right side of the front surface defines a hypotenuse of the second triangular-shaped region. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container of  claim 5 , wherein the first line segment and the second line segment intersect at a first apex, and wherein the third line segment and the fourth line segment intersect at a second apex. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of fold lines on the front surface further comprises:
 a fifth line segment extending between the first apex and the second apex.   
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 9 , wherein the fifth line segment connects the first apex to the second apex. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines are formed on the front surface by stitching the fold lines on the material that forms the front surface. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines are formed by welding an inner lining of the front surface. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of fold lines on the left surface comprises a line segment that extends across the left surface from a left side to a right side of the left surface. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of fold lines on the left surface defines third and fourth triangular-shaped regions, wherein the third triangular-shaped region is disposed adjacent the front surface and wherein the fourth triangular-shaped region is disposed adjacent the back surface. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible container of  claim 14 , wherein a hypotenuse of the third triangular-shaped region is disposed along the front surface, and wherein a hypotenuse of the fourth triangular-shaped region is disposed along the back surface. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of fold lines on the left surface comprises:
 a sixth line segment and a seventh line segment;   wherein the sixth line segment extends from a bottom, left portion near the back and bottom surfaces to a middle region of the left surface;   wherein the seventh line segment extends from a top, left portion near the back surface and opposite the bottom surface to the middle region of the left surface;   a eighth line segment and an ninth line segment;   wherein the eighth line segment extends from a bottom, right portion near the bottom and front surfaces to the middle region of the left surface; and   wherein the ninth line segment extends from a top, right portion near the front surface and opposite the bottom surface to the middle region of the left surface.   
     
     
         17 . The collapsible container of  claim 16 , wherein the sixth line segment and the seventh line segment intersect at a third apex, and wherein the eighth line segment and the ninth line segment intersect at a fourth apex. 
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , wherein the second set of fold lines further comprises:
 a tenth line segment extending between the third apex and the fourth apex.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising a top surface coupled to at least one of the front surface, back surface, left surface, or right surface, wherein the top surface is configured to move from an open configuration permitting access to the interior cavity to a closed configuration restricting access to the interior cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front, back, left and right surfaces comprises:
 an outer lining material and an inner lining material;   a foam material disposed between the inner and outer lining materials; and   optionally, a foil material disposed between the inner and outer lining materials.   
     
     
         21 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of fold lines comprises a stitching that extends from the outer or inner lining material through the foam material and to the other of the outer or inner lining material. 
     
     
         22 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sets of fold lines bias the material of the front, back, left and right surfaces to fold inwardly toward one another when the body is collapsed from the open configuration to the closed configuration.