Collapsible container and method of making and using same

Abstract

A collapsible container having a plurality of side panels and a floor panel forming an enclosure having an open top. Each side panel comprises a flexible continuous loop frame, a web of material, and an edging material. The edging envelops the frame and is coupled to the periphery of the web. One or more handles may be attached to the container or formed within one or more of the side panels. A method of making and collapsing the container is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A collapsible container having an open top, said collapsible container comprising: 
       a plurality of adjacent side panels, each of said side panels including a continuous, non- interrupted, planar  web having a perimeter, an edging attached to substantially the entire perimeter of the web and forming a continuous peripheral pocket, and a continuous loop frame;  
       the frame being positioned within the continuous pocket;  
       each of said side panels having a bottom side, a top side and two lateral sides;  
       a floor panel having a plurality of sides, each of said floor panel sides being attached to at least one of said side panel bottom sides;  
       each of said lateral sides of each side panel being attached to the lateral side of an adjacent side panel.  
     
     
       2. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels. 
     
     
       3. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture being formed within at least one side panel. 
     
     
       4. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top. 
     
     
       5. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
       6. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of side panels if four. 
     
     
       7. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible. 
     
     
       8. The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number. 
     
     
       9. A collapsible container having an open top, said container comprising: 
       a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels including a web having a perimeter, an edging attached to the perimeter of the web and forming a pocket, and a continuous loop frame;  
       the frame being positioned within the edging pocket;  
       each of said side panels having a bottom side and at least two lateral sides;  
       a plurality of side panel separators, said panel separators each having a first end, a second end, and two lateral sides;  
       a floor panel having a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner sections, each of said floor panel sides being attached to the bottom side of at least one of said side panels;  
       each corner section of said floor panel being coupled to the first end of one of said side panel separators; and  
       each of said lateral sides of each side panel separator being attached to a lateral side of a side panel.  
     
     
       10. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels. 
     
     
       11. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , further comprising a seam cover attached to said side panels and substantially enveloping a predetermined portion of said edging. 
     
     
       12. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one aperture being formed within at least one side panel. 
     
     
       13. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top. 
     
     
       14. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
       15. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number. 
     
     
       16. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , wherein said web of each of said side panels is flexible web of material. 
     
     
       17. The collapsible container of  claim 9 , wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible. 
     
     
       18. A method of collapsing a collapsible container comprising a plurality of side panels, a floor panel, a plurality of side panel separators, at least one handle member, and a storing structure, said method comprising the steps of: 
       biasing a corner of said collapsible container toward an opposite corner until said side panels are adjacent and overlie each other;  
       inserting said handle members and said floor panel between two of said adjacent side panels;  
       rotating two opposite corners of said adjacent overlying side panels in opposite directions;  
       biasing said two corners toward each other and forming three adjacent circular loops overlying each other;  
       inserting said adjacent overlaying circular loops into said storing structure.  
     
     
       19. A collapsible container having an open top, said container comprising: 
         a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels including a continuous, non - interrupted, planar web having a perimeter, an edging attached to the perimeter of the web and forming a pocket, and a continuous loop frame;    
       
         the frame being positioned within the edging pocket;  
       
       
         each of said side panels having a bottom side and at least two lateral sides;  
       
       
         a plurality of side panel separators, said panel separators each having a first end, a second end, and two lateral sides;  
       
       
         a floor panel having a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner sections, each of said floor panel sides being attached to the bottom side of at least one of said side panels;  
       
       
         each corner section of said floor panel being coupled to the first end of one of said side panel separators; and  
       
       
         each of said lateral sides of each side panel separator being attached to a lateral side of a side panel. 
       
     
     
       20. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels. 
     
     
       21. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , further comprising a seam cover attached to said side panels and substantially enveloping a predetermined portion of said edging. 
     
     
       22. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top. 
     
     
       23. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
       24. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number. 
     
     
       25. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein said web of each of said side panels is flexible web of material. 
     
     
       26. The collapsible container of  claim 19 , wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible.