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A collapsible container having a base with top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of support members, legs attached to the base and configured to support a second collapsible container placed on a first collapsible container and a plurality of side panels, wherein at least one of the side panels is co

A collapsible container having a base with top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of support members, legs attached to the base and configured to support a second collapsible container placed on a first collapsible container and a plurality of side panels, wherein at least one of the side panels is configured to lock in place in at least one position, wherein at least one of the side panels has both a foldable portion and a fixed portion and wherein the system provides for load bearing members for securing another collapsible container or device on top of a first collapsible container in either the folded or the extended configuration. Some embodiments of the collapsible container include an anchor member configured to anchor the collapsible container to a surface. Methods of stacking and methods of manufacturing the above embodiments are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces; a plurality of support members attached to said base and configured to support said collapsible container; legs configured to attach to said base, said legs configured to support a second collapsible c

What is claimed is: 1. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces; a plurality of support members attached to said base and configured to support said collapsible container; legs configured to attach to said base, said legs configured to support a second collapsible container placed on top of said collapsible container; and a plurality of side panels having edges, wherein each of said side panels is connected to said base along at least a portion of one of said edges, wherein at least one of said side panels has a foldable portion and a fixed portion, wherein at least one of said side panels is configured to lock in place in at least one position via at least two spring-loaded slam latches mechanically connected to a common member so as to disengage in response to a force applied to said common member, and wherein at least one of said side panels is locked in place via at least one guidebolt. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein each of said side panels connected to said base is positioned on an opposite side of said base from another of said side panels. 3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said side panels comprise a wire matrix. 4. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said at least two mechanically connected spring-loaded slam latches are configured to release said at least one of said side panels when a cable assembly is pulled. 5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said legs comprise rigid members. 6. The collapsible container of claim 5 wherein said rigid members are positioned at edges of said base. 7. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein at least four support members are attached to said base. 8. The collapsible container of claim 7, wherein at least one of said support members is a fixed position caster. 9. The collapsible container of claim 7, wherein at least one of said support members is a swivel caster. 10. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said at least one position includes an upright position substantially perpendicular to said base. 11. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said at least one position includes a position substantially parallel to said base. 12. The collapsible container of claim 1 comprising means for releasing said at least two spring-loaded slam latches. 13. The collapsible container of claim 1 comprising means for locking said at least two spring-loaded slam latches. 14. The collapsible container of claim 1 comprising means for folding a side panel. 15. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces; legs attached to said base; a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels permanently attached to said base; and leg extension members rotationally attached to said legs, such that in an upward configuration said leg extension members may support a load placed on top of said collapsible container and such that in a folded configuration said legs are the primary load bearing members for a load placed on top said collapsible container. 16. A container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces; legs attached to said base, said legs configured to support a second collapsible container placed on top of said collapsible container; a plurality of side panels having edges, wherein each of said side panels is permanently connected to said base along at least a portion of one of said edges, wherein at least one of said side panels has a foldable portion and a fixed portion, and wherein at least one of said side panels is configured to lock in place via a guidebolt or a spring-loaded slam latch; leg extension members rotationally attached to said legs, such that in an upward configuration said leg extension members may support a load placed on top of said collapsible container and the collapsible container defines an interior space capable of maintaining maximum content of a first volume, and such that in a folded configuration said legs are the primary load bearing members for a load placed on top of said collapsible container and said collapsible container defines an interior space capable of maintaining a maximum content capacity of a second volume that is different than said first volume; and at least one anchor member attached to said base and extending downwardly from said base, said anchor member configured to anchor said container to a mechanical system configured to produce lateral migration of said container. 17. The container of claim 16, wherein said anchor member is configured to anchor said container to a moving vehicle. 18. The container of claim 16, wherein said anchor member is a tow pin. 19. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces, four side walls connected to and extending upward from said base, wherein said four side walls are permanently attached to said base; two side panels, each of said side panels having an edge which is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to an edge of said four side walls, wherein said two side panels are configured to fold toward said base; two end panels, each of said end panels having an edge which is substantially adjacent to and substantially parallel to an edge of said four side walls; and a label holder located on said collapsible container, wherein said two end panels are configured to fold toward said base, and wherein said two side panels and said two end panels may be locked in a position extending upward from said base so that said base, said four side walls, said two side panels and said two end panels form five sides of said collapsible container. 20. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said two side panels are configured to remain attached to said collapsible container when folding towards said base and when in a completely folded position. 21. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said two end panels are configured to pivot inward or outward when folding towards said base. 22. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said two side panels are configured to remain attached to said collapsible container when folding inward and towards said base. 23. The collapsible container of claim 19 further comprising legs attached to said base that extend upward from said base, said legs configured to provide support for at least one of said four walls. 24. The collapsible container of claim 23, wherein said legs are rigid members with each rigid member having at least two ends. 25. The collapsible container of claim 24 further comprising recesses on one end of said rigid members and protrusions on another end of said rigid members, wherein said protrusions are configured to rest in said recesses when one collapsible container is stacked upon another. 26. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein a plurality of said collapsible containers are configured to be stacked three high when said collapsible containers are empty and/or when said end panels and said side panels comprising leg extension members are in a folded position. 27. The collapsible container of claim 26, wherein said collapsible containers are configured be stacked two high when said side panels and said leg extension members are locked in an upright position. 28. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein the label holder comprises a label holder pocket. 29. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein the label holder comprises a display panel for routing and/or handling information. 30. The collapsible container of claim 19 comprising means for folding a side panel about an axis. 31. The collapsible container of claim 19 comprising means for folding an end panel about an axis in an inward or outward direction. 32. The collapsible container of claim 15, wherein when the leg extension members are in the upward configuration, the collapsible container maintains a first volume and wherein when the leg extension members are in the folded configuration the collapsible container maintains a second volume. 33. The collapsible container of claim 32, wherein the first volume is greater than the second volume. 34. The collapsible container of claim 32, wherein the second volume is configured to receive goods. 35. A collapsible container comprising: a base having top and bottom surfaces; legs attached to said base; a plurality of side panels attached to said base; and leg extension members attached to said legs, such that in a first configuration said leg extension members will support a load placed on top of said collapsible container and the collapsible container defines an interior space capable of maintaining maximum content capacity of a first volume, and such that in a second configuration said legs are the primary load bearing members for a load placed on top of said collapsible container and said collapsible container defines an interior space capable of maintaining maximum content capacity of a second volume that is different than said first volume.