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A collapsible container is provided that incorporates various features for improving the stability of the container and for reducing damage to the items carried by the container. The container may include a stabilizing hinge assembly including a stabilizing ledge and a stabilizing hook that securely

A collapsible container is provided that incorporates various features for improving the stability of the container and for reducing damage to the items carried by the container. The container may include a stabilizing hinge assembly including a stabilizing ledge and a stabilizing hook that securely engage the respective sidewalls to the base of the container to stiffen the container and distribute the loads more evenly. The sidewalls and base of the container may also define contact areas to support the carried items without bruising or damaging the items. Non-contact areas of the container that do not come into contact with the items may include openings that are aligned with other openings in the container and other adjacent containers to provide a consistent flow of air through a number of containers stacked beside one another. The sidewalls may also include various latching features to maintain the container in the expanded configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A stabilizing hinge assembly comprising: a hinge including a hinge member and a hinge receiver configured to receive the hinge member, the engagement of the hinge receiver with the hinge member defining a hinge axis;a stabilizing ledge fixedly connected to one of the hinge member and the hinge re

1. A stabilizing hinge assembly comprising: a hinge including a hinge member and a hinge receiver configured to receive the hinge member, the engagement of the hinge receiver with the hinge member defining a hinge axis;a stabilizing ledge fixedly connected to one of the hinge member and the hinge receiver; anda stabilizing hook fixedly connected to the other of the hinge member and the hinge receiver,wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to contact and abut the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the hinge axis to a first position and wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to separate from the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the hinge axis to a second position, wherein the first position and the second position are approximately 90° apart, and wherein abutment of the stabilizing ledge and the stabilizing hook precludes further rotation of the hinge assembly past the first position. 2. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing ledge comprises: an undercut portion defining a first engagement surface, anda ledge extension defining a first support surface,and wherein the stabilizing hook comprises: a hook portion defining a second engagement surface, anda hook extension defining a second support surface,the hook portion of the stabilizing hook being configured to engage the undercut portion of the stabilizing ledge such that the first engagement surface engages the second engagement surface, and the hook extension of the stabilizing hook configured to engage the ledge extension of the stabilizing ledge such that the first support surface engages the second support surface. 3. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 2, wherein the first engagement surface and the first support surface are configured to engage the second engagement surface and the second support surface, respectively, substantially simultaneously. 4. A wall comprising: a base wall portion having a base edge;a sidewall portion; andthe stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 1 pivotally connecting the base edge to the upper wall portion. 5. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing ledge extends substantially continuously along a length of the respective base edge and the stabilizing hook extends substantially continuously along a length of the respective wall. 6. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing ledge comprises a plurality of discrete stabilizing ledges dispersed along a length of a respective one of the base edge or the wall. 7. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 6, wherein at least two of the stabilizing ledges are positioned on opposite sides of the hinge. 8. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing hook comprises a plurality of discrete stabilizing hooks dispersed along a length of a respective one of the base edge or the wall. 9. The stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to engage the stabilizing ledge along a plane positioned on an opposite side of the hinge axis from the base. 10. A container comprising: a base having a plurality of base edges; anda plurality of walls;wherein each of the base edges are pivotally connected to a corresponding wall by the stabilizing hinge assembly of claim 1. 11. A collapsible container having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the container comprising: a base defining a plurality of base edges; anda plurality of walls;wherein each wall includes a hinge member,wherein each base edge includes a hinge receiver configured to receive a corresponding hinge member so as to engage a respective base edge with a corresponding wall such that each wall is rotatable about the corresponding base edge, the engagement of the hinge receiver with the hinge member defining a hinge axis,wherein at least one of the base edges defines a stabilizing ledge fixedly connected to the respective hinge receiver, andwherein at least one of the walls defines a stabilizing hook fixedly connected to the respective hinge member,wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to contact and abut the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the respective hinge axis to a first position, in which the container is in the expanded configuration, and wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to separate from the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the respective hinge axis to a second position, in which the container is in the collapsed configuration, wherein the first position and the second position are approximately 90° apart, and wherein abutment of the stabilizing ledge and the stabilizing hook precludes further rotation of the hinge assembly past the first position. 12. The container of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing ledge comprises: an undercut portion defining a first engagement surface, anda ledge extension defining a first support surface,and wherein the stabilizing hook comprises: a hook portion defining a second engagement surface, anda hook extension defining a second support surface,wherein the hook portion of the stabilizing hook is configured to engage the undercut portion of the stabilizing ledge such that the first engagement surface engages the second engagement surface, and the hook extension of the stabilizing hook is configured to engage the ledge extension of the stabilizing ledge such that the first support surface engages the second support surface. 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the first engagement surface and the first support surface are configured to engage the second engagement surface and the second support surface, respectively, substantially simultaneously. 14. The container of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing ledge extends substantially continuously along a length of the base edge, and wherein the stabilizing hook extends substantially continuously along a length of the wall. 15. The container of claim 11, wherein each corresponding hinge receiver and hinge member are configured to cooperate to form a hinge connection. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the at least one base edge defines a stabilizing ledge on a first side of the hinge connection and a stabilizing ledge on a second side of the hinge connection, and wherein the at least one wall defines a stabilizing hook on a first side of the hinge connection and a stabilizing hook on a second side of the hinge connection. 17. The container of claim 15, wherein a first pair of opposed walls may be rotated about respective hinge connections to a collapsed configuration in which the first pair of opposed walls rests adjacent the base member and a second pair of opposed walls may be rotated about respective hinge connections to a collapsed configuration in which the second pair of opposed walls rests adjacent the first pair of opposed walls. 18. The container of claim 17, wherein a first pair of opposed base edges corresponding to the first pair of opposed walls defines a first height, and wherein a second pair of opposed base edges corresponding to the second pair of opposed walls defines a second height that is different from the first height such that, in the collapsed configuration, the second pair of opposed walls defines a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane of the base. 19. A method of manufacturing a stabilizing hinge assembly comprising: forming a hinge member;forming a hinge receiver configured to receive the hinge member;engaging the hinge member with the hinge receiver to define a hinge axis;fixedly connecting a stabilizing ledge to one of the hinge member or the hinge receiver; andfixedly connecting a stabilizing hook to the other of the hinge member or the hinge receiver,wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to contact and abut the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the hinge axis to a first position and wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to separate from the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the hinge axis to a second position, wherein the first position and the second position are approximately 90° apart, and wherein abutment of the stabilizing ledge and the stabilizing hook precludes further rotation of the hinge assembly past the first position. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the stabilizing ledge comprises: an undercut portion defining a first engagement surface, anda ledge extension defining a first support surface,and wherein the stabilizing hook comprises: a hook portion defining a second engagement surface, anda hook extension defining a second support surface,the hook portion of the stabilizing hook being configured to engage the undercut portion of the stabilizing ledge such that the first engagement surface engages the second engagement surface, and the hook extension of the stabilizing hook configured to engage the ledge extension of the stabilizing ledge such that the first support surface engages the second support surface. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first engagement surface and the first support surface are configured to engage the second engagement surface and the second support surface, respectively, substantially simultaneously. 22. A method of manufacturing a collapsible container, wherein the collapsible container has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the method comprising: forming a base defining a plurality of base edges;forming a plurality of walls;providing at least one hinge member on each of the walls;providing at least one hinge receiver on each of the base edges, wherein each hinge receiver is configured to receive a corresponding hinge member so as to engage a respective base edge with a corresponding wall such that each wall is rotatable about the corresponding base edge, the engagement of the hinge receiver with the hinge member defining a hinge axis;defining a stabilizing ledge on at least one of the base edges, wherein the stabilizing ledge is fixedly connected to the respective hinge receiver, anddefining a stabilizing hook on at least one of the walls, wherein the stabilizing hook is fixedly connected to the respective hinge member,wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to contact and abut the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the respective hinge axis to a first position, in which the container is in the expanded configuration, and wherein the stabilizing hook is configured to separate from the stabilizing ledge when the stabilizing hook is rotated about the respective hinge axis to a second position, in which the container is in the collapsed configuration, wherein the first position and the second position are approximately 90° apart, and wherein abutment of the stabilizing ledge and the stabilizing hook precludes further rotation of the hinge assembly past the first position. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein defining the stabilizing ledge comprises: forming an undercut portion defining a first engagement surface, andproviding a ledge extension defining a first support surface,and wherein defining the stabilizing hook comprises: forming a hook portion defining a second engagement surface, andproviding a hook extension defining a second support surface,wherein the hook portion of the stabilizing hook is configured to engage the undercut portion of the stabilizing ledge such that the first engagement surface engages the second engagement surface, and the hook extension of the stabilizing hook is configured to engage the ledge extension of the stabilizing ledge such that the first support surface engages the second support surface. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first engagement surface and the first support surface are configured to engage the second engagement surface and the second support surface, respectively, substantially simultaneously. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein defining the stabilizing ledge comprises defining a stabilizing ledge that extends substantially continuously along a length of the respective base edge, and wherein defining the stabilizing hook comprises defining a stabilizing hook that extends substantially continuously along a length of the respective wall. 26. The method of claim 23, wherein each corresponding hinge receiver and hinge member are configured to cooperate to form a hinge connection, wherein defining the stabilizing ledge comprises defining a stabilizing ledge on a first side of the hinge connection and defining a stabilizing ledge on a second side of the hinge connection, and wherein defining the stabilizing hook comprises defining a stabilizing hook on a first side of the hinge connection and defining a stabilizing hook on a second side of the hinge connection. 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the container is configured such that a first pair of opposed walls may be rotated about respective hinge connections to a collapsed configuration in which the first pair of opposed walls rests adjacent the base member and a second pair of opposed walls may be rotated about respective hinge connections to a collapsed configuration in which the second pair of opposed walls rests adjacent the first pair of opposed walls. 28. The method of claim 23, wherein the container is configured such that a first pair of opposed base edges corresponding to the first pair of opposed walls defines a first height, and wherein a second pair of opposed base edges corresponding to the second pair of opposed walls defines a second height that is different from the first height such that, in the collapsed configuration, the second pair of opposed walls defines a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane of the base.