초록 ▼

Collapsible reusable carrying cases are provided in sizes varying from small food containers to large push cart bins on casters. The cases are assembled or disassembled from a joined flat space-saving configuration to a functioning case and vice-versa. All parts that make up a carrying case do not s

Collapsible reusable carrying cases are provided in sizes varying from small food containers to large push cart bins on casters. The cases are assembled or disassembled from a joined flat space-saving configuration to a functioning case and vice-versa. All parts that make up a carrying case do not separate from the carrying case and no parts can be removed. The cases are formed from rigid plastic panels, and are assembled or disassembled without tools. The sides of the cases are erected progressively by hand by interlocking elements at the corners. The panels also disassemble progressively by being manually pulled apart. When folded into a flat storage or shipping configuration, the panels stay together, resisting unfolding by virtue of snaps which are either molded into the panels or bonded to them. The carrying cases are resistant to water, dirt, bacteria, molds, allergens, and inclement weather.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case comprising: a substantially rectangular bottom panel;a pair of upwardly extending end panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a pair of upwardly extending side panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a cover

1. A collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case comprising: a substantially rectangular bottom panel;a pair of upwardly extending end panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a pair of upwardly extending side panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a cover panel joined to a top edge of one of said side or end panels at a fold line;said bottom panel, end panels and side panels forming a top opening, said cover panel swiveling between a position closing said top opening and a position exposing said top opening;said side and end panels having releasable closure attachments where side edges of said side and end panels meet forming said carrying case;said releasable closure attachments comprising single rows of upwardly extending, spaced nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels;each nib comprising a base attached to a panel, a distal dome section, and a neck joining said base and said dome section;said single rows of upwardly extending, spaced nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels extending continuously top to bottom or side to side along the respective adjacent edges of said side and end panels of said container/carrying case;said single rows of said nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels interlocking at right angles to each other when said adjacent edges of said side and end end panels are brought edge to edge, flush together, with no gaps therebetween, to form said carrying case; andwhereby said panels open up to form a flat, interconnected assembly for storage and shipping. 2. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 1 in which all of said panels are constructed of rigid plastic material. 3. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 2 in which said panels are molded plastic panels. 4. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 2 in which said panels are corrugated plastic panels. 5. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 3 in which said spaced nibs are mounted on and integral with strips attached along said adjoined edges of said side and end panels. 6. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 3 in which said nibs are molded material more flexible than the plastic material forming said panels. 7. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 6 having a gasket around a base line along each strip of said nibs for making said carrying case air and water-tight when fully deployed. 8. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 7 in which said fold lines are living hinges. 9. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 8 in which said cover panel has an integrally molded gasket along all four sides thereof. 10. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 9 in which said cover panel has downwardly extending flaps along outer edges thereof with male protrusions fitted into and lock with molded recesses molded into said side and end panels for extra sealing of said cover panel when closing said top opening. 11. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 9 in which at least one of said panels is transparent for viewing and identifying contents of said carrying case. 12. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 2 in which upper corners of a side or end panel opposite the fold line connected to said cover each have a captive inverted U-pin for reinforcing corners of said case, said U-pin having a pair of legs, a shorter leg and a longer leg so that when said pin is raised the shorter leg comes out of contact with one of said reinforcing corners allowing said U-pin to be rotated for disassembly and assembly, said longer leg remaining captive. 13. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case as in claim 2 wherein said molded flat plastic panels are made of a thermoplastic resin material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate and polypropylene or combinations thereof. 14. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case as in claim 1 wherein respective sides of said collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case are erected progressively by hand by interlocking said closure attachments at the corners, and disassembled progressively by manually being pulled. 15. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case of claim 4 wherein said corrugated plastic panels are made of corrugated plastic and are foldable along fold lines by pressing a tool edge in the desired location; said corrugations being crushed forming a fold line if said fold line is orthogonal to the corrugations, further wherein respective edges of said molded flat plastic panels are assembled progressively from a respective base to a respective top edge by engaging said nibs which protrude at right angles to each panel on an edge thereof, forming each respective fold line, said engagement of said nibs being engageable at orthogonal right angles. 16. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case as in claim 1 wherein said side panels are rectangular, forming upright vertical walls when assembled. 17. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying case as in claim 1 wherein said side panels are trapezoidal, forming sloping walls when assembled. 18. The collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable container/carrying cases comprising: a substantially rectangular bottom panel;a pair of upwardly extending end panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a pair of upwardly extending side panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines;a cover panel joined to a top edge of one of said side or end panels at a fold line;said bottom panel, end panels and side panels forming a top opening, said cover panel swiveling between a position closing said top opening and a position exposing said top opening;said side and end panels having releasable closure attachments where side edges of said side and end panels meet forming said carrying case;said releasable closure attachments comprising single rows of upwardly extending, spaced nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels;each nib comprising a base attached to a panel, a distal dome section, and a neck joining said base and said dome section;said single rows of upwardly extending, spaced nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels extending continuously top to bottom or side to side along the respective adjacent edges of said side and end panels of said container/carrying case;said single rows of said nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels interlocking at right angles to each other when said adjacent edges of said side and end end panels are brought edge to edge, flush together, with no gaps therebetween, to form said carrying case; andwhereby said panels open up to form a flat, interconnected assembly for storage and shipping;in which upper corners of a side or end panel opposite the fold line connected to said cover each have a captive inverted U-pin for reinforcing corners of said case, said U-pin having a pair of legs, a shorter leg and a longer leg so that when said pin is raised the shorter leg comes out of contact with one of said reinforcing corners allowing said U-pin to be rotated for disassembly and assembly, said longer leg remaining captive; and,wherein said container/carrying case further comprises a push cart with a wheeled frame supported by casters and a central-locking brake system engageable by a foot pedal which is pushed down into a latched position providing both auditory a tactile feedback of having achieved the locked state, said brake being disengaged by a brake release pedal which unlatches said brake pedal, braking being accomplished by a ring brake forced downwardly by a spring onto a top of each caster, rotation of a cam by a brake release pedal to withdraw said ring brake from each of said casters. 19. A method of forming and using a reusable and stackable carrying case comprising the steps of: forming said carrying case from a substantially rectangular bottom panel, a pair of upwardly extending end panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines, a pair of upwardly extending side panels connected to said bottom panel at fold lines, and a cover panel joined to a top edge of one of said side or end panels at a fold line;providing releasable closure elements being single columns of upwardly extending nibs intersecting with, and engaging with, respective single columns of upwardly extending interlocking spaced nibs of adjacent side and end panels at about ninety degrees from each other, said engagement of said nibs being engageable at orthogonal right angles;said single rows of upwardly extending, spaced nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels extending continuously top to bottom or side to side along the respective adjacent edges of said side and end panels of said container/carrying case;said single rows of said nibs on adjacent edges of said side and end panels interlocking at right angles to each other when said adjacent edges of said side and end end panels are brought edge to edge, flush together, with no gaps therebetween, to form said carrying case; andfolding said end panels and side panels upwardly forming a top opening;swiveling said cover panel between a position closing said top opening and a position exposing said top opening;using said releasable closure elements along side edges of adjoining side and end panels for securing corners of said carrying case;using said carrying case to store or ship contents therein; andafter emptying said carrying case, opening said panels open up to form a flat, interconnected assembly for storage and shipping. 20. The method of claim 19 in which all of said panels are constructed of rigid plastic material.