GB2203131A

GB2203131A - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: GB2203131A
Application number: GB08707594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Brian Gillespie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-31
Filing date: 1987-03-31
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-31
Also published as: GB8707594D0; GB2203131B

Abstract

An open-top collapsible container (10), e.g. for bathing pets or babies, formed from a waterproof material, comprises a base panel (12), opposed side wall panels (14, 16) hinged to the base panel and end wall panels (22, 24) hinged to the base panel and to said side wall panels. Transverse and upright stiffening elements (42, 46, 50; 44, 48, 52) borne by opposed wall panels of the container cooperate with one another to hold said opposed wall panels upright when the container is erected and detachable stiffening members (54, 56) borne by the opposed side wall panels (14, 16) cooperate with the upright stiffening elements to hold the wall panels upright and to provide a brace between opposed wall panels (22, 24). <IMAGE>

Description

FOLDAWAY BATH This invention relates to an open-top collapsible waterproof container which is particularly useful as a temporary bath for pets or babies. The bath is readily erected for use and can then be collapsed substantially flat for storage or transport without then occupying much space.

The invention provides an open-top collapsible container formed from a waterproof material and comprising a base panel, opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel and end wall panels hinged to the base panel and to said side wall panels, transverse and upright stiffening elements provided by opposed wall panels of the container and adapted to cooperate with one another to hold said opposed wall panels erect and detachable stiffening members provided by the other said opposed side wall panels for cooperation with upright stiffening elements to hold the wall panels upright and to provide a brace between said opposed wall panels.

According to a feature of the invention, upright stiffening elements are provided at opposite ends of each side wall panel.

According to another feature of the invention, transverse stiffening elements are provided at the upper ends of each end wall panel. Preferably, further transverse stiffening elements are provided at each end of the base.

According to another feature of the invention, the detachable stiffening members are received at the uppermost longitudinal edges of the side wall panels.

Preferably, the upright and transverse stiffening elements are interposed between two plys of material in the container panels. The ends of each stiffening element preferably stop short of the ends of the adjacent stiffening elements so that the material of the container wall panels therebetween provide hinged areas about which the container wall panels are foldable to erect and collapse the container.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a collapsible container according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is an end view of the collapsible container; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the collapsible container; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible container seen from above and one end.

The collapsible open-top container 10 is of rectangular form and fabricated from a waterproof material e.g. a sheet plastics material such as P.V.C. The container has a base panel 12, opposed side walls 14, 16, integrally hinged at their lower ends to opposite longitudinal edges of the base panel about fold lines 18 and 20 respectively, and opposed end panels 22 and 24.

End panels 22 and 24 are integrally hinged at their lower ends to opposite transverse edges of the base panel about fold lines 26 and 28 respectively and are also integrally hinged to the upright end edges of the side panels 14 and 16 about fold lines 30, 32 and 34, 36 respectively.

The side wall panels and end wall panels are upwardly flared to give better access to the container when erected and in use. Transverse stiffening elements 38 and 40 are provided at each of the opposite ends of base panel 12 and similar transverse stiffening elements 42 and 44 are provided at the uppermost edges of the end wall panels 12 and 14.

In order to give vertical rigidity, upright stiffening elements 46 and 48 are provided at each of the opposite ends of side wall panel 14 and similarly, upright stiffening elements 50 and 52 are provided at each of the opposite ends of side wall panel 16. When the container is erected, the stiffening elements are mutually bracing. The stiffening elements can be formed from any suitable rigid material and preferably the container body is fabricated from two-ply material and the stiffening elements interposed and stitched and/ or welded in position between the two plys of material.

The uppermost longitudinal edges of each side wall panel is formed to provide a tube 54 and 56 into which elongate rigid rods 58 and 60 are received to hold the container erect. The elongate rods provide stiffening members which brace against the upright stiffening elements 46, 48 and 50, 52 in the side wall panels to prevent vertical collapse of the container walls and also brace against the transverse stiffening elements 42 and 44 to prevent inward collapsing of the container walls.

In order to collapse the container for storage and/or transport it is simply necessary to withdraw the rods from their retaining tubes. The stiffening elements stop short of one another at their ends so that the material of the wall panels therebetween provide hinged areas about which the panel walls can be folded into a substantially flat collapsed condition into overlapping relationship with the base panel.

In order to facilitate drainage of the contents of the container after use, a drain plug 62 is provided at the lower end of end wall 22.

Claims

1. An open-top collapsible container formed from a waterproof material and comprising a base panel, opposed side wall panels hinged to the base panel and end wall panels hinged to the base panel and to said side wall panels, transverse and upright stiffening elements provided by opposed wall panels of the container and adapted to cooperate with one another to hold said opposed wall panels upright when the container is erected and detachable stiffening members provided by the other said opposed side wall panels for cooperation with upright stiffening elements to hold the wall panels upright and to provide a brace between said opposed wall panels.

2. An open-top collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein upright stiffening elements are provided at opposite ends of each side wall panel.

3. An open-top collapsible container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein transverse stiffening elements are provided at the upper ends of each end wall panel.

4. An open-top collapsible container according to claim 3, wherein further transverse stiffening elements are provided at each end of the base.

5. An open-top collapsible container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detachable stiffening members are received at the uppermost longitudinal edges of the side wall panels.

6. An open-top collapsible container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upright and transverse stiffening elements are interposed between two plys of material in the container panels.

7. An open-top collapsible container according to claim 6, wherein the ends of each stiffening element stop short of the ends of the adjacent stiffening elements so that the material of the container wall panels therebetween provide hinged areas about which the container wall panels are foldable to erect and collapse the container.

8. An open-top collapsible container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.