| Collapsible container and method of shopping -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Collapsible container and method of shoppingRelated Patent Categories: Receptacles, Sectional, FoldingCollapsible container and method of shopping description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060207989, Collapsible container and method of shopping. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a collapsible container and method of shopping suitable for supermarket shopping. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Supermarkets are currently making efforts to reduce the number of plastic bags dispensed to shoppers. Plastic shopping bags are not easily biodegradable and contribute to pollution of the environment. Presently, supermarkets sell inexpensive reusable shopping bags for shoppers to carry their groceries. While such shopping bags are useful for small shopping trips, families on big grocery shopping trips which generally fill one or two trolleys cannot efficiently use such reusable shopping bags as they would require a substantial number of such bags to contain all their groceries. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention aims to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the prior art disadvantages or at least provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In one aspect, the present invention proves a collapsible container including: [0005] a base of a quadrilateral configuration so as to provide a pair of spaced generally parallel end edges and a pair of spaced generally parallel side edges; [0006] an upper rim of a quadrilateral configuration so as to provide a pair of spaced generally parallel end edges and a pair of spaced generally parallel side edges; [0007] a pair of side walls, each side wall extending generally between respective corresponding side edges of the base and upper rim when in an assembled position of said side wall, each side wall pivotally attached to one of said corresponding side edges so as to be angularly movable between said assembled position and a collapsed position where said side wall is positioned over and substantially parallel to the base; [0008] a pair of end walls, each end wall extending generally between respective corresponding end edges of the base and upper rim when in an assembled position of said end wall, each end wall including a lower panel pivotally attached to one base end edge and an upper panel pivotally attached to one upper rim end edge, the lower and upper panels of each end wall pivotally attached to each other for movement between said assembled position and a collapsed position where the lower and upper panels are stacked over and substantially parallel to said base; and [0009] wherein in the collapsed positions of the side and end walls, the upper rim is moved to a position substantially adjacent the base. [0010] The side walls are preferably pivotally attached to respective side edges of the upper rim. Preferably, the side walls fully extend between the base and the upper rim. [0011] One of the side walls is preferably perpendicular to the base in its assembled position. The other side wall is preferably at an obtuse angle relative to the base in its assembled position. The end walls are preferably at an obtuse angle relative to the base in their assembled position. The upper rim and base are preferably substantially in the shape of a trapezoid. [0012] Preferably, the upper rim includes handles. The handles are preferably portions of the upper rim which are disposed inwardly of the upper rim periphery to form indents in the upper rim. The handles are preferably portions of the end edges. Preferably, the base and handles are dimensioned such that a first assembled container can be placed on top of a second assembled container with the first container base resting on the second container handles. The base, side walls and end walls are all preferably disposed inwardly of the indents in the collapsed position of the side walls and end walls. [0013] The container preferably further includes releasable locking means for locking the side walls in their assembled position. The container preferably further includes releasable locking means for locking the end walls in their assembled position. [0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a stack of a plurality of containers according to the above, wherein the side and end walls of the containers are in their collapsed positions. Preferably, the collapsed containers are stacked with their indents aligned. [0015] In another aspect, the present invention provides a bag carrying the plurality of collapsed containers. The bag preferably includes a securement strap extending along a set of the aligned indents for securing the collapsed containers to the bag. The bag preferably includes an attachment means for attachment to a shopping trolley. [0016] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of shopping comprising: [0017] (a) carrying at least one collapsible container, the container(s) having substantially rigid side and end walls; [0018] (b) selecting goods to be purchased; [0019] (c) paying for the selected goods; [0020] (d) assembling said collapsible container(s); and Continue reading about Collapsible container and method of shopping... Full patent description for Collapsible container and method of shopping Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Collapsible container and method of shopping patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Collapsible container and method of shopping or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Control of a cooktop heating element Next Patent Application: Barrel liner rim retention method and apparatus Industry Class: Receptacles ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Collapsible container and method of shopping patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.2198 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
