Collapsible shipping container

Claim 1

A collapsible shipping container formed of a semi-rigid thermoplastic material and adapted for stacking in a vertical relationship with a corresponding collapsible shipping container in an erect position and a collapsed position, comprising: an integrally formed predeterminedly shaped transporting member adapted for folding to and from a collapsed position and an erected position forming a shipping receptacle for receiving cargo, said transporting member comprising: a generally rectangular base member having a pair of opposing end edges and a pair of opposing side edges; a pair of opposed fixed upstanding end flanges perpendicularly connected with said base member, each of said upstanding end flanges having a bottom edge located adjacent one of said opposing end edges, a pair of opposing side edges and an upper edge substantially parallel to and located a predetermined distance from the bottom edge; a pair of opposed end walls pivotally connected with said pair of opposed fixed upstanding end flanges with each of said opposed end walls having a bottom edge located adjacent the upper edge of each upstanding end flange, a pair of opposing side edges and an upper edge substantially parallel to and located a predetermined distance from said bottom edge, said pair of opposed end walls being arranged for movement to and from a collapsed position substantially adjacent and parallel to said base member and an erected position substantially perpendicular to said base member; a pair of opposed side walls pivotally connected with said base member with each of said opposed side walls having a bottom edge located adjacent one of said opposing side edges, a pair of opposing end edges and an upper edge parallel to and located a predetermined distance from said bottom edge, said pair of opposed side walls being arranged for movement to and from a collapsed position adjacent to said base member and an erected position substantially perpendicular to said base member; means mounted with each of said side walls and said end walls for releasably interlocking each of said side walls with both of said end walls in an overlapping arrangement when said side walls and end walls are in the erected position to form the shipping receptacle adapted for receiving cargo; means mounted with said base member for forming a plurality of fixed upstanding reinforced corners substantially perpendicular thereto located at the junctures of said opposing end edges with said opposing side edges of said base member, said reinforced corners adapted to provide reinforcing support and protection to said interlocking means when said side walls and side end walls are interlocked in the erected position; and an integrally formed predeterminedly shaped lid member adapted for mounting with the opposed edges of said end walls and side walls of the transporting member in the erected position to form an enclosed shipping receptacle for shipping cargo and for receiving and carrying said transporting member in the collapsed position, said lid member comprising: a lid having a generally rectangular shape and a size slightly greater than the size of said base member of the transporting member; and a fixed outwardly extending peripheral flange perpendicularly connected with said lid about its periphery, said peripheral flange extending outward a predetermined distance thereto; said lid member being positioned for mounting with the upper edges of said opposed end walls and side walls in the erected position whereby the peripheral flange is disposed outwardly therefrom to provide said enclosed shipping receptacle; and said lid member being positionable in an inverted position having said transporting member positioned adjacently therein when said side walls and end walls are in the collapsed position whereby the peripheral flange is disposed outwardly of said base member and said side walls and end walls for carrying the collapsible container in the collapsed position; and cooperating means respectively mounted with the lid member and the base member of said transporting member for preventing inadvertent relative movement when the shipping container is vertically stacked relative to a corresponding shipping container.