Collapsible/expandable shipping rack

Claim 1

A collapsible/expandable shipping rack comprising a generally rectangular bottom wall, a pair of oppositely disposed end walls, hinge means securing each end wall at the lower marginal edges thereof to the bottom wall, each end wall adapted to be pivoted from an upright position to a collapsed position over the bottom wall, each end wall comprising a central support section which is secured by the hinge means to the bottom wall, a pair of width expanding sections, horizontal track means on the central support section, each of the width expanding sections being mounted on the horizontal track means for horizontal movement to expand or contract the width of the rack, first latching means on the central support section to releasably latch the width expanding sections in a desired position, a height expanding section, vertical track means on the central support section, the height expanding section being mounted on the vertical track means for vertical movement to expand or contract the height of the rack, second latching means on the central support section to releasably latch the height expanding section in a desired position, a plurality of side rails of a length to extend between the width expanding sections when the end walls are in an upright position to form a side wall structure, third latching means on the width expanding sections to releasably latch the side rails to the width expanding sections, the side rails maintaining the end walls in an upright position when latched in place and being removable by unlatching the third latching means to permit pivoting of the end walls into a collapsed position over the bottom wall.