FOLDABLE SEALING CONTAINER APPARATUS

Abstract

An airtight, water tight sealing and resealing system for food products and other such perishables. The sealing system may include one sheet of material or a combination of materials divided into panels, including corner foldable panels, which when folded link a set of side panels together to encompass a sealed storage container. A series of corner folding and side panels are secured wherein the corner panels are adhered together by numerous methods. In a reusable alternative, corner folding panels easily join and separate for ease of use and reuse and to minimize the required space for container storage.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present system pertains to sealable storage, consumption and transport systems and particularly to systems for sealing and resealing of food products which, in conjunction, afford the user transportability, storage and usability for direct consumption from the system.

2. Description of Concurrent Art

Presently, food is transported or stored in sealed containers made of glass or plastic. Containers include Ziploc® bags and various shapes of bowl like containers such as Tupperware®. Leftover food is stored in sealed containers in a refrigerator. Adults and children bring food to school, the work place, on trips or the like in sealed containers. Often, containers are not returned to the owner as occurs when people bring food to someone else's house for a holiday. Children bring containers to school and do not like the responsibility to bring them home.

Concurrent containers are difficult to store and the inherently differing sizes, various shapes and separate covering apparatuses render storing containers difficult, as many containers do not fit together, consequently, storage in kitchen cabinets, draws and pantries requires a lot of space. Ziploc® bags provide sealed storage of food however, it's collapsible nature make it difficult to store foods which contain liquid, and soft or gel like material such as mash potatoes or stew. Ziploc® bags do not provide or maintain a suitable shape to eat food directly from them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant apparatus and system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. The versatile system, method and series of apparatuses for creating and utilizing a folded sealed container system are illustrated. Thus the several embodiments of the instant apparatus are illustrated herein.

It is a primary object of the present multifunctional apparatus to reveal an easily storable, flat sheet containment mechanism which folds to become a sealed container for food storage and is further easily adaptable to the use of utensils.

It would be further desirable to reveal a version of the instant apparatus and system which is inexpensive and disposable in order to meet with the current recycling nature of society. Said disposable container system would be useful for transportation of leftovers at restaurants, of food and other such materials to schools, of food to houses on holidays and the like.

It would be further desirable to provide a container which is easily assembled and disassembled and provides a disposable or reusable sealed container which is easily stored when not in use.

It is a primary object of the present to provide an originally flat container which when assembled affords the rigidity and strength for use as a dish to eat food directly from it or for transport and storage of food. The foldable sealed container is constructed in one piece (though in one option the cover may be separate), to minimize mixing up covers for different size and shape containers.

The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood, and the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. It is of course not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations or permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture described below is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the versatile integrated foldable container system and series of accompanying systems and apparatuses and embodiments in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practice and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the foldable sealed container with snap or tongue and groove, locking channel or gasket seal foldable corners in a flat configuration.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the foldable sealed container in the operational or folded configuration with snap or Tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal foldable corners

FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of the foldable sealed container with a gasket corner and snap folding systems in a flat configuration.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top plan view of a folding sealed container comprising a set of side walls and a set of folding panels with a gasket corner and snap folding, illustrating the folding panels in the unfolded position.

FIG. 4B illustrates a top plan exploded view of a corner of the foldable sealed container with a gasket corner and snap folding of FIG. 4A in the unfolded position.

FIG. 4C illustrates a top plan view of the folding sealed container comprising a set of side walls and a set of folding panels with a gasket corner and snap folding of FIG. 4A in the folded position.

FIG. 4D illustrates a top plan exploded view of a corner of the foldable sealed container with a gasket corner and snap folding of FIG. 4A in the folded position wherein the corner of foldable sealed container has folding panel which consists of at least two panels which, when brought together, raise the side panels to interpose a seal between the side panels for a tight seal and wherein the folding panel is further folded to approximate side wall and engage snap as seen in corner of foldable sealed container.

FIG. 5 illustrates the flat open foldable sealed container corner with folding panel suction or adhesive retention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the flat open foldable sealed container of this system further illustrating a sealable attached cover.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrates the assembled flat foldable sealed container of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A-8C, illustrates one embodiment of the instant apparatus including an open flat foldable container comprising a set of side panels, a bottom panel, and a set of foldable.

FIG. 9A, illustrates one embodiment of the instant apparatus including an open flat foldable container comprising a set of attached side panels, a bottom panel 272, and a set of foldable constructed to be one third the thickness of side panels which are thinned in the corners to be one third the thickness.

FIG. 9B, illustrates the assembled foldable container of FIG. 9A and further illustrates the corner panels closed and fully folded to the inside of the container.

FIG. 9C, illustrates a cutaway of assembled foldable container of FIG. 9A and further illustrates an outwardly disposed corner panel closed and fully folded against the outside of the container.

FIG. 9D, illustrates a cutaway of assembled foldable container of FIG. 9A and further illustrates an inwardly disposed corner panel closed and fully folded against the inside of the container.

FIG. 10A illustrates a top plan view foldable container embodiment comprising a set of side panels, a bottom panel and a set of foldable corner panels in the unfolded position wherein the foldable corners consist of multiple panels and may comprise between two and ten panels.

FIG. 10B illustrates a top plan view of the foldable container embodiment of FIG. 10 in the assembled position and further illustrating the side panels partly raised to a forty five degree angle to bottom panel.

FIG. 11A illustrates a top plan view of a foldable container embodiment in flat open position comprising a set of side panels a bottom panel and a set of folding corner panels wherein the side panels comprise a substantially trapezoid shape.

FIG. 11B illustrates a top plan view of the foldable container of FIG. 11A in the assembled position, wherein the instant embodiment may comprise between three side panels and twelve side panels.

FIG. 12A illustrates a top plan view a corner section of a foldable container in the open position, wherein the instant embodiment comprises a corner foldable panel a set of side panels and a bottom panel wherein the corner panel comprises at least two folding panels.

FIG. 12B illustrates an additional top plan view of the corner section of a foldable container of claim 12A in the open position, wherein the instant embodiment wherein the corner folding panel comprises a snap projection which snaps through aperture in the folding panel, wherein the snap projection holds the two panels together during folding in order to facilitate folding.

FIG. 12C illustrates an additional top plan view of the corner section of a foldable container of claim 12A and 12B in the folded position.

FIG. 13A illustrates a top plan view of a foldable container embodiment in the open position comprising a set of side panels, a bottom panel, a set of intermediate panels and a set of folding panels wherein the use of the intermediate panels, which may vary in size and shape, facilitates production of a more bowl-like shape with non-ninety degree angles between panels.

FIG. 13B illustrates a side cross sectional view of the foldable container embodiment of FIG. 13A illustrating the container in the folded configuration and further illustrating the intermediate panels forming a more desirable corner between side panels and bottom panel for the use of silverware when eating.

FIG. 14A illustrates a top plan view of a foldable container embodiment in the open position comprising a side panel, a bottom panel, a set of corner folding panels and a retaining mechanism, which may comprise an elastic structure.

FIG. 14B illustrates a side exploded view of a left side panel and the bottom panel of the foldable container embodiment of FIG. 14A further illustrating joints which are designed to restrain the panels from folding beyond a flat configuration when pulled down by the retaining mechanism.

FIG. 14C illustrates an isometric view of the foldable container embodiment of FIG. 14A further illustrating the retaining mechanism in use.

FIG. 14D illustrates an alternative embodiment of the foldable container of FIG. 14A comprising a retaining mechanism, or a set of retaining mechanisms, physically attached at two or more points to pull or cinch the corner panels together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present system provides a container which stores as a flat sheet and folds to become a sealed container comprising rigidity qualities which lend to use as an eating dish and for food storage and transportation. A sheet of material is divided into panels which fold. The corners may be sealed with tongue and groove, locking channel, gasket or other like technology within the state of the art, in order to provide a snap lock seal with no adhesive components required. Additionally, adhesive components may be utilized and the container may be constructed of a uniform material with living hinges or constructed of multiple materials.

A bottom panel is attached to side panels and corner folding panels. Optionally, one of the side panels is attached to a top panel. Corner panels come together to elevate the side panels to form a box. An optional upper, top or cover panel may be attached to a side panel to fold and snap onto the side panels forming a sealed cover. Folding corner panels bring together a tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal or an adhesive seal between side panels sealing the container corners side panel to side panel and side panels to bottom panel. Finger pressure on folding panels and tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal or snaps provides the force required for engagement. Alternatively, any technique which joins two parts together such as Velcro, laser welding, microwave, snaps, heat, adhesive, interlocking folding, etc. is used to secure panels together.

In the preferred embodiment, panels are constructed of a uniform material such as a sheet of polypropylene and use a living hinge to rotate side panels into position. A living hinge is part of a uniform sheet thinned, stamped or even hot stamped, materially dependent, to allow bending along the line of thinned material. Alternatively, each panel is made of one material and joined together with a different material to provide the hinge movement. For example, the panels could be made of polypropylene and joined together with an adhesive celluloid tape or bonded material. Materials are elastic enough to allow flexing but stiff enough to allow panel folding and maintenance of general shape.

Folding corner panels are relatively stiff to allow guiding side panels into position. Folding corner panels may be thin and soft and elastic, however, the preferred embodiment is relatively stiff corner panels.

Panels may be of the same material or of different materials and may be of uniform thickness or variable thickness. The panels may be flat or provide curvature. The junction of the panels is straight or curved. Panels are shaped square, triangular, rectangular, oval, trapezoid or the like. The panels fold to the outside of the box or fold to the inside of the box.

In an alternative embodiment, folding panels fold to the inside of the box and are further folded to the adjacent side panel. Folding panels are joined to a side panel by Velcro, laser welding, microwave, snaps, heat, adhesive, interlocking folding or any technique which will secure parts together, etc may be utilized. Folding panels alternatively are joined to each other first and then joined to a side panel.

An alternative embodiment, container side walls are thinned at areas foldable corner panels join to. Corner panels are thinned to the same thickness as the thinned side panel area such that when fully folded all panel walls are of equal thickness. Thinned side panel area and each folding corner panel are one third of the side panel thickness.

Referring to FIG. 1, an open flat foldable container consists of side panels 4, 8, 10 and 12, bottom panel 6, and folding panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 with hinges between each. Folding panels consist of sub panel 34 and 36 which has tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal component 30 and 32. Top surface of panel 34 and 36 are forced together resulting in engagement of Tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal 30 and 32 while simultaneously raising side panels to form a box. Thus, the user only needs to apply finger pressure to any of the tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal 30 and 32, or snap system the components to seal the corners tightly together and form an air tight seal. Tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal components are separate or joined together at the base by a 45 degree angle. The angle will vary depending on the intended angle of side panels to the bottom panel.

Referring to FIG. 2, the same foldable container of FIG. 1 in the closed position is shown. Foldable sealed container 40 has side panels 4, 8, 10 and 12 held together and sealed by tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal components 30 and 32 of folding panels 20, 22, 24 and 26. Folding panels 24 is optionally further secured by optional snap 33. Foldable sealed container 40 is disassembled by forcing tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal 30 and 32 apart to lay flat for storage.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative folding sealed container 46 is shown in the open flat position. Container 46 consists of bottom panel 54, side panels 50, 52, 56, and 58, and folding panels 60, 62, 64 and 66. The typical folding panel consists of panels 78 and 80. At the junction of folding panels and side panels are gaskets or seals, in combination as hinge mechanisms 72 which when panel 78 is brought to approximate panel 80 by folding on hinge 76, 70 and hinge/seal 72, fit between adjacent side walls to provide a water tight seal. When panel 78 is brought to approximate panel 80, side walls are elevated to form a box. After folding panels 60, 62, 64 and 66 are folded along hinge 76 to form assembled container 46, the folding panels are then further folded to approximate the adjacent side wall 50 and 56 such that snap 82 engages snap 84 to lock the assembled panels positions.

Referring to FIG. 4A-4D, an assembled foldable sealed container is viewed from the top. Folding sealed container 90 has side walls 92, 93, 96, and 98 and folded folding panels 100, 102, 104 and 106. After being assembled, folding panels 100, 102, 104, and 106 fold onto side walls 92 and 96 and then snap to provide a secure foldable sealed container 110. Snap construction may be reversed with the snap being in or out.

Corner 120 of foldable sealed container 90 has folding panel 128 which consists of panel 122 and 123 which when brought together raise side panels 92 and 93 to interpose seal 124 between panels 92 and 93 for a tight seal. Folding panel 128 is further folded to approximate side wall 92 and engage snap 126 as seen in corner 130 of foldable sealed container 110.

Referring to FIG. 5, the corner of a disassembled flat foldable sealed container 140 is shown which consists of bottom panel 159 and side panels 156 and 158. Folding panels 144 and 142 hinge on line 146, 148 and 150 such that sealing areas 152 and 154 approximate. Air is squeezed out and a vacuum created to hold folding panel 142 in close approximation to folding panel 144 until the vacuum is released. Vacuum sealing areas 152 and 154 may be placed on just one panel or both, are made of a material with characteristics to hold a vacuum and may include a material with an adhesive nature.

Referring to FIG. 6, a disassembled flat foldable sealed container 180 has side panels 182, 184, 186 and 187 and foldable panels 188, 189, 190 and 192. In one embodiment, the side panels 182, 184 and 186 may comprise a sealing mechanism 194, 196 and 198 which may be a tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal like design or other snap design to seal cover 200 to side panels when closed. Attached cover 200 folds on hinge 194 which is attached to side wall 187 to form a completely sealed container when foldable panels 188, 189, 190 and 192 fold on to side walls 182, 184, 186 and 187 to form a sealed container such that cover 200 end 206 snaps or tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal s onto 196 of side panel 184. Seal component 202 and 204 surround three sides of cover 200 to engage the seal component 194, 196 and 198 on the top of the side walls. Cover 200 is left open or folded over side panel 187 when stored and not in use.

Referring to FIG. 7, an assembled foldable sealed container 210 of FIG. 6 is shown. Cover 200 is sealed to the assembled side panels. Cross section 212 at area delineated by line 214 shows seal 204 and 202 which is attached to cover 200 snapping onto seal 194 which is attached to wall 186. The seal design is a tongue and groove, locking channel seal, a gasket seal or snap like design.

Referring to FIG. 8, an open flat foldable container 220 consists of side panels 222, 224, 226 and 228, bottom panel 219, and foldable panels 230, 232, 234 and 236. Foldable panel 232 consist of sides 240 and 242. Side 240 has snap 238 attached which when folded snaps onto top wall section 244 of side panel 224. Foldable panels 222, 224, 226 and 228 may be raised to an assembled position as foldable panels 230, 232, 234 and 236 are folded together either inside or outside of the container 220. After folded together, the foldable panels are further folded to snap onto the side wall panels.

A horizontal cross section at the top snap of an assembled container 220 is shown by section 246 and a vertical cross section at line 248 is shown by section 250. Section 246 shows side panel 222, foldable corner panels 240 and 242, snap components 244 and 238. When foldable corner panel 232 is folded against side wall 224, the snap component 238 is raised over the snap component 244 to hold the container in the assembled position.

Referring to FIG. 9A-9D, an open flat foldable container 252 consists of attached side panels 254, 256, 258 and 260, bottom panel 272, and foldable corner panels 254, 256, 258 and 260. Foldable corner panels 254, 256, 258 and 260 are constructed to be one third the thickness of side panels 254, 256, 258 and 260 which are thinned in the corners to be one third the thickness. When the three are folded together, they appear to be a uniform thickness. Corner panels may be folded to the inside or the outside to bring side panels together.

Assembled foldable container 274 and 276 show the corner panels closed and fully folded to the inside of the container. Corner panels 262, 264, 268 and 270 fold together raising foldable side panels 254, 256, 258 and 260 and are then further folded against and joined to the side panels. Cross section views 274 and 278 show corner panel 264 folded onto side panel 254 on the inside and outside resulting in a uniform thickness throughout the container.

Referring to FIG. 10 A-10 B foldable container 280 consists of side panels 282, 284, 286 and 288, bottom panel 281, and corner panels 290, 292, 294 and 296. Foldable corners consist of multiple panels with as few as two but as many as ten. Foldable corner 292 consists of panels 298, 300 and 302. Panels 298 and 300 fold together and further fold to side panel 282 raising side panels 282 and 284 against the edge of panel 302 such that side panels are at an angle of greater than ninety degrees to base panel 281. Assembled foldable container 304 shows side panels partly raised to a forty five degree angle to bottom panel 281 as a result foldable corner panels folding as shown with panels 298 and 300 being folded against the outside of side panel 282 while panel 302 remains contiguous with the inner portion of the container.

Referring to FIG. 11A-11B an open foldable container 305 consists of side panels 306, 308, 310 and 312, bottom panel 314, and corner folding panels 316, 318, 320 and 322. Side panels 306, 308, 310 and 312 are trapezoid shape such that when folding panels 316, 318, 320 and 322 are folded and side panes 316, 318, 320 and 322 fold into an assemble foldable container 324, they are a greater than ninety degree angle to the bottom panel 314. Side panels may comprise a multitude of shapes including triangular, round, rectangular, oval, polygon, etc. Folding corner panels may include two or more panels. All panels may consist of, but are not limited to concave, convex, flat or combinations of these surfaces. In addition, there may be as few as three side panels or as many as twelve.

Referring to FIG. 12A-12C, a corner of an open foldable container 326 consists of corner foldable panel 328, side panels 340 and 338, and bottom panel 341. Corner panel 328 consists of folding panel 330 and 332. Corner folding panel 330 has snap projection 334 which snaps through aperture 336 of folding panel 332 which holds the two panels together during folding to make folding easier. Foldable corner panel 328 is further folded against side wall 340 such that snap projection 334 of folding corner panel 330 snaps through aperture or engaging indentation 342 to hold the folding corner panels 330 and 332 securely to side panel 340. The use of a snap projection going through aperture on an adjacent folding panel is that each corner is easily secured into position prior to folding the foldable panels to the side panels. It is more difficult to fold and snap to a side wall. In addition, if snap projection 334 disengages from snap aperture 342, the container does not collapse as snap projection 334 is secure to snap aperture 336.

Referring to FIG. 13A-13B, open foldable container 350 consists of side panels 352, 354, 356, and 358, bottom panel 376, intermediate panels 368, 370, 372, and 374, folding panels 360, 362, 364 and 366. Panels vary in size and shape to produce a more bowl shape with non-ninety degree angles between panels. A cross section 378 of assembled container 350 shows intermediate panels 368 and 374 forming a more desirable corner between side panels 358 and 354 to bottom panel 376 for use of silverware when eating.

Referring to FIG. 14A-14D, an open foldable container 382 has side panels 396, 398, 400, and 402, bottom panel 412, corner folding panels 404, 406, 408, and 410, and elastic 394. As herein, depicted, elastic 394 is on the outside of container 382, which is the bottom of the open state, but may also be placed on the inside of the container. Cross section 384 of side panel 402 and 398 and bottom panel 412 comprises joints 414 and 416 which are designed to resist panels folding beyond a flat configuration when pulled down by elastic 394. When force is applied to raise side panels the elastic folds corner folding panels and raises side panels to form a container as seen in view 386.

In an alternative embodiment, a foldable container 380 possesses a flexible retaining mechanism 390, which may comprise connection points. The flexible retaining mechanism 390, which may be comprised of an elastic, torsion mechanism or other such mechanism as known in the art, which acts to cinch or pull together corner panels 388 and side panel 392 to form an assembled container. The flexible retaining mechanism 390 may be permanently attached, or removably attached, at each or any of the corners of the container as an alternative to a continuously disposed elastic mechanism 396.

Claims

1. An airtight container apparatus comprising:

a flat sheet member comprising: a set of side folding panels; at least one bottom panel; a set of corner folding panels wherein each individual of the set of corner folding panels comprises a sealing mechanism.

2. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sealing mechanisms of the set of corner folding panels comprise at least two interacting pairs of locking channels.

3. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two interacting pairs of locking channels are integrally formed within the set of corner folding panels.

4. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set of foldable corner panels comprise a locking mechanism which may be selected from the group consisting of a set of matching male and female snap mechanisms and a set of matching male and female tongue and groove mechanisms.

5. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a set of foldable corner panels comprise gasket mechanisms.

6. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is constructed of a uniform material and further comprise living hinges.

7. The airtight container apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an upper panel attached to the side panels to form a sealed cover.

8. A container apparatus comprising:

a substantially flat foldable container comprising a set of side panels;

at least one bottom panel;

at least four folding panels comprising with hinges between each of the set folding panels.

wherein each individual of the folding panels comprises at least two sub panels and wherein each of the at least two sub panels comprises an upper surface and a lower surface;

a locking mechanism disposed between the at least two sub panels such that an individual of the at least two sub panels is disposed to mate with an opposed individual of the at least two sub panels and wherein the upper surfaces of the sub panels are in physical communication when the container apparatus is in a closed position.

9. The container apparatus of claim 8 wherein the locking mechanism may be selected from the group consisting of a set of matching male and female snap mechanisms and a set of matching male and female tongue and groove mechanisms.

10. The container apparatus of claim 8 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a set of matching male and female locking channel seal mechanisms.

11. The container apparatus of claim 8 wherein the locking mechanism components are joined together at the base and herein juxtaposed sides are separated by a 45 degree angle.

12. The container apparatus of claim 8 further comprising an upper panel mechanism.

13. The container apparatus of claim 13 wherein the upper panel mechanism comprises a locking mechanism.

14. The container apparatus of claim 14 wherein the side panels further comprise an upper locking mechanism attached to the locking mechanism of the upper panel.

15. A foldable plate and sealing apparatus comprising:

a foldable containment mechanism comprising: a least four side panels; at least one bottom panel; at least four intermediate panels; and; at least four folding panels.

16. The foldable plate and sealing apparatus of claim 16 wherein side panels are at an angle of in range between 91 and 180 degrees to base panel.

17. The foldable plate and sealing apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a continuous external flexible retaining mechanism.

18. The foldable plate and sealing apparatus of claim 16 further comprising at least four external flexible retaining mechanisms, wherein each individual of the at least four external flexible retaining mechanisms is attached to one of the four side panels and one of the four folding panels by at least connection mechanisms.

19. The foldable plate and sealing apparatus of claim 17 wherein the flexible retaining mechanism may be selected from the group consisting of an elastic member, a torsion member and a polymer member.

20. The foldable plate and sealing apparatus of claim 18 wherein the flexible retaining mechanism may be selected from the group consisting of an elastic member, a torsion member and a polymer member.