Abstract: A portable box of essentially rectangular shape, having stiff components (side walls, cover, bottom member, front wall, and rear wall) which are movably interconnected by means of pivots, hinges, or the like, such that said components can be folded or collapsed onto one generally planar surface, which may be that of the bottom member, the back wall, a side wall, or the front wall. At least one pivot or hinge connection between at least two components of the box is comprised of at least one guide channel extending along one box component, and a joint element associated with the second box component, which joint element is linearly slidably accommodated in the channel, wherein the second box component can be swung around a non-displaceable swing axis by means of its pivot or hinge connection which connects it to a third box component. The connection is distant from said joint element, wherein the first box component is moved toward and is parallel to the third box component.