COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER

Abstract

Provided is a collapsible container, including at least two housings and a connection portion connected between the at least two housings, where the connection portion is configured such that when an axial force is applied to the connection portion, a housing of the at least two housings is collapsed into an adjacent housing of the at least two housings or unfolded from the adjacent housing of the at least two housings, when the housing is collapsed into the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to a collapsed state, and when the housing is unfolded from the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to an unfolded state.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202520040236.1, filed on January 8, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of storage containers, and in particular, relates to a collapsible container.

BACKGROUND

Conventional containers are generally rigid fixed structures. These containers can meet basic storage demands, but have many drawbacks. The containers are highly inconvenient for daily household storage due to their larger sizes. They take up a lot of valuable space, resulting in low space utilization. On the other hand, in scenarios where the containers need to be carried out, such as outdoor camping, disaster relief and emergency response, the conventional non-collapsible containers lead to high packaging and transportation costs.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a collapsible container to solve the above problems in the prior art.

The present disclosure provides a collapsible container, including at least two housings and a connection portion connected between the at least two housings, where the connection portion is configured such that when an axial force is applied to the connection portion, a housing of the at least two housings is collapsed into an adjacent housing of the at least two housings or unfolded from the adjacent housing of the at least two housings, when the housing is collapsed into the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to a collapsed state, and when the housing is unfolded from the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to an unfolded state.

In an embodiment, when the axial force is applied to the connection portion, the connection portion is deformed, and the connection portion is collapsed into the adjacent housing or unfolded from the adjacent housing along with the housing.

In an embodiment, a first one of the at least two housings is provided with an inlet, and the first one of the at least two housings is disposed at a top of the collapsible container.

In an embodiment, at least a part of a side of a second one of the at least two housings extends radially and is provided with an outlet, and the second one of the at least two housings is disposed at a bottom of the collapsible container.

In an embodiment, a first lid and a second lid are detachably connected to the inlet and the outlet, respectively.

In an embodiment, the collapsible container further includes a panel, where the panel is attached to the second one of the at least two housings and is configured to seal a bottom of the second one of the at least two housings.

In an embodiment, the panel includes a horizontal segment and an oblique segment attached to the horizontal segment, and the oblique segment gradually inclines toward an inner side of the second one of the at least two housings from an end of the horizontal segment.

In an embodiment, a partition plate is disposed inside the second one of the at least two housings, and from a perspective of an extending direction of the at least part of the side of the second one of the at least two housings, the partition plate is disposed above the horizontal segment.

To sum up, the present disclosure has the following advantages.

1. In the present disclosure, the connection portion is configured such that when the axial force is applied to the connection portion, a housing may be collapsed into an adjacent housing, thereby switching the container to the collapsed state, and reducing the size of the container. In the collapsed state, the container is suitable for packaging, transportation, and storage.

2. In the present disclosure, the connection portion is configured such that when the axial force is applied to the connection portion, a housing may further be unfolded from an adjacent housing, thereby switching the container to the unfolded state, and increasing an internal space of the container to obtain more storage space of the container. In the unfolded state, the container is suitable for storing items.

3. In the present disclosure, in case of a small amount of items stored in the container, the oblique segment of the panel may guide the stored items to the vicinity of the outlet, so that it is convenient to take out the stored items.

4. In the present disclosure, in case of a large amount of items stored in the container, the partition plate disposed above the horizontal segment of the panel may prevent the stored items from spilling out of the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a container in an unfolded state according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a container in a collapsed state according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a container in an unfolded state according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a container in a collapsed state according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following discussion, many specific details are given to provide a more thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it is apparent for those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be implemented without one or more of these details. In other examples, in order to avoid confusion with the present disclosure, some technical features well known in the art are not described.

Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a container provided by this embodiment includes two housings 1 and 2, and a connection portion 3. The connection portion 3 is connected between the two housings 1 and 2. To simplify the drawings and for better understanding, the container in this embodiment is illustrated with the two housings 1 and 2. The container according to the present disclosure may include more than two housings.

The connection portion 3 is configured such that when an axial force is applied to the connection portion 3, the housing 2 may be collapsed into the housing 1 or unfolded from the housing 1, thereby enhancing use experience of the container. For example, a downward axial force may be indirectly applied to the connection portion 3 through the housing 2, such that the housing 2 is collapsed into the housing 1, thereby switching the container to a collapsed state and reducing the size of the container. In the collapsed state, the container is suitable for packaging, transportation, and storage.

Further, an upward axial force may be indirectly applied to the connection portion 3 through the housing 2, such that the housing 2 is unfolded from the housing 1, thereby switching the container to an unfolded state, and increasing an internal space of the container to obtain more storage space of the container. In the unfolded state, the container is suitable for storing items.

When the axial force is applied to the connection portion 3, the connection portion 3 may be deformed. Therefore, the connection portion 3 is collapsed into the housing 1 or unfolded from the housing 1 along with the housing 2.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the housing 2 is provided with an inlet 20. The inlet 20 may be configured to put items into the container.

As shown in FIG. 3, a side of the housing 1 extends radially and is provided with an outlet 10. With the outlet 10, the stored items in the container can be taken out more conveniently. The container is tapered axially from bottom to top, which results in a smaller opening of the inlet 20 when the container includes more than two housings. In this case, it is inconvenient to take out the stored items through the inlet 20.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, lids 4 are detachably connected to the inlet 20 and the outlet 10, respectively. The lids 4 are configured to close the inlet 20 and the outlet 10 respectively, so as to prevent dust, impurities, moist air and the like from entering the container, which is helpful to prevent the stored items from spoiling and deteriorating. Preferably, the lids 4 are translucent, which facilitates observation of the remaining items stored in the container.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the container further includes a panel 11 attached to the housing 1. The panel 11 is configured to seal a bottom of the housing 1, allowing the container to have a basic storage function. It is to be noted that the panel 11 in this embodiment includes only a horizontal segment 110.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the container provided by this embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in the following. The panel 11 includes a horizontal segment 110 and an oblique segment 111 attached to the horizontal segment 110. The oblique segment 111 gradually inclines toward an inner side of the housing 1 from an end of the horizontal segment 110. Therefore, in case of a small amount of items stored in the container, the stored items can be guided to the vicinity of the outlet 10 through the oblique segment 111, so that it is more convenient to take out the stored items.

Embodiment 3

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the container provided by this embodiment differs from Embodiment 2 in the following. A partition plate 5 is disposed inside the housing 1. From a perspective of an extending direction of the side of the housing 1, the partition plate 5 is disposed above the horizontal segment 110. Therefore, in case of a large amount of items stored in the container, the partition plate 5 disposed above the horizontal segment 110 can prevent the stored items from spilling out of the outlet 10.

The preferred implementations of the present disclosure are described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details in the above implementations. Various equivalent variations can be made to the technical solutions of the present disclosure without departing from the technical concepts of the present disclosure, and these equivalent variations fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A collapsible container, comprising at least two housings and a connection portion connected between the at least two housings, wherein the connection portion is configured such that when an axial force is applied to the connection portion, a housing of the at least two housings is collapsed into an adjacent housing of the at least two housings or unfolded from the adjacent housing of the at least two housings, when the housing is collapsed into the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to a collapsed state, and when the housing is unfolded from the adjacent housing, the collapsible container is switched to an unfolded state.

2. The collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein when the axial force is applied to the connection portion, the connection portion is deformed, and the connection portion is collapsed into the adjacent housing or unfolded from the adjacent housing along with the housing.

3. The collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein a first one of the at least two housings is provided with an inlet, and the first one of the at least two housings is disposed at a top of the collapsible container.

4. The collapsible container according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of a side of a second one of the at least two housings extends radially and is provided with an outlet, and the second one of the at least two housings is disposed at a bottom of the collapsible container.

5. The collapsible container according to claim 3, wherein a first lid is detachably connected to the inlet.

6. The collapsible container according to claim 4, further comprising a panel, wherein the panel is attached to the second one of the at least two housings and is configured to seal a bottom of the second one of the at least two housings.

7. The collapsible container according to claim 6, wherein the panel comprises a horizontal segment and an oblique segment attached to the horizontal segment, and the oblique segment gradually inclines toward an inner side of the second one of the at least two housings from an end of the horizontal segment.

8. The collapsible container according to claim 7, wherein a partition plate is disposed inside the second one of the at least two housings, and from a perspective of an extending direction of at least the part of the side of the second one of the at least two housings, the partition plate is disposed above the horizontal segment.

9. The collapsible container according to claim 4, wherein a second lid is detachably connected to the outlet.