COLLAPSIBLE, STACKABLE, SELF-SUPPORTING CONTAINER

摘要

The present invention provides a stackable, self-supporting container comprising: (a) a semi-enclosed container body (20) including a tubular structure having two open ends and a bottom panel (70) enclosing one end of the container body, the other end of the tubular structure opposite from the bottom panel forming a substantially continuous outwardly-extending peripheral flange (25), the tubular structure including two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls between the side walls, the side walls and said end walls together forming the tubular structure, each of the end walls including a central portion and a pair of opposing supporting flaps (52) hingedly connected to the central portion and moveable between a position substantially planar with the central portion and a position substantially perpendicular with the central portion; (b) a lid (40) for selectively converting the semi-enclosed container to a closed container; and (c) a closure means for sealing said lid to the container body. The closure means preferably includes a mechanical interlocking seal, and the supporting flaps are preferably unitarily formed with the central portion and preferably lock in the perpendicular position.