FOLDING CONTAINER THAT CAN BE UNFOLDED FOR APPLICATION

Abstract

A container includes a base panel, a plurality of first folding panel, a plurality of second folding panel and a plurality of fixation folding panel. The first folding panels are folded up inwardly along respective first folding lines between the first folding panels and the base panel to form a peripheral wall and an accommodation chamber. Each second folding panel is folded up outwardly along one respective second folding line and overlapped on the peripheral wall that is formed of the first folding panels. Each fixation folding panel is folded up outwardly along a respective third folding line and overlapped on the peripheral wall that is formed of the first folding panels. Thus, the user can provide foods in the container for eating, and the container can be unfolded to form a plate to holding foods.

Claims

1. A container, comprising: a base panel, a plurality of first folding panels, a plurality of second folding panels and a plurality of fixation folding panels, each said first folding panel having one end thereof connected to said base panel and defining with said base panel a first folding line therebetween and an opposite end thereof connected to one respective said fixation folding panel, said second folding panels being respectively connected between each two adjacent said first folding panels so that said first folding panels and said second folding panels are alternatively arranged around said base panel, each said second folding panel comprising a second folding line radially extended from the junction between two adjacent said first folding panels and said base panel, each said fixation folding panel comprising a connection portion; wherein said first folding panels are inwardly folded up along the respective said first folding lines at the junction of said base panel so that said first folding panels are abutted against one another to form a peripheral wall of the container where said peripheral wall and said base panel surround an accommodation chamber; each said second folding panel is folded up outwardly along the respective said second folding line to form one respective overlapped portion; each said overlapped portion is biased along connected long side of the respective said first folding panel in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and attached to an outer side of said peripheral wall; said connection portion of one said fixation folding panel is connected to another said fixation folding panel to form a loop, creating a cup mouth of the container.

2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said fixation folding panel is folded up outwardly along the respective said third folding line and overlapped on and secured to the outer side of said peripheral wall of the container.

3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein said connection portions of said fixation folding panels are wrapped in respective adjacent said fixation folding panels to form a loop, creating said cup mouth.

4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second folding panels have a kite shape; said second folding line of each said second folding panel is the long diagonal of the kite shape.

5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said fixation folding panel, after having been folded up, is abutted against a top edge of one respective said overlapped portion.

6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said fixation folding panel comprises a receiving channel.

7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein said connection portion of each said fixation folding panel comprises a retaining block, said retaining block of said connection portion of one said fixation folding panel is engaged into said receiving channel of said connection portion of another said fixation folding panel so that said connection portions of said fixation folding panels are connected to one another to form a loop.

8. The container as claimed in claim 7, wherein said receiving channel comprises a relatively larger inner diameter of retaining portion; said retaining block of said connection portion of one said fixation folding panel is engaged in the said relatively larger inner diameter of retaining portion of said receiving channel of said connection portion of another said fixation folding panel.

9. The container as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outer diameter of said retaining block is larger than said receiving channel but smaller than said retaining portion.

10. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein when said fixation folding panel is folded up outwardly, the folded said fixation folding panel is abutted against a top edge of one respective said overlapped portion.

11. A container, comprising: a base panel, a plurality of first folding panel, a plurality of second folding panel and a plurality of fixation folding panel, each said first folding panel having one short side thereof connected to said base panel and defining with said base panel a first folding line therebetween and an opposite short side thereof connected to one respective said fixation folding panel to form a third folding line therebetween, each said second folding panel being composed of a main folding panel portion and an auxiliary folding panel portion, each said first folding panel having one long side thereof connected to a long side of said main folding panel portion of one said second folding panel and an opposite long side thereof connected to a long side of said auxiliary folding panel portion of another said second folding panel, said second folding panels being respectively connected between each two adjacent said first folding panels so that said first folding panels and said second folding panels are alternatively arranged around said base panel, each said second folding panel comprising a second folding line located on the junction between said main folding panel portion and said auxiliary folding panel portion thereof and radially extended from the junction between two adjacent said first folding panels and said base panel; wherein said first folding panels are inwardly folded up along the respective said first folding lines so that said first folding panels are abutted against one another to form a peripheral wall of the container where said peripheral wall and said base panel surround an accommodation chamber; each said second folding panel is folded up outwardly along the respective said second folding line to overlap the said auxiliary folding panel portion on the associating said main folding panel portion, and the overlapped said auxiliary folding panel portion mand said main folding panel portion are biased along the connected long side of the respective said first folding panel in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and attached to an outer side of said peripheral wall.

12. The container as claimed in claim 11, wherein each said fixation folding panel is folded up outwardly along the respective said third folding line to form a cup mouth flange, the said cup mouth flanges formed of said fixation folding panels being abutted against one another at an outer side of said peripheral wall to create a cup mouth of the container.

13. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said cup mouth flange of each said fixation folding panel has a bottom side thereof abutted against a top edge of said auxiliary folding panel portion of one respective said second folding panel, and a distal end thereof stopped against one side of said main folding panel portion of one respective said second folding panel.

14. The container as claimed in claim 13, wherein a first imaginary distance is defined between said cup mouth of the container and the distal end of said main folding panel portion of each said second folding panel and a second imaginary distance is defined between said cup mouth of the container and the distal end of said auxiliary folding panel portion of each said second folding panel where said first imaginary distance is shorter than said second imaginary distance.

15. The container as claimed in claim 12, wherein a first imaginary distance is defined between said cup mouth of the container and the distal end of said main folding panel portion of each said second folding panel and a second imaginary distance is defined between said cup mouth of the container and the distal end of said auxiliary folding panel portion of each said second folding panel where said first imaginary distance is shorter than said second imaginary distance.

16. The container as claimed in any one of claims 15, wherein the overall area of said main folding panel portion of each said second folding panel is larger than the overall area of said auxiliary folding panel portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a container in an unfolded condition in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a container in an unfolded condition in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a container in an unfolded condition in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the container in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a sectional view, in an enlarged scale, taken along line C-C of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a container 10 that can be unfolded for application in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The container 10 comprises a base panel 20, 8 first folding panels 30, 8 second folding panels 40 and 8 fixation folding panel 50.

[0026] The base panel 20 is octagonal in shape. The first folding panels 30 have the same rectangular shape and size arranged around the base panel 20. The second folding panels 40 have the same kite shape, however, this kite shape is not intended to limit the technical features claimed in the present invention.

[0027] The first folding panels 30 have the same rectangular shape and size. Each first folding panel 30 has one short side thereof connected to the base panel 20, forming a first folding line 31 at the junction of the base panel 20.

[0028] The second folding panels 40 are respectively connected between each two adjacent first folding panels 30 so that the first folding panels 30 and the second folding panels 40 are alternatively arranged around the base panel 20. Preferably, the sides between each two adjacent first folding panels 30 are long sides that are respectively connected to two opposing long sides of one respective kite-shaped second folding panel 40. Each second folding panel 40 has a second folding line 41 radially extended from the junction between the two adjacent first folding panels 30 and the base panel 20. Preferably, the second folding line 41 of each second folding panel 40 is the long diagonal of the kite shape.

[0029] The other short side of each first folding panel 30 is connected to one respective fixation folding panel 50, forming a third folding line 51 at the junction of the fixation folding panel 50. Preferably, each fixation folding panel 50 has a connection portion 53.

[0030] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the number of the first folding panels, the second folding panels, and the fixing folding panels is not limited to eight and may be other numbers such as three or ten, and the number in this embodiment is eight that is simply an example for explanation but not a limitation.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1, when the user unfolds the container 10 to form a disk shape, it can be used as a dish to hold the food to be eaten. When the user folds up the disk shape, the desired effect lies in:

[0032] At first, as shown in FIG. 2, fold up the first folding panels 30 inwardly along the respective first folding lines 31 at the junction of the base panel 20 so that the first folding panels 30 are abutted against one another to form a peripheral wall 11 of the container 10 where the peripheral wall 11 of the container 10 and the base panel 20 surround an accommodation chamber 13. Thereafter, fold up each second folding panel 40 outwardly along the respective second folding line 41 to form one respective overlapped portion 43, and then bias each overlapped portion 43 along the long side of the respective first folding panel 30 in the clockwise (or counter-clockwise) direction to attach each overlapped portion 43 to the outer side of the peripheral wall 11 of the container 10. Thereafter, fold up each fixation folding panel 50 outwardly along the respective third folding line 51, enabling the fixation folding panels 50 to be overlapped on and secured to the outer side of the peripheral wall 11 of the container 10. Preferably, when folding up the fixation folding panels 50 outwardly, the connection portion 53 of one fixation folding panel 50 is wrapped in one respective adjacent fixation folding panel 50 to form a loop, thereby creating a cup mouth 15 of the container 10. When one fixation folding panel 50 is folded up outwardly, it is abutted against a top edge of one respective overlapped portion 43, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the user can provide drink or foods in the accommodation chamber 13 of the container 10 for drinking or eating, achieving the technical characteristics and the effects and purposes of the container 10 claimed in the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions outlined hereinafter.

[0034] Each fixation folding panel 50 has a receiving channel 52. The receiving channel 52 has a larger inner diameter of retaining portion 521. The connection portion 53 comprises a retaining block 55. The outer diameter of the retaining block 55 is larger than the receiving channel 52 but smaller than the retaining portion 521. The retaining blocks 55 of the connection portions 53 can be inserted into the receiving channels 52 of the respective adjacent fixation folding panels 50 and retained in the respective retaining portions 521 to form a loop, thereby creating a cup mouth 15 of the container 10. When one fixation folding panel 50 is folded up outwardly, it is abutted against a top edge of one respective overlapped portion 43, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0035] In addition to achieving the technical characteristics and the effects and purposes of the container 10 claimed in the present invention, the container 10 can be conveniently unfolded simply by removing the connection portion 53 of one fixation folding panel 50 from the adjacent fixation folding panel 50 for allowing the other fixation folding panels 50 to be extended out one after another.

[0036] The invention has the advantages as follows:

[0037] 1. The invention can maintain the integrity and beauty of the original container or the unfolded container and can achieve a certain sealing effect after the container cover is closed.

[0038] 2. The invention can utilize the folded indentation and curvature to make the unfolded container have different crease changes, achieving different aesthetic effects.

[0039] 3. The invention can be made by using a single piece of flat material, or a reinforcing piece can be adhered to the base panel of the shaped container to reinforce the strength of the base panel. Alternatively, the peripheral wall and base panel of the container can be separately made of different sheet materials and then bonded together like the fabrication of a disposable tableware in the market.

[0040] 4. When the fixation folding panels of the cup mouth are folded up outwardly, they are abutted against the respective top edges of the respective overlapped portions to hold down the respective overlapped portions on the outer side of the peripheral wall of the container without flipping out. When unfolding the container, the overlapped portions can still be conveniently unfolded.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 7-9, a container 10A that can be unfolded for application in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. The container 10A comprises a base panel 20A, 8 first folding panels 30A, 8 second folding panels 40A and 8 fixation folding panels 50A.

[0042] The base panel 20A is octagonal in shape.

[0043] The first folding panels 30A have the same rectangular shape and size. Each first folding panel 30A has one short side thereof connected to the base panel 20A, forming a first folding line 31A at the junction of the base panel 20A.

[0044] Each second folding panel 40A is composed of a main folding panel portion 41A and an auxiliary folding panel portion 43A. Each first folding panel 30A has one long side thereof connected to the long side of the main folding panel portion 41A of one respective second folding panel 40A, and an opposite long side thereof connected to the long side of the auxiliary folding panel portion 43A of another second folding panel 40A. Thus, the second folding panels 40A are respectively connected between each two adjacent first folding panels 30A so that the first folding panels 30A and the second folding panels 40A are alternatively arranged around the base panel 20A.

[0045] Further, each second folding panel 40A has a second folding line 45A located on the junction between the main folding panel portion 41A and auxiliary folding panel portion 43A thereof and radially extended from the junction between the two adjacent first folding panels 30A and the base panel 20A. Preferably, the overall area of the main folding panel portion 41A of each second folding panel 40A is larger than overall area of the associating auxiliary folding panel portion 43A.

[0046] The other short side of each first folding panel 30A is connected to one respective fixation folding panel 50A, forming a third folding line 51A at the junction of the fixation folding panel 50A.

[0047] In this third embodiment of the present invention, the number of the first folding panels 30A, the second folding panels 40A, and the fixing folding panels 50A is eight that is simply an example for explanation but not a limitation, i.e., other numbers such as three, four, five, six, seven, nine or ten can be selectively employed.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the user unfolds the container 10A to form a disk shape, it can be used as a plate or dish for food.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 again, when the user is going to fold up the disk shape into the container 10A, performs the steps outlined hereinafter. At first, fold up the first folding panels 30A inwardly along the respective first folding lines 31A at the junction of the base panel 20A so that the first folding panels 30A are abutted against one another to form a peripheral wall 11A of the container 10A where the peripheral wall 11A of the container 10A and the base panel 20A surround an accommodation chamber 13A. Thereafter, fold up each second folding panel 40A outwardly along the respective second folding line 45A to overlap the auxiliary folding panel portion 43A of each second folding panel 40A on the associating main folding panel portion 41A, and then bias the overlapped auxiliary folding panel portion 43A and main folding panel portion 41A of each second folding panel 40A along the long side of the respective first folding panel 30A in the clockwise (or counter-clockwise) direction to attach he overlapped auxiliary folding panel portion 43A and main folding panel portion 41A of each second folding panel 40A to the outer side of the peripheral wall 11A of the container 10A. Thus, the user can provide drink or food in the accommodation chamber 13A of the container 10A for drinking or eating.

[0050] Further, each fixation folding panel 50A is folded up outwardly along the respective third folding line 51A to form a cup mouth flange 53A that is overlapped on and secured to the outer side of the peripheral wall 11A of the container 10A. Thus, the cut mouth flanges 53A are connected to form a loop, creating a cup mouth 15A of the container 10A. Preferably, the bottom side of the cup mouth flange 53A of each fixation folding panel 50A is abutted against the top edge of the auxiliary folding panel portion 43A of one respective second folding panel 40A and the distal end of the cup mouth flange 53A of each fixation folding panel 50A is stopped at one side of the main folding panel portion 41A of one respective second folding panel 40A. Most preferably, a first imaginary distance D1 is defined between the cup mouth 15A of the container 10A and the distal end of the main folding panel portion 41A of each second folding panel 40A and a second imaginary distance D2 is defined between the cup mouth 15A of the container 10A and the distal end of the auxiliary folding panel portion 43A of each second folding panel 40A where the first imaginary distance D1 is shorter than the second imaginary distance D2.