Containers for collaborative work environments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12528530-B1
Application number	US-202318188207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 22, 2023
Priority date	Mar 22, 2023
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for containers for use in collaborative work environments. In one embodiment, an example container may include a first container wall configured to rotate toward a center of the container, a second container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the second container wall having a first rotatable flap configured to rotate outwards with respect to the second container wall, a third container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the third container wall having a second rotatable flap configured to rotate outwards with respect to the third container wall, a fourth container wall coupled to the second container wall and the third container wall, the fourth container wall configured to rotate toward the center of the container, and a base.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . An open top foldable container comprising:
a rear wall configured to rotate toward a center of the foldable container; a first sidewall coupled to the rear wall, the first sidewall configured to rotate toward the center of the foldable container, the first sidewall comprising a first rotating door having a first length and configured to rotate about 180 degrees relative to the first sidewall; a second sidewall coupled to the rear wall, the second sidewall configured to rotate toward the center of the foldable container, the second sidewall comprising a second rotating door having a second length that is greater than the first length and configured to rotate about 180 degrees relative to the second sidewall; a front wall configured to rotate toward the center of the foldable container; a handle coupled to the front wall, the handle configured to rotate outwards at least 90 degrees relative to the front wall; a base comprising a first post disposed in a first corner, a second post disposed in a second corner, a third post disposed in a third corner, and a fourth post disposed in a fourth corner; and a plurality of wheels comprising a first wheel offset from the first corner, a second wheel offset from the second corner, a third wheel offset form the third corner, and a fourth wheel offset from the fourth corner.

2 . The open top foldable container of claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are at a fixed vertical position relative to the base, and wherein the first post has a first cutout configured to receive a corresponding protrusion on a lower surface of the base, such that another foldable container can be stacked on top of the foldable container.

3 . The open top foldable container of claim 2 , wherein the rear wall and the front wall are configured to slide vertically with respect to the base.

4 . The open top foldable container of claim 1 , wherein the foldable container is configured to be lifted from a bottom surface by an autonomous robot that is positioned underneath the foldable container when the foldable container is in an unfolded position; and
wherein the foldable container is configured to be transported using (i) the plurality of wheels via manual pushing, and (ii) robotic manipulation to lift and move the foldable container.

5 . A container comprising:
a first container wall configured to rotate toward a center of the container; a second container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the second container wall comprising a first rotatable flap configured to rotate outwards with respect to the second container wall, wherein the first rotatable flap is a first door having a first length; a third container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the third container wall comprising a second rotatable flap configured to rotate outwards with respect to the third container wall, wherein the second rotatable flap is a second door having a second length that is greater than the first length; a fourth container wall coupled to the second container wall and the third container wall, the fourth container wall configured to rotate toward the center of the container; and a base comprising a first post, a second post, a third post, and a fourth post.

6 . The container of claim 5 , wherein the container is configured to be in (i) an unfolded position in which the first container wall, the second container wall, the third container wall, and the fourth container wall are in an upright orientation, and (ii) a folded position in which the first container wall, the second container wall, the third container wall, and the fourth container wall are in a horizontal orientation.

7 . The container of claim 6 , wherein the second container wall is stacked in a relatively higher vertical position than the first container wall when the container is in the folded position.

8 . The container of claim 5 , wherein the first container wall and the fourth container wall are configured to slide vertically with respect to the base.

9 . The container of claim 8 , wherein the second container wall and the third container wall have fixed vertical positions relative to the base.

10 . The container of claim 5 , wherein a first height of the first container wall is greater than a second height of the second container wall.

11 . The container of claim 5 , further comprising a first wheel that is offset with respect to a first corner of the base, a second wheel that is offset with respect to a second corner of the base, a third wheel that is offset with respect to a third corner of the base, and a fourth wheel that is offset with respect to a fourth corner of the base.

12 . The container of claim 5 , wherein the first post comprises a first cutout feature configured to receive a portion of a base of another container.

13 . The container of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first handle coupled to the fourth container wall, the first handle configured to rotate upwards from a default position aligned with the fourth container wall; and a second handle coupled to the fourth container wall and at least partially nested within the first handle, the second handle configured to rotate upwards from a default position aligned with the fourth container wall.

14 . The container of claim 5 , wherein the first door rotates vertically, and the second door rotates laterally.

15 . The container of claim 14 , wherein the second door comprises an upper portion configured to rotate with respect to a lower portion.

16 . A container comprising:
a first container wall configured to rotate toward a center of the container; a second container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the second container wall comprising a first door configured to rotate outwards and vertically with respect to the second container wall; a third container wall coupled to the first container wall and configured to rotate toward the center of the container, the third container wall comprising a second door configured to rotate outwards and laterally with respect to the third container wall; a fourth container wall coupled to the second container wall and the third container wall, the fourth container wall configured to rotate toward the center of the container; wherein the container is configured to be in (i) an unfolded position in which the first container wall, the second container wall, the third container wall, and the fourth container wall are in an upright orientation, and (ii) a folded position in which the first container wall, the second container wall, the third container wall, and the fourth container wall are in a horizontal orientation.

17 . The container of claim 16 , further comprising:
a base comprising a first post, a second post, a third post, and a fourth post.

18 . The container of claim 16 , wherein the second door comprises an upper portion configured to rotate with respect to a lower portion.

19 . The container of claim 16 , wherein the container is configured to be transported using (i) a plurality of wheels via manual pushing, and (ii) robotic manipulation to lift and move the container.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Pajevic Dragan
• Martin Tim
• Mcdonnell Stephen E
• Paschall Stephen Charles

Classifications

• B62B5/067

  Stowable or retractable handle bars · CPC title

• B07C3/008

  Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items (pile receivers in general B65H31/00) · CPC title

• B62B3/025 Primary

  Foldable roll containers · CPC title

• B65D2519/00805

  Means for facilitating the removal of the load · CPC title

• B65D2519/00781

  for moving on a surface, e.g. wheels, pads (B65D2519/00825 takes precedence) · CPC title