Collapsible Container Adapted to be Mounted on an Upright Surface

Abstract

A collapsible container configured to be mountable on an upright surface, in which the container comprises: a front panel and a rear panel, each having an outer face and an inner face, an upper edge and a lower edge, and first and second side edges; and first and second collapsible sides, wherein the first side is attached to the first edges of the front and rear panels and the second side is attached to the second edges of the front and rear panels; a collapsible base; and a temporary mounting means configured to both mount the container to an upright surface and provide vertical and horizontal support to the container; wherein the panels and base define an interior space by adjustment of the panels from a first closed position where the panels are substantially adjacent and parallel, to a second open position providing an internal volume

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to collapsible containers_for mounting to independent surfaces, more particularly but not exclusively bags to mount on a seat in an auditorium or theatre for example to contain items during a performance or show.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In a number of situations people carry items for use or consumption during an event such as a meeting or performance, in which they are sitting or standing behind an item with an upright surface, such as a seat back or a barrier. During the event people want to access these items conveniently but it is often not desirable to carry them throughout the event or to place them on the floor.

[0003] For example, in cinemas there is a need for a container to hold food items such as popcorn and drinks close at hand. There is a need for a convenient container that may be used to hold items for the user, in some cases as a single use bag, supported by an upright surface close by to keep the items off the floor. The present invention aims to meet those needs.

[0004] Belgian Patent Application BE-A3-1013643 (Belde) describes a receptacle with means to mount the receptacle at the site of a hole to be drilled. The receptacle is not practical for mounting to a seatback. The receptacle has a through-hole in one of its panels to receive a drill bit. Although this receptacle could be mounted to a seatback by a spike protruding from the seatback, this is not practical because nobody wants to lean back in a chair against a spike protruding from the seatback.

[0005] Similarly U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,839 (Dennis) describes a bag for catching debris falling from a drill-bit as the bit drills through an upright surface. The document relates to a device outside the field of seat technology.

[0006] German Utility Model DE-U-20302093 (Merlaku) reveals a rubbish bag for aircraft passengers. The bag has a means to attach the bag to an upright seatback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to the present invention there is provided a portable collapsible container is removably mounted on an upright surface of a seatback, the container comprises: a front panel and a rear panel, each having an outer face and an inner face, an upper edge and a lower edge, and first and second side edges; and first and second collapsible sides, wherein the first side is attached to the first edges of the front and rear panels and the second side is attached to the second edges of the front and rear panels, the collapsible sides each comprise a preformed fold having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the first and second edges; a collapsible base is joined to the lower edge of the front and rear panel; the base comprises a preformed fold having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the lower edge; wherein the panels and base define an interior space by adjustment of the panels and preformed folds from a first closed position, where the panels are substantially adjacent and parallel, to a second open position, where the panels are separated and substantially parallel providing an internal volume; and a temporary mounting means configured to both mount the container to the upright surface and provide vertical and horizontal support to the container.

[0008] In places where people sit in seats arranged in rows, the people look over the seatbacks of the chairs in the row in front of them. There is a small space between the seats in which the people are sitting and the seatbacks for seats in front of them. The collapsible container is attachable to the seatback in front of a person sitting in a seat. Advantageously the sitting person can attach the collapsible container to the seatback in front of them. The sitting person can then store items in the collapsible container. A person sitting in a seat in a cinema can place their popcorn and hand carry items in the container. Advantageously they can see the container in front of them which helps remind them not to leave their hand carry items in the cinema. The sitting person does not have to leave their hand carry items on the floor where they might lose it in the dark cinema. The person does not have to leave their popcorn on the floor where it might be kicked over.

[0009] Other people walk to their seats along the aisle between sitting people and the seatbacks in front of the sitting people. The collapsible container collapses to first closed position where the panels are substantially adjacent and parallel. In the closed position the panels are nearly flush with the upright surface of the seatback.

[0010] Advantageously the aisle is clear for people walking to their seat because the collapsible container does not intrude into the aisle when in the closed position.

[0011] In some embodiments means is provided to maintain the container in the first or second positions, or both, for example biasing in the sides.

[0012] By biasing the collapsible sides to maintain the container in the second open position the container is conveniently held open for a person to place their hand carry items into the container.

[0013] Alternatively by biasing the collapsible sides to maintain the container in the first closed position, the container panels remain flush against the upright seatback unless there is an item being stored inside the container which holds the container open. Advantageously the aisle is kept clear of protruding containers so that people can easily walk to their seat.

[0014] Preferably the container comprises closure means to hold the container closed, or in the first position, with the front and rear panels proximal to one another when the container is not in use. Advantageously the container does not fall open and block the aisle when people brush the container as they walk along the aisle.

[0015] In some embodiments the closure means comprises a magnetic means such that the front and the rear panels are held together magnetically. In this way the user may open the container by pulling the front panel away from the rear panel to overcome the magnetic attractive force and the container will close when the front panel is moved back towards the rear panel. In some embodiments a magnetic element is provided on the front panel and an attracting magnetic element is provided on the rear panel. In some embodiments the magnetic element are in the form of a strip provided at one or more edges of the front and the rear panels. In use the rear panel is placed directly against the upright seatback.

[0016] An advantage of providing the magnetic closure element in the rear panel is that it both serves as the temporary mounting means to mount the collapsible container to an iron upright seat back and also serves as a closure means which biases the collapsible container to the first closed position. The side walls may be flexible with neutral bias and the collapsible container will still be biased to the first closed position by the magnet. Hence lower cost side walls made from a flexible sheet is an option.

[0017] Another advantage of a magnetic closure is that it makes no sound as the collapsible container is opened or closed which makes the collapsible container ideal for use in concert halls.

[0018] In some embodiments the closure means comprises a clip usable to hold the front and rear panels adjacent to one another. Advantageously a clip can be felt in the darks, such as in a dark cinema. Thus a clip is ideal for securing the collapsible container in the closed position in cinemas.

[0019] In some embodiments the closure means may be a single use closure means that holds the container together before a first use, for example a tear-off closure strip that is removable by a user. Preferably before the closure strip is removed no contaminant can enter the interior of the collapsible container. So advantageously when the closure strip is removed, the container is ideal for holding food inside.

[0020] By an upright surface is meant a surface having a vertical component of orientation, such as a substantially vertical surface or a surface inclined at an angle of greater than 45 degrees to the horizontal. The application of the container is not limited to such surfaces. It is particularly adapted for use when attached to such surfaces. By collapsible is meant that a dimension of a panel or the size and capacity of the container may be changed by moving a first part of the panel or container relative to another. By attached to an edge of a panel is meant attached at the edge itself or attached to the panel adjacent to the edge.

[0021] Advantageously the collapsible container is attachable to the back of a seatback of a chair. The back of the seatback has a surface which is substantially vertical. A person sitting is a seat behind the seatback attaches the collapsible container to the seatback in front of them. Then the person can use the collapsible container to store their goods. The person does not have to leave their goods on the floor.

[0022] In some embodiments the sides are adapted to bend inwards in direction substantially parallel to the first and second side edges. The axis of bending is substantially parallel to the side edges. The sides bend inwards into the volume between the front panel and rear panel as the container is collapsed. Collapsing the container does not extend the sides past the side edges. Advantageously as the container is collapsed it remains fully behind the seatback to which it is attached. It does not protrude into the space behind adjacent seatbacks as other people may be sitting in seats behind the adjacent seatbacks.

[0023] In some embodiments the sides each have a plurality of pre-formed folds aligned substantially parallel to the first and second side edges. The axis of bending of the folds is substantially parallel to the side edges. The sides are thereby divided along a plurality of fold axes. The distance between each fold being the furthest the portion of the side between folds extends into the volume between the front panel and the rear panel as the container is collapsed. The folds divide the sides so that the distance the sides extend into the volume between front and rear panels is limited. Advantageously this leaves more room in the volume inside the container to store items when the container is partially closed.

[0024] In some embodiments the base is attached to the front and the rear panels at their lower edges. The base is located at the opposite end of the collapsible container to the end of the collapsible container that opens. In use the base forms the bottom of the collapsible container. Item placed inside the container rest on the base.

[0025] Advantageously by placing attaching the base to the front and rear panels at their lower edges the volume inside the container between the panels is maximized for storing items inside the container. Furthermore by attaching the base to the rear panel, weight of items held in the container is transferred to the rear panel. Where the temporary mounting means is attached to the rear panel, the weight of the items held inside the container is efficiently transferred to the seatback upright surface two which the collapsible container is attached. Advantageously the collapsible container is thus made strong and reliable without over-thickening other portions of the collapsible container.

[0026] In some embodiments the base is attached to the lower edges of the sides. The weight of items supported on the base is thereby transferred to the sides. The sides hold the base preventing the base tear away from the panels. Preferably there is no gap between the base and lower edge of the sides because the base is connected along the entire length of the sides. Since there is no gap for items in the collapsible container to fall thru, the items are storable in the collapsible container without risk of them falling through the bottom of the container. Advantageously where popcorn is placed in the container it does fall onto the floor of the cinema. So there is less time and expense that has to be devoted to cleaning the cinema.

[0027] Preferably the sides, panels, and base are continuous and the base is contiguously connected to the panels and sides. Thus the container has no holes or gaps so that items stored in container cannot fall out. Preferably the base, panels, and sides are made of material impervious to liquids. Advantageously a liquid held in the container, such as butter on popcorn, does not drip through the container. Advantageously a floor below the collapsible container kept clean of items stored in the container.

[0028] In some embodiments the sides and the base are formed from separate components. Preferably the base is made from a material that is not punctured by an edge of any item stored inside. The base is not seen in use, so no expense need be made to select a material for the base for visual appearance. Preferably the sides are made from a material that may accept ink or dye for a printed image as the sides are visible in use.

[0029] In some embodiments the sides and the base are formed from a common component. Preferably the panels, sides and base are formed from a common component. Preferably an outline of the sides and base together is marked on an area of textile cloth, or paper sheet, or cardboard sheet, or preferably an outline of the panels, sides, and base are is marked on the cloth, paper, or cardboard. The outline of the sides and base is then cut or stamped from the cloth or paper so as to form the sides and base of the collapsible container as a single common component.

[0030] Advantageously the collapsible container is made efficiently. In some embodiments the base comprises one or more pre-formed folds aligned substantially parallel to the lower edges of the front and rear panels. The axis of bending is substantially parallel to the lower edge of the front and rear panels. The axis of bending is substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides. The folds of the base bend inwards into the volume between the front panel and rear panel as the container is collapsed. Collapsing the container does not extend the sides past the lower edges of the panels. As the container is collapsed the base collapses along axes of bending. The base collapses the between the front and rear panels. The base collapses into the volume between the front and rear panels and between the sides. The front and rear panels collapse together, and the base folds between them. Advantageously in use the collapsible container in the first closed position is collapsed and is substantially flush against the upright surface of a seatback so that cinema patrons can walk along the aisle between rows of seats without the collapsible container obstructing the aisle. Advantageously in us collapsible container in the second open position has a base with an area on which items inside the container can rest. Advantageously the maximum volume between panels is achievable because the panels remain substantially parallel when the container is in the open position.

[0031] In some embodiments the attachment means is provided on the outer surface of the rear panel. The rear panel in use is attached to the upright surface of a seatback by the attachment means. The rear panel and the upright surface are both substantially flat surfaces. The attachment means is arranged to attach the rear panel so that the surface flat outer surface of the rear panel is substantially flush with the upright surface of the seat back. Advantageously in use the collapsible container in use collapses to closed position with the rear panel against the upright surface of the seat back and the front panel against the rear panel.

[0032] In some embodiments the container is configured to attach to the rear of a seat. Advantageously the collapsible container is ideal for holding items in a cinema, theatre, stadium or other places where seats are arranged in rows.

[0033] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises an adhesive means configured to adhere the rear panel to the surface. Advantageously the collapsible container is attachable directly to the surface with ease.

[0034] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a hook element configured to attach to the material of the upright surface. For example, in the case that the upright surface comprises a fabric, such as when the surface forms part of a seat, the hook element may comprise the hook portion of a Velcro® fastening means. Advantageously the collapsible container is temporarily attachable to a seat back. The collapsible container is thus removable from the seatback and can be re-attached so as to be re-used. Advantageously the collapsible container can later be attached to another seatback.

[0035] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises an attachment element detachable from the rear panel mounted on the surface, the attachment element and the rear panel comprising a reversible fastening means to attach them together. The attachment element is attachable to an upright surface. Advantageously the attachment element may be attached to an upright surface of a seatback semi-permanently. The rear panel is attachable to and removable from the attachment element. The collapsible container is easily portable. In use the collapsible container may be issued outside the cinema or stadium to a customer who brings the container into the cinema or stadium with them and attaches the collapsible container to the attachment element which is attached to an upright surface of a seatback.

[0036] In some embodiments the attachment element is mounted permanently on the surface and may form part of the surface. A seat having a seatback with an upright surface comprises the attachment element mounted permanently on the surface. Advantageously the seat is ready for attaching a collapsible container the seatback by attaching the collapsible container to the attachment element. Preferably the seat comprises the collapsible container attached to the upright seatback of the seat by a temporary mounting means. Preferably the temporary mounting means comprises an attachment element.

[0037] Preferably in use a slip-over covers a seatback. Preferably the slip-over cover has the form of a sack which in use is wrapped over the seatback. Preferably the attachment means is connected to the slip-over cover. Advantageously the seat is preserved without a mark or damage from the attachment means as the slip-over cover is removable from the seatback.

[0038] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises an attachment element detachable from the rear panel having an adhesive means to adhere to the surface, the attachment element and the rear panel comprising a reversible fastening means to attach them together.

[0039] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a hook and fibre fastener such as Velcro®. An attachment means that is a hook and fibre fastener comprises a flexible layer of fibre attachable to a flexible layer of hooks. Advantageously a flexible layer conforms to a contoured upright surface such as a contoured surface of a seatback. Preferably the rear panel is flexible to conform to the contour of the upright surface. Preferably the rear panel comprises a flexible layer attachable to another flexible layer on the upright surface.

[0040] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a press-stud fastener. A press-stud fastener comprises mortise and a stud. The stud and mortise take up only a small area on the upright surface and on the rear panel. The stud is attachable and detachable from the mortise. Advantageously the collapsible container is attachable and detachable from the rear panel. A press-stud fastener restrains the collapsible container against horizontal and vertical movement and also prevents the collapsible container from moving away from the upright surface.

[0041] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a magnetic fastener means such that the rear panel is held in contact with the attachment element magnetically. Preferably the attachment element comprises a magnet and is attracted to an upright surface made from a ferrous material. For example a seatback comprises an iron sheet which forms the upright surface. Preferably the rear panel of the collapsible container comprises an iron sheet which is attracted to the magnet in the attachment element. Advantageously the attractive force of the magnet holds the collapsible container to the upright surface. Advantageously the magnet is easily removable from the upright surface no the seatback is not permanently marked by the attachment element. Preferably the magnet has the form of a flexible strip which is conformable to the contour of the upright surface so that advantageously the magnet is attachable to seatbacks of various shapes.

[0042] In some embodiments the attachment means comprises a slot-in fastening means. The attachment means comprises a projection on the rear panel and the attachment element having a recess to engage and retain the projection within the recess. Preferably the attachment element is attachable to the upright surface with the slot arranged horizontally. Advantageously the collapsible container can slide horizontally as attached by the projection on the rear panel in the slot, and the lower edge of the slot supports the weight of the container. Preferably the slot is an integral formation in the seatback of a seat. Preferably a set comprises a seatback with an integral slot arranged so that when the seat is in use the slot is horizontal. Preferably the seat comprises a detachable collapsible container having a rear panel with a projection arranged to slide in the slot and be supported in use by the lower edge of the slot. Advantageously the seat is ideal for use cinemas, stadiums, concert halls, bowling alleys, and other places where seats are aligned in rows.

[0043] In some embodiments the attachment element is in the form of a sticker configured to adhere to the surface. Preferably the sticker has two opposing surfaces which are both sticky. In use one side of the sticker is adhered to the upright surface and the other side is adhered to the rear panel of the collapsible container. A simple method of attaching a collapsible container to a seatback is to attach one side of a sticker with two sticky sides to an upright surface of a seatback, and to attach the rear panel of the collapsible container to the other side. Preferably the rear panel of the collapsible container has a portion of the surface which is sticky. The stickiness is preferably provided by an adhesive, or by static electricity. Advantageously the collapsible container is fixable directly to the upright surface by placing the rear panel against the upright surface.

[0044] In some embodiments the attachment element comprises a substantially flat panel having a front surface and a rear surface, the adhesive means being provided on the rear surface, the fastening means being provided on the front surface.

[0045] Advantageously the flat panel of the attachment element is fasten-able by the fastening means to the rear panel of the collapsible container, and the flat panel of the attachment element is adhere-able to the upright surface by the adhesive means.

[0046] In some embodiments the front surface of the flat panel of the attachment element comprises a printed surface having the fastening means superimposed on the printed surface. In use the flat panel of the attachment element is adhered to the upright surface so that the front surface is visible. Advantageously printing on the front surface is useful for showing an image to a person viewing the front surface. For example a person sitting in seat behind a seatback having an upright surface which the flat panel is adhered sees the image.

[0047] In this way the container of the invention is attachable to an upright surface, in one example of use the rear of a seat in an auditorium or stadium, and open-able by means of the concertina-style sides to provide a temporary storage space for use by a person facing the rear of the seat. The container is attachable to the attachment element, which may be mounted permanently or semi-permanently on the seat, and used with more than one container, a used container being removed from the attachment element for disposal. In one example of use, the container may be used to contain a foodstuff such as popcorn, either directly in the interior of the container or by placing a bag holding the foodstuff within the container. In another example of use, materials such as printed matter may be provided to a user within a container of the invention, that may then be attached to the rear of a seat for example in a setting such as a conference or convention.

[0048] In some embodiments the sides of the collapsible container have preformed folds at intervals between the front and rear panels, such that the sides fold inwards on themselves at the folds in the manner of a concertina. Such a construction may be used for example when the sides are formed from a relatively rigid material such as a semi-rigid polymer or cardboard. In some embodiments the sides are formed from a material that has high flexibility and such folds are not needed, for example being formed from a polymer film.

[0049] In some embodiments the container comprises a slot adjacent to and outside of the front panel to receive a flat sheet, for example a printed sheet. In this way the container may be customised to provide a usage-specific outer surface appearance of the front panel, by slotting a printed sheet into the slot. This allows a generic container product to be rapidly modified to suit a specific purpose. In an example of use the printed sheet may be an advertising sheet, for example to advertise a film or products within a cinema.

[0050] In some embodiments the container comprises a first and a second interior space and a divider element between the two. In some embodiments the divider element comprises a plurality of folds. In this way the container may have two separate spaces configured to hold separate items. The spaces may have apertures between them or may have a continuous barrier between them between the divider and the base. In an example of use, a first space may be configured to contain a foodstuff and a second space to contain a drink bottle.

[0051] In some embodiments the front and rear panels are rectilinear, for example rectangular, and in other embodiments the front and rear panels may have other shapes, such as trapezoidal with the longest side at the top, having a curved upper edge such as in a fan shape, or having a scalloped upper edge in a shell-like profile.

[0052] In some embodiments the sides are rectilinear, for example rectangular, such that when opened the container has a substantially rectilinear side profile. In some embodiments the sides have a non-rectilinear perimeter, for example such that when open the container has a triangular or trapezoidal profile, such that the opening at the top is longer than the base.

[0053] The container may be sized to accommodate a specific item such as a popcorn bag or a drink bottle.

[0054] According to the embodiment the container may have an upper edge in the range 10 cm to 35 cm, or in the range 20 cm to 30 cm, for example around 25 cm, and a first or second edge in the range 10 cm to 40 cm, or in the range 25 cm to 35 cm, or around 30 cm. The sides may have an upper edge that when fully extended is in the range 10 cm to 30 cm, in the range 15 cm to 25 cm, or around 20 cm.

[0055] According to a second aspect the invention provides a kit comprising a container as described herein and one or more content items within the container, the container being closed by the closure means to retain the content items.

[0056] In some embodiments a content item is a foodstuff. In some embodiments a content item is a printed sheet. In some embodiments a content item is a viewing or listening aid such as 3D glasses or earphones.

[0057] According to a third aspect the invention provides a method of storing an item comprising the steps of attaching a container as described herein to an upright surface and opening the container by pulling the front panel away from the rear panel and placing at content item into the container through the opening between the front and rear panel formed by opening the container.

[0058] In some embodiments the method comprises the step of attaching the container to an attachment element provided on the upright surface, such as a hook or seat back.

[0059] According to a fourth aspect the invention provides a means of providing a storage space by use of a container as described herein comprising the steps of:

providing an attachment element mounted on an upright surface, providing a container as described herein to the user with instruction to attach the container to the attachment element and to open the container by pulling the front panel away from the rear panel.

[0060] In some embodiments the method comprises the step of providing a content item within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a front isometric view of a container according to the invention;

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a rear isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a rear isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an embodiment of a container according to the invention is adapted to hold foodstuffs when supported by an upright surface forming part of a seat back, and comprises:

a front panel 10 and a rear panel 12 each having an outer face 14 and an inner face 16, an upper 18 and a lower edge 20 and a first 22 and a second 24 side edges, a first 26 and a second 28 foldable side, the first panel being attached to the first edges of the front and rear panels and the second panel being attached to the second edges of the front and rear panels, the sides each having a plurality of folds 30 aligned substantially parallel to the first and second side edges, a foldable base attached to the lower edges of the front and rear panels, such that the panels together form an interior space 32 whose volume may be adjusted by movement of the front and rear panels relative to each other, and an attachment means 34 provided on the rear panel configured to attach to an upright surface.

[0066] In this embodiment the sides and the base are formed from separate components.

[0067] In this embodiment the attachment means 34 is provided on the outer surface 14 of the rear panel.

[0068] In this embodiment the container is configured to attach to the rear of a seat.

[0069] In this embodiment the attachment means 34 comprises an attachment element 36 detachable from the rear panel comprising a sheet member 38 and having an adhesive means in the form of one or more adhesive patches 40 to adhere to the surface, the attachment element and the rear panel comprising a reversible fastening means to attach them together, in this embodiment the attachment means comprises a hook and fibre fastener such as Velcro®, a first part of the fastener 42 being attached to the rear panel 12 and the other part 44 being attached to the attachment element.

[0070] In this embodiment the container comprises a slot 46 adjacent to and outside of the front panel 10 to receive a flat sheet, for example a printed sheet, the slot being formed by a first 48 and a second 50 side runners and a base runner 52 each having a lip separated from the outer face of the front panel 10. In this way the flat sheet may be slid in behind the runners from the top, being held in place by the lips.

[0071] In this embodiment the container comprises a magnetic closure means to hold the container closed with the front and rear panels proximal to one another when the container is not in use, such that the front and the rear panels are held together magnetically.

[0072] In this embodiment the container has an upper edge of the front and rear panels around 25 cm long, and a first and second edge around 30 cm long, and the sides when fully extended are around 20 cm long. The front and rear panels may be formed from PVC and may be around 1 mm thick. The sides may be formed from a polyester fabric material.

[0073] The portable collapsible container is arranged to be removably mounted on an upright surface of a seatback. The seatback and upright surface are not shown in the figures. The container comprises: a front panel 10 and a rear panel 12, each having an outer face 14 and an inner face 16, an upper edge 18 and a lower edge 20, and first 22 and second 24 side edges; and first 26 and second 28 collapsible sides, wherein the first side is attached to the first edges of the front and rear panels and the second side is attached to the second edges of the front and rear panels, the collapsible sides each comprise a preformed fold 30 having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the first and second edges; a collapsible base joined to the lower edge of the front and rear panel, the base comprises a preformed fold having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the lower edge; wherein the panels and base define an interior space 32 by adjustment of the panels and preformed folds from a first closed position where the panels are substantially adjacent and parallel, to a second open position where the panels are separated and substantially parallel providing an internal volume; and a temporary mounting means 34 configured to both mount the container to the upright surface and provide vertical and horizontal support to the container.

[0074] In this embodiment the front surface of the attachment means may comprise a printed surface having the fastening means superimposed on the printed surface.

[0075] In this way the embodiment provides a simple collapsible container that when in use in a cinema may have some or all of the following features:

the container can be closed by a user when people are passing along the aisle past the container; the sides of the container may comprise a printed surface such as an image or a logo, such that the product may be tailored to promote a company or product; the front panel may have a changeable image to advertise an upcoming movies; the product may be made in a range of colours to suit the application, for example bright and bold colours for use in a cinema; the container may be a single use container, formed from cheap disposable materials, with the attachment element remaining in place while the container is changed, or the container may be adapted for multiple use, comprising more durable materials, being changed only at intervals when worn or dirty.

[0076] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

[0077] With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0078] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A portable collapsible container is removably mounted on an upright surface of a seatback, the container comprises: a front panel and a rear panel, each having an outer face and an inner face, an upper edge and a lower edge, and first and second side edges; and first and second collapsible sides, wherein the first side is attached to the first edges of the front and rear panels and the second side is attached to the second edges of the front and rear panels, the collapsible sides each comprise a preformed fold having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the first and second edges; a collapsible base is joined to the lower edge of the front and rear panel; the base comprises a preformed fold having an axis of bending aligned substantially parallel to the lower edge; wherein the panels and base define an interior space by adjustment of the panels and preformed folds from a first closed position, where the panels are substantially adjacent and parallel, to a second open position, where the panels are separated and substantially parallel providing an internal volume; and a temporary mounting means configured to both mount the container to the upright surface and provide vertical and horizontal support to the container.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein means is provided to maintain the container in one or more of the first or second positions.

3. A container according to claim 1 wherein the sides and base are adapted to bend inwards along the preformed folds in direction substantially parallel to the first and second side edges.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the sides and the base are formed from separate components.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the sides and the base are formed from a common component.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means is provided on the outer surface of the rear panel.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein the attachment means comprises an adhesive means configured to adhere the rear panel to the surface.

8. A container according to claim 6 wherein the attachment means comprises a hook element configured to attach to the material of the upright surface.

9. A container according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises an attachment element detachable from the rear panel mounted on the surface, the attachment element and the rear panel comprising a reversible fastening means to attach them together.

10. A container according to claim 9 wherein the attachment element is mounted permanently on the surface and may form part of the surface.

11. A container according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises an attachment element detachable from the rear panel having an adhesive means to adhere to the surface, the attachment element and the rear panel comprising a reversible fastening means to attach them together.

12. A container according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a flexible magnetic strip arranged in the rear panel and a ferrous component in the front panel arranged proximate the magnetic strip in the closed position whereby the magnetic strip mounts the container to the upright surface and secures the container in the closed position as the front and the rear panels are held together magnetically.

13. A container according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a slot-in fastening means comprising a projection on one of the rear panel and the attachment element and a recess on the other to retain the projection within the recess.

14. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises a slot adjacent to and outside of the front panel to receive a flat sheet, for example a printed sheet.

15. A method of storing an item in a portable collapsible container according to claim 1 removably mounted on an upright surface of a seatback comprising the steps of attaching the container to the upright surface and opening the container by pulling the front panel away from the rear panel and placing a content item into the container through the opening between the front and rear panel formed by opening the container.

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