U.S. patent application number 09/444755 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-28 for a storage device with closure.
Invention is credited to STEWART, JOHN.
Application Number | 20020036203 09/444755 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 10842857 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020036203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
STEWART, JOHN |
March 28, 2002 |
A STORAGE DEVICE WITH CLOSURE
Abstract
A storage device (2) comprising a resilient frame (6) held in a
housing with respect to sheet material, the resilient frame (6) and
sheet material forming the sidewalls (4) of the device (2). The
resilient frame (6) is movable between a flattened condition in
which the resilient frame (6) is compressed and an erected
condition to which the resilient frame (6) is biased. At one end of
the device there is provided a base (8) and at the other end there
is provided an opening (10) with closure means 11. The closure
means (11), when moved to a closed position in one embodiment
extend away from the opening and in all embodiments do not require
any storage space in the device to be left unused.
Inventors: |
STEWART, JOHN; (LONDON,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK G KACHIGIAN
HEAD JOHNSON AND KACHIGIAN
228 WEST 17TH PLACE
TULSA
OK
74119
|
Family ID: |
10842857 |
Appl. No.: |
09/444755 |
Filed: |
November 22, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/9.2 ;
220/252; 220/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 33/02 20130101;
B65D 37/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/9.2 ;
220/252; 220/6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 008/14; B65D
051/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 24, 1998 |
GB |
9825586.2 |
Claims
1. A collapsible storage device (2), said storage device comprising
a resilient frame (6) and sheet material with respect to which the
frame is located, said resilient frame and sheet material forming
the side walls (4) of the device and movable between a flattened
condition and an erected condition to which the resilient frame is
biased and at one end of the device there is provided a base (8)
and at the other end there is provided an opening (10) and
characterised in that the opening is provided with closure means
(11) which is movable to a closed position in which the closure
means extends upwardly and away from the opening.
2. A collapsible storage device according to claim 1 characterised
in that the closure means (11) includes at least two elements (12,
14), pivotally movable towards each other to a closed position and
apart to an open position to allow articles to be placed into and
removed from the device.
3. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 2
characterised in that the two opening elements (12, 14) extend
upwardly from the edge of the side walls (4) so that, when closed
the elements (12, 14) are positioned above the edge of the opening
(10), and when open they lie in substantially the same plane as the
opening.
4. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 2
characterised in that the two opening elements (12, 14) are
pivotally movable towards each other about separate pivot
points.
5. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 2
characterised in that the two opening elements (12, 14) are
pivotally movable towards each other about a common pivot
point.
6. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 1
characterised in that the closure (11) is retained in position by a
grommet or rubber band (15) located at or adjacent the pivot
points.
7. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 2
characterised in that the two opening elements (12, 14) have
leading edges which are provided with resilient portions (23) which
allow the two opening elements (12, 14) to be pivotally movable
towards each other to a closed position and apart to an open
position.
8. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 7
characterised in that the resilient portion (23) is in the form of
a spring.
9. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 7
characterised in that the resilient portion (23) is a rubberised
section.
10. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 1
characterised in that the closure means is held in the closed
position by retaining means (20).
11. A collapsible storage device according to claim 1 characterised
in that the closure means is attached to one side of the opening
and has a leading edge which can be moved about a pivotal point
between a position at the said one side of the opening so that the
storage device is open and a position at or in contact with the
other side of the opening to close the opening.
12. A collapsible storage device according to claim 1 characterised
in that when the closure means is in a closed position, the closure
is dome shaped and extends upwardly from the opening defined by the
edge of the side walls.
13. A collapsible storage device (2) comprising a resilient frame
(6) and sheet material with respect to which the frame is located,
said resilient frame and sheet material forming the side walls (4)
of the device and movable between a flattened condition and an
erected condition to which the resilient frame is biased and at one
end of the device there is provided a base and at the other end
there is provided an opening (10) defined by the edge of the side
walls, said opening provided with closure means (11) which
comprises sheet material with retaining means around the periphery
and which allows the closure periphery to be placed around the
opening of the storage device to close the opening and to gain
access to the opening by at least partially removing the
material.
14. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 13
characterised in that the closure means (11) is attached to the
device (2) at at least one point.
15. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 14
characterised in that the closure means (11) is attached to the
device (2) along a substantial portion of the periphery of the
device (2).
16. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 13
characterised in that the resilient frame (6) is attached to the
sheet material on the inner face of the sheet material.
17. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 16
characterised in that all of the external surface of the side walls
of the storage device is available for printed matter to be applied
thereto and displayed in an uninterrupted manner.
18. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 16
characterised in that the resilient frame (6) is attached to the
sheet material via the formation of a housing in a helical form
along the interior face of the sheet material.
19. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 13
characterised in that the closure means (10) can be moulded from
plastics material.
20. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 1
characterised in that the opening means (10) comprise a number of
relatively rigid members (22) attached at spaced intervals to sheet
material which follow the movement of the pivotal action of the
opening means (10) between open and closed positions.
21. A collapsible storage device (2) according to claim 1
characterised in that the device (2) is used as a play device by
children and at least one aperture is provided in the side walls
(4) and/or base (8) of the device (2) to improve the safety of the
same.
Description
[0001] The invention, which is the subject of this application,
relates to a storage device of the sort in which articles such as
clothing, toys, sporting articles and the like can be stored and
retained in one place.
[0002] Conventional storage devices are commonly available and come
in many forms such as toy chests, blanket boxes made of wood and
storage baskets and containers made of plastics material and are
self standing so as to be available for use readily. The
conventional self standing device, in whichever form, has the
disadvantage of becoming part of the furniture of a premises and in
many instances the storage device can be unsightly and is required
to be accommodated in the premises even when it is not in use.
Furthermore the conventional free standing storage devices are
bulky and can encroach onto the available floor area which is
particularly noticeable in smaller rooms such as bed rooms,
bathrooms and the like. The devices can also in certain instances
represent a hazard, especially to children however they are
regarded as being necessary in order to keep articles like toys,
clothing and the like in one place.
[0003] It is known to provide storage devices which are free
standing in use and can also be moved to a collapsed condition when
not in use so as to prevent the same from taking up space when not
in use. These devices can be moved between a collapsed or flattened
condition and an erected condition by the provision of a helically
wound spring member which is threaded along a helical passage in
sheet material so that the sheet material forms the side wall of
the storage device and the spring, when in its expanded condition,
forms the device into an erected condition. Movement of this spring
to a flattened condition or compressed condition causes the storage
device to move to a collapsed condition. In the known device an
opening is required to be provided to provide a funnel effect so
that when an article is placed on the opening to be put into the
device, the opening means protrude inwardly of the device. This
therefore means that a substantial area of the available storage
space within the device cannot be used as it is required to be left
free for the protrusion inwardly of the opening means as, if this
space was filled by articles then the opening means will not be
able to extend inwardly to the required amount and so the opening
means will not function correctly as a funnel.
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to provide improvements
to the collapsible storage device which improve the utility of the
device and allow improved use of the storage space within the
device.
[0005] In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a
storage device, said storage device comprising a resilient frame
and sheet material with respect to which the frame is located, said
resilient frame and sheet material forming the side walls of the
device and movable between a flattened condition and an erected
condition to which the resilient frame is biased and at one end of
the device there is provided a base and at the other end there is
provided an opening and characterised in that the opening is
provided with closure means relatively movable to a closed position
in which the closure means extends upwardly and away from the
opening.
[0006] In one embodiment the closure means comprises two elements,
said elements pivotally movable apart to an open position to allow
articles to be placed into and removed from the device.
[0007] In one embodiment the two opening elements are pivotally
movable towards each other about separate pivot points.
Alternatively the two opening elements are pivotally movable
towards each other about a common point. In addition, a grommet or
rubber band can be used to retain the opening elements in
position.
[0008] In one embodiment the two opening elements have leading
edges provided with resilient portions which allow the two opening
elements to be pivotally movable towards each other to a closed
position and apart to an open position. The resilient portions can
be in the form of a spring or a rubberised section.
[0009] In one embodiment the two opening elements extend upwardly
from the edge of the sidewalls so that, when closed the portions
are positioned above the edge of the opening, and when open they
lie in substantially the same plane as the opening. The provision
of the opening means as described ensures that all of the storage
device area defined between the plane of the opening and the base
is available for the storage of articles therein.
[0010] Preferably the two opening elements are held together in the
closed position by retaining means.
[0011] In one embodiment the opening means comprise a number of
rigid vanes which are attached at spaced intervals to sheet
material which follows the movement of the pivotal action of the
opening means between open and closed positions.
[0012] As an alternative to the closure comprising two elements it
can, for example comprise one element which has a first part
attached to one side of the opening and a leading edge which can be
moved about a pivotal point between a position at the said one side
of the opening so that the storage device is open and a position at
or in contact with the other side of the opening to close the
opening.
[0013] In which ever embodiment it is envisaged that this form of
closure will provide for a dome shaped closure when the same is in
the closed position.
[0014] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
collapsible storage device comprising a resilient frame and sheet
material with respect to which the frame is located, said resilient
frame and sheet material forming the side walls of the device and
movable between a flattened condition and an erected condition to
which the resilient frame is biased and at one end of the device
there is provided a base and at the other end there is provided an
opening with closure means which comprises sheet material with
retaining means around the periphery and which allows the closure
periphery to be placed around the opening of the storage device to
close the opening and to gain access to the opening by at least
partially removing the material.
[0015] This form of storage device again allows all of the storage
area to be used for the storage of articles therein.
[0016] In one embodiment, the closure means is attached to the
device at at least one point to avoid the tendency for the closure
means to be removed from the device and then discarded or lost.
[0017] In an alternative embodiment the opening means is attached
to the device along a substantial portion of the periphery of the
device so that a portion of the opening means can be moved between
open and closed positions.
[0018] In a further feature of the invention there is provided a
storage device, said storage device including a resilient frame to
which is attached sheet material, said resilient frame and sheet
material forming the side wall of the device and wherein the
resilient frame is attached to the sheet material on the inner face
of the sheet material so as to allow the external surface of the
sheet material to be available for printed matter to be applied
thereto and displayed in an uninterrupted manner.
[0019] Typically the resilient frame is attached to the internal
surface of the sheet material within a housing formed of sheet
material which, in addition to attaching the resilient frame ,
forms the same into a helical spring formation which allow the
frame and the storage device to be collapsible.
[0020] Conventionally, the resilient frame means is located on the
external surface and/or strengthening ribbing has been attached on
the external surface of the sheet material at the location of the
resilient frame means and this means that only the portions of the
sheet material between the locations of the resilient frame means
has been available for the printing of material thereon. This has
been found to detract to a significant extent from the utility and
attractiveness of the device as no substantial printed material can
be applied to the external surface to give any significant effect
and it is submitted that the invention of this aspect of this
application greatly improves the utility of the device.
[0021] Typically the resilient frame is formed of spring steel or
other suitable elongate member material.
[0022] In a yet further embodiment, the opening means can be
defined by a moulded or otherwise formed article, which article can
be formed to provide a visual effect which may add to the visual
affect created by the addition of the printed matter to the side
wall.
[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the storage device
comprising a base, side walls mounted with a resilient frame and an
opening means is used as a play device by children and to improve
the safety of the device at least one aperture is provided in the
sidewalls and/or base of the device.
[0024] Typically, a number of apertures are provided and preferably
in the base of the device so as to improve ventilation into the
interior of the device without affecting the appearance of the
same.
[0025] Preferably the sheet material comprises any suitable
material such that for example the base may be made from a
waterproof material to prevent leakage into the goods held in the
device. The sheet material can also be made from fire retardant
material to meet the relevant safety standards.
[0026] The side walls of the storage device preferably define a
cylindrical storage device.
[0027] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0028] FIGS. 1A to 1F illustrate a storage device according to the
invention with an opening means in one embodiment of the
invention;
[0029] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate various embodiments of the pivoting
detail of the opening means of FIGS. 1A-1F
[0030] FIGS. 3A to 3S illustrate further alternative embodiments
and uses of the storage device according to the invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a further aspect of the invention;
and
[0032] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a further embodiment of an opening
means for the invention.
[0033] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1A-1F and 2A-2B, there is
illustrated a storage device 2 which comprises side walls 4 in
erected condition and which are maintained in the erected condition
by a resilient frame means 6. At one end of the side wall 4 there
is provided a base portion 8 and at the other end an opening 10
with closure means 11. In this embodiment, the closure means 11
comprise a first portion 12 and second portion 14 which are
pivotally movable about pivot points 16, 18 on the storage device.
The portions 12 and 14 form an inverted bowl shape or dome shape
when in a closed position as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E with the edges of
the portions held together by retaining means 20 as shown.
[0034] To allow access to be gained to the interior of the storage
device, the retaining means 20 are released as shown in FIG. 1E and
the portions 12, 14 can be pivotally moved back to lie on the
periphery of the storage device sidewall opening as shown in FIG.
1F, and so the entire area of the opening is available for the
placement of articles and removal of articles into and from the
storage device interior. It will also be appreciated that as the
opening means 10 depend upwardly from the ends of the sidewalls, so
the entire interior of the storage device defined by the side walls
and base is available for the storage of articles. The requirement
of operation of the opening means does not restrict the available
area as in conventional devices.
[0035] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate alternative pivot point arrangements.
In FIG. 2A each of the portions 12, 14 is separately pivotally
movable by movement of the leading vanes 24 as shown and in FIG. 2B
the leading vanes of the portions 12, 14 are pivotally movable
about a common point 16 as shown.
[0036] FIG. 2C illustrates a variation on FIG. 2A where there is
shown a connecting means 15 in the form of a grommet or rubber band
which retains the leading vanes 24 in relationship. FIG. 2D
illustrates a further embodiment wherein each of the leading vanes
24 for the portions 12, 14 is provided with a resilient portion 23
in the form of a spring or rubberised section and which allows the
vanes to be movable about a support 17 as shown by arrows 19, 21
between the open and closed positions.
[0037] The portions 12 and 14 are formed from a number of
relatively rigid vanes 22 as shown in FIG. 1B, which are attached
at spaced intervals to sheet material and which follows the
movement of the pivotal action of the leading vanes 24 between open
and closed positions. Although shown in relation to a cylindrical
storage device, it should be appreciated that this type of opening
can be provided in appropriate shape to match the cross section of
the storage device.
[0038] FIGS. 3A-3I illustrate various shapes of the storage device
which can be formed using the concept of this invention. FIGS.
3J-3Q illustrate possible uses of a storage device formed in
accordance with this invention and it should be appreciated that
reference to storage device should also include the lighting uses
shown in FIGS. 3K and 3L. The remaining devices are all used for
storage in some form or other. FIGS. 3R-3S illustrate a further
embodiment and illustrate how the printed matter applied to the
surface of the side walls can be used in conjunction with the
shaping of the device to enhance the visual effect created, with,
in this case, the storage device and printing depicting a honey pot
of the type clearly identified with Winnie the Pooh and in this
case the opening is a sheet of material removably attached around
the periphery of the opening.
[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a further aspect of the invention and
shows a storage device with printed matter across the entire
external wall of the device. This is possible as the resilient
member is engaged in a passage which is of a helical form as shown
by the stitching in broken lines said passage is formed on the
interior surface of the side wall. This therefore means that
firstly the passage is hidden from view externally, secondly that
the entire external surface is available for the application of
printed matter thereon and, thirdly, that any strengthening
material which is typically applied is applied to the interior
surface again leaving the entire external surface available for the
printing of material thereon and which has not previously been
possible.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 5A-5C there is illustrated a further
form of opening means which comprises a lid 50 formed from a ring
frame of say sprung steel, glass fibre etc 52 which supports sheet
material 54 therebetween, and is attached about portions 56 of the
periphery to the device opening. On each side 57, 59 of these
portions the remainder of the lid is movable between closed and
open positions.
[0041] FIG. 5A illustrates how the portion 59 can be moved between
a closed position 58 and an open position 60, as shown in broken
lines, with pivotal movement about the portions 56 which include
resilient sections 62, 64. The resilient sections can be formed of
a spring or rubber material as shown in FIG. 5B and can be bent as
illustrated in FIG. 5C to allow the portions of the lid 57, 59 to
be moved to open positions as shown.
* * * * *