U.S. patent application number 10/372681 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-26 for outdoor storage bin.
Invention is credited to Cooper, Sandy.
Application Number | 20040164084 10/372681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32868570 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040164084 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cooper, Sandy |
August 26, 2004 |
Outdoor storage bin
Abstract
Shown and described is a storage bin intended for outside lawn
use, which is waterproof, windproof and foldable conveniently for
storing the structure. The material used for the structure is
flexible as well as waterproof and is reinforced by metal or
plastic which is stiffly resilient. The intended use is for lawn
storage of toys, outdoor furniture cushions and the like.
Inventors: |
Cooper, Sandy; (Milford,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stanley J. Yavner
Suite 203
120 North Main Street
New City
NY
10956
US
|
Family ID: |
32868570 |
Appl. No.: |
10/372681 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.03 |
International
Class: |
F25D 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A collapsible storage bin for outdoor use and for securing to
the ground by the use of stakes proximate the bottom thereof
comprising, a cover, side faces, a front face, a bottom face and a
rear face, all formed of substantially waterproof material forming
tubular elements proximate the edges thereof, said elements
defining openings therethrough, and a plurality of stiffly
resilient rods arranged, one in each of said openings.
2. A storage bin according to claim 1, wherein said storage bin is
of a generally solid rectangular form.
3. A storage bin according to claim 1, wherein a skirt depends from
the edges of said cover.
4. A storage bin according to claim 1, wherein a quartet of loops
are arranged at the four intersections of said side, front and rear
faces with said bottom face in order to accommodate stakes for
securing said storage bin to the ground.
5. A storage bin according to claim 3, wherein a closure means is
provided to enable said skirt to be attachable to said front
face.
6. A storage bin according to claim 1, wherein said cover is
attachable to said side faces, said rear face, and said front face
by a waterproof zipper.
7. A storage bin according to claim 5, wherein said closure means
is a waterproof zipper.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates primarily to storage bin structures,
and more particularly to such structures for use outdoors, on a
lawn, whereby children's toys, outdoor furniture cushions, and
other items which can be used outdoors, are stored in a waterproof
and windproof manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Often, the backyard of a typical home includes a neat lawn
area, which gets strewn with children's toys, outdoor chair
cushions and the like. Sometimes, a small and house-like, permanent
or semi-permanent structure is used to store such items, but after
a few years of use, such a house-like structure loses the room to
store more than a lawn mower, other garden equipment and other
large items. Furthermore, such a structure becomes unsightly for
various reasons, and is or becomes a place where, for instance,
children's toys used on the lawn should not be stored. Such a
structure would not be a safe place for children to retrieve their
toys, and the toys would become dirty, to the point where children
should not play with them.
[0003] Other structures used for cushions or toys are either
inconvenient for winter storage, non-waterproof and unable to
withstand wind and other outdoor elements during the spring, summer
and fall seasons.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to
provide a storage capability structure, for use on the lawn, for
outdoor furniture cushions, children's toys and the like.
[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide such
a structure which is waterproof, windproof and collapsible, and yet
easy to store during periods of non-use.
[0006] These and other objects of the present invention are
provided in a storage bin structure which features a collapsible
form of fabric and/or plastic sheeting, combined with resiliently
stiff metal or plastic reinforcement to provide a solid rectangle,
defining a solid rectangular space therewithin, the storage bin
including a cover hingedly attached to the balance of the solid
rectangular form. The cover includes a skirt attachable to the
balance of the solid rectangular form, which provides a loop and
stake capability at its base for stabilizing the bin relative to a
lawn or ground base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other objects, features and advantages of a storage bin
according to the present invention will become apparent by the
following more detailed, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment
and an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a collapsed storage bin
according to the present invention in a non-use orientation for
storing the bin, for instance, for the winter months;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a left side, front and top isometric view of a
storage bin according to the present invention in set-up
orientation, with the cover closed, and also showing the cover in
ghost lines illustrating the open position of the cover for placing
inside the bin or removing therefrom, toys, lawn-chair cushions,
and the like;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.
2 and showing particularly the hinge structure for the cover;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.
2 and showing particularly a closure means for securing the cover,
with its skirt, over the top of the bin;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.
2 and showing particularly the loop and stake combination for
securing the bin in the ground when it is used;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a partial view of the storage bin showing an
alternative closure means, in the form of a waterproof zipper, for
securing the cover to the bin when the bin is in its closed
position; and
[0014] FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
6, and showing another view of the cover being secured in closed
position by the alternative of a waterproof zipper at the base of
the skirt surrounding the cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED, AND ALTERNATIVE
EMBODIMENTS:
[0015] Referring to the drawings, and in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2,
the structure of the bin is shown to include, in its erected form,
a generally solid rectangular structure, generally designated 10,
with a front face 12, side faces 14, a rear face 16, a bottom face
18 and a cover 20. The cover includes a downwardly depending skirt
21, and throughout the structure are arranged reinforcement rods 22
of a resiliently stiff metal or plastic material. The material of
the various face elements of the structure is either fabric or
plastic with either a coating of waterproof material on the fabric
or the plastic faces are themselves waterproof to satisfy the
outdoor storage objectives of the present invention.
[0016] The cover 20 is attached to the main body of storage bin 10
by fabric or other material hinges 24, and at the base of the
storage bin structure 10 are located loops 26 for the purpose of
stabilizing the structure, for instance in a lawn, by means of
stakes 28.
[0017] In more detail, as is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it may be seen
that rod 22', at an edge of cover 20 is arranged within an opening
defined by a tubular element 23'. Likewise, rods 22 throughout the
structure are arranged in tubular elements 23 throughout, mainly
stiffening the structure at the edges of faces 12, 14, 16 and 18,
as well as at the edges of cover 20.
[0018] At or near the bottom edge of skirt 21 (see FIG. 4), which
skirts proximate the front face 12 of the storage bin, a closure
means 30 is provided. This closure means 30 may be a Velcro
fastener or the like, to accomplish securing cover 20 in place at
the top of storage bin 10.
[0019] As an alternative embodiment (FIGS. 6, 7) cover 20 is
secured by a waterproof zipper 32, or the like, with or without
skirt 21. Also, as an alternative embodiment, the shape of the
invention structure is in the form of a cube.
[0020] In order to provide a more complete understanding of the
present invention, a series of use descriptions and steps is now
offered: FIG. 1 shows the collapsed orientation of the storage bin
according to the present invention. The stiffly resilient rods 22
enable this type of complete flattening of the structure to enable
ease of storage when the structure is not in use; i.e. in the
wintertime when the temporary storage of, for instance, toys or
lawn chair cushions is not required.
[0021] With just slight encouragement, or just a small amount of
encouragement by pulling parts of the collapsed structure, (or the
storage bin just pops open by itself), the storage bin is ready for
use, for instance on a lawn. With the cover in the ghost position
of FIG. 2, i.e. an open position, the storage bin can be easily
staked to the lawn by placing stakes 28 through loops 26 into the
lawn, and various items such as children's toys (at bedtime for the
children) and non-waterproof outdoor chair cushions are placed into
the structure, after which the cover 20 is closed and secured by
closure means 30. In this orientation, and with items in the
storage bin 10, the weight of such items and stakes 28 secure the
structure against winds that are likely to occur on summer and
spring evenings. In order to empty the bin, the items in the
storage bin are easily removed by opening the closure means 30 or
32 and just flipping cover 20 to its open position.
[0022] Although the foregoing presents a complete description of
the present invention, the limits thereof are to be provided only
by the following claims.
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