U.S. patent application number 11/087165 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for collapsible storage apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Spin Master Ltd.. Invention is credited to Harris, Stuart.
Application Number | 20050211753 11/087165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32188673 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harris, Stuart |
September 29, 2005 |
Collapsible storage apparatus
Abstract
A collapsible storage apparatus with a base, two or more side
walls, and two or more end walls. In erected position the side
walls and end walls extend upwardly from the base, and in collapsed
position the side walls and end walls fold downwardly towards the
base. Preferably, the edges of the side walls are releasably
engaged to the adjacent edges of the end walls.
Inventors: |
Harris, Stuart; (London,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COHEN, PONTANI, LIEBERMAN & PAVANE
551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1210
New York
NY
10176
US
|
Assignee: |
Spin Master Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
32188673 |
Appl. No.: |
11/087165 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/116.4 ;
446/465; 446/488 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/368 20130101;
A63H 33/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/116.4 ;
446/465; 446/488 |
International
Class: |
A63H 017/00; A63H
033/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2004 |
GB |
0406716.1 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A collapsible storage apparatus comprising: a base; at least two
side walls; and at least two end walls, said at least two side
walls and said at least two end walls attached to and extending
upwardly from said base to define a storage cavity, wherein at
least one edge of at least one of said at least two side walls is
attached by releasable engagement means to an adjacent edge of at
least one of said at least two end walls, such that upon release of
said releasable engagement means, said at least two side walls and
said at least two end walls are foldable downwardly toward said
base.
2. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
first and second edges of each of said at least two side walls are
attached by releasable engagement means to adjacent edges of said
at least two end walls.
3. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said releasable engagement means are zippers.
4. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein
said releasable engagement means are snaps.
5. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising a lid.
6. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which
said lid is attached to one of said at least two side walls.
7. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which
said lid is attached to one of said at least two end walls.
8. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which
said lid is releasably engaged with top edges of each of said at
least two side walls and said at least two end walls.
9. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which
said at least two side walls and said at least two end walls are
substantially rectangular.
10. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 that is
shaped so as to give the appearance of an article that is appealing
to children.
11. A collapsible storage apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which
said at least two side walls and said at least two end walls are
constructed from fabric material into which stiffening means have
been incorporated.
Description
[0001] The invention to which this application relates is apparatus
for the provision of a storage cavity so as to allow items to be
stored within the apparatus. Furthermore, it is desired to provide
apparatus for storage which can be moved between a collapsed
condition in which the apparatus itself can be stored and an
erected condition in which the apparatus can be used for
storage.
[0002] The invention is particularly, although not necessarily
exclusively, related to the provision of apparatus which in itself
can be used as a toy or is of an appearance which is attractive to
children and which can be used for the storage of toys therein.
However, it will be readily appreciated by the reader that the
invention as herein described, could be utilised in any environment
where storage space is required and the storage of items therein is
desired and therefore the features as herein described, are
applicable to storage means in any given form.
[0003] The provision of storage apparatus conventionally comprises
moulded plastics boxes which define a cavity therein and into which
the items can be placed for storage. A lid can be provided for
placement over the same to enclose the cavity. While the use of
such types of boxes is well known and widespread, a disadvantage
with the same is that they are relatively unattractive to look at
and, furthermore, do themselves take up a considerable amount of
space, regardless of whether the same are full of items or
otherwise.
[0004] It is known to provide storage apparatus which can be moved
to a storage position without the removal of the side walls from
the end walls and GB2367283 illustrates one known type of this
apparatus. However a problem which is commonly experienced with
this type of apparatus is that when erected, the same can be
relatively flexible to a point where they can be easily collapsible
which therefore makes the apparatus difficult to carry from
location to location with items stored therein. Furthermore, the
shapes of the storage boxes are extremely limited due to the
geometrical complexities of ensuring that the sidewalls and end
walls, which are permanently joined together along their respective
edges can be moved between folded and in-use positions.
[0005] The aim of the present invention is to provide storage
apparatus which defines at least one cavity therein for the
reception of items for storage and which storage apparatus can be
moved between a collapsed condition and an erected condition and
retained in the erected condition to sufficient extent so as to
allow effective storage of items therein.
[0006] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided
storage apparatus, said storage apparatus including a base and
opposing side and end walls which depend upwardly from the base to
define an opening into a cavity defined between the said end and
side walls and into which items can be selectively placed for
storage when the apparatus is in the erected position, said
apparatus movable between the said erected condition and a
flattened condition wherein the said side and end walls are
foldable downwardly towards said base and wherein engagement means
are provided along the adjacent edges of at least one side wall and
end wall which allow the progressive engagement of the same from
the base towards the top edge of the same to move the said side and
end walls to the erected position.
[0007] Typically, each of the adjacent edges of the side and end
walls are engaged by the progressive engagement means.
[0008] In one embodiment, the progressive engagement means is a zip
fastener which is progressively movable to an engaging position
from the base towards the top edge of the side and end walls so as
to bring the adjacent edges into engagement and at the same time
bring the side and end walls to the upstanding erected
position.
[0009] Typically, movement of the progressive engagement means in
the reverse direction, from the top towards the base releases the
engagement of the adjacent edges of the side and end walls and
thereafter allows the said side and end walls to be folded inwardly
onto the base for storage.
[0010] In a further embodiment, one of the side or end walls is
provided with a lid portion attached thereto such that when the
said side and end walls are moved to the erected position, the lid
portion can be moved to enclose the cavity.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the lid portion is provided as
a separate item which is placed onto the aperture to enclose the
cavity as desired. In whichever embodiment, location means may be
provided to allow the lid to be releasably engaged from the
position on the storage apparatus.
[0012] In one embodiment, the engagement between the respective
edges of the side and end walls is in a straight line.
Alternatively, one or all of the engagement lines can be shaped
other than being straight and the relative shaping is defined by
the shape of the adjacent edges and followed by the line of the zip
fastener. Typically the shaping is provided to allow a particular
visual feature to be created on the apparatus when in an erected
condition.
[0013] The provision of the zip fastener as the engagement means is
of advantage as the same are flexible and therefore allow the
shaping to occur while ensuring that engagement is still
achieved.
[0014] In one embodiment, the said side and end walls are formed of
a fabric material into which may be incorporated stiffening means
so as to provide the storage apparatus with sufficient rigidity
when in the erected condition and also to allow the apparatus to be
maintained in the erected condition and to prevent bowing of the
walls when items are placed into the cavity for storage
purposes.
[0015] In one embodiment, the storage apparatus is shaped so as to
give the appearance of an article which, when the storage apparatus
is erected, is appealing to children such as, for example, a form
of vehicle.
[0016] Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIGS 1a to d illustrate views of the apparatus in accordance
with the invention in an erected condition;
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the
engagement means released; and
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 moved to a
flattened condition for storage.
[0020] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1a and d there is illustrated
storage apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention with a lid removed and in FIGS. 1b and c with the lid in
place. In this embodiment, the storage apparatus 2 depicts a
vehicle in the form of a bus. The apparatus comprises a base 4 and
depending upwardly from the same are side walls 6, 8 and end walls
10, 12. The top surfaces of the side and end walls define an
aperture 14 which allows the placement of articles into and out of
the cavity 16 defined by the side and end walls and base
[0021] Also shown as being selectively placed on the top edges of
the said side and end walls is a lid 20 which has engagement means,
perhaps strips of hook and loop fastener, to allow the releasable
engagement of the lid.
[0022] FIGS. 1a to d show the apparatus in the erected condition
and this is achieved via the provision of the engagement means 22
in the form of a zip fastener is provided to allow the selective
engagement of the adjacent edges of the side and end walls as
shown. In the position shown, the zip fasteners are fully engaged
and bring together the edges of the side and end walls as shown and
hence forms the storage apparatus. If required, stiffening means
can be provided within the side and end walls so as to prevent or
at least reduce the possibility of the walls bowing when items are
placed into the cavity.
[0023] It will also be seen that the edges 30 and 32 are shaped so
as to allow the outer appearance of the article as to have a
distinctive shape. The provision of the zip fastenings 22 which are
flexible allows this shaping to be incorporated while ensuring that
the engagement achieved is sufficiently strong to allow the storage
cavity to be formed.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the storage apparatus in the process of
being moved from the erected condition of FIGS. 1a to d to a
flattened condition and in FIG. 2, each of the engagement means in
the form of zip fasteners 22, has been released so as to allow the
side and end walls to move downwardly to lie flat with the base to
provide the arrangement as shown. Form this position, the said side
and end walls can be moved inwardly around the hinge connection to
the base 4 as indicated by arrows 24 axis so as to be folded
inwardly onto the base as shown in FIG. 3 from which point the same
can be stored when not in use.
[0025] In whichever embodiment, the base may be provided with
stiffening board which is permanently positioned or can be
selectively positioned so as to allow the base to be of sufficient
strength as to hold the articles therein.
[0026] The present invention therefore provides storage apparatus
which allows for the effective storage of items therein and,
furthermore, the storage apparatus is quickly movable between the
storage and erected conditions and furthermore, can be shaped so as
to be itself visually attractive.
* * * * *