U.S. patent application number 11/386214 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for collapsible storage system.
Invention is credited to Clarence A. Cassidy, Niki Kopenhaver.
Application Number | 20060226746 11/386214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37082539 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060226746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kopenhaver; Niki ; et
al. |
October 12, 2006 |
Collapsible storage system
Abstract
A collapsible storage chest is formed to receive a number of
collapsible storage boxes, or drawers. The chest and boxes or
drawers are capable of being collapsed to a substantially flat
configuration to enable the efficient packaging, shipping,
warehousing, distribution and reconstitution of them.
Inventors: |
Kopenhaver; Niki; (Rancho
Santa Fe, CA) ; Cassidy; Clarence A.; (Escondido,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARY L. EASTMAN
EASTMAN & ASSOCIATES
707 BROADWAY STREET, SUITE 1800
SAN DIEGO
CA
92101
US
|
Family ID: |
37082539 |
Appl. No.: |
11/386214 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60663558 |
Mar 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/330.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 67/00 20130101;
A47B 43/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/330.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Claims
1. A collapsible storage system comprising: at least one container
comprising a plurality of container sides attached together to form
container hinges, substantially in the form of a parallelogram,
said container sides variable in angle with respect to each other;
a plurality of container panels, attached to said container sides,
said container panels sufficiently flexible to allow said container
sides to vary in angle with respect to each other; a container
fastener, whereby said container panels can be fastened together
and unfastened, wherein said container sides substantially form a
rectangle when said container panels are fastened together, and
wherein said container can collapse to a substantially flat
configuration when said container panels are unfastened.
2. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, wherein: said
container fastener comprises a container zipper.
3. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, wherein: said
container sides comprise a back container side, a right container
side, a left container side, and a front container side.
4. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, further comprising:
a handle.
5. A collapsible storage system as in claim 4, wherein: said handle
comprises a slot formed in at least one of said container
sides.
6. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, further comprising:
a chest comprising a plurality of chest sides attached together to
form chest hinges, substantially in the form of a parallelogram,
said chest sides variable in angle with respect to each other; a
plurality of chest panels, attached to said chest sides, said chest
panels sufficiently flexible to allow said chest sides to vary in
angle with respect to each other; a chest fastener, whereby said
chest panels can be fastened together and unfastened, wherein said
chest sides substantially form a rectangle when said chest panels
are fastened together, wherein said chest can collapse to a
substantially flat configuration when said chest panels are
unfastened; and wherein said at least one container is receivable
in said chest.
7. A collapsible storage system as in claim 6, wherein: said chest
fastener comprises a chest zipper.
8. A collapsible storage system as in claim 6, further comprising:
a chest support, having a plurality of chest support sides,
extending between two of said chest sides, substantially parallel
to at least one other of said chest sides, and able to support said
at least one container.
9. A collapsible storage system as in claim 8, wherein: at least
one of said at least one container is receivable adjacent one of
said chest support sides, and at least one of said at least one
container is receivable adjacent another of said chest support
sides.
10. A collapsible storage container, comprising: four planar
side-walls, said side walls joined together at each end to another
side-wall by a hinge, said side walls configurable from a rectangle
to a parallelogram; a two piece bottom attached to a side of each
said side-wall and having a fastener extending from diagonal hinges
and configurable from a first configuration wherein said fastener
is fastened and said bottom forms a rectangle retaining said
sidewalls in a rectangular configuration, and a second
configuration wherein said fastener is un-fastened and said bottom
forms two separated triangles wherein said side-walls are
collapsible into a parallelogram.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S.
provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/663,558 entitled
"Collapsible Storage System" and currently co-pending.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to storage systems. In particular, it
relates to a storage system of a chest and drawers. More
specifically, though not exclusively, this invention relates to
collapsible storage systems having the ability to be flattened for
shipment, and reconfigured into a rigid storage container for
use.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] Chests and drawers for storage have existed for many years
and in many forms. One problem with traditional chests and drawers
is that if they are not in use for a time they merely occupy space
that could be used for other purposes. Therefore, there is a need
for a chest and drawers that would occupy little space when not in
use.
[0004] The need for a storage system that can be efficiently
transported is becoming more and more apparent as the economy
becomes more global, and the cost of transporting goods increases
with the ever-soaring costs of fossil fuels. As a result if these
fossil fuel costs, the price of products transported becomes
largely dependent on the distance the product is transported, the
location of the manufacturing, the location of the retail sales,
and the method of transportation. In some cases, the transportation
costs of a product could contribute more than twenty five percent
(25%) of the retail price.
[0005] In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide
products which can be easily shipped in the smallest volume as
possible. More specifically, since freight is often shipped in
containers, the minimization of the physical volume of a product is
often more critical than the actual weight of the product. Products
used for storage are often plagued by the air volume of the
containers themselves.
[0006] Because there is no advantage to shipping products
containing air and wasting valuable cargo space, the present
invention was devised to provide a collapsible storage system which
can overcome the storage and transport challenges of fixed storage
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention includes a collapsible storage chest
that is formed to receive a number of collapsible storage boxes, or
drawers. Each of the elements of the present invention is capable
of being collapsed to a substantially flat configuration to enable
the efficient packaging, shipping, warehousing, and distribution of
the invention.
[0008] The collapsible containers of the present invention include
four side-walls hinged together in the form of a parallelogram
which may be positioned into a rectangular configuration; and by
folding acutely two opposing hinges, collapsed into a flat
configuration.
[0009] The hinges may be actual metal pin hinges, may be effective
hinges by sewn seams in material-covered side-walls, or may be
formed by spaces between the rigid portions of the side-walls. The
bottom panel of the container is a pliable material which may be
separated along a diagonal between diagonally separated hinges, and
flexible enough to allow the collapse of the container an opposite
diagonal direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The novel features of this invention, as well as the
invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will
be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar
reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the small collapsible
storage container;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a back view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a right-side view of the small collapsible storage
container;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the small collapsible
storage container shown in a semi-collapsed configuration;
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the collapsible storage
chest of the present invention having three collapsible storage
boxes installed with one removed for clarity; and
[0020] FIG. 10 is a front view of the collapsible storage chest
showing the diagonal zipper along the back panel to allow for the
collapsing of the storage chest to a substantially flat
configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a top perspective view of the
collapsible storage container is shown and designated 100.
Container 100 includes a back 102, a right side 104, and left side
106, a front 108 formed with a handle slot 110, and having bottom
panels 112 and 114 attached together with a zipper 116.
[0022] As shown in this configuration, the sides are attached
together to form a hinge. Specifically, sides 102 and 106 are
attached with hinge 124, sides 102 and 104 are attached with hinge
122, sides 104 and 108 are attached with hinge 128, and sides 108
and 106 are attached with hinge 126. These hinges allow the angles
between the sides to vary from ninety degrees to facilitate the
collapsing of the storage container as shown and discussed in
conjunction with FIG. 8 below.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsible storage container
and shows the bottom panels 112 and 114 attachable together with a
zipper 116 having a zipper slide 118. It is to be appreciated that
the zipper 116 is shown in its usable configuration with the two
bottom portions zipped together to make the bottom panel
sufficiently rigid to maintain the sides 102, 104, 106 and 108 in a
substantially rectangular form. If the zipper is opened, the
storage container may collapse in direction 117 to a substantially
flat configuration for easy storage. It may be reconfigured to its
usable state by merely re-closing the zipper 116 to re-establish
the sides in a rectangular configuration.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a left side view of the collapsible storage
container. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the collapsible storage
container showing the orientation of the zipper 116, and a handle
120 used to advance the zipper slide 118 along the zipper 116 to
change the configuration of the container. As shown in this Figure,
the handle 120 is on the bottom of the container, however, it is to
be appreciated that the handle may be placed inside the container.
Further, although the zipper is shown as a fastener in this
preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be
appreciated that any variety of fasteners may be used in the
present invention without departing from the invention. For
instance, Velcro hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, ties,
etc., may be used to fasten bottom panels 112 and 114 together.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 5, a front view of the collapsible storage
container is shown and front side 108 is formed with a cut-out
handle 110. It is to be appreciated that other shapes may be used
for the handle, such as finger-holes, or a handle may be attached
to the front 108 (not shown).
[0026] FIG. 6 is a back view, and FIG. 7 is a right side view of
the collapsible storage container.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 8, a perspective view of the collapsible
storage container shown in a semi-collapsed configuration. In order
to collapse the storage container, zipper 116 must be opened to
allow for the separation of bottom panels 112 and 114. As shown,
these panels are flexible enough to allow for the movement of the
sides 102, 104, 106 and 108 into a trapezoidal configuration. When
fully collapsed, sides 104 and 106 are directly adjacent each
other, or separated only by panels 112 and 114. This collapsed
configuration provides for the very compact storage of the
container in a flat package, readily usable simply by re-orienting
the sides into a rectangular position and zipping bottom panels 112
and 114 together.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 9, a perspective view of the collapsible
storage chest of the present invention is shown and generally
designated 200. Storage chest 200 includes a frame 202 and a drawer
204. Chest 200 is formed having a top 206, a bottom 208, a left
side 210, and a right side 212. Also shown is a center support 214
extending between left side 210 and right side 212 to support
drawers 204.
[0029] Frame 202 is formed with hinges 230, 232, 234, and 236 which
provide for the collapsing of the frame to a substantially flat
configuration. Drawers 220, 222, 224 and 226 are similar to drawer
100 discussed above, and likewise collapsible.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 10, a front view of the collapsible
storage chest 200 showing the diagonal zipper 240 having slide 242
separating two back panels 242 and 246. The zipper 240 along the
back panel to allows for the collapsing of the storage chest to a
substantially flat configuration. Once un-zipped, the frame 202 may
collapse in direction 248.
[0031] The storage system of the present invention may be made of
any material capable of supporting the structure shown herein. No
limitation as to the materials is contemplated except that the
materials chosen for the sides must be substantially rigid, and the
materials chosen for the bottom must be somewhat flexible when in
the un-zipped configuration in order to allow for the collapsing of
the sides together.
[0032] While the particular collapsible storage containers as
herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining
the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it
is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are
intended to the details of construction or design herein shown
other than as described in the appended claims.
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