U.S. patent application number 11/115143 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for folding collapsible storage container.
Invention is credited to Wen-Tsan Wang.
Application Number | 20060243785 11/115143 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37233487 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060243785 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Wen-Tsan |
November 2, 2006 |
Folding collapsible storage container
Abstract
Disclosed is a folding collapsible storage container formed of a
sheet material having a bottom panel, atop panel, a back panel
connected between the bottom panel and the top panel, a lower front
panel at the front side of the bottom panel opposite to the back
panel, an upper front panel at one side of the top panel opposite
to the back panel, two side panels at two opposite lateral sides of
the bottom panel, connection flaps at the front and rear sides of
each side panel, and hook and loop materials fixedly provided at
the flaps, the front panel, the back panel and the top panel for
securing the front panel and back panel to the flaps at the side
panels and two sides of the top panel to the side panels
respectively.
Inventors: |
Wang; Wen-Tsan; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C LEI
PMB # 1008
1867 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
37233487 |
Appl. No.: |
11/115143 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/122 ;
229/110; 229/112; 229/162.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/321 20130101;
B65D 85/187 20130101; B65D 5/4204 20130101; B65D 5/48026 20130101;
B65D 2313/02 20130101; B65D 5/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/122 ;
229/110; 229/112; 229/162.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/54 20060101
B65D025/54; B65D 5/00 20060101 B65D005/00 |
Claims
1. A folding collapsible storage container comprising: a container
body formed of a sheet material, said sheet material comprising a
bottom panel, a top panel, a back panel connected between said
bottom panel and said top panel, a lower front panel extended from
a front side of said bottom panel opposite to said back panel, an
upper front panel extended from one side of said top panel opposite
to said back panel, and two side panels respectively extended from
two opposite lateral sides of said bottom panel, said side panels
each having two connection flaps respectively disposed at front and
rear sides thereof, said top panel having two connection flaps
extending along two opposite lateral sides thereof, said upper
front panel having a connection flap extending along one side
thereof opposite to said front panel, and folding lines
respectively extended along the connection area between each two
panels of said sheet material and between each connection flap and
the respective panel; and hook and loop materials respectively
fixedly provided at the connection flaps of said side panels at an
outer side, an inside wall of said lower front panel at two sides,
an inside wall of said back panel at two sides, the connection
flaps of said top panel, the connection flap of said upper front
panel for securing the connection flap at the front side of each of
said side panels to the inside wall of said lower front panel, the
connection flap at the rear side of each of said side panels to the
inside wall of said back panel, and the connection flaps of said
top panel to said side panels.
2. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said upper front panel has a view window.
3. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said upper front panel has a handle disposed at a front
side thereof.
4. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the front side of each of said side panels is a
double-beveled, having two sloping edges; the connection flap at
the front side of each of said side panels extends along one
sloping edge of the respective double-beveled front side adjacent
to said bottom panel.
5. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising a partition device mounted inside said container
body to separate the inside space of said container body into
multiple compartments.
6. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 5,
wherein said partition device is comprised of a -shaped plate
member.
7. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 5,
wherein said partition device has a crossed frame structure.
8. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim 7,
wherein said crossed frame structure is comprised of a -shaped
plate member and a flat plate member, said -shaped plate member
having a cut extending from one side thereof on the middle, said
flat plate member having a cut extending from one side thereof on
the middle and forced into engagement with the cut at said -shaped
plate member.
9. A folding collapsible storage container comprising: a container
body formed of a sheet member, said container body comprising a
front panel, a back panel, a bottom panel connected between said
front panel and said back pane, and two side panels respectively
extended from two opposite lateral sides of said bottom panel, said
side panels each having two connecting flaps respectively disposed
at front and rear sides thereof; and hook and loop materials
respectively fixedly provided at the connection panel, an inside
wall of said front panel at two sides, and an inside wall of said
back panel at two sides for securing said front panel to the
connection flap at the front side of each of said side panels and
said back panel to the connection flap at the rear side of each of
said side panels.
10. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim
9, wherein the front and rear sides of said side panels are
double-beveled each having two sloping edges; the connection flaps
of each of said side panels respectively extend along one sloping
edge of each of the double-beveled front and rear sides of said
side panels adjacent to said bottom panel
11. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim
10, further comprising a cross rod mounted inside said container
body.
12. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim
11, further comprising a folding collapsible cover fitting the
contour of a top open side of said container body for closing said
container body.
13. A folding collapsible storage container comprising: a container
body formed of a flexible sheet member, said container body having
a bottom panel, a front panel and a back panel respectively
connected to front and rear sides of said bottom panel, and two
side panels respectively connected to two opposite lateral sides of
said bottom panel, said front panel and said back panel each having
a center folding line vertically extending on the middle. a bottom
plate supporting the bottom panel of said container body, said
bottom plate having a middle folding line extending to two opposite
sides thereof on the middle; and a cover formed of a flexible sheet
member and fitting over said container body, said cover having
peripheral flaps extending along the border thereof and spaced from
one another by a respective gap, and flexible corner clips
respectively fastened to each two adjacent peripheral flaps around
the corners thereof.
14. The folding collapsible storage container as claimed in claim
13, wherein said side panels of said container body each have a
double-beveled front side, said double-beveled front side having
two sloping edges; said front panel of said container body is
connected between one sloping edge of the double-beveled front side
of each of said side panels of said container body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to storage containers and more
particularly, to a folding collapsible storage container that can
be folding into a collapsed flap manner to reduce storage
space.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Various collapsible storage containers have been disclosed,
and have appeared on the market. A collapsible storage container is
known comprising a collapsible rectangular container body formed of
canvass, four top horizontal rods respectively fastened to the four
sides of the container body at the top, two bottom horizontal rods
respectively fastened to two opposite sides of the container body
at the bottom, and four vertical rods respectively fastened to the
container body in the four corners. The rod members are kept spaced
from one another at a distance after installation. The rod members
support the container body in shape. Further, each vertical
peripheral panel of the container body has two crossed and
diagonally extending folding lines.
[0005] Through the folding lines, the container body can be
collapsed. The aforesaid collapsible storage container has a
complicated structure. Another drawback of this structure of
collapsible storage container is its complicated operating
procedure. Further, because the container body is formed of
canvass, the peripheral panels of the container body are not stiff.
When tough and stiff materials are used, the desired folding
collapsible function according to this design becomes unable to
achieve. Further, this conventional design does not provide added
functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a
folding collapsible storage container, which is formed of a sheet
material stamped into shape subject to a predetermined pattern, and
then folded into a container and secured in shape by hook and loop
materials. When unfastening the hook and loop materials, the
container can be extended out and arranged into a flat manner to
reduce the occupation of storage space. It is another object of the
present invention to provide a folding collapsible storage
container, which uses hook and loop materials to detachably secure
a cover to the top side of the folding collapsible container body,
which cover can be extended out and arranged in a flat manner when
not in use. It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a folding collapsible storage container, which has the
container body and the cover respective formed of a flexible sheet
material that can be directly folded into a flat manner to reduce
the occupation of storage space when not in use.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
folding collapsible storage container is formed of a sheet material
having a bottom panel, a top panel, a back panel connected between
the bottom panel and the top panel, a lower front panel at the
front side of the bottom panel opposite to the back panel, an upper
front panel at one side of the top panel opposite to the back
panel, two side panels at two opposite lateral sides of the bottom
panel, connection flaps at the front and rear sides of each side
panel, and hook and loop materials fixedly provided at the flaps,
the front panel, the back panel and the top panel for securing the
front panel and back panel to the flaps at the side panels and two
sides of the top panel to the side panels respectively. A -shaped
or cross-shaped partition device may be mounted inside the
container body to divide the holding space of the container body
into multiple compartments. The container body may be provided with
a door that has a view window and a handle.
[0008] According to an alternate form of the present invention, the
folding collapsible storage container comprises a container body,
which is formed of a sheet member, and hook and loop materials. The
container body comprises a front panel, a back panel, a bottom
panel connected between the front panel and the back pane, and two
side panels respectively extended from two opposite lateral sides
of the bottom panel, the side panels each having two connecting
flaps respectively disposed at front and rear sides thereof; and
hook and loop materials respectively fixedly provided at the
connection panel, an inside wall of the front panel at two sides,
and an inside wall of the back panel at two sides for securing the
front panel to the connection flap at the front side of each of the
side panels and the back panel to the connection flap at the rear
side of each of the side panels.
[0009] According to another alternate form of the present
invention, the folding collapsible storage container comprises a
container body formed of a flexible sheet member, the container
body having a bottom panel, a front panel and a back panel
respectively connected to front and rear sides of the bottom panel,
and two side panels respectively connected to two opposite lateral
sides of the bottom panel, the front panel and the back panel each
having a center folding line vertically extending on the middle; a
bottom plate supporting the bottom panel of the container body, the
bottom plate having a middle folding line extending to two opposite
sides thereof on the middle; and a cover formed of a flexible sheet
member and fitting over the container body, the cover having
peripheral flaps extending along the border thereof and spaced from
one another by a respective gap, and flexible corner clips
respectively fastened to each two adjacent peripheral flaps around
the corners thereof.
[0010] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0011] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an extended out view of a folding collapsible
storage container according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, showing the side panels and
the lower front panel turned upwards relative to the bottom
panel.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the folding
collapsible storage container of the first embodiment of the
present invention set into shape.
[0015] FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3, showing the upper front panel
closed.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a partition device formed
of a -shaped plate member for the folding collapsible storage
container according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a partition device formed of a
substantially -shaped plate member and a flat plate member
according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is an assembly view of FIG. 6.
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates the partition device shown in FIG. 6
installed in the folding collapsible storage container according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 shows two folding collapsible storage containers
constructed according to the first embodiment of the present
invention arranged in a stack.
[0021] FIG. 10 shows a cross rod mounted inside the folding
collapsible storage container according to the first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side plain view showing two shoes mounted
inside the folding collapsible storage container and separated by
the cross rod according to the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 12 shows a number of folding collapsible storage
containers constructed according to the first embodiment of the
present invention arranged in two stacks.
[0024] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a folding collapsible storage
container according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 14 shows the collapsed flat manner of the container
body shown in FIG. 13.
[0026] FIG. 15 shows the cover shown in FIG. 13 arranged into a
flat manner.
[0027] FIG. 16 is an extended out view of a container body for
folding collapsible storage container according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the folding collapsible
storage container according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1.about.4, a folding collapsible storage
container 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention is shown made by folding a tough sheet member into shape.
The sheet member comprises a bottom panel 10, a top panel 13, a
back panel 12 connected between the bottom panel 10 and the top
panel 13, a lower front panel 14 extended from one side, namely,
the front side of the bottom panel 10 opposite to the back panel
12, an upper front panel 15 extended from one side of the top panel
13 opposite to the back panel 12, and two side panels 11
respectively extended from the two opposite lateral sides of the
bottom panel 10. Each side panel 11 has two connection flaps 111
respectively extended along the straight rear side thereof and one
of the two sloping edges of the double-beveled front side thereof,
and fastening elements 112 respectively fixedly provided at the
connection flaps 111 at an outer side. The lower front panel 14 has
fastening elements 141 bilaterally disposed at the inside wall
thereof for fastening to the fastening elements 112 at the
connection flaps 111 at the double-beveled front side of each of
the two side panels 11. The back panel 12 has fastening elements
121 bilaterally disposed at the inside wall thereof for fastening
to the fastening elements 112 at the straight rear side of each of
the two side panels 11. The top panel 13 has two connection flaps
131 extended along the two opposite lateral sides thereof for
fastening to the two side panels 11 by hook and loop materials
after having been bent through 90.degree. relative to the top panel
13 (see FIG. 3). The upper front panel 15 has a connection flap 151
extended along one side thereof opposite to the top panel 13 for
fastening to the lower front panel 14 with hook and loop materials
after having been bent through 90.degree. relative to the upper
front panel 15. The upper front panel 15 has a view window 153, and
a handle 152. Further, folding lines are respectively extended
along the connection area between each two panels of the sheet
member 1 and between each connection flap and the respective panel
so that each two directly connected panels can be folded up at
right angles and each connection flap and the respective panel can
be folded up at right angle. Further, the fastening elements of the
panels of the sheet member 1 according to this embodiment are hook
and loop materials so that the panels 10.about.1 5 can detachably
be fastened to on another. When assembled as shown in FIG. 4, one
can see the storage items in the folding collapsible storage
container through the view window 153. Through the handle 152, the
user can conveniently open the upper front panel 15 to access to
the inside of the folding collapsible storage container.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 5.about.8, different partition devices
may selectively be used and installed in the folding collapsible
storage container to separate the inside holding space of the
folding collapsible storage container into motile compartments for
keeping classified storage items in good order. The partition
device 2 shown in FIG. 5 is simply formed of a substantially
-shaped plate member. The partition device 3 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7
comprises a substantially -shaped plate member. 31 and a flat plate
member 32 perpendicularly fastened to the middle part of the
substantially -shaped plate member. 31. The substantially -shaped
plate member. 31 and the flat plate member 32 each have a cut 311
or 321 extending from one side on the middle. By means of engaging
the cut 321 of the flat plate member 32 into the cut 311 of the
-shaped plate member. 31, the flat plate member 32 is fastened to
the -shaped plate member 31 in vertical.
[0032] Further, multiple folding collapsible storage containers
made according to the present invention can be arranged in a stack
as shown in FIG. 9. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a cross rod 16
may be installed in the folding collapsible storage container and
connected between the two opposite side panels so that one shoe can
be received inside the folding collapsible storage container below
the cross rod 16 and the other shoe can be received inside the
folding collapsible storage container and supported on the cross
rod 16.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 12, multiple folding collapsible storage
containers made according to the present invention can be arranged
together in multiple stacks are closely attached to one another
side by side.
[0034] FIGS. 16 and 17 show a folding collapsible storage container
in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.
According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage
container comprises a container body 1A and a cover 1B. Folding a
tough sheet member into shape makes the container body 1A. The
tough sheet member for the container body 1A comprises a front
panel 1A2, a back panel 1A3, a bottom panel 1A0 connected between
the front panel 1A2 and the back panel 1A3, and two side panels 1A1
respectively extended from the two opposite lateral sides of the
bottom panel 1A0. Each side panel 1A1 has double-beveled front and
rear sides 1A11, two connecting flaps 1A10 respectively extended
along one of the two sloping edges of each of the double-beveled
front and rear sides, and fastening elements 1A12 respectively
provided at the connecting flaps 1 A10. The front panel 1A2 and the
back panel 1A3 each have two fastening elements 1 A21 bilaterally
disposed at the respective inside wall for fastening to the
fastening elements 1A12 at the side panels 1A after the connecting
flaps 1A10 have been bent through 90.degree. relative to the
respective side panels 1A1. Folding a tough sheet member into shape
also makes the cover 1B.
[0035] FIG. 13 shows a folding collapsible storage container
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
According to this embodiment, the folding collapsible storage
container is comprised of a container body 4, a cover 5, and a
bottom plate 6. The container body 4 is formed of a flexible sheet
member, having a bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and two
side panels. The front and back panels of the container body 4 each
have a center folding line 41 vertically extending on the middle.
Through the center folding line 41 of each of the front and back
panels of the container body 4, the container body 4 can be folded
into a collapsed flat manner as shown in FIG. 14. The bottom plate
6 can also be folded up into two folds, thereby minimizing the
size. The cover 5 is formed of a flexible sheet member to fit over
the top open side of the container body 4, having peripheral flaps
51 extending along the border thereof and spaced from one another
by a respective gap, and flexible corner clips 52 respectively
fastened to each two adjacent peripheral flaps 51 around the
corners thereof. The peripheral flaps 51 can also be turned
outwards so that the cover 5 is set into a flat manner (see FIG.
15).
[0036] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0037] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *