U.S. patent application number 12/178501 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for handle for collapsible container.
Invention is credited to Azad Sabounjian.
Application Number | 20100018968 12/178501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41567710 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100018968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sabounjian; Azad |
January 28, 2010 |
HANDLE FOR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
Abstract
A collapsible container adapted to allow a person to manually
carry items within the container by use of at least one handle
connected to the container. The container has a plurality of
flexible loop frames each contained in a pocket connected to form
sides of the container in an expanded configuration. The handle has
a first end extending through a buttonhole in one of the pockets
and encircling the flexible frame and the pocket portion containing
the flexible frame. The handle may further have a second end
extending through another buttonhole in the pocket or an adjacent
pocket and encircling the flexible frame and the pocket portion
containing the flexible frame. The edge of the buttonholes is
preferably finished with strengthening structure.
Inventors: |
Sabounjian; Azad; (Irvine,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STETINA BRUNDA GARRED & BRUCKER
75 ENTERPRISE, SUITE 250
ALISO VIEJO
CA
92656
US
|
Family ID: |
41567710 |
Appl. No.: |
12/178501 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/9.2 ;
220/212.5; 220/754; 220/770; 220/772 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0077 20130101;
B65D 33/06 20130101; B65D 33/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/9.2 ;
220/770; 220/772; 220/754; 220/212.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/06 20060101
B65D033/06; A45C 7/00 20060101 A45C007/00 |
Claims
1. A collapsible container, comprising a plurality of frame members
defining an enclosure, wherein each of the frame members is
contained in a pocket and the container is collapsible by twisting
and folding the frame members, the container further comprising at
least one handle having two distal ends, with at least one end
extending through at least one buttonhole formed in at least one of
the pockets and passing through the pocket to encircle the frame
member and to encircle a portion of the pocket.
2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of side
panels each being encircled by the corresponding pocket.
3. The container of claim 2, further comprising a bottom fastened
to the side panels.
4. The container of claim 2, further comprising a top to at least
partially enclose one end of the container.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the buttonholes has an
edge finished with a strengthening structure.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the strengthening structures
include satin stitches.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein: the pocket includes an inner
surface and an outer surface extending at two sides of the frame
member contained therein; and each of the buttonholes includes two
aligned holes formed in the inner and outer surface,
respectively.
8. The container of claim 8, wherein each of the hole has an edge
finished with individual strengthening structure.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the edges of the aligned holes
are joined together to form the corresponding buttonhole.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a flat
strap with the distal ends so sized to extend through the
buttonholes.
11. A collapsible container, comprising: a plurality of side panels
defining an enclosure; a plurality of pockets, each extending
around a periphery of the corresponding side panel; a plurality of
flexible loop frame members contained within the corresponding
pockets; a pair of first buttonholes formed in at least one of the
pockets; and a first handle having two distal ends extending
through the pocket via the first buttonholes and encircling the
frame member contained in the pocket.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the first buttonholes are
formed in the pocket between the corresponding frame member and
side panel.
13. The container of claim 11, wherein the first buttonholes are
formed in the pocket of the same side panel at two spaced apart
locations.
14. The container of claim 11, wherein the first buttonholes are
formed in the pockets of two adjacent side panels.
15. The container of claim 11, wherein the buttonholes have edges
finished with strengthening structure.
16. The container of claim 11, wherein the distal ends are fastened
to the first handle after extending through the pocket.
17. The container of claim 11, further comprising: a second pair of
buttonholes formed in the pocket opposite the first pair of
buttonholes; and a second handle having two distal ends extending
through the opposite pocket via the second buttonholes and
encircling the frame member contained in the opposite pocket.
18. A collapsible container adapted to allow a person to manually
carry items within the container by use of at least one handle
connected to the container, the container having a plurality of
flexible loop frames each contained in a pocket connected to form
sides of the container in an expanded configuration, the handle
comprising a first end extending through a buttonhole in one of the
pockets and encircling the flexible frame and the pocket portion
containing the flexible frame.
19. The container of claim 18, wherein the handle further comprises
a second end extending through another buttonhole in the pocket or
an adjacent pocket and encircling the flexible frame and the pocket
portion containing the flexible frame.
20. The container of claim 18, wherein the buttonhole has an edge
finished with strengthening structure.
21. A collapsible object, comprising: at least one panel; a pocket
connected to a periphery of the panel, the pocket having a first
buttonhole perforating therethrough; a flexible loop frame
extending around the panel and contained within the pocket; a
handle, having a first end extending through the buttonhole and
fastened to the handle to encircle a first part of the frame and
the pocket containing the first part of the frame.
22. The object of claim 21, wherein: the pocket further comprising
a second buttonhole perforating therethrough; and the handle
further comprising a second end extending through the second
buttonhole and fastened to the handle to encircle a second part of
the frame and the pocket containing the second part of the frame.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The current invention relates in general to the handle of a
container, and more particularly, to the handle of a collapsible
container.
[0002] Collapsible containers are known that have four sides, a
bottom and an open top. Twist-and-fold frames are contained in
pockets around the periphery of each side panels so that opposing
sides can be folded against each other, and then the flexible
frames twisted into two or three overlapping loops or circles to
form a collapsible hamper. The flexible frames contained in pockets
are also used to make containers with curved sides. Such
collapsible containers are shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,971,188, 5,964,533, and 6,527,136 the complete contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] The frames must be relatively small cross-section in order
to allow the twisting-and-folding of the frame into small, portable
packages. The flexible structures are also used for collapsible
containers used to carry items. But when items are placed in the
containers, the container must be lifted carefully, as the flexible
nature of the container can make it difficult to hold. The small
size of the frames coupled with enclosing the frames in pockets
makes it difficult to pick up these containers by grabbing the
frames directly. Handles have been provided with the containers,
but they are attached to the fabric forming the top or the side
panels and that fabric is thin and of insufficient strength to
provide for a durable connection. A handle has been provided that
encircles the frame at a location where the pocket ends and leaves
the frame exposed, but it is costly to form the pocket to expose
the frame in that manner. There is thus a need for an improved way
to allow a person to grip and lift these collapsible
containers.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] A collapsible container having a plurality of frame members
defining an enclosure is provided. Each of the frame members is
contained in a pocket. The container is collapsible by twisting and
folding the frame members. At least one handle is connected to the
container. The handle has at least one, and preferably two distal
ends, each end extending through two buttonholes formed in at least
one of the pockets and fastened to the handle to encircle the frame
member. The button holes are formed in opposing sides of the pocket
and aligned with each other so the handle can pass through both
button holes and encircle a portion of the frame and a portion of
the pocket. The container further comprises a plurality of side
panels each being encircled by the corresponding pocket and a
bottom fastened to the side panels. Advantageous, the container has
a top to at least partially enclose one end of the container. The
edge of each of the buttonhole is preferably finished with a
strengthening structure such as stitches.
[0005] In one embodiment, the pocket includes an inner facing
surface and an outer facing surface of the pocket extending at two
sides of the frame member contained therein. To form each of the
buttonholes, a hole is formed in each of the inner and outer
surfaces and aligned with each other. The edges of holes are
finished with individual strengthening structure. Alternatively,
the edges of aligned holes in each side of the pocket can be joined
together to form the buttonhole, and the joined edges are then
finished with the strengthening structure. Preferably, the handle
includes a flat strap with the distal end so sized to extend
through the buttonhole(s).
[0006] In a variation of the invention, a collapsible has a
plurality of side panels, a plurality of pockets on the side
panels, a plurality of flexible loop frame members in the pockets,
a pair of first buttonholes opposite each other on one of the
pockets, and a first handle. The side panels join together to
define an enclosure. Each of the pockets extends around a periphery
of the corresponding side panel. The flexible loop frame members
are contained within the corresponding pockets. The first
buttonholes are formed in at least one of the pockets between the
corresponding frame member and side panel. The first buttonholes
can be formed in opposing sides of the same pocket or adjacent
pockets. Preferably, the buttonholes are formed at locations spaced
apart from each other so there are two sets of button holes on the
pocket of one side panel. The edges of the buttonholes are
preferably finished with strengthening structures such as satin
stitches. The first handle has two distal ends extending through
one of the pockets via the first buttonholes and encircling the
frame member contained in the pocket. Once extending through the
buttonholes, the distal ends are fastened to the first handle.
Preferably, the container further comprises a second pair of
buttonholes formed in the pocket opposite the first pair of
buttonholes and a second handle having two distal ends extending
through the opposite pocket via the second buttonholes and
encircling the frame member contained in the opposite pocket.
[0007] The invention further provides a collapsible container
adapted to allow a person to manually carry items within the
container by use of at least one handle connected to the container.
The container has a plurality of flexible loop frames each
contained in a pocket connected to form sides of the container in
an expanded configuration. The handle comprises a first end
extending through a buttonhole in at least one of the pockets and
encircling the flexible frame and the pocket portion containing the
flexible frame. The handle may further comprise a second end
extending through another buttonhole in the same pocket on the same
side panel or in an adjacent pocket on a different side panel and
encircling the flexible frame and the pocket portion containing the
flexible frame. The edge of the buttonholes is preferably finished
with strengthening structure.
[0008] In a further variation of the invention, a collapsible
object is provided. The collapsible has at least one panel, a
pocket connected to a periphery of the panel, and a flexible loop
frame extending around the panel and contained within the pocket. A
first buttonhole is formed to perforating through the pocket. A
handle is connected to the object. A first end of the object
extends through the buttonhole and is fastened to the object to
encircle a first part of the frame and the pocket covering the
first part therein. Preferably but optionally, the pocket has a
second buttonhole formed therein allowing a second end of the
handle to extend through and encircle a second part of the frame
and the pocket containing the second part therein. The panel may be
configured to define an enclosure or into various geometries for
various functions. Alternatively, the object may include additional
panel to provide various utilities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other features and advantages of the various
embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect
to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers
refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container with a handle
of this invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of the pocket of
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of the joint
between the handle and the pocket;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view along the cutting line
3-3 of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the joint between the
handle and the pocket; and
[0015] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a collapsible container 10 has four
side panels 12 arranged to form a substantially rectangular
enclosure. A bottom 14 is fastened to the side panels 12. The
portion of the container 10 opposite the bottom 14 may be entirely
open, but can be at least partially enclosed by a top 16 that can
be opened or has an opening 18 through which items can be loaded in
and removed from the container 10. A pocket 20 extends around the
periphery of each side panel 12, and inside the pocket 20 is a
frame member 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The frame member 22 may be
arranged in various configurations, depending on the design of the
particular container 10. But the frame 22 always has a portion at
the top of the container 10, and the frame member 22 is typically
contained entirely, or predominantly, in a pocket 20 in order to
form the container 10. The frame members 22 are of plastic or
metal, and are preferably of a metal coated with a waterproof
material such as paint or plastic in order to avoid rust.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, at least one handle 24 is connected to
the container 10 at the top of the pocket 20 of at least one side
panel 12. The handle 24 could be fastened only at one end rather
than at two ends as shown.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, after extending through the buttonholes
28, the distal ends 26 are fastened to the handle 24 to form a loop
encircling both the frame member 22 and the portion of the pocket
20 covering the frame member 22. The button holes 28 are formed on
opposing sides 20a, 20b of the pocket 20, and are aligned. The
button holes 28 are preferably located sufficiently below the top
of the pocket 20 so that the frame 22 can fit above the top edge of
the button hole 28. That location allows the strap 24 to fit
through the aligned button holes 28 and encircle the frame and a
portion of the pocket, including the upper or top portion of the
buttonholes. Note that as used herein, the top and upper are
relative to the orientation of the parts in the figures, and in
actual use the orientation and relative positions can vary.
[0019] In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the distal ends 26 are
fastened to the handle 24 by sewing the ends of the flexible strap
together. Other fastening or attaching mechanism including but not
limited to riveting, gluing, buttoning, or Velcro can also be used
to fasten the distal ends 26 to the handle 24. The edges 30 of the
button holes 28 are preferably finished with strengthening
structures 32 such as buttonhole stitches to help prevent the holes
from tearing during use. Metal grommets could also be used. The
structure as shown in FIG. 3 provides a connection of the handle 24
without sewing it into the material forming the side panel 12 or
the top 16. Such connection allows the lifting loads from the
handle 24 to be transferred directly to the frame member 22 and
avoids wear and tearing of the material forming the side panel 12
or the top 16.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, the pocket 20 includes an inner facing
surface 20a and an outer facing surface 20b extending at two
opposing sides of the frame member 22. The inner facing surface 20a
faces toward the inside of the container, and the outer facing
surface 20b faces toward the outside of the container. Each
buttonhole 28 includes two holes 28a and 28b formed in the inner
and outer surface 20a and 20b, respectively. The edges 30a and 30b
of the holes 28a and 28b are preferably aligned with each other.
The edges 30a and 30b of the holes 28a and 28b can be individually
finished by the strengthening structure 32a and 32b as shown in
FIG. 4; or alternatively, the edges can be joined together by the
strengthening structure 32 to form the buttonhole 28 as shown in
FIG. 5. In either way, the connection of the handle 24 can be
easily made and properly strengthened with minimum labor and
cost.
[0021] The handle 24 preferably comprises a flat strap of material
that is sized so the distal ends 26 can extend through the
buttonhole 28. The handle 24 advantageously comprises a flexible
strap, preferably of a flat, flexible material such as nylon or
leather, but the material and shape can vary. The handle 24 has two
distal ends 26 extending through the pocket 20 via a pair of
buttonholes 28 formed to perforate the pocket 20 between the frame
member 22 and the side panel 12. The distal ends 26 of the handle
24 preferably connect the container 10 at spaced apart distances on
the same pocket containing the same flexible frame 22 encircled by
the handle 24. But the opposing ends of the handle 24 could be
connected to adjacent or opposing frames 22. For frame member 22
used to form flat side panels, the distal ends 26 preferably join
the frame adjacent opposing corers of the frame member 24. Because
the frame member 22 is made of twist-and-fold flexible hoops, the
corners are usually curved to varying degrees. Joining the handle
24 adjacent the opposing corners of either the same side panel 12
or adjacent panel 12 allows a more stable lifting force to be
applied to the container 10. Other locations can be selected as
desired.
[0022] The container 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two
handles 24, and each of which has two opposing ends 26 joined to
the pocket 20 of the same side panel 12. It will be appreciated
that the number of the handles 24 and the location of the
connection of the handles 24 are not limited to this specific
embodiment. For example, the container 10 may include two or more
two handles 24. Also, the opposing ends 26 of each handle 24 can be
connected at the pockets 20 of two adjacent side panels 12 instead
being connected to the same pocket 20 of the same side panel 12.
Further, a single strap handle can be used which has only one end
connecting to one frame, with the other end forming a loop suitable
for gripping by a hand, or just forming a free end for gripping by
hand or for other use.
[0023] The side panels 12 of the container are preferably covered
with material including but not limited to solid fabric, mesh
fabric, a polymer based material such as plastic, or other flexible
materials that allow the folding of the container 10 from an
expanded configuration to a folded, collapsed configuration. The
side panels 12 can form flat panels, with three or more panels
joined to form a container. The side panels 12 can be joined
together directly using a common pocket 20, or by sewing adjacent
pockets 20 together, or by placing a spacing strip intermediate the
adjacent pockets 20 along the vertical sides of the panels 12. The
bottom 14 is advantageously configured to provide a continuous
juncture with the side panels 12 and will vary depending on how
adjacent sides 12 are joined.
[0024] The handle 24 is described as fastened to a container, but
the handle could be fastened to a single tension-loop frame and its
associated panel, or it could be fastened to one or more frames in
any structure or assembly using such tension loop frames 22.
[0025] In a further variation of the invention, a collapsible
object 10 is provided as shown in FIG. 6. The collapsible object 10
has at least one panel 12, a pocket 20 connected to a periphery of
the panel 12, and a flexible loop frame 22 extending around the
panel 12 and contained within the pocket 20. A first buttonhole 28
is formed to perforating through the pocket 20. A handle 24 is
connected to the object. A first end 26 of the object extends
through the buttonhole 28 and is fastened to the object 10 to
encircle a first part of the frame 22 and the pocket 20 covering
the first part therein. Preferably but optionally, the pocket 20
has a second buttonhole 28 formed therein allowing a second end 26
of the handle to extend through and encircle a second part of the
frame 22 and the pocket 20 containing the second part therein. The
panel 12 may be configured to define an enclosure or into various
geometries for various functions. Alternatively, the object may
include additional panel to provide various utilities. FIG. 6
provides an oval shape of the panel 12. It will be appreciated that
the panel 12 may has other shapes such as rectangle, square,
circle, any regular or irregular polygon, or any regular or
irregular shape as desired.
[0026] The above description is given by way of example, and not
limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art
could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the
invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the
embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying
combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to
the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the
claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
* * * * *