U.S. patent application number 13/528479 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-17 for transformable sheet container.
The applicant listed for this patent is DAVID LEON. Invention is credited to DAVID LEON.
Application Number | 20130016922 13/528479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47518952 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130016922 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEON; DAVID |
January 17, 2013 |
TRANSFORMABLE SHEET CONTAINER
Abstract
A container device employs a sheet transformable into a
container. The sheet may include a drawstring laced within pockets
along a perimeter of the sheet. Exposed portions of the drawstring
may be pulled to draw edges of the sheet together transforming the
sheet into the container.
Inventors: |
LEON; DAVID; (Woodbridge,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LEON; DAVID |
Woodbridge |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47518952 |
Appl. No.: |
13/528479 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61506310 |
Jul 11, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/4 ;
383/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 2240/138 20130101;
B65F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/4 ;
383/72 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/28 20060101
B65D033/28 |
Claims
1. A container device, comprising: a sheet; a pocket proximate a
perimeter of the sheet, wherein portions of the perimeter are
exposed between portions of the pocket; and a draw string laced
through the pocket, wherein portions of the drawstring are liftable
from the exposed portions of the perimeter to pull edges of the
sheet together.
2. The container device of claim 1, wherein the sheet is
rectangular.
3. The container device of claim 2, wherein there are four
disconnected portions of the pocket, each disconnected portion of
the pocket is positioned on one of four edges of the sheet, wherein
there is a corner of the sheet between any two adjacent
disconnected portions of the pocket, and said portions of the
drawstring are positioned over the corners.
4. The container device of claim 1, wherein the draw string is a
unitary closed loop through the pocket.
5. The container device of claim 1, wherein the sheet is
plastic.
6. A container device, comprising: a rectangular, pliable sheet;
four elongated, open-ended pockets on each edge of the sheet; and a
drawstring laced through each of the pockets, wherein portions of
the drawstring are exposed between adjacent pockets.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e)
of U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 61/506,310 filed
Jul. 11, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to containers, and
more particularly to a transformable sheet container.
[0003] Containers, for example, bags for collecting refuse or other
items to be moved from one place to another, typically need one
person to hold the bag open while the items are placed in the bag.
While one may be able to individually hold open the bag with one
hand while stuffing it with the other, items being collected may
take longer to collect because of the use of the single hand. In
some instances, refuse is being collected and it may be desirable
to not touch the refuse with any hands.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a container that can be
positioned to collect material and envelope the material without
one having to contact the material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the present invention, a container device
comprises a sheet; a pocket proximate a perimeter of the sheet,
wherein portions of the perimeter are exposed between portions of
the pocket; and a draw string laced through the pocket, wherein
portions of the drawstring are liftable from the exposed portions
of the perimeter to pull edges of the sheet together.
[0006] In another aspect, a container device comprises a
rectangular, pliable sheet; four elongated, open-ended pockets on
each edge of the sheet; and a drawstring laced through each of the
pockets, wherein portions of the drawstring are exposed between
adjacent pockets.
[0007] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a top view of a waste disposal sheet container
device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the waste disposal sheet container
device shown in FIG. 1 with corners drawn up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0011] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally
provide a transformable container device. Embodiments of the
container device may be conveniently laid flat over a surface where
refuse may be collected onto the device in its flattened state and
enveloped as edges of the flat device are drawn together.
[0012] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a container device 100 is
shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. The container device 100 may include a sheet 110 with a
top surface 115 and a bottom surface 150. A pocket 120 may be
positioned on the top surface 115, along the perimeter of the sheet
110. In an exemplary embodiment, the pocket 120 may comprise four
pocket portions 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d, hereafter referred
collectively as the pocket portions or pockets 120. In embodiments
using a rectangular sheet 110, the pocket portions 120 may be
elongated and open-ended such that portions of the perimeter, for
example, corners 140 of the sheet 110 are exposed or uncovered. A
drawstring 130 may be laced within the pocket 120 all around the
sheet perimeter. For example, the drawstring 130 may be a unitary,
closed loop laced through each pocket portion 120 so that portions
of the drawstring 130 are exposed between adjacent ends of pocket
portions, for example, at the corners 140. The drawstring 130 may
be of any natural or synthetic material known in the art to
manufacture cords or rope.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the sheet 110 may be pliable,
for example, a plastic, biodegradable or other compostable
material. The sheet 110 may be between 0.004-0.200 inches thick.
The sheet 110 may be between 10-200 inches in width and 10-200
inches in length. In an exemplary operation, the container device
100 may be operated by laying the sheet 110 upon the ground with
the top surface 115 facing up. Refuse 160 (FIG. 2), for example,
tree leaves, may be placed onto the top surface 115. The container
device 100 may be transformed into a closed position enveloping the
refuse 160 by simultaneously pulling upward the portions of the
drawstring 130 exposed at the corners 140. This upward pulling
motion may shrink and lift the perimeter of the sheet 110 while the
center area 170 may be held relatively in place by the weight of
the items (for example, refuse 160) to be transported. The draw
string 130 may be drawn until an opening formed by the perimeter of
the sheet 110 comes together close enough and small enough to
prevent the refuse 160 from escaping the container device 100.
[0014] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. While
embodiments above have been described as collecting refuse, it will
be understood that other items may also be conveniently collected
by placing them over the sheet in its flattened state and having
the edges of the sheet drawn together.
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