BASKET

Abstract

A basket includes an annular sidewall and an expanded mesh securely mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall to define a containing space that has an upward opening. The annular sidewall includes an annular groove laterally defined in a lower portion of the annular sidewall and an annular flange inwardly extending from a lower edge of the annular sidewall, wherein a width of the annular flange is greater than a depth of the annular groove. An annular lip is outwardly formed on a top edge of the annular sidewall by folding. The expanded mesh has an annular edge received in the annular groove and is supported by the annular flange.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to basket, and more particularly to a basket that has a metal annular sidewall and an expanded mesh mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 And 37 CFR 1.98

A conventional basket in accordance with the prior art is integrally manufactured by plastic injection molding. However, the mold is very expensive, and more particularly to a mold for a big basket. Accordingly, the cost of the conventional basket is expensive to the consumers. Furthermore, the plastic basket is easily oxidized and broken. In view of this, some metal baskets are marketed. The conventional metal basket has a frame and a bowl-shaped expanded mesh. The frame has an annular horizontal groove laterally defined therein and a vertical portion downward extending therefrom. The bowl-shaped expanded mesh has an annular flange horizontally and outwardly extending therefrom, and inserted into the annular horizontal groove. The frame is pressed to clamp the annular flange of the bowl-shaped expanded mesh. Finally, the frame and the bowl-shaped expanded mesh are secured to each other by welding. The conventional metal basket is hard to manufacture. It is a difficult process to insert the annular flange of the bowl-shaped expanded mesh into the annular horizontal groove. In addition, the steps of pressing and welding are necessary. Consequently, the conventional metal basket has no market competitiveness in price.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional baskets.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved basket that has a metal annular sidewall and an expanded mesh mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall.

To achieve the objective, the basket in accordance with the present invention comprises an annular sidewall and an expanded mesh securely mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall to define a containing space that has an upward opening. The annular sidewall includes an annular groove laterally defined in a lower portion of the annular sidewall and an annular flange inwardly extending from a lower edge of the annular sidewall, wherein a width of the annular flange is greater than a depth of the annular groove. An annular lip is outwardly formed on a top edge of the annular sidewall by folding. The expanded mesh has an annular edge received in the annular groove and is supported by the annular flange.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a basket in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the basket in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view of the basket in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the basket in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the basket in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the basket in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the basket in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a basket in accordance with the present invention comprises an annular sidewall 10 and an expanded mesh 20 securely mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall 10 to define a containing space that has an upward opening (not numbered).

The semi-finished product of the annular sidewall 10 is formed by rolling process and cut to form an elongated piece, wherein the elongated piece has two opposite ends securely connected to each for forming an annular structure. An annular groove 11 is laterally defined in a lower portion of the annular sidewall 10. An annular flange 12 is inwardly extending from a lower edge of the annular sidewall 10, wherein a width of the annular flange 12 is greater than a depth of the annular groove 11. An annular lip 13 is outwardly formed on a top edge of the annular sidewall 10 by folding wherein the annular lip 13 prevents operator's fingers from being cut due to the burrs on the sidewall 10. The expended mesh 20 is secured on the annular flange 12 by welding for defining the containing space. The expanded mesh 20 has an annular edge received in the annular groove 11 and is supported by the annular flange 12, wherein the annular flange 12 strengthens the structure of the expanded mesh 20 and prevents the expanded mesh 20 from being downward deformed when loading heavy objects.

The sidewall 12 has at least one strengthening structure 14 annularly and peripherally formed thereon, wherein the strengthening structure 14 strengthens the structure of the sidewall 10 for resisting an improper impact. With reference to FIG. 3, the at least one strengthening structure 14 is annularly and outwardly formed on the sidewall 10 and has a grooved cross-section.

With reference to FIG. 4 that shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in this embodiment, the strengthening structure 14A has a waved cross-section.

The shape of a horizontal section of the sidewall 10 in accordance with the present invention has various geometric types. With reference to FIG. 1, the sidewall 10 has a polygonal horizontal section. Accordingly, the expanded mesh 20 is polygonal. With reference to FIG. 5, the sidewall 10A has a round horizontal section. Accordingly, the expanded mesh 20A is round.

With reference to FIG. 6, the basket in accordance with the present invention further includes multiple brackets 30 respectively laterally and horizontally secured to the annular lip 13 of the annular sidewall 10, wherein each bracket 30 has a through hole 31 defined therein. When assembling, the bracket 30 is adapted to be clamped by two upright stanchions 50 that are longitudinally screwed to each other.

With reference to FIG. 7, the basket in accordance with the present invention further includes multiple tapered tubes 40 laterally secured to the annular lip 13 of the annular sidewall 10, wherein each tapered tube 40 has a tapered through hole 41 longitudinally defined therein. When assembling, each tapered tube 40 is adapted to be sleeved on a wedge tube 51 that is laterally secured on an upright stanchion 50.

The basket in accordance with the present invention has simplified manufacturing processes due to the structures thereof. The semi-finished product of the annular sidewall 10 is formed by rolling process such that the annular groove 11, the annular flange 12 and the strengthening structure 14 are simultaneously formed on the semi-finished product of the annular sidewall 10. The semi-finished product of the annular sidewall 10 cut to form an elongated piece, wherein the elongated piece has two opposite ends securely connected to each for forming an annular structure. When assembling the expanded mesh 20, the expanded mesh 20 is simply disposed on the annular flange 12 and directly welded with the annular flange 12 without using any fixture.

As a result, the annular groove 11, the annular flange 12 and the strengthening structure 14 are simultaneously formed on the semi-finished product of the annular sidewall 10. Consequently, the manufacturing processes of the basket are simplified, the basket can be easily manufactured, the manufacturing cost of the basket is reduced and the productivity of the basket is raised.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A basket comprising: an annular sidewall including: an annular groove laterally defined in a lower portion of the annular sidewall;an annular flange inwardly extending from a lower edge of the annular sidewall, wherein a width of the annular flange is greater than a depth of the annular groove; andan annular lip outwardly formed on a top edge of the annular sidewall by folding; andan expanded mesh securely mounted onto a lower portion of the annular sidewall to define a containing space that has an upward opening, wherein the expanded mesh has an annular edge received in the annular groove and is supported by the annular flange.

2. The basket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewall has at least one strengthening structure annularly and peripherally formed thereon.

3. The basket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strengthening structure has a waved cross-section.

4. The basket as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shape of a horizontal section of the sidewall is a geometric type and the expanded mesh has a shape corresponding to that of the horizontal section of the sidewall.

5. The basket as claimed in claim 2, wherein a shape of a horizontal section of the sidewall is a geometric type and the expanded mesh has a shape corresponding to that of the horizontal section of the sidewall.

6. The basket as claimed in claim 3, wherein a shape of a horizontal section of the sidewall is a geometric type and the expanded mesh has a shape corresponding to that of the horizontal section of the sidewall.

7. The basket as claimed in claim 1, further comprising multiple brackets respectively laterally and horizontally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each bracket has a through hole 31 defined therein.

8. The basket as claimed in claim 2, further comprising multiple brackets respectively laterally and horizontally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each bracket has a through hole defined therein.

9. The basket as claimed in claim 3, further comprising multiple brackets respectively laterally and horizontally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each bracket has a through hole defined therein.

10. The basket as claimed in claim 1, further comprising multiple tapered tubes laterally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each tapered tube has a tapered through hole longitudinally defined therein.

11. The basket as claimed in claim 2, further comprising multiple tapered tubes laterally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each tapered tube has a tapered through hole longitudinally defined therein.

12. The basket as claimed in claim 3, further comprising multiple tapered tubes laterally secured to the annular lip of the annular sidewall, wherein each tapered tube has a tapered through hole longitudinally defined therein.

13. The basket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shape of the horizontal section of the sidewall is selected from a group consisting of polygonal and round.

14. The basket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the shape of the horizontal section of the sidewall is selected from a group consisting of polygonal and round.

15. The basket as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shape of the horizontal section of the sidewall is selected from a group consisting of polygonal and round.