Patent Application
20110031241
The present invention relates to a collapsible basket.
A typical collapsible basket includes inserts and sleeves for receiving the inserts. It is however troublesome and takes a lot of time to insert the inserts into the sleeves during assembly of the collapsible basket. It requires tools to assemble the collapsible basket, and the assembly is complicated. Furthermore, the result of the collapse is inadequate so that the collapsible basket takes a lot of space in a collapsed position during storage and transportation.
The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible basket that can easily be assembled.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible basket that occupies a little space in a collapsed position.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the collapsible basket includes posts and beams. Each of the posts includes two reduced ends. Each of the beams includes two collars each for receiving a related one of the reduced ends of a related one of the posts so that the beams are pivotal on the posts. Thus, the collapsible basket is moved between an extended position and a collapsed position.
Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.
The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.
Referring to
Two of the crossbars 5 on a front side are provided between two of the posts 3 on the front side. The crossbar 5 on a rear side is provided between two of the posts 3 on the rear side. The crossbars 5 are connected to the posts 3 with rivets 13 for example. Thus, the front posts 3 and the front crossbars 5 become one while the rear posts 3 and the rear crossbar 5 become one.
Each connecting unit 200 is formed by a reduced end of the post 3, a collar 1 of the beams 4 and a positioning unit C. Each of the beams 4 includes two collars 1 each formed at an end. Each of the collars 1 of each of the beams 4 is pivotally provided on a related one of the reduced ends 2 of a related one of the posts 3. Said positioning unit C can be a screw 11 or a screw 12. A screw 11 is driven into a lower reduced end 2 of each of the posts 3. Each of the screws 11 includes a flat head used as a knob during assembly and as a pad in use. By referring to
The grid 6 includes two loops arranged along a rear edge and two hooks 7 arranged along a front edge. The loops of the grid 6 are provided around the rear front crossbar so that the grid 6 is pivotally connected to the rear crossbar 5. The hooks 7 can be provided on a lower one of the front crossbars 5 to retain the collapsible basket 100 in an extended position.
A rod 14A is provided between the front crossbars 5. A restraining unit 14B is provided between the rear posts 3. The restraining unit 14B includes a vertical rod provided between two horizontal rods. A rod 14C is provided between two related ones of the beams 4. The rods 14A and 14C and the restraining unit 14B are used to improve the strength of the collapsible basket 100 and restrain stuff disposed in the collapsible basket 100.
The frame 8 comprises two vertical rods 81 and two horizontal rods 82. Each vertical rod 81 includes a lower reduced end that can be inserted in an upper reduced end 2 of each of the rear posts 4 and an ear 15 disposed on the upper reduced end for receiving the hanger 9. The hanger 9 is substantially U-shaped. The hanger 9 includes a first portion pivotally connected to the frame 8 by passing through both ears 15 and secured by a screw 92, and a second portion on which a towel can be hung. The first portion of the hanger 9A is provided with a positioning element 10 for contact with one of the extensive rods 8, thus retaining the hanger 9A in an active position for supporting the towel.
To collapse the collapsible basket 100, the hanger 9 is pivoted on the frame 8 so that the second portion of the hanger 9 is located behind the frame 8. The hooks 7 are disengaged from the lower front crossbar 5, and the grid 6 is pivoted and located against the restraining unit 14B. Then, the beams 4 are pivoted on the posts 4 so that the collapsible basket 100 is collapsed.
The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.
