Patent Application
20110240636
The present invention generally relates to collapsible baskets, and more particular to a collapsible storage basket that could be pulled into shape and folded into a flat shape for easy storage and transportation.
A conventional storage basket usually has a fixed structure made of wood or plastic and contains a number of compartments for storage separated by partition plates. Due to its fixed structure, the conventional storage basket would take up considerable space when not in use and therefore would be difficult to store or transport. Even though it usually could be disassembled, it requires re-assembly when it is put to use again, which is troublesome and laborious.
As such, a novel collapsible storage basket is provided herein. The storage basket would take shape by simple pulling and, when not in use, could be collapsed into a flat shape for easy storage and transportation, making its usage extremely convenient.
The collapsible storage basket contains two rigid longitudinal plates, two flexible lateral plates, a flexible first base plate connecting the lateral and longitudinal plates' bottom rims, and a rigid second base plate stitched or adhered to a top side of the first base plate along a middle section of each of the second base plate's lateral edges. The top rims of the longitudinal and lateral plates wrap the edges of a rectangular frame. To use the storage basket, the frame is pulled upward to raise the longitudinal and lateral plates whose bottom rims are pressed against the second base plate, thereby forming a storage room for various objects. When the storage basket is not in use, by the flexibility of the two lateral plates, the longitudinal plates are folded inward and the storage basket turns into a flat shape for easy storage and transportation.
The two rigid longitudinal plates are made by wrapping flexible cloth around rigid objects.
The frame wrapped by the top rims of the longitudinal and lateral plates is made of metal.
The foregoing objectives 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.
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.
The following descriptions are 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.
As shown in
The two rigid longitudinal plates 1, in the present embodiment, are made by wrapping flexible cloth 12 around rigid objects such as cardboards 11 for enhanced appearance. The flexible lateral plates 2 and the first base plate 3 are made of a flexible material such as cloth.
The top rims of the longitudinal and lateral plates 1 and 2 wraps the edges of a rectangular frame 5 which, in the present embodiment, is made of metal. The wrapping is achieved by folding the top rims of the longitudinal and lateral plates 1 and 2 inward to conceal the frame 5 and then stitching or adhesion is applied for fixation.
With the foregoing arrangement, a collapsible storage basket is achieved. To put to use, the frame 5 is pulled upward to raise the longitudinal and lateral plates 1 and 2 whose bottom rims are pressed against the second base plate 4, thereby forming a storage room for various objects. When the storage basket is not in use, by the flexibility of the two lateral plates 2, the longitudinal plates 1 are folded inward into a flat shape for easy storage and transportation.
As shown in
As shown in
In the present embodiment, the longitudinal, lateral, base plates could have various colors and could be made of appropriate materials. 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.
