Patent Application
20200290776
The present disclosure relates generally to flexible storage containers.
A variety of different storage containers exist for storing personal effects, such as documents. However, many conventional storage containers are not waterproof, and therefore important items stored in the storage containers may be permanently damaged or destroyed during an emergency, such as a hurricane or a flood. Moreover, some conventional storage containers are water resistant, but the closure mechanism is cumbersome to operate and therefore these storage containers are unsuitable for use in emergency situations in which time is of the essence.
The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of a flexible storage container. In one embodiment, the flexible storage container includes an upper portion having an upper wall and a series of walls extending downward from a periphery of the upper wall, a lower portion joined to the upper portion that includes a base wall and a series of walls extending upward from a periphery of the base wall, an interior chamber defined between the upper portion and the lower portion, a waterproof or water-resistant zipper configured to provide access to the interior chamber, and a flap configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration. When the flap is in the closed configuration, the flap covers the waterproof or water-resistant zipper.
The waterproof or water-resistant zipper may extend along the lower portion.
The waterproof or water-resistant zipper may extend along a joint between the upper portion and the lower portion.
The flexible storage container may include a fastening mechanism configured to detachably secure the flap in the closed configuration.
The fastening mechanism may include a first fabric strip including a series of loops and a second fabric strip including a series of hooks configured to be detachably coupled to the series of loops.
The flap may include a first end hingedly coupled to the upper portion or the lower portion above the waterproof or water-resistant zipper, and a second, free end opposite the first end.
The second, free end of the flap may be configured to be detachably coupled to the lower portion below the waterproof or water-resistant zipper with the fastening mechanism.
A material and a thickness of the flap may be the same as a material and a thickness of the lower portion.
The flexible storage container may also include a valve or a port in the upper portion or the lower portion that is in fluid communication with the interior chamber.
The upper portion may be transparent, and the lower portion may be opaque.
The lower portion may be thicker than the upper portion.
The series of walls of each of the upper portion and the lower portion may include a first end wall, a second end wall opposite the first end wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite the first end wall.
The flexible storage container may include rounded corners joining the first end wall, the second end wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall of the lower portion to the base wall.
The waterproof or water-resistant zipper may extend continuously along the first end wall, one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the second end wall.
A height of the lower portion may be less than a height of the upper portion. A material of the upper portion may be different than a material of the lower portion. A thickness of the lower portion may be greater than a thickness of the upper portion.
In another embodiment, the flexible storage container includes an upper portion having an upper wall and a series of walls extending downward from a periphery of the upper wall, a lower portion joined to the upper portion that includes base wall and a series of walls extending upward from a periphery of the base wall, an interior chamber defined between the upper portion and the lower portion, a waterproof or water-resistant zipper configured to provide access to the interior chamber, a flap configured to move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and a fastening mechanism configured to detachably secure the flap in the closed configuration. The flap includes a first end hingedly coupled to the upper portion or the lower portion above the waterproof or water-resistant zipper and a second, free end opposite the first end. When the flap is in the closed configuration, the second, free end of the flap is detachably secured to the lower portion below the zipper with the fastening mechanism and the flap covers the waterproof or water-resistant zipper.
The fastening mechanism may include a first fabric strip including a series of loops or a series of hooks coupled to the second, free end of the flap, and a second fabric strip including a series of hooks or a series of loops coupled to the lower portion below the waterproof or water-resistant zipper. The first fabric strip is configured to be detachably coupled to the second fabric strip.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. One or more of the described features may be combined with one or more other described features to provide a workable device.
The features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of a flexible storage container. The flexible storage container of the present disclosure is a waterproof or at least water-resistant container for storing any personal items, such as furniture, documents, or other items having monetary or sentimental value. The flexible storage containers of the present disclosure may be utilized during a weather emergency, such as hurricane or a flood, to protect personal items against water damage or destruction.
With reference now to
In one embodiment, the flexible storage container 100 has a height in a range from approximately 16 inches to approximately 80 inches, a length in a range from approximately 18 inches to approximately 240 inches, and a width in a range from approximately 18 inches to approximately 120 inches. In one or more embodiments, the flexible storage container 100 may have a height of approximately 55 inches, a length of approximately 196 inches, and a width of approximately 98 inches. In one or more embodiments, the flexible storage container 100 may have any other size suitable for the type of items and/or number of items the flexible storage container 100 is designed to store.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 includes an upper wall or panel 107, a pair of opposing sidewalls 108, 109 extending downward from opposing side edges 110, 111, respectively, of the upper wall 107, and a pair of opposing end walls 112, 113 extending downward from opposing end edges 114, 115, respectively, of the upper wall 107. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the sidewalls 108, 109 are joined to the end walls 112, 113 with rounded corners 116, although in one or more embodiments, the sidewalls 108, 109 may be joined to the end walls 112, 113 with straight edges. In one or more embodiments, the end walls 112, 113 and/or the sidewalls 108, 109 may be joined to the upper wall 107 with rounded corners.
Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may be separate panels that are joined together by heat fusion, stitching, and/or any other suitable method or process for creating a fluid-tight seal between the walls 107, 108, 109, 112, 113. In one or more embodiments, the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may be integral (e.g., the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may be formed from a monolithic sheet by, for instance, thermoforming).
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper wall 107 of the flexible storage container 100 is rectangular, although in one or more embodiments the upper wall 107 may have any other suitable shape, such as square. In one or more embodiments, the upper wall 107 may have a width (measured from one side edge 110 to the other side edge 111) in a range from approximately 18 inches to approximately 120 inches and a length (measured from one end edge 114 to the other end edge 115) from approximately 18 inches to approximately 240 inches. In one embodiment, the upper wall 107 may have a width of approximately 98 inches and a length of approximately 196 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths of the sidewalls 108, 109 and the end walls 112, 113 correspond to the length and the width, respectively, of the upper wall 107. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the sidewalls 108, 109 and the end walls 112, 113 may have a height in a range from approximately 10 inches to approximately 60 inches. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 108, 109 and the end walls 112, 113 may have a height of approximately 43 inches. In one or more embodiments, the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 may have any other size suitable for the type of items and/or number of items the flexible storage container 100 is designed to store.
In the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 is transparent, which permits a user to view the one or more items stored inside the interior chamber 104 of the flexible storage container 100. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 are transparent. In one or more embodiments, only one or more of the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may be transparent. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 is made out of a transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In one or more embodiments, the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 may be made out of any other suitably flexible, waterproof, and durable material, such as any other synthetic plastic polymer (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene). In one or more embodiments, each of the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 are made of transparent PVC having a thickness of 0.30 mm or approximately 0.30 mm. In one or more embodiments, the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may have any other suitable thickness depending on the intended use of the flexible storage container 100, such as indoor or outdoor use and the nature of the items stored in the flexible storage container 100. Additionally, the thickness of the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113 may vary depending on the overall size of the flexible storage container 100.
With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in
Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may be separate panels that are joined together by heat fusion, stitching, and/or any other suitable method or process for creating a fluid-tight seal between the walls 117, 118, 119, 122, 123. In one or more embodiments, the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may be integral (e.g., the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may be formed from a monolithic sheet by, for instance, thermoforming). Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, upper edges 127, 128 of the sidewalls 118, 119 of the lower portion 102 are joined to lower edges 129, 130 of the sidewalls 108, 109, respectively, of the upper portion 101, and upper edges 131, 132 of the end walls 122, 123 of the lower portion 102 are joined to lower edges 133, 134 of the end walls 112, 113, respectively, of the upper portion 101. The upper and lower edges 127-134 of the sidewalls 108, 109, 118, 119 and the end walls 112, 113, 122, 123 may be joined together by any suitable process for creating fluid-tight seals between the walls, such as, for instance, heat fusion and/or stitching.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base wall 117 of the flexible storage container 100 is rectangular, although in one or more embodiments the base wall 117 may have any other suitable shape, such as square. Although in the illustrated embodiment the configuration (e.g., shape and size) of the base wall 117 matches or substantially matches the configuration (e.g., shape and size) of the upper wall 107, in one or more embodiments, the configuration of the base wall 117 may differ from the configuration of the upper wall 107. In one or more embodiments, the base wall 117 may have a width in a range from approximately 18 inches to approximately 120 inches and a length from approximately 18 inches to approximately 240 inches. In one embodiment, the base wall 117 may have a width of approximately 98 inches and a length of approximately 196 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, the lengths of the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 correspond to the length and the width, respectively, of the base wall 117. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the height of the lower portion 102 may be shorter than the height of the upper portion 101 (e.g., the height of the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 of the lower portion 102 may be less than the height of the sidewalls 108, 109 and the end walls 112, 113 of the upper portion 101). In one or more embodiments, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may have a height in a range from approximately 6 inches to approximately 20 inches. In one embodiment, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may have a height of approximately 12 inches. In one or more embodiments, the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 may have any other size suitable for the type of items and/or number of items the flexible storage container 100 is designed to store.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 is opaque (e.g., black). In the illustrated embodiment, each of the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 are opaque (e.g., black). In one or more embodiments, only one or more of the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may be opaque. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 is made out of opaque PVC. In one or more embodiments, the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 may be made out of any other suitably flexible, waterproof, and durable material, such as any other synthetic plastic polymer (e.g., polyethylene or polypropylene). In one or more embodiments, each of the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 are made of opaque PVC having a thickness of 0.35 mm or approximately 0.35 mm. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 (e.g., the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123) are thicker than the upper portion 101 of the flexible storage container 100 (e.g., the upper wall 107, the sidewalls 108, 109, and the end walls 112, 113). The greater thickness of the lower portion 102 compared to the upper portion 101 is configured to provide increased durability for the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100, which is in direct contact with the items stored in the interior chamber 104 of the flexible storage container 100 and is therefore more susceptible to wear and damage. In one or more embodiments, the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may have any other suitable thickness depending on the intended use of the flexible storage container 100, such as indoor or outdoor use and the nature of the items that the flexible storage container 100 is intended to store. Additionally, the thickness of the base wall 117, the sidewalls 118, 119, and the end walls 122, 123 may vary depending on the overall size of the flexible storage container 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, the zipper 103 is provided along the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100. In one or more embodiments, the zipper 103 may extend along a joint between the upper portion 101 and the lower portion 102. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the zipper 103 extends continuously along at least a portion of one of the end walls 122, 123, across the entire length of one of the sidewalls 118, 119, and along at least a portion of the other end wall 122, 123. In one or more embodiments, the zipper 103 may extend along any other walls or portions thereof. For instance, in one or more embodiments, the zipper 103 may extend continuously along at least a portion of one of the sidewalls 118, 119, across the entirety of one of the end walls 122, 123, and along at least a portion of the other sidewall 118, 119. In one embodiment, the zipper 103 is waterproof or at least water resistant such that the zipper 103 is configured to prevent or at least mitigate the intrusion of water or other liquid into the interior chamber 104 of the flexible storage container 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 105 is provided along the lower portion 102 of the flexible storage container 100 and is configured to cover the zipper 103. In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 105 extends continuously along at least a portion of one of the end walls 122, 123, across the entire length of one of the sidewalls 118, 119, and along at least a portion of the other end wall 122, 123. In one or more embodiments, the flap 105 may be provided in any other suitable location depending on the location of the zipper 103. The location of the flap 105 corresponds to the location of the zipper 103 and the flap 105 and has a length at least as long as a length of the zipper 103. In one or more embodiments, the material and thickness of the flap 105 may be the same as the material and the thickness of the lower portion 102 (e.g., the flap 105 may be made of opaque PVC having a thickness of 0.35 mm or approximately 0.35 mm).
As illustrated in
Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the flexible storage container 100 includes one or more fasteners or other mechanisms or devices for detachably securing the flap 105 in the closed configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible storage container 100 includes hook or loop-type fasteners 137 on outer surfaces 138 of the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 along which the zipper 103 extends (e.g., hook or loop-type fasteners 137 on outer surfaces 138 of the end walls 122, 123 and one of the sidewalls 118, 119 of the lower portion 102). In the illustrated embodiment, the hook or loop-type fasteners 137 are located below the zipper 103 (e.g., the hook or loop-type fasteners 137 provided on the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 along which the zipper 103 extends are between the zipper 103 and the base wall 117 of the lower portion 102). Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, corresponding loop or hook-type fasteners 139 are provided on an inner surface 140 of the second end 136 of the flap 105. When the flap 105 is in the closed position, the loop or hook-type fasteners 139 on the flap 105 are engaged with the corresponding hook or loop-type fasteners 137 on the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 of the lower portion 102, which detachably secures the flap 105 in the closed configuration. Because the first end 135 of the flap 105 and the hook or loop-type fasteners 137, 139 are provided on opposite sides of the zipper 103 (e.g., the first end 135 of the flap 105 is connected to one or more of the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 above the zipper 103 and the hook or loop-type fasteners 137, 139 on the one or more walls 118, 119, 122, 123 are provided below the zipper 103), the flap 105 extends over the zipper 103 when the flap 105 is in the closed configuration. In one or more embodiments, the first end 135 of the flap 105 may be hingedly connected below the zipper 103 and the hook or loop-type fasteners 137 may be located above the zipper 103. In one or more embodiments, the flap 105 may be detachably secured in the closed configuration by any other suitable fastener or fastening mechanism. For instance, in one or more embodiments, the inner surface 140 of the second end 136 of the flap 105 may include a series of minute protuberances that are configured to adhere to the outer surfaces 138 of the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 via the Van der Waals force. In one or more embodiments, the flap 105 may be detachably secured in the closed configuration by clasps, button snaps, hooks, or combinations thereof.
In use, the flexible storage container 100 of the present disclosure may be retrieved during an impending natural disaster (e.g., a hurricane) or other emergency, such as a flood. The user may then unzip the zipper 103 and then insert one or more valuables and/or mementos into the interior chamber 104 through the zipper 103. The zipper 103 may then be closed and the flap 105 may be moved into the closed configuration. As described above, in one or more embodiments, the zipper 103 may be water-proof or at least water resistant, and when the flap 105 is in the closed configuration, the flap 105 covers or conceals the zipper 103, which aids the zipper 103 in preventing water from penetrating into the interior chamber 104 and thereby protects the items stored in the interior chamber 104 of the flexible storage container 100. In one or more embodiments, the flap 105 may be secured in the closed position by the corresponding hook-and-loop type fasteners 137, 139 on the outer surfaces 138 of the walls 118, 119, 122, 123 and the inner surface 140 of the second end 136 of the flap 105 and/or any other suitable fastening member or mechanism. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, air may then be pumped out of the interior chamber 104 of the flexible storage container 100 by attaching a hose connected to a vacuum pump to the valve or port 106 and then activating the pump. Pumping air out of the interior chamber 104 is configured to cause the flexible storage container 100 or at least portions thereof to conform to the items stored in the interior chamber 104 and thereby secure the relative positions of the items inside the interior chamber 104. Pumping air out of the interior chamber 104 may also aid in preventing water intrusion into the interior chamber 104.
While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/818,576, filed Mar. 14, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62818576 | Mar 2019 | US |
