Patent Application
20120018428
The present invention relates generally to storage devices, and more specifically to foldable storage devices, such as bags, sacks, carriers, etc.
A wide variety of storage devices are available to store a wide variety of items. Often, storage devices are used not only for storage, but also for transport. Some items to be stored and transported can be unwieldy and difficult to put into storage devices. For example, a collection of leaves, sticks, or other yard debris, climbing rope, camping gear such as a tents or sleeping bags, or other such items can be difficult to contain within storage devices and transported. Thus, there is a need for a storage device that can be configured to easily receive and store unwieldy items and then transport these with minimal difficulty.
In light of the problems and deficiencies inherent in the prior art, the present invention seeks to overcome these by providing a foldable storage apparatus.
In accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention resides in a foldable storage apparatus. In one aspect of the present invention, the foldable storage apparatus comprises a sheet having an initial substantially flat configuration, the sheet comprising a receiving portion for receiving one or more contents. In another aspect of the present invention, the foldable storage apparatus comprises first and second couplers supported by the sheet and operable to secure at least two sections of the sheet together to at least partially define a capture volume. In a further aspect of the present invention, the foldable storage apparatus comprises an elongate tail portion extending from the receiving portion that is operable to substantially enclose the capture volume and secure the contents therein.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in a foldable storage apparatus comprising a sheet having an initial flat configuration, the sheet comprising a receiving portion for receiving one or more contents, and an elongate tail portion extending from the receiving portion; at least one coupler that couples at least two sections of the sheet together about the contents so as to at least partially define a capture volume; and at least one coupler that couples the tail portion to a backside of the sheet about the contents to substantially enclose the capture volume and secure the contents.
In still another aspect, the present invention resides in a foldable storage apparatus comprising a sheet having an initial flat configuration, the sheet comprising a receiving portion for receiving one or more contents; first and second couplers supported by the sheet and operable to secure at least two sections of the sheet together to at least partially define a capture volume; and an elongate tail extending from the receiving portion and operable to substantially enclose the capture volume and secure the contents therein.
In still a further aspect, the present invention resides in a method of storing an item, comprising disposing one or more contents on a receiving portion of a sheet, the sheet being in a substantially flat configuration; coupling a first coupler of the sheet to a second coupler of the sheet to secure two sections of the sheet together to at least partially define a capture volume; and enclosing the capture volume and securing the contents therein with an elongate tail extending from the receiving portion.
The present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings merely depict exemplary embodiments of the present invention they are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. It will be readily appreciated that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Nonetheless, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which are shown, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that various changes to the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is presented for purposes of illustration only to describe the features and characteristics of the present invention, and to sufficiently enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims.
The following detailed description and exemplary embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the elements and features of the invention are designated by numerals throughout.
The present invention describes an apparatus and method for storing items using a storage apparatus. The storage apparatus may comprise a sheet that may be placed flat on a surface, such as a ground surface. The sheet may include a receiving portion for receiving contents, or items to be stored. The storage apparatus may also comprise couplers supported by the sheet. The couplers may be operable to secure at least two section of the sheet together to at least partially define a capture volume. The storage apparatus may further comprise an elongate tail extending from the receiving portion. The tail may be operable with the secured two sections to substantially enclose the capture volume and secure the contents therein.
The present invention provides several significant advantages over prior related storage devices, some of which are recited here and throughout the following more detailed description. First, the storage apparatus can be configured in a number of different configurations, wherein the storage apparatus can initially accept and subsequently secure unwieldy storage items that may be difficult to handle and maneuver. Second, the storage apparatus can accommodate a wide variety of storage item shapes and sizes as its capture volume is defined at least in part by the item to be secured therein.
Each of the above-recited advantages will be apparent in light of the detailed description set forth below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These advantages are not meant to be limiting in any way. Indeed, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other advantages may be realized, other than those specifically recited herein, upon practicing the present invention.
Referring to
The sheet 11 may comprise a number of different shapes or configurations, such as the one shown in
Couplers 43, 44 may be supported by the sheet and may be operable to secure two sections of the sheet together to at least partially define the capture volume 16. In the figure, the capture volume 16 is shown containing contents 18. Contents 18 may be leaves, grass, gravel, twigs, sticks, rocks, trash, rope, tools, sports equipment, camping gear, or any other item or combination of items that may be contained by the capture volume 16. It should be noted that the configuration shown in the figure may be useful for adding and/or removing contents from the foldable storage apparatus 10.
The contents 18 in the capture volume 16 may be enclosed and secured by a tail or tail portion 30 of the foldable storage apparatus 10. In the figure, tail 30 is shown secured by holders 35 and 36 to a ground surface. Holders may be used to secure various portions of the foldable storage apparatus 10 to a ground surface to facilitate collection and capture of contents 18, as discussed in more detail below. The tail 30 may be elongate and may extend from a receiving portion 20 of the sheet 11. The tail 30 may also be operable to substantially enclose the capture volume 16 and secure the contents 18 therein. Each of these features and elements is discussed in more detail below.
Referring to
Any of sections 1, 2, 3, or 4 may be brought and coupled together to define, at least partially, a capture volume 16. In certain embodiments, sections 1 and 2 may be lateral sections and sections 3 and 4 may be longitudinal sections. Couplers may be used to couple the sections together. In the embodiment shown in
Couplers may comprise ties, straps, clips, hooks, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, elastics, buckles, snaps, buttons, latches, clasps, or any other suitable mechanism or configuration for coupling sections of the storage apparatus together. Likewise, means for securing at least two sections of a sheet together may comprise various couplers in the form of ties, straps, clips, hooks, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, elastics, buckles, snaps, buttons, latches, clasps, or any other suitable mechanism or configuration for securing at least two sections of the sheet together.
Similarly, means for securing the tail portion to the backside of the sheet may comprise various couplers in the form of ties, straps, clips, hooks, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, elastics, buckles, snaps, buttons, latches, clasps, or any other suitable mechanism or configuration. In a particular embodiment, a coupler or means for securing may comprise a relatively narrow and elongated portion of the foldable storage apparatus 10 itself that is sufficient to engage another like coupler or means for securing, wherein the two may be secured together, such as to be tied into a knot, as exemplified by couplers 41, 42, 43, 44, 51, 61, 71, and 81. For example, any one of the aforementioned couplers may be configured to form a knot with any other coupler of the foldable storage apparatus 10, including couplers 52, 53, 62, 63, 72, 73, 74, 82, 83, and 84, which may comprise ties or straps connected to the back side 14 of the foldable storage apparatus 10.
In the embodiment shown, couplers 41 and 42 may connect sections 1 and 2 together. Additionally, or in the alternative, couplers 43 and 44 may connect sections 1 and 2 together. Connecting sections of the sheet together functions to create a three-dimensional structure to at least partially define the capture volume 16. Furthermore, couplers 51 and 61 may connect with couplers 52 and 62, respectively, to secure section 3 to sections 1 and 2 and to further define the capture volume 16. The result of this may be as shown in
In certain embodiments, the tail 30 may be elongate such that its width has a dimension at least as wide as between one fifth and one half of its length. In one embodiment, the tail 30 may be a part of the sheet 11. In other words, the tail 30 and the sheet 11 can form a unitary structure. In another embodiment, the tail may be independent or separate from the sheet. In this example, the tail may be removably coupled to the receiving portion of the sheet. In a certain aspect, the tail may comprise a sheet-like configuration, although it is not a part of the sheet 11. In certain other aspects, the tail may be a cord, rope, tie, or any other configuration that may function in a similar manner to secure contents in the foldable storage apparatus.
In some embodiments, a handle 22 and/or shoulder straps 24 may be attached to the sheet 11 to aid in lifting, carrying, or maneuvering the foldable storage apparatus 10. In certain embodiments, the foldable storage apparatus may include a compression mechanism to compress the foldable storage apparatus and its contents into a more compact configuration. For example, a compression mechanism may include straps, mesh, webbing, elastics, etc. that functions to compress or further compress the foldable storage apparatus defining, at least in part, the capture volume. The compression mechanism may be separate from the storage apparatus, it may be secured to the outside of the storage apparatus, it may compress all or a portion of the storage apparatus.
Referring to
In a related embodiment, a method of storing an item within a foldable storage apparatus in accordance with the principles discussed and taught herein is shown in
The method further comprises coupling a first coupler 641 of the sheet to a second coupler 642 of the sheet to secure two sections 601, 602 of the sheet together to at least partially define a capture volume 616, as shown in
It should also be noted that, in another embodiment, the first coupler may be coupler 643 and the second coupler may be coupler 644. In another aspect, the third coupler may be coupler 661 and the fourth coupler may be coupler 662. In still another embodiment, illustrated in the figures, couplers 641 and 643 may connect with couplers 642 and 644, respectively. Further, couplers 651 and 661 may connect with couplers 652 and 662, respectively, to further define the capture volume. In still another aspect, couplers 651 and 661 may connect with couplers 653 and 663, respectively. In this example, the coupler combination may define a capture volume that is less than the capture volume created in the previous example. In yet another embodiment, couplers 651 and 661 may connect with couplers 652 and 663, or 653 and 662, respectively. This may define a capture volume of an asymmetric shape to better accommodate an asymmetric item or contents.
As shown in the figures, couplers 652, 653, 662, and 663 may be located on a back or bottom side of the sheet. Thus, in one aspect, the method may further comprise connecting a first longitudinal portion 603 of the sheet to a back side of the sheet. In certain embodiments, a sheet may not include couplers 652, 653, 662, and 663 on the back side of the sheet. Thus, in this embodiment, the first longitudinal portion 603 may be connected to the back side of the sheet using only coupler 651 and/or coupler 661.
This illustrates that, depending on the type of coupler, couplers need not be utilized in pairs, as one coupler may be sufficient to couple to a portion of the sheet without a mating coupler. Thus, couplers may be connected in a variety of ways to secure contents in the foldable storage apparatus.
The method of storing an item is further shown in
Illustrated in this embodiment, the method comprises coupler 743 connected to coupler 742 to at least partially define a capture volume 716 of the storage apparatus 700. This may be followed by connecting coupler 741 to coupler 744 to further define the capture volume. This may result in portions of sections 701 and 702 being connected across each other, for example in a diagonal or criss-cross manner. For certain items, this may be advantageous for storage or containment of the items. Also illustrated in this embodiment, is section (or longitudinal portion) 703 with coupler 750. In this embodiment, section 703 may be moved or folded to further define the capture volume 716 with coupler 750 coupled to at least a portion of the diagonal or criss-cross portions of sections 701 and 702. It should be noted that the configuration shown in
As shown in the figures, the foldable storage apparatus 800 may be secured to a ground surface by holders 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, and 838, which may be located at or near couplers 842, 844, 881, 871, 843, and 841, respectively. In the following method steps, the holders may be selectively removed to allow various couplers to couple together.
Illustrated in this embodiment, the method comprises coupler 843 connected to coupler 842 to at least partially define a capture volume 816 of the storage apparatus 800. This may be followed by connecting coupler 841 to coupler 844 to further define the capture volume. This may result in portions of sections 801 and 802 being connected across each other, for example in a diagonal or criss-cross manner. Also illustrated in this embodiment, are sections (or longitudinal portions) 803 and 804 with couplers 850 and 860, respectively. In this embodiment, sections 803 and 804 may be moved or folded to further define the capture volume 816 with coupler 850 coupled to coupler 860. It should be noted that the configuration shown in
Illustrated in
The extensions 992 and 994 function to form a more secure capture volume 916, and to reduce the chance of the portions of the receiving portion that are secured together from coming apart or separating from one another. The extensions 992 and 994 may be any size or shape as needed or desired.
In addition, although not shown, the receiving portion 920 may comprise additional extension portions that are configured to provide a similar wrapping and securing function.
With reference again to
The foregoing detailed description describes the invention with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. However, it will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The detailed description and accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative, rather than as restrictive, and all such modifications or changes, if any, are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as described and set forth herein.
More specifically, while illustrative exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described herein, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but includes any and all embodiments having modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations as would be appreciated by those in the art based on the foregoing detailed description. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the foregoing detailed description or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive. For example, in the present disclosure, the term “preferably” is non-exclusive where it is intended to mean “preferably, but not limited to.” Any steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Means-plus-function or step-plus-function limitations will only be employed where for a specific claim limitation all of the following conditions are present in that limitation: a) “means for” or “step for” is expressly recited; and b) a corresponding function is expressly recited. The structure, material or acts that support the means-plus function are expressly recited in the description herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined solely by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the descriptions and examples given above.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/365,953, filed Jul. 20, 2010, and entitled, “Foldable Storage Apparatus,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61365953 | Jul 2010 | US |
