BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a folding storage device, and more particularly, to a folding storage device to accommodate clothing, bedquilt or the like. When not in use, the storage device can be folded.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A storage box is the article for daily use and adapted to store clothing, bedquilt or the like. A conventional storage box is a rectangular hollow box, which occupies a lot of space for transportation, storage or when not in use. Therefore, an improved folding storage box is developed to reduce its size, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,229,001 and 6,149,025.
The storage box disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,025 comprises a box body made of fabric and a plurality of upright rods hidden in the box body, so that the storage box can be twisted and folded. The rods are not connected with one another. It is not easy to keep the storage box in a solid state. The storage box doesn't have enough support force for the user to stack the storage boxes one by one.
Another storage box disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,025 comprises a box body made of fabric and a plurality of hard boards hidden in the box body. Though the hard boards have better support force, they are made of wood and heavy. It is not easy to carry the storage box because the hard boards and the storage articles are overweight. By using the hard boards as the support, the manufacture cost is increased. This is not beneficial for competition.
The conventional storage box doesn't have a mechanism for the user to compress the clothing, the bedquilt or the like, so the quantity of the articles received in the storage box is limited. The conventional storage box is not provided with a storage bag. If the clothing and bedquilt are placed in the storage box for a period of time, they will be moist and moldy and breed dust mite.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding storage device which comprises a storage box. When not in use, the storage box can be folded to reduce its size. When in use, the storage box is expanded in a rectangular shape to receive clothing, bedquilt or the like. The storage box can be folded to stack one by one when not in use.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a folding storage device which comprises foldable sides of the storage box. The configuration of the storage box is simplified to reduce its weight and cost.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding storage device which further comprises a vacuum storage bag and a bottom plate that can be twisted and folded. The bottom plate is used to expand the vacuum storage bag for placing articles into the storage bag conveniently. When not in use, the bottom plate can be folded. Through the vacuum storage bag, the clothing or bedquilt can be compressed to reduce its size and to be protected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the frame in a first installation configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the frame in a second installation configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C show the folding steps according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the folding operation of the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded view according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view according to the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the folding operation of the third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is an exploded view showing the vacuum storage bag and the bottom plate of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the bottom plate of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the bottom plate of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is an exploded view showing the vacuum storage bag and the bottom plate of the present invention when in use; and
FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing the vacuum storage bag and the bottom plate of the present invention when in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the folding storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a storage box 10. The storage box 10 comprises a box body 1 and a plurality of frames 2.
The box body 1 is a rectangular bag member composed of a plurality of soft sheets which may be nonwoven fabric, woven fabric or plastic cloth. The box body 1 comprises a bottom 11, four sides 12 which are connected with four edges of the bottom 11 and have a rectangular shape and connected with one another, and a top 13 which is connected with one of the four sides 12. The edge of the top 13 and the upper ends of the sides 12 are provided with corresponding zippers 14 to connect with each other, so that the top 13 can be opened or closed. One of the sides 12 can be provided with a handle 15 for carrying the box.
The frames 2 are rectangular hollow rods corresponding in shape to the sides 12. They may be metallic rods or plastic rods. The frames 2 are disposed inside the corresponding sides 12 of the box body 1 to support the sides 12 in a flat state. The sides 12 are foldable to constitute the folding storage box 10.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each side 12 of the box body 1 is a single soft sheet 121. Each frame 2 is disposed at the inner side or the outer side of the single soft sheet 121. The edge of the single soft sheet 121 of the side 12 is folded to wrap the corresponding frame 2, such that the frame 2 is connected to the side 12 to support and expand the side 12.
As shown in FIG. 4, each side 12 of the box body 1 is composed of two soft sheets 121. Each frame 2 is disposed between the two soft sheets 121, such that the frame 2 is connected inside the side 12.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5A, the storage box 10 is in an expanded state to store clothing, bedquilt or the like. When not in use, two of the four sides 12 can be folded inward to form an L shape, as shown in FIG. 5B. After that, the four sides 12 are folded as shown in FIG. 5C to reduce the size of the storage box 10 for storage. The folding step is very simple.
As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, two opposing sides 12 of the box body 1 are respectively provided with two or more than two frames 2 which are arranged side by side. The two opposing sides 12 of the box body 1 can be folded at their middle portions. As shown in FIG. 8, the two frames 2 of each of the two opposing sides 12 of the box body 1 are pushed inward, so that the storage box 10 can be folded.
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the four sides 12 of the box body 1 are respectively provided with two or more than two frames 2 which are arranged side by side. The four sides 12 of the box body 1 can be folded at their middle portions. As shown in FIG. 11, the two frames 2 of each of the four sides 12 of the box body 1 are pushed inward, so that the storage box 10 can be folded.
As shown in FIG. 12, the present invention further comprises a vacuum storage bag 30 which can be compressed and a bottom plate 40. The vacuum storage bag 30 comprises a bottom portion 31 and two side portions 32 connected with the bottom portion 31. Two sides of the two side portions 32 are connected with each other. The vacuum storage bag 30 has an opening 30 at one end thereof. The opening 30 is provided with a re-sealable zipper 34. One of the two side portions 32 of the vacuum storage bag 30 is provided with an air valve 35 to expel the air in the bag. The bottom portion 31 and the two side portions 32 are plastic films.
As shown in FIG. 12, the bottom plate 40 comprises a soft sheet 41 and a flat-strip support frame 42 which can be twisted and folded. The flat-strip support frame 42 is coupled to the soft sheet 41 to support the soft sheet 41 in a flat state. When not in use, the flat-strip support frame 42 of the bottom plate 40 can be folded to reduce its size. As shown in FIG. 13, the preferred embodiment of the bottom plate 40 comprises a single soft sheet 41. The flat-strip support 42 is disposed at one side of the single soft sheet 41. The edge of the soft sheet 41 is folded to wrap the flat-strip support frame 42. In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 14, the bottom plate 40 comprises two soft sheets 41. The flat-strip support frame 42 is disposed between the two soft sheets 41.
Through the design of the vacuum storage bag 30 and the bottom plate 40, as shown in FIG. 15, the bottom plate 40 is placed at the bottom of the vacuum storage bag 30 to expand the vacuum storage bag 30 to receive and store articles, such as clothing 50, bedquilt or the like. Through the air valve 35, the air in the bag can be expelled. As shown in FIG. 16, the size of the storage articles is reduced and the vacuum storage bag 30 is placed in the storage box 10.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20130284734
