Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6588620
-
Patent Number
6,588,620
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 26, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 8, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 220 485
- 220 489
- 220 491
- 220 428
- 220 2391
- 220 9081
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A knockdown, or collapsible, hamper including a frame formed from two generally U-shaped supports with bottom portions and upstanding members. The bottom portions are pivotally connected and positioned perpendicularly with respect to one another for assembly of the hamper. A plurality of rings are affixed to the frame and held in place by notches in the upstanding members of the U-shaped supports. A bag is positioned inside the frame and ring structure to complete the hamper.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to collapsible hampers that may be compactly stored or transported in a collapsed state and deployed into a usable assembled hamper. Particularly, the hamper is easily assembled and disassembled as required by the end user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hampers that are typically used to store and/or transport laundry or other lightweight articles and are stored and shipped fully assembled and ready for use. The bulkiness and size of many of these hampers increases the shipping costs of such items and presents shelf space and storage problems for merchants. However, to be of use, laundry hampers must be large enough in size to hold a reasonable amount of dirty clothing.
Hampers are available in a great variety of types and designs. Hampers have typically been constructed of wicker or plastic. Such hampers may have a top closure or cover that is hinged to the container and serves to shut the container when it is not in use. Another type of hamper consists of a fabric bag that is supported upon a frame or stand.
Some hampers have been shipped in parts requiring assembly by the merchant upon arrival or by the consumer upon purchase. These collapsible baskets and containers have typically included a variety of pre-shaped components that require alignment and fastening that is difficult, tedious and may require a variety of tools.
Accordingly, there is a need for a laundry hamper that can be conveniently shipped, transported, stored and that can be quickly and easily assembled for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a knockdown, or collapsible, hamper. The hamper has a frame that includes two generally U-shaped supports defining a bottom portion and upstanding members. The bottom portion has cross-members that rotate about a pivot point and the upstanding members extend obliquely from the bottom portion, and form the generally vertical, upstanding members of the frame. A plurality of rings slide over the bottom portion and along the upstanding members and are received in notches formed in the upstanding members to create a generally conical shape with the bottom portion and upstanding members of the frame.
In one embodiment, the collapsible hamper includes a frame that is formed from two generally U-shaped supports. The generally flat bottom portions of the U-shaped supports are connected near the center of each bottom portion and, by a scissors-type movement, the supports can pivot from a generally flat cross-section to a maximum cross-section in which the two bottom generally cross perpendicularly. The upstanding members of the U-shaped supports have notches formed therein that are spaced apart from one another. The notches on each of the upstanding members correspond with the notches on the other upstanding members and align horizontally. A plurality of rings of varying circumferences perpendicularly align with the upstanding members and click or snap or are set securely into the notches. The frame and rings form a generally conical shaped structure. A bag is fitted into the conical shaped structure providing a hamper ready for use.
Other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein and in the associated figures and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a hamper embodying the invention.
FIG. 2
is a top view of the hamper depicted in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is an exploded view of the components of the hamper of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a side view of a hamper embodying the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A collapsible hamper
10
embodying the present invention is illustrated in
FIGS. 1-4
and includes a frame
15
comprised of two generally U-shaped supports
20
. The two U-shaped supports
20
include upstanding members
22
and bottom portions
24
. The bottom portions
24
are fastened together, for example, by machine screw
25
and cap nut. The fastening of the bottom portions
24
of the U-shaped supports
20
is such that the bottom portions
24
may pivot within a range of a minimum cross-section at which point the bottom portions
24
approach a parallel arrangement with one another and, on the opposite extreme of the range, a perpendicular orientation in which the bottom portions
24
intersect in a substantially perpendicular arrangement. The Figures depict a double ring
26
with tabs
28
. The tabs
28
are aligned with tabs
30
of upstanding members
22
of the U-shaped supports
20
when the bottom portions
24
are oriented generally perpendicular to one another.
Referring to
FIGS. 1-4
, a series of rings
32
,
34
,
36
are affixed to the upstanding members
22
of the U-shaped supports
20
. The rings
32
,
34
,
36
are aligned generally perpendicular to the upstanding members
22
of the U-shaped supports
20
and are received into notches
40
formed into the upstanding members
22
. When the rings
32
,
34
,
36
are received in the notches
40
of the upstanding members
22
of the U-shaped support
20
, the U-shaped support
20
and rings
32
,
34
,
36
form a generally conical-shaped structure. The notches
40
are formed into a length of the upstanding members
22
at intervals that correspond to the intervals between the notches
40
of the each other upstanding member
22
. The frame
15
, double ring
26
and rings
32
,
34
,
36
are preferably stainless steel or aluminum wire or tubing, but may be drawn or cast from any suitable metal or alloy.
The circumference of each of the rings
32
,
34
,
36
corresponds to a circumference of a cross-section of the hamper
10
where the rings
32
,
34
,
36
will be received along the conical shape. The notches
40
are placed and shaped to allow the rings
32
,
34
,
36
to click or snap in place and to maintain their position during use of the hamper
10
. In order for the rings
32
,
34
,
36
to maintain their position in the notches
40
, the rings
32
,
34
,
36
may temporarily deform the upstanding members
22
as the rings
32
,
34
,
36
slide along the upstanding member
22
and into the notches
40
. Upon the receiving of the rings
32
,
34
,
36
in the notches
40
of the upstanding members
22
, the shape of the hamper
10
is fixed and held rigid. The preferred embodiment may also include casters
42
affixed to mounting sleeves
44
on the bottom portions
24
of the frame
15
in a well known manner. A bag
46
is fitted over handles
48
of the double ring
26
. The bag
46
is preferably canvas, but may be fabricated of a lighter cotton, wool or blended natural fiber or may be plastic or non-woven fabric. The hamper
10
may, optionally, include a hamper lid (not shown) of a design appropriate to fit the top opening of the hamper
10
.
To begin assembly, the consumer pivots the U-shaped supports
20
to a position in which the bottom portions
24
are oriented substantially perpendicular to one another. The consumer then mates the tabs
28
of the double ring
26
with the tabs
30
of the upstanding members
22
of the U-shaped supports
20
and fixes the tabs
28
,
30
together, for example, by screws
29
. Assembly of the hamper is continued by inverting the frame
15
/double ring
26
assembly and arranging a series of rings
32
,
34
,
36
in the order of largest
32
, then middle
34
and then smallest
36
according to circumference. The largest ring
32
is placed over the bottom portions
24
of the frame
15
and moved along the upstanding members
22
of the frame
15
toward the double ring
26
. Travel of the largest ring
32
continues along the upstanding members
22
of the frame
15
until the circumference of the largest ring
32
is contacted by each the upstanding members
22
in a generally perpendicular orientation to the plane of the ring
32
. The consumer will then set, snap or click the ring
32
into one of a plurality of notches
40
on each upstanding member
22
that has been formed for the purpose of receiving the ring
32
.
Assembly of the hamper continues by placement of the middle ring
34
and then the smallest ring
36
in the same manner as the largest ring
32
was placed. Casters
42
are then optionally placed in mounting sleeves
44
affixed to the bottom portions
24
of the frame
15
. The structure is then returned to an upright position from the inverted position. A bag
46
is fitted into the frame
15
and over handles
48
of the double ring
26
. The hamper
10
is then complete and ready for use. The hamper
10
may be readily disassembled most easily by reversing the order of assembly steps.
The manufacture and use of the hamper described herein can decrease costs incurred for transport and storage of hampers. End users may quickly, easily and with minimal tool requirements assemble and disassemble the hamper. While these potential advantages and objects have been identified herein, it should be understood that all embodiments of the invention may not provide all, or any, of the identified advantages and objects.
The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
- 1. A collapsible hamper comprising:a frame including at least two generally U-shaped supports, said supports each having a bottom portion and two upstanding members extending from the respective ends of said bottom portion; each of said supports being pivotally joined to one another so as to permit movement of the bottom portions between a generally parallel orientation to a generally perpendicular orientation; each of said upstanding members having a plurality of spaced apart notches formed therein such that each of the notches in each of the upstanding members is in a common plane with a notch in the other of said upstanding members; a plurality of rings of varying diameter, each of said rings has an inner circumference for receipt and retention within the notches in a common plane; and a bag positioned within and supported by said frame.
- 2. The collapsible hamper of claim 1, further comprising two sleeves are mounted onto to each bottom portion.
- 3. The collapsible hamper of claim 2, wherein casters are affixed to the mounting sleeves.
- 4. The collapsible hamper of claim 1, wherein a double ring is fixed to the upstanding members of the frame.
- 5. The collapsible hamper of claim 4, wherein the double ring has at least one handle.
- 6. The collapsible hamper of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped supports are stainless steel or aluminum.
- 7. The collapsible hamper of claim 1, wherein the bag is a material selected from the group consisting of canvas, light weight cotton, polyester, wool, blended natural fiber, plastic and non-woven fabric.
US Referenced Citations (13)