The present disclosure relates generally to storage devices. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to storage devices for use in outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
Storage devices assist a user in organizing and/or securing possessions. A storage device may take any form and may be used to convey possessions from one location to another. In an outdoor context such as hiking or camping where an individual may seek to bring several items into a recreational areas, it may be convenient and even necessary to store certain items in a storage device. However, organization of these items may prove difficult as the user may be carrying those items in a backpack and the user may find it difficult to organize and access items within the backpack. For example, the user may be required to dig through their items within the backpack to obtain a certain item. Having to dig through the backpack may require the user to remove items from the backpack, search for the desired item, and then repack the backpack. Further, certain items such as food may be required to be stored separately from the user so that wildlife such as bears, cougars, and other predatory animals may be a threat to the user if the user were to store food in their tent or generally in their immediate presence.
The detailed description is set forth below with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items. The systems depicted in the accompanying figures are not to scale and components within the figures may be depicted not to scale with each other.
In the examples described herein, a collapsible, ambulatory, and lightweight storage device is described herein. The storage device may be used in situations where a user may benefit from these and other features of the storage device such as, for example, hiking, camping, hoteling, and similar situations. In outdoor situations such as hiking and camping, instead of unloading gear or other objects from the user's backpack onto the ground while camp is set up, the user may place their gear and other objects in the present storage device to keep those items clean and dry.
Examples described herein provide a device including a first triangular panel and a second triangular panel. The device further includes a first side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a first common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel and a second side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a second common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel. The device further includes at least one shelf coupled in an interior of the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel.
The device further includes a bottom panel coupling the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. The device further includes at least one loop coupled to an exterior of the bottom panel. The first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel include a water-resistant or water-proof material. The at least one shelf includes a mesh material such as a nylon mesh material.
The device further includes at least one rib extending from an interior side of the first triangular panel to an interior side of the second triangular panel to expand the interior of the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel. The at least one rib includes aluminum. The device further includes a number of grommets formed in a number of corners of the device, the grommets creating a number of apertures for securing the device. The ribs are configured to engage with a respective pair of the grommets.
The device further includes at least one opening located on at least one of the first triangular panel or the second triangular panel. The opening includes at least one zipper coupled to the opening to selectively open and close the opening.
Examples described herein also provide a rectangular pyramid storage device. The rectangular pyramid storage device includes a first triangular panel, a second triangular panel, a first side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a first common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel, a second side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a second common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel, and a bottom panel coupling the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel.
The rectangular pyramid storage device further includes at least one shelf coupled in an interior of the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. The at least one shelf includes a mesh material. The rectangular pyramid storage device further includes at least one loop coupled to an exterior of the bottom panel.
The rectangular pyramid storage device further includes at least one rib extending from an interior side of the first triangular panel to an interior side of the second triangular panel to expand the interior of the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel, wherein the at least one rib includes aluminum. The rectangular pyramid storage device further includes a number of grommets formed in a number of corners of the rectangular pyramid storage device, the grommets creating a number of apertures for securing the rectangular pyramid storage device, wherein the at least one rib is configured to engage with a respective pair of the grommets. The at least one rib includes aluminum.
The rectangular pyramid storage device further includes at least one opening located on at least one of the first triangular panel or the second triangular panel. The opening includes at least one zipper coupled to the opening to selectively open and close the opening.
Additionally, the techniques described in this disclosure may be performed as a method and/or by a system having non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, performs the techniques described above.
Turning now to the figures,
In the example of
Further, a second tether 108-2 and a third tether 108-3 may be coupled to two other corners of the storage device 100 to further secure the storage device 100 such that it may not swing freely from the first tether 108-1. For example, the second tether 108-2 and/or the third tether 108-3 may secure the storage device 100 to a trunk 106 of the tree 102 and/or the ground 110 as depicted in
Having described the manner in which the storage device 100 is deployed and utilized, the features of the storage device 100 will now be described in more detail.
As depicted in
The rectangular pyramid shape of the storage device 100 further includes a base in the form of the bottom panel 504. The bottom panel 504 may have an approximately rectangular shape. Further, in one example, the bottom panel 504 may have an approximately 24 in. length and an approximately 10 in. width. Further, with these dimensions, the storage device 100 may provide for various sizes of compartments within the storage device 100. Although, in the examples described herein, dimensions of the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504, these panels may have other dimensions that provide for relatively smaller or larger dimensions individually and/or collectively.
The first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 may be coupled to one another as described herein via any coupling means and/or method. For example, the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 may be coupled to one another via sewing, stitching, welding (e.g., chemical welding, heat welding, etc.), taping, gluing, coupling using mechanical devices, other coupling devices and methods, and combinations thereof. Further, in one example, the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 as well as the areas at which these panels couple to one another may be made to be water-resistant or water-proof including being made of water-resistant or water-proof material and/or including water-resistant or water-proof elements to seal the areas at which these panels couple to one another and the panels themselves. In one example, the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 may be made of any material including for example, polyester, oxford polyester, cotton (e.g., canvas), nylon, felt, plastics, other materials, and combinations thereof. Further, the materials of the panels 204-1, 204-2, 502, 602 may be coated with a water-resistant and/or water-proof coating such as, for example, paraffin, beeswax, mink oil, silicone, polyurethane, organofluorine, nanotextured surfacing, hydrophobic substances, superhydrophobic substances, other coatings, and combinations thereof.
In conjunction with the description of
As depicted in
As to aperture 208-1 and grommet 210-1, a single grommet and corresponding aperture may be formed since the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, and the second side panel 602 couple to one another at the first tab 206-1 with no or little intervening space. However, in one example, two apertures and two grommets may be included in tab 206-1. Similarly, as to aperture 208-2 and grommet 210-2, a single grommet and corresponding aperture may be formed since the first triangular panel 204-1, the first side panel 502, and the bottom panel 504 couple to one another at the second tab 206-2. Further, as to aperture 208-3 and grommet 210-3, a single grommet and corresponding aperture may be formed since the first triangular panel 204-1, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 couple to one another at the third tab 206-3. Still further, as to aperture 208-4 and grommet 210-4, a single grommet and corresponding aperture may be formed since the second triangular panel 204-2, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 couple to one another at the fourth tab 206-4. Similarly, as to aperture 208-5 and grommet 210-5, a single grommet and corresponding aperture may be formed since the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, and the bottom panel 504 couple to one another at the fifth tab 206-5.
The storage device 100 may also include a number of ribs 212-1, 212-2, 212-3 (collectively referred to as “rib(s) 212”). The ribs 212 serve to expand the interior of the storage device 100 by separating the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504 from one another. In this manner, an internal cavity or space may be formed within the storage device 100 to allow for a number of items to be placed therein. The ribs 212 may engage with the grommets 210 to push the panels away from one another as depicted in
The second tab 206-2 and the fifth tab 206-5 are separated from one another by a second rib 212-2 and, similarly, the third tab 206-3 and the fourth tab 206-4 are separated from one another by a third rib 212-3. The second rib 212-2 may engage with the second grommet 210-2 and the fifth grommet 210-5, and similarly, the third rib 212-3 may engage with the third grommet 210-3 and the fourth grommet 210-4. In one example, the ribs 212 may engage with their respective grommets 210 by forming an engagement end such as a tapered portion in the ends of the ribs 212 such that a center portion of the ribs 212 have a relatively larger diameter with respect to the engagement end. Coupling of the ribs 212 with their respective grommets 210 may be made by engaging a first end of a rib 212 with a first grommet 210 formed at a first tab 206, pulling a second tab 206 opposing the first tab 206 away from the first tab 206 and around the end of the second end of the rib 212 and engaging the second end of the rib 212 with the second grommet 210 formed at the second tab 206.
In one example, the ribs 212 may be removable or disengaged from the grommets 210 to allow the storage device 100 to be collapsible. The collapsibility of the storage device 100 allows for the storage device 100 to be conveniently carried in, for example, a backpack such that a user may carry the storage device 100 and deploy the storage device 100 when it comes time to utilize the storage device 100 for storage of items. For example, when a user makes camp, the storage device 100 may be deployed by engaging the ribs 212 with the respective grommets 210, and items may be placed in the storage device 100. Further, when the user breaks camp, the storage device 100 may be emptied of the items, collapsed by disengaging the ribs 212, and packed away into, for example, a backpack along with the items that were placed therein.
The ribs 212 may be made of a lightweight material in order to maintain the weight of the storage device 100 below a desired or predetermined threshold. For example, the ribs 212 may be made of aluminum pipe since aluminum is a lightweight but strong material. In one example, the ribs 212 may be made of 13 millimeter (mm) aluminum pipe. The ribs 212 may be hollow tubes in order to allow for the tethers 108 to pass through the apertures 208, the grommets 210, and the ribs 212 to allow for the storage device 100 to be hung and secured from movement in at least one coordinate direction as depicted in
In one example, the ribs 212 may be hollow, spring loaded rods that are spring biased to expand such that the springs included in this example of the ribs 212 push the first triangular panel 204-1 and the second triangular panel 204-2 away from one another to create a space interior to the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, and the second side panel 602.
The storage device 100 may further include at least one opening 214 located on at least one of the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and combinations thereof. For example, as depicted in
Further, in one example, the opening 214 may be selectively closed and opened via a number of fasteners to allow for the storage device to be securely closed. For example, the fasteners used to close the opening 214 may include at least one zipper, a number of buttons, a number of snaps, other fasteners, and combinations thereof that may be used to securely close the opening 214. In the example where at least one zipper is included, the opening 214 may be selectively opened and closed with respect to the exterior of the storage device 100. In one example, a first zipper may be used to close the opening 214 on a first side of the opening 214 such as the , and a second zipper may be used to close the opening 214 on a second side In one example, the zipper and/or the opening 214 may be water-resistant or water proof such that water cannot enter the interior of the storage device 100 when the opening 214 is secured in the closed state via the zipper.
As depicted in
In one example, at least one of the main center support 704 and/or the horizontal shelves 702 may be made of the same or different material as the first triangular panel 204-1, the second triangular panel 204-2, the first side panel 502, the second side panel 602, and the bottom panel 504. In one example, at least one of the main center support 704 and/or the horizontal shelves 702 may be made of a mesh material. In the example of
The examples described herein provide a device including a first triangular panel, a second triangular panel, a first side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a first common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel, a second side panel coupling the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel at a second common side of the first triangular panel and the second triangular panel, a bottom panel coupling the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel, and at least one shelf coupled in an interior of the first triangular panel, the second triangular panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. With the above-described systems and methods, a user may be able to store objects in an organized manner especially during a hiking or camping situation. The collapsibility and lightweight materials of the storage device allows for the storage device to be used in hiking and camping scenarios in which the use may transport the collapsed storage device in their hiking backpack or similar device and deploy the storage device when a camping area is reached.
While the present systems and methods are described with respect to the specific examples, it is to be understood that the scope of the present systems and methods are not limited to these specific examples. Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the present systems and methods are not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of the present systems and methods.
Although the application describes examples having specific structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are merely illustrative of some examples that fall within the scope of the claims of the application.
This application claims the benefit of priority provisional U.S. Application No. 63/186,547, filed May 10, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63186547 | May 2021 | US |