GB1584025A - Basket kit - Google Patents

Description

(54) A BASKET KIT (71) We, AURIOL (GUILDFORD) LIMITED, of Passfield Mill, Passfield, Liphook, Hampshire, GU30 7RR, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment : - This invention relates to a basket kit.

Baskets are made of a variety of materials in a variety of shapes. The depth of a basket is usually determined by what the basket is intended to contain. Baskets intended for growing plants have an internal volume which is designed to contain sufficient soil or compost for the plants. Such baskets when packed for shipment to distributors tend to occupy a considerable volume and in consequence transport charges become a significant percentage of the retail price of each basket.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a basket kit having a framework which can be transported in a flat form and subsequently bent into the desired shape by a purchaser.

In accordance with this invention therefore a basket kit comprises a plurality of coupling members and a flat framework for subsequent formation by a user into a basket, the flat framework comprising a central polygonal portion and extending from the sides thereof segments, which when bent up from the respective sides of said central portion form together with said central portion a basket, said coupling members each coupling together adjacent sides of two said segments to retain a basket so formed in shape; said central polygonal portion being formed of a grid of metal wires or strips which fan outwards from the sides of said grid, the wires or strips fanning out from a side of said polygonal grid together forming one of said segments, each segment having cross-wires or strips running in a direction parallel to said respective side of said central polygonal grid.

In order that the invention may be fully understood preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a framework which can be bent into the form of a basket; Figure 2 shows the framework of Figure 1 bent into the shape of a basket for hanging from a support; Figure 3 is a plan view of an alternative form of framework which can be bent into the form of a basket adapted for hanging on a wall; and Figure 4 shows a basket formed from the framework illustrated in Figure 3 secured to a wall.

The framework 1 comprises a central rectangular grid 2 of plastics coated wires which extend beyond the sides 3 of the grid 2 to form segments 4. Each segment has one or more cross-wires 5 running in a direction parallel to the respective sides 3. One crosswire 6 on each segment extends beyond one side thereof and is bent into the form of a hook which engages the side wire 7 of an adjacent segment when the segments are bent upwards along the respective sides 3 to form a basket as shown in Figure 2.

The wires of the grid 2 are welded at their cross-over points as are the cross-wires 5 and 6 on the extended portions of the wires forming the grid, the framework then being plastics coated.

The angle which the side wires 7 makes with the respective side 3 of the grid 2 determines the angle which each segment makes with the central grid when bent upwards.

The framework 10 shown in Figure 3 is similar to the framework 1 shown in Figure 1 but two opposite segments 11 have side wires 12 which are a continuation of the side 13 of the central grid 14 so that when the segments are bent up, the segment 15 is vertical to enable the basket so formed to be hung on a wall as shown in Figure 4.

Also each cross-wire 16 on each segment 11 extends beyond both side wires 12 of that segment to form hooks which engage with the side wires of the segments 15 and 17. Wires or strips in the segment 15 may extend beyond the top cross wire to form hooks to enable the basket so formed to hang on a wall as shown in Figure 4.

In either embodiment, the central grid may have more than four sides with a like number of segments extending therefrom.

Also a three-sided grid is possible. Instead of each segment in the Figure 1 embodiment or the two opposite segments 11 in the Figure 3 embodiment having cross-wires which extend beyond the respective segments to form hooks, only one segment, for example, segment 4a in Fig. 1 and segment 17 in Figure 3, need have a cross-wire which extends beyond both sides of the respective segment to form hooks to engage the adjacent segments. The other segment sides may be spot-welded to each other.

Chains or other forms of suspension may be secured to the top edges of the basket so that it can be hung from a suitable support.

The framework may be formed from metal strip instead of wire and separate clips may be used instead of the hooks to join the segments together and hold the basket so formed in shape.

The main advantages of the basket construction described above are that the framework can be more easily constructed in flat form, instead of the usual three dimensional form, and that the flat framework is easier to transport and store.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS 1. A basket kit comprising a plurality of coupling members and a flat framework for subsequent formation by a user into a basket, the flat framework comprising a central polygonal portion and extending from the sides thereof segments, which when bent up from the respective sides of said central portion form together with said central portion a basket, said coupling members each coupling together adjacent sides of two said segments to retain a basket so formed in shape; said central polygonal portion being formed of a grid of metal wires or strips which fan outwards from the sides of said grid, the wires or strips fanning out from a side of said polygonal grid together forming one of said segments, each segment having cross-wires or strips running in a direction parallel to said respective side of said central polygonal grid.

2. A kit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said framework is made of plastics coated wire.

3. A kit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said central portion is rectangular and at least one of said cross-wires or strips, on each of the segments extending from two opposite sides of said grid extends beyond the side of the respective segment to form a hook to engage an adjacent segment and form said coupling member to retain the basket so formed in shape.

4. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wire or strip forming one side of a rectangular grid extends in a straight line beyond said grid to form one side of each of two oppositely disposed segments so that the segment extending from said one side of the grid is vertical when bent and is coupled to said sides of the two oppositely disposed segments.

5. A kit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein two of said wires or strips of the segment extending from said one side extend beyond the outermost cross-wire and form hooks for mounting the framework when formed into a basket on a wall.

6. A kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A basket kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 17. Wires or strips in the segment 15 may extend beyond the top cross wire to form hooks to enable the basket so formed to hang on a wall as shown in Figure 4. In either embodiment, the central grid may have more than four sides with a like number of segments extending therefrom. Also a three-sided grid is possible. Instead of each segment in the Figure 1 embodiment or the two opposite segments 11 in the Figure 3 embodiment having cross-wires which extend beyond the respective segments to form hooks, only one segment, for example, segment 4a in Fig. 1 and segment 17 in Figure 3, need have a cross-wire which extends beyond both sides of the respective segment to form hooks to engage the adjacent segments. The other segment sides may be spot-welded to each other. Chains or other forms of suspension may be secured to the top edges of the basket so that it can be hung from a suitable support. The framework may be formed from metal strip instead of wire and separate clips may be used instead of the hooks to join the segments together and hold the basket so formed in shape. The main advantages of the basket construction described above are that the framework can be more easily constructed in flat form, instead of the usual three dimensional form, and that the flat framework is easier to transport and store. WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. A basket kit comprising a plurality of coupling members and a flat framework for subsequent formation by a user into a basket, the flat framework comprising a central polygonal portion and extending from the sides thereof segments, which when bent up from the respective sides of said central portion form together with said central portion a basket, said coupling members each coupling together adjacent sides of two said segments to retain a basket so formed in shape; said central polygonal portion being formed of a grid of metal wires or strips which fan outwards from the sides of said grid, the wires or strips fanning out from a side of said polygonal grid together forming one of said segments, each segment having cross-wires or strips running in a direction parallel to said respective side of said central polygonal grid.

2. A kit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said framework is made of plastics coated wire.

3. A kit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said central portion is rectangular and at least one of said cross-wires or strips, on each of the segments extending from two opposite sides of said grid extends beyond the side of the respective segment to form a hook to engage an adjacent segment and form said coupling member to retain the basket so formed in shape.

4. A kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wire or strip forming one side of a rectangular grid extends in a straight line beyond said grid to form one side of each of two oppositely disposed segments so that the segment extending from said one side of the grid is vertical when bent and is coupled to said sides of the two oppositely disposed segments.

5. A kit as claimed in Claim 4, wherein two of said wires or strips of the segment extending from said one side extend beyond the outermost cross-wire and form hooks for mounting the framework when formed into a basket on a wall.

6. A kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A basket kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.