GB2078498A

GB2078498A - Wire baskets for prams or freezers

Info

Publication number: GB2078498A
Application number: GB8016936A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: AURIOL GUILDFORD Ltd
Current assignee: AURIOL GUILDFORD Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-22
Filing date: 1980-05-22
Publication date: 1982-01-13
Also published as: GB2078498B

Abstract

A basket kit comprising a flat framework in the form of a grid of plastic coated wires and having sides which can be bent by a customer into the shape of a basket and retainers which engage adjacent sides of the basket so formed to hold it in shape. The wires of the framework are crushed along the bend lines to facilitate bending the respective sides into the form of a basket. Alternatively, some wires are cut. Wires can be provided to bend round a pram axle to hold the basket in place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wire baskets This invention relates to a basket kit more particularlythough not exclusively to pram baskets and baskets used in deep freezers. Such baskets when packed for shipment to distributors tend to occupy a considerably volume and in consequence transport charges become a significant portion 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 we provide a basket kit comprising retaining means 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 edges thereof sides, which when bent up along a predetermined fold line from the respective edges of said central portion form together with said central portion a basket, said retaining means engaging said sides to retain a basket so formed in shape; said central polygonal portion being formed of a grid of metal wires or strips which extend outwards from the sides of said grid, the wires or strips extending out from a side of said polygonal grid together forming one of said sides, each side having at least one cross-wire or strip running in a direction parallel to said respective side of said central portion to define the top edge of the side.

In orderthatthe invention may be fully understood preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a framework which can be bent into the form of a pram basket; Figure 2 shows the framework of Figure 1 bent into the shape of a pram basket with a handle; Figure 3 is a plan view of an alternative form of framework which can be bent into the form of a pram or freezer basket; Figure 4 shows alternative forms of retaining means in the form of coupling elements; Figure 5 shows arrangements with yet another form of retaining means in the form of a rectangular frame.

The framework 1 comprises a central rectangular grid 2 of plastics coated wires which extend beyond the edges 3 of the grid 2 to form sides 4. Each side has one cross-wire 5 running in a direction parallel to tloe respective edges 3 to define the top of each side 4. The wire 5 extends beyond both edges of the side arid is bent into the form of a hook, which together with the hook on an adjacent side are coupled together by a coupling member 6' when the sides 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 atthercross- over points as are the cross-wire 5 on the extended portions of the wires forming the grid. Before the framework is plastics coated, the wires extending from each edge 3 are crushed along a predetermined fold line which is indicated by the dotted line 6. This enables each side to be bent more easily. The sides may instead be rendered more easily bendable by, for example, cutting a number of the wires, e.g.

alternate wires, along the predetermined fold line.

A central wire 7 is provided having a hook at each end whose bight extends beyond the wire 5 to form end supports for a handle 8 as shown in Figure 2.

Plastic end caps 9 are secured on the ends of the return bent portions 10 passed through the bights of the hooks to retain the handle in place. Further hooks (not shown) may be provided to hook the basket on a pram.

Figure 3 shows an alternative form of pram basket, although this basket can be used in freezers, as can the basket shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 3 the framework 31 is rectangular and of similar form to that shown in Figure 1 having a central polygonal portion 32 made from a matrix of steel wires welded at their intersections and which extend beyond respective edges 33 to form sides 34 each of which have a single wire 35 welded to the ends of the wires from the central portion 32. Each end of the wires 35 extending beyond the two side wires 36 is bent downwards at approximately 90" so that it is substantially parallel to the associated side wire 36.

Before plastics coating the wires extending from the central rectangular area 32 are crushed along a predetermined fold line 37 so that the sides can be more easily bent up to form a basket, the adjacent downwardly bent portions of wires 5 are then coupled together by elements 38 to retain the basket in shape. As mentioned above in the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the sides instead may be rendered more easily bendable by cutting a number of the wires e.g. alternate wires, along the predetermined fold line.

When the frame is formed so that it can be used as a pram basket, two further wires 39 are welded in position as shown in Figure 3 so that in use these can be bent downwardly to engage the wheel axle of the pram and prevent the basket moving fore or aft.

Figure 4 shows alternative forms of coupled together adjacent sides of either of the baskets shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 3. The element 38 comprises a plastics moulding having two adjacent bores which may be circular or hexagonal, or may be splined to provide a good friction fit on the downwardly bent portions of the top wires 5 and 35.

Alternatively an L-shaped corner piece 41 may be used, each bore 42 having a similar configuration to those referred to above in connection with element 38.

Also the wires 5 may be bent as shown to form hooks and eyes or simply hooks, hooks on adjacent wires interengaging or a hook on one wire 5 or 35 of one side with an eye on the wire 5 or 35 of an adjacent side. Alternatively a spring metal or plastics corner connector 43 may be used to engage the end wires on adjacent sides.

Referring to Figure 5 this shows a rectangular frame member 51 having the configuration and dimensions such as to be locatable as a collar around the sides of a basket so as to retain it in shape. A frame member 51 so located is shown in Figure 5b which is a section through a formed basket. Although of flattened section or strip as shown in 5b the frame member may instead be of circular section wire. A possible advantage of using the flattened section or strip is that the collar, when located on the basket. may be utilised as a slide engagable in grooves 53 so that the basket may e.g. be used as a drawer, as in 5b and d.

The frame member 51 will generally be located just below the top edge of a formed basket as shown in the drawings. Currently it is envisaged that the wires constituting the sides of the basket may be formed with a bend 54 forming a recess line for locatingly receiving the frame member 51 when it is positioned as a collar around the sides of the basket as in Sc and 5d. The collar resists outward pressure from, say articles contained in the basket, which would tend to push the unrestrained sides outwardly.

Claims

1. A basket kit comprising retaining means and a flat framework for subsequent formation by a user into a basket, the flatframework comprising a central polygonal portion and extending from the edges thereof sides, which when bent up along a predetermined fold line from the respective edges of said central portion form together with said central portion a basket, said retaining means engaging said sides to retain a basket so formed in shape; said central polygonal portion being formed of a grid of metal wires or strips which extend outwards from the sides of said grid, the wires or strips extending out from a side of said polygonal grid together forming one of said sides, each side having at least one cross-wire or strip running in a direction parallel to said respective side of said central portion to define the top edge of the side.

2. A basket kit according to Claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a plurality of coupling members each for coupling together adjacent edges of two said sides to retain a basket so formed in shape, and said wires extending beyond the wires extending from the edge of said polygonal central portion to enable adjacent sides to be coupled together by said coupling members.

3. A basket kit according to Claim 1, wherein said retaining means is a polygonal frame member congruent with the polygonal central portion, which is locatable as a collar around the sides of the basket when formed so as to retain it in shape against outwardly directed pressure on said sides.

4. A basket kit according to Claim 3, wherein said polygonal frame member is formed of a strip of metal of generally flattened cross section.

5. A basket kit according to Claim 3 or 4, in which said sides are formed with recesses for receiving said frame member and locating it in position.

6. A basket kit according to any one of the pre ceding claims wherein said framework is crushed along said predetermined fold line thereby being rendered more easily foldable.

7. A basket kit according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein a number of said wires or strips of the framework are cut along said predetermined fold line thereby rendering the framework more easily foldable.

8. A basket kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said framework is made of plastics coated wire.

9. A basket kit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, 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.

10. A basket 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.

11. A basket kit as claimed in Claim 10, 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.

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

13. A basket kit substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3,4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings.