GB2296233A

GB2296233A - A container

Info

Publication number: GB2296233A
Application number: GB9426156A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsiao Liang Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-12-23
Filing date: 1994-12-23
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Also published as: GB9426156D0

Abstract

A container which can be disassembled and folded to minimize its size for storage or transportation and assembled and extended to its normal size for use has an upper frame (11) and a lower frame (12), connected by a flexible material. When the upper and lower frames (11, 12) are spaced apart, the flexible material defines a perimeter wall (1), and an inner space of the container is defined between the upper and lower frames. A plurality of supporting rods (2) extend between and support the upper and lower frames (11, 12) of the container. The ends of the rods (2) are removably received within recesses defined in the frames (11, 12). <IMAGE>

Description

A CONTAINER The present invention relates to a container. For example, the invention relates to a modular container which can be disassembled and folded to minimize its size for storage and transportation.

Laundry containers or baskets are commonly used in many families and laundry shops for keeping clothes. In order to facilitate the air ventilation inside a laundry container so as to avoid moisture or bad odour accumulation, most laundry containers are woven from long strips, such as bamboo, cane, PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), or paper strips, in order to create a plurality of small air ventilation openings. The frames of such woven containers, however, are rigid and thus difficult to fold. In addition, most of the strip surfaces are covered with a hard enamel coating for polishing and protection purposes and this further hardens the woven part. Such a rigid structure make it difficult to fold the laundry container in order to shrink its size for storage when it is not in use and thus cause inconveniences to a user because of its bulky size.In addition, many commercial and departmental stores are unwilling to display, demonstrate and sell such container products because they occupy too much valuable shelf space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container in which these disadvantages are reduced.

According to the present invention there is provided a container comprising two frames interconnected by a flexible material such that said two frames may be spaced apart whereby said flexible material defines a perimeter wall of the container, and elongate support means removably connectible to each said frame to provide rigidity to the container.

An embodiment of the invention has the advantages that: 1. The container can be easily disassembled and folded to minimize its size for storage when it is not in use.

2. The container which can be quickly assembled to extend it to its normal size when it is needed.

In a preferred embodiment, a modular container of the present invention comprises a modular container comprising: a rigid upper frame; a rigid lower frame disposed under the upper frame and having a plurality of rod mounting structures formed on an upper side for mounting supporting rods; a flexible side panel, comprising a cloth sheet or a plastics sheet or a composition sheet of cloth and plastics connecting between the upper and lower frames to define an inner space inside the container; and a plurality of supporting rods, each having a lower end removably mounted to one of the rod mounting means of the lower frame and an upper end removably secured to a matching position on the upper frame to have the supporting rods extend between the lower and upper frame to support and secure the upper frame on the lower frame.

It is an advantage of a container of an embodiment of the present invention that the supporting rods can be easily disassembled from the container and the upper and lower frames associated with the flexible side panel can then be folded to minimize the container's size for storage.

It is another advantage of a container of an embodiment of the present invention that the supporting rods can quickly be installed between the upper and lower frames to extend the container to its normal size when it is needed.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular container according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the modular container; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container shown in Figure 1 showing the upper and lower frames, and the supporting rods; and Figure 4 is a plan view showing the rod mounting structures of the lower frame.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figures 1 and 2, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular container according to the present invention and Figure 2 is an exploded view of the modular container shown in Figure 1, the modular container of the present invention comprises a rigid upper frame 11, a rigid lower frame 12, and a flexible side panel 1 connecting the upper and lower frames 11 and 12 to define an inner space inside the container. Four supporting rods 2 extend between and support the upper and lower frames 11 and 12. Panel 1 is made from a flexible material, such as cloth, plastics sheet or a composition made of the cloth and the plastics sheet, which can be folded associated with the upper and lower frames 11 and 12 when the container is not in use so as to minimize its size for storage.The folded container can also be easily put on the shelf of a commercial or department store for sale and occupies a very little space.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, wherein Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the modular container shown in Figure 1 which shows the upper and lower frames 11 and 12 and the supporting rods 2 of the container and Figure 4 is a plan view showing the lower frame 12 and the rod mounting structures 13 thereof. The lower frame 12 comprises four upstanding rod mounting structures 13 on its upper side for mounting the four supporting rods 2. When a user intends to install the rods between the upper and lower frames 11 and 12, the upper frame 11 is pulled up vertically first in order to enable the arrangement of the four rods 2 between the upper and lower frames 11 and 12. The lower end of each of the rods 2 is removably mounted in one of the rod mounting structures 13 of the lower frame 12 and the upper end of each of the rods 2 is removably stuck to a matching position on the lower side of the upper frame 11 wherein the upper and lower frames 11 and 12 connected with the flexible side panel 1 are extended and supported by the four supporting rods 2.

The above disclosure is not intended as limitative.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the container described may be made within the scope of the present application as defined by the appended claim.

Claims

1. A container comprising two frames interconnected by a flexible material such that said two frames may be spaced apart whereby said flexible material defines a perimeter wall of the container, and elongate support means removably connectible to each said frame to provide rigidity to the container.

2. A container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said support means comprises one or more elongate support members.

3. A container as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said elongate support members comprise a plurality of elongate support rods.

4. A container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein each of said frames is provided with a plurality of rod receiving means for receiving the ends of said support rods.

5. A modular container comprising: a rigid upper frame; a rigid lower frame disposed under the upper frame having a plurality of rod mounting means formed on an upper side of the rigid lower frame; a flexible side panel, comprising a cloth sheet or a plastics sheet or a composition sheet of cloth and plastics, connecting the upper and lower frames to define an inner space inside the container; and a plurality of supporting rods, each having a lower end removably mounted to one of the rod mounting means of the lower frame and an upper end removably secured to a matching position on the upper frame to have the supporting rods extend between the lower and upper frame to support and secure the upper frame on the lower frame.

6. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.