GB2460030A

GB2460030A - Manually foldable receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2460030A
Application number: GB0808541A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Farley
Original assignee: HAYLEY CHRISTINE FARLEY
Current assignee: HAYLEY CHRISTINE FARLEY
Priority date: 2008-05-12
Filing date: 2008-05-12
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2028-05-12
Also published as: GB2460030B; GB0808541D0

Abstract

A manually foldable receptacle 1 comprises a base portion 2 and side walls 3 projecting upwards therefrom. The receptacle is made from folding and stitching a single sheet of plastics material woven in a criss-cross pattern 4, preferably PP. The receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material. Neighboring receptacles can be joined together via clips (15, fig 2). A method (fig 3) of folding a single sheet of material to form the receptacle is provided as is a method of using a single sheet of material to form a wall/support structure using a support frame (fig 4).

Description

ManuaLly Foldable ReceptacLe

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to manually foldable receptacles.

Background to the Invention * ** * * *

:.:: The closest prior art known to the applicant is the applicant's own prior patent application S...

W02008037990. The invention concerns various improvements to overcome the

following drawbacks of the prior art receptacles:

:.. * Material wastage since the prior art bag incorporates side walls made of separate * sheets of material; * Weak points are present along junction points between the base portion and the side walls which in the prior art require double stitching; * Tunnels are provided in side walls to receive support members; * The attachment means between receptacles might not function in certain conditions such as dirt, dust, extreme temperatures and when soil is waterlogged; Due to the thickness of the side walls the transition between abutting receptacles is not as seamless as might be possible; and the overall cost is excessive due to the numerous steps in the processing of the receptacles such as cutting and sewing.

The invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks.

Summary of the Invention

In a first broad independent aspect, the invention provides a manually foldable receptacle comprising a base portion; walls projecting upwards from said base portion; wherein said receptacle is primarily constituted of substantially flat strips of plastics material woven in a cuss-cross pattern; the receptacles walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material; wherein the strips of said base portion extend into said walls to form strips extending substantially in an upward direction.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it removes the requirement for stitching between the base portion and the side walls. ft therefore also reduces the material required to construct the receptacle, It provides a receptacle which is particularly resistant to tension across the fold line between the base portion and the side walls. * ** * a *

In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's first broad independent aspect, **S.

strips extend about the perimeter of said receptacle to form a criss-cross pattern with said strips extending substantially in an upward direction, said perimeter strips being unbroken between neighbouring walls. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it * reduces the requirements for heavily reinforced vertical stitching since there is no break * between side walls, It also allows the particularly sensitive area of the bag to be *.S... . . . . . * * reinforced. In a further subsidiary aspect, said walls and said base portion are formed from a single sheet of material. This configuration further reduces the material required for the production of the receptacles. It also reduces the method steps required for the production of the receptacles as they may be produced through folding and stitching only rather than requiring the assembly of several sheets and several cutting steps to arrive at the assembled product.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the receptacle further comprises corner portions between first and second neighbouring walls which are stitched together by a stitching line and the strips which extend about the perimeter of said receptacle are unbroken between said neighbouring walls and continue in a loop between said stitching line on the side of said first wall and said stitching line on the side of said second wall. This configuration is particularly advantageous since it improves the overall tensile strength of the receptacle when compared to a receptacle where the strips do not continue in a loop. Thus, a reduction in stress concentration is achieved which reduces the requirements for heavy stitching even though heavy stitching may be employed for even more strength. The loop may also facilitate a projection for a user to handle the bag which may be particularly advantageous should the receptacle be removed from its location after use and then displaced to an alternative position.

The presence of the stitching line also allows the operator assembling the receptacle to be able to vary its height by increasing or decreasing the length of the corner portions and their corresponding stitching lines.

In a further subsidiary aspect, said receptacle incorporates a rim formed by folding the upper edge of said walls over at least part of the height of said walls; and it further incorporates a stitching line holding said folded portion against said wall. This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows the upper portion to be reinforced relative to the lower portion of the bag. This reduces the risk of the upper * *..

portion of the side walls from fraying. It also increases the overall upper rigidity of the L: :* receptacle. *. 25

In a second broad independent aspect, the invention provides a kit of parts comprising a * *1 plurality of receptacles according to any of the preceding aspects and clips suitable for securing neighbouring walls of receptacles together.

In a third broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method of forming a receptacle, comprising the steps of: * selecting a rectangular sheet of plastics material woven in a criss-cross pattern; * folding corner portions along a portion of one of the sheet's diagonal lines; * folding side portions of said sheet to form side walLs; and stitching said neighbouring side walls together.

This method of forming a receptacle is particularly advantageous because it allows the steps of manufacture to be reduced. It also reduces the material required for a given structural strength. It allows the receptacles to be formed without having necessarily to form the receptacle from a plurality of separate sheets. It reduces the requirements for reinforcing stitching particularly between the base portion and the side walls of a receptacle. It also improves the ability of a plurality of receptacles to be located in close abutment side by side.

In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's third broad independent aspect, the method further comprises the step of folding an outer most portion of said side portions over at least part of the side portions and stitching a line for holding said folded portion against said side portion. This method reduces the risk of the upper portion of the finished receptacle from fraying. ft also provides the upper rim with additional rigidity.

In a fourth broad independent aspect, the invention provides a method of forming a wall comprising the steps of: selecting a sheet of material; * selecting a support member which is sized and shaped to correspond to the height * of said wall and which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending stakes and at least one strut extending between said stakes, wherein said strut is manually * bendable into a shape; * bending said support member into shape; *** * planting said support member in soil in a position where a portion of said sheet may be erected against said support member; : * erecting said sheet portion against said support member; and e * * securing said sheet portion in said erected position.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembled receptacle according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows perspective views of receptacles in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a blank suitable for forming the receptacle of figure 1.

Figures 4A and 4B respectively show a schematic perspective view of the assembly of a sheet where no side wall is provided. Figure 4B shows a plan view of the support member in a bent configuration which may for example correspond to the trunk of a tree.

io Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a receptacle generally referenced 1 with a base portion 2 and four side walls such as side wall 3. The receptacle is primarily formed of polypropylene in a criss-cross pattern as shown in magnified view 4.

The receptacle is formed starting from a single sheet of woven plastics material of rectangular form as shown in figure 3. Each corner portion such as corner portion S is folded along a diagonal fold line 6 as shown in figures 1 and 3. In order to vary the height of the receptacle, the person assembling the receptacle varies the length of the diagonal line 6. Once held as shown in figure 1 the corner portion 5 is then stitched along line 7 which corresponds to lines 7A and 7B in figure 3. The operation is repeated for each of the four corners iesulting in the receptacle of figure 1. A single stitching line 7 may be employed. Alternatively a double stitching line may be employed around or about line 7. * ** * * * ** S

*. 25 The protruding corner portion S shown in figure 1 is in effect a loop of material which may be secured either on side 8 or on side 9. Alternatively, the protruding corner portion may remain in the configuration shown in figure 1.

55SI.* * S In order to secure the corner portion against either of side walls 8 or 9 a clip 10 such as that shown in figure 2 may be employed. Alternatively, the corner portion may be rapidly stitched to the side portion.

Figure 2 shows two neighbouring receptacles 11 and 12 which incorporate respective side walls 13 and 14 which are sized and shaped to match each other. Once side walls 13 and 14 are placed in abutment clips 10 and 15 may be employed to secure the side walls together. Clip 10 forms a jaw of sufficient size to straddle over rim 16 (as shown in figure 1). The clip may incorporate two flexible legs 17 and 18. Leg 17 incorporates a piercing tip 19 of sufficient sharpness to perforate the material of the receptacles and of sufficient length to protrude from the receptacles having pierced them in order to secure into eye 20. The attachment of piercing tip 19 and eye 20 may be carried out by friction.

Alternatively, the piercing tip 19 may incorporate an oversized head 21 with a flange 22 which once forced through eye 20 is unreleasably secured in position.

The ends of the plastics material strips are prevented from fraying by the upper portion of the side walls being folded and then stitched to the side walls to form rim 16. The folding to form rim 16 occurs inwardly in order to provide a substantially flat side wall from the outside.

Instead of incorporating side waLl 13 as shown in figure 2 stitching 23 and 24 may be removed in order to allow side wall 13 to be Located underneath side walt 14 of an adjacent receptacle. This would have particular advantages in terms of preventing weed growth for example between neighbouring receptacles.

Figure 4 shows a further use of the clips described above. Clip 10 may be employed in association with a support member 31 to form a wall of any given geometry such as the geometry shown in figure 4B. The support member incorporates a number of stakes 32, 33 and 34 which terminate in sharp points 35, 36 and 37. The sharp points allow the support member to be pierced through a sheet of plastics material and then be retained in soil located underneath the sheet. A number of struts 38, 39, 40 and 41 extend between :.. 25 the stakes. The struts may be of bendable wire material in order to allow a support member to retain its shape once bent. Alternatively a bendable plastics material may be employed. A sheet of material may therefore be raised adjacent the support member and wrapped around the upper portion as shown in the figure. Finally, a clip such as clip 10 may be employed to secure the sheet relative to the support member. A number of clips may be used as appropriate.

The shallow walled plateau aspect is preferably selected in a range of 1/20 to 1/3 (height over Length). In a preferred embodiment the aspect is of approximately 1/1 1 or of approximately 1/15. Another preferred aspect is the length being at least 10 times the height.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A manually foldable receptacle comprising a base portion; walls projecting upwards from said base portion; wherein said receptacle is primarily constituted of substantially flat strips of plastics material woven in a cuss-cross pattern; the receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material; wherein the strips of said io base portion extend into said walls to form strips extending substantially in an upward direction.
2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein strips extend about the perimeter of said receptacle to form a criss-cross pattern with said strips extending substantially in an upward direction; said perimeter strips being unbroken between neighbouring waits.
3. A receptacle according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said watts and said base portion are formed from a single sheet of material.
4. A receptacle according to claim 2, further comprising corner portions between first and second neighbouring walls which are stitched together by a stitching line and the strips which extend about the perimeter of said receptacle are unbroken between said neighbouring wails and continue in a ioop between said stitching line on the side of said first watt and said stitching line on the side of said second watt. * .* * 25 I.. *
5. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said receptacle incorporates a rim formed by folding the upper edge of said wails over at least part of the height of said walls; and it further incorporates a stitching line holding said folded portion against said watt.
6. A kit of parts comprising a plurality of receptacLes according to any of the preceding claims and clips suitable for securing neighbouring walls of receptacles together.
7. A method of forming a receptacle, comprising the steps of: * selecting a rectangular sheet of plastics material woven in a criss-cross pattern; * folding corner portions along a portion of one of the sheet's diagonal lines; * folding side portions of said sheet to form side walls; and * stitching said neighbouring side waUs together.
8. A method according to cLaim 7, further comprising the step of folding an outermost portion of said side portions over at least part of the side portions and stitching a Line for holding said folded portion against said side portion.
9. A method of forming a waLl comprising the steps of: * selecting a sheet of material; * selecting a support member which is sized and shaped to correspond to the height of said wall and which comprises a plurality of upwardly extending stakes and at Least one strut extending between said stakes, wherein said strut is manualLy bendable into a shape; * bending said support member into shape; * planting said support member in soil in a position where a portion of said sheet may be erected against said support member; * erecting said sheet portion against said support member; and * securing said sheet portion in said erected position.I
10. A receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described and/or ilLustrated in any *. appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures. * .* ** . *.� .I I. ** * I * * * ***** *