US20070131682A1

US20070131682A1 - Foldable container

Info

Publication number: US20070131682A1
Application number: US11/298,677
Authority: US
Inventors: Chun-Wei Liu
Original assignee: Fortune Standard Ltd
Current assignee: FU KUAN-HUAN
Priority date: 2005-12-12
Filing date: 2005-12-12
Publication date: 2007-06-14

Abstract

A foldable container is disclosed. The container comprises a plurality of rod bodies having an inverted U-shape, which is mutually arranged by slopes and intersections; knots provided at the two ends of the rod body for connecting; hooks at the end section of the interconnected rod bodies, and the hooks being connected with elastic elements, whereby a retractable frame is formed and is covered with fabric to form into a retractable container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to container, and in particular, to foldable container which can be folded to form a planar structure for easy carrying.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional boxes or containers are made from fabric or wood material, rubber or plastic and are generally a rigid structure. The boxes provide the function of storage of articles but these boxes generally occupy large space and are not convenient to carry about. On the market, some of the available boxes are formed by combination of smaller boxes but it is laborious to dismantle or assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a foldable container comprising a plurality of rod bodies having an inverted U-shape, and mutually arranged by slopes and intersections; knots provided at the two ends of the rod body for connecting; hooks at the end section of the interconnected rod bodies, and the hooks being connected with elastic elements, whereby a retractable frame is formed and is covered with fabric to form into a retractable container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable container, wherein the knots of the rod bodies are inserted onto an elastic rubber cover at the end portion of the rod body or at a rivet at the end portion of the rod body.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable container, wherein the elastic element at the hook on the rod bodies is a rubber strap or spring.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable container, wherein the inner edge and bottom portion of the container are provided with a male and female button such that when the container is folded to form a planar structure, the male and female button are locked together for securing.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable container of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a framework of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a knot of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of a knot of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a preferred embodiment of the foldable container of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is another further preferred embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another further preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a foldable container comprising a plurality of rod bodies 1 having the shape of an inverted U. The rod bodies 1 are connected, by slopes, and the two ends of the rod body 1 are connected by means of knot structure 2. The end portion of the rod body 1 is provided with hook 11, and the hook 11 is connected with an elastic element 3. Thus, a retractable framework is formed and a fabric 4 is used to cover the framework to form into a foldable container 100 of the present invention. The inner edge and bottom face of the container 1 are respectively provided with a male and a female button 5, 6.
By means of the combination of the components of the present invention, the container 100 can be extended to form a box container by means of the knots and the elastic element 3. The box container is used to store objects or articles. The box is retracted and is folded to form a planar structure which can be easily carried or stored.
As shown in FIG. 3, the knot 2 is a flexible rubber cover 21 mounted at the end portion of the rod body 1. The rubber cover 21 allows the two rod bodies to form into a moveable structure, and the elastic element 3 connecting the hook 11 is either a rubber strap or a spring 32.
Referring to FIG. 4, the knot 2 is a rivet 7 at the end portion of the rod body 1 and the two connected rod bodies 1 make use of the rivet 7 as fulcrum to form into a moveable structure.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in application, the elastic elements 3 and the knot 2 allow the rod body 1 to extend to form a box body for storage. When the rod body 1 is extended, the elastic element 3 causes the container 100 to maintain an open structure as a result of the pulling force of the elastic element 3. When the container is not in use, the structure 2 can be retracted and is formed into a planar shape. After retraction, the male and female button 5, 6 are used for locking so as to secure the box structure into a planar shape convenient for carrying and storage.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a fabric 4 is used to cover the framework arranged in horizontal to form into an elongated box 100 a to accommodate large items.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the number of vertical rod bodies 1 can be increased so that more rod bodies 1 are used for connection, such that after formation of the framework and a fabric 4 is used to cover the framework, a large cavity container 100 b is formed.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable container comprising

a plurality of rod bodies having an inverted U-shape, which is mutually arranged by slopes and intersections arranged;

knots provided at the two ends of the rod body for connecting; hooks at the end section of the interconnected rod bodies, and the hooks being connected with elastic elements, whereby a retractable frame is formed and is covered with fabric to form into a retractable container.

2. The foldable container of claim 1, wherein the knots of the rod bodies are inserted onto a elastic rubber cover at the end portion of the rod body or at a rivet at the end portion of the rod body.

3. The foldable container of claim 1, wherein the elastic element at the hook on the rod bodies is a rubber strap or spring.

4. The foldable container of claim 1, wherein the inner edge and bottom portion of the container are provided with a male and female button such that when the container is folded to form a planar structure, the male and female button are locked together for securing.