WO2009094692A1

WO2009094692A1 - Container with flexible arm members

Info

Publication number: WO2009094692A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Abraham Meckier
Original assignee: Abraham Meckier
Priority date: 2008-02-01
Filing date: 2009-01-15
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: WO2009094692A8

Abstract

There is disclosed a container (1) having a body (2) and a flexible base (3) to be supported on a surface. The body (2) having a floor (4) and a side wall (5) extending generally upwardly from the floor (4) to an open top (6) to define an interior (7). The base (3) having a central portion (8) to be fastened to the body (2) and a pair of longitudinally extending flexible arm members (9). The arm members (9) adapted to conform to a shape of the surface so that in use the base (3) positions the body (1) in a generally upright configuration.

Description

CONTAINER WITH FLEXIBLE ARM MEMBERS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers and in particular to a container having a body to receive articles and a flexible base to secure the container to differently shaped surfaces.

Background of the Invention

Containers and the like are typically used to hold or support a variety of articles. By placing articles in a container, the container contributes to a neat and clean environment. One such environment is the inside of a vehicle. If the inside of a vehicle is not clean, any loose articles can be a distraction to a driver contributing to accidents. To enhance the internal appearance of a vehicle it would also be beneficial to have a container to collect a driver's rubbish. Most production vehicles do not come with a rubbish bin type container as standard. In some countries it is now mandatory to have a rubbish bin in a vehicle in an attempt to stop drivers from discarding rubbish out a vehicle window. Further, as vehicles move, existing containers can loose balance and fall into a driver causing accidents.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide a rubbish bin type container in a vehicle which can collect articles in a central location. The container should have a base that can fit to the differently shaped surfaces of a vehicle. There is also a need for the container to have a disposable lining to assist with cleaning the container. It should however be appreciated that such a container could also be used in any location (not just in vehicles) and could be used for collecting any article (not just rubbish).

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention

There is firstly disclosed herein a container having a body and a flexible base to be supported on a surface: the body having a floor and a side wall extending away from said floor to an open top to define an interior; the base having a central portion to be fastened to said body, and a pair of flexible arm members to extend longitudinally away from said body in use, the arm members adapted to conform to a shape of said surface so that in use said base positions said body in a generally upright configuration where said side wall is located substantially perpendicular to said surface.

Preferably, each said arm member includes a plurality of laterally spaced substantially parallel panels.

Preferably, an underside of said base includes gripping means to inhibit movement of said base on said surface, Preferably, said gripping means includes a plurality of protrusions.

Preferably, said protrusions extend from said arms away from said body. Preferably, said interior is adapted to receive a lining bag. Preferably, including a compartment to receive a supply of lining bags. Preferably, including a passage in said floor for the transfer of lining bags from said compartment to said interior.

Preferably, said compartment is located adjacent said floor. Preferably, said compartment is located between said floor and base. Preferably, said compartment includes means to dispense a plurality of lining bags. Preferably, when a first lining bag is removed from said container, a second interconnected bag is drawn through said passage from said compartment to replace said first lining bag.

Preferably, including fastening means to secure said body to said base. Preferably, said fastening means includes a threaded fastener. Preferably, said fastening means includes a snap locking engagement.

Preferably, said fastening means includes an adhesive.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container of an embodiment of the present invention with the base shown in a flat configuration;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the container of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a top view of Figure 1. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a container 1 having a body 2 and a flexible base 3 to be supported on a surface (not shown). The body 2 includes a floor 4 and a side wall 5 extending generally upwardly in a vertical direction from the floor 4 to an open top 6 to define the interior 7. In a preferred form, the body 2 has a pair of side walls 2a and a pair of end walls 2b. The base 3 includes a central portion 8 to be attached to the body 2 and a pair of longitudinally extending flexible arm members 9. The arm members 9 are adapted to conform to a shape of the surface so that in use the base 3 positions the body 2 in a generally upright vertical configuration as best seen in Figure 2. That is, the open top 6 is positioned vertically above the base 3 and the side walls 20 are substantially perpendicular to the surface. The body 2 has four side walls 2a, 2b defining a width and a length. The length (end to end) defines a longitudinal axis XX and the width (side to side) defines a longitudinal axis YY.

The body 2 includes a compartment 10 to receive a supply of lining bags 11 or the like. The lining bags 11 are adapted to be drawn into the interior 7 and secured about the open top 6 to supply lining bags 11 to the container 1. The floor 4 includes a passage 12 for transfer of lining bags 11 from the compartment 10 to the interior 7. The compartment 10 in a preferred form is located adjacent the floor 4 or between the floor 4 and the base 3 as best seen in Figure 2. The compartment 10 can also include means 13 such as a roller, cam, curved surface or the like to assist with dispensing a plurality of lining bags 11. For example, when a first lining bag 11 is removed from the container 1 a second interconnected lining bag 11 is drawn through the passage 12 from the compartment 10 to replace the first lining bag 11. The lining bags 11 could be of any form, plastic, paper, fabric, recyclable, or the like. The container 1 also includes fastening means 13 to secure the body 2 to the base

3. For example, a threaded fastener (such as a nut and bolt) or the outside of the body 2 and top surface of the base 3 could be of a particular shape so that snap-locking engagement can occur. Other types of means to fasten the body 2 to the base 3 could be utilised such as hook-and-loop type fasteners, rivets, adhesives or any other typical fastener. As best seen in Figure 3, the base 3 extends longitudinally along axis YY away from the body 2 transverse the axis XX. Each arm member 9 includes a plurality of laterally spaced substantially parallel panels 14. Each of the panels 14 being substantially parallel to the axis XX. One or more supporting members 15 extend parallel to the axis YY and provide support to the panels 14 and add strength to the base 3. An underside of the base 3 includes means 15 to inhibit movement of the base 3 on the surface. The means 15 could, as best seen in Figure 2, include a plurality of protrusions extending away from the underside of the base 3 to grip the surface. However, other types of gripping means could be utilised such as serrations or the like or materials which are adapted to inhibit slipping across a surface. The base 3 can be made of rubber or the like with the panels 14 being made of metal strips or the like. The body 2 is preferably made of a plastics material, however could be made of any material.

In use, a user removes the floor 4 from the interior 7 of the body 2 and inserts a roll of lining bags 11 into the means 13. The first lining bag 11 would then be placed through the passage 12 as the floor 4 is lowered through the interior 7 back into engagement with the body 2. This engagement can be in any form such as a snap-locking engagement, by fasteners or the like. The lining bag 11 would then be pulled upwardly towards the open mouth 6 and placed about the open mouth 6. The body 2 would then be attached to the base 3 by the fastening means 13. Once the container 1 has been assembled the container 1 can be placed on a surface of any shape or size such as a vehicle drive shaft, dashboard, between the front seats, or the like. The user moves the arm members 9 away from the open mouth 6 towards each other about the axis XX to ensure the body 2 is positioned in an upright position as seen in Figure 2.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container having a body and a flexible base to be supported on a surface: the body having a floor and a side wall extending away from said floor to an 5 open top to define an interior; the base having a central portion to be fastened to said body, and a pair of flexible arm members to extend longitudinally away from said body in use, the arm members adapted to conform to a shape of said surface so that in use said base positions said body in a generally upright configuration where said side wall is located substantiallyo perpendicular to said surface.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein each said arm member includes a plurality of laterally spaced substantially parallel panels.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein an underside of said base includes gripping means to inhibit movement of said base on said surface. s

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein said gripping means includes a plurality of protrusions.

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein said protrusions extend from said arms away from said body.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein said interior is adapted to0 receive a lining bag.

7. The container according to claim 6, including a compartment to receive a supply of lining bags.

8. The container according to claim 7, including a passage in said floor for the transfer of lining bags from said compartment to said interior. 5

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein said compartment is located adjacent said floor.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein said compartment is located between said floor and base.

11. The container according to claim 8, wherein said compartment includeso means to dispense a plurality of lining bags.

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein when a first lining bag is removed from said container, a second interconnected bag is drawn through said passage from said compartment to replace said first lining bag.

13. The container according to claim 1, including fastening means to secure said body to said base.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means includes a threaded fastener.

15. The container according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means includes a snap locking engagement.

16. The container according to claim 13, wherein said fastening means includes an adhesive.