WO2014062123A1

WO2014062123A1 - Collapsible article and kit comprising the same

Info

Publication number: WO2014062123A1
Application number: PCT/SE2013/051203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Ejvinsson; Emmy LARSSON
Original assignee: Artipelag Ab
Priority date: 2012-10-19
Filing date: 2013-10-14
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Also published as: EP2909094A4; SE1200643A1; EP2909094A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible article comprising alternating stiff (2a, 2b, 2c) and elastic (3a, 3b) segments, wherein the upper and the lower segments are stiff segments (2a, 2c). The article comprises at least three stiff segments (2a, 2b, 2c), which in pairs are connected by an elastic segment (3a, 3b). The elastic segment has a height which is at least the height of respective stiff segment. The invention relates also to a kit comprising collapsible articles.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE ARTICLE AND KIT COMPRISING THE SAME

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a collapsible article of the kind set out in the preamble of claim 1 and to a kit according to claim 11.

Background of the Invention

A number of different types of collapsible articles,

particularly kitchen appliances, are known within the art. Several of these known collapsible articles have a drawback in that they do not have adequate firmness and stability in the expanded position, particularly lateral stability.

This is particularly the case with for instance collapsible drinking cups, bowls, hampers, buckets etc., which thereby are either difficult to get a firm grip around or are not stable enough to protect the objects supported by the article.

Regarding articles not being provided with any type of handle, such as cups and bowls, for instance, this is a problem, particularly when they are filled a viscous substance such as liquid or food, whereby they have a tendency to be squeezed at the area where they are grasped.

Moreover, it is desirable that the collapsible article has low construction height in the collapsed position.

By US 20080099476 a collapsible ovenware is known. This ovenware comprises a rigid upper and lower portions connected by a flexible middle portion. The flexible middle portion comprises thick and thin wall sections.

By US 20100170840 a collapsible colander and bowl is known. In the same way as the above-mentioned ovenware the colander/bowl consists of three portions, viz. a rigid top rim, a flexible centre section, and a rigid base.

Usually, the known articles have a firm/rigid base and a firm/rigid top rim and between these an elastic wall with thinner portions acting as a hinge when collapsing the

article. This results in that the collapsing of the known articles is done by "folding" of the elastic wall.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, an object of the invention is to achieve a collapsible article which has good lateral stability in its expanded position and which has a low building height in the collapsed position .

This object is achieved according to the invention by a collapsible article having a mouth and a bottom, comprising alternating stiff and elastic segments, the upper and the lower segments being stiff segments and the dimension of the upper stiff segment is such that it holds within its internal circumference all underlying segments or vice versa, wherein the article comprises at least three stiff segments, which in pairs are connected by an elastic segment, characterized in that the height of the elastic segment is about Dxn larger that the height of the stiff segment, wherein D is a distance, as seen in horizontal direction, between an inner lower edge of a overlying stiff segment and an external upper edge of an underlying stiff segment with an elastic segment arranged between said edges of said stiff segments.

A further object of the invention is to achieve a kit

comprising such collapsible articles which are intended for the use of the kit. Further embodiments of the collapsible article according to the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described in more detail below in the form of non-limiting examples, reference being made to the appended drawings, in which

- Figs. 1-3 are side views obliquely from above of a

collapsible article according to the invention, in this case a cup, shown in three positions, of which Fig. 1 shows the cup totally expanded, Fig. 2 shows the cup with the upper part collapsed, and Fig. 3 shows the cup totally collapsed,

- Fig. 4 is a side view of another collapsible article

according to the invention, in this case a hamper, which is totally expanded,

- Figs. 5a-c are partial schematic sectional side views illustrating the preferred angle between a base plane and a side wall of a cup, a hamper and a bucket, respectively,

- Figs. 6a-b are partial schematic side views illustrating the collapsed position of a cup and a bucket, respectively, and - Figs. 7a-7b are schematic views of a portion of the side wall of the collapsible article showing the height/length of a rigid and an elastic segment, respectively.

Detailed description of preferred Embodiments

In the description below the collapsible article is described in the shape of a cup as well as a hamper and as well a bucket/pail, but it is obvious to the man skilled in the art that the article can be represented by other articles/kitchen appliances such as particularly a bowl, a waste paper basket, a laundry basket, a cone, a vase etc. The upper and lower segments of the article are always formed of stiff segments, the lower segment being preferably the bottom of the article. Between the upper and lower segments there is at least one further stiff segment, the stiff

segments being linked together by elastic segments. By elastic segment is meant a segment having limited elasticity and having flexibility, wherein the elastic segment has such elasticity that said segment of respective article may be bent in accordance with what is shown on the drawings, and that the article may carry the load for which the article is intended for without being stretched or only limited stretched.

Figs. 1-3 illustrate a collapsible article according to the invention, in this case a cup 1.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the collapsible cup 1 comprises alternating stiff and elastic segments 2,3 having a bottom 4 and a mouth 4 ' .

More particularly, the cup according to the invention

comprises at least three stiff essential annular segments 2a, 2b, 2c, which in pairs are connected by an elastic flexible essential annular segment 3a, 3b, wherein the stiff essential annular segments 2a and 2b are linked together by a first elastically essential annular segment 3a, and the stiff, essential annular segments 2b and 2c are linked together by a second elastically essential annular segment 3b. As can be inferred from Fig. 1, a lower edge 6 of the upper stiff essential annular segment 2a is attached along its circumference to an upper edge 7 of the first elastic

essential annular segment 3a, and a lower edge 8 of said first elastic essential annular segment 3a is in its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 9 of the at least one intermediate stiff essential annular segment 2b. A lower edge 10 of said intermediate stiff essential annular segment 2b is its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 11 of the second elastic essential annular segment 3b, and the lower edge 12 of said second elastic essential annular segment 3b is in its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 13 of the stiff lower essential annular segment 2c, which in this case forms the bottom 4 of the cup. Around the

circumferential edge of the bottom 4 may a friction rim 4a be arranged, if desired. Furthermore, as seen in Fig. 2 from the upper stiff essential annular segment 2a towards the lower stiff essential annular segment 2c, the upper annular segment 2a has such dimensions, i.e. internal diameter and height, that in the collapsed position of the cup it holds within its internal circumference all underlying annular segments with associated intermediate elastic essential annular segments 3a, 3b. In the same way the or all intermediate stiff essential annular segment (s) 2b holds (hold) within its internal circumference all underlying stiff essential annular segments with associated intermediate elastic essential annular segments 3b.

More particularly, in the case of a cup, for instance, the dimension of the upper stiff segment shall be such that it holds within its circumference all underlying segments and, in the case of a cone, for instance, the dimension of the lower stiff segment shall be such that it holds within its internal circumference all overlying segments.

Moreover, the stiff essential annular segments with associated elastic flexible essential annular segments shall have such height that in the collapsed position of the article/cup the upper edge of respective stiff essential annular segment shall lie at essential the same level, see Fig. 3. This results in that the elastic essential annular segments 3a, 3b have essential frustroconical shape and the height of the same are at least the same as the height of respective stiff essential annular segment. In Fig. 4 the article according to the invention is shown in the shape of a hamper 10. The hamper is constructed in the same way as the article/cup in Figs. 1-3, i.e. it has three stiff essential annular segments 20a, 20b, 20c, which in pairs are connected by an elastic flexible essential annular segment 30a, 30b.

In the same way as in the article shown in Figs. 1-3 a lower edge 60 of the upper stiff essential annular segment 20a is attached along its circumference to an upper edge 70 of the first elastic essential annular segment 30a, and a lower edge 80 of said first elastic essential annular segment 30a is in its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 90 of the at least one intermediate stiff essential annular segment 20b. A lower edge 100 of said intermediate stiff essential annular segment 20b is in its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 110 of the second elastic essential annular segment 30b, and a lower edge 120 of said second elastic essential annular segment 30b is its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge 130 of the lower stiff essential annular segment 20c, which in this case forms the bottom 40 of the hamper.

In the case of the hamper, the upper stiff essential annular segment 20a is provided with at least two opposite transport handles 50, in the shown embodiment with two opposite

transport handles 50 and two opposite handles 51. The stiff segments of the article according to the invention are preferably made of a plastic material and the elastic flexible segments are preferably made of an elastic material, but the stiff segments may be made of metal. Both the stiff and the elastic flexible segments may be made of the same material, but with different thickness. For instance, the stiff segment may have a thickness of material of about 2.0 mm and the elastic flexible segment may have a thickness of material of about 0.7 mm. The plastic material may be

polypropylene (PP) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and the elastic material may be thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) , thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or mixtures of PP and EPDM rubber, so called TPV-material .

Figs. 5a-c illustrate the preferred angle between a base plane, in the case shown, the bottom of the article and the side wall of a cup, a hamper and a bucket, respectively. As can be seen in said figures the angle is different dependent upon the article, and for a cup being about 54° to 82°, preferably about 72° to 80°, and particularly about 76°, for a hamper being about 72° to 86°, preferably 78° to 86°, and particularly about 82°, and for a bucket being about 76° to 88°, preferably about 80 to 88°, and particularly about 84°.

From Figs. 6a, 6b and 7b it can be inferred that, when the article according to the invention is collapsing, by the fact that the article is fabricated of alternate stiff segments and elastic flexible segments, wherein the height of the elastic flexible segments is at least the height of the respective stiff segment, the article is "curled up" contrary to the known articles which are "folded", as described above. As can be particularly inferred from Fig. 7B, the elastic flexible segments get, as seen in sectional side view, a distinct "S- shape" when the article is "curled up" . As can be seen in Fig. 7a, the elastic flexible segments have, as seen in sectional side view, also in the extended position of the article, a slight S-shape. More particularly, the elastic segment has the shape of a truncated cone, the

respective end portion of which, closest to the stiff segment, is straight with an intermediate curved central part.

From Figs. 7a-7b it can be inferred that, in a particularly preferred embodiment in which the height of the stiff segments are mutual the same and the height of the elastic segments are mutual the same, the height H of the elastic flexible segment should be Dxll (Dxpi) larger/longer than the height h of the stiff segments. This for enabling in the collapsed position of the article as little construction height as possible.

As can be inferred from Figs. 7a and 7b D represents a

distance between two adjacent stiff segments with an

intermediate elastic segment, and more particularly, as seen in horizontal direction, between an inner lower edge of an overlying stiff segment and an external upper edge of an underlying stiff segment with an elastic segment arranged between said edges.

The distance D is the same in the collapsed and in the non- collapsed/expanded position of the article. Furthermore, the distance D must not be less than the thickness of material of the elastic segment. The distance D must be less than the height H of the elastic segment for enabling the article to stay in the collapsed position .

Since the article according to the invention has stiff

segments this results in that the side walls of the article have a cushioning/protecting effect. This is particularly the case when the article is a pail, a bucket or a hamper, which may be used when picking mushrooms or berries, for instance, or for protection of other touch sensitive objects.

Moreover, when a hamper, for instance, is filled

articles/objects it is important that the hamper is stable so that the articles/objects will not loose and may fall out.

The invention relates also to a kit in which at least a collapsible hamper, collapsible cups, collapsible bowls etc. are included. More particular, the collapsible hamper

according to the invention is a picnic hamper equipped with i.a. for the purpose suitable collapsible articles according to the above .

Thanks to the stable construction of the hamper it can also be used for holding/carrying water etc. In connection with picnic, for instance, the hamper may be used as a washing-up/ rinsing bowl or similar article. This is advantageously, particularly in the archipelago, when the waterside may be slippery or there is risk of losing the objects being dished. When the hamper is filled with water it may be in

readiness/used for extinguishing fires/grills etc.

In the above- illustrated examples of articles according to the invention the stiff and elastic segments, respectively, have annular shape or essential annular shape, but it is obvious to the man skilled in the art that the article according to the invention may have the shape of a triangle, a square,

rectangle, a polygon, a truncated cone and so forth as long as the corners connecting the straight portions of the stiff and elastic segments, respectively, have a suitable radius adapted to the shape of the article, i.e. the fewer straight portions the larger radius. The size of the radius is also depending upon the "springiness" of the elastic flexible material in such a way that a softer elastic material requires a smaller radius and vice versa.

It is obvious to the man skilled in the art that the article according to the invention may comprise more than three stiff segments and thereby more than two elastic segments.

Claims

1. A collapsible article having a mouth (4';40') and a bottom (4;40), comprising alternating stiff

(2a, 2b, 2c ; 20a, 20b, 20c) and elastic (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) segments, the upper and the lower segments being stiff segments

(2a, 2c ; 20a, 20c) and the dimension of the upper stiff segment is such that it holds within its internal circumference all underlying segments or vice versa, wherein the article comprises at least three stiff segments

(2a, 2b, 2c;20a, 20b, 20c) , which in pairs are connected by an elastic segment (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) , characterized in that the height (H) of the elastic segment (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) is about ΌχΠ larger that the height (h) of the stiff segment

(2a, 2b, 2c;20a, 20b, 20c) , wherein D is a distance, as seen in horizontal direction, between an inner lower edge of a overlying stiff segment and an external upper edge of an underlying stiff segment with an elastic segment arranged between said edges of said stiff segments.

2. The article according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiff segments (2a, 2b, 2c; 20a, 20b, 20c) and the elastic segments (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) are essential annular segments.

3. The article according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a lower edge (6; 60) of the upper stiff segment (2a;20a) is attached along its circumference to an upper edge (7; 70) of a first elastic segment (3a; 30a), that a lower edge

(8;80) of said first elastic segment (3a,-30a) is in its turn attached along its circumference to an upper edge (9; 90) of at least one intermediate stiff segment (2b;20b) , that a lower edge (10; 100) of said intermediate stiff segment

(2b;20b) is attached along its circumference to an upper edge (11; 111) of a second elastic segment (3b;30b), and that a lower edge of said second elastic segment (3b; 30b) is attached along its circumference to an upper edge (12; 112) of the lower stiff segment (2c;20c).

4. The article according to claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that, in the expanded position of the article, the elastic segments (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) have essential frustroconical shape, the respective end portion of which is straight with a intermediate curved central part.

5. The article according to any one of claims 1-4,

characterized in that the stiff segments

(2a, 2b, 2c ; 20a, 20b, 20c) are made of a plastic material, and that the elastic segments (3a, 3b; 30a, 30b) are made of an elastic material.

6. The article according to any one of claims 1-4,

characterized in that both the stiff segments

(2a, 2b, 2c ; 20a, 20b , 20c) and the elastic segments (3a, 3b;

30a, 30b) are made of the same material, wherein the

thickness of material of the stiff segments is larger than that of the elastic segments.

7. The article according to any one of claims 1-6,

characterized in that the article is selected from the group consisting of a cup, a bowl, a hamper, a bucket/pail, a waste paper basket, a laundry basket, a vase, and a cone.

8. The article according to any one of claims 1-7,

characterized in that an angle between a base plane and a side wall of the article is between about 54° and 88°.

9. The article according to claim 7, characterized in that said angle is, in the case of a cup, about 54° to 82°, preferably about 72° to 80°, particularly about 76°, in the case of a hamper about 72° to 86°, preferably about 78° to 86°, particularly about 82°, and in the case of a bucket about 76° to 88°, preferably about 80° to 88°, particularly about 84°.

10. The article according to any one of claims 1-9,

characterized in that, in the collapsed position of the article, the elastic segments have S- shape.

11. A kit comprising articles according to claim 7, wherein said articles are cups, bowls, and a hamper.