Collapsible container and method of making and using same

Abstract

A collapsible container having a plurality of side panels and a floor panel forming an enclosure having an open top. Each side panel comprises a flexible continuous loop frame, a web of material, and an edging material. The edging envelops the frame and is coupled to the periphery of the web. One or more handles may be attached to the container or formed within one or more of the side panels. A method of making and collapsing the container is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to household products and specifically to a collapsible container with handles and a method of making and using such a container for convenient storage and transportation of said items.A typical household often encounters the need for temporary storage of garments prior to washing or cleaning. Regardless of the place where laundry or cleaning is done, either at home or in a commercial setting, soiled garments need to be sorted, stored, and eventually transported to a designated place. The present invention can be utilized for garment sorting, storage and transportation. At the same time, the present invention can also be used for other purposes, such as storage or transportation of toys or other objects. Accordingly, its use is not to be limited to storage or transportation of soiled garments.Numerous devices are known in the art to provide effective storage of soiled garments, for example laundry baskets, convention...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In an alternate embodiment, each side panel is attached to a side panel separator, which in turn is connected to the next adjacent side panel. The floor panel is attached to both the bottom side of each side panel and to the side panel separators, thus providing means for holding articles within the container and for supporting the container in its expanded state.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an optional storage pouch may be coupled to one of the side panels at the open top of the container. The present invention is easily collapsed into a compact state and the pouch allows storage of the container in its collapsed, compact state.

From the expanded state, the container can be folded and collapsed for storage or transportation. The preferred steps of collapsing the container include grasping opposite corners of the floor panel and biasing one corner toward the other until all side panels are adjacent and overlay each other. The container is now partially collapsed but each side panel is still in an expanded state. Next, the handle members and the floor panel are inserted in between any two of the adjacent overlaying side panels. By rotating two opposite corners of the flattened, overlaying side panels in opposite directions while biasing the two corners toward each other, the structure will form three overlaying circular loops folded adjacently. Finally, the three overlaying loops are placed into the storage pouch. The pouch prevents the container from springing back into its fully expanded condition.

Problems solved by technology

However, all these prior art devices are voluminous in their expanded state, are uneasy to fold or collapse, are still relatively voluminous in their collapsed state, and are difficult to manipulate.

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