Collapsible container with durable bottom shell

• US 20030183630A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aquapore Moisture Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquapore Moisture Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Schneider, Paul A., Tsai, Yu-Min
• Application Number:
  US10/404,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/9.2
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0077 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 37/00 Portable flexible containers not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/002 Baskets or bags specially adapted for holding or transporting laundry; Supports therefor

Abstract

A collapsible container includes a cylindrical sidewall extending between a top and a bottom of the container. The sidewall is formed of a flexible material which enables the container to be opened to an expanded configuration or closed to a collapsed configuration. A coil spring biases the container to the open configuration. The coil spring has a top coil adjacent the top of the container and a bottom coil adjacent the bottom of the container. A durable bottom layer is affixed to the bottom of the container by stitches.

Claims

1. A collapsible container, comprising:

a cylindrical sidewall formed of a flexible material, the sidewall having an upper end adjacent a top of the container and a lower end adjacent a bottom of the container;

a coil spring biasing the container to an expanded configuration, the coil spring having a top coil adjacent the top of the container and a bottom coil adjacent the bottom of the container;

a durable bottom layer secured to the bottom of the container by stitching.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the flexible sidewall material is a fabric.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the fabric is coated or impregnated with a plastic.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the fabric is vinyl coated scrim.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the coil spring extends around an outer surface of the flexible sidewall material.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the coil spring is secured to the outer surface of the flexible sidewall material by one or more strips of material sewn to the flexible sidewall material with the spring positioned between the flexible sidewall material and the one or more strips.

7. The container of claim 8, wherein the strips of material are a woven fabric.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the durable bottom layer is a fabric layer which is relatively inflexible compared to the flexible sidewall material.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the durable bottom layer has a thickness of between about 0.01 and 0.02 inches.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein the durable bottom layer is a plastic material.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the plastic material is selected from polystyrene or polypropylene.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein the durable bottom layer includes one or more drainage holes.

13. The container of claim 1, further including means for maintaining the container in the closed configuration.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the maintaining means comprises fabric loops and T-straps, or a hook.

15. The container of claim 1, wherein the durable bottom layer has a thickness of between about 0.05 to 0.20 inches.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein the stitches comprises at least one line of stitches that substantially circumscribes the bottom of the container at a location substantially underlying the bottom coil.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom coil is captured between an outer surface of the flexible sidewall material and an inner surface of a bottom strip of material sewn to the flexible sidewall material, and wherein the stitching used for securing the durable bottom layer to the bottom of the container affixes the durable bottom layer to the bottom strip of material.

18. A collapsible container having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising:

a sidewall formed of a flexible material, the sidewall having an upper end adjacent a top of the container and a lower end adjacent a bottom of the container;

a coil spring biasing the container to the expanded configuration, the coil spring having a top coil adjacent the top of the container and a bottom coil adjacent the bottom of the container;

a durable bottom layer for protecting the bottom of the container; and

at least one line of stitches for securing the durable bottom layer to the bottom of the container.

19. The container of claim 19, wherein the durable bottom layer includes one or more drainage holes.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the durable bottom layer has a thickness of between about 0.01 and 0.02 inches.

21. The container of claim 19, wherein the bottom coil is captured between an outer surface of the flexible sidewall material and an inner surface of a bottom strip of material sewn to the flexible sidewall material, and wherein the at least one line of stitches affixes the durable bottom layer to the bottom strip of material.

22. A collapsible container having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, comprising:

a cylindrical sidewall formed of a flexible material, the sidewall having an upper end adjacent a top of the container and a lower end adjacent a bottom of the container, the sidewall being collapsible and expandable along an axis extending between the top and the bottom of the container; and

a durable plastic layer secured to the bottom of the container by stitches.

23. The container of claim 23, wherein the durable plastic layer includes one or more drainage holes.

24. The container of claim 23, wherein the durable plastic layer has a thickness of between about 0.01 and 0.02 inches.

25. The container of claim 23, wherein the bottom coil is captured between an outer surface of the flexible sidewall material and an inner surface of a bottom strip of material sewn to the flexible sidewall material, and wherein the stitches used for securing the durable bottom layer to the bottom of the container affixes the durable plastic layer to the bottom strip of material.