Multipurpose storage device and method

• US 20060169691A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MIEH, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Rothschild, Maxwell Bell, Rothschild, Wayne H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/7
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1038 of flexible ties
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1076 with a snap action A45C13/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2007/0004 convertible into an open planar surface, e.g. a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/1015 of hook and loop type
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/03 Suitcases
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/06 with outside compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0036 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0054 comprising a plurality of hinged panels to be unfolded in one plane for access purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/46 Picnic sets picnic boxes A45C11/20
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 4/02 Sacks or packs convertible into other articles or into objects for other use
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/062 for covering the ground, e.g. picnic or beach blankets

Abstract

A convertible device that converts between an activity mat and a storage container to capture and store numerous articles. Upon reclosing the activity mat, the articles are recaptured into the storage container. The device includes walls and a base, webbing connected between each adjacent wall pair, and a joint connected between the base and walls so that they are foldable into a third configuration wherein the footprint of the folded device is roughly the size of the base. In the third configuration, the walls are stacked relative to the base. The convertible device may further include two zippers for releasably holding the walls in a rigid and upright position in the first configuration. The webbing can be inwardly biased such that when the walls are urged from the second to the first configuration, the webbing folds toward the interior of the convertible device.

Claims

1. An apparatus convertible between at least a storage container in a first configuration and an activity mat in a second configuration, comprising:

a base connected to a first wall end and a second wall end;

a first wall side connected between said first and second wall ends by a first pair of webbings;

a second wall side including a top flap that extends around said first and second wall ends to overlap at least partially said first wall side, said second wall side connected between said first and second wall ends by a second pair of webbings; and

a first zipper and a second zipper releasably securing edge portions of said first and second wall ends, respectively, to a majority portion of a perimeter edge of said second wall side, said apparatus being in an erect, assembled configuration when said first and second zippers are in a zipped position and said apparatus being convertible from said erect, assembled configuration to an open, flattened configuration when said first and second zippers are in an unzipped position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top flap overlaps a substantial portion of said first wall side.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first wall side includes a first engaging means for engaging a corresponding second engaging means disposed on an inner surface of said top flap.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first engaging means includes a hook fastener and said second engaging means includes a loop fastener.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area of said apparatus when in said open, flattened configuration to the area of said base is at least 5:

1.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the area of said apparatus when in said open, flattened configuration to the area of said base is at least 2:

1.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second pair of webbings are inwardly biased such that when said wall portions are urged from said second configuration to said first configuration said first and second pair of webbings fold toward the interior of said apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second pair of webbings include a semi-rigid material that is scored or pre-folded so as to form an inward bias.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second wall ends have a curved upper edge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first zipper and said second zipper are attached to said first and second wall ends and said second wall side by a tape disposed on the exterior of said first and second wall ends and said second wall side.

11. An apparatus transformable between at least an erect, assembled configuration and an open, flattened configuration, comprising a base foldably connected to a pair of wall ends and a pair of wall sides, a first of said pair of wall ends releasably attached to said pair of wall sides by a first zipper and a second of said pair of wall ends releasably attached to said pair of wall sides by a second zipper, in said erect, assembled configuration, each adjacent pair of said wall ends and said wall sides being flexibly connected together by a webbing that is inwardly biased to fold toward the interior of said apparatus when urged from said open, flattened configuration toward said erect, assembled configuration.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said webbing connected between a first one of said pair of wall ends and a first one of said wall sides remains generally flush against said first wall side when said apparatus is in said erect, assembled configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first one of said pair of wall sides includes a top flap that extends over the other of said pair of wall sides when said apparatus is in said erect, assembled configuration, said first zipper and said second zipper being disposed along the entire length of respective side edges of said first wall side.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of elongated joints between said base and each of said pair of wall ends and said wall sides such that said wall ends and said wall sides are foldable into a stacked, folded configuration wherein the footprint of said apparatus in said stacked, folded configuration has substantially the same dimensions as said base and said wall ends and said walls sides are in a stacked relationship relative to said base.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first zipper and said second zipper are attached by zipper tape affixed to the exterior of said wall ends and said wall sides.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of said pair of wall ends or at least one of said pair of wall sides includes a vent hole.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first zipper and said second zipper are oriented such that the zipper tails of said first and second zippers are proximate said base when said apparatus is in said open, flattened configuration, said apparatus further comprising a pouch proximate said base to store said zipper tail.

18. A method of assembling an apparatus convertible between at least a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, comprising:

providing said apparatus in said first configuration, said first configuration being an erect, assembled configuration, said second configuration being an open, flattened configuration, and said third configuration being a stacked, folded configuration;

unzipping a first zipper to release a first wall end from a pair of wall sides, said first wall end being connected to said pair of wall sides by a first pair of webbings;

unzipping a second zipper to release a second wall end from said pair of wall sides, said second wall end being connected to said pair of wall sides by a second pair of webbings;

flattening said first wall end, said second wall end, and said pair of wall sides until said apparatus is in said second configuration; and

folding said first wall end, said second wall end, and said pair of wall sides relative to a base connected thereto until said apparatus is in said third configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising inwardly biasing said webbings by scoring a semi-rigid material along the bias and positioning said material such that each of said webbings fold toward the interior of said apparatus when urged from said open, flattened configuration to said erect, assembled configuration.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising attaching said first zipper and said second zipper via respective first and second zipper tapes to the exterior of said first wall end, of said second wall end, and of said pair of wall sides.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

first zipping said first zipper to attach said first wall end to said pair of wall sides; and

second zipping said second zipper to attach said second wall end to said pair of wall sides, said first zipping and said second zipping converting said apparatus from said open, flattened configuration to said erect, assembled configuration.

22. A convertible device convertible between at least a storage container in a first configuration and a generally flat mat in a second configuration, comprising:

a plurality of wall portions each connected to a base portion, wherein at least two of said wall portions have a width that is shorter than the width of said base portion;

an inwardly biased baffle connected between each adjacent pair of said plurality of wall portions, wherein in said first configuration, each of said inwardly biased baffles lie generally flush against a respective wall portion; and

a flexible joint connected between said base portion and at least some of said plurality of wall portions such that said at least some of said plurality of wall portions are foldable into a third configuration such that the footprint of said collapsible device in said third configuration has substantially the same dimensions as said base portion, wherein in said third configuration said plurality of wall portions are in a folded, stacked relationship relative to said base portion.

23. The convertible device of claim 22, further comprising an attachment means for releasably connecting two adjacent wall portions together, said attachment means lying substantially in the same plane as one of said two adjacent wall portions.

24. The convertible device of claim 22 in combination with a lid, said lid having at least one strap for securing said convertible device within said lid when said convertible device is in said third configuration, said at least one strap having a hook or loop fastener, one of said wall portions of said convertible device having a corresponding loop or hook fastener positioned to receive the corresponding fastener on said at least one strap.

25. The convertible device of claim 23, wherein said attachment means is a zipper.