COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE CONTAINER FOR FABRICS AND METHODS OF USING SAME

• US 20100059531A1
• Filed: 09/09/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Springs Global US Incorporated (JOSÉ Alencar Gomes Da Silva Comércio Participações E Empreendimentos S/A)
• Original Assignee: Springs Global US Incorporated (JOSÉ Alencar Gomes Da Silva Comércio Participações E Empreendimentos S/A)
• Inventors: Smith, Tracy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/666
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/1853 and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/36 specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3678 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides and the central panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46016 Straps used as handles fixed to the container by glueing, stapling, heat-sealing for packages in wrappers B65D75/56
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/62 External coverings or coatings B65D5/4245, B65D5/4262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/07 for compressible or flexible articles for wearing apparel B65D85/18

Abstract

A collapsible storage apparatus for fabrics includes a container movable between a collapsed position and a use position, and a fabric receiving member dimensioned to receive fabric wrapped therearound such that the fabric receiving member and fabric wrapped therearound can be removably stored within the container when the container is in the use position. The container is formed from two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and a flexible bottom section attached to bottom edge portions of the side and end walls. The two side walls are configured to fold such that the container has a flat configuration with the folded side walls sandwiched between the end walls when in the collapsed position.

Claims

1. A collapsible storage apparatus for fabrics, comprising:

a container movable between a collapsed position and a use position, wherein the container is formed from two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and a flexible bottom section attached to bottom edge portions of the side and end walls, wherein the two side walls are configured to fold such that the container has a flat configuration with the folded side walls sandwiched between the end walls when in the collapsed position; and

a fabric receiving member dimensioned to receive fabric wrapped therearound such that the fabric receiving member and fabric wrapped therearound can be removably stored within the container when the container is in the use position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container has a substantially rectangular configuration with substantially rectangular side walls and end walls.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member is dimensioned such that a peripheral gap of between about 0.25″

and about 1.25″

exists between the fabric receiving member and the inside of the container when the fabric receiving member is stored within the container without fabric wrapped therearound.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member is substantially rigid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bottom section comprises fabric.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer face of each of the walls is covered with fabric.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member comprises a planar substrate having a generally rectangular configuration.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member comprises a tube, wherein the tube has an axial length that is less than a height of the rectangular container.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tube has a rectangular cross section.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member comprises an H-type frame comprised of a pair of vertically disposed longitudinally spaced end members interconnected in upstanding relationship by a transverse member, said transverse member having an upper and lower surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of handles, each of the handles secured to a respective one of the end walls.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein an outer face of each of the end walls is covered with fabric, and wherein each handle is formed by a respective strip of material attached to the fabric.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each respective strip of material comprises a strip of the fabric.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner face of each of the walls is covered with fabric.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fabric receiving member comprises written instructions for folding fabrics and storing folded fabrics in the container.

16. A method of storing fabrics, comprising:

wrapping a fabric around a fabric receiving member; and

storing the fabric receiving member with fabric wrapped therearound within a collapsible storage container, wherein the container comprises a container movable between a collapsed position and a use position, wherein the container is formed from two opposed side walls, two opposed end walls, and a flexible bottom section attached to bottom edge portions of the side and end walls, wherein the two side walls are configured to fold such that the container has a flat configuration with the folded side walls sandwiched between the end walls when in the collapsed position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the container has a substantially rectangular configuration with substantially rectangular side walls and end walls.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric receiving member is dimensioned such that a peripheral gap of between about 0.25″

and about 1.25″

exists between the fabric receiving member and the inside of the container when the fabric receiving member is stored within the container without fabric wrapped therearound.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the fabric receiving member is substantially rigid.

20. A method of storing fabrics, comprising:

folding a fabric using a template;

removing the template from the folded bedding fabric;

placing the template within a collapsible storage container, wherein the container comprises a rectangular container movable between a collapsed position and a use position, wherein the container is formed from two opposed rectangular side walls, two opposed rectangular end walls, and a flexible bottom section attached to bottom edge portions of the side and end walls, wherein the two side walls are configured to fold such that the container has a flat configuration with the folded side walls sandwiched between the end walls when in the collapsed position; and

storing the folded fabric within the container on top of the template.