MULTIPURPOSE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20110011856A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• 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 8,714,389 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

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A convertible device convertible between at least a storage container in a first configuration and an activity mat in a second configuration, comprising:

a plurality of wall portions each connected to a base portion;

a webbing connected between each adjacent pair of said plurality of wall portions, said webbing being inwardly biased such that when said wall portions are urged from said second configuration to said first configuration said webbing folds toward the interior of said convertible device;

a plurality of straps for releasably holding at least some of said plurality of wall portions in a substantially rigid and upright position in said first configuration, each of said plurality of straps being connectable between adjacent ones of said plurality of wall portions; and

an elongated 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 stacked relationship relative to said base portion.

27. The convertible device of claim 26, wherein each of said plurality of straps includes one or more of snaps, Velcro, elastic bands, magnets, string.

28. The convertible device of claim 26, wherein said first configuration has a regular geometric shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangular, a triangle, a hexagon, an octagon, and a trapezoid.

29. The convertible device of claim 26, further comprising stiffening wires coupling said base portion with at least some of said plurality of wall portions, said stiffening wires holding said plurality of wall portions in an upright, rigid position in said first configuration.

30. The convertible device of claim 26, wherein said plurality of wall portions is exactly four wall portions, requiring four webbings to connect said exactly four wall portions together.

31. A convertible device 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 plurality of walls;

at least one motor attached to said base; and

means, connected to said at least one motor, for raising said plurality of walls so as to transform said convertible device from said second configuration into said first configuration.

32. The convertible device of claim 31, wherein said at least one motor is a battery-powered electric motor.

33. The convertible device of claim 31, wherein said at least one motor is a spring motor having a windable ratchet and a release for releasing said ratchet from its unwound position.

34. The convertible device of claim 32, wherein said means for raising includes shafts attached to said plurality of walls.

35. The convertible device of claim 32, wherein said means for raising includes a slip clutch for preventing overloading of said at least one battery-powered electric motor.

36. The convertible device of claim 31, wherein said means for raising includes cables connected to said at least one motor and secured to said plurality of walls and respective pulleys positioned to engage said cables so as to urge said plurality of walls between a flattened position and an upright position in response to activation of said at least one motor.

37. The convertible device of claim 31, further comprising a translucent cover over said base so as to permit viewing of said at least one motor in operation.

38. The convertible device of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of securing means for releasably holding each of said plurality of walls in a substantially rigid and upright position in said first configuration, each of said plurality of securing means being connectable between adjacent ones of said plurality of walls.

39. The convertible device of claim 31, further comprising a webbing connected between each adjacent pair of said walls, said webbing being inwardly biased such that when said walls are urged from said second configuration to said first configuration said webbing folds toward the interior of said convertible device.

40. The convertible device of claim 31, wherein said means for raising includes a drive shaft coupled to said at least one motor, a rotatable driven link coupled to said drive shaft, and a slidable slider link coupled to said rotatable driven link.

41. 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, each of said wall ends having a distal edge, a proximate edge, and an upper edge between said distal and said proximate edges,

a first of said pair of wall sides being integral with a top portion that extends completely around said upper edges and said proximate edges of said pair of wall ends in said erect, assembled configuration,

a first of said pair of wall ends releasably attached to said first of said pair of wall sides and said integrated top portion by a first zipper such that said first zipper releasably secures said top portion to said upper edge and said proximate edge of said first wall end and a second of said pair of wall ends releasably attached to said first of said pair of wall sides and said integrated top portion by a second zipper such that said second zipper releasably secures said top portion to said upper edge and said proximate edge of said second wall end, 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 an interior of said apparatus in response to said apparatus being converted from said open, flattened configuration toward said erect, assembled configuration,

wherein a length of said upper edge of said first wall end plus a length of said proximate edge of said first wall end, a length of said upper edge of said second wall end plus a length of said proximate edge of said second wall end, and a length of said top portion are substantially equal.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, 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 in response to said apparatus being in said erect, assembled configuration.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said base, said pair of wall ends, said pair of wall sides, and said webbings lie in a substantially singular plane when said apparatus is in said open, flattened configuration.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said base, one or both of said pair of wall ends, one or both of said pair of wall sides, or any combination thereof includes a plurality of rounded plastic nubs configured to removably connect with building blocks.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said building blocks are LEGO®

building blocks.