Self-erecting container with liner

• US 5,752,649 A
• Filed: 01/08/1997
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southpac Trust International
• Original Assignee: Southpac Trust International
• Inventors: Weder, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/780,566
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.01, 229/117.03, 229/117.07, 229/114, 220/403, 220/404, 220/440, 220/441, 220/461
• US Class Current: 229/117.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/026 Foldable pots
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 7/063 foldable
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 7/08 Covers for flower-pots , e.g. ornamental pots
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 7/085 made of flexible sheets of non-resilient material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/36 specially constructed to allow collapsing and re-erecting without disengagement of side or bottom connections
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Abstract

A self-erecting container which is collapsible into a flat storage position. The container includes a top member with an opening into the container, a bottom member and a plurality of walls extending between the top member and bottom member. The walls pivot with respect to the top member and the bottom member. Further, each wall has upper and lower wall sections which pivot with respect to each other. A bracket is suspended within the container by a plurality of elastic members. Each elastic member extends between the inner surface of one of the walls and the bracket. The elastic members bias the container into an erected position. When an external influence overcomes the bias, the walls collapse such that the container assumes a flat position. Alternatively, the container may be biased by an elastic band connected to the inner or outer surfaces of the walls of the container.

Claims

1. A collapsible, self-erecting container comprising:

a bottom member having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of wall members pivotally connected to the bottom member such that the wall members are movable between an erected position wherein the wall members extend from the bottom member so as to cooperate with the bottom member to form an object receiving space and a collapsed position wherein the wall members are folded downward into a substantially flattened condition relative to the bottom member, each of the wall members having an outer surface and an inner surface;

resilient biasing means for biasing the wall members in the erected position, for permitting the wall members to be moved to the collapsed position from the erected position by a bias overcoming force exerted on the wall members, and for drawing the wall members from the collapsed position to the erected position when the bias overcoming force is removed from the wall members; and

a flexible lining attached to the wall members so as to cover the inner surface of the bottom member and at least a portion of the inner surface of each of the wall members when the wall members are in the erected position and fold with the wall members when the wall members are moved to the collapsed position.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the lining is waterproof.

3. A collapsible, self-erecting container comprising:

a bottom member having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of wall members, each of the wall members including an upper wall section and a lower wall section, the lower wall section pivotally connected to the bottom member and pivotally connected to the upper wall section such that the wall members are movable between an erected position wherein the wall members extend from the bottom member so as to cooperate with the bottom member to form an object receiving space with the upper wall section extending angularly outward and a collapsed position wherein the wall members are folded downward into a substantially flattened condition relative to the bottom member, each of the wall members having an outer surface and an inner surface;

resilient biasing means connected to the wall members for biasing the wall members in the erected position, for permitting the wall members to be moved to the collapsed position from the erected position by a bias overcoming force exerted on the wall members, and for drawing the wall members from the collapsed position to the erected position when the bias overcoming force is removed from the wall members; and

a flexible lining attached to the wall members so as to cover the inner surface of the bottom member and at least a portion of the inner surface of each of the wall members when the wall members are in the erected position and fold with the wall members when the wall members are moved to the collapsed position.

4. A collapsible, self-erecting container, comprising:

a bottom member having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of wall members pivotally connected to the bottom member such that the wall members are movable between an erected position wherein the wall members extend from the bottom member so as to form an object receiving space and a collapsed position wherein the wall members are folded downward into a substantially flattened condition, each of the wall members having an outer surface and an inner surface;

resilient biasing means for biasing the wall members in the erected position, for permitting the wall members to be moved to the collapsed position from the erected position by a bias overcoming force exerted on the wall members, and for drawing the wall members from the collapsed position to the erected position when the bias overcoming force is removed from the wall members, the resilient biasing means comprising;

a bracket disposed in the object receiving space and having a bracket opening; and

a plurality of elastic members, each of the elastic members extending between the bracket and a corresponding wall member; and

a flexible lining attached to the wall members so as to cover the inner surface of the bottom member and at least a portion of the inner surface of each of the wall members when the wall members are in the erected position and fold with the wall members when the wall members are moved to the collapsed position.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the lining is suspended from the bracket.