Foldable self-standing carry-all

• US 6,065,873 A
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Margaret E. Fowler
• Original Assignee: Margaret E. Fowler
• Inventors: Fowler, Margaret E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCUA, JES F
• Application Number:
  US09/260,137
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 383/2, 383/10, 383/33, 383/35, 383/78, 383/89, 383/93, 383/95, 383/104, 383/107, 153/900, 190/107
• US Class Current: 383/104
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/04 Shopping bags; Shopping nets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0077 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/02 Local reinforcements or stiffening inserts, e.g. wires, strings, strips or frames B65D33/007 takes precedence

Abstract

A soft-sided fabric container, which in an open position is parallelepiped-shaped, has opposed side walls, opposed end walls mounted to the side walls at opposed longitudinal ends of the side walls, and a bottom wall opposite an open top of the container. The side wall edges, elongate rigid members mounted thereto. Handle apertures are formed in the side walls adjacent the rigid members. Resilient stiffeners are mounted along longitudinally opposite edges of the side walls from the bottom wall to the rigid members for resiliently urging the side walls each into a generally planar shape.

Claims

1. A carry-all comprising:

a soft-sided fabric container which in an open position is parallelepiped-shaped so as to include opposed first and second side walls, opposed first and second end walls mounted to said first and second side walls at opposed longitudinal ends of said first and second side walls so as to extend between said first and second side walls, a bottom wall opposite an open top of said container, said bottom wall extending between said first and second side walls and between said first and second end walls and mounted thereto at bottom edges thereof,

first and second upper side wall edges, corresponding to said first and second side walls, having longitudinal rigid members mounted thereto,

first resilient stiffeners mounted along longitudinally opposite edges of said first and second side walls from said bottom wall to said longitudinal rigid member for resiliently urging said first and second side walls each into a generally planar shape,

wherein said first resilient stiffeners are resilient fabric seam covers mounted over seams between said first and second side walls and said first and second end walls.

2. The carry-all of claim 1 wherein said resilient fabric seam covers are made of heavy woven polyethylene.

3. A carry-all comprising:

a soft-sided fabric container which in an open position is parallelepiped-shaped so as to include opposed first and second side walls, opposed first and second end walls mounted to said first and second side walls at opposed longitudinal ends of said first and second side walls so as to extend between said first and second side walls, a bottom wall opposite an open top of said container, said bottom wall extending between said first and second side walls and between said first and second end walls and mounted thereto at bottom edges thereof,

first and second upper side wall edges, corresponding to said first and second side walls, having longitudinal rigid members mounted thereto,

first resilient stiffeners mounted along longitudinally opposite edges of said first and second side walls from said bottom wall to said longitudinal rigid members for resiliently urging said first and second side walls each into a generally planar shape,

further comprising interior first and second side walls liners mounted, respectively, to interior surfaces of said first and second side walls along corresponding first and second fold-lines generally adjacent said first and second upper side wall edges, whereby said side wall liners may hang freely parallel to said interior surfaces or may be folded upwardly to form a cover over said open top of said container.