Collapsible colander and bowl

• US 7,678,271 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Progressive International Corporation
• Inventors: Curtin, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Lithgow; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US11/690,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20080230462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 210/232, 210/238, 210/250, 210/249, 210/499, 210/470, 210/471, 210/474, 210/482, 141/286, 141/337, 220/666, 215/382
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/22 Kitchen sifters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/24 Devices for washing vegetables or the like

Abstract

A collapsible container consists of three parts: a rigid top rim, a flexible center band, and a rigid base. This combination of sections allows the container to easily collapse to about one-third of its original height. The container is also quite stable when expanded and is self-supporting. In various embodiments of the invention, for example, the upper rim may be expandable, the base may include holes or mesh to serve as a colander or strainer, or the base may be configured as a tube to function as a funnel.

Claims

1. A collapsible container, comprising:

a substantially rigid rim;

a substantially rigid base;

the rim including at least a first vertical portion extending downward toward the base and forming a portion of a sidewall of the container, the first vertical portion terminating in a lower edge, the rim further having a flange extending radially away from the first vertical portion;

the base including an upper peripheral portion extending upward toward the rim and terminating in an upper edge, the upper edge being relatively higher than a lowest point on the base, the base further having a foundation with a lower surface for providing stable support for the container on a horizontal surface, and

a flexible membrane having an upper end secured to the rim and a lower end secured to the base, the flexible membrane having a central section of substantially uniform thickness and no more than two living hinges, the living hinges comprising a first living hinge adjacent the lower edge of the rim, and a second living hinge adjacent upper edge of the base;

the container further defining a height from the lower surface of the foundation to a highest point on the rim, the first and second living hinges being positioned to divide the height into three portions of substantially equal length, including a first portion between the highest point on the rim and the first living hinge, a second portion between the first living hinge and the second living hinge, and a third portion between the second living hinge and the lower surface of the foundation;

whereby the container is configurable in either a first position in which the container is expanded and a second position in which the container is fully collapsed, the container in the fully collapsed position being folded at only the first living hinge and the second living hinge, the flexible membrane being substantially devoid of folds or bends other than at the first living hinge and the second living hinge.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of bores configured to allow liquids to drain from the container through the base.

3. The collapsible container of claim 2, wherein the flexible membrane is devoid of holes.

4. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is formed from a unitary material.

5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is formed from silicone.

6. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane comprises a height and the central section comprises a height, the height of the central section being at least one half of the height of the flexible membrane.

7. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the base defines a perimeter about the lower end of the flexible membrane, the base further having a central area within the perimeter and a mesh material secured within the central area.

8. The collapsible container of claim 7, further comprising a handle extending from the rim.

9. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising a handle extending from the rim.

10. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a tube having a first end secured to the lower end of the flexible membrane and a second end extending away from the lower end of the flexible membrane, the tube having a diameter and the rim having a diameter, wherein the diameter of the tube is less than the diameter of the rim.

11. The collapsible container of claim 10, further comprising a handle extending from the rim.

12. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the rim comprises a first side and a second side, the second side being extendable.

13. The collapsible container of claim 12, wherein the second side of the rim is slideably extendable between a first position relatively more close to the first side of the rim and a second position relatively more distant from the first side of the rim.

14. The collapsible container of claim 13, wherein the base further comprises a plurality of bores configured to allow liquids to drain from the container through the base.