초록 ▼

A collapsible container configured to lay substantially flat in a collapsed position and maintain an extended or usable position by utilizing load-bearing means rigidly disposed among and affixed to various support members. The load-bearing means are adapted to receive support members and sustain th

A collapsible container configured to lay substantially flat in a collapsed position and maintain an extended or usable position by utilizing load-bearing means rigidly disposed among and affixed to various support members. The load-bearing means are adapted to receive support members and sustain the container in its usable position when a load is placed therein. The load bearing means resist movement of support members in the direction caused by the load exerted on the container. When the load is removed, the load-bearing means is adapted to permit the support members to be withdrawn there from so that the container may be transitioned to a substantially flat collapsed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; at least one support member for supporting an object placed in the container, the at least one support member rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between an essentially two-dimensional planar configuration and a

1. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; at least one support member for supporting an object placed in the container, the at least one support member rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between an essentially two-dimensional planar configuration and an extended configuration wherein a plane defined by the at least one support member is oblique with respect to a plane defined by the base member; and means for bearing a load exerted by the at least one support member when an object is placed in the container while in the extended configuration, the means for bearing a load comprising at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the support members and adapted to resist movement of the at least one support member in a direction caused by the load wherein the at least one hook receives a respective one of the at least one support member when the container is in the extended configuration. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, the at least one hook comprising a plurality of hooks wherein one of the hooks is affixed to alternating support members and adapted to receive a portion of an adjacent support member when the container is in the extended configuration.3. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; at least one support member for supporting an object placed in the container, the at least one support member rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between an essentially flat configuration and an extended configuration; means for bearing a load exerted by the at least one support member when an object is placed in the container while in the extended configuration, the means for bearing a load comprising at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the support members and adapted to resist movement of the at least one support member in a direction caused by the load wherein the at least one hook receives a respective one of the at least one support member when the container is in the extended configuration; and a plurality of support members, the base member comprising a circular rim, the plurality of support members being circumferentially disposed on the rim, each of the support members having a first distal end and a second distal end connecting the support member to the rim, the support members being disposed so that one of the distal ends of a support member overlaps with one of the distal ends of an adjacent support member. 4. The collapsible container of claim 3 further comprising:a plurality of stoppers circumferentially disposed on the rim, the stoppers adapted to prevent movement of the plurality of support members outside a predetermined area; and means for hanging the container. 5. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; at least one support member for supporting an object placed in the container, the at least one support member rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between an essentially flat configuration and an extended configuration; means for bearing a load exerted by the at least one support member when an object is placed in the container while in the extended configuration, the means for bearing a load comprising at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the support members and adapted to resist movement of the at least one support member in a direction caused by the load wherein the at least one hook receives a respective one of the at least one support member when the container is in the extended configuration; the base member comprising a substantially planar back plate adapted to be mounted to a flat surface; the at least one support member comprising a first arcuate brace and a second arcuate brace rotatably connected to the back plate, at least one depending support member each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end rotatably connecting the depending support member to the first arcuate brace and the distal end being adapted to releasably engage the back plate; and the means for bearing a load comprising at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the depending support members, the hook adapted to receive a portion of the second arcuate brace when the container is in the extended configuration. 6. The collapsible container of claim 1:the base member comprising a substantially planar frame; the at least one support member comprising a first side frame, a second side frame, a first end frame and a second end frame; and the means for bearing a load comprising at least one hook affixed to at least one of the support members, the hook adapted to receive a portion of one of the support members when the container is in the extended configuration. 7. The collapsible container of claim 5 further comprising three depending support members, the means for bearing a load further comprising a hook affixed to a respective distal end of at least one of the three depending support members and adapted to releasably engage a corresponding aperture in the back plate, wherein the depending support members are curvilinear.8. A collapsible container comprising:a base member, the base member comprising a circular rim and the plurality of support members are circumferentially disposed on the rim; a plurality of support members rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between a substantially flat configuration and an extended configuration for holding an object, the object exerting a load when placed in the container; and at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the plurality of support members wherein at least one of the plurality of support members engages the at least one hook when the load is exerted on the plurality of support members, the at least one hook being adapted to resist movement of the engaging support member in a direction caused by the load. 9. The collapsible container of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of support members comprising a semi-elliptical loop segment.10. The collapsible container of claim 8, each of the plurality of loop segments comprising a first distal end and a second distal end rotatably connecting the loop segment to the rim; andthe first and second distal ends of a loop segment being disposed in an overlapped relationship with the first and second distal ends of adjacent loop segments. 11. The collapsible container of claim 9 further comprising:an even number of support members wherein the at least one hook is affixed to alternate support members so that each hook is engaged by an adjacent support member when the container is in its extended configuration. 12. The collapsible container of claim 11 further comprising:a plurality of stoppers circumferentially disposed on the rim, the stoppers adapted to prevent movement of the plurality of support members outside a predetermined area; and means for hanging the container. 13. A collapsible container comprising:a base member, the base member comprising a substantially planar back plate adapted to be mounted to a flat surface; a plurality of support members rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between a substantially flat configuration and an extended configuration for holding an object, the object exerting a load when placed in the container; at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the plurality of support members wherein at least one of the plurality of support members engages the at least one hook when the load is exerted on the plurality of support members, the at least one hook being adapted to resist movement of the engaging support member in a direction caused by the load; and the plurality of support members comprising a first arcuate support member rotatably connected with the back plate for articulating the first arcuate support member between a position that is in substantially the same plane defined by the back plate and a position that is substantially perpendicular to the back plate. 14. The collapsible container of claim 13, the plurality of support members further comprising:a second support member rotatably connected with the back plate for articulating the second support member between a position that is in substantially the same plane defined by the back plate and a position that is oblique to the back plate; and at least one depending support member, the at least one depending support member comprising a proximal end rotatably engaging the first support member and a distal end adapted to releasably engage the back plate. 15. The collapsible container of claim 14 wherein the at least one hook is affixed to the at least one depending support member and adapted to receive a portion of the second support member.16. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; at least one support member for supporting an object placed in the container, the at least one support member comprising a plurality of semi-elliptical loop segments rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between an essentially flat configuration and an extended configuration; and means for bearing a load exerted by the at least one support member when an object is placed in the container while in the extended configuration, the means for bearing a load adapted to resist movement of the at least one support member in a direction caused by the load and comprising at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the support members. 17. The collapsible container of claim 16, the at least one hook comprising a plurality of hooks wherein one of the hooks is affixed to alternating support members and adapted to receive a portion of an adjacent support member when the container is in the extended configuration.18. A collapsible container comprising:a base member; a plurality of support members rotatably connected with the base member for articulating the container between a substantially flat configuration and an extended configuration for holding an object, the object exerting a load when placed in the container; at least one hook having an open end affixed to at least one of the plurality of support members wherein at least one of the plurality of support members engages the at least one hook when the load is exerted on the plurality of support members, the at least one hook being adapted to resist movement of the engaging support member in a direction caused by the load; the base member comprising a circular rim and the plurality of support members are circumferentially disposed on the rim; each of the plurality of support members comprising a semi-elliptical loop segment; and an even number of support members wherein the at least one hook is affixed to alternate support members so that each hook is engaged by an adjacent support member when the container is in its extended configuration. 19. The collapsible container of claim 18 further comprising:a plurality of stoppers circumferentially disposed on the rim, the stoppers adapted to prevent movement of the plurality of support members outside a predetermined area; and means for hanging the container.