초록 ▼

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 vari

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible container, comprising: a substantially rigid rim formed from a first material, the rim having a top edge and a downwardly extending portion which extends downwardly and inwardly below the top edge to form an upper sidewall portion of the container;a substantially rigid base, the bas

1. A collapsible container, comprising: a substantially rigid rim formed from a first material, the rim having a top edge and a downwardly extending portion which extends downwardly and inwardly below the top edge to form an upper sidewall portion of the container;a substantially rigid base, the base having a bottom edge configured for resting on a horizontal surface and an upwardly extending portion which extends upwardly and outwardly above the bottom edge to form a lower sidewall portion of the container; anda flexible membrane formed from a second material which is more flexible than the first material and having an upper end permanently secured to the rim and a lower end permanently secured to the base, the flexible membrane having a central section and only two living hinges, the living hinges comprising a first living hinge and a second living hinge, the first living hinge being relatively closer to the rim, and the second living hinge being relatively closer to the base;wherein the flexible membrane is formed from silicone and the base is formed from metal, the base further defining a floor of the container wherein the flexible membrane extends upwardly and outwardly from the base, the base further comprising a metal wire mesh material to define a plurality of drainage pathways through the floor;the container further defining a height from the bottom edge of the base to the top edge of the rim, the first and second living hinges being positioned to divide the height into three portions, including a first portion between the top edge of 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 bottom edge of the base;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 the first living hinge and the second living hinge, the flexible membrane being devoid of folds or bends between the first living hinge and the second living hinge. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the rim is formed from metal, the container further comprising a handle extending from the rim. 3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is devoid of holes. 4. A collapsible container, comprising: a substantially rigid rim formed from a first material, the rim having a top edge and a downwardly extending portion which extends downwardly and inwardly below the top edge to form an upper sidewall portion of the container;a substantially rigid base, the base having a bottom edge configured for resting on a horizontal surface and an upwardly extending portion which extends upwardly and outwardly above the bottom edge to form a lower sidewall portion of the container; anda flexible membrane formed from a second material which is more flexible than the first material and having an upper end permanently secured to the rim and a lower end permanently secured to the base, the flexible membrane having a central section and only two living hinges, the living hinges comprising a first living hinge and a second living hinge, the first living hinge being relatively closer to the rim, and the second living hinge being relatively closer to the base;the container further defining a height from the bottom edge of the base to the top edge of the rim, the first and second living hinges being positioned to divide the height into three portions, including a first portion between the top edge of 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 bottom edge of the base;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 the first living hinge and the second living hinge, the flexible membrane being devoid of folds or bends between the first living hinge and the second living hinge;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. 5. A collapsible container, comprising: a rigid base having a downwardly-extending foundation with a bottom surface for providing stable support for the container on a horizontal surface, the rigid base further having an upwardly-extending portion and a plurality of through-holes extending through the base;a rigid rim formed from a first material and having an upper edge defining an open top of the container and a downwardly extending portion; anda flexible membrane formed from a second material which is more flexible than the first material and having an upper end permanently secured to the downwardly-extending portion of the rim and a lower end permanently secured to the upwardly-extending portion of the base to form a sidewall of the container, the flexible membrane extending upwardly and outwardly from the base to the rim and being formed from the second material of sufficient thickness such that the flexible membrane will support the rigid rim, the flexible membrane further having a first weakened region adjacent the rim and a second weakened region adjacent the base;the container further defining a container height from the bottom surface of the foundation to the upper edge of the rim, the first and second weakened regions being positioned to divide the container height into three portions, including a first portion between the upper edge of the rim and the first weakened region, a second portion between the first weakened region and the second weakened region, and a third portion between the second weakened region and the bottom surface of the foundation, each of the first portion, second portion, and third portions being at least one quarter of the height of the container;the downwardly extending portion of the rigid rim further terminating adjacent the first weakened region such that a majority of the height of the first portion comprises the rigid rim and wherein the rigid downwardly extending portion forms an upper portion of the sidewall of the container, the downwardly extending portion of the rigid rim further terminating at a point downward and inward from the open top of the container;the upwardly extending portion of the rigid base further extending outwardly continuously as it extends upwardly and terminating adjacent the second weakened region such that a majority of the height of the third portion comprises the rigid base, the upwardly extending portion of the rigid base further extending upward to form a lower portion of the sidewall of the container;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 when the flexible membrane is folded at the first weakened region and the second weakened region, the container in both the fully collapsed position and the expanded position having no folds between the first weakened region and the second weakened region. 6. The container of claim 5, wherein when a perimeter of the first weakened region is substantially greater than a perimeter of the second weakened region, whereby the second portion of the container is inclined upwardly and inwardly from the first weakened region to the second weakened region when the container is in the collapsed position, and further wherein the base is rounded as it extends outwardly and upwardly to the flexible membrane. 7. The container of claim 5, wherein the rim is formed from a metal material. 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the base defines a floor of the container, the base further comprising a metal wire mesh material to define a plurality of drainage pathways through the floor. 9. The container of claim 5, wherein the flexible membrane is devoid of through-holes. 10. The container of claim 5, wherein when the container is in the second position, the bottom surface of the foundation extends below the second weakened region. 11. The container of claim 5, wherein the rim further comprises an arm, the arm being moveable between a laterally extended position and a retracted position, whereby the rim and the arm cooperate to provide support for the container when the arm is in the extended position and the container is suspended across a sink.