[미국특허]
Deployable and disposable container assemblies with bendable support members
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A45C-007/00
B65F-001/00
B65F-001/14
출원번호
US-0042506
(2013-09-30)
등록번호
US-9469474
(2016-10-18)
발명자
/ 주소
Austin, Ed
Ritter, William J.
Albini, Martin
출원인 / 주소
Evergreen Innovation Partners I, LP
대리인 / 주소
Perkins Coie LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
97
초록▼
Collapsible containers and associated methods are disclosed herein. Certain aspects of the invention are directed toward a collapsible container assembly that includes a foldable support member that has a length and a width. The support member has a concave cross-section that causes the support memb
Collapsible containers and associated methods are disclosed herein. Certain aspects of the invention are directed toward a collapsible container assembly that includes a foldable support member that has a length and a width. The support member has a concave cross-section that causes the support member to resist bending until a threshold force is exceeded. The support member has a folded position and an extended position where the support member is unfolded. The assembly further includes at least one surface member carried by the support member. The assembly has a deployed position where the support member is in the extended position and the at least one surface member forms an enclosure with an interior. The assembly also has a collapsed position where the support member is in the folded position. The container assembly has less exterior volume in the collapsed position than in the deployed position.
대표청구항▼
1. A collapsible assembly, comprising: a frame comprising a base, a top member and a pair of monolithic support members spaced apart from each other and extending between the base and the top member, each support member having a middle portion extending between a top end coupled to the top member an
1. A collapsible assembly, comprising: a frame comprising a base, a top member and a pair of monolithic support members spaced apart from each other and extending between the base and the top member, each support member having a middle portion extending between a top end coupled to the top member and a bottom end coupled to the base, each support member being movable between an extended position and a folded position thereby allowing the middle portion to bend through a range of at least 90 degrees, each support member in the extended position being substantially vertical throughout and having an arcuate cross-sectional shape configured to resist axial loads and bending at the middle portion until a threshold force is exceeded, each support member in the folded position being substantially bent along the middle portion to create a flattened profile at the middle;a collapsible, flexible enclosure connected to the frame, the enclosure having a closed bottom portion, an open top portion and a circumferential sidewall extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the top member of the frame is adjacent to the open top portion of the enclosure;the collapsible assembly having a deployed configuration with the top member spaced apart from the base and the frame free-standing with each support members in the extended position; andthe collapsible assembly having a collapsed configuration with the support members in the folded position and the top member disposed directly adjacent to the base. 2. The collapsible assembly of claim 1, further comprising a closure device coupled to the enclosure, the closure device being movable between open and closed positions, in the closed position the closure device closing the open top portion of the enclosure. 3. The collapsible assembly of claim 1 wherein the support members include a metallic material treated with a rust accelerant. 4. The collapsible assembly of claim 1 wherein the top member is an annular top member is spaced above the base. 5. A collapsible waste container assembly, comprising: a flexible enclosure connected to a collapsible frame, the enclosure having a closed bottom portion, an open top portion and a circumferential sidewall extending between the open top portion and the closed bottom portion, thereby defining an interior area;a collapsible, internal frame disposed within the interior area of the enclosure comprising a pair of foldable monolithic support members spaced apart from each other and extending continuously between a top end and a bottom end, each support member having a middle portion extending between the top end and the bottom end, wherein the top end of each support member is connected to the open top portion of the enclosure, and the bottom end of each support member is connected to the closed bottom portion of the enclosure;a deployed assembly configuration where the internal frame is free-standing and the pair of support members is deployed in a substantially straight, unfolded arrangement, and each support member has an arcuate concave cross-sectional shape enabling axial load support and bending resistance until a threshold force is exceeded, and the open top portion is spaced apart from the closed bottom portion and the circumferential sidewall extends adjacent to the pair of support members, and the open top portion of the enclosure provides access into the interior area of the enclosure; anda collapsed assembly configuration where the internal frame is collapsed and the pair of support members is in a folded arrangement, each support member folded at the middle portion of each support member and having a flattened profile at the middle portion different from the arcuate, concave cross-sectional shape of each support member in the deployed assembly configuration, and the pair of support members biases away from the collapsed assembly configuration, and wherein the open top portion is directly adjacent to the closed bottom portion and the circumferential sidewall is collapsed therebetween in the collapsed assembly configuration. 6. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5 wherein the internal frame has a first end member and a second end member each connected to the pair of support members, and the first end member spaced apart from the second end member when the assembly is in the deployed assembly configuration. 7. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5 wherein the internal frame has an annular top member and a base each connected to the pair of support members, and the annular top member spaced apart from the base with the pair of support members extending therebetween when the assembly is in the deployed assembly configuration. 8. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 7 wherein the annular top member has a top planar surface substantially parallel and adjacent to a bottom planar surface of the base when the assembly is in the collapsed assembly configuration. 9. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5 wherein the flexible enclosure is made of a liquid impervious material. 10. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5, the frame further comprising: a substantially stiff, planar top ring connected to the enclosure adjacent to the open top portion of the enclosure, the top ring including an opening that provides access to the interior area of the enclosure when the assembly is in the deployed assembly configuration;a substantially stiff, planar base connected to the closed bottom portion of the enclosure and being parallel with the top ring when the assembly is in the deployed assembly configuration and when the assembly is in the collapsed assembly configuration. 11. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5, further comprising a stowing device configured to be coupled to the assembly when the assembly is in the collapsed assembly configuration and to retain the assembly in a collapsed position. 12. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5 wherein the open top portion of the enclosure and the closed bottom portion of the enclosure are integrally connected to the circumferential sidewall of the enclosure. 13. The collapsible waste container assembly of claim 5 wherein the internal frame further comprises a planar top ring connected to each top end of each support member and a planar base connected to each bottom end of each support member. 14. A method of using a collapsible waste container assembly, the method comprising: engaging the waste container assembly in a collapsed configuration, the waste container assembly having a frame with a base, a top member, and a pair of spaced apart monolithic support members extending continuously between the base and the top member, each support member having a middle portion extending between a top end and a bottom end, and a collapsible enclosure connected to the frame and having a closed bottom portion, an open top portion, and a circumferential sidewall extending continuously between the closed bottom portion and the open top portion, where the top member is connected to the open top portion of the enclosure, and the base is connected to the closed bottom portion of the enclosure;wherein, when the waste container assembly is in the collapsed configuration, the frame is in a folded arrangement with each support member being folded at each middle portion with each top end adjacent to each bottom end, and each support member having a flattened profile at each middle portion, and wherein the annular top member is adjacent to the base and the circumferential sidewall is collapsed between the annular top member and the base; anddeploying the waste container assembly from the collapsed configuration to a deployed configuration wherein the frame is free-standing and the pair of support members are in a substantially straight, extended and unfolded arrangement, each support member having an arcuate cross-sectional shape enabling each support member to support axial loads and to resist bending at each middle portion until a threshold force is applied, and wherein the top member is spaced apart from the base by the pair of support members with the circumferential sidewall deployed adjacent to the support members between the top member and the base, and wherein the top member defines an opening that provides waste disposal access to an interior defined by the enclosure. 15. The method of using a collapsible waste container assembly of claim 14, further comprising retaining the assembly in the collapsed position with a stowing device. 16. The method of using a collapsible waste container assembly of claim 14, further comprising receiving refuse into the interior of the enclosure through the opening in the top member; and closing the top portion of the enclosure with a closure device to retain the refuse in the interior of the enclosure.
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