초록 ▼

A box which is expandable vertically and horizontally is disclosed. The box can be expanded both vertically and horizontally simultaneously, or in only one of these directions. This is accomplished by pulling/pushing opposite sides further/closer to each other. Rails which at least partially extend

A box which is expandable vertically and horizontally is disclosed. The box can be expanded both vertically and horizontally simultaneously, or in only one of these directions. This is accomplished by pulling/pushing opposite sides further/closer to each other. Rails which at least partially extend between respective opposite sides allow such an expansion/or contraction, the rails, in embodiments, having a pin of one section of the box held within a slot of an adjacent section of the box. The box, in embodiments, is made up of four separate pieces, each being one quadrant (top & left, top & right, bottom & left, bottom & right) of the box. Such a box can be expanded/collapsed to fit within a window and hold an air conditioner there-in.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A box independently expandable in both a horizontal and vertical direction comprising: four separate pieces, each forming a quadrant of said box;each of said four separate pieces directly and slidably connected to two others of said four separate pieces in adjacent quadrants;wherein each of said

1. A box independently expandable in both a horizontal and vertical direction comprising: four separate pieces, each forming a quadrant of said box;each of said four separate pieces directly and slidably connected to two others of said four separate pieces in adjacent quadrants;wherein each of said four separate pieces forms at least a part of two walls of said box which are perpendicular to each other and includes a part forming part of a back side of said box,wherein each said part forming part of a back side of said box includes a diagonal bar, which is diagonal with respect to edges forming a frame of said back side, and which restricts said opening in said back side, andwherein said diagonal bars of said four pieces are slidable along the longitudinal axes of said diagonal bars relative to each other. 2. The box of claim 1, wherein each of said four separate pieces are directly and slidably connected by way of a pin of one of said separate pieces extending through a slot of an adjacent one of said four said separate pieces. 3. The box of claim 2, wherein said box is at least partially closed on five sides and open on a sixth side, said sixth side being surrounded by front panels which extend past each horizontal most extent of at least a left wall and right wall of said box, said left wall comprised of a portion of two of said four separate pieces and said right wall comprised of a portion of two other of said four separate pieces. 4. The box of claim 3, wherein said box is adapted to be positioned within a window such that said front panels are inside the window and a majority of said left wall and said right wall are outside of the window. 5. The box of claim 3, wherein when said box is fully collapsed, said front panels form a rectangular interior space which opens into said box without interruption. 6. The box of claim 5, wherein when said box is expanded, at least partially in said horizontal and said vertical direction, said front panels each become spaced apart from one another and said interior space of said box is increased in two dimensions. 7. The box of claim 1, wherein said four separate pieces comprise a first piece, a second piece, a third piece, and fourth piece such that: said first piece forms a part of a top side and left side and is directly and slidably connected to said second piece and said third piece;said second piece forms a part of said top side and right side and is directly and slidably connected to said first piece and said fourth piece;said third piece forms a part of said left and said a bottom side and is directly and slidably connected to said first piece and said fourth piece; andsaid fourth piece forms a part of said right side and said bottom side and is directly and slidably connected to said second piece and said third piece. 8. The box of claim 7, wherein said first piece and said fourth piece are without direct connection to one another, and said second piece and said third piece are without direct connection to one other. 9. The box of claim 7, wherein in a collapsed configuration, a side of said top side, left side, right side, and bottom side which is collapsed includes two of said four pieces overlapping each other and thus is of double thickness compared to when expanded. 10. The expandable box of claim 1, wherein said diagonal bars slidingly overlap, such that in a collapsed configuration of said box, said diagonal bars of two of said four pieces cross said diagonal bars of the other two of said four pieces, and in an extended configuration of said box, each of said diagonal bars overlaps and end portions thereof with two other of said diagonal bars, such that said diagonal bars of said four pieces form a diamond shape. 11. An expandable box comprising: a first side with a first pair of horizontally extending rails and a first pair of vertically extending rails;a second side opposite said first side with an additional pair of horizontally extending rails and an additional pair of vertically extending rails,wherein each rail of said horizontally extending rails and said vertically extending rails is functionally associated with at least one pin passing through a slot in said rail, such that said at least one pin and said slot are movable relative to one another in one plane to expand or contract said box in said one plane;a pair of horizontally extending bars, each including one said pin functionally associated with one of said first pair of horizontally extending rails;a pair of vertically extending bars, each including one said pin functionally associated with one of said first pair of vertically extending rails;a first diagonal bar extending between a first horizontal rail of said first pair of horizontally extending rails and a first vertical rail of said first pair of vertically extending rails, said first diagonal bar being diagonal with respect to said first horizontal rail and with respect to said first vertical rail;a second diagonal bar extending between a second horizontal rail of said first pair of horizontally extending rails and a second vertical rail of said first pair of vertically extending rails, said second diagonal bar being diagonal with respect to said second horizontal rail and with respect to said second vertical rail;a third diagonal bar extending between a first horizontal bar of said pair of horizontally extending bars and a first vertical bar of said pair of vertically extending bars, said third diagonal bar being diagonal with respect to said first horizontal bar and with respect to said first vertical bar; anda fourth diagonal bar extending between a second horizontal bar of said pair of horizontally extending bars and a second vertical bar of said pair of vertically extending bars, said fourth diagonal bar being diagonal with respect to said second horizontal bar and with respect to said second vertical bar,wherein said first, second, third, and fourth diagonal bars are slidable relative to each other. 12. The expandable box of claim 11, wherein said at least one pin is fixed to a side of said box. 13. The expandable box of claim 11, wherein each said pair of rails comprises a first rail and a second rail on an opposite side of said box from each other. 14. The expandable box of claim 11, wherein each rail slides with respect to each pin such that said box is expandable in a first of a vertical or horizontal direction without expanding in a second of said vertical or said horizontal direction. 15. The expandable box of claim 14, wherein each rail slides with respect to each pin such that said box is expandable in both said vertical and said horizontal direction simultaneously. 16. The expandable box of claim 15, wherein said box is sized to fit within an opening of a window. 17. The expandable box of claim 16, wherein said box is adapted to be disposed in a window such that a portion of said box is interior to the window and abutted against the window by front panels which define an opening into said box, said opening being transverse to both said vertical and said horizontal direction. 18. The expandable box of claim 11, further comprising front panels which define an opening into said box, said opening being further defined by said first pair of horizontally extending rails and said first pair of vertically extending rails. 19. The expandable box of claim 18, wherein each other side of said box, other than a side with said opening into said box, is at least partially closed by walls which extend between at least two of said first horizontally extending rails, said additional horizontally extending rails, said first vertically extending rails, and said additional vertically extending rails.