Adjustable hamper
An hamper having an adjustable frame and an elastic net being stretched over the frame to define a compartment with the elastic net forming an opening. The adjustable frame includes twelve interconnected arm assemblies having telescoping arm sections capable of being selectively adjusted in length. Eight corner members mount the twelve arm assemblies to from an adjustable rigid frame.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to article containers and more particularly, to hamper capable of being adjustable in length, height, and width.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Hampers are well known containers for receiving and storing clothing, sporting articles, and other items. Such hampers in the past have assumed numerous shapes and sizes of fixed dimensions. An example of a prior design for a hamper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,113 issued Nov. 7, 1995 to Ho et al. The hamper of the foregoing Ho et al. patent has fixed dimensions and shape, although it may be collapsed for storage when empty. The problem associated with such hampers having a fixed configuration is the shape and size of the container cannot be adjusted to permit the hamper to be positioned in any available space within a building, house, vehicle, and the like. Accordingly, it is desirable in the industry to provide an adjustable hamper capable of being modified to fit in a wide range of shapes and sizes of storage areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an objective of this invention to provide a hamper for articles capable of being independently adjusted along its length, width, and height to assume desired external sizes and shapes to fit into any particular shaped storage spaces to receive and store articles. The hamper of the invention has an adjustable frame assembly formed by twelve tubular legs defining the length, width, and height of the hamper. Each of the twelve legs is independently adjustable to vary the length, height and width of the frame as needed to be accommodated by a particular storage area. An elastic net is stretched over the frame assembly to form the walls of the hamper and to provide an open article receiving opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to
As seen in
As seen in
The leg assemblies of the frame assembly 4 are interconnected in a rigid configuration by eight identical corner members 40. Corner members 40 each include three open ended integral tubular sections 42a, b and c that are disposed at 90° to each other and removably receive the adjacent end of an adjustable leg assembly 6a, b; 8a, b, 10a, b and 12.
Referring to
Referring now to
In use of the adjustable hamper 2, the arm assemblies are respectively inserted into the corner members after an adjusted length of each of the arm assemblies 6a, b, 8a, b, 10a, b, and 12 is selected. As seen in
Claims
1. An adjustable hamper comprising frame means for creating a hamper comprising frame means for creating a hamper of selected dimensions,
- said frame means including plurality interconnected arm assemblies,
- an elastic net being mounted over said frame means to form an internal article receiving compartment,
- each of said plurality of arm assemblies being independently adjustable in length to selectively vary the configuration of said frame means, and
- said elastic net being stretched over said frame means in mounted relationship, said elastic net having an opening in said mounted relationship for receiving and removing articles to and from said article receiving compartment.
2. The adjustable hamper according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of arm assemblies includes twelve tubular arm assemblies extending along a respective axis disposed at 90° to an adjacent arm assembly.
3. The adjustable hamper according to claim 2 wherein said twelve arm assemblies each include telescopic outer and inner arm sections.
4. The adjustable hamper according to claim 3 where each of said outer arm sections includes a plurality of holes disposed along said axis of said twelve arm assemblies.
5. The adjustable hamper according to claim 4 wherein each of said inner arm sections includes means to engage a selected one said holes to create a rigid connection at a predetermined length of each of said arm assemblies.
6. The adjustable hamper according to claim 3 further including corner members respectively arranged to receive the ends of adjacent ones of said plurality of arm assemblies.
7. The adjustable hamper according to claim 6 wherein each of said corner members including three open tubular sections arranged along axes disposed perpendicular to each other, each of said tubular portions receiving a respective end of said arm assemblies.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2006
Inventor: Israel Guevara (Brea, CA)
Application Number: 10/891,470
International Classification: B65D 30/10 (20060101);