Collapsible storage system
A collapsible storage chest is formed to receive a number of collapsible storage boxes, or drawers. The chest and boxes or drawers are capable of being collapsed to a substantially flat configuration to enable the efficient packaging, shipping, warehousing, distribution and reconstitution of them.
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/663,558 entitled “Collapsible Storage System” and currently co-pending.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to storage systems. In particular, it relates to a storage system of a chest and drawers. More specifically, though not exclusively, this invention relates to collapsible storage systems having the ability to be flattened for shipment, and reconfigured into a rigid storage container for use.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONChests and drawers for storage have existed for many years and in many forms. One problem with traditional chests and drawers is that if they are not in use for a time they merely occupy space that could be used for other purposes. Therefore, there is a need for a chest and drawers that would occupy little space when not in use.
The need for a storage system that can be efficiently transported is becoming more and more apparent as the economy becomes more global, and the cost of transporting goods increases with the ever-soaring costs of fossil fuels. As a result if these fossil fuel costs, the price of products transported becomes largely dependent on the distance the product is transported, the location of the manufacturing, the location of the retail sales, and the method of transportation. In some cases, the transportation costs of a product could contribute more than twenty five percent (25%) of the retail price.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide products which can be easily shipped in the smallest volume as possible. More specifically, since freight is often shipped in containers, the minimization of the physical volume of a product is often more critical than the actual weight of the product. Products used for storage are often plagued by the air volume of the containers themselves.
Because there is no advantage to shipping products containing air and wasting valuable cargo space, the present invention was devised to provide a collapsible storage system which can overcome the storage and transport challenges of fixed storage devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention includes a collapsible storage chest that is formed to receive a number of collapsible storage boxes, or drawers. Each of the elements of the present invention is capable of being collapsed to a substantially flat configuration to enable the efficient packaging, shipping, warehousing, and distribution of the invention.
The collapsible containers of the present invention include four side-walls hinged together in the form of a parallelogram which may be positioned into a rectangular configuration; and by folding acutely two opposing hinges, collapsed into a flat configuration.
The hinges may be actual metal pin hinges, may be effective hinges by sewn seams in material-covered side-walls, or may be formed by spaces between the rigid portions of the side-walls. The bottom panel of the container is a pliable material which may be separated along a diagonal between diagonally separated hinges, and flexible enough to allow the collapse of the container an opposite diagonal direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
As shown in this configuration, the sides are attached together to form a hinge. Specifically, sides 102 and 106 are attached with hinge 124, sides 102 and 104 are attached with hinge 122, sides 104 and 108 are attached with hinge 128, and sides 108 and 106 are attached with hinge 126. These hinges allow the angles between the sides to vary from ninety degrees to facilitate the collapsing of the storage container as shown and discussed in conjunction with
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Frame 202 is formed with hinges 230, 232, 234, and 236 which provide for the collapsing of the frame to a substantially flat configuration. Drawers 220, 222, 224 and 226 are similar to drawer 100 discussed above, and likewise collapsible.
Referring now to
The storage system of the present invention may be made of any material capable of supporting the structure shown herein. No limitation as to the materials is contemplated except that the materials chosen for the sides must be substantially rigid, and the materials chosen for the bottom must be somewhat flexible when in the un-zipped configuration in order to allow for the collapsing of the sides together.
While the particular collapsible storage containers as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A collapsible storage system comprising:
- at least one container comprising
- a plurality of container sides attached together to form container hinges, substantially in the form of a parallelogram, said container sides variable in angle with respect to each other;
- a plurality of container panels, attached to said container sides, said container panels sufficiently flexible to allow said container sides to vary in angle with respect to each other;
- a container fastener, whereby said container panels can be fastened together and unfastened, wherein said container sides substantially form a rectangle when said container panels are fastened together, and
- wherein said container can collapse to a substantially flat configuration when said container panels are unfastened.
2. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, wherein:
- said container fastener comprises a container zipper.
3. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, wherein:
- said container sides comprise a back container side, a right container side, a left container side, and a front container side.
4. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, further comprising:
- a handle.
5. A collapsible storage system as in claim 4, wherein:
- said handle comprises a slot formed in at least one of said container sides.
6. A collapsible storage system as in claim 1, further comprising:
- a chest comprising
- a plurality of chest sides attached together to form chest hinges, substantially in the form of a parallelogram, said chest sides variable in angle with respect to each other;
- a plurality of chest panels, attached to said chest sides, said chest panels sufficiently flexible to allow said chest sides to vary in angle with respect to each other;
- a chest fastener, whereby said chest panels can be fastened together and unfastened, wherein said chest sides substantially form a rectangle when said chest panels are fastened together, wherein said chest can collapse to a substantially flat configuration when said chest panels are unfastened;
- and wherein said at least one container is receivable in said chest.
7. A collapsible storage system as in claim 6, wherein:
- said chest fastener comprises a chest zipper.
8. A collapsible storage system as in claim 6, further comprising:
- a chest support, having a plurality of chest support sides, extending between two of said chest sides, substantially parallel to at least one other of said chest sides, and able to support said at least one container.
9. A collapsible storage system as in claim 8, wherein:
- at least one of said at least one container is receivable adjacent one of said chest support sides, and at least one of said at least one container is receivable adjacent another of said chest support sides.
10. A collapsible storage container, comprising:
- four planar side-walls, said side walls joined together at each end to another side-wall by a hinge, said side walls configurable from a rectangle to a parallelogram;
- a two piece bottom attached to a side of each said side-wall and having a fastener extending from diagonal hinges and configurable from a first configuration wherein said fastener is fastened and said bottom forms a rectangle retaining said sidewalls in a rectangular configuration, and a second configuration wherein said fastener is un-fastened and said bottom forms two separated triangles wherein said side-walls are collapsible into a parallelogram.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 20, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Inventors: Niki Kopenhaver (Rancho Santa Fe, CA), Clarence Cassidy (Escondido, CA)
Application Number: 11/386,214
International Classification: A47B 88/00 (20060101);