FOLDING CARRIER
A folding carrier described herein is composed of a plurality of panels made of pliable and flexible material such as fabric, vinyl or leather where each of the plurality of panels may be folded onto each other. The folding carrier also includes a cavity access opening in one of the panels that allows a user to access the cavity formed by the plurality of panels, wherein the cavity access opening is secured to the one of the panels with re-closable access device.
This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/783,503, filed on Mar. 17, 2006 and entitled “Folding Carrier,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe ability to flat pack enclosures such as pet carriers is a problem both before and after purchase by a consumer. After purchase, the consumer is left with a large bulky item to store. Before purchase, during shipment and at the point of distribution and sale, there is a storage problem with large carriers, such as for pets, because such carriers require large shipping volume and consume valuable shelf space.
In the past, many carriers, such as handbags, were simply crushed to store them flat. Crushing is not suitable for those carriers that need to be rigid and remain fully assembled so not to restrict the space within the enclosure. This is very important if the enclosure is used for pets, although it is important for other types of carriers and not limited in use for pets.
SUMMARYThe folding carrier has a body typically having multiple panels, such as two sides, two ends, a bottom and a top. The body is preferably composed of a pliable or flexible material such as fabric, vinyl, or leather. A cavity for holding a pet and for storing or carrying materials is defined by the body. To provide rigidity, the opposing sides, the opposing ends, or the top and bottom have a skeleton formed of a rigid material, such as metal or plastic, covered exteriorly by the pliable material. The skeleton helps define the shape of the body.
Methods of transporting the carrier could include the use of handles, a carrying strap or wheels, either pulled along with a strap on four wheels or tipped on two wheels and pulled along with the use of a retractable rigid handle.
To provide access to the interior or cavity of the body, one or more sides, ends, top or bottom are secured to the remainder of the body with reclosable access devices, such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like. At least one edge of the sides, ends, top or bottom that are secured with reclosable access devices is integrally hinged to an adjoining panel of the body, so that when that panel is opened using the reclosable access device, the panel remains attached to the body. In addition, a door may be provided in a side or end which is also secured to the remainder of the body using a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like. A panel access opening may also be provided in a side, end, top or bottom, such as with overlapping panels of the pliable material. The door provides easy access for a pet owner, for example, to remove a pet, while the panel access opening permits the pet owner to insert his/her hand into the cavity to touch a pet while keeping the body substantially closed.
While the appended claims set forth the features of the present patent with particularity, the patent, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
While the appended claims set forth the features of the present patent with particularity, the patent, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Thus, for example, if the folding carrier is used to transport an animal, a user may input his hand through the flap 102 to touch the animal, to feed the animal, etc. Such capability is illustrated in further detail in
As shown above, the folding carrier can be folded substantially flat for shipping, store display, or home storage when not in use by simply unzipping the opposing sides, ends, or top and bottom, folding the unzipped sides, ends, or top and bottom into the cavity or exteriorly to the remainder of the body, and pressing the remaining sides, ends, or top and bottom so that the all fold into a flat and substantially parallel position relative to each other. When the carrier is to be used, the procedure is simply reversed to fully assemble it.
Claims
1. A folding carrier comprising:
- a pliable body comprising a plurality of panels;
- a plurality of attaching mechanisms for attaching one or more of the panels together to form an enclosed cavity; and
- at least one of the plurality of panels having an access mechanism for accessing the cavity without opening any of the attaching mechanisms.
2. The folding carrier of claim 1, wherein the pliable body comprises of:
- a back panel made of a semi-rigid material;
- a bottom panel made of a semi-rigid material and attached to the back panel;
- two side panels made of semi-rigid material and each of the two side panels foldably attached to the back panel; and
- a front panel made of a flexible material wherein the front panel is foldably attached to the bottom panel and the back panel.
3. The folding carrier of claim 2, wherein the front panel is adapted to be attached to each of the two side panels via a plurality of zippers.
4. The folding carrier of claim 3, wherein the front panel further comprises a plurality of openings to the cavity, each of the openings adapted to be enclosed by using a zipper.
5. The folding carrier of claim 4, wherein the back panel is attached to a telescopic carrying handle.
6. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein each of the side panels are further adapted to have a pocket.
7. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein the bottom panel is attached to a wheel assembly.
8. The folding carrier of claim 5, wherein the front panel is made of a semi-transparent material that allows circulation of air to the cavity.
9. A folding carrier comprising:
- a pliable body comprising: a continuous panel made of a semi-rigid material covering the front, back bottom and top of the pliable body, and two side panels made of semi-rigid material and each of the two side panels foldably attached to the continuous panel;
- a plurality of attaching mechanisms for attaching one or more of the panels together to form an enclosed cavity; and
- at least one of the plurality of panels having an access mechanism for accessing the cavity without opening any of the attaching mechanisms.
10. The folding carrier of claim 9, wherein the continuous panel further includes a handle attached to the top of the pliable body to carry the folding carrier.
11. The folding carrier of claim 10, wherein at least a part of each of the side panels are made of a transparent material that allows air circulation to and from the cavity.
12. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein at least part of the front and back of the pliable body are made of a transparent material that allows air circulation to and from the cavity.
13. The folding carrier of claim 11, further comprising an adjustable carrying strap attached to the front and back of the pliable body.
14. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein the access mechanism is made of an opening and a flap located on at least one of the front and back of the pliable body.
15. The folding carrier of claim 11, wherein the bottom of the pliable body further includes:
- a cushioning material attached to its the upper surface; and
- a semi-rigid material attached to the lower surface.
16. The folding carrier of claim 15, wherein each of the front, back and top of the pliable body may be adapted to collapse on top of the bottom of the pliable body once detached from the side panels.
17. A folding carrier comprising:
- a bottom panel made of a semi-rigid material;
- a front panel made of a flexible material and foldably attached to the bottom panel, at least part of the front panel being made of a transparent material;
- a back panel made of a flexible material and foldably attached to the bottom panel, at least part of the front panel being made of a transparent material;
- a top panel made of a flexible material, the top panel being foldably attached to the front panel and the back panel;
- two side panels, each foldably attached to the bottom panel and adapted to be attached to the front, top and back panel using a closing mechanism; and
- at least one of the front panel and the back panel having an access mechanism that allows access to a cavity within the folding carrier.
18. The folding carrier of claim 17, wherein at least part of the side panels are made of transparent material.
19. The folding carrier of claim 17, wherein the access mechanism includes a flap that is attachable to the folding carrier using Velcro.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 19, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventor: Owen Slater (Lemont, IL)
Application Number: 11/688,097
International Classification: A45C 5/14 (20060101); A45C 13/30 (20060101);