CONTAINER

Abstract

A collapsible container having a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a bottom coupled to the bottom edge; a supporting frame removably coupled to the top edge; an insulated liner, a hood attached to the top edge, wherein the sidewall and bottom define a space; wherein the hood includes a drawstring closure; and wherein movement of the supporting frame from a first position to a second position collapses the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and, more particularly, to containers having hoods and removable supporting frames.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers typically have a base, a top, and a side with rigid walls for holding items.

Generally, these containers may be difficult to use and may be difficult to carry. They generally serve only one purpose, such as the use of a picnic basket on a picnic, but not another purpose. Therefore, there is a need for a container that is easy to use and may serve multiple purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising a basket portion, an insulated liner, and a hood attached to the basket portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible container comprising a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a bottom coupled to the bottom edge; a supporting frame removably coupled to the top edge; an insulated liner; and a hood attached to the top edge, wherein the sidewall and bottom cooperate to define a space; wherein the hood includes a drawstring closure; and wherein movement of the supporting frame from a first position to a second position collapses the container.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container comprising a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge; a bottom coupled to the bottom edge; and a supporting frame removably coupled to the top edge.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tote comprising a basket portion; a liner; a hood with a drawstring; and a coupling member for removably disconnecting the tote from the supporting frame.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating exemplary embodiments, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the following description may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the description should be understood to include all such variations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the container of FIG. 1 showing the container in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the container of FIG. 1 taken from the area encircled by 5 in FIG. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a container is described.

It will be understood that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” and “side” used herein are merely for the ease of description, and refer to the orientation of components shown in the figure. It should be understood that any orientation of the container, and the components thereof disclosed herein, is within the scope of the present invention.

Generally, in a preferred embodiment, the container includes a basket portion, a supporting frame, a hood, and an insulated liner, amongst other components, as will be discussed below. The container may be a basket or tote.

As shown in FIG. 2, container 10 preferably includes a basket portion 15. The basket portion 15 includes a sidewall 40 having a top edge 40a and a bottom edge 40b, and a bottom 30. The sidewall 40, top edge 40a, bottom edge 40b, and bottom 30 cooperate to define a space or an interior.

As seen in FIGS. 1-2, preferably, the container 10 includes a supporting frame 5 coupled to a top end of basket portion 15. The supporting frame 5 preferably includes a frame 60 and a pair of handles 50 (referred to separately as 50a and 50b). The frame 60 and handles 50 are preferably comprised of a rigid material, and more preferably comprised of aluminum or any other metal. However, any material is within the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, the supporting frame 5 may be omitted. In this embodiment, the container may be a tote. In addition, the supporting frame 5 may comprise the frame 60 and not the handles 50, or may comprise the handles 50 and not the frame 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, handles 50 are preferably coupled to the frame 60 by fasteners, connectors, nails, or screws. Alternatively, handles 50 may be coupled to frame 60 by welding, gluing, or the like. Handles 50 are preferably pivotally attached to the frame 60. Handles 50 preferably move about a pivot point 65 with a range of motion. Container 10 may comprise one or more handles. Alternatively, the handles may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1, handle 50a preferably includes a coupling member 55 for removably coupling handle sob to handle 50a. Preferably, the coupling member 55 is a Velcro closure. Alternatively, the coupling member 55 may be a snap fit closure or the like. However, the coupling member 55 may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The basket portion 15 is comprised of one or more layers. As shown in FIG. 3, a first outer layer 100 is comprised of polyester, such as micro-fiber polyester that protects from outside elements. This outer layer 100 is preferably water-resistant. A second layer 110 for thermo-regulation, such as a polyvinyl chloride layer, is preferably adjacent the outer layer 100. A third layer 120 for hot/cold insulation, such as closed-cell polyurethane foam, i.e., a high density closed cell polyethylene that is cross-linked, is disposed between the second layer 110 and a fourth inner layer 130. Preferably, the third layer 120 is the insulation liner or the insulation layer. The fourth inner layer 130 may be a water-resistant layer or comprise a water-resistant coating that repels condensation and retains interior temperature. This fourth inner layer 130 is preferably a water-resistant polyurethane layer and/or a poly vinyl chloride layer.

As discussed in the foregoing, the third layer 120 is preferably the insulation liner or layer. However, the insulation liner or layer may not be the third layer 120, and may be any other layer, such as the fourth inner layer 130. More than one layer may comprise insulation material. Alternatively, the insulation layer may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention. The outer layer 100, second layer 110, third layer 120, and fourth inner layer 130 may be disposed in different orders, i.e., the third layer 120 may be disposed under the outer layer 100. In addition, more or less layers may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the basket portion is comprised of three layers. The insulation layer is a layer of closed cell polyethylene foam between the outer layer 100 of polyester and the inner layer 130, which is preferably a polyvinyl chloride waterproof liner.

Preferably, the layers may be disposed over part or all of the basket portion 15, such as disposed on the sidewall 40 and the bottom 30. For example, the insulated liner 120 discussed in the foregoing may cover substantially the entire inside of the basket portion, i.e., may be disposed on the sidewall 40 and the bottom 30.

Preferably, the second 110, third 120, and inner layers 130 are attached to the outer layer 100 and/or the top end 40a by stitching and/or sewing. However, the layers may be attached to the basket portion 15 by any means known in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, container 10 preferably comprises a hood 20 attached to the basket portion 15, and more preferably comprises a hood attached to the top edge 40a of the sidewall 40. For example, the hood 20 may be attached to the insulated liner. The hood 20 is preferably attached by sewing and/or stitching. However, the hood 20 may be attached by any means known in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the hood 20 preferably comprises a drawstring 25 for partly or completely closing the container 10. The drawstring 25 may have a tie consisting of a cord that goes through a channel. The cord may be pulled through an opening for tightening. The hood 20 with the drawstring 25/drawstring closure may expand the volume/capacity of the container 10 and/or may close the container 10. Alternatively, the container 10 may not have a hood 20 and may comprise another member for closing/opening the container 10, such as a top. However, the hood 20 may be omitted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, container 10 preferably comprises a plurality of coupling members 70, or flaps, for removably coupling the frame 60 and/or the supporting frame 5 to the basket portion 15. Flaps 70 are preferably attached, for example, to the top edge 40a by stitching, sewing, gluing, or the like. However, any means of attachment is within the scope of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 5, each flap 70 preferably comprises a top piece 70a having one end attached to the basket portion 15, and a bottom piece 70b having one end attached to the basket portion 15. Both the bottom piece 70b and the top piece 70a of each flap 70 are preferably connected together by a Velcro closure. However, any means of connection, such as a button fit or a snap fit closure, is within the scope of the present invention. Alternatively, the coupling member may be any other coupling member as is known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 5, preferably flaps 70 receive and couple supporting frame 5 to the basket portion 15. When the bottom piece 70b and the top piece 70a of each flap 70 are wrapped around frame 60 and connected, the supporting frame 5 is coupled to the basket portion 15. The supporting frame 5 may be removed by disengaging the top and bottom pieces of the flaps. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that removal of the supporting frame 5 (or the removal of the basket portion 15 from the supporting frame 5) converts the container into a tote, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, in a preferred embodiment, the container is collapsible, and downward movement of the supporting frame 5 from a first position to a second position collapses the container. The container may also be collapsed by pressing down on the basket portion 15 itself. This collapsibility of the container allows for ease of storage.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the container 10 preferably comprises a zippered pocket 80 disposed on the sidewall 40. Alternatively, the container 10 comprises pockets anywhere on the inside or the outside of the basket portion, i.e., the inside or outside of sidewall 40 and/or basket portion 15. Pockets may be contiguous with the basket portion 15, such as contiguous with the outer and/or inner layers, or may be attached to the basket portion, such as the outer layer and/or the inner layers, by any means known in the art such as stitching, sewing, or the like. The pockets may have one or more openings. The openings may be zippered openings, buttoned openings, or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a method of converting a basket to a tote comprising removing the supporting frame. In yet another embodiment, the invention comprises a method of converting a tote to a basket comprising coupling the supporting frame to the tote. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises removing the supporting frame from the basket by disconnecting the coupling member, such as disengaging the flaps. In another preferred embodiment, the method comprises coupling the supporting frame to the tote by connecting the flaps to convert the tote to a basket.

The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, the above-described embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Various modifications to these embodiments may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a) a basket portion;

b) an insulated liner; and

c) a hood attached to the basket portion.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the hood includes a drawstring.

3. The container of claim 1, further comprising a supporting frame coupled to the basket portion, wherein the supporting frame is removable.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the hood is attached to the insulated liner.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the insulated liner covers substantially an entire inside of the basket.

6. The container of claim 2, wherein the basket portion has an opening which is closed by pulling upon the drawstring.

7. A collapsible container comprising: wherein the sidewall and bottom cooperate to define a space; wherein the hood includes a drawstring; and wherein the movement of the supporting frame from a first position to a second position collapses the container.

(a) a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge;

(b) a bottom coupled to the bottom edge;

(c) a supporting frame removably coupled to the top edge;

(d) an insulated liner; and

(e) a hood attached to the top edge;

8. A container comprising:

(a) a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge;

(b) a bottom coupled to the bottom edge; and

(c) a supporting frame removably coupled to the top edge.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the sidewall and bottom define a space, and wherein movement of the supporting frame from a first position to a second position collapses the container.

10. The container of claim 8, further comprising a hood attached to the top edge.

11. The container of claim 10, wherein the hood attached to the top edge comprises a drawstring closure.

12. The container of claim 8, further comprising an insulated liner.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the insulated liner is disposed between an inner surface and an outer surface of both the sidewall and the bottom.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein the top edge of the container comprises a plurality of flaps, wherein the plurality of flaps engage the supporting frame by a Velcro closure.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein disengaging the flaps removes the supporting frame.

16. A tote comprising:

(a) a basket portion;

(b) a liner;

(c) a hood with a drawstring; and

(d) a coupling member for removably disconnecting the tote from a supporting frame.

17. The tote of claim 16, wherein the coupling member comprises a plurality of flaps, wherein the plurality of flaps engage the supporting frame by a Velcro closure.

18. The tote of claim 16, wherein the liner is insulated.