BAMBOO CONTAINER SUITABLE FOR MASS PRODUCTION
A modularized bamboo container suitable for mass production is disclosed to include a top frame and a bottom frame respectively made of bamboo frame elements processed through a hot press and defining a respective endless locating groove at the bottom or top side, a plurality of bamboo slats, which have their top and bottom ends respectively inserted into the endless top locating groove and the endless bottom locating grooves, and a reinforcing middle open frame attached to the bamboo slats at an inner side and spaced between the top frame and the bottom frame.
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to storage containers and more particularly, to a bamboo container that is suitable for mass production
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Various materials including ceramics, glass, wood, plastics, stainless steel, and etc. may be used for making tables, chairs, cabinets, storage containers, and many other furniture. For the advantage of showing a sense of antique beauty, furniture and storage containers made of wooden and bamboo materials are widely invited.
A conventional bamboo furniture is known comprising a frame structure and a plurality of wall panels formed of bamboo strips by weaving. These bamboo panels have open spaces, and are fastened to the frame structure by an adhesive or by means of binding wires. There is known another structure of bamboo furniture in which the bamboo panels are formed of transverse bamboo slats and longitudinal bamboo slats, and the transverse and longitudinal bamboo slats are listened together by rattan cords. The fabrication of this structure of bamboo furniture requires much time and labor, and therefore the cost of this structure of bamboo furniture is high.
There is also known another design of bamboo storage container, which comprises a top frame, a bottom frame, and a plurality of bamboo slats connected between the top frame and the bottom frame. The bamboo slats have the respectively top and bottom ends respectively fastened to respective bottom mounting holes on the top frame and respective top mounting holes on the bottom frame. Because the bamboo slats are flexible, it requires much time and labor to fasten the bamboo slats to the top frame and the bottom frame. Further, the top frame and the bottom frame are each formed of four bamboo slats, and the four bamboo slats are connected to one another end to end to form a rectangular open frame.
The fabrication of this design of bamboo storage container also requires much time and labor. Therefore, this design of bamboo storage container is not suitable for mass production. Further, the top frame and the bottom frame have sharp angles, having less sense of beauty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a bamboo container, which shows a sense of unique beauty and, is suitable for mass production.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the bamboo container comprises a bottom open frame, which defines an endless top locating groove, a bottom open frame, which defines an endless bottom locating groove, and a plurality of bamboo slats, which have their top and bottom ends respectively inserted into the endless top locating groove and the endless bottom locating grooves.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the top open frame and the bottom open frame are respectively comprised of a plurality of frame elements prepared from bamboo slats processed through a hot press.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the reinforcing middle open frame is attached to the bamboo slats at an inner side and spaced between the top open frame and the bottom open frame, and a cord member is fastened to the bamboo slats and the reinforcing middle open frame to affix the reinforcing middle open frame to the bamboo slats.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the top open frame can be made having a diameter relatively greater than the bottom open frame, and the bamboo slats can be smoothly arched and curved inwards toward the inside of the bamboo container or outwards toward the outside of the bamboo container.
The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to
A prototype of bamboo container has been constructed with the features of
Although particular embodiments of the inventions have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.
While certain novel features of this invention have been show and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims
1. A bamboo container comprising:
- a bottom open frame, said bottom open frame comprising a plurality of frame elements continuously connected to one another in series, said bottom open frame defining an endless locating groove in a top side thereof;
- a top open frame, said top open frame comprising a plurality of top frame elements continuously connected to one another in series, said top open frame defining an endless locating groove in a bottom side thereof;
- a plurality of bamboo slats connected betweens aid top open frame and said bottom open frame, said bamboo slats each having a top end engaged into the endless locating groove of said top open frame and a bottom end engaged into the endless locating groove of said bottom open frame;
- a reinforcing middle open frame attached to said bottom slats at an inner side and spaced between said top open frame and said bottom open frame; and
- fastening means fastened to said bamboo slats and said reinforcing middle open frame to affix said reinforcing middle open frame and said bottom slats together.
2. The bamboo container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom frame elements and said top frame elements each have a U-shaped cross section.
3. The bamboo container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom frame elements and said top frame elements are smoothly arched.
4. The bamboo container as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means is a cord member.
5. The bamboo container as claimed in claim 1, further composing a plurality of supplementary open frames arranged in parallel between said top open frame and said bottom open frame at different elevations and connected to one another by said bamboo slats.
Type: Application
Filed: May 21, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2008
Inventor: Wen-Tsan WANG (Taipei)
Application Number: 11/751,049
International Classification: B65D 6/02 (20060101);