CONNECTOR FOR HANGING COLLAPSIBLE SHELVES

Abstract

A method and apparatus for joining collapsible containers is provided. The containers have flexible walls joining stiff top and bottom panels with optional intervening compartments in which each compartment typically has a floor panel. At least one hole through the center of the top and bottom panels is aligned and a connector passed through the aligned holes to connect the panels of two different containers together so the lower container hangs from the upper container along the longitudinal axis. A hanger, usually with a hook, passes through the hole in the top panel so the connected containers can be hung from a closet pole.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to collapsible hanging containers with one or more compartments, and a method and device for connecting at least two such containers so that one hangs from the other.

BACKGROUND

Collapsible containers are known that have a plurality of vertical compartments. The compartments have bottoms formed by sheets of material or spring loop frames that stretch a sheet of fabric tight. The compartments are suspended vertically from each other by common walls formed by flexible material such as plastic, canvas or other sufficiently sturdy material. Such suspended shelves with spring-loop frames are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,728. Such suspended shelves may have a hook or other connectors at the top to hang the compartments from a pole in a closet. Since the walls are flexible the walls can collapse to form a stack of shelving bottoms and tops connected by the collapsed walls.

Typically these hanging, collapsible containers come in two lengths, short and long. The short length is a little longer than a shirt on a hanger (about 28-29 inches) and the longer length is a little over twice that length. The shorter lengths are selected for use with clothes closets which typically have two clothes bars spaced vertically apart a distance large enough to hang two rows of shirts vertically above each other in the closet. The longer lengths are selected for use with clothes closets having a single bar for longer garments but low enough for persons to place a clothes hanger over the clothing bar.

But if the long garment clothing bar gets full then the long suspended container cannot be hung on the short garment bars because its bottom drags on the floor, and if the short clothing bar gets full the short suspended container can be hung on the long garment bar but that wastes the space below the short suspended container. Thus, consumers have to buy both short and long length containers, and hope they buy the correct number of each one. There is thus a need for a suspended container that could be used with any of the clothing bars in a closet.

The available suspended containers can sometimes rotate about a swivel hook at the top. But all compartments in the container must rotate together, when a user may want to rotate only some of the compartments. There is thus a need for a suspended container that can allow selective rotation of portions of the suspended container relative to other portions of the suspended container.

SUMMARY

A suspended or hanging assembly of collapsible containers is provided having at least one shelf or bottom, and preferably a plurality of shelves or bottoms each formed of sheet material or spring loop frames or a mixture of the two. The shelves have common outer walls connecting the shelves vertically to form one or more compartments between the shelves. Vertical walls extending between one or more shelves can be provided as desired. The vertical walls are of flexible material so the container unit can collapse into a stack of shelving bottoms and tops. The top compartment has a top configured to be suspended, preferably by having a stiffened upper wall or top to which is connected one or more clothes hooks or other device configured to fasten to a clothing pole. The length of the hanging assembly is preferably short enough to hang from a short garment bar, and could be much shorter.

Preferably, the top of the top compartment and the bottom of the bottom compartment have a similar construction in which a sheet of material forms the top or bottom. At least one hole extends through the sheet of material with a grommet or other encircling device preferably reinforcing the edges of the hole. Advantageously there is a single hole at the center of the sheet of material, and less preferably there are two spaced apart holes along a major axis of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is strong enough to suspend the container unit when a hanger is passed through the one or more holes.

The hanger can comprise a typical curved hook-like hanger end, but with an opposing end forming a straight end having a connecting mechanism, such as a threaded connection in which a threaded nut inside a compartment of the hanging unit engages threads on the end of the hanger extending through one of the holes. Other fasteners can be used, including bayonet locks, snap rings, ring clamps, rods passed through holes in the hanger, and other connector mechanisms.

The bottom of the collapsible container has a similar sheet of material and hole or holes to releasably connect two short collapsible containers using one or more connectors. The connectors preferably comprise an externally threaded male fastener and an internally threaded female receiver, each having an enlarged head or flange larger than the hole through the top or bottom shelf. Advantageously, the female receiver has an internally threaded cylindrical tube forming a shank that is sized to fit through the holes with an enlarged head that does not fit through the holes. The holes in the top of one container and the bottom of another container are aligned and the male and female portions of the connector are passed through the holes to connect the bottom of an upper located container to the top of a lower located container. Advantageously the length of the shank on the male connector and female receiver are slightly longer than the distance between the abutting holes and any grommets or edge retainers along the edges of the holes, so there is a loose enough connection between the top of one container and the bottom of the other container to allow the lower container to rotate relative to the upper container—when the hole is at the center of the sheet of material. Alternatively, the connectors can securely connect the upper and lower containers so they rotate together, or two or more connectors can be used to join the containers.

Depending on the length of the collapsible containers, a plurality of containers can be connected top to bottom to vary the length of the collapsible containers. Depending on the number (one), location (center) and tightness (loose) of the connectors, one or more joined containers can rotate relative to other containers, thereby allowing access to different sides of one or more of the suspended containers.

There is thus advantageously provided a collapsible container assembly that includes a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel and a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel. The bottom panel defines a bottom panel perimeter. The bottom panel has a first centrally located hole therethrough. First flexible walls connect the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters. The walls define at least one opening to an interior space defined by the first walls and first panels.

This collapsible container may optionally, but preferably, include a second stiff top panel defining a second top panel perimeter. The second top panel has a second centrally located hole therethrough located to align with the first hole in the first bottom panel. A releasable connector passes through the aligned first and second holes to releasably fasten the first bottom panel to the first top panel. A second stiff bottom panel is axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the second top panel. The second bottom panel defines a second bottom panel perimeter. Second flexible walls connect the second top and second bottom panels adjacent the second panel perimeters. The second walls form at least one opening to an interior space defined by the second walls and second panels.

The above embodiments can be further modified by providing at least one intermediate panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the first top panel and the first bottom panel and having an intermediate panel perimeter connected to the walls. Also, a hook can extend through the first hole in the first top panel, where the hook is configured to hang onto a closet pole. Advantageously there is a liner, preferably a grommet, on at least one of the first and second holes and preferably on all of the holes.

The releasable connector preferably includes male fastener having a head too large to fit through the first or second holes in the joined panels, releasably engaging a female fastener having a head too large to fit through those same holes. A series of collapsible containers of different length can be connected in this way.

There is also provided a collapsible container assembly, comprising a plurality of collapsible containers each having a stiff top panel and a stiff bottom panel joined by flexible sides having an opening therein to allow access to a space defined by the top and bottom panels and the sides, with each top and bottom panel having a centrally located hole therethrough. A releasable connector extends through the hole through the bottom panel of one container and the hole through the top panel of another container to connect those bottom and top panels and to connect the containers associated with those connected bottom and top panels, so that the plurality of containers are connected by releasable connectors. This assembly can also optionally be provided with a hook passing through the hole in an unconnected top panel to hang over a closet pole. The releasable connector preferably comprises a male and female fastener, and more preferably allows relative rotation of the first and second containers about the releasable connector.

There is also provided a kit for a collapsible container. The kit comprises a first collapsible container, which in turn includes a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel. The kit also has a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel. The bottom panel defines a bottom panel perimeter. The bottom panel has a first centrally located hole therethrough. First flexible walls connect the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters. The walls define at least one opening to an interior space defined by the walls and panels. The kit also has a releasable fastener configured to extend through the first hole in the bottom panel to fasten two adjacent panels together. The kit preferably, but optionally has a hanger configured to pass through the first hole and has a hook portion configured to engage a closet pole.

The kit preferably, but optionally has the releasable fastener formed by a male fastener with a male head and a threaded shank and a female fastener having female head and a tubular portion with a recess configured to engage the shank. The tubular portion fits through first hole in the bottom panel with the heads configured so they do not fit through the first hole.

Advantageously, the kit has panels with liner on at least one of the first and second holes, and preferably with liners on all of the holes through which the hanger or releasable fasteners extend. Grommets are believed suitable for the liners.

The kit can include additional collapsible containers of similar construction, and additional connectors as needed to connect additional containers. The containers can have intermediate panels axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the top panel and the bottom panel with the walls joined to or connected to the intermediate panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of two hanging, collapsible containers joined by a connector;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a three compartment, hanging, collapsible container with openings in opposing end plates;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along 3-3 of FIG. 1 but with the parts and connectors assembled;

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the connector of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a first hanging hook;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second hanging hook;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a several hanging, collapsible containers connected together; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the containers of FIG. 7 in a collapsed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the hanging, collapsible container, and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 illustrate a collapsible container 10 in an expanded position. The construction of FIG. 6 illustrates the collapsible container 10 in a collapsed position. The collapsible container 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 has an upper end, a lower end and four vertical sides. References to up, upper, upper end, top, down, downward, lower end and bottom are relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 1 in which the lower end of the collapsible container 10 is disposed toward the earth. Similar hanging collapsible containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,681,728, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The collapsible container 10 can contain one or more compartments. The container 10 has a top panel 12, a bottom panel 14, and may have optional intermediate panels 16, at least one and preferably two side walls 18 and an optional back wall 19. The walls 18, 19 may be formed of continuous or separate pieces of material, and may blend together as in the depicted circular construction, or may have defined corners or junctures as in a rectangular or square configuration. The number of walls will vary with the construction of the container 10. Optionally, one or more vertical divider panels 26 (FIG. 2) can join adjacent panels 12, 14, 16 to further divide the compartments 22 between the two adjacent panels into smaller compartments. Advantageously, such smaller compartments are accessible from one or more of the open or semi-open front, or through openings in the side walls 18 or back wall 19. One or more pockets 17 may be fastened to the outside of the side walls 18 or back wall 19. The pockets 17 may have pockets 17 on them as shown in FIG. 1.

At the lower end of the container is the bottom panel 14 which defines a bottom panel perimeter 14a extending around an outer periphery of the bottom panel 14, with similar perimeters 12a and 16a extending around the top panel and any intermediate panels, respectively.

A tension loop 20 frame (FIG. 2) preferably extends around the perimeter 16a of an intermediate panel in order to hold a fabric or plastic sheet of material and form the bottom of a compartment 22. The tension loop frame 20 reduces weight by allowing a fabric floor rather than a heavier a sheet of solid material. Alternatively, a sheet of stiff material such as plastic or MDS fiberboard could be used, but other materials are also suitable and even metal may be used if an extremely sturdy container 10 is desired. There can be more than one divider panel 14 to create an increased number of compartments 22. The compartments 22 can be of diverse shape and size depending on the location of the parts defining the compartments.

The compartments 22 have a top and bottom formed by various combinations of panels 12, 14, 16, and have sides formed by various combinations of sidewalls 18 and/or divider(s) 26. A portion of each compartment 22 is accessible from openings formed in the front, side walls 18 or back wall 19 so items and articles can be inserted into the compartment. The rear of the compartments is preferably, but optionally closed by back wall 19. The back wall 19 could be omitted to form a tube-like compartment extending through the container 10 with both ends of the compartment being open. An optional restraint 25 (FIGS. 2, 7) blocks a portion of the opening to at least one, and preferably a plurality of compartments 22.

At the upper end is the top panel 12 which is spaced apart from and axially aligned with the bottom panel 14 along longitudinal axis 15. The top panel 12 is preferably, but optionally, oriented generally parallel to the bottom panel 14. The top panel 12 contains a sheet of material sufficiently strong to support the suspended container(s) 10, and may have one or more stiffeners (not shown) as needed to provide a sufficiently strong panel. Various fiberboards and plastics could be used, including high density polyethylene. Panels 12, 14 made of MDS fiberboard are believed suitable, and a 3 mm sheet of MDS fiberboard is believed suitable for circular panels 12, 14 about 30 cm in diameter (about 12 inches diameter). The panels 12, 14 are optionally enclosed in fabric, preferably the same fabric that is used to form side walls 18 and/or back wall 19. The intermediate panel 16 is also axially aligned with the top and bottom panels 12, 14 and is interposed between the top and bottom panels 12, 14. The intermediate panel 16 is preferably disposed in generally parallel arrangement relative to the top and bottom panel 12, 14.

The intermediate and divider panels 16, 26 and the side and back walls 18, 19 respectively, each have flexible material extending contiguously and uninterrupted over a substantial portion, and preferably all, of each one of the panels 16, 26, although openings may optionally be formed in the walls for access to the compartments 22. The material is preferably substantially uninterrupted in that one or more small openings 24 can be used, such as for ventilation or for viewing or access. Any such openings are preferably small relative to the size of the panel in which the openings are formed, with no single opening preferably more than 20% of the area of the panel. Moreover, the openings are such that they do not degrade to any appreciable extent the ability of the spring-loop frame or tension-loop frame 20 hold the material taut for its intended use as a floor or bottom of an intermediate compartment 22. Alternatively, sheets of material can be used as a floor or bottom of each compartment 22 rather than fabric held by tension-loop frames, but the access holes are still preferably small in size.

The side wall 18 and back 19 may be comprised of a single contiguous piece of flexible material such as fabric, nylon mesh, canvas, or plastic or they may be comprised of a plurality of sections of flexible material, with the top, bottom and intermediate panels 12, 14, 16 fastened to the walls 18, 19. Upper and lower edges of the side walls 18 are joined to the top, intermediate and bottom panels 12, 14, 16 at the respective ones of the top, intermediate and bottom panel perimeters 12a, 14a, 16a, such as by sewing. Alternate means of joining the top, intermediate and bottom panels 12, 14, 16 to the side walls 18 may be used. For example, the top, intermediate and bottom panels 12, 14, 16 may be joined to the side walls 18 by gluing or with mechanical fasteners.

Preferably, but optionally, the intermediate and bottom panels 14, 16 may each be fabricated from fabric mesh material, with strips of nylon fabric being used as hemming around the intermediate and bottom panel perimeters 14a, 16a. Alternatively, the intermediate and bottom panels 14, 16 may be fabricated entirely from nylon fabric for improved wear resistance against the soles of shoes that may be inserted into the compartments 22. The use of nylon fabric instead of fabric mesh material in the top, intermediate and bottom panels 14 may also retain dirt particles and/or debris carried on objects such as shoes that may be placed into the compartments 22. The use of nylon fabric may prevent such debris from falling into shoes resting in compartments 22 immediately below. Finally, the use of nylon fabric for the fabrication of the top, intermediate and bottom panels 12, 14, 16 may conceal the tension loops 20 such that the aesthetics of the collapsible container 10 may be enhanced.

As is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the side walls 18 may preferably, but optionally, be fabricated from fabric mesh material such that the collapsible container 10 has improved breathability in order to allow for the evaporation of moisture that may contained in objects that are stored in the compartments 22. However, the panels 12, 14, 16, 26 and the side wall 18 may be fabricated from any combination of flexible material such that the collapsible container 10 may be readily and repeatedly moved from the collapsible position to the expanded position, and vice versa.

Optionally, a restraint 25 can extend across opening 24. The restraint 25 comprises a strip of material with opposing ends fastened to side walls 18 and optionally also fastened to divider(s) 26 if present. The restraint 25 could also optionally be fastened to the panel 16 forming the bottom of the compartment 22 or the top panel 12. The restraint 25 is fastened by sewing, gluing, melting, snaps, or other fastening means described herein or known in the art. The restraint 25 is preferably of the same material as the sidewalls 18.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, preferably, the top panel 12 itself is configured to be stiff enough that it can support the weight of the container 10 and other containers fastened thereto, when the containers 10 hold household or clothing items such as shoes and clothing and the containers are suspended from a closet pole in a closet. Advantageously, the top panel 12 may be maintained in a substantially planar orientation when the collapsible container 10 is suspended by a hanger member 30. Optionally, a stiffener panel 28 ((FIG. 6) can be added to one or both of the top or bottom panels 12, 14, sandwiched between fabric layers of the panels 12, 14 and may be sized to be slightly smaller that the panel perimeters 12a, 14a, as can be seen in FIG. 1a. A seam extending around the panel perimeter 12a, 14a prevents lateral movement of the stiffener panel 28 within the confines of the fabric layers of the top panel 12. However, the stiffener panel 28 may also be secured to an upper or lower exterior side of the top panel 12 by various means, including adhesives, melting and mechanical fasteners. Furthermore, the stiffener panel 28 may comprise a plate that is inserted inside the collapsible container 10 with the fabric of top panel 12 or 14 disposed on top of the stiffener panel 28, or fastened to a periphery of the stiffener panel 28.

Referring briefly to FIG. 6, the stiffener panel 28 may be included with the top panel 12. The stiffener panel 28 may be sized to be complimentary to the top panel 12 and may be abuttingly disposed against the top panel 12 or to comprise the top panel 12. The stiffener panel 28 may be configured to provide a greater degree of rigidity or stiffness than that which may be provided by the combination of the flexible material of the top panel 12 with the tension loop 20. The stiffener panel 28 may be fabricated from a sheet of plastic or MDS.

As is shown in FIGS. 5-8, one or more hanger members 30 may be attached to the top panel 12 of collapsible container 10 to hang or support the container 10. The hanger members 30 may take several forms, including hook and loop straps connected to the top 12, through hole 32 extending through the top penal 12. The hanger members 30 connect to a closet pole 34 of a clothes closet. The hangers 30 preferably comprise hooks or hangers removably passing through a hole 32 in the top panel 12. More than one hanger 30 and hole 32 may be used and is desirable is the weight carried by the container 10 is large. If one hanger 30 is used it and its through-hole 32 are preferably located in the middle of the top panel 12. If two or more hangers 30 are used (FIG. 7), then the holes 32 and hanger members 30 are both preferably on a line through the middle of the top panel and perpendicular to the side having the main access opening to compartments 22, although they can be at other orientations as shown in FIG. 7.

Each hanger element 30 extends through a hole 32 formed in the top panel 12 and in the stiffener panel 28, if included. The hanger elements 30 may be configured to be removably engaged to the horizontally-disposed pole 34 so the hanger 30 may be configured in a shape similar to the shape of a standard clothes hanger. If plural hangers are used, the spacing of the hanger elements 30 is preferably such that the vertical loads may be substantially evenly distributed to the side wall 18 and to any divider panel 26 of the collapsible container 10. Ideally, one or more hanger elements 30 are used, and the hangers are optionally mounted so they can swivel parallel to the plane of the top panel 12 to allow the hanger 30 to face any side of the container 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, the hanger 30 has a first curved end 40 configured to hook over closet pole 34, and an opposing, second end 42 configured to pass through hole 32 and fasten to a top connector 44 located on the opposing side of the top panel 12 as is the first hanger end 40. The first, hook end 40 is on the external side of the container 10 and the second end 42 is on the inside of the container. Typically, the second end 42 is straight and has external threads, with the top connector 44 having internal threads and optionally having an enlarged portion 43 (FIG. 6) formed by deforming or molding that is larger than the hole 32 to prevent pull through. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the entire hanger 30 may be bent of a single piece of wire with the curved end 40 passed through hole 32 and a bent end 44 configured so it cannot pass through the hole 32 but is large enough and strong enough to support the container(s) 10. Support plates or stiffeners 43 may be provided as needed to spread the load from the hanger 30 to the panels 12 (or 14). If heavy loads are held by container 10, then two hooks 30 can be used to hang the container 10 from the closet pole 34 or other support, with the hooks passing through two spaced apart holes 32. If needed, a third hook 30 can pass through the center hole 32.

The edge forming hole 32 is preferably reinforced and/or strengthened by a liner 46. A metal or plastic grommet or other hard casing material is believed suitable for liner 46. Plastic or metal plates clamping the top panel 12 between them and with hole 32 extending therethrough are also believed suitable for liner 46, and offer the advantage of spreading the load over the area of the plates which area can be increased to far exceed the area of a grommet and thus avoid pull-through of the connection. The top connector 44 may be sized to correspond with the size of the liner 46, or it may be larger in size in order to distribute the weight of the container 10 over the top panel 12. The hanger 30 is preferably removably fastened to the container 10 by top connector 44.

The bottom panel 14 also has one or more holes 32 with optional strengthening liners 46. Metal or plastic grommets are believed to provide suitable liners. The holes 32 in the top and bottom panels 12, 14 preferably coincide, but optionally the hole 32 in bottom panel 14 could comprise a single hole centered in the bottom panel 14 while the top panel 12 has plural holes for plural hangers 30.

To provide for adjustable length containers, two or more shorter containers 10 are connected using one of the holes 32 and a connector 48.

The connection of adjacent containers 10 is achieved by aligning the hole 32 in the bottom panel 14 of the upper container 10 with the corresponding hole 32 in the top panel 12 of the lower container 10. The connector 48 passes through these aligned holes 32 to fasten the containers 10 together and hang or suspend the lower container from the upper container and hanger 30 on that upper container.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 connector 48 is shown as having two parts, the first of which is male fastener 50 having an externally threaded shank 52 and head 54. The head 54 is larger than the hole 32 which the shank 52 is smaller than the hole 32. Advantageously, the head 54 is has a flat end in order to present a low profile that does not extend above the panel 14 appreciably. The second part is a female receiver 56 having an internally threaded recess 58 and a head 60, which head is preferably flat to present a low profile. The shank in which the recess 58 is formed is small enough to fit through hole 32 and the head 60 is larger than the hole 32. The threads in recess 56 are configured to releasably engage the threads on shank 52. Thus, one of the heads 54, 60 abuts the hole liner 46 on panel 12 and the other head abuts the hole liner 46 on the other panel 14. If the heads 54, 60 are larger than the hole liners 46 and configured to avoid abutting the liners, then one of the heads 54, 60 abuts the panel 12 and the other head abuts the other panel 14. The weight on the lower container 10 passes through the joined panels 12, 14 via connector 48, through the upper container 10 and its hanger 30. Heads 50, 60 may have exterior or interior wrenching surfaces to make it easier to tighten the connector parts 50, 56.

Advantageously, the holes 32 through which connector 48 passes are centrally located in panels 12, 14. If plural holes 32 and plural connectors 48 are used, the holes 32 are aligned. But if only one pair of holes 32 are used with connector 48, then the joined containers 10 can rotate separately or together, depending on the connector 40. If plural connectors are used or if a single connector 40 is configured to securely clamp the adjacent top panel 12 of the lower container 10 to the bottom panel 14 of the upper container, then the clamping causes the joined containers to rotate together. Alternatively, placing a second connector 48 through a second set of aligned holes 32 would restrain relative rotation of the containers joined by the pair of connectors 48. If the load placed in a lower container 10 is heavy then it may be desirable to use plural connectors 48 (FIG. 7) to connect adjacent containers 10. If plural connectors are used, they may be offset from the centerline 15 and located toward the outer periphery 12a, 14a of the panels 12, 14 so the load transfers more directly to the side walls 18 of the containers 10. If plural connectors 48 are used to connect adjacent containers 10, then the joined containers do not rotate relative to each other.

Conversely, if the connector 40 is configured to connect the adjacent top panel 12 of the lower container 10 to the bottom panel 14 of the upper container, loose enough to allow relative rotation of the adjacent panels 12, 14 then the lower container 10 can rotate relative to the upper container 10. This loose connection can be achieved by having the relative length of the connector parts or fasteners 50, 56 long enough so the connectors 48 do not clamp the adjacent panels 12, 14 together and instead allow them to separate enough so they rotate relative to each other. As appropriate, an adhesive may be applied to the mating threads on the connector parts or fasteners 50, 56 to prevent unintended loosening of the connector 48. Other thread locking means can be used in addition to adhesives, including lock nuts, lock washers, double nuts, interference fits, deformations of the receiver 56, set screws and other mechanisms to restrain unintended unthreading of joints.

Preferably the male fastener 50 has its head 54 abutting the bottom panel 14 of the upper joined container 10, with the threaded shank 52 passing through the aligned holes 32. The head 60 is preferably about the size of the grommet forming the hole liner 46 or slightly smaller to reduce snagging of materials placed on the bottom panel 14. A fastener head 54 of about 1.7 cm diameter is believed suitable when used with a grommet having a diameter of about 1.8 cm around a hole 32 about 1 cm diameter. The female receiver 56 preferably extends upward with the shank containing internal recess 58 passing through holes 32 to threadingly engage male shank 52 and with the female head 60 abutting the grommet forming liner 46 on the top panel 12 of the lower joined container 10. When the mating threads of male fastener 50 and female receiver 56 are fully engaged, the distance between the heads 54, 60 is about 2 cm. and that allows slight tilting out of a plane parallel to panels 12, 16, and allows relative rotation of the joined panels 12, 16 and the containers associated with those joined panels. The specific dimensions will vary with the size of the parts, specifically including the fasteners 50, 56 and hole liner 46 if present. If the connector 48 clamps the joined panels 12. 16 together tightly or if a second connector 48 joins the panels then no relative rotation occurs. If a single connector 48 joining the panels 12, 14 is used, and if the connection is loose enough to avoid friction binding, then relative rotation can occur between joined panels 12, 16 and the containers associated with each panel.

Advantageously, the head 60 of female receiver 56 is smaller than the abutting hole liner 46 so that the lower suspended container 10 can swivel about the smaller head 60. A head 60 with a diameter of about 1.1 cm is believed suitable with the preferred parts described in this paragraph. The larger head 54 prevents pull through of the connector 48, while the smaller head 60 facilitates swiveling and rotation of the lower joined container 10 but is strong enough to carry the weight on the lower joined container 10 and also prevent pull through. Preferably, but optionally, the portion of the hole liner 46 that abuts the female head 60 is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the shank and recess 58 to facilitate rotation of female head 60.

It is preferred for the holes 32 in panels 12, 14 to be similarly located, but not required. Thus, it may be advantageous to configure a container 10 having an upper panel 12 additional holes 32 to accommodate more hangers 30, than are found in bottom panel 14.

The containers 10 can be provided in a variety of configurations with varying numbers of intermediate panels 16 and compartments 22. A plurality of these variously configured containers 10 having holes 32 and optional liners 46 can be joined by connectors 48. The connectors 48 thus allow a wide variation in configuration of the compartments 22. For example, FIG. 7 shows first and second containers 10a, 10b each having two compartments, with abutting ends joined by connector 48, and with a bottom container 10c having a single compartment joined by another connector 48. The bottom container 10c has two connectors 48 joining containers 10b and 10c so they cannot rotate relative to each other. Alternatively, the central connector 48 could be tightened enough to restrain relative rotation of containers 10b and 10c. Since the connectors 48 can be used to join adjacent containers 10 with rotation or without rotation, a variety of relatively rotating sections can also be achieved in a single suspended container.

The combined length of the short containers is relative to the available length below the pole 34 (FIG. 6) or other hook or connection to which the hanger 30 fastens. Each short container 10 is preferably less than half the distance from the pole 34 to the floor below the pole so that two short containers 10 can be connected bottom to top to hang from a single hanger 30. Typically, the “short” containers 10 are less than about 40 inches long, and more preferably about 30 inches long or shorter. But the length can vary and the joined suspended containers can include containers 10 of different length. Thus, for example, three containers 10 having lengths of 5 inches, 10 inches and 15 inches are possible, with one or two layers of external pockets 17 on various ones of these containers 10. Those three containers 10 can be joined to a container 29 or 30 inches long and that assembly hung from most common closet poles 34.

By providing access to one or more connectors 48, and hanger 30/44, and providing access to two or more of the containers 10, a kit may be compiled that allows various configurations of a suspended container, with the possibility of having portions of the suspended container rotate relative to other parts. Because the hanger 30/44 can be fastened to the top panel 12 of any container 10, the order of the containers can be varied. Because the heads 54, 60 on connector 48 are both flat, the heads do not limit the use of any compartment containing the connector 48 and head 54. The same applies to the head 60.

In use, a first container 10 is selected for use as an upper container and hanger 30 is fastened to the top panel 12 using connector 44. A second container 10 is selected for use as a lower (or intermediate) container and the top panel 12 of that second container is fastened to the bottom panel 14 of the first container using connector 48. If desired, the process can be repeated and a third container 10 can be selected and the upper panel 12 of the third container connected to the lower panel 14 of the second container. The connectors 48 can be selected or adjusted to permit relative rotation, preferably by leaving a small gap between the exterior surfaces of adjacent joined panels 12, 14. Alternatively, the connector 48 can clamp the adjacent panels 14, 16 tightly together and restrain relative rotation or two connectors 48 can join the adjacent panels 14, 16 to restrain relative rotation. The top and bottom panels are provided with sufficiently stiff panels as needed to support the weight for which the connected containers 10 and supports such as hook 30 are designed to carry.

There is thus provided a method and apparatus for joining suspended containers that allows various arrangements of shelves and compartments and that allows the option of having various portions of the suspended containers rotate relative to other portions.

The above description is given by way of example and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention, including various ways of releasably joining the adjacent panels 12, 14. Furthermore, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but is to be defined by the following claims when read in the broadest reasonable manner to preserve the validity of the claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible container assembly, comprising:

a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel; and

a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel, the bottom panel defining a bottom panel perimeter, the bottom panel having a first centrally located hole therethrough;

first flexible walls connecting the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters, the walls defining at least one opening to an interior space defined by the first walls and first panels.

2. The collapsible container assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second stiff top panel defining a second top panel perimeter, the second top panel having a second centrally located hole therethrough located to align with the first hole in the first bottom panel;

a releasable connector passing through the aligned first and second holes to releasably fasten the first bottom panel to the first top panel;

a second stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the second top panel, the second bottom panel defining a second bottom panel perimeter; and

second flexible walls connecting the second top and second bottom panels adjacent the second panel perimeters, the second walls forming at least one opening to an interior space defined by the second walls and second panels.

3. The collapsible container assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one intermediate panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the first top panel and the first bottom panel and having an intermediate panel perimeter connected to the walls.

4. The collapsible container assembly of claim 2, further comprising a hook extending through the first hole in the first top panel, the hook configured to hang onto a closet pole.

5. The collapsible container assembly of claim 2, further comprising a liner on at least one of the first and second holes.

6. The collapsible container assembly of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises a male fastener having a head too large to fit through one of the first hole in the first bottom panel or the second hole in the second top panel, and further comprising a female fastener configured to releasably engage the male fastener and having a head too large to fit through one of the first hole in the first bottom panel or the second hole in the second top pane.

7. The collapsible container assembly of claim 6, further comprising a liner on each of the aligned holes.

8. The collapsible container assembly of claim 7, wherein the liner comprises a grommet.

9. The collapsible container assembly of claim 2, further comprising a second set of aligned holes in the first bottom panel and the second top panel with a second releasable connector passing through the second set of aligned holes and fastening the first bottom panel to the second top panel.

10. The collapsible container assembly of claim 3, further comprising a hook extending through the first hole in the first top panel, the hook configured to hang onto a closet pole, and further comprising a liner on the aligned holes.

11. A collapsible container assembly, comprising:

a plurality of collapsible containers each having a stiff top panel and a stiff bottom panel joined by flexible sides having an opening therein to allow access to a space defined by the top and bottom panels and the sides, each top and bottom panel having a centrally located hole therethrough;

a releasable connector extending through the hole through the bottom panel of one container and the hole through the top panel of another container to connect those bottom and top panels and to connect the containers associated with those connected bottom and top panels, so that the plurality of containers are connected by releasable connectors.

12. The collapsible container assembly of claim 11, further comprising a hook passing through the hole in an unconnected top panel, the hook configured to hang over a closet pole.

13. The collapsible container assembly of claim 11, wherein the releasable connector comprises a male and female fastener.

14. The collapsible container assembly of claim 11, wherein the releasable connector allows relative rotation of the first and second containers about the releasable connector.

15. A kit for a collapsible container, comprising:

a first collapsible container, comprising: a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel; a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel, the bottom panel defining a bottom panel perimeter, the bottom panel having a first centrally located hole therethrough; first flexible walls connecting the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters, the walls defining at least one opening to an interior space defined by the walls and panels;

a releasable fastener configured to extend through the first hole in the bottom panel to fasten two adjacent panels together; and

a hanger configured to pass through the first hole and having a hook portion configured to engage a closet pole.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the releasable fastener comprise a male fastener with a male head and a threaded shank and a female fastener having female head and a tubular portion with a recess configured to engage the shank, the tubular portion fitting through first hole in the bottom panel with the heads configured so they do not fit through the first hole.

17. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a liner on at least one of the first and second holes.

18. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a second collapsible container which comprises:

a second stiff top panel defining a second top panel perimeter, the second top panel having a second centrally located hole therethrough located to align with the first hole in the first bottom panel;

a second stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the second top panel, the second bottom panel defining a second bottom panel perimeter; and

second flexible walls connecting the second top and second bottom panels adjacent the second panel perimeters, the second walls forming at least one opening to an interior space defined by the second walls and second panels.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second collapsible containers comprises:

at least one intermediate panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the top panel and the bottom panel of the at least one collapsible container and further having an intermediate panel perimeter connected to the walls of the at least one collapsible container.