NESTABLE HAMPER WITH MULTI-SEGMENTED LID

Abstract

A nestable hamper has a multi-segmented lid. The body of the hamper includes a wire frame with a fabric material stretched across the frame to form the bottom and side surfaces of the hamper. The hamper has a narrower base and a wider top, thereby allowing multiple instances of the hamper to be vertically stacked, with each hamper being nested within the similarly-constructed hamper immediately below. A flexible periphery of the lid permits the lid to be insertable through a top opening of the hamper that is smaller in dimension that that of the lid, enabling the lid to rest adjacent a back interior surface of the hamper, thereby permitting multiple instances of the hamper to be stacked and nested compactly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/304,171, filed Mar. 5, 2016, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to garment storage and, more particularly, to laundry hampers for storing and transporting garments prior to laundering them.

2. General Background of the Invention

Laundry and garment hampers have been in use for some time. It is often desirable for laundry hampers to include some form of cover, in order to conceal soiled garments contained therein as they await laundering, to largely contain any concomitant odors within the hamper's interior, and to retain the garments within the hamper during transport. A prior art laundry hamper with an attached cover is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D279,038 to Thompson, Jr.

Laundry hampers can be relatively large in size and, like many articles that are displayed and sold in a retail setting, and that are transported in bulk prior to retail sale, there is sometimes a desire to store multiple instances of laundry hampers in a relatively compact space. U.S. Pat. No. 9,174,769 discloses a laundry hamper wherein multiple instances of the hamper may be nested together in a relatively compact space.

Prior art laundry hampers with attached lids generally do not lend themselves to stacking and nesting multiple instances of the hampers compactly, as their associated lids are generally too large, or not properly configured, to be disposed within the interior of the hamper when not in use, and thus interfere with efficient nesting of the hampers.

Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry hamper having a lid, yet is still capable of being stacked in a compact, nested fashion.

This and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a nestable hamper having a multi-segmented, attached or integrally formed lid. The body of the hamper includes a wire frame with a fabric material stretched across the frame to form the various bottom and side surfaces of the hamper. The hamper has a narrower base and a wider top, thereby allowing multiple instances of the present invention to be vertically stacked, with each hamper being nested within the similarly-constructed hamper immediately below. It is the shape and construction of the present hamper's fabric lid that permits the hamper to be nestable, without having to remove the lid from the remainder of the structure. Thus, the lid may be integrally formed with, or permanently affixed to, the body of the hamper.

The lid's construction includes two segments having relatively rigid inner stiffening material, such as paperboard, each covered with a fabric material. One segment forms an associated panel serving as a top covering for the hamper, when the lid is deployed in the closed position, and another segment serves as a front flap that, once so deployed, overlying a portion of the front outer surface of the hamper. These two panels are separated with a linear region of fabric being disposed between them, thus creating a hinged region corresponding with the front opening of the hamper, which allows the lid to bend and center itself over the front top opening of the hamper, thereby keeping the structure of the lid centered and in place when in the closed position.

Notably, the size, shape and construction of the lid enable it to be repositioned inwardly and vertically downwards, through the top opening of the hamper and adjacent the inner back panel of the hamper's interior. This, in turn, allows the hamper's structure to be nested compactly with other instances of like construction during freight thereby reducing shipping costs as well as improving merchandising by allowing the structure to be nested and presented to consumers with the entire hamper (body and lid) in one piece.

The design of the lid is such that the rigid stiffeners are narrower in dimension than the surrounding fabric of the overall lid itself, and the side and front perimeter region of the lid thus consists entirely fabric. In an embodiment of the invention, there is a 2 to 3 centimeter fabric lip forming the side and front periphery of the lid that allows for this flexibility, such that the lid can be positioned inwardly, down and through the top opening of the hamper and disposed against the inner rear surface of the hamper, without having to bend or deform the stiffener. While the hamper is tapered vertically, and while the side-to-side width and rear-to-front dimensions of the lid are somewhat larger in dimension that the corresponding dimensions of the top opening of the hamper, this flexible periphery of the lid enables the lid to be disposed inwardly, adjacent the inner back panel of the hamper, to enable multiple instances of the hamper to be stacked in a nested configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a nestable hamper of the present invention, with the lid in a partially open position;

FIG. 2 is an elevated, perspective view of the nestable hamper of FIG. 1, with the front and side surfaces of the body being shown in phantom to better show the lid in an inwardly disposed position;

FIG. 3 is an elevated, perspective view of the nestable hamper of FIG. 1, with the lid in a closed position; and

FIG. 4 is an elevated side view of four instances of the nestable hamper of FIG. 1, nested together and with each having its associated lid in an inwardly disposed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

An embodiment of the present nestable hamper 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 as comprising body 15 having support frame 20, fabric covering 30, and lid 40. Support frame 20 comprises a framework consisting of a plurality of interconnected bars or rods 21, over which fabric or textile material 30 is stretched, forming a plurality of planar panels, namely front panel 22, rear panel 23, left panel 24, right panel 25, and bottom panel 26. These panels collectively form a container closed on five sides and having a top aperture or opening 27. Handles 35 are attached to the exterior of left panel 24 and right panel 25, facilitating the grasping and transport of nestable hamper 10 for individual transport. The width and depth of top opening 27 are both larger in dimension than the corresponding dimensions of bottom panel 26. As a result, body 25 is progressively tapered from top to bottom in both width and depth, having the general shape of an inverted, truncated square pyramid, permitting multiple instances of body 15 to be stacked in a nested fashion. Moreover, front panel 22 of body 15 is shorter in height than rear panel 23. Resultantly, top opening 27 of body 15 is canted, or angled forward, back to front.

Lid 40 comprises three hinged segments, namely front flap segment 41, top cover segment 42, and rear attachment segment 43. Each lid segment, and lid 40 overall, may be constructed, for example, of fabric or textile material 50, such as by stitching together top and bottom layers of such material. Rear attachment segment 43 is coupled to the exterior surface of rear panel 23, such as by stitching. Front flap segment 41 further comprises an internal front strengthening member 45, which is generally trapezoidal in configuration. Top cover segment 42 further comprises an internal top strengthening member 46, which is generally rectangular in configuration. A third strengthening member may optionally be disposed within rear attachment segment 43 of lid 40. Each strengthening member is disposed within a top layer and a bottom layer of fabric material 50 of lid 40, and may be constructed of paperboard, cardboard, plastic, or other relatively thin yet substantially rigid material.

A front hinged region 51 of lid 40 is disposed between front flap segment 41 and top cover segment 42 of lid 40. A rear hinged region 52 of lid 40 is disposed between top cover segment 42 and rear attachment segment 43 of lid 40. Each hinged region may be constructed, for example, by one or more sets of stitching disposed transversely across the width of lid 40 and extending through the top and bottom layers of fabric material 50 of lid 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, top cover segment 42 of lid 40 is slightly larger, in both width and depth, than the corresponding dimensions of top opening 27 of body 15. In a fully closed position of lid 40, top cover segment 42 completely overlies and covers top opening 27, with periphery 60 on the left and right sides of top cover segment 42 extending outwardly beyond the dimensions of left panel 24 and right panel 25 of body 15. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, front flap segment 41 overlies and rests adjacent a corresponding upper region of front panel 22 of body 15 when lid 40 is in a fully closed position. Hook-and-loop or other suitable fasteners may optionally be employed to releasably couple front flap segment 41 to front panel 22 in order to further maintain lid 40 in its closed position.

Both front stiffening member 45 and top stiffening member 46 are shorter in dimension, in both width and depth, than that of top opening 27 of body 15 of nestable hamper 10. Moreover, front stiffening member 45 is shorter in dimension, in both width and depth, than that of front flap segment 41. Likewise, top stiffening member 46 is shorter in dimension, in both width and depth, than that of top cover segment 42.

As a result, the fabric covering 50 of lid 40 includes pliable peripheral region 60 extending about the left, right, and front sides of lid 40. Pliable peripheral region 60, which preferably is 2 to 3 centimeters in depth, thus forms a flexible lip about three sides of lid 40. Inasmuch as: (i) pliable peripheral region is foldable relative to the adjoining remainder of lid 40; (ii) the dimensions of front stiffening member 45 and top stiffening member 46 are less than those of the corresponding dimensions of top opening 27; and (iii) front flap segment 41 is hinged relative to top cover segment 42; front flap segment 41 and top cover segment 42 are capable of being positioned inwardly, through top opening 27, such that these segments may be positioned vertically, resting adjacent the inner surface of rear panel 23 of body 15, and with lid 50 being bent or folded proximate the outer edges of front flap segment 41 and top cover segment 42, as shown in FIG. 2.

Resultantly, and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of nestable hampers 10, each with its associated lid 40 disposed inwardly and resting adjacent an inner surface of a corresponding rear panel 23, may be stacked vertically in nested fashion. This, in turn, permits a plurality of nestable hampers 10 to be stored in a relatively compact space, for storage, shipping, and display purposes.

Although, in the illustrated embodiment, the hamper body is substantially rectangular in cross-section, other configurations are likewise contemplated by, and within the scope of, the invention. For example, the hamper body may alternatively be cylindrical, and either circular or oval in cross-section, with an associated lid that is either circular or oval in general shape. In such a configuration, the lid will continue to have a bendable or foldable peripheral region, disposed about an internal stiffener, that is larger in size than the top opening of the body. Moreover, in such a configuration, the lid, upon bending or folding of the peripheral region, will be capable of being disposed through the top opening of the body, to rest adjacent an inner surface of the body, thereby facilitating the nestable stacking of multiple instances of the hamper.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to embodiments of the invention having a square, rectangular, or otherwise shaped cross-section that the rear of the hamper body proximate the opening be taller than the front of the hamper body. In other words, it is not necessary that the hamper's top opening be sloped in configuration. The sloping configuration merely permits gravity to facilitate the lid falling into place more easily when closing the hamper.

Moreover, although, in the illustrated embodiment, the body of the hamper is constructed of fabric stretched over a wire frame, other manners of constructing the body are likewise contemplated. For example, the hamper's body may alternatively be constructed of a relatively rigid yet lightweight plastic material.

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of construction of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention.

Claims

1. A portable laundry storage container, multiple instances of which are stackable in nested fashion relative to each other, comprising:

a body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an opening having a perimeter;

a lid pivotably coupled to body, the lid being sized and positioned to overly and completely cover the opening when the lid is in a closed position;

a first strengthening member having a perimeter and operably coupled to the lid, the first strengthening member being smaller than and positionable through the opening;

the lid having a peripheral region extending outwardly beyond at least a portion of the perimeter of the first strengthening member and being bendable relative to an adjacent region of the lid, at least a portion of the peripheral region extending beyond the perimeter of the opening when the lid is in the closed position;

at least a portion of the lid being insertable through the opening of the body and positionable adjacent the interior surface of the body only upon bending at least a portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards the first strengthening member.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the lid further includes a second strengthening member having a perimeter and being operably coupled to the lid, the first strengthening member being associated with a first segment of the lid, the second strengthening member being associated with a second segment of the lid, the second segment of the lid being movable relative to the first segment of the lid.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral region further extends beyond a portion of the perimeter of the second strengthening member, at least a portion of the peripheral region extending outwardly beyond at least a portion of the perimeter of the second strengthening member.

4. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the first segment completely overlies and covers the opening of the body when the lid is in the closed position.

5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the second segment comprises a front flap of the lid, the second segment being positionable adjacent an outer front surface of the body when the lid is in the closed position.

6. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the first segment and the second segment are both insertable through the opening of the body and positionable adjacent the interior surface of the body upon bending at least a first portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards the first strengthening member and upon further bending a second portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards the second strengthening member.

7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the first segment and the second segment are both insertable through the opening of the body and positionable adjacent the interior surface of the body upon bending at least a portion of the peripheral region of the lid towards the second strengthening member.

8. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the body is substantially rectangular in cross-section and has a rear inner surface, at least a portion of the lid being positionable adjacent the rear inner surface of the body.

9. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the body is substantially rectangular in cross-section and has a rear inner surface, the first segment of the lid and the second segment of the lid both being insertable through the opening of the body and positionable adjacent the rear inner surface of the body.

10. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the first strengthening member is disposed within an interior of the lid.

11. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the second strengthening member is disposed within an interior of the lid.

12. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a bottom surface smaller in dimension than the opening, and wherein the body tapers progressively in size from the opening to the bottom surface.

13. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a frame over which a fabric material is stretched.

14. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a fabric material.

15. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to a rear panel of the body.

16. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising at least one handle operably coupled to the body.