Collapsible container and method of making and using same

A collapsible container having a plurality of side panels and a floor panel forming an enclosure having an open top. Each side panel comprises a flexible continuous loop frame, a web of material, and an edging material. The edging envelops the frame and is coupled to the periphery of the web. One or more handles may be attached to the container or formed within one or more of the side panels. A method of making and collapsing the container is also disclosed.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to household products and specifically to a collapsible container with handles and a method of making and using such a container for convenient storage and transportation of said items.

A typical household often encounters the need for temporary storage of garments prior to washing or cleaning. Regardless of the place where laundry or cleaning is done, either at home or in a commercial setting, soiled garments need to be sorted, stored, and eventually transported to a designated place. The present invention can be utilized for garment sorting, storage and transportation. At the same time, the present invention can also be used for other purposes, such as storage or transportation of toys or other objects. Accordingly, its use is not to be limited to storage or transportation of soiled garments.

Numerous devices are known in the art to provide effective storage of soiled garments, for example laundry baskets, conventional hampers, or clothing bags. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,625,973 to Weldon et al. teaches a laundry hamper comprising a rectangular frame having upper and lower portions that telescope within one another in a detachable manner. The lower portion includes a base frame, while the upper portion comprises a top frame. A cover is secured by a hinge to the top frame and an outer bag surrounds the rectangular frame. A plurality of small inner bags are provided within the outer bag. U.S. Pat. No. 1,581,888 to Thomas discloses a collapsible receptacle comprising two rectangular wire frames, hingedly secured together, means for holding the frames to form a triangularly shaped structure, and a fabric portion covering the frames and providing an enclosure.

However, all these prior art devices are voluminous in their expanded state, are uneasy to fold or collapse, are still relatively voluminous in their collapsed state, and are difficult to manipulate. The present invention solves the above-mentioned shortcomings and provides a convenient, easy to manipulate, and ergonomic means for storing or transporting garments or other objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to household products and specifically to a collapsible container and method of making and using the same.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other advantages are obtained by providing a collapsible container comprising a plurality of side panels and a floor panel forming an enclosure having an open top. In the preferred embodiment, each side panel comprises a flexible continuous loop frame, a web of material, and an edging material. The edging envelops the frame and is coupled to the periphery of the web. The floor panel is attached to the bottom side of each side panel thus forming the container.

In an alternate embodiment, each side panel is attached to a side panel separator, which in turn is connected to the next adjacent side panel. The floor panel is attached to both the bottom side of each side panel and to the side panel separators, thus providing means for holding articles within the container and for supporting the container in its expanded state.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, at least one handle member is coupled to opposite side panels at the open top of the container. Alternatively, the handle may be coupled to only one side panel or may be an aperture formed within one or more of the side panels.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an optional storage pouch may be coupled to one of the side panels at the open top of the container. The present invention is easily collapsed into a compact state and the pouch allows storage of the container in its collapsed, compact state.

In another alternate embodiment, the collapsible container further comprises a divider panel, the divided panel being attached to diagonally opposite edgings of the side panels. In yet another alternate embodiment, the collapsible container further comprises at least two divider panels, preferably arranged substantially parallel to each other and being coupled to opposite side panels to create at least three separate compartments within the container.

A preferred method of manufacturing the collapsible container includes the steps of attaching each handle member to a side of two opposite webs. The edging is next coupled to each web such that the edging surrounds the perimeter of the web and forms a channel or pocket through which the frame will later be inserted. After the requisite number of side panels has been formed, each side of the floor panel is attached to the bottom side of each side panel. Next, a side of each side panel is connected with a side of an adjacent side panel. The frame for each side panel is inserted through the channel formed by each edging. The ends of each frame member are connected, preferably using a crimped butt connector, to give the collapsible container its ability to freely stand in a rigid, expanded, upright state.

An alternate method of manufacturing the collapsible container includes the steps of attaching each handle member to a side of two opposite webs. Coupling the edging to each web such that the edging surrounds the perimeter of the web and forms a channel or pocket through which the frame will later be inserted. After the requisite number of side panels has been formed, each corner of the floor panel is attached to one end of each side panel separator. Next each side panel is connected with one side of the floor panel and with two adjacent side panel separators. The frame for each side panel is inserted through the channel formed by each edging. The ends of each frame member are connected, preferably using a crimped butt connector, to give the collapsible container its ability to freely stand in a rigid, expanded, upright state.

From the expanded state, the container can be folded and collapsed for storage or transportation. The preferred steps of collapsing the container include grasping opposite corners of the floor panel and biasing one corner toward the other until all side panels are adjacent and overlay each other. The container is now partially collapsed but each side panel is still in an expanded state. Next, the handle members and the floor panel are inserted in between any two of the adjacent overlaying side panels. By rotating two opposite corners of the flattened, overlaying side panels in opposite directions while biasing the two corners toward each other, the structure will form three overlaying circular loops folded adjacently. Finally, the three overlaying loops are placed into the storage pouch. The pouch prevents the container from springing back into its fully expanded condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 6A is a side plan view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 6B is a partially cut-away view from FIG. 2A showing the frame member 22.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the collapsible container.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the collapsible container.

FIGS. 9-12 depict four alternative embodiments of the collapsible container, namely showing different handle configurations.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the collapsible container including a storage pouch.

FIG. 14 is a front plan view of a fifth embodiment of the collapsible container, namely a two-compartment container.

FIG. 15 is a side plan view of a fifth embodiment of a fifth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a fifth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 18 is a front plan view of a sixth embodiment of the collapsible container, namely a three-compartment container.

FIG. 19 is a side plan view of a sixth embodiment of a fifth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a sixth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the collapsible container.

FIGS. 22A through 30 depict the preferred method of manufacturing the collapsible container.

FIGS. 31 through 36 depict the method of collapsing the collapsible container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

The present invention, a collapsible container 10, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container 10 comprises four rectangular side panels 20, a floor panel 50, and two handles 60 and 62. The side and floor panels 20 and 50 are connected to one another to form a substantially rectangular container having an open top 16.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 and as seen in detail in FIG. 6A, each side panel 20 further comprises a frame 22, a web 24, and an edging 26. The frame 22 is flexible, preferably formed from a sufficiently stiff yet resilient, material such as spring steel wire or plastic, and is contained within the channel or pocket 25 formed by the edging 26. The frame 22 forms a continuous loop. Preferably, the frame 22 has a rectangular cross-section, but a material with a different geometric cross-section can be used. The web 24 is a flexible foldable material, such as nylon cloth or nylon mesh, but can be any suitably flexible material. The nylon, or other flexible material, may be solid or perforated. The perimeter of the web 24 is stitched to the edging 26 such that the edging 26 forms a pocket 25 about the periphery of the web 24. The edging 26 is a foldable, but stretch-resistant material capable of housing the frame 22 within its pocket 25. The edging 26 has two ends 27 and 29.

A seam cover 28, also made out of a foldable stretch-resistant material, may be provided to cover the ends 27 and 29 of the edging 26, thereby protecting the frame 22 from escaping out of the edging 26. As shown in FIG. 1, the seam cover 28 is also stitched to the web 24.

As shown in FIG. 7, the floor panel 50 is also a foldable web of material and has a generally rectangular shape. The floor panel 50 has four corner sections 52, 54, 56, 58 and is attached to four substantially perpendicular sides 51, 53, 55, 57 of each side panel 20. The floor panel 50 provides means for holding the garments or other objects (not shown) within the container 10 and for supporting the container 10 in its expanded state.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the preferred embodiment of the collapsible container 10 is shown. The preferred embodiment includes side panel separators 40 located between each side panel 20. However, it should be noted that the side panel separators 40 are not required to practice the present invention. The side panel separators 40 are shown to be substantially longitudinal, each including an end 42 attached preferably by means of stitching to one of the corner sections 52, 54, 56, 58 of the floor panel 50. The other end 44 of each separator 40 corresponds to the open top 16 of the container 10. The side panel separators 40 are preferably formed from a stretch-resistant material similar to the material used for the seam covers 28 or the edging 26.

As shown in FIG. 6A, each rectangularly-shaped side panel 20 includes a top side 32 corresponding to the open top 16 of the container 10, a floor side 34 attached to one of the sides 51, 53, 55, 57 of the floor panel 50, and two lateral sides 36 and 38. Referring just to FIG. 6A, each lateral side 36 and 38 is attached to a side panel separator 40 adjacent to the side panel 20.

As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 8, the handles 60 and 62 have both ends connected to the top side 32 of two opposing side panels 20. The handles 60 and 62 are formed from a stretch-resistant material having a mesh web that extends between a portion of each strap side. The handles for the present invention are not limited to the particular type shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Several alternate embodiments are shown in FIGS. 9 through 12, illustrating different handle members. In FIG. 9, the handle members 60 and 62 are straps stitched to opposite side panels. FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment wherein the handle members 60 and 62 are apertures or openings formed in the webs 24 of two opposite side panels 20. In FIG. 11, one handle member 60 is shown as a strap coupled to diagonally opposed side seam separators 40. In FIG. 12, the handles 60 and 62 are preferably stitched directly to the webs 24 of two opposite side panels 20.

As shown in FIG. 13, an optional storage pouch 70 may be formed from a foldable material, such as nylon mesh, and stitched to the side 32 of one of the side panels 20. The storage pouch 70 is dimensioned to accommodate the container 10 in its collapsed state as later described.

Although stitching is presented as the preferred means for attaching or connecting the elements of the container 10 and permitting relatively convenient folding of the container 10, it is to be understood that other methods of attachment can be used in this invention. Such of methods may include heat sealing, gluing and the like. Accordingly, construction of the collapsible container should not be limited to stitching alone.

FIGS. 14 through 17 depict an alternative embodiment of the collapsible container 12. The container 12 further includes a divider panel 80. Divider panel 80 is connected to opposite side seam separators 40 thereby dividing the interior of the container 12 into two separate chambers.

FIGS. 18 to 21 show a second alternate embodiment of the collapsible container 14. The container 14 comprises six side panels 20 and two divider panels 80 and 82. The divider panels 80 and 82 are arranged substantially parallel to one another. Each divider panel 80 and 82 is made out of a foldable material, such as nylon mesh, and has two sides 86 and 88 stitched to webs 24 of two opposite side panels 20. The divider panels 80 and 82 separate the interior of the container 14 into three separate compartments for improved sorting and storage of objects.

FIGS. 22 to 30 show various stages in the manufacturing process of the preferred embodiment of collapsible container 10. Referring to FIGS. 22A and 22B, the step of stitching the handle 60 to the top side 32 of two (2) of the webs 24 is shown. Specifically, the stitching is shown at 90.

In FIG. 23, a seam cover 28 is partially stitched to side 21 of each of the four (4) webs 24. In the two (2) webs having handles 60 or 62, the seam cover 28 is placed and sewn opposite to the handle 60 or 62. Each seam cover 28 is preferably placed in the middle of the side 21 and includes a flap or unstitched portion, but it is to be understood that it could be placed anywhere on any side of each of the webs 24. Referring now to FIG. 24B, the edging 26 is then folded in a channel-like fashion around the periphery of the web 24 and stitched to the web 24, surrounding the perimeter of the web 24. The stitching is shown at 28. The stitched edging 26 forms a pocket 25 around the periphery of each web 24. In the preferred embodiment, each container 10 requires four (4) webs 20. The two (2) sides including the web 24, edging 26 and seam cover 28 are shown in FIG. 20 and the two (2) sides including the handle 60, web 24, edging 26 and seam cover 28 are shown in FIG. 25. Stitching of each edging 26 starts and ends at the seam cover 28, thereby leaving a small space between ends 27 and 29 of each edging 26.

In FIGS. 26A and 26B, the next step involves stitching each corner section 52, 54, 56, 58 of the floor panel 50 to the end 42 of each side panel separator 40. The stitching is shown at 46. Now referring to FIGS. 27 and 28, the step of attaching each of the four side panels 20 by means of stitching to the floor panel 50 and the side panel separators 40 is shown. The two (2) side panels 20 containing the handles 60 and 62 should be positioned opposite each other with the handles 60 and 62 facing inwardly toward each other. First, the floor side 34 of each of the side panels 20 is stitched to one of the sides 51, 53, 55, 57 of the floor panel 50 as shown in FIG. 23. Still referring to FIG. 23, next the lateral sides 36 of each of the side panels 20 is stitched to the corresponding adjacent side panel separator 40. As shown in FIG. 28, once the first lateral side 36 of a side panel separator 40 is stitched on one side, the second lateral side 38 of another side panel separator 40 is stitched to the other side. The resulting enclosure 90 is shown in FIG. 29.

As discussed previously, the container 10 may be constructed without the side panel separators 20. In constructing the embodiment without side panel separators, the two (2) side panels 20 containing the handles 60 and 62 are positioned opposite each other with their handles 60 and 62 facing inwardly toward each other. The floor side 34 of each of the side panels 20 is stitched to one of the sides 51, 53, 55, 57 of the floor panel 50. Next the lateral sides 36 of each of the side panels 20 are stitched to an adjacent side panel 20 thus forming the container 10 having an open top 16.

The final steps of the manufacturing process of the present invention involve inserting the frame 22 in one of the open ends 27 or 29 of each of the edgings 26 as shown in FIG. 30. The frame 22 is passed through the edging 26 and around the periphery of each of the side panels 20. The ends of the frame 22 are joined together such that the frame 22 forms a continuous loop. In the preferred embodiment, the frame ends are connected by inserting each end into a butt connector and crimping the connector. Finally, the unstitched portion of each seam cover 28 is stitched to side 21 of each web 24 and over the ends 27 and 29 of each edging 26, thereby protecting the frame 22 from escaping the edgings 26.

From the expanded state, the container 10 may be folded into a collapsed state for storage and transportation. FIGS. 31 to 36 show various steps for collapsing the container 10. Referring to FIG. 31, the first step requires grasping opposite sides of the container 10 and biasing one toward the other until all side panels 20 are adjacent and overlie each other. The next step includes inserting the handle members 60 and 62 and the floor panel 50 in between any two of the adjacent overlying side panels 20 is shown in FIG. 32. It is important to make sure that the storage pouch 70 remains outside of the collapsed side panels 20. In the preferred embodiment, the resulting partially collapsed container 10 is a stack of four side panels 20. FIGS. 33 and 34 show the next step of rotating two opposite corners 101 and 103 of the partially collapsed container 10 in opposite directions while biasing the corners 101, 103 toward each other. The container 10 will first twist and then will rotate to form three overlying circular loops 150 situated adjacently as shown in FIG. 35. The final step, shown in FIG. 36, is the insertion of the collapsed container 10 into the storage pouch 70.

When the collapsed container 10 is removed from the storage pouch 70, the frame members 22 will bias the container 10 into its fully expanded state. Again, the fully expanded state of the preferred embodiment is that shown in FIG. 4.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible container having an open top, said collapsible container comprising:

a plurality of adjacent side panels, each of said side panels including a continuous, non- interrupted, planar web having a perimeter, an edging attached to substantially the entire perimeter of the web and forming a continuous peripheral pocket, and a continuous loop frame;
the frame being positioned within the continuous pocket;
each of said side panels having a bottom side, a top side and two lateral sides;
a floor panel having a plurality of sides, each of said floor panel sides being attached to at least one of said side panel bottom sides;
each of said lateral sides of each side panel being attached to the lateral side of an adjacent side panel.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels.

3. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture being formed within at least one side panel.

4. The collapsible container of claim 1, further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top.

5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular.

6. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of side panels if four.

7. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible.

8. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number.

9. A collapsible container having an open top, said container comprising:

a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels including a web having a perimeter, an edging attached to the perimeter of the web and forming a pocket, and a continuous loop frame;
the frame being positioned within the edging pocket;
each of said side panels having a bottom side and at least two lateral sides;
a plurality of side panel separators, said panel separators each having a first end, a second end, and two lateral sides;
a floor panel having a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner sections, each of said floor panel sides being attached to the bottom side of at least one of said side panels;
each corner section of said floor panel being coupled to the first end of one of said side panel separators; and
each of said lateral sides of each side panel separator being attached to a lateral side of a side panel.

10. The collapsible container of claim 9, further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels.

11. The collapsible container of claim 9, further comprising a seam cover attached to said side panels and substantially enveloping a predetermined portion of said edging.

12. The collapsible container of claim 9, further comprising at least one aperture being formed within at least one side panel.

13. The collapsible container of claim 9, further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top.

14. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular.

15. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number.

16. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein said web of each of said side panels is flexible web of material.

17. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible.

18. A method of collapsing a collapsible container comprising a plurality of side panels, a floor panel, a plurality of side panel separators, at least one handle member, and a storing structure, said method comprising the steps of:

biasing a corner of said collapsible container toward an opposite corner until said side panels are adjacent and overlie each other;
inserting said handle members and said floor panel between two of said adjacent side panels;
rotating two opposite corners of said adjacent overlying side panels in opposite directions;
biasing said two corners toward each other and forming three adjacent circular loops overlying each other;
inserting said adjacent overlaying circular loops into said storing structure.

19. A collapsible container having an open top, said container comprising:

a plurality of side panels, each of said side panels including a continuous, non - interrupted, planar web having a perimeter, an edging attached to the perimeter of the web and forming a pocket, and a continuous loop frame;
the frame being positioned within the edging pocket;
each of said side panels having a bottom side and at least two lateral sides;
a plurality of side panel separators, said panel separators each having a first end, a second end, and two lateral sides;
a floor panel having a plurality of sides and a plurality of corner sections, each of said floor panel sides being attached to the bottom side of at least one of said side panels;
each corner section of said floor panel being coupled to the first end of one of said side panel separators; and
each of said lateral sides of each side panel separator being attached to a lateral side of a side panel.

20. The collapsible container of claim 19, further comprising at least one handle member, said handle member being secured to at least one of said side panels.

21. The collapsible container of claim 19, further comprising a seam cover attached to said side panels and substantially enveloping a predetermined portion of said edging.

22. The collapsible container of claim 19, further including a storage pouch, said storage pouch being coupled to one of said side panels near said open top.

23. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said side panels are substantially rectangular.

24. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said plurality of side panels is an even number.

25. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said web of each of said side panels is flexible web of material.

26. The collapsible container of claim 19, wherein said frame of each of said side panels is flexible.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
177749 March 1876 Redden
216227 June 1879 Sedgwick
217362 July 1879 Gardner
218277 August 1879 Kilham
251325 December 1881 Walters
338892 March 1886 Walker
344340 June 1886 Barrow
356301 January 1887 Belknap
414622 November 1889 Willits
481957 September 1892 Klank
665942 January 1901 Tabler
929430 July 1909 Hill
945918 January 1910 Crawford
975745 November 1910 Bower
1087702 February 1914 Van Patten
1135892 April 1915 Grosenbeck
1144643 June 1915 Elkins
1155475 October 1915 Fay
1180574 April 1916 Despot
1181829 May 1916 Bower
1206618 November 1916 Thrasher
1251560 January 1918 Myshow
1263294 April 1918 Taylor
1308268 July 1919 Wagner et al.
1360844 November 1920 Williams
1394007 October 1921 Hall
1520532 December 1924 Clark
1538260 May 1925 Street et al.
1581888 April 1926 Thomas
1583083 May 1926 Macaraig
1640083 August 1927 Ladd
1647679 November 1927 Williams
1691904 November 1928 Gamble
1703066 February 1929 Horn
1836297 December 1931 Vienna
1979978 November 1934 Martin
1994235 March 1935 Solomon
1999424 April 1935 Seitz
2009035 July 1935 Towers
2042888 June 1936 Flood
2057942 October 1936 Fay
2071850 February 1937 Miller
2115308 April 1938 Koch
2136761 November 1938 Simmons
2182932 December 1939 Sanford
2269574 January 1942 Benenfeld
2280601 April 1942 Otter
2295584 September 1942 Larson
2298786 October 1942 Dubofsky et al.
2361743 October 1944 Butler
2544074 March 1951 Ernst et al.
2575893 November 1951 Seaman
2600501 June 1952 Higgs
2625973 January 1953 Weldon et al.
2639819 May 1953 Marks
2664131 December 1953 Miller
2710084 June 1955 Braverman
2721099 October 1955 Rupp
2724537 November 1955 Fehr
2746582 May 1956 Cart
2767757 October 1956 Marder
2778560 January 1957 Pfeiffer
2780402 February 1957 Zucker et al.
2833460 May 1958 Votolato
2879553 March 1959 Keating
2958357 November 1960 Vorgan
3014516 December 1961 Mueller
3017117 January 1962 Klingler
3061396 October 1962 Hock
3126933 March 1964 Mason et al.
3160307 December 1964 Morrison
3233644 February 1966 Bono
3257077 June 1966 Corning
3260396 July 1966 Buch
3265284 August 1966 Tompkins
3310089 March 1967 Silverman
3354924 November 1967 Birrell et al.
3373925 March 1968 Gatward
3410328 November 1968 Sasai
D213131 January 1969 Hamilton
3439865 April 1969 Port et al.
D215846 November 1969 Curtin et al.
3480059 November 1969 Schoening
3502091 March 1970 Corbin
3583748 June 1971 Arndt
3603367 September 1971 Lehrman
3661326 May 1972 Wilson
3675667 July 1972 Miller
3675981 July 1972 Mallander
3696850 October 1972 Rosenblum
3709237 January 1973 Smith
3727786 April 1973 Fausel
3732978 May 1973 Reader
3733758 May 1973 Maier et al.
3796342 March 1974 Sanders et al.
3799384 March 1974 Hurkamp
3807421 April 1974 Geiger et al.
3834528 September 1974 Pickford et al.
3843222 October 1974 Berkun
3868155 February 1975 Cherubini
3880459 April 1975 Kelley
3883026 May 1975 Selz
3893649 July 1975 Cornell et al.
3935958 February 3, 1976 Frangos
3946903 March 30, 1976 Parker
3955706 May 11, 1976 Whitaker
3960161 June 1, 1976 Norman
3987580 October 26, 1976 Ausnit
3990463 November 9, 1976 Norman
4010784 March 8, 1977 Nattrass et al.
4055239 October 25, 1977 Weiner
4073105 February 14, 1978 Daugherty
4094639 June 13, 1978 McMillan
4118089 October 3, 1978 Johnson et al.
4133149 January 9, 1979 Angress
4134225 January 16, 1979 Welch
4165757 August 28, 1979 Marks
4170082 October 9, 1979 Freedman
4180113 December 25, 1979 Liebling
4195804 April 1, 1980 Hujsak et al.
4212130 July 15, 1980 Walker
4246945 January 27, 1981 Sterling
4248278 February 3, 1981 Blodgett
4248442 February 3, 1981 Barrett
4265261 May 5, 1981 Barker
4287701 September 8, 1981 Washington
4299365 November 10, 1981 Battle
4313634 February 2, 1982 Williams
4352457 October 5, 1982 Weick
4401213 August 30, 1983 Lerner
4411300 October 25, 1983 Rico
4427110 January 24, 1984 Shaw, Jr.
D274662 July 10, 1984 Fausel
4485855 December 4, 1984 Dillingham
D279249 June 18, 1985 Fausel
4580776 April 8, 1986 Burkinshaw
4585283 April 29, 1986 Redmon et al.
4603432 July 29, 1986 Marino
4610394 September 9, 1986 Bryson
4630312 December 16, 1986 Milstein
4630747 December 23, 1986 Chiang et al.
D288019 January 27, 1987 Gebhard et al.
4635411 January 13, 1987 Kurzen
4646802 March 3, 1987 Basore et al.
D290538 June 23, 1987 Basore
4683927 August 4, 1987 Pyzer
4697357 October 6, 1987 Van Vilet
4706845 November 17, 1987 Schnurer et al.
4715572 December 29, 1987 Robbins, III et al.
4716918 January 5, 1988 Hayashida et al.
4728066 March 1, 1988 Lang et al.
4730748 March 15, 1988 Bane
4738478 April 19, 1988 Bean, Jr.
4747701 May 31, 1988 Perkins
4759518 July 26, 1988 Yardas
4779794 October 25, 1988 Moore
4781300 November 1, 1988 Long
4783031 November 8, 1988 Ebentheuer
4784248 November 15, 1988 Workman
4790029 December 6, 1988 LaFleur et al.
4813520 March 21, 1989 Lin
4815784 March 28, 1989 Zheng
4825892 May 2, 1989 Norman
4854501 August 8, 1989 Ricci
4858634 August 22, 1989 McLeese
4862602 September 5, 1989 Krill
4876829 October 31, 1989 Mattick
4895230 January 23, 1990 King
4899967 February 13, 1990 Johnson
4903584 February 27, 1990 Styles
4925102 May 15, 1990 Jones et al.
4940200 July 10, 1990 Sawyer et al.
4946118 August 7, 1990 Hastings
4948077 August 14, 1990 Gonzalez
4951333 August 28, 1990 Kaiser et al.
4953815 September 4, 1990 Beymer et al.
4964859 October 23, 1990 Feldman
4989749 February 5, 1991 Choi
4995487 February 26, 1991 Plath
D315432 March 12, 1991 Smith
5009189 April 23, 1991 Neff
5022767 June 11, 1991 Cardulla
5024262 June 18, 1991 Huang
5027748 July 2, 1991 Wolak
5031793 July 16, 1991 Chen et al.
5035460 July 30, 1991 Huang
5036999 August 6, 1991 Bitsch
5038812 August 13, 1991 Norman
5054507 October 8, 1991 Sparks
5072828 December 17, 1991 Irvine
5082219 January 21, 1992 Blair
5090588 February 25, 1992 Van Romer et al.
RE33842 March 10, 1992 Ebentheuer
5116138 May 26, 1992 Macsenti et al.
5118201 June 2, 1992 Cook
5134815 August 4, 1992 Pickett
5137044 August 11, 1992 Brady
5143283 September 1, 1992 Lancaster
5174462 December 29, 1992 Hames
5195649 March 23, 1993 Wolters
5213147 May 25, 1993 Zheng
5222513 June 29, 1993 Hilliard
5253775 October 19, 1993 Gould
5263672 November 23, 1993 He
5273142 December 28, 1993 Weber
5301705 April 12, 1994 Zheng
5324490 June 28, 1994 van Vlahakis et al.
5335805 August 9, 1994 Chen
5356024 October 18, 1994 Ho et al.
5358440 October 25, 1994 Zheng
5375267 December 27, 1994 Davis
5382087 January 17, 1995 Pouch
5393023 February 28, 1995 Callan
5394897 March 7, 1995 Ritchey et al.
5411046 May 2, 1995 Wan
5429437 July 4, 1995 Shaw et al.
5437384 August 1, 1995 Farrell
5437410 August 1, 1995 Babasade
5449083 September 12, 1995 Dougherty et al.
5464113 November 7, 1995 Ho et al.
5467794 November 21, 1995 Zheng
5468061 November 21, 1995 Friess et al.
5472280 December 5, 1995 Rittmaster
5474196 December 12, 1995 Fausel et al.
5492675 February 20, 1996 Brizard
5560385 October 1, 1996 Zheng
5576621 November 19, 1996 Clements
5593046 January 14, 1997 Katsuura et al.
5664596 September 9, 1997 Zheng
5664886 September 9, 1997 Hutchinson
5671479 September 30, 1997 Dedrick
5722446 March 3, 1998 Zheng
5746514 May 5, 1998 Orensten
5762530 June 9, 1998 Zheng
5778915 July 14, 1998 Zheng
5800067 September 1, 1998 Easter
5816279 October 6, 1998 Zheng
5816954 October 6, 1998 Zheng
5827104 October 27, 1998 Zheng
5845697 December 8, 1998 Zheng
5853313 December 29, 1998 Zheng
D406423 March 2, 1999 Kellogg et al.
D407765 April 6, 1999 Zheng
5901926 May 11, 1999 Zheng
5910038 June 8, 1999 Zheng
5910058 June 8, 1999 Zheng
5927793 July 27, 1999 McGrath, Jr.
5938496 August 17, 1999 Zheng
5941265 August 24, 1999 Zheng
5964533 October 12, 1999 Ziglar
5967357 October 19, 1999 Kellogg et al.
5971188 October 26, 1999 Kellogg et al.
5975101 November 2, 1999 Zheng
5992045 November 30, 1999 Kellogg et al.
5992676 November 30, 1999 Taxi
6006772 December 28, 1999 Zheng
6059912 May 9, 2000 Kellogg et al.
D431361 October 3, 2000 Kellogg et al.
D433810 November 21, 2000 Kellogg et al.
D438009 February 27, 2001 Kellogg et al.
6220998 April 24, 2001 Kellogg et al.
Foreign Patent Documents
2015649 February 1971 DE
41 14 916 November 1991 DE
589062 May 1925 FR
1380728 October 1964 FR
2635136 February 1990 FR
1367 May 1971 GB
6-42227 February 1994 JP
Patent History
Patent number: RE37924
Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 23, 2000
Date of Patent: Dec 10, 2002
Assignee: Bajer Design & Marketing, Inc. (Pewaukee, WI)
Inventors: Michael S. Kellogg (Oconomowoc, WI), Dean B. Krotts (Milwaukee, WI)
Primary Examiner: Stephen P. Garbe
Attorney, Agent or Law Firm: Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.C.
Application Number: 09/644,894