Receptacles – Flaccid wall material removably attached to skeletal framework
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2001-08-21
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Flaccid wall material removably attached to skeletal framework
C220S006000, C220S007000, C220S009200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276548
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to collapsible baskets.
2. Discussion of the Background Art
Collapsible baskets such as laundry and utility baskets and hampers are well known and useful. Typically, such baskets are made from frames supporting a bag having an open top. There is a need for a collapsible basket that is easily collapsed and reassembled and collapses into a small a volume as possible with the bag attached to the frame. It is also desirable that the basket be light-weight, strong, and safe such that it doesn't begin to collapse while in use. It is desirable that the basket be folded within the frame while still attached to the frame when the frame is collapsed for storage. It is also desirable that the frame may be built in a variety of sizes, shapes, and ratios of height to width and depth of the basket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A collapsible basket includes a collapsible frame having a collapsible sub-frame supported solely by collapsible frame sides. Each of the frame sides has a single pair of first and second leg members having first and second upper and lower ends. The first and second leg members in each of the frame sides are pivotably connected together between the first and second upper and lower ends so that the first and second upper and lower ends are unrestrained with respect to a distance in height between them when the frame is collapsed. The first and second upper ends of each of the pair of first and second leg members are pivotably connected to the sub-frame at pairs of relative spaced apart first and second positions on the sub-frame such that the first position in one of the pairs of relative spaced apart first and second positions is the second position in an adjacent one of the pairs of relative spaced apart first and second positions. The first and second lower ends of adjacent ones of the pair of first and second leg members are pivotably connected. The sub-frame includes side members extending between the first and second positions on the sub-frame. Each of the side members has first and second side ends pivotably connected to corresponding ones of the first and second upper ends of each of the pair of first and second leg members, respectively, and a pivotable joint between the first and second side ends. A bag having multiple sides attached to a bottom and having an open top is supportably connected to the sub-frame.
An exemplary embodiment further includes lower blocks pivotably connected to the first and second lower ends of adjacent ones of the pair of first and second leg members and upper blocks pivotably connected to the first and second upper ends of adjacent ones of the pair of first and second leg members and corresponding side members. A locking means is used for locking the side members in a straight position about the pivotable joint between the first and second side ends. One such locking means includes spring loaded bolts disposed within the side members that are extendable and retractable across the pivotable joints. The bag is removably attached to the sub-frame and includes corner tabs removably attached to the upper blocks. Wheels or removable casters are mounted to the lower blocks. The leg members and the side members are tubular and the bag is made of a pliable material such as canvas.
An alternative embodiment includes collapsible cross bracing between the lower blocks. The cross bracing has bracing members pivotably connected to the lower blocks and pivotably connected to each other with a central block at a central location between the bracing members.
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Pollard Steven
Rosen Steven J.
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