Receptacles – Wire container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-01-30
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3728)
Receptacles
Wire container
C220S006000, C220S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179149
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a basket assembly, more particularly to a collapsible basket assembly for receiving tennis balls.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional basket assembly
10
is shown to comprise a basket
11
and a pair of U-shaped members
12
. The basket
11
has grating walls that are formed of metal rods
111
and that are welded to one another to define a space for receiving tennis balls. Two horizontal pivot tubes
113
are fixed to front and rear walls of the basket
11
. Each of the U-shaped members
12
is made of metal and has two arm portions with bent distal ends
121
. The bent distal ends
121
are inserted into opposite ends of the pivot tubes
113
in order to connect pivotally the basket
11
and the U-shaped members
12
. In use, each of the U-shaped members
12
is rotated downwardly to permit the arm portions thereof to be kept between two metal rods
111
and engage frictionally the same in order to support the basket
11
, as best illustrated in FIG.
1
. Alternatively, each of the U-shaped members
12
is rotated upwardly to serve as a handle, as best illustrated in FIG.
2
. However, since the grating walls of the basket
11
are welded to one another, the volume of the basket
11
is fixed. The basket
11
is bulky and is difficult to store and transport. In addition, the arm portions of the U-shaped members
12
are liable to disengage from and move away from the opposite sides of the basket
11
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible basket assembly that can be stored and transported easily.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible basket assembly having a basket and two U-shaped members with two arm portions that can be connected positively to the basket when in use.
According to the present invention, a collapsible basket assembly comprises a basket having a front wall, a rear wall, two opposite side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls, and a bottom wall. The side walls have top edges, and bottom edges connected releaseably and pivotally to the bottom wall. Each of the top edges of the side walls has two loops formed on opposite ends thereof. The front and rear walls have top edges, and bottom edges connected pivotally to the bottom wall. Each of the top edges of the front and rear walls has two protrusions extending in opposite directions from opposite ends thereof. Each of the protrusions extends through one of the loops on a respective one of the top edges of the side walls. Two locking members are connected removably to the protrusions to prevent disengagement between the protrusions and the loops.
REFERENCES:
patent: 803200 (1905-10-01), Stripe
patent: 1208020 (1916-12-01), Ross
patent: 1950376 (1934-03-01), Alexander
patent: 3556058 (1971-01-01), Smiler
patent: 4526285 (1985-07-01), Cerveny et al.
patent: 5819933 (1998-10-01), Hernandez
Extratec Industrial Co. Ltd.
Pollard Steven
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
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