Abstract:
A frameless storage enclosure having opposed pairs of integrally interconnected walls to provide a pod forming a sealed storage compartment for receiving articles. The front wall has an access opening being connected to a door being moveable from a position closing said access opening to an upper secured position to provide access through the access opening. The weight of the articles in the storage compartment is substantially carried on the support surface on which the enclosure rests during use. The configuration of the storage container is established by suspension cords connected between an upper portion of the storage enclosure and structural elements above the enclosure. An air ventilation compartment receives a removable filter to provide ventilation into the storage compartment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates in general to storage enclosures and more particularly, to a frameless storage enclosure being suspended from above while being positioned on a support surface.  
         [0003]     2. Summary of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In the past, many designs for storage containers have been developed for storing articles over a period of time. Such containers have been in the form of rigid trunks, hanging wardrobe units, canvas lockers, and portable closets, among many storage structures. It has been popular to construct a storage unit from flexible or collapsible material that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and capable of being folded into a compact shape when not in use as compared to enclosures formed from rigid members.  
         [0005]     Known containers employing collapsible sidewalls and other structural members suffer from several shortcomings, including the fact that present designs require rigid structural support frames. Examples of containers using collapsible walls and the like in conjunction with rigid internal frames are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,629,342 to N. M. Robert and U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,490 to J. Liao. The use of frames, such as in the foregoing patents, not only increases the cost and weight of the container, but severely limits the adaptability of the enclosure to various configurations of spaces in which the unit is intended to be used for storage. For example, containers requiring frames may not be advantageously for use in all areas of an attic where a sloping roof and rafters are present. In addition, the presence of framing members interferes with the convenience and efficiency of the unit to be readily collapsed into a knock-down mode for transport and storage of the container when not in use. The prior technique of using a rigid frame either requires removal to be collapsed or otherwise limits the degree of compactness when the frame remains in the unit. Another problem associated with known storage units is that they provide little or no air flow along with a highly desirable prevention of insect infestation and the introduction of dust to the items in storage in the unit. For these reasons, it is to provide an improved and inexpensive frameless storage container having the capability of effectively storing items in a sealed environment within a range of various space configurations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide an improved frameless storage enclosure constructed from an inexpensive collapsible material. The enclosure herein disclosed is capable of storing articles of considerable weight because it rests on a support surface. The configuration of the collapsible members of the invention is defined by suspending the top of the unit from structural elements, such as rafters, beams, ceilings, and the like. The shape of the storage unit herein described in its erected form can be adjusted for various volumetric capacities and can easily be modified in shape for given conditions from a fully erected form or to other modified forms to be accommodated in irregular spaces, such as beneath sloped roofs, ceilings, walkways, or other space demands. The frameless storage enclosure herein provides an effective sealed environment for the stored items, but is provided with an effective access means for convenient opening and closing of storage interior as needed in use. The invention limits damage from water and also provides ample air circulation to the items being stored by an improved technique preventing the introduction of dust and insects.  
         [0007]     The invention can accommodate a wide range of personal and business items, files, records, and collectibles among many articles that require storage for personal or business reasons. The frameless enclosure of the application can be readily used for storage at almost any location where storage of articles is desired, such as, but not limited to attics, basements, warehouses, offices, plants, garages, carports, or storage facilities. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front and side of the frameless storage enclosure of the invention showing the access door in a closed configuration;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the front of the storage enclosure of  FIG. 1  with the access door in an opened configuration;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view, with the access door removed, of the storage enclosure of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the storage enclosure of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial side elevational view showing an air ventilation pocket;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view showing a modified shape of the storage enclosure underneath a sloped upper support surface; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a partial elevational view, with parts in section, of a ventilation pocket.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is illustrated the frameless storage enclosure of the invention shown in its fully erected configuration for maximum volumetric storage capacity and being generally designated by reference numeral  2 . In its fully erected form, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the storage enclosure has six parallel rectangular walls  4  forming a cuboid shape to define an interior storage compartment or space  4   a . The enclosure  2  may be formed with sides having dimensions to form a cubical shape or because of its unique features, the enclosure  2  may be erected into a range of other configurations, including, but not limited to, being rhombohedral and other many shape dependent on encountered conditions. In  FIG. 1 , the frameless storage enclosure  2  is shown having six integral walls  6  to form spaced side panels  8 , front panel  10 , bottom wall  12 , rear panel  14 , and top wall  16 .  
         [0016]     The walls  6  are preferably formed from a suitably strong and collapsible material to seal the interior and define an exterior pod creating internal storage compartment  4   a  for effective storage of articles. Although not intended to be so limited, an example of a suitable material for walls  6  is a woven polypropylene (PP) interconnected to form a sealed outer envelope or pod around the storage compartment  4   a . The bottom wall  12  is designed to rest on a lower support surface  12   a  ( FIG. 3 ), such as a floor, shelf, patio, or any other support surface on which the enclosure  2  is positioned. The support surface  12   a  is intended to bear substantially the entire weight of the enclosure  2  and its contents when in an erected storage mode in accordance with the invention.  
         [0017]     An access opening  20  is cut out of the front panel  14  to provide access in and out of storage compartment  4   a . The access opening  20  is selectively covered by a door  22  formed from a suitable plastic and the like, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The door  22  is suitably affixed at its top portion  24  to a lower edge  26  of narrowed upper portion  28  of the front panel  10 . A pair of separable zippers  30  extends from along the bottom and sides of door  22  to removeably attach the bottom  29  and side edges  29 ′ to the front panel  10 . The lower portion  10   a  of front panel  10  beneath the bottom of zippers  30  is elevated to act as a dam inhibiting the introduction of water and like of a predetermined depth into the storage compartment  4   a , if flooded conditions are present on support surface  12   a . The lower portion  10   a  is sufficiently flexible to allow loading vehicles to freely move in and out of the enclosure when access door  22  is opened. When it is desired to fully open the door  22 , both zippers  30  are unzipped up to the top portion  24  to allow separation of the bottom and side of the door  22 . The door  22  can be rolled up and secured at an upper stowed position by a hanging strap  32  attached by stitching to top wall  16  as seen in  FIG. 2 . The strap  32  is extended around the door  22  in a rolled up configuration and is secured to a tab  34 . The surfaces of strap  32  and tab  34  are provided with corresponding interlocking loops and hooks, such as a material sold under the trademark VELCRO.  
         [0018]     As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , four hanging flaps  40  are pivotally affixed by a suitable technique adjacent the corners  42  of the storage enclosure  2  and may be oriented in desired plane dependent on the angular orientation of hanging cords  44 . The hanging cords  44  are respectively affixed to a plurality of reinforced eyelets  46  arranged in spaced relationship along strips  40  for providing a wide range of hanging options dependent on the overhead structure of the space in which the storage enclosure  2  is to be situated. Although hanging cords  44  are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as being attached to each eyelet  46 , it is within the scope of the invention to use selected eyelets  46  for suspension, such as, for example, to two eyelets  46  on a pair opposed strips  40 . As further seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hanging cords  46  may be vertically oriented such as cord  44   a  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  or oriented at any angle less than vertical, such as shown by cord  44   b . The upper ends (not shown) of the cords  44  are suspended on mechanical elements (not shown) attached to structure above the storage enclosure  2  in which it is positioned. The cords  44  can be suspended on any structure, such as to rafters, beams, ceilings, and other members. The mechanical elements (not shown) may comprise brackets, threaded hooks, loops, or other suitable attachment elements. The function of the hanging cords  44  is to support the frameless enclosure  2  and erect and maintain it in its storage configuration creating storage compartment space  4   a . The length, angle, and position of the hanging cords  44  define the shape of the frameless storage enclosure  2  to meet a range of configurations from the fully erected shape in  FIG. 1  to any modified shape, such as shown in  FIG. 6  to accommodate its positioning under sloped roof  50  and the like. The dimensions of the height, width and length of the sides  6  may be varied in manufacture of the enclosure  2  to modify its volumetric capacity and the like.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ,  5 , and  6  the ventilation filter pocket  60  of the invention is best shown. The filter pocket  60  may be situated at least two locations on the enclosure  2  to create an air flow, such as on front panel  10  and side panel  8 . As seen in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5  and  6  the filter pockets  60  are selectively provided in the side panels  8 , front panels  10  and rear panel (not shown.) at a particular position to provide sufficient air flow interiorly through the enclosure. The filter pocket  60  is attached to the side panels  8 , front panel  10 , and rear panel  14  overlying hole  62  ( FIG. 7 ) passing through either of the panels  8 ,  10 , or  14  as previously described. The pocket  60  has a flat outer layer  64  having bottom and side edge portions  66  attached to side panel  8  and forming a filter receiving compartment  68 . The layer  64  has an exterior hole  70  creating an air flow in conjunction with hole  62 . A conventional filter  80  is removable and insertable into the compartment  68  being interposed between holes  62  and hole  70 . The filter  80  is of a known material and design that permits air flow and inhibits the passage of dust and insects into storage compartment  4   a . The layer  64  creates an opening  82  with the wall  4  at the tope of pocket  60  to allow the insertion and removal of filter  80 . A pivotal flap  84  is connected to the pocket  60  and overlays the pocket to close the opening  82  or open flap  84  for to insert or remove filter  80 . A Velcro tab  86  may be used to secure the flap  84  in its closed position.  
         [0020]     An identification pocket  90  is attached to front wall  10  to allow insertion of a written or pictorial sheet designation of the items being stored in the frameless storage enclosure  2  for informational purposes. The front wall  92  of the identification pocket  90  is preferably transparent to view the identification sheet within the pocket  90 . The structure of pocket  90  generally corresponds to filter pocket  60 , except for its intended contents and absence of flow-through holes.