Abstract:
A collapsible hamper is provided that includes a base, a self-supporting shell formed of a lightweight flexible, but somewhat rigid material and a releasable securing mechanism for releasably connecting the base and the shell to one another. The securing mechanism enables the shell to be secured to the base in a manner that provides an upright hamper for receiving clothes therein, but also can separate the shell and the base to place the shell and base in a flat storage configuration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/782,321, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a container for holding items of clothing therein, and more specifically to collapsible containers for holding clothes therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    to the past, to facilitate the collection of clothing that needed to be washed, various types of containers, bins or clothes hampers have been utilized to receive the dirty clothing and retain it until the hamper was full. The clothing could then be removed from the hamper in order to clean it, or the hamper itself could be moved to the location where the clothes are Co be cleaned. 
         [0004]    Hampers designed for this purpose have a variety of different shapes and are formed of a variety of different materials. In many prior art versions, the hampers are formed with rigid structures, such as a wood, to enable the hampers to be readily free-standing and able to hold the weight of the clothes within the hampers without collapsing under the weight. 
         [0005]    However, with the hampers of this type, the materials used to make these types of hamper free-standing make the hamper heavy and difficult to move. Therefore, alternative versions of hampers have been constructed of lighter materials, rendering the hampers lighter and more easily moveable. Nevertheless, the size of the hampers necessary to hold the clothes makes these prior art hampers unwieldy when it is required to move the hampers from one location to another, especially when empty. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there have been developed hampers that are formed from lightweight materials that also can be collapsed into a storage configuration when the hamper is not in use, thereby addressing the problem of the size of the hamper when not in use. These prior art constructions involve a container formed of a fabric outer shell secured to a fabric base. The shell includes a spring member disposed within the shell that extends in a helical configuration upwardly along the interior of the shell. The spring member can be compressed into a coil-like shape to position the shell in a generally flat configuration, and can be allowed to expand outwardly into the helical shape to extend the shell into the deployed configuration. The construction of the upper and lower ends of the hamper constrain the spring member to limit the extension of the spring member that can occur and to enable the spring to maintain a constant upward pressure on the upper end in order to keep the hamper in an extended, open position. 
         [0007]    However, when it is desired to collapse the hamper, a force can be exerted against the spring member to urge the upper and lower ends of the hamper towards one another. When in the fully collapsed position, the opposed ends of the hamper can be secured to one another to maintain the hamper in this position. When it is desired to place the hamper in the open, and erect position, the connection between the ends can be detached or otherwise removed, and the spring member causes the ends to move away from one another into the extended position. Additionally, the fabric used to form the base and the shell significantly reduces the weight of the hamper, making the hamper easier to move in either the collapsed/storage or extended/use positions and does not affect the ability of the spring member to act on the ends of the hamper as a result of the lightweight an flexible nature of the fabric. 
         [0008]    Nevertheless, these prior art hampers formed of the fabric shell including the spring member have a number of shortcomings, In particular, the fabric shell often times does not have sufficient rigidity to support the weight of the clothes held within the shell, such that the clothes positioned within the hamper cause the hamper to tip over. Also, the spring member disposed within the shell is formed of a metal which after a number of uses can wear through and create a hole in the shell through which the end of the spring member then extends. When this occurs, the spring member no longer is able to reliably hold the shell in the extended position, significantly limiting the effectiveness of the hamper, as well as creating a hazard when the hamper is in use as a result of the metal end of the spring member extending outwardly from the shell. 
         [0009]    As a result, it is desirable to develop a collapsible hamper that overcomes the problems associated with the prior art hampers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the collapsible hamper includes a shell formed of a panel of a semi-rigid, self-supporting material. The panel is secured to a base and optionally a top formed of a similar or different material by a releasable securing mechanism. The mechanism can be used to separate the shell from the base in order to collapse the shell/panel and base into a collapsed or storage configuration, and to engage the base and panel with one another to position the hamper in an erect use position. The nature of the material forming the panel for the shell enables the panel to function as the stabilizing member of the hamper in the erect, use position without the need for any additional stabilizing members or structures on the hamper. The use of the releasable securing mechanism positions the panel and its constituent parts relative to one another to hold the hamper in the erect position until such time as the securing mechanism is disengaged, allowing the panel and other members of the hamper to be folded into the collapsed position. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the panel can be formed in various configurations to enable the panel to form a shell for the hamper having different cross-sectional shapes and configurations. The panel can also include various additional features, including handles, to facilitate the use of the hamper. 
         [0012]    Numerous other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent from the following detailed description together with the drawings figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present disclosure. 
           [0014]    In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a hamper constructed according to the present disclosure in an erected configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed configuration; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a hamper constructed according to the present disclosure in an erected configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 5  in a collapsed configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the hamper of the present disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the hamper of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the hamper of the present disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the hamper of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a seventh embodiment of the hamper of the present invention in an erect or assembled configuration; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a rear elevation view of the hamper of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of the hamper of  FIG. 13  with the top partially removed; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a top plan view of the hamper of  FIG. 13  in a collapsed or disassembled configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Referring now in detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, one embodiment of a collapsible hamper constructed according to the present disclosure is illustrated generally at  100  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]    The hamper  100  is formed of a base  102  connected to a shell  104 . The base  102  is formed from a suitable material that is lightweight, while providing an amount of weight and rigidity to the overall structure of the hamper  100  to assist in maintaining the hamper  100  in an upright position when erected. The material used to for the base  102  can additionally be selected to be flexible in nature. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the base  102  is formed to be generally circular in shape, though other shapes are also contemplated as being within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0035]    The shell  104  is formed of a material that can be the same as, or different than the material forming the base  102 , and in the illustrated embodiment is a material that is both flexible and lightweight, The shell  104  can be formed of any suitable type of material, such as a foam material, including but not limited to a sheet of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. The foam can be used by itself or can be formed into a laminated panel or sheet  124  by securing a sheet of polyethylene (PE) to the EVA foam by a suitable adhesive mechanism, securing mechanism or molding mechanism, such as by placing a polypropylene (PP) sheet between the EVA and the PE and then heating the EVA, PP and PF to fuse the PP to the EVA and PE, thereby forming the EVA foam sheet  124 . This EVA foam sheet  124  can then be formed into the desired configuration and shape by any suitable process, such as by die-cutting, cold forming and/or stitching, among others. In the illustrated embodiment, the shell.  104  can have a number of apertures  106  formed therein that function as handles to facilitate the grasping and moving of the hamper  100 . Further, the shell  104  can be formed of more than one sheet of the desired material that are secured to one another in any suitable fashion to form a shell  104  having the desired size and shape when erected into the hamper  100 . 
         [0036]    The formed sheet  124  can then optionally be covered by a suitable protective and decorative sheath, such as a fabric of natural or synthetic fibers, that can be engaged around the sheet  124  in any suitable manner, such as by stitching. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the shell  104  is formed exclusively of the sheet  124 , and optionally the sheath, and does not have any other structural features form on or within the shell  104 . This greatly increases the ease of construction of the shell  104  and the hamper  100 , as well as facilitating the conversion of the hamper  100  between the upright and collapsed positions. 
         [0037]    To form the hamper  100 , the base  102  and the shell  104  are secured to one another utilizing a suitable releasable securing mechanism  108  that enables the base  102  and the shell  104  to be quickly and reliably engaged and disengaged from one another. The mechanism  108  can enable the base  102  and the shell  104  to be completely separated from one another, but in the illustrated embodiment, the base  102  and the shell  104  remain attached to one another in the collapsed configuration, as best shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the base  102  and the shell are co-planar. In this embodiment, the mechanism  108  takes the form of a zipper  110  including a first set of teeth  112  disposed around the periphery of the base  102 , and a second set of teeth  114  disposed along the lower edge  116  and side edges  118  of the shell  104 , with a closure member  120  operably connected to the sets of teeth  112  and  114 . 
         [0038]    To erect the hamper  100  from the collapsed configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , the closure member  120  is moved along the periphery of the base  102  to engage the teeth  112  on the base  102  with the corresponding teeth  114  on the lower edge  116  of the shell  104 . Once the closure member  120  has been moved entirely around the base  102 , the closure member  120  then engages the teeth  114  disposed on opposite side edges  118  of the shell  104 . Upon reaching the top edge  122  of the shell  104 , the closure member  120  has engaged the base  102  and the shell  104  into the erected configuration shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0039]    The material forming the shell  104  has enough flexibility to conform to the shape of the base  102  when the closure member  120  engages the shell  104  with the base  102 , but also has enough rigidity to maintain the hamper  100  in an upright position. Further, the rigidity of the material forming the shell  104  is sufficient to prevent the bowing of the shell  104  under the pressure or force of the clothing positioned within the hamper  100 , such that the hamper  100  will not tip over due to an uneven weight distribution within the hamper  100 . Further, the securing mechanism  108  is the only mechanism utilized to hold the base  102  and the shell  104  in the erect or upright position, such that no other structures or devices are required for the proper construction or operation of the hamper  100 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment the hamper  100  does not include any spring members or braces attached to or disposed within the hamper  100 , as in prior art hampers. 
         [0040]    In an alternative embodiment for the hamper  100 ′ shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the base  102 ′ is formed similarly to the previous embodiment, but the shell  104 ′ is formed by cutting a rectangular sheet  124 ′into two triangular sections  126 ′ and securing the short edges  128 ′ to one another to for a rhomboidal panel  130 ′ for the shell  104 ′, as shown in  FIG. 8 . The teeth  112 ′ of the mechanism  108 ′ are disposed around the base  102 ′, while the teeth  114 ′ are located along the lower edge  116 ′ and the side edges  118 ′ of the shell  104 ′. The closure member  120 ′ then can engage the base  102 ′ with the shell  104 ′ similarly to the previous embodiment, with the member  120 ′ engaging the teeth  114 ′ on opposed side edges  118 ′ in a helical manner around the outside of the shell  104 ′ until reaching the top edge  122 ′ of the shell  124 ′. 
         [0041]    Other embodiments for the hamper  100  are also shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , where the hamper  300  can be formed with different cross-sectional shapes, such as triangular and hexagonal, among others, as in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , which may also include a different number of sheets  324  forming the shell  304  and joined by the mechanism  308 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Also, the hamper  400  can be formed to have an integral cover  430  connected to the shell  404 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , to form a completely enclosed hamper  400 . The cover  430  may also include a top (not shown) that can be selectively closed over the opening defined by the cover  430 . 
         [0042]    In still another embodiment of the hamper  200  shown in Figs,  13 - 18 , the hamper  200  can be formed with a base  202 , a side panel or shell  204  and a top or cover  206 . The base  202 , side panel  204  and the cover  206  are each formed from similar materials to those described in prior embodiments, such that the components of the hamper  200  are able to provide the desired flexibility and rigidity to the components of the hamper  200 . 
         [0043]    Looking now at  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  16 , the base  202  is formed with a generally flat lower surface  208  that provides a supporting surface for the hamper  200 . The base  202  also includes a curved outer rim  210  that curves outwardly from the periphery of the lower surface  208  to the side panel  204 . 
         [0044]    The base  202  is connected to the side panel  204  along its periphery opposite the lower surface by a suitable and releasable connecting means or releasable securing member  212 , such as a zipper  214 . The connecting means  212  engages the base  202  with the side panel  204  to form a continuous surface for the hamper  200  in order to adequately function to hold selected items (not shown) within the interior of the hamper  200 . In one embodiment where the connecting means  212  is the zipper  214 , the hamper  200  is formed such that the base  202  and the side panel  204  are movably, but permanently connected to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting means  212  extends around the entire periphery of the side panel  214 . 
         [0045]    As best shown in  FIGS. 13 and 17 , the side panel  204  is connected to the base  202  by the connecting means  21 . 2  such that the side panel  204  forms a generally tubular shape extending upwardly from the base  202 . Though the side panel  204  can be shaped as desired, in the illustrated embodiment the side panel  204  is generally rectangular in shape. When fully erected on the base  202 , the connecting means  212  extends upwardly from the base  202  to engage the opposed ends  216  ( FIG. 18 ) of the side panel  204  in a vertical direction, or other suitable configuration. 
         [0046]    Above the side panel  204  is disposed the cover  206 . Referring now to  FIGS. 13-15 , the cover  206  is formed similarly to the base  202  with a curved outer rim  218 . However, instead of a flat upper surface, the cover  206  defines an opening  220  within the rim  218  to enable access to the interior  222  of the hamper  200 . 
         [0047]    Looking now at  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  17 , the cover is connected to the side panel  204  by the connecting means  212  similarly to the base  202 , though a different means  212  can be used to connect the cover  206 , if desired. The means  212  extends from the side panel  204  opposite the base  202  into engagement with the periphery of the rim  218 . The means  212  extends around the rim  218  to secure the cover  206  to the periphery of the side panel  204 . 
         [0048]    The hamper  200 , when disassembled as shown in  FIG. 18 , can be easily stored in a relatively flat configuration with the connecting means  212  holding the base  202 , side panel  204  and the cover  206  in connection with each other. Further, the hamper  200  can be formed without the cover  206 . Also, when in the use configuration, the hamper  200  includes a pair of handles  224 , which can be formed of a flexible material or a semi-rigid material as desired, on opposed sides of the side panel  204  in order to enable the hamper  200  to be moved relatively easily. 
         [0049]    Changes can be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the filed claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.