Abstract:
A collapsible container configured to lay substantially flat in a collapsed position and maintain an extended or usable position by utilizing load-bearing means rigidly disposed among and affixed to various support members. The load-bearing means are adapted to receive support members and sustain the container in its usable position when a load is placed therein. The load bearing means resist movement of support members in the direction caused by the load exerted on the container. When the load is removed, the load-bearing means is adapted to permit the support members to be withdrawn there from so that the container may be transitioned to a substantially flat collapsed position.

Description:
SPECIFIC DATA RELATED TO INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/314,129 filed on Aug. 22, 2001.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates in general to collapsible containers and in particular to a collapsible plant holder configured to lay substantially flat while in its collapsed position and maintain its extended or usable position by utilizing load bearing means rigidly affixed among various support members of the container.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A great variety of wire or woven articles such as art baskets, decorative containers and plant holders are known in the art. Such articles have many uses including holding fruit, flowers, potted plants or the like. Some may be constructed of metal or wire for use indoors and outdoors in harsher environments. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,719,583 discloses a wire article capable of being twisted, folded, collapsed or extended into a multiplicity of shapes and forms. The wire article is comprised of a plurality of wire members interconnected by hooks disposed on the ends of wires and wire links so that various sections of the article may be articulated about the hooks and wire links to assume different configurations. The hooks of the &#39;583 patent are engageable with wires and secured there over as shown in the figures. Also disclosed is a plurality of concentric loops, which extend outwardly to form the base of the article and serve as supports for the article.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,360 discloses an adjustable wire basket having a base section and a continuous, circumferential wall section connected to the base. The basket may rest on a surface or be suspended in a hanging arrangement. The wall section is comprised of a plurality of intertwined, frictionally engaged wire loops, each of which are connected to the base section in a hinged yet friction engagement. As such, the frictional engagement of the intertwined loops and the hinges operate together to permit the wall section to be articulated about the base in any desired angular relationship. In this manner, the wall section defines an inner volume that varies, as the angular relationship is change.  
           [0005]    A folding basket is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,664 having pivotable sides allowing the basket to attain and sustain a number of configurations. A platform is secured within the basket near its base to provide a foundation for the basket and support any articles that may be carried by the basket. The pivotable sides are constituted by arcs and may be articulated so the basket may assume different positions. The sides are ostensibly held in a position by bindings that create friction between two articulating arcs. The arcs are supported at their ends by being hooked around a rim defining an outside edge of the basket.  
           [0006]    From the foregoing, it can be seen that the prior art is replete with a wide variety of baskets or containers used for holding plants, flowers, fruit, and ornamental or decorative structures, as well as a range of other objects, as desired by the user. Such baskets or containers are frequently constructed from wire and may or may not be collapsible. The &#39;360 invention folds to a flat arrangement and relies on the frictional engagement of intertwined loops to sustain its shape when in use. While this configuration provides ample support for holding certain objects, the frictional engagement may not provide sufficient resistance for heavier objects. Also, the resilient wires of the &#39;360 invention may fatigue over time resulting from frequent movement of the intertwined loops from one position to another, which may lead to a degradation in the basket&#39;s ability to retain its shape for holding certain objects.  
           [0007]    Many prior art baskets or containers constructed of wire use hooks on the end of wire members that engage other wire members of the construction primarily to provide means for articulating one member around the other. For example, the &#39;583 and &#39;664 patents disclose various configurations of hooks or loops that engage other wire members so that the baskets may assume various shapes by articulating certain members around others. Once engaged, the hooks or loops are secured over another member to provide a hinge means that does not easily become disengaged. Some of the hinge means also sever as load-bearing means and as such are limited in the amount of weight they can support due to their propensity to rotate as a hinge when a sufficient load bears on them that exceeds the coefficient of friction established by the hinge means. While this feature is advantageous in that the baskets may assume various configurations, the need to have numerous hinge means and articulating members limits each basket&#39;s load bearing capacity in certain configurations.  
           [0008]    It would be advantageous to provide a container that is quickly collapsible to a substantially flat position, aesthetically pleasing, of lightweight construction and that has a load bearing capacity suitable for holding relatively heavy decorative objects such as potted plants or the like.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In one aspect of the present invention a container is provided that may be collapsed to a substantially planar position and extended to a usable position suitable for holding a variety of objects such as potted plants or other decorative objects, for example. In the extended or usable position, load-bearing means may be provided for receiving and engaging a member of the container when the container is under a load. The load-bearing means helps to sustain the load and resist movement of the member it is supporting in a direction caused by the load. When the load is removed, the member may be disengaged from the load-bearing means so that the container may be collapsed into its substantially planar or flat configuration. The container may be constructed of appropriately gauged wire or other suitable material.  
           [0010]    One advantage of the present invention is that the container may be easily converted from an extended or usable position to a substantially planar position. In one aspect of the present invention, the conversion is made easy by the design and location of load-bearing means, which may comprise a hook having an open end affixed to certain support members of the container. The hook may be affixed to the members by conventional means such as spot welding or soldering, for example. Alternatively, the hook may be an integral part of the member if the container design lends itself to that type of fabrication. Further, each embodiment of the present invention may have at least two support members that are rotatably connected to each other or a base member for movement of the members from the usable to flat configuration. The rotatable connection may be any style known in the art, such as a hinge, or the intersection of two bent wire shapes, for example.  
           [0011]    Each load-bearing means may have an open end that receives and retains a portion of a support member of the container so that the container will retain its shape even under its own weight alone. The open end may be a slot, U-shaped opening or other appropriate configuration. When a load is placed within the container the support member may be urged toward the load-bearing means, or visa versa depending on the configuration, thereby creating a force against the load-bearing means, which resists the force and consequently movement of the support member under the load in a direction caused by the force. When the load is removed, the support member may be separated from the load-bearing means so that container may be conveniently collapsed into its flat position.  
           [0012]    Numerous embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, hanging plants are a very popular decorative feature in homes and offices. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention may provide a container constructed of wire, which may be specifically adapted for receiving a plant that will be hung from the ceiling of a house or apartment, for example. This configuration may include a plurality of loop segments disposed around the circumference of a circular rim such that each loop may be articulated about the rim to transform the container from its substantially flat position to its usable position, and visa versa. The wire loops may be semi-elliptical in shape, for example. Other shapes may be equally adapted for use within the scope of the present invention. In one exemplary embodiment, an even number of loops are disposed around the rim so that each terminal or distal end of a loop connecting the loop to the rim, overlaps the end of an adjacent loop. Overlapping the ends of adjacent loops urges the loops to move in unison when being transitioned between planar and extended positions, which helps to facilitate the transition and maintain the loops in order. A load-bearing means may be affixed to every other loop near that loop&#39;s apex and is adapted to receive a portion of an adjacent loop when the container is in its usable position. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, alternate embodiments may include more than one load-bearing means disposed on every other loop or one load-bearing means may be disposed on each loop. The number and placement of load-bearing means may vary depending on the size of the container and the load it is intended to support.  
           [0013]    In the exemplary embodiment described above, as the loops move from their flat position toward the usable position, the leg portions of each pair of adjacent loops define a point of intersection with each other that traverses along the length of each leg and approaches the point where the apex of adjacent loops would intersect one another. Each load-bearing means may be affixed at a point of intersection defined by two adjacent loops and may have an open end that faces in a direction that is substantially opposite the direction of the force applied by that adjacent loop when the container is loaded. When the container is in its usable position, the load-bearing means captures a portion of an adjacent loop and causes the loop to resist the forces exerted when the container is loaded. Also, stoppers are disposed around the circumference of the container&#39;s rim to prevent the terminal ends of the loops from moving too far from their intended positions on the rim.  
           [0014]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise a plurality of support members that when extended into their usable position may form a rectangular structure resembling a flower box of the type that may frequently be found on the window sill of a house, for example. In the extended position, load-bearing means may engage portions of the structures&#39; sidewalls and be urged against the sidewalls under the structures&#39; own weight and configuration. When a load is placed within the structure, the load-bearing means engage the sidewalls to resist the force being exerted by the load.  
           [0015]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be shaped to resemble a half wall basket frequently found in and outside of homes, for example. This embodiment may comprise an arcuate or curvilinear rim that rotatably engages a back plate. A plurality of arcuate or curvilinear support rods may rotatably engage and depend from the rim with their distal ends releasably engaging a lower portion of the back plate. An arcuate or curvilinear center rod also may rotatably engage the back plate and seat against the depending support rods to define the area within which an object may be supported. Load-bearing means may be affixed to one or more of the depending support rods to resist the force exerted by the load.  
           [0016]    The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention as well as others envisioned by the scope and spirit of the appended claims provide advantages over prior art baskets. For example, embodiments of the present invention have aesthetically pleasing configurations that are quickly and easily convertible from a collapsed position, which is substantially planar, to an extended or usable position that retains its shape and is strong enough to hold relatively heavy objects such as potted plants. The planar position allows for ease of storage and moving from place to place within one&#39;s home, for example, and provides a significant costs savings for packaging and shipping over prior art designs that do not collapse or those that don&#39;t collapse to a substantially planar structure.  
           [0017]    Another advantage of the present invention is that it may comprise a plurality of articulating support members that provide a rigid structure when in its usable position and allow for the structure to be quickly and easily collapsed into a substantially planar structure. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention in its collapsed configuration;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a partially extended configuration;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention a partially collapsed configuration;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 in its extended position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention a partially collapsed configuration; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in its extended position. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a container of the present invention, which is generally referred to as  10 . The container  10  may include a plurality of support members such as loop segments  12  circumferentially disposed around a base member such as a circular rim  14 . Each loop segment  12  may include a first distal end  13  and a second distal end  15 , as more clearly shown in FIG. 2. Each distal end  13  and  15  may be rotatably connected with a rim  14  by any conventional means such as an eyelet formed in each end as an integral part of a loop segment  12  or other appropriate means. The loop segments  12  may be disposed around rim  14  so that the first distal end  13  of one loop segment  12  overlaps the second distal end  15  of the adjacent loop segment  12  immediately next to it. Alternatively, the distal ends  13  and  15  of adjacent loop segments  12  may abut one another rather than overlap. A plurality of stoppers  17  may be disposed on the circumference of rim  14  to prevent movement of the distal ends of the loop segments  12  outside a predetermined distance on the rim  14 . Stoppers  17  may be round metal knobs affixed to the rim  14  by any conventional means such as spot welding or soldering, for example.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 also illustrates load-bearing means  16 , which may be rigidly affixed by any conventional means, such as spot welding or soldering, to one or more loop segments  12 . In one exemplary embodiment, load-bearing means  16  are affixed to alternating loop segments  12  and are adapted to receive a portion of an adjacent loop segment  12  when all loop segments  12  are moved to an extended or usable configuration. In its extended configuration the interior of container  10  defines a volume within which an object may be placed, as best shown in FIG. 6. Load-bearing means  16  may be affixed near a curvilinear portion  18  of loop segment  12  or they may be affixed to other portions of loop segment  12  to accommodate for adjustments to the size or shape of container  10 . Additionally, when affixed to loop segment  12 , load-bearing means  16  may define a plane that is oblique to or offset from a plane defined by loop segment  12 . The load-bearing means  16  may define an opening  20  for receiving a portion of an adjacent loop segment  12  when the container  10  is in its usable configuration, as best shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    As can be appreciated from FIGS. 1, 2 and  6 , container  10  may be transformed from a substantially planar configuration to an extended configuration for holding an object. In the extended position, the support members, such as loop segments  12 , of the container  10  define a substantially hemispherical volume within which a potted plant or other objects may be placed.  
         [0027]    Load-bearing means  16  may be configured substantially as a hook as shown in FIG. 1, which may include a first leg  22  extending substantially perpendicular from loop segment  12  and a second leg  24  extending at a substantially right angle from first leg  22 . This configuration may define an opening  20  between second leg  24  and the loop segment  12 . Load-bearing means  16  may be formed by alternate configurations such as an arcuate or hook shaped wire, or a straight wire segment, for example, extending from loop segment  12 . In one exemplary embodiment, first leg  22  and second leg  24  receive a portion of an adjacent loop segment  12  when the container  10  is in its extended or usable position, as shown in FIG. 6. In this manner, a portion of the adjacent loop segment  12  may impinge upon the first leg  22  and/or the second leg  24  either under its own weight or when an additional force is exerted on the loop segments  12  when an object is placed within container  10 . A portion of any adjacent loop segment may also impinge on a portion of the adjacent loop segment to which the load-bearing means is affixed when the container  10  is in its extended position.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a container of the present invention, which is generally referred to as  30 . Container  30  may include a plurality of support members such as the depending support member rods  32 . Rods  32  may rotatably engage a first brace  34  by any conventional means such as an eyelet formed in a proximal end  36  of rod  32 . Rods  32  may be curvilinear to define a volume for accepting an object of similar shape or they may be substantially liner or have right angles to form a rectangular volume, for example. Load-bearing means may be formed in the distal end  38  of rod  32  such as a hook  40 , which may be formed as an integral part of rod  32 , or affixed thereto by conventional means. Alternately, load-bearing means may comprise a clamp, latching mechanism or other suitable configurations. Hook  40  may be releasably inserted into a corresponding aperture  42  formed within a corresponding tab  44 . Tab  44  may extend substantially horizontally from a base  46 . Hook  40  bears the load exerted by rod  32  under its own weight and additional load exerted on the container  30  when an object is placed therein. In one exemplary embodiment, three rods  32  rotatably depend from a first brace  34  with hooks  40  being releasably inserted into corresponding apertures  42  formed in corresponding tabs  44 . Load-bearing means such as a catch  48  may be provided on one or more of the rods  32  for receiving a support member such as a second brace  50 . The first brace  34  and second brace  50  may rotatably engage a base member such as a substantially planar back plate  46 . Back plate  46  may be formed of intersecting metal strips, for example, or it may be other configurations such as a solid piece of lightweight metal. First brace  34  and second brace  50  may rotatably engage back plate  46  by any conventional means, such as a hook and eyelet, so that they may be articulated between a collapsed position and an extended or usable position. In the extended position shown in FIG. 4, the catch  48  may define an open end  52  for receiving the second brace  50 . The catch  48  bears the load exerted by the second brace  50  under its own weight and an additional load exerted by the container  30  when an object is placed therein.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a container of the present invention, which is generally referred to as  60 . Container  60  may include supporting members such as side frames  62  and end frames  64 . Side frames  62  and end frames  64  may rotatably engage a base member such as the substantially planar frame  65  by any conventional means. For example, hooks  66  may be formed in the side and end frames and be secured over a portion of the planar frame  65  so that the frames  62  and  64  may be articulated between a collapsed position and an extended or usable position. Container  60  is substantially planar when in the collapsed position. Load-bearing means such as hooks  68  may be disposed near the top portion of end frames  64  so they releasably engage a portion of the side frames  62  when container  60  is in its extended position. Hooks  66  bear the load exerted by end frames  64  under their own weight and additional load when container  60  contains an object.  
         [0030]    While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those of skill in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.