Abstract:
A system and method for providing a multi-paneled hamper where adjacent panels are coupled to one another via an exposed hinge-like pivoting coupling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, more and more home furnishing items are being manufactured in Asia or other places that have labor costs relatively lower than those in the United States. For many small items, the foreign manufacture of products raises few logistical problems. However, with furniture and home furnishings, the size of the item can make a tremendous difference in the ability to sell the product. For example, cost of shipping a fully assembled rigid sided hamper can be prohibitive. The term “hamper” is defined to include a container sized and configured for retaining laundry. The term “hamper” is defined to include a container having a volumetric range from 2.0 cubic feet to 6.0 cubic feet. The term “hamper” is intended to refer only to containers which have a lid which can be raised to insert clothing therein. In the alternative, the term “hamper” is intended to include a tilting apparatus where a lid portion is stationary, and a front, back or side portion is arranged to be tilted away from the lid section so as to expose an area where laundry can be inserted. “Hamper” is also intended to specifically exclude baskets or other containers which are designed with pivoting or flexible handles which are configured to be disposed above a concave section for carrying items. 
     Additionally, shipping fully assembled hampers reduces the number of items that a retailer can maintain in stock for a given shelf space. This can affect the ability for a seller to supply hampers, especially during times when the demands fluctuate. 
     Other hampers exist which have spring wire therein which provides for an easily deployable hamper. One example of this approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,533. Another example of a folding or collapsible hamper is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,394, both of which were issued to Paul S. Ziglar. These patents are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety by these references. 
     While these hampers have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, some consumers prefer a more rigid hamper than that which is provided by the spring wire hampers. The &#39;394 patent describes a hamper which is more complex to build than would be necessary with the present invention. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for providing an easily assembled exterior framed hamper. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for providing an easily assembled rigid-walled hamper. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a set of hinge-like connectors between adjoining panels. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to have a pivoting bottom section coupled to at least one panel. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include screw-on feet. 
     It is another advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in assembling a hamper. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing an easily assembled hamper designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “wasted time-less” manner, in a sense that the time required by a consumer to assemble a hamper, has been greatly reduced. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including an external framed hamper having hinge-like panel couplings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hamper of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially assembled hamper of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower section of the connection between the front panel and the side panel. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the upper section of the connection between the front panel and the side panel shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the hamper of the present invention as it is being assembled. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to the like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a pivotable hinged hamper top  102 . Also shown are front hamper panel  104  and right hamper panel  106 . The panel material is preferably wicker, which is intended to be made of the following twig materials: rattan, bamboo, abacca, willow (both full and split), seagrass, rattan core and pell, palm leaf, twisted rope, fern, water hyacinth, and folded and/or twisted paper or plastic, The term “wicker” as used herein is intended to specifically exclude the following materials: cotton, wool, textiles and rubber. However, it should be understood that the panel material could in alternate embodiments be made of fabric, textiles or any suitable material, which may be rigid, semi-rigid, and/or non-rigid. Also shown are right front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  112 , right rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  114  and left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 . These legs may be metal, wood, plastic or any suitable material. They may be painted, unpainted or otherwise. 
     Also shown are front side hinged bottom panel supports  122 , which help support the folding bottom metal grate  202  (FIG.  2 ). Right front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  112 , right rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  114  and left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 , as well as left rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  218  (FIG. 2) are coupled to front hamper panel  104 , right hamper panel  106 , left hamper panel  204  (FIG. 2) and back hamper panel  206  (FIG. 2) with a hinge-like arrangement. Each pair of adjacent panels is coupled by a single hinge pin and a top and bottom pair of knuckles. 
     More specifically, there is shown front-right top knuckle  142 , and front-right top bottom knuckle  143 , which like front-right bottom top knuckle  172  and front-right bottom bottom knuckle  173 , are joined by right front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  112 . Similarly, back-right top top knuckle  162  and back-right top bottom knuckle  162 , as well as back-right bottom top knuckle  182  and back-right bottom bottom knuckle  182  are joined by right rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  114 . Front-left top top knuckle  152  and front-left top bottom knuckle  152 , together with front-left bottom top knuckle  192  and front-left bottom bottom knuckle  193 , are linked by left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 . 
     A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be achieved by now referring to FIG. 2, which shows the hamper  100  at an intermediate step during the assembly process. All of the panels have been connected to one another except that left hamper panel  204  is yet unconnected to front hamper panel  104 , due to the omission of left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 . This partially assembled view provides a view of folding bottom metal grate  202 , back hamper panel  206  and several of the hamper panel mid-section supports  208 . 
     An even more detailed understanding of the present invention may be achieved by now referring to FIG. 3, which shows a close up view of front-right bottom top knuckle  172  and front-right bottom bottom knuckle  173 . Screw-on feet  132  are shown partially threaded onto the threaded leg end  302  of right front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  112 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a close-up view of front-right top top knuckle  142  and front-right top bottom knuckle  143 . It can be seen that front-right top bottom knuckle  143  is part of front hamper panel  104 , while front-right top top knuckle  142  is part of right hamper panel  106 . 
     Now referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a bottom-up view of the hamper  100  during the process of assembly where left hamper panel  204  is being attached to front hamper panel  104  via alignment of the appropriate knuckles and the insertion of left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 . Pivotable hinged hamper top  102  is shown in an open position. 
     In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in FIGS. 1-5, could be assembled as follows: 
     Pivotable hinged hamper top  102 , folding bottom metal grate  202  and back hamper panel  206  are pre-assembled before shipment to the retail outlet or the consumer. Right hamper panel  106  and left hamper panel  204  are coupled to back hamper panel  206  by insertion of left rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  218  and right rear exposed hamper hinge pin leg  114  respectively. Front hamper panel  104  is them coupled to right hamper panel  106  by insertion of right front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  112 . Finally, left hamper panel  204  and front hamper panel  104  are coupled by insertion of left front exposed hamper hinge pin leg  116 . Screw-on feet  132  may be added immediately after insertion of each leg or done after all legs have been inserted. 
     Screw-on feet  132 , when screwed on tightly, can crate pressure on the knuckles by pressing the knuckles against a flat head section of the hinge pins. 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to a hamper, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent with hampers; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to hampers, and other household containers could be made as well. Also, throughout this description, reference has been frequently made to wicker hampers, wicker panels and wicker in general. It should be understood that the present invention could be of a non-wicker construction. In fact, the panels of the present invention could be textiles, sheets of plastic, wood or any other suitable material. Additionally, it should be understood that the pins used to connect the knuckles may, in some alternate embodiments, be unexposed. It should also be understood that while a trapezoidal shape may be preferred in some situations, the present invention is not intended to be limited to trapezoidal shapes. The present invention is intended to also be applicable to non-wicker, rectangular containers which have unexposed pins and folding handles. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.