Abstract:
A collapsible storage device having an opening for inserting products therein, and a lower portion that provides support and access to the lower product, allowing a user to draw the lower product when needed. As the lower product is drawn, the stored products automatically shift down, replenishing a lower most position for subsequent product withdrawal. The collapsible storage device comprises at least one suspension device, facilitating easy suspension and removal of the device. The collapsible storage device is made from pliable material or incorporates crease lines such that when it is empty, it can be collapsed down to a small shape and transported or stowed away until subsequent use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/252,375, filed Oct. 18, 2005, now pending, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to product storage and, more specifically, to a collapsible storage device that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     There are numerous fixtures on the market for storing typical household or shop floor products such as paper towels, diapers, tissue paper boxes, hygienic products, toilet paper and/or other products having a shape or that are stackable. Some existing devices are designed to store paper rolls, others are designed to store and dispense paper, yet they are typically rigid and are permanently placed on or affixed to structure such as walls or cabinet doors.  
         [0006]     Known art in the field includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,965 (Reaves), U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,475 (Kaysserian), U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,469 (McCarthy), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,611 (Walton). Although all of these inventions store either paper towel or toilet paper rolls, none are collapsible nor can they be easily suspended or moved from one location to another. These prior art devices are made of rigid material, some with moving parts, and they have to be permanently affixed or placed in position in order to serve their intended use. Therefore, they consume the same amount of space when they are empty as they do when they are in use. Additionally, the materials from which these devices are made are relatively expensive and their manufacturing complicated, subjecting their sale to limited retail outlets. Furthermore, since these devices are rigid and some use a specific length spool, they are fit for either paper towels or toilet paper, but not for both. They are also not suited for storing or dispensing other products such as diapers, canned food and/or tissue paper boxes.  
         [0007]     In light of bulk consuming habits in today&#39;s marketplace, desire for flexibility, and limited space, consumers continuously demand more flexible storage devices that have more capacity and are less expensive. Furthermore, manufacturers and suppliers increasingly seek to sell their products at multiple retail outlets or to provide as promotional gifts, products that are inexpensive and easy to manufacture.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In one embodiment, a collapsible storage device comprises a rear panel, a front panel coupled to the rear panel to remain a fixed distance therefrom during use, the front and rear panel combining to form a cavity sized and shaped to retain a plurality of products, each having a shape, during use, a base coupled to the front and rear panels, the base being adapted to support the plurality of products, and having an opening in at least one end thereof through which the plurality of products can pass, and at least one suspension device coupled to one of the front and rear panels and configured for hanging the device from a structure.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, a collapsible storage device for storing and dispensing a plurality of diapers, comprises a collapsible body having at least a front portion, a rear portion, a base, and at least one sealable opening, the front and rear portions being coupled together to remain a fixed distance from each other during use and to define a cavity therebetween sized and shaped to hold a plurality of diapers, the base being configured to retain at least one of the diapers and to support all of the diapers, the sealable opening sized to allow at least one diaper to be deposited in the cavity therethrough, and the body being sufficiently collapsible to be manipulated between an operating configuration for use and a collapsed configuration facilitating storage and transport of the device. The device may further comprise a fastener coupled to an upper portion of the collapsible body, the fastener being adapted to removably couple the device to a structure during use, and an opening interposed between the base and at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, the opening sized to allow a user to selectively withdraw at least one diaper at a time from the opening. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   a  is a front view of the collapsible storage device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   b  is a front view of a portion of the collapsible storage device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the collapsible storage device of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the collapsible storage device of  FIG. 1  in its collapsed form.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to still a further embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     In the description that follows, paper products such as paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls are used as examples of products that can be stored in and/or dispensed from a collapsible storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; however, an individual of ordinary skill in the art having reviewed this disclosure will appreciate that the collapsible storage device can store and/or dispense other products, such as diapers, tissue paper boxes, fabric softener boxes, male or female hygienic products, dishwashing or other sponges, soaps and/or soap boxes, boxed food items or food additives, canned food products, video games or other portable data storage devices, any combination thereof and/or any other product having a shape and/or that can be stacked for convenient storage and dispensing.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a collapsible storage device  10  comprising a flexible rectangular chamber that comprises a top panel  11 , two side panels  12 , a rear panel  13 , and a front panel  14 . The front panel  14  has an opening  15 . The opening  15  can be used to insert products such as paper rolls inside the chamber of the collapsible storage device  10  or to manipulate them after they are inserted. Overlapping portions of the front panel  14  can close the opening  15 . Although  FIG. 1  shows opening  15  in the front panel  14 , the opening  15  can be incorporated in any of the panels, or none at all.  
         [0026]     The inventor envisions embodiments that do not incorporate one or more panels. For example, the device  10  could be fabricated without the top panel  11 . In such embodiments, stiffening elements may be incorporated into the upper edge of the device  10  to help it maintain its shape. In addition, or instead, the device  10  could be fabricated without one or both of the side panels  12 . In such embodiments, straps or other elements extending between the front panel  14  and the rear panel  13  can be used to maintain the proper shape during use. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate these and other variations that can be made to the device  10  without deviating from the spirit of the invention.  
         [0027]     Moreover, the collapsible storage device  10  can be suspended by one or more suspension devices  16 , attached to a panel. In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , the suspension device  16  can be a hook attached to the rear panel  13 , for suspending the collapsible storage device  10  from various structures. The suspension device  16  can be thin, allowing a door to close while the collapsible storage device  10  is suspended from that door.  
         [0028]     A lower securing member  17  can be attached to at least two panels, supporting a lower paper roll  18 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower securing member  17  can be attached to the rear panel  13  and front panel  14  with at least one open side that provides access to the lower paper roll  18 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2   a  better illustrates the lower securing member  17 , providing access to a lower paper roll  18 , such as a paper towel roll.  FIG. 2   b  illustrates a variable use for the present invention, namely, to store paper rolls of shorter length  19 , such as toilet paper rolls, in a side-by-side fashion. As shown in  FIG. 2   b , the securing member  17  can provide access to more than one toilet paper roll in the lower position. One or more dividers could be incorporated into the body of the device to create chambers for each stack of toilet paper rolls. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate that the chamber can be divided into two or more sub-chambers, sized to correspond to the particular rolls being stored, and that the rolls could be stored in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.  
         [0030]     Furthermore,  FIG. 3  shows the manner in which the paper rolls may be stored inside the chamber of the collapsible storage device  10 . The stored paper rolls  20  can rest on top of the paper roll below them while the lower paper roll  18  rests on the supporting member  17 . Regardless of the type of paper roll stored, when the user draws the lower most paper roll  18 , the paper roll immediately above the drawn roll automatically shifts down to the lower position for subsequent use.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates the collapsible storage device  10  in its collapsed state. The collapsible storage device  10  can be made of a pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, or can incorporate crease lines such that when it is empty it can be collapsed down to a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use.  
         [0032]     The flexible nature of the collapsible storage device  10  has several advantages. One advantage is that consumers can easily position it where they desire when it is in use and easily collapse and store it when it is not in use. Another advantage is that suppliers can easily and inexpensively manufacture a collapsible storage device  10  and sell it at a profit at a variety of outlets, from grocery stores to retail stores. Still another advantage is the fact that the device  10  can be packaged, shipped, stored and displayed in its collapsed state, minimizing the cost of shipping and retail space occupied. Yet another advantage is that suppliers can include the collapsible storage device as a promotional gift to consumers because the present invention is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and can fit inside existing product packaging.  
         [0033]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the device  10  may comprise a zipper  21  to seal the opening  15  after placing the paper rolls inside the collapsible storage device  10 . Additionally, or alternatively, in yet another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the device  10  may comprise hook and loop fasteners  22  to seal the opening  15 . In embodiments without a top panel  11 , the paper rolls can be loaded into the device  10  from above, and the consumer can use the opening  15  to access the paper rolls and move them into a desired orientation.  
         [0034]     In still another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the rear panel  13  can comprise at least one suspension device  23  having hook and loop fasteners to suspend the collapsible storage device  10 . The collapsible storage device  10  can be attached to its desired position using hook and loop fasteners or other similar attaching mechanisms because the present invention is made from pliable or otherwise lightweight material. One advantage of attaching mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners is that they allow the collapsible storage device  10  to attach inside of doors with no visibility of a suspension device from the outside.  
         [0035]     In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the device  10  may comprise at least one top panel suspension device  24  attached to the top panel  11 . The top panel suspension device  24  can be a hook, as shown in  FIG. 8 , or be comprised of hook and loop fasteners or other attaching mechanisms. An added advantage of this embodiment is that multiple users can access the collapsible storage device  10  from all sides because a top panel suspension device  24  connects the collapsible storage device  10  to a ceiling or closet rod, suspended remote from any walls. Such a use may be preferred in commercial applications, such as automobile repair shops, or in some home applications, such as in garages, in which applications other products such as motor oil cans can be stored and dispensed in the collapsible storage device  10 .  
         [0036]     In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a collapsible storage device  110  can be fabricated without a top panel. Moreover, the rear portion  113 , lower portion  117 , and front portion  114  can be formed from one piece of pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, plastics, nylon, composites and/or any combination thereof. The rear portion  113  and front portion  114  can be coupled with straps  125  to maintain a fixed distance between the two portions, sized to retain paper rolls. The lower portion  117  can support all of the rolls and retain one of the rolls, which can be withdrawn from an opening on a side of the lower portion  117 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 10  illustrates still a further embodiment in which a collapsible storage device  210  may be fabricated without a top panel. The collapsible storage device  210  may have a first opening  215  in front panel  214 . The device  210  may further comprise a zipper  221  to seal the front panel  214  when in use to retain loaded paper rolls  220 . The zipper  221  can be unzipped to allow loading new paper rolls  226  through the first opening  215 . While loading, the zipper  221  can be incrementally sealed to secure the loaded paper rolls  220  while the additional paper rolls  226  are stacked on the loaded paper rolls  220 . The collapsible storage device  210  may also have a second opening  227 , formed by a lower portion  217  and allowing access to the lower paper roll  218 . At least a first stiffening member  228  may support the lower portion  217 , allowing the lower portion  217  to support the loaded paper rolls  220  and the lower paper roll  218 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the first stiffening member  228  can be positioned on an edge of the rear panel  213 .  
         [0038]     An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate other manners in which the lower portion  217  can be supported. For example, a second stiffening member  229  can be positioned on a periphery of the second opening  227  in place of or in addition to the first stiffening member  228 . The stiffening members  228 ,  229  can be fabricated from plastic, metal, cardboard, composites, or other material that can maintain a shape of the pliable lower portion  217  to support the stored paper rolls  220  and lower paper roll  218 . Furthermore, the first stiffening member  228  and second stiffening member  229  may be in the shape of a rod that is attached to an edge or inserted through an edge hemming. A stiffening member (not shown) can also be a flat piece configured to extend from an edge of the rear panel  213  to a periphery of the second opening  227 .  
         [0039]     The collapsible storage device  210  can include at least one suspension device  216  that may be removably coupled to various structures. In at least one embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the suspension device  216  can be removably secured in a hook  230 , supplied with the collapsible storage device  210  or existing in a structure. The suspension device  216  can also be removably secured around protrusions and structure such as nails, hangers, rods, beams, and other structure suitable to couple to the suspension device  216 . The suspension device  216  can be fabricated from material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, plastics, metals, canvas, composites, or other material capable of supporting the collapsible storage device  210  and its contents, when suspended. The suspension device  216  may also be made of two straps that can be connected by attaching mechanisms such as VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners for applications where the collapsible storage device  210  is suspended from structures without a free end, such as beams inside garages or rods inside closets.  
         [0040]      FIG. 11  illustrates another embodiment of the collapsible storage device  210  that includes a base  217 , fabricated from a material that is stiffer than the material from which the front panel  214  and rear panel  213  are fabricated. For example, the base  217  can be fabricated from plastic, cardboard, hard or soft wood, metal, foam, composites, or any other material that is not excessively pliable. The rear panel  213  can support the rear end of the base  217  while the second stiffening member  229 , attached to a periphery of the second opening  227 , can support the front end of the base  217 . The base  217  can support the stored paper rolls  220  and lower paper roll  218  during use. When empty, the collapsible storage device  210  can collapse onto the base  217  in a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use.  
         [0041]      FIG. 12  illustrates yet another embodiment, in which a collapsible storage device  310  can be configured to receive other standard shaped products  301  such as diapers, tissue paper boxes, paper rolls, fabric softener boxes, male or female hygienic products, dishwashing or other sponges, soaps and/or soap boxes, boxed food items or food additives, canned food products, video games and/or other portable data storage devices, and/or any other product having a shape and/or that can be stacked for convenient storage and dispensing. The following provides a more detailed description of this embodiment using diapers as an example of a product that can be stored and dispensed by the collapsible storage device  310 . It is understood that other products can be stored in the collapsible storage device  310 .  
         [0042]     The collapsible storage device  310  may comprise a rear panel  313 , a front panel  314 , and a base  317 , together defining an at least partially bounded area to store products  301  such as diapers. The collapsible storage device  310  may further comprise at least one opening  327  adapted to allow convenient dispensing of the diaper  301  in a lower most position, resting on the base  317  without allowing the other stacked diapers to fall out or be dispensed. When the diaper  301  is dispensed, the stacked diapers shift down to allow the next diaper to be dispensed when needed. The collapsible storage device  310  may further include at least one optional divider  319  extending at least partially between the front panel  314  and the rear panel  313 , and dividing the collapsible storage device  310  into at least two compartments  323 . The collapsible storage device  310  may further include optional side panels  312  for improved containment of the stored diapers. In  FIG. 12 , the opening  327  is illustrated to be in the front panel  314 ; however, the opening can be in any of the panels, for example, in the rear panel  313  or the side panels  312 .  
         [0043]     The panels  312 ,  313 ,  314 , base  317  and/or divider  319  can be fabricated from a pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, pliable plastics, paper products, nylon, or any other material that is pliable to allow collapsing of the collapsible storage device  310  to a thin form when not in use. Additionally, or alternatively, the panels  312 ,  313 ,  314 , base  317  and/or divider  319  can incorporate crease lines such that when empty, the collapsible storage device  310  can collapse to a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use. The base  317  can also be fabricated from a material that is less pliable, such as plastics, foams, composites, metals, glass, and/or wood, or any combination thereof, or any material operable to support a weight of a stack of products  301  such as diapers.  
         [0044]     The collapsible storage device  310  can be secured using at least one suspension device  316  that can be any suitable suspension device similar to those described herein in conjunction with other embodiments. Furthermore, optional sealable openings  315  can be formed in a panel such as the front panel  314  to assist in loading diapers or other products  301  in the collapsible storage device  310 . The openings  315  can be sealed in any suitable manner similar to those described herein in conjunction with other embodiments, such as zippers  321  and/or hook and loop fasteners. Additionally, or alternatively, the storage compartments  323  form chutes having a top opening. A user can load the collapsible storage device  310  by depositing one or more diapers or other products  301  in the top opening, the diapers or other products  301  gravitating toward the base  317 . Therefore, the top openings can act as gravity feeds for easy loading of the collapsible storage device  310 .  
         [0045]     In another aspect of this embodiment, the collapsible storage device  20   310  may include at least one top panel  311  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The top panel  311  can be sealed using sealing means such as a zipper  331  and/or any other suitable means similar to those described herein, such as hook and loop fasteners.  FIG. 13  illustrates a top panel  311  for each compartment  323 .  
         [0046]     Alternatively, one top panel can cover both compartments  323 . The top panel  311   25  can be fabricated from pliable or non-pliable material such as plastics, nylon, composites, foams, metals, glass, silicone, wood, cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, or any combination thereof and/or any other suitable material to cover a top of the collapsible storage device  310 . The top panel  311  may be temporarily removed or opened to load the collapsible storage device  310 , for example by unzipping the top panel  311  and pivoting it about a side of the top panel  311 , for example a side  333  coinciding with a top edge of the rear panel  313 .  
         [0047]     All of the above U.S. Pat. Nos., U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications Ser. No., foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.  
         [0048]     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.