Patent Publication Number: US-6702119-B2

Title: Popup wardrobe

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to collapsible containers. 
     The invention relates in general to a collapsible container with a bar from which objects are suspended within the container, and is especially useful as a wardrobe for hanging and storing clothes. More particularly, the invention relates to a pop-open wardrobe that can be collapsed into one flat piece to be received in a carrying bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. 
     Collapsible containers have previously had stiff sides to support the weight of the hanger-bar and clothes hung on the bar. But those stiff sides are heavy and difficult to collapse. There is thus a need for a lightweight, easily collapsible container to support objects hung within the container, and there is a particular need for a collapsible wardrobe. 
     Collapsible hampers have been developed that have spring-loop frames formed of tension-loop members that stretch fabric panels sight to form a container. While light-weight and collapsible, those collapsible containers are not configured to support a hanger-bar, and lack the strength to support hung clothing or other objects. There is thus a need for strengthened collapsible containers, and for wardrobes that are lightweight and collapsible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A collapsible container is provided that uses the tension-loop frame to form a collapsible container with flexible sides. A support frame is coupled to the flexible sides to support the hanger-bar from which clothes can be hung within the container. The support frame and hanger-bar can also be formed of a series of short tubes with ends of the tubes configured to nest with adjacent ends of adjacent tubes. This provides a light-weight and collapsible container, while providing the strength to support clothing hung from a bar within the container. 
     one version of this container comprises a wardrobe having an enclosed space formed by one, and preferably formed by a plurality of panels forming a plurality of sides. Each of the panels is made of a flexible material, and each of the panels is foldable such that the pop-open wardrobe can be folded into a flat piece. At least one of the panels includes an opening to allow access to the insides of the container, and preferably the opening is formed by a zipper to allow the wardrobe to be opened. 
     In one embodiment, the pop-open wardrobe comprises four side panels, a top panel and an optional but preferred floor panel. The top edges of the side panels are adjacent to the top panel, and the bottom edges of the side panels are adjacent to the floor panel. At least two opposite side panels comprise foldable perimeters. Preferably, each side panel comprises a perimeter encircling a flexible foldable sheet. One of the side panels has a an opening that can be releasably sealed, as by a zipper, to allow the user to open the wardrobe as needed. Preferably, the side panel with the zipper has at least a portion of the panel being transparent or translucent. One can thus have a view of the contents inside of the wardrobe without opening it. A hanger-bar is held across two opposite side panels for hanging clothes. The hanger bar has two legs received in loops that are attached on the opposite side panels. Alternatively, the legs of the hanger bar may extend a distance sufficient to reach the floor of the wardrobe and support surface on which the wardrobe rests, or the leg can extend through the floor panel to directly contact the support surface. A base can be added to the legs to provide additional support of the wardrobe. 
     When the hanger bar has two legs extending through the floor panel, preferably, but optionally, two grommets are included in the floor panel with the hanger bar extending through the grommets in order to protect the floor panel from being damaged by the hanger bar and the weight of the clothes supported by the hanger bar. 
     In a very simple form, the container has a plurality of panels formed by tension loop members, with the panels being joined at adjacent edges to form an enclosure. A hanger bar supported within the enclosure. In a further embodiment, the hanger bar is connected at each end to one of the panels. In a still further embodiment, a support is interposed between the hanger bar and a surface on which the container rests during use of the container to transfer weight from the hanger bar to the surface. The support can include a leg located at each opposing end of the hanger bar. The support could also include a pair of legs located at each opposing end of the hanger bar and arranged in an “A” frame support. The support could extend through an opening in the container to contact the surface. Preferably, the hanger bar has legs at opposing ends of the hanger bar with the legs being connected to the flexible material. The distal end of the legs can connect to a base configured to stabilize the legs and hanger bar, or to do so in cooperation with the flexible frame and panels. 
     The container could have an opening that is releasably closed to allow access to the enclosure. In a further embodiment, one panel is completely open to allow ready access to the inside of the container. But preferably, one panel has a zippered opening therein, or an opening that may be held closed in other ways. 
     The base can comprise an elongated member with a T-shaped connection to fasten to the legs. The base can comprise an elongated member lying parallel to the plane of the surface which the container rests during use. The base can comprise a rectangular frame to which all legs fasten. 
     The improvements also include a kit for a collapsible container to be supported on a surface during use of the container. The kit includes the tension-loop frame, hanger bar and a collapsible support, preferably but optionally placed in a carry bag. The collapsible enclosure has at least one tension-loop frame with a flexible material on the frame to form a plurality of walls defining an enclosed space. An opening is preferably formed in one of the walls to allow access to the enclosed space, or one or more entire sides, top or end could be left completely open to allow access. The collapsible frame advantageously has a hanging bar with opposing ends removably connected to first and second legs. Each leg extends in planes generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hanger bar. The legs extend a distance sufficient to support the hanger bar on the surface during use of the container. The legs are advantageously collapsible into shorter lengths for transportation and packaging. 
     In one embodiment, the legs comprise a plurality of elongated members that connect end-to-end to form two legs extending at an angle relative to each other to form an “A” shaped support on at least one end of the hanger bar. In another embodiment, a base connects to at least one of the legs, with the base being sized to stabilize the support of the hanger bar. 
     Preferably, the enclosure has a plurality of loops fastened to a wall of the enclosure adjacent at least one leg, with the loop sized and located so the at least one leg can extend through the loop when the container is assembled in order to couple the wall of the container to the at least one leg. Moreover, at least one of the walls can have a hole located and sized to allow a leg to extend through the hole during use of the container. 
     Also disclosed is a method of forming a collapsible container resting on a surface, with the container preferably, but optionally comprising a wardrobe. The method includes forming an enclosure container by un-coiling a at least one, and preferably a plurality of panels each having a tension-loop frame. The panel(s) form the enclosure. A hanger bar is placed in the enclosure and between two opposing sides of the container. The hanger bar is supported on the surface by using at least one leg extending between the hanger bar and the surface. Advantageously, the at least one leg is fastened to one of the panels. Moreover, the hanger bar is advantageously supported by a leg fastened to each of the opposing ends of the hanger bar. A base is advantageously fastened to a distal end of each leg. The legs can extend through holes in the enclosure, and the base can be placed outside the enclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. The above and other advantages of this invention will be better understood and explained by reference to the following description and drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout. 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of a pop-up container provided by the invention, of which the front panel is zipped; 
     FIG. 2 shows the front view of the pop-up container with the zipper partly open; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the pop-up container; 
     FIG. 4 shows the hanger bar used in the pop-up container for hanging objects; 
     FIG. 5 shows a loop for holding the hanger bar as shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 shows the exterior of a panel with a connecting loop sewn to the panel; 
     FIG. 7 shows the cross sectional view of a hole in the floor panel allowing a support leg to pass through the hole; 
     FIG. 8 shows a stiffening member to help prevent the container from unduly distorting when the zipper is open; 
     FIG. 9 shows the panels folded flat on top of each other; 
     FIG. 10 shows the collapsed container; 
     FIG. 11 shows that the container is collapsed and a carrying bag; 
     FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment with an “A” shaped support for the hanger bar; 
     FIG. 13 shows a detail of a nested connection for the hanger bar of this invention; 
     FIG. 14 shows further embodiment with a single tension-loop frame; 
     FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment with a “T” shaped base; 
     FIG. 16 s hows a further embodiment with a rectangular shaped base; and 
     FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the tension-loop frame. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a collapsible container  10  is disclosed that has special use as a pop-up wardrobe for clothes storage or for storage of other objects suspended from a bar or hanger bar within the container. The pop-up container  10  comprises a flexible enclosure having a front panel  100 , two side panels  102 , a rear panel  104 , a floor panel  112  and a top panel  114 . The front panel  100  and the rear panel  104  are opposite to each other, and preferably in generally parallel planes and of the same size, shape and other dimensions. The two side panels  102  located between the front and the rear panels are also opposite to each other, and again, preferably in generally parallel planes and of the same size, shape and other dimensions. The dimensions of the side, front panel and rear panel are large enough to enclose the items intended to be placed in the container  10 , and preferably large enough so that various kinds of clothes or other objects can be accommodated or hung in the container. 
     Preferably, at least one pair of the panels, that is, the front and rear panels  100 ,  104 , or the two opposing side panels  102 , have foldable but sufficiently stiff perimeters such that the wardrobe can pop open from a collapsed to an expanded configuration with the tension of the perimeters causing the enclosure to remain in that expanded configuration. The tension-loop frames hold the flexible material of the panels taut. By appropriately joining two or more panels in a ring, a partial enclosure can be formed, and a top and bottom can be added to form a completely enclosed space. Advantageously all four vertical sided panels have such stiff perimeters. These stiff perimeters can be formed by placing pockets  115  around the perimeters with the pockets containing tension-loop frames  117  (FIG.  17 ). The pockets  115 , or the panels formed by the frames  117  can be joined by means known in the art and not described in detail herein. The panels  100 ,  102 ,  104 ,  112 ,  114  and tension-loop enclosures of the type used herein are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,964,533 and 5,816,279, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Preferably, each of the side panels  102  and the front and rear panels  100 ,  104 , respectively have a perimeter formed by such tension-loop frames, with the frames joined along the generally vertical sides. Alternatively, it is possible, but less preferable, to have the top  114 , front  100 , bottom  112  and back  104  sides formed by panels having these tension-loop frames, with the abutting edges of those panels being joined. Moreover, it is also possible, but less preferable, to have the top  114 , sides  102  and bottom  112  formed by these tension loop frames with abutting edges of those panels being joined. 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of the pop-up container  10  having a front panel  100  with a perimeter or periphery  100   a . Each edge of the perimeter  100   a  of the front panel is joined with a adjacent panel, or to the perimeter of another panel of the pop-up container  10 . More specifically, a top edge of the front panel  100  is connected to the top panel  114 , a bottom edge of the front panel  100  is connected to the floor panel  112  (FIG.  3 ), side edges of the front panel  100  are connected to two opposing side panels  102 . A back or rear panel  104  is located opposite the front panel  100 , with the side edges of the back panel also being joined to the edges of the side panels  102 . As used herein, the directions up, down, or top, bottom refer to directions relative to the earth, with gravity being directed downward. These directions are given for ease of illustrating the invention, but the directions are relative and can change depending on the orientation of the container  10 . 
     The front panel  100  comprises a foldable perimeter  100   a  and a flexible panel  100   b . The flexible panel  100   b  preferably, but optionally, includes a viewing portion  108  that is sufficiently transparent or translucent to allow the user to see into the container  10  the contents stored the pop-up wardrobe sufficiently to identify the contents of the container  10 . FIG. 1 shows the viewing portion  108  extending in a strip across a width of the front panel  100   b , located at about the eye-level of a user of the container  10 . The size, shape, location and number of the viewing portion(s)  108  can vary. Indeed, the entire container  10  can be made of transparent or translucent material if desired. Preferably, the panels forming the enclosure of the container  10  are made of nylon or other flexible fabric, but could be made of flexible plastic or polymer-based material. 
     The front panel  100  has an opening or door  210  that is preferably, but optionally, releasably held closed by a releasable closure mechanism  106 , as by a zipper zip-lock seal, string ties, snaps, twist locks, latches or other releasable closure mechanisms. The closure mechanism  106  preferably allows a T-shaped opening to be releasably formed, and can be achieved by a horizontal zipper and a vertical zipper forming a T-shape with the cross-bar of the T located at the upper end of the front panel. That orientation allows a user of the container  10  to open the pop-up container wide enough for an easy access to the contents in the container  10 . The piece that interlocks or opens the zipper  106  can be covered with a lip  110 , which extends from the flexible foldable panel  100   b  and is shown as located at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical parts forming the T-shaped opening. Other shaped openings can be used, as for example, an opening hinged or bending along the entire bottom and open on the sides and top to form an inverted “U” shape access door (FIG.  14 ). 
     As shown in FIG. 17, the foldable perimeter  100   a  preferably comprises a pocket  115  or series of loops extending around the periphery of the panel, with a foldable, flexible frame  117 , such as spring tension loop placed in the pocket or extending through the loops and being restrained by the pocket or loops and the flexible material of the panels. The tension loop frame  117  can be made of spring steel or plastic. In one embodiment of the invention, such material is enclosed in a loop stitched along the perimeter  100   a  of the front panel  100 . Preferably, four of the panels that form the container  10  have this tension-loop construction along the perimeter, although it is possible to have as few as two opposing panels with the tension-loop construction. 
     When constructed in this manner, the container  10  can be collapsed by folding the panels  100 ,  102  and  104  on top of each other to form a stack of planar panels as shown in FIG.  9 . The bottom  112  and top  114  can be folded between these overlapping panels  112 ,  114 . Preferably, but optionally, the material on the panels and the tension-loop frame  117  are constructed to allow the stack to then be twisted into overlapping loops or coils of smaller diameter than the size of the panels. Three, overlapping coils are commonly achieved, as shown in FIG.  9 . The coiled loops can be stored in a bag or other container, or held together by a strap, as shown in FIG.  10 . The coiled loops tend to spring open because of the tension loop frame. When released from a collapsed, coiled configuration the container pops-open. 
     The above described and illustrated portion of the detailed description thus provides means for forming a collapsible enclosure of flexible material with a tension-loop frame, which enclosure has an opening that is preferably, but optionally releasably closeable, and which enclosure preferably but optionally has a viewing window. 
     FIG. 2 shows the front panel of the pop-up container  10  when the zipper  106  is partly open. As shown in FIG. 2, the pop-up container  10  further comprises an elongated member such as hanger bar  200  for hanging items, such as clothes, inside of the pop-up container  10 . The hanger bar  200  is located at a position where the user of the container  10  can access or hang the objects or clothes inside of the container  10 . The hanger bar  200  extends between opposing sides  102  of the container  10  and is preferably horizontal. The detailed structure of the rod is further described in the following paragraph. 
     FIG. 4 shows the hanger bar  200  detached from the container  10 . The hanger bar  200  comprises a bar  200   a  sized to extend between two supports located adjacent the sides  102 . Preferably the hanger bar  200  has two short legs  200   b  extending perpendicularly from opposing ends of the bar  200   a . The hanger bar  200   a  is generally horizontal in use and the legs  200   b  are typically in a vertical plane. The hanger bar  200   a  can be of one piece, or multiple pieces removably fastened together using various removable joinder mechanisms, such as nested ends(as shown in FIG. 13 relative to legs  201 ). 
     In FIG. 5, a retaining means, such as pockets or loops  122  are formed on interior surfaces of the side panels  102 . The retaining means  122  are configured to allow the hanger bar legs  200   b  to be firmly but releasably held inside of the pop-up container  10 . Pockets  122  are sized and shaped to correspond to the legs  200   b  and can be formed by sewing, riveting, gluing or otherwise fastening strips of material to the panels such as panels  102 . For example, when the legs  200   b  of the hanger bar  200  are 4.25 inches long, the pockets  122  are sized to enclose the distal end of legs  200   b  and engage the very end of the leg to help carry load placed on the hanger bar. Alternatively, loops  122  can be used which lack the closed end of the pocket. The pocket has the advantage of engaging the end of the leg  200   b  to transfer load in the plane of the panel  102  to which the pocket is fastened. But the loop has the advantage of allowing longer legs as discussed below. 
     FIG. 6 shows the exterior view of loops  122  sewn to the side panels  102 . The vertically extending legs  200   b  can be made as an integral with the bar  200   a , or alternatively, they can be detachable from the bar  200   a  as by nesting tubes as illustrated in FIG. 13, or threaded ends, or other removable connections. The removable connection between the hanger bar  200   a  and side panels  102  can take many forms is not to be limited by the disclosed embodiments. Other removable connections including a hook on each opposing end of the hanger bar  200   a  cooperating with a loop fastened to the sides  102 , or hooks fastened to the sides  102  to releasable engage apertures or loops in the hanger bar  200   a  or on the ends of hanger bar  200   a.    
     When the hanger bar  200  is fastened to the side panels  102  as discussed above, the side panels carry the entire weight of any objects hung from the hanger bar  200 . The material from which the side panels or walls are formed is preferably selected to be strong as well as flexible. Canvas or heavy nylon is preferred, although other materials can be used. 
     If additional support is needed or desired to carry the weight on the hanger bar  200   a , then a support can be interposed between the ground and the hanger bar  200   a . If a support is used then the material forming the walls and panels need not be as strong as in the above embodiments. The support can comprise a single support or leg  201  extending between the hanger bar  200   a  and ground, located anywhere along the length of the hanger bar  200   a . But preferably the support is provided by having a leg  201  on each end of the hanger bar  200   a  extend to the floor panel  112 , which presumably rests on the ground or other support surface. Advantageously, the legs  201  removably connect to the hanger bar  200   a , and preferably connect to one of the legs  200   b . This is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Various junctures can be used to removably connect the legs  201  to the hanger bar, including the use of nested ends as shown in FIG. 13 (or T joints as seen in FIG.  14 ). The legs  201  are preferably tubular and of sufficient size to adequately support the weight to be placed on hanger bar  200   a . The legs can be of a single piece, or of multiple lengths removably joined together as discussed above. 
     The legs  201  are preferably, but optionally coupled to the adjacent side panels  102  in various ways. Loops  122  fastened to the side panels are believed suitable to allow passage of the legs  201  while connecting the legs to the side adjacent panel in order to help maintain the orientation of the legs relative to the side panel. Any number of loops  122  or elongated strips may be formed, stitched, riveted, glued or otherwise fastened to the interior surface of the side panels  102  for holding the elongated legs  201 . The loops  122  could be of hook-and-loop construction to allow the loops to be opened and closed. Snaps, ties and other releasable fasteners could also be used to provide releasable loops  122 . 
     The hanger bar  200   a  and its support legs  201  thus provide a sturdy support frame for the objects to be suspended from hanger bar  200   a  and allows at least a portion of the weight of suspended objects to be transferred by the legs  201  rather than by the panels of the container  10 . The loops  122  and panels  100 ,  102 ,  104  and the support frame  117  in the panels help maintain the orientation of the hanger bar  200   a  and legs  201 , but the great bulk of the weight is preferably carried by legs  201  and hanger bar  200 . But depending on the relative strength of the legs  201  and the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104 , the panels may carry a portion of the weight of the objects suspended from the bar  200   a . The legs  201  thus provide a means for supporting at least a portion of the weight of objects suspended from the hanger bar  200   a , and preferably provide the primary load support means. Preferably, the hanger bar  200  and legs  201  support the weight on the hanger bar, while the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104  enclose the hanger bar. 
     The legs  201  may be formed in one piece, or for portability could be formed of several parts that can be removably connected together. Tubes with ends formed to nest with the ends of adjacent tubes can be used. Tubes with threaded ends can be sued. Any variety of collapsible, elongated members can be used as long as the legs  122  can allow the hanger bar  200   a  to support the weight of objects suspended from the hanger bar. This is also true for the above removable connections on the hanger bar  200  and with the hanger bar  200 . It is believed desirable to have the legs  201  formed of tubular members having a length no greater than the diameter of the coil formed when the container  10  is collapsed by coiling the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104  into three overlapping coils. The legs  201  and hanger bar  200  are preferably made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, or may be made of suitably strong plastics. 
     The distal ends of the legs  201  will wear through or cut through the bottom panel  112 , especially when weight is carried by those legs. To avoid damaging the floor panel  112 , holes or openings  203  may be formed in the floor panel  112  to allow the legs  201  to thread through the holes  203 . Preferably, a grommet  202  is attached along the hole or opening  203  to provide a further protection as shown in FIG.  7 . In addition, or alternatively, a cap, for example, a plastic cap  204  is preferably attached at the end of each leg  201  in order to help reduce the tendency of the ends of the legs  201  to cut the abutting surface. 
     The support is shown thus far as comprising generally vertical legs  201 , with a single leg  201  on each of the opposing ends of the hanger bar  200   a . The support for the hanger bar could take other forms. For example, FIG. 12 illustrates a further embodiment in which hanger bar  200   a  has two legs  201  on each of the opposing ends of the hanger bar  200   a . In this embodiment the legs  200   b  extend at an angle form an “A” frame support for the hanger bar. The “A” shaped support can be formed of single-piece tubes. But the support could be formed of segmented legs that are removably connected as described above. An “A” connection can be used to connect the hanger bar  200   a  to the legs  201 . The support is preferably, but optionally connected to the side panels  102  of the container  10  by loops  122 . The A-frame support has the advantage of being self-supporting and not requiring the tension-loop frame (e.g., any of panels  100 ,  102 ,  104 ) of the container  10  to carry the weight of the load placed on the hanger bar  200   a  or to stabilize the A-frame. The support is still preferably connected to the panels  102  by loops  122  to the walls of the panels, but that connection is optional. Preferably there is one connection or loop  122  for each segment of the leg  201 , but the number of connections can vary. 
     FIG. 14 shows a further embodiment of this invention in which a single tension-loop frame forms a generally rectangular enclosure having a plurality of walls. The hanger bar  200   a  is supported by a pair of legs  201  at each opposing end of the hanger bar, with the pair of legs forming an A-frame support. The legs  201  extend through holes  203  in the walls of the container  10  to rest against the surface on which the container  10  rests during use. No straps or loops  122  are shown in FIG. 13, but they could be used to couple the legs  201  to the walls of the container  10 . A closable, flexible door  210  is formed in one wall of the container  10  to allow access to the enclosed space within the container  10 . The previously described closure mechanisms, such as zippers, can be used to releasably connect the door to the container  10 , and to open and close the door. In FIG. 13, the door has an inverted “U” shape and is shown with two of the three-sides of the “U” being unzipped or opened. 
     The length of the legs  201  is selected to accommodate the objects to be suspended from the hanger bar  200   a . The legs  201  are preferably sized so that dresses, shirts, or both can be hung on the hanger bar  200   a  without having the clothing hit the bottom of the container  10 . 
     During use, the material forming the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104  carry some force as the tension-loop frames may bow and stretch the material forming the panels. To help resist bowing or significant distortion when the zipper  106  is open, a front panel strengthening member  206  is optionally, but preferably provided. The member  206  is preferably attached on an interior surface of the front panel  100  as shown in FIG.  8 . The member  206  extends from a location adjacent to, and preferably at, the middle of the top side of the front panel  100 , and extends to a location along the side adjacent to the location where the horizontal portion of the zipper  106  is located. The member  206  advantageously, but optionally comprises a flexible member, and preferably comprises a strip of material sewn or fastened to the panel  100  to strengthen the panel  100  by connecting the top and sides of the front panel. The member  206  can be of the same material as the panel  100 , or it can be a stronger material such as a strip of flexible plastic or canvas. Two such members  206  are preferably provided, one for each of the opposing sides. Depending on the configuration of the opening in the front panel  100 , the location and design of the members  206  can vary. 
     FIGS. 15-16 show a further embodiment that uses a base  220  lying against the ground or support surface to make the support frame formed by the hanger bar  200  and legs  201  a stable, self supporting structure. The base  220  is preferably, but optionally in a plane parallel to the support surface on which the container  10  rests during use of the container. The base  220  stabilizes the support of the hanger bar. The base  220  preferably is an elongated member such as a tube with a connection  222  to connect to the legs  201  supporting bar  200   a . The base  220  is generally parallel to and rests on the ground. The base  220  is long enough to provide a stable hanger bar  201 , and the amount of stability required will vary with the use of the container  10 . If a tubular base  222  is used, caps  204  can be used to close off the ends and avoid sharp edges that may cut or damage the enclosing panels of the container  10 . Preferably, but optionally, a T-connection  222  is used so the legs  201  can be removably inserted into the connection  222 . A base  220  is preferably fastened to each leg  201 . If the base  220  is used with the A-frame legs  201  shown in FIGS. 12 or  14 , the connection  222  would be angled, and the length of the base could be shorter. 
     The base  220  could take other forms, such as a rectangular shape conforming to the shape of the adjacent floor panel  112  of the container  10 , as shown in FIG.  15 . The base  220  can be placed inside the container  10 , or the legs  201  and/or connector  222  can extend through holes in the floor  112  and the base  220  can be placed outside the container  10 . Fasteners  206  can be used to connect the legs  201  and/or hanger bar  200   a  to the adjacent panels forming container  10 . The A-frame and base  220  provide self-supporting structures that preferably do not rely on the enclosure formed by tension loop panels forming the enclosure containing the hanger bar  200 . The A-frame configuration and base  220  thus advantageously provided self-supporting means for supporting the hanger bar  200 , and preferably provide independently stable, self-supporting means for supporting the hanger bar. 
     There is thus provided an enclosure  10  formed by at least one tension loop frame  117  means for at least one leg connected to the hanger bar and having a distal end supporting the hanger bar on the surface during use of the container. 
     There is also advantageously provided a collapsible container having an enclosure formed by a tension-loop frame. An opening is provided in the enclosure to allow access to the interior of the container  10 . The opening is preferably formed in the front panel  100 , but could be formed in other panels or portions of the container. Further, one wall of the container could be completely or partially open in order to provide access to the space enclosed by the remainder of the container. A support hanger bar  200   a  is placed inside the flexible walled enclosure where the enclosure is held in shape by a tension-loop frame. The support hanger bar  200   a  is preferably, but optionally fastened to the container  10 . Preferably, but optionally, a support frame  201  is used to provided the majority, and preferably to provide a substantial majority (over about 75% and up to 100%) of the support for the hanger bar  200   a . Advantageously, but optionally, the support frame  200   b  and/or leg  201  is coupled to the container, as by fasteners  206 . There is thus provided an enclosure formed by a spring-loop frame enclosing a support frame preferably includes a hanging-rod  200   a  supported within the container. The legs  201  can be located entirely within the enclosure or they can extend through holes  203  in the enclosure forming the container  10 . Preferably the legs  201  are enclosed within the container  10  and exit through holes  203  in the floor  112 , although the holes  203  could be located in other panels, such as side panels  102 . 
     The above embodiments have the support largely within the flexible enclosure formed by flexible, tension-loop frames  117 . But the support comprising legs  201  could be predominantly located outside the enclosure, with the legs  201  unconnected to the enclosure or fastened to the flexible enclosure by loops  122  located on an exterior surface of one of the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104  forming the container  10 . In this embodiment, the hanger bar  200  would extend through the panels forming the container, or the legs  201  would extend through the panels to fasten to the hanger bar. 
     The above embodiments describe the enclosure formed by the tension-loop frames  117  as completely enclosing a space, with at least one opening allowing access to the enclosed space. The opening could be so large that it comprises the entire panel  100 , with no closable opening. This could be easily achieved by omitting the flexible material extending between the pockets  115  (FIG. 16) containing the frame  115 . This would provide an open side panel  100 . The open side panel need not be limited to the front side  100 , but could comprise one or more of the panels  100 ,  102 ,  104 . Similarly, the top and bottom panels  114 ,  112 , respectively, could be omitted. Preferably though, the container  10  in completely enclosed and has one or more closable openings in one or more of the panels forming the enclosure. 
     For shipment, the panels forming the container  10  are coiled and stored in a bag as shown in FIG. 11, along with the collapsible legs  201 . Upon removal from the storage bag, the panels are expanded to form the flexible container  10 . The hanger bar  200  is placed inside the container  10  and fastened to the walls of the container. Alternatively, hanger bar  200  can be supported inside the container by a support, such as legs  201 . The legs are preferably assembled from segmented lengths to form a longer length sufficient to hold the hanger bar  200  at the desired height in the container  10 . The legs  201  are advantageously extended through the walls forming the container  10  to support the hanger bar  200  directly on the support on which the container rests during use. A closeable opening is used to gain access to the hanger bar to suspend items from the bar. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention, including various ways of forming a support for the hanger-bar within the collapsible container. Further, the container is shown having four panels  100 ,  102 ,  104 , but any number of panels can be used to form the container, including as few as a single tension frame, and more than four panels each with a tension frame. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments but is to be defined by the following claims when read in the broadest reasonable manner to preserve the validity of the claims.