Patent Publication Number: US-7588160-B2

Title: Combined storage apparatus

Description:
The invention is a continuation in part of U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/756,262 filed Jan. 14, 2004 now abandoned &amp; Ser. No. 10/758,259 filed Jan. 16, 2004 now abandoned which are assigned to the invention of the present invention, and thus the contents of the U.S. Patent with Ser. Nos. 10/756,262 &amp; 10/758,259 are incorporated into the application as a part of the specification. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     Being a continuous improvement from two U.S. patent applications filed on Jan. 16, 2004 by the same applicant, the present invention relates to combined storage apparatuses, more particularly to a combined storage apparatus wherein a storage bag is provided with an extended flat bottom surface attached with a stiff board. An article is stored in the storage bag, and the storage bag is vacuum and then placed in a storage box. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     The storage bags for storing blankets or clothes of the prior art comprise a bag body that can be sealed and vacuumed, so that its volume can be significantly reduced for saving space. However, since the storage bags of the prior art are in irregular shapes and it is difficult to stack up many storage bags. It is further disadvantageous that the expansions of the bags, due to infiltration of air, will eventually collapses the stacked bags. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a combined storage apparatus comprising a storage bag and a storage box. The bottom of the storage bag forms an extended flat surface and is attached with a stiff board. Two sides of the stiff board are provided with locking members. Thereby, after the storage bag contains an article and is vacuumed, two lateral sections of the stiff board are folded upward to form two sidewalls. The storage bag is then placed into the storage box. Since the combined storage apparatus is boxy and of tough structure, a plurality of them can be stacked up so as to save storage or placement space. 
     The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a combined storage apparatus wherein the flat bottom of the storage bag is attached with a stiff board. The stiff board is provided with at least one set of locking members, such as binding ribbons and buckle belts. After the storage bag is vacuumed and shrunk, the locking members are engaged to bind the storage bag, which bag is then stored within the storage box. The locking members prevent the storage bag from expansion due to air infiltration, sustaining compact storage space and shape. 
     The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a combined storage apparatus according to the present invention wherein the storage bag and the storage box are separated. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a combined storage apparatus according to the present invention wherein the bottom board of the storage bag is folded to form two sidewalls. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a combined storage apparatus according to the present invention wherein the storage bag is housed in the storage box. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the sealing of the opening of the storage bag by pulling a zipper thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a lateral cross-sectional view of the present invention illustrating the air in the storage bag being extracted. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention wherein the storage bag is enclosed in the storage box. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 and 2 , a combined storage apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage bag  1  and a storage box  2 . The opening of the storage bag  1  is provided with two parallel snap strips  11  extending along two sides of the opening. Combining two snap strips  11  together can seal the storage bag  1 . The storage bag  1  is further provided with a one-way air valve  12  at a selected location thereof. The bottom of the storage bag  1  is provided with a horizontal flat surface that includes a stiff board  13 . A plurality of parallel locking members  14 , such as binding ribbons and buckling belts, are attached on the bottom face of the stiff board  13 , running across the stiff board  13  and be capable of enclosing the storage bag  1  above. Two sections on opposite sides of the stiff board  13  can be folded upward to form two sidewalls  131 . 
     The storage box  2  further includes a box body  22  and an upper flap  21  for closing the box body  22 . The box body  22  can house the storage bag  1  after the storage bag  1  is folded. The box body  22  is further provided with two handles  221  on two short sides thereof and a window  222  made of transparent material on one long side thereof. 
     Thereby, an article, such as bedding or clothing, can be stored in the storage bag  1 . The storage bag  1  is then sealed after combining the snap strips  11  and vacuumed. Two sidewalls  131  of the stiff board  13  are folded upward to erect the storage bag  1 . Finally, the storage bag  1  is bound by connecting the locking members  14  and placed into the storage box  2 . Since the combined storage apparatus is boxy, it is easy to stack up multiple units, therefore saving storage space. 
     Further, the sidewalls  131  extended from the stiff board  13  of the storage bag  1  reinforce the toughness of the storage box  2  after the storage bag  1  is placed into the storage box  2 . Therefore, the storage box  2  can sustain stress due to stacking up for an extended time without deformation. 
     The aforesaid locking members  14  of the stiff board  13  can be binding ribbons or buckle belt as shown in the figures, for preventing expansion of stored articles due to air leakage into the storage bag  1 . It provides an equivalent effect that the locking members  14  are disposed on two long sides instead. 
     The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.