Patent Publication Number: US-2016242519-A1

Title: Convertible container assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/176,494 filed Feb. 20, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates to a convertible container assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Workers and craftsmen in various trades and industries, as well as any other user of tools and similar objects, store and carry tools and other objects to and around a worksite in order to accomplish tasks. As one example, a craftsman in the vehicle wrap industry has several tools that should be conveniently accessible at a worksite. The craftsman must then transport the tools to a new location. If, to accomplish a task, a craftsman is required to store and carry additional items, such as a tool belt, carrying case, or surface mounting device the additional items add bulk and weight. Because a typical craftsman must frequently store and access tools and other items, and transport the items to a new location, energy, time, and productivity are wasted with the bulk and weight of additional tools and items. 
     Further, space constraints surrounding the work site, surface, or particular space in which a worker must work often require the worker to sit or kneel, or maintain themselves in a position that is stressful to the knees, back, shoulders, or other portions of the body to accomplish a required task. 
     Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a container assembly that allows improved object accessing, storing, and transporting to improve the efficiency of accomplishing tasks that require the use of tools and other objects. Further, there exists a need in the art for a container assembly that supports a person and increases comfort for a person accomplishing a task. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter, and a lower member being convertible such that the lower member is substantially planar in a first configuration and substantially parallelepipedous in a second configuration, the lower member including a second plurality of attachment portions at a lower member perimeter, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the lower member perimeter. 
     The lower member may include a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration. The upper member may include a first side having an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects. The upper member may further include a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface. The lower member may include a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the lower member is in the second configuration. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising a holder member having a first side configured to secure one or more objects and a second side having a coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a surface to allow access to the first side, and a pad member being substantially planar and having a plurality of folding portions, wherein the holder member is configured to attach to the pad member to form a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. 
     The holder member may include a first plurality of attachment portions at a holder member perimeter. The pad member may include a second plurality of attachment portions at a pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the holder member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the pad member perimeter when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire holder member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the pad member forms a substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the holder member to a ferromagnetic surface. The plurality of folding portions may include a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions such that an internal cavity is defined by the plurality of folding portions when the pad member forms the substantially parallelepipedous shape upon folding of the folding portions. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a convertible container assembly is provided comprising an upper member having a first plurality of attachment portions at an upper member perimeter, and a lower member including a substantially planar central portion and a plurality of outer portions disposed around the central portion, wherein the lower member is convertible from a first configuration wherein the central portion and the plurality of outer portions are both substantially planar, to a second configuration wherein the central portion remains substantially planar and the plurality of outer portions are substantially orthogonal to the central portion to define a lower member internal cavity, the plurality of outer portions further including a second plurality of attachment portions, wherein the first plurality of attachment portions at the upper member perimeter is configured to attach to the second plurality of attachment portions at the plurality of outer portions. 
     The lower member may include a pad portion configured to support a user when the lower member is in the first configuration. A first side of the upper member may include an object securing member configured to secure one or more objects. A second side of the upper member may include a coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a surface to allow access to the first side. The coupling member may include a magnetic coupling member configured to couple the upper member to a ferromagnetic surface. The lower member may include a plurality of folding portions having a plurality of overlapping portions, each of the plurality of overlapping portions having at least one overlapping portion attachment member securing the plurality of overlapping portions against the plurality of folding portions to define the lower member internal cavity. The first plurality of attachment portions may form a substantially continuous first attachment line around substantially the entire upper member perimeter, and the second plurality of attachment portions forms a substantially continuous second attachment line to attach to the first attachment line when the lower member is in the second configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bottom surface of a lower member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a top surface of a lower member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a container assembly with an open upper member in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an upper member of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 7-22  are perspective views of a container assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the foregoing summary, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, which are considered to be the best modes thereof. The methods and systems herein described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a convertible container assembly  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The container assembly  10  includes an upper member  12  and a lower member  14 . The upper member  12  includes a first plurality of attachment portions  18  at an upper member perimeter  20 , as further described below. The lower member  14  includes a second plurality of attachment portions  22  at a lower member perimeter  24 , also further described below. The first plurality of attachment portions  18  at the upper member perimeter  20  attaches to the second plurality of attachment portions  22  at the lower member perimeter  24  to form the container assembly  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, one or more straps  16  are attached to the upper member  12  and/or the lower member  14  to support the container assembly  10  and/or to improve carrying of the container assembly  10 . In an embodiment not illustrated, the container assembly  10  does not include the straps  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  with continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  is convertible from a substantially planar configuration to a substantially parallelepipedous configuration.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in a first configuration  26 , while  FIG. 1  illustrates the lower member  14  being in a second configuration  28 . When in the first configuration  26  of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lower member  14  is substantially planar.  FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom surface  80  of the lower member  14 , and  FIG. 3  illustrates a top surface  82  of the lower member  14 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , when the lower member  14  is in the second configuration  28 , the lower member  14  assumes a substantially parallelepipedous shape. In one or more embodiments, the lower member  14  assumes a box or a substantially cubic shape, a triangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal prism shape, or a cylindrical form in the second configuration  28 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many three-dimensional structures may be formed using folding or bendable portions of the lower member  14 , and such structures are included in the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lower member  14  includes a central portion  30  and a plurality of outer portions  32  disposed around the central portion  30 . When the lower member  14  converts from the first configuration  26  to the second configuration  28 , the plurality of outer portions  32  are reoriented such that each of the plurality of outer portions  32  is substantially orthogonal to the central portion  30  to define a lower member internal cavity  34 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and described in further detail below. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of fasteners  84  couple together at each corner  86  of the lower member  14  to assist in forming the second configuration  28  of the container assembly  10 . The fasteners  84  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the fasteners  84  described herein. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the bottom surface  80  of the lower member  14  includes three of the attachment portions  22  in an embodiment, while one of the attachment portions  22  at a front side  98  of the lower member  14  is disposed on the top surface  82  of the lower member  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The four attachment portions  22  cooperate and attach to the four attachment portions  18  at the upper member perimeter  20  to form the container assembly  10 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the various combinations of attachment portion configurations on the surfaces  80 ,  82  to allow the lower member  14  to couple to the upper member  12 , and such combinations or configurations are included in additional embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the lower member  14  includes a plurality of folding portions  36  having a plurality of overlapping portions  38 . Each of the plurality of overlapping portions  38  includes at least one overlapping portion attachment member  40 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The overlapping portion attachment member  40  in the embodiments illustrated are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, or any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace attachment members  40  described herein. The overlapping portion attachment member  40  secures the overlapping portion  38  against an interior surface  90  of one or more of the folding portions  36 , such as shown in  FIG. 4 . The internal cavity  34  in one embodiment is at least partially defined by the plurality of folding portions  36  when the lower member  14  is in the second configuration  28 . In one or more embodiments, one or more loops, pockets or other holding structures (not shown) are disposed on one or more outside surfaces of the lower member  14  when in the second configuration  28 . 
     Referring again to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the upper member  12  includes the first plurality of attachment portions  18  at the upper member perimeter  20 , and the lower member  14  includes the second plurality of attachment portions  22  at the lower member perimeter  24 . The first plurality of attachment portions  18  at the upper member perimeter  20  attaches to the second plurality of attachment portions  22  at the lower member perimeter  24  to form the container assembly  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the lower member  14  includes one or more upper member fasteners  96 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , to assist in coupling the lower member  14  to the upper member  12 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the upper member  12  of one embodiment. The upper member  12  of  FIG. 5  includes a holder member  46  having a first side  48  with an object securing member  60  configured to secure one or more objects  92 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , object securing members  60  are loops and/or pockets made from elastic materials to secure objects  92  for ease of placement and access. One or more mesh pockets (with or without closures), fabric pockets or loops, hooks, clips, snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, or any other fastening, holding, or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the object securing member  60  described herein. The objects  92  may include such non-limiting examples as a hand tool, tape measure, knife, scissors, squeegee, level, screw driver, wrench, hammer, razor, and nails and other fasteners or supplies. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first plurality of attachment portions  18  forms a substantially continuous first attachment line  42  around substantially the entire upper member perimeter  20 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the second plurality of attachment portions  22  forms a substantially continuous second attachment line  44  to be attached to the first attachment line  42  when the lower member  14  is in the second configuration  28 . The attachment portions  18 ,  22  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4  are hook and loop fasteners, but snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the attachment portions  18 ,  22  described herein. 
     The holder member  46  or upper member  12  includes an opening  94  to allow access to the contents of the container assembly  10  in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . In an embodiment, the opening  94  may include a zipper, but snaps, clasps, magnets, adhesives, or any other fastener, closure, and coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the zipper described herein. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the lower member  14  includes a pad member, cushion member, or pad portion  56  in an embodiment that is configured to support a user  58  when the lower member  14  is in the first configuration  26 . The holder member  46  of an embodiment includes a second side  50 , shown in  FIG. 1 , having a coupling member  52  configured to couple the upper member  12  or holder member  46  to a surface  54  to allow access to the first side  48 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The coupling member  52  includes a magnetic coupling member  62  in one embodiment that is configured to couple the upper member  12  to a ferromagnetic surface  64 . However, snaps, clasps, magnets, zippers, adhesives, and any other fastener or coupling methods or structures that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize are included in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to supplement or replace the coupling member  52  described herein. In one embodiment, the coupling member  52  includes two rare earth magnets embedded in the upper member  12 . 
     The pad portion  56  provides physical comfort for a person by compressing or otherwise deforming to relieve stress on the person working in various constrained spaces. In embodiment, the pad portion  56  includes a resilient member embedded inside the lower member  14 , including such non-limiting examples as a foam or rubber pad sewn into the lower member  14 . In an embodiment, the pad portion  56  is included in the central portion  30  only. In an embodiment, the pad portion  56  is included in one or more of the overlapping portions  38 . In an embodiment, the pad portion  56  is included in one or more of the outer portions  32  only. In an embodiment, the pad portion  56  is included in both the central portion  30  and the outer portions  32 . In an embodiment, the pad portion  56  is included in the central portion  30 , the outer portions  32 , and the overlapping portions  38 . As one non-limiting example, the person may kneel on the pad portion  56 , causing the pad portion  56  to deform and distribute the concentrated pressure at a point on the knee across a larger area of the knee or leg. This allows the person to work longer and more comfortably with less injury or distraction while accomplishing the task. Additionally, the pad portion  56  protects the contents of the container assembly  10  when objects are disposed in the cavity  34  when the container assembly  10  is in the second configuration  28 , or disposed on the lower member  14  when the container assembly  10  is in the first configuration  26 . 
     In one embodiment, a user  58  places one or more objects, such as tools, in the interior cavity  34  of the container assembly  10  when the container assembly  10  is in the second configuration  28 . The user  58  then transports the container assembly  10  to a worksite location  100 . The user  58  then separates the upper member  12  from the lower member  14  in one embodiment to access the objects in the interior cavity  34 . In another embodiment, the user  58  accesses the objects through the opening  94  without separating the upper member  12  from the lower member  14 . In an embodiment, the user  58  positions the upper member  12  on the surface  54  in an embodiment to allow access to the first side  48 . The user  58  converts the lower member  14  from the second configuration  28  to the first configuration  26 . The user  58  then positions the lower member  14  on the floor, ground, or other surface below the user  58  to provide support for the user  58 . When the user  58  wishes to move to another location, the user  58  converts the lower member  14  from the first configuration  26  to the second configuration  28  and places the objects or tools into the interior cavity  34 . The user  58  removes the upper member  12  from the surface  54  in an embodiment. The user  58  then attaches the upper member  12  to the lower member  14  or otherwise closes the container assembly  10  and transports the container assembly  10  to another location. 
     The container assembly  10  of the present disclosure allows improved object accessing, storing, and transporting to improve the efficiency of accomplishing any task that requires the transportation and use of tools or other objects. Further, as described above, the container assembly  10  supports the user  58  and increases comfort for the user  58  while he or she accomplishes a task. 
     The upper member  12  and lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in one embodiment comprise a flexible material. The upper member  12  and/or lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in one embodiment comprise a durable material. The upper member  12  and/or lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in one embodiment comprise a stain-resistant material. The upper member  12  and/or lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in one embodiment comprise a material that is easy to clean, waterproof, and/or water-resistant. The upper member  12  and lower member  14  of the container assembly  10  in an embodiment are constructed of leather. However, such non-limiting materials as fabrics and textiles such as canvas and/or ripstop nylon, plastics such as polypropylene, elastomers, metals, woods, composites, and any combination thereof, form the upper member  12  and/or the lower member  14  in additional embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Having shown and described particular embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described disclosure and still be within the scope of the claimed disclosure. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed disclosure. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the disclosure only as indicated by the scope of the claims.