Patent Abstract:
A hamper assembly has a plurality of separate sections, and a plurality of supports. Each section has a first side and a second side, and a connector provided on each side of each section. In addition, each support removably couples the connector on the first side of one section and the connector on the second side of an adjacent section.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to household items, and in particular, to a hamper that can be collapsed to a compact configuration for convenient storage and transportation. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Space, storage, convenience and shipping are major concerns relating to the shipment and sale of household items. For example, the bulkiness and large sizes of many of these household items can not only increase the shipping costs of such items, but can also present space and storage problems to consumers who live in smaller homes and apartments. 
     An example of such household items is laundry hampers. Laundry hampers tend to be large in size to hold a reasonable amount of dirty clothing. However, transportation and storage of these hampers is quite troublesome, since their large sizes and bulkiness makes it more costly to ship them from the manufacturer to retailers. In addition, the consumer often needs sufficient space in their vehicles to take them home, and then needs sufficient floor space in the home to store these hampers when they are not in use. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a laundry hamper that can be conveniently shipped, transported, stored and deployed for use, and which takes up minimal space, thereby decreasing the shipping costs and increasing convenience to the consumer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there is provided a hamper assembly that has a plurality of separate sections, and a plurality of supports. Each section has a first side and a second side, and a connector provided on each side of each section. In addition, each support removably couples the connector on the first side of one section and the connector on the second side of an adjacent section. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hamper assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a pair of connectors of the assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a lid that can be used with the assembly of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the lid of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 with a laundry bag deployed therein. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hamper assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
     The present invention provides hamper assemblies that can be collapsed to reduce bulk and size for more convenient storage and transportation. The hamper assemblies according to the present invention have a plurality of sections that are coupled together to form a frame. These sections can be detached and then placed on top of each other to provide a smaller profile and less bulk for storage and transportation. 
     FIGS. 1-5 illustrate one embodiment of the hamper assembly  10  of the present invention. The assembly  10  has a plurality of sections  12  and  14 , and two pole supports  16  and  18  for connecting the sections  12  and  14  to form the assembly  10 . Each section  12  and  14  can be made from a solid material, such as rattan, wicker, metal, plastic or similar materials. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, each section  12  and  14  can be curved or generally semi-circular in configuration, although other configurations can be used (such as illustrated in FIG. 6 below). Each section  12  and  14  has two sides  20 ,  22  and  24 ,  26 , respectively. One or more aligning connectors can be provided in spaced-apart manner along each side  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 . For example, the side  20  of section  12  can have two connectors  30  and  32 , the side  22  of section  12  can have two connectors  34  and  36 , the side  24  of section  14  can have two connectors  38  and  40 , and the side  26  of section  12  can have two connectors (not shown). Each connector  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  can be a curved metal plate having an opening  42  provided in the center thereof, and with a shaft  44  connecting the curved metal plate to a side  20 ,  22 ,  24  or  26 . Each metal plate is preferably concave in that the curvature extends radially inwardly towards the center of the corresponding section  12  or  14 . 
     Each pole support  16  and  18  has a pole  50  and  52 , respectively. Each pole  50  and  52  has a lower end that is connected (e.g., by welding or by a screw  54 ) to a leg  56  and  58 , respectively. If a screw  54  is used to connect each leg  56 ,  58  to its pole  50 ,  52 , then a threaded opening  60  can be provided in the leg  56 ,  58  and the lower end of each pole  50  and  52  can have a threaded bore (not shown), so that the screw  54  can be threaded through the opening  60  and secured inside the threaded bore. 
     The assembly  10  is shown in FIG. 1 with its components disassembled, and can be assembled in the following manner. The sections  12  and  14  can be positioned with the sides  20  and  24  adjacent to each other, and the sides  22  and  26  adjacent to each other. When so positioned, the connectors  30  and  38  on sides  20  and  24 , respectively, and the connectors  32  and  40 , will be positioned adjacent each other with their openings  42  aligned. Similarly, the connectors  34  and  36  on the side  22  will be aligned with the connectors on the side  26 . The pole  50  is then placed into the concave region defined by the pairs of aligned connectors  30 + 38  and  32 + 40 . FIG. 2 illustrates the alignment of connectors  30  and  38 , as viewed from the center of the internal space defined by the sections  12  and  14 . The pole  50  has two threaded openings  62  and  64  that are adapted to be aligned with the aligned connectors  30 + 38  and  32 + 40 , respectively. One screw  66  can then be inserted from the internal space through the aligned openings  42  (for connectors  30  and  38 ) and  62 , and another screw  68  can then be inserted from the internal space through the aligned openings  42  (for connectors  32  and  40 ) and  64 , to secure the sides  20  and  24  to the pole  50 . The other pole  52  can be secured to the other sides  22  and  26  in the same manner. Thus, the assembly  10  is complete and ready for use. 
     When the components of the assembly  10  are disassembled, the sections  12  and  14  can be placed one on top of the other, in a nested fashion, and the poles  50 ,  52  placed in the concave region of the sections  12 ,  14 . This provides a slim profile (i.e., two stacked sections  12 ,  14 ) that will occupy less space for shipping, packing, storage and transportation. 
     Although FIG. 1 illustrates the use of two sets of connectors for each side of a section  12 ,  14 , it is possible to provide any number of connectors for each side. 
     When the assembly  10  is assembled in the manner illustrated above, the assembly  10  can act as a frame for supporting a laundry bag. Referring to FIG. 5, any conventional fabric or plastic laundry bag  70  can be draped over the top edges  72  and  74  of the sections  12  and  14 , respectively, with its opening  76  exposed to the top of the assembly  10 . A separate lid  80  can be placed over the top of the assembly  10  to cover the laundry bag  70 . The lid  80  is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and can be a flat plate having a handle  82  secured to a top surface  84 , and a pair of bars  86  positioned on a bottom surface  88 . The bars  86  are positioned to be adjacent the sections  12  and  14  when the lid  80  is positioned over the assembly  10 , and functions to help the user align the lid  80  to the top of the assembly  10 . The lid  80  has a shape that preferably corresponds to the shape of the opening  76 . An optional pair of indents  90  can be provided on either end of the lid  80  to accomodate the poles  50  and  52 , if necessary. 
     Although FIG. 1 illustrates two curved sections  12  and  14 , it is also possible to provide the assembly  10  with any number of sections, and with each section being flat. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates another assembly  100  having four separate flat sections  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  that are connected to four separate poles  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 . Two poles  110  and  112  can be connected to one leg  118 , and the other two poles can be connected to another leg  120 . The sections  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  and poles  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  can be assembled in the same manner as illustrated above for the assembly  10 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments and alternatives described above are non-limiting examples only, and that certain modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3