Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to a container holding device and
particularly to a collapsible and compartmen~ed container
holding device.
In shopping, at supermarkets in North America, the
recipient receives normally a plurality of shopping bags of
groceries~ These bags, in Canada9 are either paper or plastic
carrier t~pe bags.
In any eventj when one has a number oX such bags and
uses one's automobile for the re~urn from the supermarket7 the
stowage of the bags in the automobile for their carriage home
is cumbersome because the bags do not freely stand and are
generally in unequalibrium during sudden changes in the
momentum of the automobile n
If one is required, therefore, to come to a quick stop,
the bags fall and their contents scatter~ In extreme
situations 9 the scattering of the contents throughout the
automobile can be hazardous to the driver and passengers
alike~ and particuLarly to infant passengers.
I have conceived a rack device for such bags which may
be placed either on the floor, or car seat, and into which the
grocery bags may be placed. The rack thus can fit into a
trunk of a car or onto the floor in a van or station wagon.
The rack stabilizes, in a vertical position~ the bags so that
they cannot become unbalanced and pitch the contents thereof
during sudden stopping or the like of the automoblle. The
rack is preferably collapsible, so as to reduce its occupying
space, as ~hen not in useO I~ may be removed from the
interior of the car and stowed in the boot or trunk.
In a further embodiment, the invention contemplates that
the rack has compartments or regions for each bag to be placed
therein, and that the rack can be used for other than bags.
The invention, therefore9 achieves a collapsible
container device comprising-
(a~ a matrix of vertical members each including;(i) a hollow cylindrical piece,
(ii~ a rod piece engaged for telescoping movement
into and out of the cylindrical piece;
(iii) a pair of distal anchor means: and 7
(iv) a pair of proximate anchor means, each anchor
means mounted in a plane relatively orthogonal to
the other pair and to the member, one of each pair
mounted on each said pieces
(b) first brace members extending from the dis-tal
anchor means of one member to the diametrically opposite
distal anchor means of an adjacent member;
(c) second brace members extending from the proximate
anchor means of one member to the diametrically opposite
proximate anchor means of an adjacent member, whereby
said anchor means provide pivoting attachment for the
brace member thereby to allow the rack to be extended
and collapsed.
The invention will now be described by way of example
and reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my preferred
embodiment of the rack, when in extension.
Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the rack of figure 1
showing its collapsed, and in phantom, the extended position
of figure 1.
~igure 3 is a perspective, in elevation, of a single
vertical element of the rack of fi~ures 1 and 2~
Figures I~A~ 4B, ~C, and I~D, each is a section along lines
; ~V-IY of figure 3 showing alternative means of securing, to
the vertical member, flange pivoting points~
! Figures I~A~, 4~ CC and ~DD are respective alternative
locations for the securing means of figures ~A, 4B, ~C and 4D.
Figure 5 is an elevat~onal view of the central portion
of the vertical member of fic~ure 3, showing its pivoting
operation for the collapsed and extended rack positions~
~ igure 6 is a variation of figure 3, showing flexible
hinges in place of the pi~ots.
Figures 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D, each is a section along lines
VII-VII of fic~ure 6 showing alternative means of securing the
hinges to the vertical member.
Referring now to figure 1, a rack is generally indicated
as 10 and consists of a plurality of vertical members 15
carrying nominally9 four flanges, an upper and lower extremety
I pair 1~, and therebetween, a central upper and lower pair 19.
The flanges 1~ are aligned in one plane, and the flanges 19 in
a plane or~hogonal thereto. Thus, the extremity pair consists
of an upper flange l~U and a lower flange l~L positioned to be
co-incident with the X planq, and the central pair consists Or 20 an upper flange 19U and a lower flange 19L co-incident with
the Y ~laneO The vertical member 15 is composed of two
elements, a lower eylindrical member 16, and an upDer rod
member 17 which telescopingly slides into the lower
cylindrical member 16 to thereby change the relative distance
between upper and lower ends of the member 15, and hence the
relative positions of the up~er flanges l~lJ and 19U vis a vis
the lower flanges l~L and 19L.
Thus the rack 10, in figure 1 consists of a matrix of 9
vertical members, only six are clearly depicted, arranged, so
that the flanges 1~ are located in the X plane, and the
flanges 19, in the Y ~lane~ ~rom an upper flange l~U of one
- 3 -
vertical member 15 extends a brace 2~ to the lower flange l~L
of an adjacent rnember and a pivot 26 is provided at the centre
of each such cross-member or first brace 2~, and the same may
be by way of a pin or the like. The pivot 26 holds the
adjacent first cross~members together. Rigidity to the
structure is preserved in the ~ plane.
In a simular manner, and in the Y plane, in which the
flanges 19 are disposed, respective second cross-members or
shorter braces 29 extend from an upper central flange 19U of
one vertical member 15 to a lower central flange 19L of an
j adjacent vertical member 15 as clearly seen. The respective
cross-members 29, are preferrably of smaller length than those
of 2~, and pivot at their respective central pivot points 27.
Y plane cross-members 29, and flanges 19, thereby provide
lateral stability to the rack when extended open as in figure
As will become apparent, however, if both first and
second braces Z~ and 29 are of equal size9-each of the
openings S, will be square rather than rectangular as shown in
figure 2.
For the conveni~nce of opening and closing the rack 10,
as seen in figure 2, opposite handle members 30 are positioned
on the central vertical member 15C and each handle member
consists essentially of a shield 33 onto which is affixed a
knob 35.
It will be seen, because of the symmetry of the rack, of
figure 1, that there are onl~ three major components, vertical
members 15 com~osed of their two elements 16 and 17, (and
their respective flanges l~ and 19, respecti~Jely mounted
3o thereon as will be described in greater detail hereafter), X
plane cross~members 2~, of l~rger dimension than the Y plane
_ L~ _
cross-members 29, although as earlier noted if square openings
are desired, the cross-members 2~ and 29 are then of equal
lengkh.
~ eferring to figures 3 and 49 either of the flanges 19
and 1~ respectively may be made unitary, as in figure ~B, or as
two identical and symmetrical flange pieces 9 as in figure 4.q,
so long as the left-hand face and the right-hand face Fl and Fr
of each flange are aligned in a common plane which, for flanges
1~ is the X plane, and for flange 19, the Y plane. The flange
faces Fl and Fr of l~U must be positioned on opposite sides of
the X plane centre line from the flange faces Fl and Fr of l~L~
whereby to allow proper hinging. The same is true for the faces
Fl and Fr of flanges 19, on the Y plane centre line. This will
be clearly seen when figure ~A is compared to figure 4D, and
when L~B is compared to ~C. It is clear therefore 9 that either
flange structure may be used as shown in any of the figures 4,
~ so long as their faces are aligned in either the x plane or the
¦ Y plane as the case may be.
I Referring to figure 3 now, the vertical member 15 is
shown, as are the four flanges 1~ and 19 respectively. Each
left and right arm of each flange defines an aperture for a
pivot pin 3~ or 39 depending upon whether the flange be an X
; plane flange 1~, or a Y plane flan~e 19.
¦ As clearly seen in figure 3, various fixed dimensions of
the relative positions of the flanges one to another, and of
the members 16 and 17 are shown. From the bottom distal end
of the cylindrical or tubular piece 16 to the centre line of
the lowest X ~lane flange l~L, the same is dimension A; from
the aforesaid centre line, to the centre line of the Y plane
flange 19L, the dimension B, and from the Y plane flange 19L
to the upper distal end of the tubular member 16J dimension C~
- 5
q~ l
In relation to the rod 17, the dimension from the centre line
of the upper distal flange l~lJ and the upper Y plane flange 19U
is dimension D: and, from that centre line, to the lower distal
end of rod 17 is the dimension E and is determined by dimension
F. F itself varies~ depending on whether the rack is open or
closed. When the rack 10 is in the closed position i.eO
vertical member ~5 is fully extended, then F equals the
selected length of the second member 29. However, when the rack
10 is in the open position i9e. vertical member 15 is fully
retracted, then F equals the selected close-down size. The
difference between these two extremes of F, plus an allowance
to prevent seperation of rod 17 from the cylinder 16~ is the
dimension E.(~her references to F,are to i~s close-down size).
In relation to the movement of the unit 10 as a whole,
when unit ~0 is fully collapsed, then the vertical members 15
are fully extended. Likewise, when the unit 10 is fully
extended, then the vertical members 15 are fully retracted.
The extent to which the vertical member 15 retracts is
predetermined and is represented in figure 3 by the dimension F
and is called the ~Iclose-down~ size, being the measurement
between the hole centres of the Y plane flanges when the
vertical member 15 is retracted or closed down. This
measurement is ensured during operation of the device by the
dimension C.
From the aforesaid, a general formula to assist in
construction is;
First members (2~ hole centres = Second members (29)
hole centres +B ~D.
This general formula can be rewritten summarily as :~
FM (2~ = S~ (29) + B + ~.
~y varying, thus, any of the lengths and maintaining the
formula aforesaid9 the rack is re~esigned to produce different
compartment sizes.
In summary kherefore,
I (a) A is the measurement needed to bring the cenkre
joint (pivots 26 and 27) up to the required height from
the ~].oor, when the unit is fully extended:
(b) B is the measurement necessary to ensure that the
unit collapses fully (see general formula); (B always
equals D).
(c) C is the measurement that maintains the predetermined
compartment size. It is ex pressed as F minus half the
depth of flange l9U;
(d) D is the same as B;
(e) E is the measurement needed to prevent seperation
of rod 17 from the cylinder 16 when the vertical member
15 is fully extended.
(f) F is the measurement that selects the extent to
which the rnembers lS close downr
~epending upon the ~arious parameters selected for the
dimensions ~ through F~ various sizes of racks that produce
various bag acco~modating sectors ~S, see figure 2, may be
accommodated. Thus, though the aforesaid rack has four sectors
S to accomadate four different bags of the same size, the rack
could have more sections and could be extended further in
either the X or Y plane, or bothO
Ref~rring to figures 6 and 7 now, the dimensions A to
; in figure 3 and the X plane and Y plane centre lines of figure
also apply to figures 6 and 7. The difference being khat the
first members 2~ and the second memhers 29 are~ in this case,
an inkegral ~art of the flanges 1~ and 19 respectively and have
a flexible hinge formed at the ~oints LQ and 41 that would be
the pivots 3~ or 39 in figure 3
~ 2~
Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that the
structural components of the rack may be made of metaly rigid
plastic or other appropriate material and that various
variations to the embodiments as disclosed may be made without
depar~ing from the invention as claimed. Thus 9 for example, the
AY and Y plane members 2~ and 29 may be of equal length where
upon the sections ~S will be square. It will be apparent,
therefore, that the Y and Y plane anchor means 1~ and 19, when
members 2~ and 29 are of equal length9 are now located in
juxtaposition to each other and in a common horizontal plane
(the Z plane). Therefore, anchor means l~U and 19U will be
located in a common upper horizontal Z plane~ while l~L and 19L
are in a common lower horizontal Z plane. The % planes are not
shown and are respec~ively parallel to each other.
