Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ANGLED COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to kitchen accessories, and more particularly to
a collapsible
container which, when in an open configuration, has a front wall that is of a
lower height than a
back wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Some types of containers may be suited for a configuration where the front
wall is lower
than the back wall. For example, bins for storage of multiple small items on
shelves may have a
lower front to permit the user to see into and remove the items contained
therein without removing
the bin from the shelf. Additionally, items such as dust pans or scoops are
configured with a lower
front wall than back wall, even if the front wall is nothing more than the
height of the thinnest
material making up the bottom of the item.
The use of containers with a lower front wall than back wall may also be
expanded into
items that are not commonly known to have a lower front wall than back wall.
For example, most
dish racks have front, back and side walls that are of the same height, with a
notable exception being
found in U.S. Patent No. 2,954,875, which includes a side wall having an
inwardly and downwardly
shaped side wall only in the area immediately adjacent the front wall.
With particular respect to dish racks, when washing dishes alone, i.e., when
there is not one
person washing and a second person drying, it is usually impractical to dry a
dish or utensil after it
is washed and before washing the next. Therefore, dish racks have been widely
used to stack
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washed dishes and utensils prior to drying, allowing the wet dishes and
utensils to drip while the
person washing the dishes and utensils complete all of the items to be washed
prior to drying.
For ease of reference, dishes and utensils, as well as bowls, cups, pots and
pans and/or other
related items generally washed by hand in a kitchen environment, will be
hereinafter referred to as
items. In some instances the terms "dishes" will be used to refer generally to
dishes, bowls, cups,
pots, pans, and the like and "utensils" will be used to refer generally to
knives, spoons, forks,
serving spoons, ladles, spatulas, scissors and the like.
However, dish racks, like other containers that may be manufactured to have
lower front and
higher back walls, are well known in the art to usually be bulky items that
are difficult to store when
not in use. For this reason, many people leave a dish rack on the counter next
to the sink rather than
find a place to store it. Of course, this may be considered visually
unappealing when entertaining
guests or even when the owner seeks to maintain an uncluttered kitchen.
Because of this, dish racks have been designed that can be folded or
disassembled into
smaller items. Examples of folding dish racks can be found in U.S. Patent No.
4,221,299 and U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0283480. In these types of devices,
the dish racks are
made of a plurality of components, at least some of which are pivotally
connected, so that pivoting
the component parts changes the device from a stored configuration to an open
configuration
capable of accepting wet items to drip.
Other attempts to provide a dish rack that can be adapted into a closed
configuration are
seen in U.S. Design Patent Nos. D586,061 and D599,069. These devices, however,
generally have
an even height about the top edge of the front, back and side walls and either
fit over a sink, making
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it difficult to wash dishes in a smaller area, or sit on a counter, where the
items need to be lifted over
the walls of the device to place them into or remove them from the dish rack.
Notwithstanding the above, there is a need for a better container having a
lower front wall
than back wall, which can be stored in smaller spaces and can allow the user
to easily place items
into and remove items from the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a container having a body convertible
from a fully
closed or collapsed configuration to a fully open or expanded configuration,
said body comprising a
front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and an internal
floor, each of the front,
back and side walls having an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein when the
container is in its
fully open configuration the front wall has a height less than a height of the
back wall, said body
having a substantially rigid upper rim extending about at least a majority of
the sum of the upper
edges of the front, back and side walls, a substantially rigid bottom member
and a flexible middle
section extending around a majority of the sum of the front, back and side
walls between the
substantially rigid rim and substantially rigid bottom member, said flexible
middle section including
two or more living hinges which diverge as they extend from the front wall to
the back wall.
More particularly, and to ensure that the height of the front wall and the
height of the back
wall are properly described even if not uniform across the entire front and
back walls, it is
understood that the description includes a container wherein, when the body is
in its fully expanded
configuration, the side walls at the front wall have a height less than the
side walls at the back wall
and the living hinges diverge as they extend from the front wall to the back
wall.
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In summarizing the invention, it should be understood that the reference to a
wall can refer
to an element that has a height no greater than the thickness of the floor or
bottom of the container.
This is especially important when the container is in the form of a dust pan
or scoop, where the front
wall having as shallow a dimension as possible may be preferred.
Notwithstanding, the present
invention contemplates that the height of the front wall at the side walls is
less than the height of the
back wall at the side walls, and preferably that the entire front wall has a
height which is less than
the average height of the back wall, and most preferably that the height of
the entire front wall is
less than the height of any portion of the back wall.
Moreover, the front, back and side walls may themselves form a foundation at
the lower
edge related to the bottom member on which the container can rest. Optionally,
a base, feet or legs
may be included on the underside of the bottom member of the container.
Therefore, instead of
merely resting the bottom member of the container on a surface, the container
can rest on feet or a
base when placed on a horizontal surface such as a counter, shelf, floor or
the like.
Moreover, the walls need not be vertical to fall within the spirit of the
invention, with at
least the back and side walls preferably extending farther outward, away from
the interior of the
container, as they extend upward from the bottom member when in a fully open
configuration. Of
course, the front wall may be formed to angle inward as it extends upward,
especially when used as
a dust pan, scoop or the like, to more easily accept contents being moved into
the container across
the front wall, or the wall may have a feature formed thereon or connected
thereto with such and
inward angle.
The container may have an outwardly extending portion on the rim for the user
to be able to
lift, support or move the container, for ease of handling the container in
either an open or closed
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configuration. Alternatively, the container may include a handle, preferably
incorporated into the
rim, for lifting, supporting or moving the container in an open or closed
configuration.
In a particular version of the angled collapsible container, the present
invention is directed to
a dish rack having a body convertible from a fully closed or collapsed
configuration to a fully open
or expanded configuration, said body comprising a front wall, a back wall, a
first side wall, a second
side wall and a floor, each of the front, back, first side wall and second
side wall having an upper
edge and a lower edge, wherein when the dish rack is in its fully open
configuration, the front wall
has a height less than a height of the back wall, said body having a
substantially rigid upper rim
extending about at least a majority of the sum of the upper edges of the
front, back and side walls, a
substantially rigid bottom member and a flexible middle section extending
about at least a majority
of the sum of the front, back and side walls between the substantially rigid
rim and substantially
rigid bottom member, said flexible middle section including two or more living
hinges which
diverge as they extend from the front wall toward the back wall.
In the preferred embodiment, the living hinges on the flexible middle section
are provided
on at least a portion of the side walls but not on the front wall. This
embodiment permits the side
and rear walls to collapse according the respective heights, leaving the
collapsed container
substantially flat from front to back. Most preferably, the side and rear
walls permit the container to
collapse with the respective heights of the side and rear walls to be lower
than the height of the rigid
rim when viewed from a side elevation.
The rim of the dish rack preferably includes an outwardly extending portion at
the upper
edge for the user to be able to lift, support or move the container, for ease
of handling the container
in either an open or closed configuration.
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The dish rack preferably includes a removable tray, with raised retention
features and drain
holes, and/or a removable utensil holder to hold and separate items placed in
the dish rack. The tray
and/or utensil holder are preferably removable from the body to ease the
cleaning of the dish rack,
including the ability to place the body, tray and utensil holder in a
dishwasher for cleaning.
The tray preferably fits over the entire floor of the body. Raised detents,
preferably formed
either on the bottom surface of the tray or on the top surface of the floor of
the body, are
contemplated to allow water dripping from the wet items placed in the dish
rack and through the
drain holes to rest on the floor of the dish rack without touching the items
drying. The utensil
holder preferably includes holder retention members that engage cooperating
body retention
members to retain the utensil holder, preferably near the top of the dish
rack, when installed.
It is also preferred that the front wall of the body have a convertible front
lip which can be
adapted from a drain position, where the front lip is lower than the floor of
the body so as to permit
the water to drain out of the body into an adjacent sink, to a dam position,
where the front lip is
higher than the floor of the body to retain water that has dripped from the
wet items in the body.
Of course, the container of the present invention formed as a bin would be
substantially the
same as the dish rack, however, the tray and/or utensil holders would likely
not be needed.
Notwithstanding, internal elements may be incorporated in the bin, such as
dividers, shelves or the
like that are commonly used with bins.
Although the substantially rigid rim can be formed of a plastic material with
a smooth finish,
it is preferred that the lower edge or surface of the substantially rigid
bottom member, or any base
formed below the substantially rigid bottom, include a lower edge, surface or
feet coated with an
elastomeric material, such as a thermoplastic elastomeric material as would be
used for the middle
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section. Such an elastomeric coating on the lower edge, surface or feet of the
bottom or base is
intended to keep the container from slipping on a surface, such as a
countertop, on which the
container may be used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The attached drawings are intended to better illustrate a preferred embodiment
of the present
invention without limiting the invention in any manner whatsoever.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a
dish rack in its fully open configuration.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a dish
rack in its fully open configuration.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a
dish rack in its fully open configuration with its tray and utensil holder
removed.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tray of the container of the present
invention in the
embodiment of a dish rack.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the utensil holder of the container of the
present invention in
the embodiment of a dish rack.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a dish
rack in its fully closed configuration.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a scoop
in its open configuration.
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Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention in the
embodiment of a
scoop as shown in Fig. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description of preferred embodiment is presented to describe the
present
invention and is not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in
any manner
whatsoever.
As best shown in the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, the
preferred
embodiment of the present invention is directed to a container 2 having a body
4 convertible
from a fully collapsed configuration to a fully expanded configuration. The
body 4 comprises a
front wall 6, a back wall 8, a first side wall 10, a second side wall 12 and a
floor 14, each of the
front 6, back 8 and side walls 10, 12 having an upper edge 16 and a lower edge
18, wherein
when the container 2 is in its fully open configuration, the front wall 6 has
a height from the
lower edge 18 to the upper edge 16 that is less than a height from the lower
edge 18 to the upper
edge 16 at the back wall 8.
The body 4 also has a substantially rigid upper rim 20 extending about at
least a majority
of the sum of the upper edges 16 of the front 6, back 8 and side walls 10, 12,
a substantially rigid
bottom member 22 and a flexible middle section 24 extending about a majority
of the sum of the
front 6, back 8 and side walls 10, 12 between the substantially rigid rim 20
and substantially
rigid bottom member 22. The flexible middle section 24 is preferably formed of
a thermoplastic
elastomeric material and includes two or more living hinges 26 which diverge
as they extend
from the front wall 6 to the back wall 8.
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The rim 20 of the body 4 is shown to include an outwardly extending portion 28
(see Fig.
2 or 6) about at least a portion of the rim 20 for the user to be able to
lift, support or move the
container 2, for ease of handling the container 2 in either an open or closed
configuration.
Alternatively, the container 2 may include a handle 50, preferably
incorporated into or with the
rim, for lifting, supporting or moving the container 2 when in either an open
or closed
configuration.
The preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6, which can be any container such
as dish
rack or bin that is intended to rest on a flat surface, also includes a base
30 on the bottom
member 22 for resting the container 2 on a horizontal surface. Of course, such
a container 2 that
is intended to rest on a flat surface does not require a base 30 but can rest
on the bottom member
22, with or without an elastomeric material covering, or have other stand
members as a matter of
design choice. In this regard, it is understood that stand members other than
a base 30 can
include feet, legs, bumpers or the like (not shown) which can be incorporated
on the container 2
and preferably on or into the bottom member 22.
In the preferred embodiment, rim 20 and bottom 22 are formed of a
substantially rigid
plastic, and preferably an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and the
middle portion 24 is
formed of a flexible elastomeric material, preferably a thermoplastic
elastomeric material.
Although the rim 20 and bottom member 22 can be formed of a plastic material
with a smooth
finish, it is preferred that the bottom surface of the bottom member 22, or
any base 30, feet, legs
or bumpers formed below the bottom member 22, have an elastomeric coating,
preferably of a
thermoplastic elastomeric material as used for the flexible middle section 24,
to keep the
container 2 from slipping on a surface, such as a countertop, when in use.
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The living hinges 26 on the flexible middle section 24 are provided on at
least a portion
of the side walls 10, 12 but preferably not on the front wall 6, or at least
not on the entire front
wall 6, diverging as the living hinges 26 extend from at or near the front
wall 6 toward the back
wall 8. This embodiment permits the side walls 10, 12 and rear wall 8 to
collapse according the
respective heights, leaving the collapsed container 2 substantially flat from
the front wall 6 to the
back wall 8 (see Fig. 6). Especially preferred is where the respective heights
of the side walls
10, 12 and rear wall 8 are less than the height of the upper edge 16 of the
rim 20 when in its
collapsed configuration, as shown in Fig. 6.
The container 2 can include any additional elements that may be desired for
particular
uses. As shown here, the container 2 can be used as a dish rack, which
preferably includes a
removable tray 32, with raised retention features 34 and drain holes 36,
and/or a removable
utensil holder 38 to hold and separate items placed in the dish rack. The tray
32 and/or utensil
holder 38 are preferably removable from the body 4 to ease the cleaning of the
dish rack and its
component parts, including the ability to place the body 4, tray 32 and
utensil holder 38 into a
dishwasher for cleaning.
The tray 32, best seen in Figs. 1 and 4, preferably fits over the entire floor
14 of the body
4. Raised detents 40, preferably formed either on the bottom surface of the
tray 32 (not shown)
or on the top surface of the floor 14 of the body 4 (shown in Fig. 3), are
contemplated to allow
water dripping from the wet items placed on the tray 32 and through the drain
holes 36 to rest on
the floor 14 of the dish rack without touching the items drying.
The preferred removable utensil holder 38 (shown in Fig. 5), includes one or
more
dividers 42 to help maintain taller items in a substantially vertical
orientation. The preferred
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utensil holder 38 includes holder retention members 44 that engage cooperating
body retention
members 46 on the body 4 to retain the utensil holder 38 on the body 4. The
body retention
members 46, as shown in Fig. 3, are preferably placed on the rim 20 near the
top of the dish rack,
so that the distance from the tray 32 to the utensil holder 38 is maximized
when installed.
It is also preferred that the container 2, when used as a dish rack, have a
convertible front
lip 48 on at least a portion of the front wall 8 of the body 4 that can be
adapted from a drain
position, where the front lip 48 is lower than the floor 14 of the body 4 so
as to permit the water
to drain out of the body 4 into an adjacent sink, to a dam position, where the
front lip 48 is higher
than the floor 14 of the body 4 to retain water that has dripped from the wet
items onto the floor
14 of the body 4.
As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the container 2 can be used with a handle 50 when
in the form
of a scoop, dustpan or the like. In these embodiments, there may be a reduced
need for the rim
to diverge outwardly for lifting the container 2, since the handle 50 may be
used to lift and
manipulate the container 2. Moreover, there may be a reduced need for the use
of a base 30, feet
15 or bumpers on the rigid bottom member 22, since it is not anticipated
that there will be a need to
stand these items on the rigid bottom 22. Instead, the handle 50 would
preferably include a hang
hole 52 to hang the scoop or dust pan when collapsed and not in use.
Notwithstanding, the
container 2 side walls 10, 12 and rear wall 8 are less than the height of the
upper edge 16 of the
rim 20 when in its collapsed configuration, as described above.
20 Variations, modifications and alterations to the above detailed
description will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations, modifications
and/or alternatives are
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intended to fall within the scope of the present invention, limited only by
any allowed claims.
All cited patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference.
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