US20070084874A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070084874A1
Application number: US11/277,074
Authority: US
Inventors: Jason Neubauer; Matt Kaplan
Original assignee: Neulines Corp
Current assignee: Neulines Corp
Priority date: 2005-10-18
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: US20070084873A1; CA2540579A1

Abstract

A collapsible storage device having an opening for inserting products therein, and a lower portion that provides support and access to the lower product, allowing a user to draw the lower product when needed. As the lower product is drawn, the stored products automatically shift down, replenishing a lower most position for subsequent product withdrawal. The collapsible storage device comprises at least one suspension device, facilitating easy suspension and removal of the device. The collapsible storage device is made from pliable material or incorporates crease lines such that when it is empty, it can be collapsed down to a small shape and transported or stowed away until subsequent use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/252,375, filed Oct. 18, 2005, now pending, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to product storage and, more specifically, to a collapsible storage device that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are numerous fixtures on the market for storing typical household or shop floor products such as paper towels, diapers, tissue paper boxes, hygienic products, toilet paper and/or other products having a shape or that are stackable. Some existing devices are designed to store paper rolls, others are designed to store and dispense paper, yet they are typically rigid and are permanently placed on or affixed to structure such as walls or cabinet doors.

Known art in the field includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,965 (Reaves), U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,475 (Kaysserian), U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,469 (McCarthy), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,611 (Walton). Although all of these inventions store either paper towel or toilet paper rolls, none are collapsible nor can they be easily suspended or moved from one location to another. These prior art devices are made of rigid material, some with moving parts, and they have to be permanently affixed or placed in position in order to serve their intended use. Therefore, they consume the same amount of space when they are empty as they do when they are in use. Additionally, the materials from which these devices are made are relatively expensive and their manufacturing complicated, subjecting their sale to limited retail outlets. Furthermore, since these devices are rigid and some use a specific length spool, they are fit for either paper towels or toilet paper, but not for both. They are also not suited for storing or dispensing other products such as diapers, canned food and/or tissue paper boxes.

In light of bulk consuming habits in today's marketplace, desire for flexibility, and limited space, consumers continuously demand more flexible storage devices that have more capacity and are less expensive. Furthermore, manufacturers and suppliers increasingly seek to sell their products at multiple retail outlets or to provide as promotional gifts, products that are inexpensive and easy to manufacture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a collapsible storage device comprises a rear panel, a front panel coupled to the rear panel to remain a fixed distance therefrom during use, the front and rear panel combining to form a cavity sized and shaped to retain a plurality of products, each having a shape, during use, a base coupled to the front and rear panels, the base being adapted to support the plurality of products, and having an opening in at least one end thereof through which the plurality of products can pass, and at least one suspension device coupled to one of the front and rear panels and configured for hanging the device from a structure.

In another embodiment, a collapsible storage device for storing and dispensing a plurality of diapers, comprises a collapsible body having at least a front portion, a rear portion, a base, and at least one sealable opening, the front and rear portions being coupled together to remain a fixed distance from each other during use and to define a cavity therebetween sized and shaped to hold a plurality of diapers, the base being configured to retain at least one of the diapers and to support all of the diapers, the sealable opening sized to allow at least one diaper to be deposited in the cavity therethrough, and the body being sufficiently collapsible to be manipulated between an operating configuration for use and a collapsed configuration facilitating storage and transport of the device. The device may further comprise a fastener coupled to an upper portion of the collapsible body, the fastener being adapted to removably couple the device to a structure during use, and an opening interposed between the base and at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, the opening sized to allow a user to selectively withdraw at least one diaper at a time from the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2ais a front view of the collapsible storage device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 2bis a front view of a portion of the collapsible storage device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the collapsible storage device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the collapsible storage device ofFIG. 1 in its collapsed form.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to still a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a collapsible storage device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a portion of a collapsible storage device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the description that follows, paper products such as paper towel rolls and toilet paper rolls are used as examples of products that can be stored in and/or dispensed from a collapsible storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; however, an individual of ordinary skill in the art having reviewed this disclosure will appreciate that the collapsible storage device can store and/or dispense other products, such as diapers, tissue paper boxes, fabric softener boxes, male or female hygienic products, dishwashing or other sponges, soaps and/or soap boxes, boxed food items or food additives, canned food products, video games or other portable data storage devices, any combination thereof and/or any other product having a shape and/or that can be stacked for convenient storage and dispensing.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of acollapsible storage device10 comprising a flexible rectangular chamber that comprises atop panel11, twoside panels12, arear panel13, and afront panel14. Thefront panel14 has anopening15. The opening15 can be used to insert products such as paper rolls inside the chamber of thecollapsible storage device10 or to manipulate them after they are inserted. Overlapping portions of thefront panel14 can close theopening15. AlthoughFIG. 1 shows opening15 in thefront panel14, the opening15 can be incorporated in any of the panels, or none at all.

The inventor envisions embodiments that do not incorporate one or more panels. For example, thedevice10 could be fabricated without thetop panel11. In such embodiments, stiffening elements may be incorporated into the upper edge of thedevice10 to help it maintain its shape. In addition, or instead, thedevice10 could be fabricated without one or both of theside panels12. In such embodiments, straps or other elements extending between thefront panel14 and therear panel13 can be used to maintain the proper shape during use. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate these and other variations that can be made to thedevice10 without deviating from the spirit of the invention.

Moreover, thecollapsible storage device10 can be suspended by one ormore suspension devices16, attached to a panel. In one embodiment as shown inFIG. 1, thesuspension device16 can be a hook attached to therear panel13, for suspending thecollapsible storage device10 from various structures. Thesuspension device16 can be thin, allowing a door to close while thecollapsible storage device10 is suspended from that door.

Alower securing member17 can be attached to at least two panels, supporting alower paper roll18. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, thelower securing member17 can be attached to therear panel13 andfront panel14 with at least one open side that provides access to thelower paper roll18.

FIG. 2abetter illustrates the lower securingmember17, providing access to alower paper roll18, such as a paper towel roll.FIG. 2billustrates a variable use for the present invention, namely, to store paper rolls ofshorter length19, such as toilet paper rolls, in a side-by-side fashion. As shown inFIG. 2b, the securingmember17 can provide access to more than one toilet paper roll in the lower position. One or more dividers could be incorporated into the body of the device to create chambers for each stack of toilet paper rolls. An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate that the chamber can be divided into two or more sub-chambers, sized to correspond to the particular rolls being stored, and that the rolls could be stored in either a vertical or horizontal orientation.

Furthermore,FIG. 3 shows the manner in which the paper rolls may be stored inside the chamber of thecollapsible storage device10. The stored paper rolls20 can rest on top of the paper roll below them while thelower paper roll18 rests on the supportingmember17. Regardless of the type of paper roll stored, when the user draws the lowermost paper roll18, the paper roll immediately above the drawn roll automatically shifts down to the lower position for subsequent use.

FIG. 4 illustrates thecollapsible storage device10 in its collapsed state. Thecollapsible storage device10 can be made of a pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, or can incorporate crease lines such that when it is empty it can be collapsed down to a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use.

The flexible nature of thecollapsible storage device10 has several advantages. One advantage is that consumers can easily position it where they desire when it is in use and easily collapse and store it when it is not in use. Another advantage is that suppliers can easily and inexpensively manufacture acollapsible storage device10 and sell it at a profit at a variety of outlets, from grocery stores to retail stores. Still another advantage is the fact that thedevice10 can be packaged, shipped, stored and displayed in its collapsed state, minimizing the cost of shipping and retail space occupied. Yet another advantage is that suppliers can include the collapsible storage device as a promotional gift to consumers because the present invention is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and can fit inside existing product packaging.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 5, thedevice10 may comprise azipper21 to seal theopening15 after placing the paper rolls inside thecollapsible storage device10. Additionally, or alternatively, in yet another embodiment of the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 6, thedevice10 may comprise hook andloop fasteners22 to seal theopening15. In embodiments without atop panel11, the paper rolls can be loaded into thedevice10 from above, and the consumer can use theopening15 to access the paper rolls and move them into a desired orientation.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 7, therear panel13 can comprise at least onesuspension device23 having hook and loop fasteners to suspend thecollapsible storage device10. Thecollapsible storage device10 can be attached to its desired position using hook and loop fasteners or other similar attaching mechanisms because the present invention is made from pliable or otherwise lightweight material. One advantage of attaching mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners is that they allow thecollapsible storage device10 to attach inside of doors with no visibility of a suspension device from the outside.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 8, thedevice10 may comprise at least one toppanel suspension device24 attached to thetop panel11. The toppanel suspension device24 can be a hook, as shown inFIG. 8, or be comprised of hook and loop fasteners or other attaching mechanisms. An added advantage of this embodiment is that multiple users can access thecollapsible storage device10 from all sides because a toppanel suspension device24 connects thecollapsible storage device10 to a ceiling or closet rod, suspended remote from any walls. Such a use may be preferred in commercial applications, such as automobile repair shops, or in some home applications, such as in garages, in which applications other products such as motor oil cans can be stored and dispensed in thecollapsible storage device10.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, as shown inFIG. 9, acollapsible storage device110 can be fabricated without a top panel. Moreover, therear portion113,lower portion117, andfront portion114 can be formed from one piece of pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, plastics, nylon, composites and/or any combination thereof. Therear portion113 andfront portion114 can be coupled withstraps125 to maintain a fixed distance between the two portions, sized to retain paper rolls. Thelower portion117 can support all of the rolls and retain one of the rolls, which can be withdrawn from an opening on a side of thelower portion117.

FIG. 10 illustrates still a further embodiment in which acollapsible storage device210 may be fabricated without a top panel. Thecollapsible storage device210 may have afirst opening215 infront panel214. Thedevice210 may further comprise azipper221 to seal thefront panel214 when in use to retain loaded paper rolls220. Thezipper221 can be unzipped to allow loading new paper rolls226 through thefirst opening215. While loading, thezipper221 can be incrementally sealed to secure the loaded paper rolls220 while the additional paper rolls226 are stacked on the loaded paper rolls220. Thecollapsible storage device210 may also have asecond opening227, formed by alower portion217 and allowing access to thelower paper roll218. At least afirst stiffening member228 may support thelower portion217, allowing thelower portion217 to support the loaded paper rolls220 and thelower paper roll218. As shown inFIG. 10, thefirst stiffening member228 can be positioned on an edge of therear panel213.

An individual of ordinary skill in the art, having reviewed this disclosure, will appreciate other manners in which thelower portion217 can be supported. For example, asecond stiffening member229 can be positioned on a periphery of thesecond opening227 in place of or in addition to thefirst stiffening member228. The stiffening

members

228,229 can be fabricated from plastic, metal, cardboard, composites, or other material that can maintain a shape of the pliablelower portion217 to support the stored paper rolls220 andlower paper roll218. Furthermore, thefirst stiffening member228 andsecond stiffening member229 may be in the shape of a rod that is attached to an edge or inserted through an edge hemming. A stiffening member (not shown) can also be a flat piece configured to extend from an edge of therear panel213 to a periphery of thesecond opening227.

Thecollapsible storage device210 can include at least onesuspension device216 that may be removably coupled to various structures. In at least one embodiment as illustrated inFIG. 10, thesuspension device216 can be removably secured in ahook230, supplied with thecollapsible storage device210 or existing in a structure. Thesuspension device216 can also be removably secured around protrusions and structure such as nails, hangers, rods, beams, and other structure suitable to couple to thesuspension device216. Thesuspension device216 can be fabricated from material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, plastics, metals, canvas, composites, or other material capable of supporting thecollapsible storage device210 and its contents, when suspended. Thesuspension device216 may also be made of two straps that can be connected by attaching mechanisms such as VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners for applications where thecollapsible storage device210 is suspended from structures without a free end, such as beams inside garages or rods inside closets.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of thecollapsible storage device210 that includes abase217, fabricated from a material that is stiffer than the material from which thefront panel214 andrear panel213 are fabricated. For example, the base217 can be fabricated from plastic, cardboard, hard or soft wood, metal, foam, composites, or any other material that is not excessively pliable. Therear panel213 can support the rear end of the base217 while thesecond stiffening member229, attached to a periphery of thesecond opening227, can support the front end of thebase217. The base217 can support the stored paper rolls220 andlower paper roll218 during use. When empty, thecollapsible storage device210 can collapse onto the base217 in a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use.

FIG. 12 illustrates yet another embodiment, in which acollapsible storage device310 can be configured to receive other standard shapedproducts301 such as diapers, tissue paper boxes, paper rolls, fabric softener boxes, male or female hygienic products, dishwashing or other sponges, soaps and/or soap boxes, boxed food items or food additives, canned food products, video games and/or other portable data storage devices, and/or any other product having a shape and/or that can be stacked for convenient storage and dispensing. The following provides a more detailed description of this embodiment using diapers as an example of a product that can be stored and dispensed by thecollapsible storage device310. It is understood that other products can be stored in thecollapsible storage device310.

Thecollapsible storage device310 may comprise arear panel313, afront panel314, and abase317, together defining an at least partially bounded area to storeproducts301 such as diapers. Thecollapsible storage device310 may further comprise at least oneopening327 adapted to allow convenient dispensing of thediaper301 in a lower most position, resting on thebase317 without allowing the other stacked diapers to fall out or be dispensed. When thediaper301 is dispensed, the stacked diapers shift down to allow the next diaper to be dispensed when needed. Thecollapsible storage device310 may further include at least oneoptional divider319 extending at least partially between thefront panel314 and therear panel313, and dividing thecollapsible storage device310 into at least twocompartments323. Thecollapsible storage device310 may further includeoptional side panels312 for improved containment of the stored diapers. InFIG. 12, theopening327 is illustrated to be in thefront panel314; however, the opening can be in any of the panels, for example, in therear panel313 or theside panels312.

The

panels

312,313,314,base317 and/ordivider319 can be fabricated from a pliable material, such as cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, pliable plastics, paper products, nylon, or any other material that is pliable to allow collapsing of thecollapsible storage device310 to a thin form when not in use. Additionally, or alternatively, the

panels

312,313,314,base317 and/ordivider319 can incorporate crease lines such that when empty, thecollapsible storage device310 can collapse to a thin form and be stowed for transport or until future use. The base317 can also be fabricated from a material that is less pliable, such as plastics, foams, composites, metals, glass, and/or wood, or any combination thereof, or any material operable to support a weight of a stack ofproducts301 such as diapers.

Thecollapsible storage device310 can be secured using at least onesuspension device316 that can be any suitable suspension device similar to those described herein in conjunction with other embodiments. Furthermore, optionalsealable openings315 can be formed in a panel such as thefront panel314 to assist in loading diapers orother products301 in thecollapsible storage device310. Theopenings315 can be sealed in any suitable manner similar to those described herein in conjunction with other embodiments, such aszippers321 and/or hook and loop fasteners. Additionally, or alternatively, the storage compartments323 form chutes having a top opening. A user can load thecollapsible storage device310 by depositing one or more diapers orother products301 in the top opening, the diapers orother products301 gravitating toward thebase317. Therefore, the top openings can act as gravity feeds for easy loading of thecollapsible storage device310.

In another aspect of this embodiment, thecollapsible storage device20310 may include at least onetop panel311 as illustrated inFIG. 13. Thetop panel311 can be sealed using sealing means such as azipper331 and/or any other suitable means similar to those described herein, such as hook and loop fasteners.FIG. 13 illustrates atop panel311 for eachcompartment323.

Alternatively, one top panel can cover bothcompartments323. Thetop panel31125 can be fabricated from pliable or non-pliable material such as plastics, nylon, composites, foams, metals, glass, silicone, wood, cloth, other fabrics, foils or films, or any combination thereof and/or any other suitable material to cover a top of thecollapsible storage device310. Thetop panel311 may be temporarily removed or opened to load thecollapsible storage device310, for example by unzipping thetop panel311 and pivoting it about a side of thetop panel311, for example aside333 coinciding with a top edge of therear panel313.

All of the above U.S. Pat. Nos., U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications Ser. No., foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A collapsible storage device, comprising:

a rear panel;

a front panel coupled to the rear panel to remain a fixed distance therefrom during use, the front and rear panel combining to form a cavity sized and shaped to retain a plurality of products, each having a shape, during use;

a base coupled to the front and rear panels, the base being adapted to support the plurality of products, and having an opening in at least one end thereof through which a predetermined number of products can pass; and

at least one suspension device coupled to one of the front and rear panels and configured for hanging the device from a structure.

2. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 1 wherein the front and rear panels are made from a pliable material.

3. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 1 wherein at least one panel has at least one opening therein.

4. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 1, further comprising a pair of opposing side panels extending between the front and rear panels and wherein the opening is interposed between the base and at least one of the front, side and the rear panels.

5. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 4 wherein the opening is sized to dispense one product at a time.

6. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 4, further comprising at least one top panel extending between the front, rear and side panels, the top panel being sealable during use and operable to open prior to use, allowing a user to deposit the plurality of products in a top opening to load the collapsible storage device.

7. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 1 wherein the product is a diaper.

8. The collapsible storage device according toclaim 1, further comprising at least one divider at least partially extending between the front panel and the rear panel and operable to form at least two compartments in the collapsible storage device.

9. A collapsible storage device for storing and dispensing a plurality of diapers, the device comprising:

a collapsible body having at least a front portion, a rear portion, a base, and at least one sealable opening, the front and rear portions being coupled together to remain a fixed distance from each other during use and to define a cavity therebetween sized and shaped to hold a plurality of diapers, the base being configured to retain at least one of the diapers and to support all of the diapers, the sealable opening sized to allow at least one diaper to be deposited in the cavity therethrough, and the body being sufficiently collapsible to be manipulated between an operating configuration for use and a collapsed configuration facilitating storage and transport of the device;

a fastener coupled to an upper portion of the collapsible body, the fastener being adapted to removably couple the device to a structure during use; and

an opening interposed between the base and at least one of the front portion and the rear portion, the opening sized to allow a user to selectively withdraw at least one diaper at a time from the opening.

10. The device ofclaim 9 wherein the sealable opening is in the front portion.

11. The device ofclaim 9, further comprising at least one side portion, and wherein the opening is in the side portion.

12. The device ofclaim 9 further comprising at least one divider operable to form at least two chutes in the cavity, each chute having a top opening operable to receive the diapers, the diapers gravitating to the base upon being received in the top opening to load the collapsible storage device.