SHAPE SHIFTING HAMPER AND BAG

Abstract

A container takes on the form of a laundry hamper or basket while static or stationary. Upon bringing front and back panels of the container into closer proximity for transport, such as by drawing together their respective handles, or drawing one of the handles towards the other, the container changes configuration, or shape, to that of a tote bag. Upon releasing at least one of the front and back panels of the container from being drawn towards the other, such as by releasing at least one of their respective handles, the container automatically reverts back to the form of a laundry hamper or basket. The use of substantially rigid front and back panels, coupled with side panels that have resilient upper regions, permit the side panels to take on a spout-like configuration when the container is in its tote bag configuration, and to return to a planar configuration when the container is in its laundry hamper or basket configuration.

Claims

1. A container for the storage and transporting of objects, comprising: a substantially rigid front panel having an upper region; a substantially rigid rear panel having an upper region; a first side panel having a first, substantially planar configuration and a second, substantially spout-shaped configuration, the first side panel being coupled to a left side of the front panel and a left side of the rear panel, at least an upper region of the first side panel extending from proximate the front panel to proximate the rear panel being resilient and having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration; the upper region of the first side panel taking on its second, outwardly bowed configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returning to its first, substantially linear configuration upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other; and the first side panel taking on its second, substantially spout shaped configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returning to its first, substantially planar configuration upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a second side panel having a first, substantially planar configuration and a second, substantially spout-shaped configuration, the second side panel being coupled to a right side of the front panel and a right side of the rear panel, at least an upper region of the second side panel extending from proximate the front panel to proximate the rear panel being resilient and having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration; the upper region of the second side panel taking on its second, outwardly bowed configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returning to its first, substantially linear configuration upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other; and the second side panel taking on its second, substantially spout shaped configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returning to its first, substantially planar configuration upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

3. The invention according to claim 1, further comprising: a first handle operably coupled to the front panel; a second handle operably coupled to the rear panel; drawing at least one of the first handle and the second handle towards the other causing the first side panel to take on its second, substantially spout-shaped configuration, and the upper region of the first side panel to take on its second, outwardly bowed configuration.

4. The invention according to claim 2, further comprising: a first handle operably coupled to the front panel; a second handle operably coupled to the rear panel; drawing at least one of the first handle and the second handle towards the other causing the first side panel to take on its second, substantially spout-shaped configuration, the upper region of the first side panel to take on its second, outwardly bowed configuration, the second side panel to take on its second, substantially spout-shaped configuration, and the upper region of the second side panel to take on its second, outwardly bowed configuration; and releasing at least one of the first handle and the second handle from being drawn towards the other causing the first side panel to return to its first, substantially planar configuration, the upper region of the first side panel to return to its first, substantially linear configuration, the second side panel to return to its first, substantially planar configuration, and the upper region of the second side panel to return to its first, substantially linear configuration.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the container takes on a tote bag configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returns to a configuration of one of a hamper and a basket upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

6. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the container takes on a tote bag configuration upon at least one of drawing the first handle and the second handle towards the other, and returns to a configuration of one of a hamper and a basket upon releasing at least one of the first handle and the second handle from being drawn towards the other.

7. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the container takes on a tote bag configuration upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returns to a configuration of one of a hamper and a basket upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

8. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the container takes on a tote bag configuration upon drawing at least one of the first handle and the second handle towards the other, and returns to a configuration of one of a hamper and a basket upon releasing at least one of the first handle and the second handle from being drawn towards the other.

9. The invention according to claim 1, wherein a top opening of the container takes on a substantially rowboat shape upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returns to a substantially rectangular shape upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

10. The invention according to claim 3, wherein a top opening of the container takes on a substantially rowboat shape upon drawing at least one of the first handle and the second handle towards the other, and returns to a substantially rectangular shape upon releasing at least one of the first handle and the second handle from being drawn towards the other.

11. The invention according to claim 2, wherein a top opening of the container takes on a substantially canoe shape upon at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel being drawn towards the other, and returns to a substantially rectangular shape upon releasing at least one of the upper region of the front panel and the upper region of the rear panel from being drawn towards the other.

12. The invention according to claim 4, wherein a top opening of the container takes on a substantially canoe shape upon drawing at least one of the first handle and the second handle towards the other, and returns to a substantially rectangular shape upon releasing at least one of the first handle and the second handle from being drawn towards the other.

13. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises at least one resilient member disposed proximate the upper region of the first side panel and extending from proximate the front panel to proximate the rear panel, the resilient member having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a coiled spring.

15. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the at least one resilient member comprises plastic tubing.

16. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the container further comprises two resilient members, including a first resilient member having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration and being disposed proximate the upper region of the first side panel, and a second resilient member having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration and being disposed proximate the upper region of the second side panel.

17. The invention according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the front panel, the rear panel, and the first side panel is constructed of a fabric material.

18. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a frame.

19. The invention according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the frame is constructed of a wire material.

20. The invention according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the frame is constructed of paperboard.

21. The invention according to claim 18, wherein the frame includes at least one resilient member disposed proximate the upper region of the first side panel and extending from proximate the front panel to proximate the rear panel, the resilient member having a first, substantially linear configuration and a second, outwardly bowed configuration.

22. The invention according to claim 18, wherein the frame includes two resilient members, including a first resilient member disposed proximate the upper region of the first side panel and a second resilient member disposed proximate the upper region of a second side panel of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the present invention, shown in the hamper configuration;

[0022] FIG. 2 is an elevated, perspective view of the frame of the present invention, shown in the hamper configuration;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a portion of a bottom corner of the frame of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a coil spring and associated end cap of the frame of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 5 is an elevated front view of the present invention, shown with the handles grasped together and in the tote bag configuration;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the present invention, shown with the handles grasped together and in the tote bag configuration;

[0027] FIG. 7 is an elevated side view of the present invention, shown with the handles grasped together and in the tote bag configuration; and

[0028] FIG. 8 is an elevated perspective view of a portion of the frame of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0030] An embodiment of the present container, in the form of a shape shifting hamper and bag 10, is shown in FIGS. 1-7 as comprising front panel 20, rear panel 30, left panel 40 (also referred to herein as first side panel 40), right panel 50 (also referred to herein as second side panel 50), and bottom panel 60. Each panel is preferably constructed of a relatively sturdy, natural or synthetic fabric material, such as nylon, and surrounds an associated frame 100. Frame 100 supports the fabric panels and comprises trapezoidal front portion 120, trapezoidal rear portion 130, left resilient member 140, right resilient member 150, and bottom stiffener 160. Trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 are preferably constructed of a rigid metal wire material, such as steel wire.

[0031] As best seen in FIG. 6, the top crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 of frame 100 are disposed and retained within reinforced upper regions 21 and 31 of front panel 20 and rear panel 30, respectively. These reinforced upper regions may be constructed, for example, by folding extended top material of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 inwardly, about the top crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130, and then stitching or otherwise attaching the extended top material to the interior of the overall adjacent panel to create a double-thickness region. This, in turn, creates longitudinal channels within the double-thickness regions in which the frame's top crossbars are securely retained.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, bottom stiffener 160 includes two opposing longitudinal retaining risers 161, 162, each extending parallel to and adjacent an associated bottom crossbar of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130, respectively. These retaining risers 161, 162 are rectangular cuboid in shape, and may be constructed, for example, of a resilient material such as a resilient foam material. Retaining risers 161, 162 each serve to create an associated longitudinal channel, running between a longitudinal surface of retaining riser 161, 162 and an adjacent lower surface of front panel 20 and rear panel 30, respectively. These channels, in turn, retain an associated, adjacent bottom crossbar of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 in an opposing, spaced relationship proximate opposing sides of bottom stiffener 160. Moreover, the resilient nature of retaining risers 161, 162 cause these channels to retain the bottom crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 in a manner that permits the crossbars to rotate therein about their longitudinal axes. This rotation of the bottom crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130, in turn, permits a limited degree of rotation of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 about respective axes proximate bottom stiffener 160, facilitating the ability of the upper regions of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 to be drawn towards each other, in the manner described above, such as by drawing handles 22 and 32 together.

[0033] The bottom crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130, and/or the vertical upright bars of these frame portions, may alternatively be directly attached to their adjacent front or rear panels, such as by stitching additional fabric material of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 to the interior of the container 10 to create longitudinal frame retaining channels.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150, which may each be constructed, for example, of a helical coil steel spring, and their associated protective end caps 141, 142, 151 and 152, which may each be constructed, for example, of a plastic material or rubber compound, are preferably not directly attached or coupled to the remainder of frame 100. Rather, left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150 are each held in place within longitudinal channels 42, 52 of reinforced upper regions 41, 51 of left panel 40 and right panel 50, respectively. Reinforced regions 41 and 51 may be constructed, for example, by folding extended top material of left panel 40 and right panel 50 inwardly, about the left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150, respectively, and then stitching or otherwise attaching the extended top material to the interior of the overall adjacent panel. This, in turn, creates the longitudinal channels 42, 52 in which the resilient members and their end caps are securely retained, and, at the same time, creates double-thickness, strengthened and reinforced upper regions of left panel 40 and right panel 50.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, the present shape shifting hamper and bag 10 further includes front handle 22 and rear handle 32. Each handle preferably comprises a loop of fabric material, which may be the same material from which the various panels of the container are constructed. In particular, front handle 22 is coupled at both of its opposing ends to reinforced upper region 21 of front panel 20. Rear handle 32 is likewise coupled at both of its opposing ends to reinforced upper region 31.

[0036] In operation, the present shape shifting hamper and bag is capable of changing its configuration back and forth between a static, resting configuration, wherein it takes on the shape of a laundry hamper, and a dynamic, carrying or transporting configuration, wherein it takes on the shape of a tote bag. As shown in FIG. 1, in its static, resting configuration, handles 22, 32 both hang down about the exterior of the container, left resilient member 150 and right resilient member are each substantially linear, and each of front panel 20, rear panel 30, left panel 40 and right panel 50 are substantially planar. Moreover, in the static configuration, the top regions of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 are spaced widely apart, and the container 10 has a substantially rectangular top opening. As a result, the shape shifting hamper and bag 10 in its static condition takes on the general configuration of a laundry hamper, and may be used, for example, to accumulate and store soiled garments prior to their laundering. As one can appreciate, the hamper configuration is quite convenient for accumulating and storing soiled garments awaiting laundering, as, among other things, it presents a large, accessible rectangular top opening for placing garments within the container. The large, accessible rectangular top opening of the hamper configuration is also quite convenient for returning cleaned or laundered garments back into the container for further transport.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, when a user grasps handles 22 and 32, and draws the handles together in one hand in order to carry the shape shifting hamper and bag 10 about along one side of the user's body, the container transitions from its static hamper configuration to a dynamic tote bag configuration. In particular, drawing handles 22 and 32 together causes reinforced upper region 21 of front panel 20 and reinforced upper region 31 of rear panel 30 to likewise be drawn together. At the same time, drawing handles 22 and 32 together further causes top crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 of frame 100 to be drawn towards each other, and further causes each of trapezoidal front portion 120, trapezoidal rear portion 130, front panel 20, and rear panel 30 to be canted inwardly, towards the interior of the overall container.

[0038] Moreover, front panel 20 and rear panel 30 being drawn towards each other resultantly causes left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150 to flex, and to transition from a substantially linear configuration to a curved, or arcuate configuration, bowing outwardly from the interior of overall container. This, in turn, causes left panel 40 and right panel 50 to transition from their substantially planar configuration to a substantially spout-shaped configuration, as best seen in FIG. 5.

[0039] Furthermore, front panel 20 and rear panel 30 being drawn towards each other additionally causes the top opening of the container to transition from a substantially rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, to a substantially canoe-shaped configuration (which may also be referred to as an elongated oval, or racetrack configuration), in which both the left panel and right panel bow outwards into spout-like configurations, as best seen in FIG. 6. As one can appreciate, the tote bag configuration to which the container has transitioned is quite convenient for transporting soiled garments and other objects previously placed into the container, as it creates a narrower (from the front to rear of the container) structure, making it more convenient to, among other things, pass through narrow doorways while transporting the container alongside one's body. The ability of the front and rear panels to be drawn more closely together also makes it more easy to grasp and transport the container and its handles in a single hand, which is far more ergonomic than using both hands simultaneously to transport the container.

[0040] Upon the user's releasing his or her grasp of handles 22 and 32, the container 10 automatically transitions from the dynamic tote bag configuration back to the static hamper configuration. In particular, at this time, front panel 20 and rear panel 30 are no longer drawn together or canted inwardly, and the top crossbars of trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130 of frame 100 are no longer drawn towards each other. Moreover, upon the user's releasing his or her grasp of handles 22 and 32, left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150 transition back from their respective arcuate, outwardly bowed configuration back to their substantially linear configuration. This, in turn, permits left panel 40 and right panel 50 to transition back from their substantially spout-shaped configuration back to their substantially linear configuration.

[0041] At the same time, the top opening of the container transitions back from its substantially elongated oval or racetrack configuration to its substantially rectangular configuration. As the container is now back in the hamper configuration, the user may now more easily remove the contents of the container for laundering, or place new garments into the container so that they may be accumulated and stored for later laundering.

[0042] An alternative construction of a portion of the frame of the present shape shifting hamper and tote bag is shown in FIG. 8. In particular, frame portion 100, which does not include the requisite resilient members, is shown in FIG. 8 as comprising trapezoidal front portion 120, trapezoidal rear portion 130, and rectangular bottom portion 160. In this embodiment, rectangular bottom potion 160 is constructed of a rigid wire material, such as steel wire, and is welded or otherwise connected to trapezoidal front portion 120 and trapezoidal rear portion 130. Notably, this alternative frame construction does not employ paperboard or other form of planar bottom stiffener, and eliminates the requirement for, among other things, the use of frame retaining risers (such as risers 161 and 162) to maintain the bottom regions of the front and rear frame members in a spaced relationship.

[0043] Although, in the previously described embodiments, the container transitions between laundry hamper and tote bag configurations, it is also contemplated that the container instead transition between laundry basket and tote bag configurations. Laundry baskets typically differ from laundry hampers primarily in their physical dimensions. Laundry hampers are, in general, relatively tall in height, and somewhat short in the horizontal dimensions of their front and rear panels, or surfaces. Laundry baskets are, in general, significantly shorter in height than laundry hampers, and significantly longer in the horizontal dimensions of their front and rear panels, or surfaces, creating an overall appearance that is more squat than that of laundry hampers. In this alternative embodiment having a static configuration of a laundry basket, each of front panel 20, rear panel 30, left panel 40 and rear panel 50 are significantly shorter in height, and both front panel 20 and rear panel 30 are significantly longer in their horizontal dimensions. Notably, grasping together the handles of this alternative embodiment still causes the container to transition to a tote bag configuration, although the tote bag is somewhat longer in the horizontal dimension and shorter in the vertical dimension than in the previously described embodiments. Otherwise, the construction of this embodiment is similar to those previously described. In this manner, embodiments of the invention may transition between laundry basket and tote bag configurations, rather than laundry hamper and tote bag configurations.

[0044] Although, in the previously described embodiments, two opposing resilient members associated with the left and right panels of the container are employed to permit the container to transition between a hamper/basket configuration and a tote bag configuration, other manners of construction of the side panels are also contemplated by the present invention. For example, the entire left and right panels of the container may, instead of being constructed of a fabric material, be constructed of a resilient sheet of material, such as a plastic material. In this alternative embodiment, the entire left and right panels are in a static, substantially planar orientation when the container is in its static, at rest, hamper/basket configuration. Moreover, the left and right panels flex and bow outwardly, taking on spout shaped configurations, when the front and back panels are drawn together (such as by drawing their associated handles together), and return to substantially planar configurations, when the front and back panels are released from being drawn together (such as by releasing their respective handles from being drawn together). In these embodiments, the requirement for separate, individual resilient members 140 and 150 are eliminated.

[0045] Although, in the previously described embodiments, both left panel 40 and right panel 50 include either resilient upper regions (such as by the inclusion of left resilient member 140 and right resilient member 150 within channel 42 and channel 52, respectively), or are constructed entirely of a resilient material, alternative embodiments are also contemplated by the present invention. In particular, it is also contemplated that only one of left panel 40 and right panel 50 include either a resilient upper region (in the manner described above), or is constructed entirely of a resilient material. In this embodiment, the other one of left panel 40 and right panel 50 is substantially rigid, and remains substantially planar upon the upper regions of front panel 20 and rear panel 30 being drawn towards each other, such as by drawing handles 22 and 32 together. The rigidity of left panel 40 or right panel 50 may be accomplished by placing a relatively rigid material such as paperboard within the panel, or adjacent the panel within the interior of the container. Alternatively, frame 100 may be modified to include a rigid upper crossbar, welded or otherwise affixed to trapezoidal front portion 120 or trapezoidal rear portion 130, in place of either left resilient member 140 or rear resilient member 150, in order to lend rigidity to left panel 40 or right panel 50. Moreover, either of left panel 40 or right panel 50 may alternatively be constructed of a relatively rigid material, such as rigid plastic, rather than a fabric material.

[0046] In this alternative embodiment, front panel 20 and rear panel 30 being drawn towards each other, such as by drawing together handles 22 and 32 together, causes only one of left panel 40 and right panel 50 to bow outwards, into a spout-like configuration, while the other panel remains substantially planar. Accordingly, in this embodiment, front panel 20 and rear panel 30 being drawn towards each other causes the top opening of the container to transition from a substantially rectangular configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, to a substantially rowboat-shaped configuration, as viewed from above the top opening of the container. As one can appreciate, this alternative tote bag configuration to which the container has transitioned is likewise convenient for transporting garments and other objects previously placed into the container, as it creates a narrower (from the front or rear of the container) structure.

[0047] Although the present invention is primarily intended for the transport of garments, other objects, such as groceries and other retail purchases, children's diapers and accessories, and toys, may alternatively, or additionally, be transported using the present invention.

[0048] Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of construction of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention.