US20070012695A1

US20070012695A1 - Convertible container for vehicle

Info

Publication number: US20070012695A1
Application number: US11/181,743
Authority: US
Inventors: Ming-Shun Yang
Original assignee: Formosa Saint Jose Corp
Current assignee: Formosa Saint Jose Corp
Priority date: 2005-07-15
Filing date: 2005-07-15
Publication date: 2007-01-18

Abstract

A convertible container for vehicle includes: (1) a main board which is made of a tenacious foam material that has air rooms; the main board being a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene foam and foam EVA, i.e., ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and one or two sides thereof being laminated with various materials, such as polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer to form a composite foam board, thereby enhancing the aesthetic feeling and durability; (2) two side boards symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board; and (3) plurality of zippers sewn at the peripheries of the main board and the side boards. Thereby, the main board and the two side boards can be folded and combined with the zippers to form a convertible container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a convertible container for vehicle, particularly to one that is easily packed up, detached and compacted for storage purposes.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
A container for vehicle of the prior art is generally composed of a container and a cover, both of which are made of a hard plastic material. The container is disposed in the trunk of vehicle for containing articles.
As the vehicle container along with the cover of the prior art is made of a hard plastic material, it has certain shape and volume. Accordingly, when the container is not in use, it cannot be packed up and would occupy a certain space in the trunk of the vehicle or at the user's home. As such, the vehicle container of the prior art is space wasting since it is inconvenient for storage when it is not in use.
In view of the above, the inventor expected to provide a convertible contain for vehicle, which is convenient for use since it can be folded for storage when it is not in use. Besides, when the invention is zippered to form a three-dimensional container, there are fine borders between the boards. And as the boards are integrally formed of a foam material, the container would have less seams, and is water-proof, thereby allow the consumers to use the invention conveniently. That is the inventor's primary motive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a convertible container for vehicle, which can allow the integrally formed main board and side boards to combine via zippers, thereby accomplishing a container with a three-dimensional space, which is easily packed, detached and compacted for storage purposes.
To obtain the above objects, the convertible container for vehicle according to the present invention includes a main board which is formed by a foam material and can be bended; two side boards symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board; and pluralities of zippers provided at the peripheries of the main board and the side boards. Each of the zippers is sewn between the peripheries of the main board and the side boards. A handle is screwed to each of the side boards, while a Velcro is sewn to the overlapping positions of the two sides of the main board such that when the two side boards are folded inside the main board, they can be fastened via the Velcro to reduce the volume of the convertible container and therefore ease storage. The main board is primarily produced via a light-weight foam material, which is made of a tenacious foam material that has air rooms. The main board can be a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA, while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and one or two side(s) thereof can be a composite of various materials, such as polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer, in order to enhance the aesthetic feeling and durability. As the foam material has the advantages of elasticity, transformation and softness, it can be easily formed with pluralities of corrugated lines on the surface. Besides, after the foam material is pre-heated to soften, it can be disposed into a mold having pluralities of corrugated extrusions for pressing to form patterns, and further combined with a polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer to integrally form a aesthetic, durable, soft and superior quality material applicable to make the boards of the convertible container.
To completely appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the present invention in an expanded status.
FIG. 3 shows the invention in a folded status.
FIG. 4 shows the use status of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows the process of folding the invention.
FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the invention after being packed up.
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 shows another use status of the invention.
FIG. 9 shows a further use status of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the embodiment as shown is a convertible container for vehicle, which is composed of a main board 1, two side boards 2 and pluralities of zippers 3. Each of the zippers 3 is sewn to the peripheries of the main board 1 and the side boards 2, thereby the main board 1 and the side boards 2 can be folded and combined via the zippers 3 to form a three-dimensional container that is easily detached and stored.
Said main board 1 is disposed in an oven to heat until it is softened, and then put in a mold to press, cool and detach to form pluralities of grooves and extrusions, allowing the main board 1 to form corrugated lines 11 on the appropriate positions of the surface, thereby enhancing the intensity and artistic appearance thereof. The foam material is tenacious foam material that has air rooms. The main board can be a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA, while said foam material has a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm, and one or two side(s) thereof can be a composite of various materials, such as polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer, in order to enhance the aesthetic feeling and durability. Said foam material and composite material are integrally formed via press by molds, such that pluralities of corrugated grooves 11 are formed on the appropriate positions of the main board 1, thereby enhancing the intensity and artistic appearance thereof. A Velcro 12 is sewn to the inner side of one end of the main board 1, while the outer side of the corresponding end of the main board 1 is provided with a felt strip 13, such that the main board 1 can be held by the Velcro 12 and felt strip 13 after being folded to form a shape of a three-dimensional container (as shown in FIG. 3).
There are pluralities of corrugated grooves 2 on each of the side board 2 which are symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board 1. And at least one side board 2 is provided with two holes 22 for receiving the two ends of a handle 23. The handle 23 is provided with a locking flap 24 at each end for being screwed to the side boards 2.
The zipper 3 is sewn between the peripheries of the main board 1 and the side boards 2. Accordingly, a novel convertible container for vehicle (as shown in FIG. 3) can be accomplished.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when the convertible container is put to use, the user must first fold up the boards to form a three-dimensional container, i.e. fold up the two side boards 2 towards the main board 1 to form a right angle therebetween, fold up the main board 1 along the periphery of the side boards 2, and zipper up the zippers 3, thereby accomplishing a three-dimensional container to provide a space formed by the main board 1 and the side boards for containing articles and disposed in the trunk of the vehicle.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, whenever the user wishes to detach the container and reduce the volume thereof, he/she needs only pull down the zippers 3 to separate the main board 1 and the side boards 2 and allow them to spread to a plane, fold the two side boards 2 toward the main board 1 to lean upon the main board 1, and fold the main board 1 to stack upon the side boards 2 to reduce the size of the main board 1 (as shown in FIG. 6), thereby easing storage of the convertible container.
FIGS. 7 and 8 shows another embodiment of the invention, which can be applicable as a container for disposing on the roof of vehicle. Wherein the main board 1 is integrally formed by a foam material via mold pressing. In addition to the specific rigidity required for making a three-dimensional container, a tenacious rubber board (not shown) can be padded on the main board 1, and two guide rails 4 installed with a wheel 41 at the end can be provided on appropriate positions under the main board 1, thereby after the main board 1 and the side boards 2 are folded into a container, it can be disposed on the roof of vehicle via said guide rails 4 (as shown in FIG. 8).
The above-mentioned foam material can be easily pressed by molds to form corrugated grooves, which can be arranged to form specific patterns to enhance the aesthetic feeling of the container appearance.
As shown in FIG. 9, after the container has been accomplished, it can be dragged easily by way of the wheels 41 provided at the end of the guide rails 4 and the handle 23 provided on the side board 2.
Concluded above, the convertible container for vehicle according to the invention can efficiently improve the disadvantages existing in the prior art. The main board is folded with the side boards to form a container via the zippers, thereby accomplishing a container that is easily folded for use and easily detached for storage. Still more, the main board is formed of a foam material, which is light-weight, soft, elastic and easily shaped up.
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed Claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A convertible container for vehicle, including:

a main board, which, being made of an easily formed foam material and has appropriate tensile and tear strength, is baked under a temperature of 300˜500° F. to soften and then pressed via molds to form pluralities of corrugated lines being able to be arranged to present a pattern; the foam material can be a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene foam and foam EVA;

two side boards, which are made of an easily formed foam material, that is baked under a temperature of 300˜500° F. to soften and then pressed via molds to form pluralities of corrugated lines being able to be arranged to present a pattern; the two side boards are symmetrically provided at the two sides of the main board with one handle provided on at least one of the side boards; the foam material can be a cross-linked polyolefine foam material, such as cross-linked polyethylene foam material, cross-linked polypropylene and foam EVA; and

pluralities of zippers, which are provided at the peripheries of the main board and the side boards.

2. The convertible container for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one or two sides of the main board and the side boards can be laminated with various materials, such as polyester fabric, gloss polyester sheet, electroplated plastic sheet or wear-proof thermoplastic synthetic elastomer to form a composite foam board.

3. The convertible container for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the side board is provided with two holes for correspondingly receiving the handle's two ends, which are provided with respective locking flaps.

4. The convertible container for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the main board is provided with two guide rails at appropriate positions, while each of the guide rails is installed with a wheel.

5. The convertible container for vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a hook strip is sewn to the inner side of one end of the main board, while a loop strip is sewn to the outer side of the corresponding end of the main board.