US20090014444A1

US20090014444A1 - Collapsible basket

Info

Publication number: US20090014444A1
Application number: US11/826,180
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Hsinag Chung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-12
Filing date: 2007-07-12
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

A collapsible basket has a base, two end frames, two side-frames and multiple dowel pins. A size of the collapsible basket can be reduced by folding the frames toward the base. Moreover, the end frames and the side-frames can are attached to the base making the collapsible basket easy to assemble and collapse.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a basket, especially to a collapsible basket formed by mounting a base frame to multiple frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various products have been manufactured for storage and to ease transportation of smaller items including boxes and baskets. The boxes are commonly formed rigidly and are sealable and used for long-term storage to guard against dust. Conversely, the basket comprises open interlaced fibers of metal, plastic or dried organic matter such as wicker or rattan, and is used for storing and transporting items in frequent use, for example, documents in an office.
The basket can be stored on a flat surface such as a floor or a shelving unit or hung on hooks or fastening devices. The basket can be produced using a variety of methods commonly known in the art.
With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional basket has a base (80), multiple frames (81), comprising multiple dowel mounting bars (811) and multiple dowel pins (812). The base (80) and the multiple frames (81) are attached to each other using the multiple connecting pins (811) and the multiple dowel pins (812). The conventional basket is designed to be assembled and may be taken apart by a person.
However, the assembly and taking apart of the conventional basket is complicated. Moreover, if any dowel pins (812) are lost a gap will be formed between two adjacent frames (81) thereby reducing a loading strength and appearance of the basket. Therefore the basket is not conveniently collapsed for transportation and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a collapsible basket to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional basket.
In order to achieve the objective, a collapsible basket in accordance with the present invention comprises a base having two side edges formed diametrically to each other and each comprising a mounting bar and two end edges. Two side frames are mounted respectively on the mounting bars of the base. Two end frames are mounted respectively on the end edges of the base and comprise multiple dowel pins. The dowel pins are used to detachably connect the adjacent end frames and side-frames.
A size of the collapsible basket of the present invention can be reduced by folding the frames toward the base. Moreover, the end frames and the side frames are attached to the base, making the collapsible basket easy to assemble and collapse.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible basket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an operational front view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 1 partially collapsed;

FIG. 5 is an operational perspective view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 1 partially collapsed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 1 fully collapsed;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the collapsible basket in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a conventional basket in accordance with prior art; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the conventional basket in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the collapsible basket in accordance with the present invention has a base (10), two side-frames (20), two end frames (21, 23) and multiple dowel pins (30).
The base (10) has two end edges (12), two side edges (11) and two mounting bars (111).
The side edges (11) are defined opposite to each other. The end edges (12) are defined opposite to each other.
The mounting bars (111) are formed on and protrude from the corresponding side edge (11).
The side-frames (20) are pivotally mounted respectively on the mounting bars (111) and each comprises a top and two hollow ends (201).
The end frames (21, 23) are pivotally mounted respectively on the end edges (12) of the base (10) and each end frame (21, 23) respectively has two hollow ends (201). Each end frame (21, 23) may be circular, flat, quadrangular or such like in cross section and corresponds with and aligns with the connecting hole (201). The end frame (23) may be bent to allow easier loading objects into the bracket.
With reference to FIG. 3, the multiple dowel pins (30) is mounted in both ends of the end frames (21, 23) and the side frame (20). Each dowel pin (30) has a shaft (32) and an optional ridge (31). The ridge (31) is formed on and annularly protrudes around the shaft (32) of the dowel pin (30) to act as a stop when the dowel pin (30) is mounted to the connecting hole (201), the side frame (20) and the end frame (21,23). The dowel pins (30) are respectively mounted detachably in the hollow ends (201) of the side frame (20) and the end frame (21,23) in order to assemble or collapse the basket.
When assembling the collapsible basket, the side-frame (20) and the end frames (21, 23) are aligned to allow the shafts (32) of the dowel (30) to be respectively inserted into the corresponding hollow ends (201). The cavity formed between the base (10), side frames (20) and end frame (21, 23) is used for storage.
With further reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, to collapse the collapsible basket, the multiple dowels pins (30) are pulled away from the hollow ends (201) of the side frame (20) and the end frames (21, 23) and folded toward the base (10). Then the side frames (20) are folded toward the base (10) and on top of the end frames (21, 23). Therefore, the basket collapses level with the mounting bars (111) and the basket's size is minimized to become easier for storage.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A collapsible basket, comprising:

a base frame having

two end edges defined opposite to each other;

two side edges defined opposite to each other; and

two mounting bars respectively formed on and protruding from the end edges;

two side frames, each being pivotally mounted on one of the mounting bars and each comprising

a top;

two hollow ends; and

two end frames being pivotally mounted on one of the end edges of the base and each having two hollow ends; and

multiple dowel pins being detachably mounted respectively in the ends of the end frames, detachably mounted respectively in the hollow ends of the side frames and each having a shaft.

2. The collapsible basket of claim 1, wherein each dowel pin further comprise a ridge being larger than the shaft of the dowel pin.

3. The collapsible basket as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the end frames is bent to allow easier loading.