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US 10,588,404 B2Granted
Multi-tier interlinked folding frame
OwnerKelvin Nginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Foldable storage compartment having front and rear panels that are traversable closer to or further away from each other is disclosed. Left and right side collapsible panels may be attached to the front and rear panels. The shelves of the foldable storage compartment may be interlinked with each other by way of a vertical linkage rod and connected to the front panel with a front panel linkage so that traversal of the front and rear panels closer to or further away from each other will also collapse and erect the shelves simultaneously.
Claims15
A foldable storage compartment for storing objects on a shelf when the storage compartment is in an erect position, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being foldable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge being closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side frame disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side frame disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is aligned between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge, the third and fourth edges of the first shelf being pivotally attached to front and rear sides of the collapsible first and second side frames.
2 more elements
A method for collapsing and erecting a foldable storage compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a foldable storage compartment, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being foldable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent about the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge being closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side frame disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side frame disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is aligned between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge, the third and fourth edges of the first shelf being pivotally attached to front and rear sides of the collapsible first and second side frames;
- pulling the front and second frames further away from each other when the foldable storage compartment is in collapsed position to traverse the foldable storage compartment to an erect position and the first shelf from a vertical position to a horizontal position;
- and
- lifting the first shelf upwards traverses the front and second frames closer to each other and the first shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
6 more elements
A foldable storage compartment for storing objects on a shelf when the storage compartment is in an erect position, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side frame disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side frame disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is adjacent to the fourth rear edge of the first shelf and the foldable storage compartment further comprises a linkage pivotally attached to the first shelf between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge and the first frame.
2 more elements
A method for collapsing and erecting a foldable storage compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a foldable storage compartment, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge being closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side frame disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side frame disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side frame attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is adjacent to the fourth rear edge of the first shelf and the foldable storage compartment further comprises a linkage pivotally attached to the first shelf between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge and the first frame;
- pulling the front and second frames further away from each other when the foldable storage compartment is in a collapsed position traverses the foldable storage compartment to an erect position and the first shelf from a vertical position to a horizontal position;
- and
- lifting the first shelf upwards traverses the front and second frames closer to each other and the first shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
6 more elements
A foldable storage compartment for storing objects on a shelf when the storage compartment is in an erect position, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side strip disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side strip attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side strip being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side strip disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side strip attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side strip being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is adjacent to the fourth rear edge of the first shelf and the foldable storage compartment further comprises a linkage pivotally attached to the first shelf between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge and the first frame.
2 more elements
A method for collapsing and erecting a foldable storage compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a foldable storage compartment, the foldable storage compartment comprising:
- a first frame and a second frame;
- a first shelf defining a first side edge and an opposed second side edge to the first side edge and a third front edge and an opposed fourth rear edge to the third front edge, the first shelf defining a horizontal axis by a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable about the horizontal axis, the first shelf being rigid in a direction from the first side edge to the opposed second side edge, the first shelf being pivotable adjacent the fourth rear edge and the fourth rear edge being closer to the second frame than the first frame;
- a collapsible first side strip disposed adjacent to the first side edge, the collapsible first side strip attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible first side frame being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a first vertical axis;
- a collapsible second side strip disposed adjacent to the second side edge, the collapsible second side strip attached to the first frame and the second frame, the collapsible second side strip being rigid vertically and being collapsible about a second vertical axis;
- wherein the horizontal axis about which the first shelf is foldable is adjacent to the fourth rear edge of the first shelf and the foldable storage compartment further comprises a linkage pivotally attached to the first shelf between the third front edge and the opposed fourth rear edge and the first frame;
- pulling the front and second frames further away from each other when the foldable storage compartment is in a collapsed position traverses the foldable storage compartment to an erect position and the first shelf from a vertical position to a horizontal position;
- and
- lifting the first shelf upwards traverses the front and second frames closer to each other and the first shelf from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.