Basket and basket-frame construction

Abstract

The basket of the present invention comprises; a pair of opening-section frame members, bottom-section frame members and handle frame members with each member having two ends and a bent shape; a soft flexible material that is attached to the opening-section frame members and bottom-section frame members and that forms a basket shape when opened; and two common hinges to which both ends of each of the opening-section and bottom-section frame members are respectively attached so that the frame members can rotate, and so that each pair of frame members is arranged so that they are symmetrical with each other; wherein the opening-section frame members and bottom-section frame members are attached to the soft flexible material so that they form the basket shape in the open position, the handle frame members are installed near both ends of the opening-section frame members so that they can rotate, and each of the pairs of frame members is such that the angle between frame members can change as the frame members rotate, and it is possible for all of the frame members to rotate from a state in which the entire basket is folded and each of the frame members are parallel with each other and extend in the same direction from the common hinges to a state in which the frame members and soft flexible material are opened and the basket is self supported, and in this self-supported state, a storage space is formed inside the basket by the soft flexible material.

1 . A basket comprising: 
 a plurality of pairs of frame members with each member having two ends and a bent shape;    a soft flexible material that is attached to each of the frame members and that forms a basket shape when opened; and    two common hinges to which both ends of each of the frame members are respectively attached so that the members can rotate, and so that each pair of frame members is arranged so that they are symmetrical with each other; wherein    it is possible for the angle between each of the members of a pair of frame members to change by the rotation of the frame members; and    it is possible for all of the frame members to rotate from a state in which the entire basket is folded and each of the frame members are parallel with each other and extend in the same direction from the common hinges to a state in which the frame members are opened and the basket is self supported, and in this self-supported state, a storage space is formed inside the basket by the soft flexible material.    
   
   
       2 . The basket of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of pairs of frame members are attached to the soft flexible material so that they form the basket shape in the opened position, and when opening the basket, each of the frame members interacts and engages with the soft flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The basket of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the plurality of pairs of frame members includes at least a pair of opening-section frame members that form an opening section when open, and a pair of bottom-section frame members whose middle sections form two sides in the width direction of the bottom surface when open.  
   
   
       4 . A foldable basket that is bag shaped when the rectangular opening section thereof is open, and that has handle construction, comprising: 
 two common hinges that are located in the center of the two opposing sides in the lengthwise direction of the opening section;    two opening-section frame members and two bottom-section frame members, each having two arm sections and a connecting section that connects the two arm sections, and with the tip ends of both arm sections being respectively attached to the common hinges so that the members can rotate;    two handle frame members, each having two arm sections and a connecting section that connect the two arm sections, and with the tip ends of both arm sections being respectively attached near the tip ends of both arm sections of the opening-section frame members so that they can rotate; and    soft flexible material that is attached to the opening-section frame members and the bottom-section frame members, and that forms a basket shape when open.    
   
   
       5 . The basket of  claim 4  wherein 
 a separate soft flexible material is attached to one of the handle frame members;    both arm sections of the handle frame members, both arm sections of the opening-section frame members and both arm sections of the bottom-section frame members are arranged so that they are parallel and face in the same direction from the common hinges in the folded state, and each of the frame members can rotate around the common hinges from the folded state to the open state; and    in the open state, the opening-section frame members are constructed so that rotation stops at a position that forms the flat opening section of the bag, the connecting sections of the bottom-section frame members form two opposing sides in the width direction of the bottom section of the opened bag, the handle frame members are constructed so that rotation stops a position in the center where they are adjacent to each other, and by fastening the handle frame members together by the separate soft flexible material, each of the frame members are maintained in the open state, and the opening-section frame members are maintained in a horizontal state and a storage space is formed inside the basket.    
   
   
       6 . The basket of  claim 5  wherein each of the opening-section frame members and bottom-section frame members are attached to the soft flexible material so that they form the basket shape in the open state, and when opening the basket, the handle frame members, opening-section frame members and bottom-section frame members interact and engage with the soft flexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The basket of  claim 1  or  claim 5  further comprising a cover that is made from an elastic flexible material that is attached beforehand to part of the soft flexible material that forms the basket shape, and during use, by attaching both ends of the cover to the two sides in the width direction of the basket opening section, is capable of preventing stored items from moving or falling, and when the basket is folded, is capable of being stored in a pocket inside the basket.  
   
   
       8 . Basket frame construction comprising: 
 two common hinges;    two opening-section frame members and two bottom-section frame members, each having two arm sections and a connecting section that connects the two arm sections, with the tip ends of both arm sections thereof being respectively attached to the common hinges so that the members can rotate; and    two handle frame members having two arm sections and a connecting section that connects the two arm sections, with the tip arm sections of both arm sections thereof being attached near the tip ends of both arm sections of the opening-section frame members so that the members can rotate; and wherein    the basket can be folded by arranging both arm sections of the handle frame members, both arm sections of the opening-section frame sections and both arm sections of the bottom-section frame members so that they are parallel and face in the same direction from the common hinges, and can be opened by rotating each of the frame members around the common hinges from the folded state; and    the open state of the basket can be maintained by stopping rotation of the two opening-section frame members at a horizontal position that forms a flat opening section of the basket, extending both arm sections of the bottom-section frame members downward and forming two opposing sides in the width direction of the bottom section of the basket by the connecting sections of the bottom-section frame members, and stopping rotation of the handle frame members at a position so that they are adjacent to each other in the center.