Collapsible Laundry Container

Abstract

A collapsible laundry container includes an outer bag portion having a bottom and a plurality of sides extending upwardly from the bottom. An inner bag portion includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall. The inner bag portion is situated in an interior area of the outer bag portion. The bag portions are movable between a collapsed configuration in which respective side walls are generally adjacent respective bottom walls and an expanded configuration in which respective side walls extend upwardly from respective bottom walls. A cover member is removably coupled to one of the inner and outer bag portions and configured to prevent access to the inner bag portion interior area. The inner bag portion is permeable while the outer bag portion is impermeable.

1 . A laundry container, comprising:
 an outer bag portion having a bottom and a plurality of sides extending upwardly from said bottom, said outer bag portion bottom and said plurality of sides defining an interior area and an open top;   wherein said outer bag portion sides are movable between a collapsed configuration adjacent said outer bag portion bottom and an expanded configuration extending upwardly from the outer bag portion bottom; and   a cover member removably coupled to an upper end of said outer bag member and movable between a closed configuration covering said outer bag member open top and an open configuration not covering said outer bag member open top.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry container as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner bag portion having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said inner bag portion bottom wall and said plurality of side walls defining an interior area and an open top;   wherein said inner bag portion is positioned in said outer bag portion interior area and configured such that said inner bag portion open top is immediately adjacent said outer bag portion open top; and   wherein said inner bag portion side walls are movable between a collapsed configuration adjacent said inner bag portion bottom wall and an expanded configuration extending upwardly from said inner bag portion bottom wall.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry container as in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said outer bag portion is constructed of an impermeable material; and   said inner bag portion is constructed of a permeable material.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry container as in  claim 1 , wherein said outer bag portion is constructed of an impermeable material. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry container as in  claim 3 , wherein said permeable material is mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry container as in  claim 2 , wherein said inner bag portion is a mesh material. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry container as in  claim 1 , wherein each side of said outer bag portion includes a plurality of lines of weakness, each line of weakness defining a horizontal axis spaced apart from an adjacent line of weakness such that said plurality of lines of weakness cause said outer bag portion sides to fold down to said collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry container as in  claim 2 , wherein each side wall of said inner bag portion includes a plurality of lines of weakness, each line of weakness defining a horizontal axis spaced apart from an adjacent line of weakness such that said plurality of lines of weakness cause said inner bag portion side walls to fold down to said collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry container as in  claim 2 , wherein said inner bag is porous. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry container as in  claim 2 , wherein said cover member is removably coupled to said inner bag portion with a fastener taken from a group including a zipper, latch, snap, and hook and loop fastener combination. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry container as in  claim 10 , wherein said cover member includes a handle member coupled to an upper surface thereof so that said inner and said outer bag portions may be carried when said cover member is coupled to said inner bag portion. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry container as in  claim 7 , further comprising a closure member having a first portion coupled to said cover member and a second portion coupled to said outer bag portion bottom, said first portion being operatively coupled to said second portion when said outer bag portion sides are at said collapsed configuration.