Collapsible Fabric Pods

Abstract

Collapsible fabric pods may include a plurality of posts attached to a base and a fabric bin array attached to the plurality of posts, wherein the plurality of posts are displaceable between an upright position and collapsed position. When the plurality of posts are in the upright position, the plurality of posts support the fabric bin array above the base, and when the plurality of posts are in the collapsed position, the plurality of posts are decoupled or displaced and the fabric bin array is in a compressed position on top of the base.

1 . A collapsible storage structure comprising:
 a base;   four posts of approximately equal height, each of the four posts attached to and extending vertically upward from a respective corner of the base; and   a fabric bin array having a rectangular cuboid shape, the bin array defining four vertically extending edges, the fabric bin array including sleeves disposed along each vertically extending edge, the sleeves at least partially wrapped about a respective one of the four posts,   wherein each of the four posts is configured to be displaceable between an upright position and a collapsed position, and each of the four posts is configured to collapse toward the base and the fabric bin array is configured to compress on the top of the base in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible storage structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes pockets arranged in a side of the base configured to receive a lifting member configured to raise the base off of a surface and move the collapsible storage structure, in the upright position, to a location based at least in part on one or more inventory items contained in the fabric bin array. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible storage structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes pockets arranged in a side of the base configured to receive a lifting member configured to raise the base off of a surface and move the collapsible storage structure, in the collapsed position, to a location based at least in part on storing the collapsible storage structure until a time of use. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible storage structure as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising four legs, each of the four legs configured to attach to a respective corner of the base and arranged to fold into a bottom of the base opposite the top of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible storage structure as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one crossbeam displaceable between a first position and a second position,
 wherein in the first position with the four posts in the upright position, the at least one crossbeam is attached to a top portion of a first post of the four posts and removeably coupled to a top portion of a second post of the four posts, the at least one crossbeam configured to support a respective portion of the fabric bin array.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible storage structure as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the four posts is configured to be at least partially displaceable into one or more intermediate positions between the upright position and the collapsed position, wherein each of the four posts partially supports the fabric bin array substantially vertically above the top of the base and is partially collapsed toward the base with the fabric bin array in a partially compressed position on the top of the base in the one or more intermediate positions. 
     
     
         7 . A storage structure comprising:
 a base;   a plurality of posts attached to and extending vertically upward from a respective corner of the base, each of the plurality of the plurality of posts being displaceable between an upright position and a collapsed position; and   a fabric bin array including vertically extending sleeves, the vertically extending sleeves disposed about a respective one of the plurality of vertically extending posts,   wherein, in a compressed position, each of the plurality of posts is collapsed toward the base and the fabric bin array is compressed on the top of the base.   
     
     
         8 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of posts includes a plurality of segments and each of the segments is movable to displace each of the plurality of posts between the upright position and the collapsed position, wherein each of the segments of each of the plurality of posts is coupled together and supports the fabric bin array substantially vertically above the top of the base in the upright position, and each of the segments of each of the plurality of posts is collapsed and the fabric bin array is in the compressed position on the top of the base in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         9 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism arranged to lock at least two segments together, the locking mechanism comprising at least one of a pop lock, a c-clamp, or a threaded nut. 
     
     
         10 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of segments include a plurality of tubular segments constructed from at least one of steel, aluminum, composite, carbon fiber, or plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of posts includes a plurality of segments and each of the segments is at least one of rotatably coupled or internally telescoping to another segment of the plurality of segments so as to displace each of the plurality of posts between the upright position and the collapsed position, wherein each of the segments of each of the plurality of posts is coupled together and supports the fabric bin array substantially vertically above the top of the base in the upright position, and each of the segments of each of the plurality of posts is collapsed and the fabric bin array is in the compressed position on the top of the base in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         12 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one crossbeam configured to attach to a top portion or a bottom portion of two adjacent posts of the plurality of posts, the at least one crossbeam including at least one locking mechanism arranged to attach a respective portion of the fabric bin array to the at least one crossbeam. 
     
     
         13 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one locking mechanism of the at least one crossbeam comprises at least one of a metal grommet, a turn lock, or a fold down lock. 
     
     
         14 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one crossbeam comprises a telescoping mechanism configured to increase or decrease a length of the at least one crossbeam. 
     
     
         15 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs attach to the base and arranged to fold into a bottom of the base opposite the top of the base. 
     
     
         16 . A storage structure comprising:
 a base;   a first collapsible section including:
 a first plurality of segments, each of the first plurality of segments attached to and extending vertically upward from a respective corner of the base; and 
 a first fabric bin array including a first vertically extending sleeve, the first vertically extending sleeve disposed about a respective one of the first plurality of segments; and 
   a second collapsible section attached to the first collapsible section above the first collapsible section, the second collapsible section including:
 a second plurality of segments, each of the second plurality of vertical segments moveably coupled to and extend up from a respective one of the first plurality of segments; 
 a second fabric bin array including a second vertically extending sleeve, the second vertical sleeve disposed about a respective one of the second plurality of vertical segments; and 
 wherein each of the second plurality of segments of the second fabric bin array is configured to be displaceable between an upright position and a collapsed position, such that:
 each of the second plurality of segments is moveably coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of segments of the first collapsible section and the first plurality of segments supports the second fabric bin array above a top of the first collapsible section in the upright position, and 
 each of the second plurality of segments is displaceable relative to the respective one of the first plurality of segments of the first collapsible section and collapsible down to a position on the top the first collapsible section in the collapsed position. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of the first plurality of segments of the first collapsible section is removeably coupled to and extending up from the respective corner of the base and displaceable between an upright position and a collapsed position,
 wherein each of the first plurality of segments is removeably coupled to the respective corner of the base and supports the first fabric bin array above a top of the base in the upright position, and   wherein each of the first plurality of segments is displaceable relative to the respective corner of the base and collapses down to a position on the top of the base in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         18 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the base includes at least one pocket arranged in at least one side of the base configured to receive a lifting member configured to raise the base off of a surface and move the storage structure, with each of the second plurality of segments in the upright position, to a location based at least in part on one or more inventory items contained in at least one of the first or second fabric bin arrays, or move the storage structure, with each of the second plurality of segments in the collapsed position, to a location based at least in part on storing the storage structure until a time of use. 
     
     
         19 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of legs of approximately equal height, each of the plurality of legs attached to a respective corner of the base to provide a space beneath the base and between each adjacent pair of the legs adapted to allow a mobile drive unit to maneuver beneath the base. 
     
     
         20 . The storage structure as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the base includes pockets arranged in a side of the base between respective two adjacent legs of the plurality of legs, the pockets configured to receive a lifting member configured to raise the base off of a surface and move the storage structure, and wherein each of the plurality of legs is arranged to fold into the base and into a position adjacent to the lifting member received by the pockets.