Composite basket

Abstract

A basket comprises one or more bendable sheets of material that are configured to cooperate to bend and engage their cooperating edges to form a continuous basket side wall. A bottom frame is attachable to the sheets of material to provide a bottom to the basket and lend rigidity to the side wall. An upper ring is configured to attach to the sheets of material opposite the bottom frame to define an upper opening and further provide rigidity to the basket. The basket may be disassembled such as for storage, shipping, and transportation in a flattened configuration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A basket, comprising: 
 one or more side panels each having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge in engaging relation with a second side edge such that the one or more side panels form a continuous basket side wall;    a bottom frame configured for attachment to the side panel lower edge; and    an upper ring configured for attachment to the side panel upper edge.    
     
     
         2 . The basket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a first side panel and a second side panel wherein the first side panel includes a tab on the first side edge and the second panel includes a slot on the second edge configured to receive the tab from the first side panel.  
     
     
         3 . The basket of  claim 1 , wherein the side panels are formed from a bendable material.  
     
     
         4 . The basket of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom frame defines a groove configured to accept and securely hold the side panel lower edge.  
     
     
         5 . The basket of  claim 1 , wherein the upper ring defines a groove configured to accept and securely hold the side panel upper edge.  
     
     
         6 . The basket of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom frame is configured with a lock and the side panel lower edge is configured with a hole configured to engage the lock to securely hold the side panel to the bottom frame.  
     
     
         7 . A basket, comprising: 
 one or more flexible side panels, each side panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, each of said upper edge and lower edge having one or more holes formed adjacent thereto, and further having a male side edge having tabs protruding therefrom, and having a female side edge having slots formed therein configured to receive the tabs;    a bottom frame defining a longitudinal groove configured to receive the side panel lower edge, the bottom frame further having an engagement structure configured for cooperation with the holes formed in the side panel lower edge to securely hold the side panel lower edge within the bottom frame longitudinal groove; and    an upper ring defining a longitudinal groove configured to receive the side panel upper edge, the upper ring further having an engagement structure configured for cooperation with the holes formed in the side panel upper edge to securely hold the side panel upper edge within the upper ring longitudinal groove.    
     
     
         8 . The basket of  claim 7 , wherein the basket comprises two or more side panels.  
     
     
         9 . The basket of  claim 7 , wherein the side panel male side edge comprises one or more lock tabs configured to be securely inserted into a corresponding slot configured to inhibit subsequent withdrawal of the lock tab from the slot.  
     
     
         10 . The basket of  claim 9 , wherein the lock tab has a portion that is wider than the slot.  
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a basket, comprising the steps of: 
 providing one or more sheets of bendable material, each sheet having a first. edge and a second edge, wherein each edge is configured with an engagement structure such that the first edge can be engaged with the second edge;    engaging the first edge with the second edge to define a closed generally cylindrical side wall;    providing a bottom frame, the bottom frame configured to engage the one or more sheets of bendable material and provide a bottom for the basket; and    attaching the one or more sheets of bendable material to the bottom frame.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of providing an upper ring and attaching the upper ring to the one or more sheets of bendable material.