Nestable schoolbox with soft shell

Abstract

A storage product comprises a rigid storage body and at least one flexible covering surface, wherein the rigid storage body is capable of being nestably stacked in a volume-efficient manner with another rigid storage body. The nestability of the rigid storage body provides advantages to retailers and distributors by increasing the storage product packing density both on the retail shelves and in shipping containers. The flexible covering surface can seal open areas of the rigid storage body and can also provide a means to efficiently impart aesthetic designs to the storage product.

1 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a rigid storage frame, the rigid storage frame comprising 
 (i) a base; and,  
 (ii) a plurality of sidewalls projecting upwardly from the base; and,  
   (b) a first flexible covering surface attached to the rigid storage frame;    wherein:    (c) the base further comprises a plurality of base elements which define a plurality of open regions; and,    (d) the first flexible covering surface covers the plurality of open regions.    
   
   
       2 . The storage product of  claim 1 , wherein each of the sidewalls is outwardly-sloped.  
   
   
       3 . The storage product of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (a) a second flexible covering surface attached to the rigid storage frame;    wherein:    (b) the upper edge of the sidewalls defines a top open surface; and    (c) the second flexible covering surface covers the top open surface.    
   
   
       4 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a rigid storage body; and    (b) a flexible covering surface attached to the rigid storage body;    wherein the rigid storage body is capable of being nestably stacked in a volume-efficient manner.    
   
   
       5 . The storage product of  claim 4 , wherein the rigid storage body comprises a rigid storage frame, the rigid storage frame further comprising: 
 (a) a base; and    (b) at least one outwardly-sloped sidewall projecting upwardly from the base.    
   
   
       6 . The storage product of  claim 5 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of base elements which define a plurality of open regions.  
   
   
       7 . The storage product of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid storage frame further comprises a plurality of catches disposed on the at least one outwardly-sloped sidewall.  
   
   
       8 . The storage product of  claim 5 , wherein the rigid storage frame includes four outwardly-sloped sidewalls and further comprises a plurality of catches, at least one of which is provided on a corner of the rigid storage frame.  
   
   
       9 . The storage product of  claim 4 , wherein the rigid storage body comprises a first rigid storage frame and a second rigid storage frame, wherein the first rigid storage frame and the second rigid storage frame are hingedly attached.  
   
   
       10 . The storage product of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible covering surface comprises a means for attaching the flexible covering surface to the rigid storage body.  
   
   
       11 . The storage product of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible covering surface comprises a wrap which defines a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       12 . The storage product of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible covering surface further comprises: 
 (a) a wrap; and    (b) a plurality of loops disposed on the wrap.    
   
   
       13 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a rigid storage body, the rigid storage body comprising at least one rigid storage frame, the rigid storage frame further comprising: 
 (i) a base; and  
 (ii) at least one outwardly-sloped sidewall projecting upwardly from the base; and  
   (b) a flexible covering surface attached to the rigid storage frame.    
   
   
       14 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid storage body is capable of being nestably stacked in a volume-efficient manner.  
   
   
       15 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of base elements which define a plurality of open regions.  
   
   
       16 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein rigid storage frame further comprises a means for attaching the flexible covering surface to the rigid storage frame.  
   
   
       17 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid storage frame further comprises a plurality of catches disposed on the at least one outwardly-sloped sidewall.  
   
   
       18 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible covering surface further comprises means for attaching the flexible covering surface to the rigid storage frame.  
   
   
       19 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible covering surface further comprises a wrap which defines a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       20 . The storage product of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible covering surface further comprises: 
 (a) a wrap; and    (b) a plurality of loops disposed on the wrap.    
   
   
       21 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a rigid storage frame, the rigid storage frame comprising 
 (i) a base;  
 (ii) a plurality of outwardly-sloped sidewalls projecting upwardly from the base; and  
 (iii) a plurality of catches disposed on the outwardly-sloped sidewalls; and  
   (b) a wrap attached to the rigid storage frame;    wherein:    (c) the upper edge of the outwardly-sloped sidewalls defines an open surface; and    (d) the wrap covers the open surface.    
   
   
       22 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a first rigid storage frame, the first rigid storage frame comprising 
 (i) a base;  
 (ii) a plurality of outwardly-sloped sidewalls projecting upwardly from the base; and  
 (iii) a plurality of catches disposed on the outwardly-sloped sidewalls;  
   (b) a first wrap attached to the first rigid storage frame;    (c) a second rigid storage frame, the second rigid storage frame comprising 
 (i) a base;  
 (ii) a plurality of outwardly-sloped sidewalls projecting upwardly from the base; and  
 (iii) a plurality of catches disposed on the outwardly-sloped sidewalls; and  
   (d) a second wrap attached to the second rigid storage frame;    wherein the first rigid storage frame and the second rigid storage frame are hingedly attached.    
   
   
       23 . A storage product comprising: 
 (a) a rigid storage frame, the rigid storage frame comprising 
 (i) a base;  
 (ii) a plurality of outwardly-sloped sidewalls projecting upwardly from the base; and,  
 (iii) a hinge element disposed on an outwardly-sloped sidewall;  
   wherein:    (b) the hinge element is capable of being releasably attached to another hinge element of a different storage product.    
   
   
       24 . The storage product of  claim 23 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of base elements which define a plurality of open regions.