Collapsible covered storage container

Abstract

A collapsible storage container having a body of flexible material, a top frame defining an opening to the body's interior, and a top cover of flexible material, suitable for use in confined spaces and for stacking. A removable support panel of rigid material can be inserted into the body interior. A support bar made of rigid material can be attached to the interior of the top frame such that a portion of each of the lateral plates of the support panel is secured between the support bar and the sides of the storage container body. Preferably, a grip is attached to a top seam of the container to facilitate moving the storage container.

1 . A storage container comprising:
 a. a body of flexible material comprising a plurality of members attached to define an interior, said members including:
 i. a base, 
 ii. two lateral sides, 
 iii. a front side, 
 iv. a back side, 
 V. a top seam, 
 vi. two end seams, and 
 vii. a top frame; 
   b. a cover attached to the body; and   c. a support panel.   
   
   
       2 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the lateral front end and the lateral back end is formed in whole or in part of flexible see-through material. 
   
   
       3 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the top frame comprises a face of flexible material having a front transverse and two side transverses defining an opening to the body. 
   
   
       4 . The storage container of  claim 3  wherein the face further comprises a back transverse. 
   
   
       5 . The storage container of  claim 3  wherein the face further comprises one or more lining pieces of rigid or semi-rigid material. 
   
   
       6 . The storage container of  claim 5  wherein the one or more lining pieces are covered with flexible material. 
   
   
       7 . The storage container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one grip seam, each of said grip seams being attached to a side of the top seam of the storage container body. 
   
   
       8 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a flap of flexible material having a front edge and a back edge, and an attachment piece connected to the back edge of the flap, wherein the attachment piece is attached to the back side of the top edge of the body, and wherein the flap partially overlaps the top frame opening to the storage container interior. 
   
   
       9 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the support panel comprises a base plate of rigid material and two lateral plates of rigid material located at opposing edges of the base plate, wherein the lateral plates are connected to the base plate by joints allowing the lateral plates to be pivotally positioned at any planar angle with the base plate, and wherein the support panel can be inserted to fit snuggly in the interior of the body of the storage container, and wherein lowering the lateral plates to the base plate allows the storage container to be collapsed. 
   
   
       10 . The storage container of  claim 9  wherein the base plate portion of the support panel is permanently affixed to the base of the interior of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       11 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the support panel comprises a base plate of rigid material, two lateral plates of rigid material located at opposing side edges of the base plate and at least one end plate of rigid material located at opposing end edges of the base plate; wherein the base plate, the lateral plates and the at least one end plate are connected to the base plate by joints connecting the lateral plates and the end plates to the base plate and allowing the lateral plates and the end plates to be pivotally positioned at any angle with the base plate; wherein the support panel can be inserted to fit snuggly in the interior of the body of the storage container; and wherein lowering the lateral plates and end plates to the base plate allows the storage container to be collapsed. 
   
   
       12 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the support panel comprises two lateral plates of rigid material permanently attached at opposing top edges of the top frame; wherein the lateral plates can be pivotally positioned at any angle with the top frame; and wherein raising the lateral plates to the top face allows the storage container to be collapsed. 
   
   
       13 . The storage container of  claim 9  further comprising one or more stays, wherein said stays removably secure the lateral plates of the support panel to the sides of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       14 . The storage container of  claim 13  wherein the stays are elastic bands diagonally attached to the interior of the lateral sides of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       15 . The storage container of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener, wherein said fastener detachably connects the cover to the top frame. 
   
   
       16 . The storage container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one support bar of rigid material attached to the interior of the top frame so that a portion of each of the lateral plates of the support panel is receivable in a space between the distal ends of the support bar and the lateral sides of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       17 . The storage container of  claim 1  further comprising two support bars of rigid material latitudinally attached to the interior of the top frame. 
   
   
       18 . The storage container of  claim 3  further comprising two support bars of rigid material latitudinally attached to the interior of the top frame along the side transverses so that a portion of each of the lateral plates of the support panel is receivable in a space between the lengths of the support bars and the lateral sides of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       19 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a tab in a position to facilitate pulling and lowering the cover from and to the top frame of the body of the storage container. 
   
   
       20 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the storage container has a trapezoidal cross-section. 
   
   
       21 . A storage container comprising:
 a. a body comprising a plurality of members attached to define an interior, said members including:
 i. a base and two lateral sides formed from one unitary piece of flexible material, wherein the width of the base between the two lateral sides is equal to or greater than the height of the lateral sides, 
 ii. a front side formed of flexible see-through material, 
 iii. a back side formed of flexible material, 
 iv. a top seam, 
 v. two end seams, and 
 vi. a top frame further comprising a face of flexible material having a front transverse, a back transverse and two side transverses defining an opening to the body, and a lining piece of semi-rigid material attached to the interior of the face, wherein two support bars of rigid material are attached to the backing of the top frame so that a portion of each of the lateral plates of the support panel is receivable in a space between the distal ends of the support bar and the lateral sides of the body of the storage container; 
   b. a grip seam attached to the back side of the top seam of the storage container body;   c. a cover of flexible see-through material attached to the body and partially overlapping the top frame opening to the body; and   d. a support panel comprising a base plate of rigid material and two lateral plates of rigid material located at opposing sides of the base plate, the base plate and the lateral plates disposed in a flexible material connecting the lateral plates to the base plate and forming flexible joints allowing the lateral plates to be pivotally positioned at any planar angle with the base plate, and wherein the support panel can be inserted to fit snuggly in the interior of the body of the storage container, and wherein lowering the lateral plates and end plates to the base plate allows the storage container to be collapsed.   
   
   
       22 . A storage container comprising:
 a. a body of flexible material comprising a plurality of members attached to define an interior, said members including:
 i. a base, 
 ii. two lateral sides, 
 iii. a front side, 
 iv. a back side, and 
 v. a top frame; 
   b. a cover attached to the body; and   c. a support panel.