Connector for hanging collapsible shelves

Abstract

A method and apparatus for joining collapsible containers is provided. The containers have flexible walls joining stiff top and bottom panels with optional intervening compartments in which each compartment typically has a floor panel. At least one hole through the center of the top and bottom panels is aligned and a connector passed through the aligned holes to connect the panels of two different containers together so the lower container hangs from the upper container along the longitudinal axis. A hanger, usually with a hook, passes through the hole in the top panel so the connected containers can be hung from a closet pole.

1 . A collapsible container assembly, comprising:
 a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel; and   a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel, the bottom panel defining a bottom panel perimeter, the bottom panel having a first centrally located hole therethrough;   first flexible walls connecting the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters, the walls defining at least one opening to an interior space defined by the first walls and first panels.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second stiff top panel defining a second top panel perimeter, the second top panel having a second centrally located hole therethrough located to align with the first hole in the first bottom panel;   a releasable connector passing through the aligned first and second holes to releasably fasten the first bottom panel to the first top panel;   a second stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the second top panel, the second bottom panel defining a second bottom panel perimeter; and   second flexible walls connecting the second top and second bottom panels adjacent the second panel perimeters, the second walls forming at least one opening to an interior space defined by the second walls and second panels.   
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one intermediate panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the first top panel and the first bottom panel and having an intermediate panel perimeter connected to the walls.   
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a hook extending through the first hole in the first top panel, the hook configured to hang onto a closet pole. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a liner on at least one of the first and second holes. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a male fastener having a head too large to fit through one of the first hole in the first bottom panel or the second hole in the second top panel, and further comprising a female fastener configured to releasably engage the male fastener and having a head too large to fit through one of the first hole in the first bottom panel or the second hole in the second top pane. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a liner on each of the aligned holes. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the liner comprises a grommet. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a second set of aligned holes in the first bottom panel and the second top panel with a second releasable connector passing through the second set of aligned holes and fastening the first bottom panel to the second top panel. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a hook extending through the first hole in the first top panel, the hook configured to hang onto a closet pole, and further comprising a liner on the aligned holes. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible container assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of collapsible containers each having a stiff top panel and a stiff bottom panel joined by flexible sides having an opening therein to allow access to a space defined by the top and bottom panels and the sides, each top and bottom panel having a centrally located hole therethrough;   a releasable connector extending through the hole through the bottom panel of one container and the hole through the top panel of another container to connect those bottom and top panels and to connect the containers associated with those connected bottom and top panels, so that the plurality of containers are connected by releasable connectors.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a hook passing through the hole in an unconnected top panel, the hook configured to hang over a closet pole. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the releasable connector comprises a male and female fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the releasable connector allows relative rotation of the first and second containers about the releasable connector. 
     
     
         15 . A kit for a collapsible container, comprising:
 a first collapsible container, comprising:
 a first stiff top panel defining a top panel perimeter and having a first centrally located hole through the top panel; 
 a first stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom panel, the bottom panel defining a bottom panel perimeter, the bottom panel having a first centrally located hole therethrough; 
 first flexible walls connecting the top and bottom panels adjacent the panel perimeters, the walls defining at least one opening to an interior space defined by the walls and panels; 
   a releasable fastener configured to extend through the first hole in the bottom panel to fasten two adjacent panels together; and   a hanger configured to pass through the first hole and having a hook portion configured to engage a closet pole.   
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 15 , wherein the releasable fastener comprise a male fastener with a male head and a threaded shank and a female fastener having female head and a tubular portion with a recess configured to engage the shank, the tubular portion fitting through first hole in the bottom panel with the heads configured so they do not fit through the first hole. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a liner on at least one of the first and second holes. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 15 , further comprising a second collapsible container which comprises:
 a second stiff top panel defining a second top panel perimeter, the second top panel having a second centrally located hole therethrough located to align with the first hole in the first bottom panel;   a second stiff bottom panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the second top panel, the second bottom panel defining a second bottom panel perimeter; and   second flexible walls connecting the second top and second bottom panels adjacent the second panel perimeters, the second walls forming at least one opening to an interior space defined by the second walls and second panels.   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second collapsible containers comprises:
 at least one intermediate panel axially aligned with and disposed in spaced relation to the top panel and the bottom panel of the at least one collapsible container and further having an intermediate panel perimeter connected to the walls of the at least one collapsible container.