Shape-maintaining storage container

Abstract

A shape-maintaining storage container includes a flexible, yet rigid frame, a plurality of panels defining a storage compartment, and a zipper track disposed on one or more of the plurality of panels. The plurality of panels include an interior surface and an exterior surface for which the coefficient of friction for an object and the interior surface is less than coefficient of friction for the object and the exterior surface. The frame spring force that is sufficient to maintain the shape of the shape-maintaining storage container when the zipper track is not engaged.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A storage container comprising:
 a main panel defining a first side, a second side, and a third side of the storage container;   a flexible frame bordering at least a portion of a perimeter of the main panel;   a bottom panel defining at least a fourth side of the storage container, wherein the bottom panel is connected to the main panel;   a top panel defining at least a fifth side of the storage container;   a zipper track connected to the top panel and the main panel, wherein the zipper track releasably engages the top panel with the main panel;   wherein each of the main panel and the bottom panel comprise an interior surface and an exterior surface of the storage container; and   wherein the frame maintains a substantially similar shape of the storage container both when the zipper track is engaged and when the zipper track is disengaged.   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially similar shape is substantially a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising piping disposed about the perimeter of the main panel, wherein at least a portion of the piping is connected to at least a portion of the zipper track, and wherein the frame is disposed within the piping. 
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 3 , wherein the frame includes polyethylene and has a density of approximately 0.925 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         5 . The storage container of  claim 3 , wherein the piping includes a plastic tubing. 
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a unitary component. 
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of at least one of the main panel, the bottom panel, and the top panel includes siliconized nylon. 
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of at least one of the main panel, the bottom panel, and the top panel includes a coating, the coating selected from: polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and thermoplastic rubber (TPR). 
     
     
         9 . The storage container of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the zipper track extends along the sixth side of the storage container a distance of approximately one-fourth the height of the sixth side. 
     
     
         10 . The storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel and the top panel are joined proximate a sixth side of the storage container. 
     
     
         11 . The storage container of  claim 10 , wherein the main panel includes a first end at least partially defining the first side, a second end defining the second side, and a central portion defining the third side. 
     
     
         12 . The storage container of  claim 11 , wherein the frame displays a bias force that biases the first end away from the second end. 
     
     
         13 . The storage container of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel is connected to the first end and the second end, so as to produce a counter force that opposes the bias force. 
     
     
         14 . A storage system comprising:
 a plurality of storage containers, each of the plurality of storage containers having:
 a main panel defining a first side, a second side, and a third side of the storage container; 
 a flexible frame bordering a perimeter of the main panel; 
 a bottom panel defining at least a fourth side of the storage container, wherein the bottom panel is connected to the main panel; 
 a top panel defining at least a fifth side of the storage container; 
 a zipper track connected to the top panel and the main panel, wherein the zipper track releasably engages the top panel with the main panel; 
 wherein an exterior surface of at least one of the main panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel has a friction such that, when the plurality of storage container are stacked, each of the plurality of storage containers displays a resistance to sliding. 
   
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible frame has a spring force, the spring force causing the flexible frame to maintain a substantially similar shape both when the zipper track of the storage container is engaged and when the zipper track is disengaged. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein a combination of the plurality of storage containers is configured to fit securably within a luggage item. 
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of storage containers includes at least a first storage container, a second storage container, and a third storage container. 
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the storage compartment of the second storage container is approximately twice the volume of the storage compartment of the first storage container, and wherein storage compartment of the third storage container is approximately twice the volume of the storage compartment of the second storage container. 
     
     
         19 . The storage system of  claim 18 , wherein a first panel of the first storage container includes a first width and a first length, a second panel of the second storage container includes a second width and a second length, and a third panel of the third storage container includes a third width and a third length, wherein the width of the first panel, second panel and third panel is the same, and wherein the length of the second panel is approximately 60 percent larger than the length of the first panel and the length of the third panel is approximately 100 percent larger than the length of the first panel. 
     
     
         20 . The storage system of  claim 14 , wherein a combination of the plurality of storage containers is configured to fit securably within a luggage item.