Patent US3679280A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3679280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closet for storage of clothing and the like
Assignee: PLASTRA SA
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Filing: 1970-06-26
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible closet comprises a bottom element and a top element, both rigid and similar in shape and size and joined together by a central post and by a flexible peripheral wall stretched over a major portion of the periphery of the closet between grip devices on the top and bottom elements. The peripheral wall has a flexible unconnected free end able to close a front opening of the closet or be fastened to the top and bottom elements at the edge of the opening so as to preserve the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Friederich
- 👤 Etienne Cramazou
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:55
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B43/00; A47B43/04; A47B47/00; A47B47/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A closet for clothes, said closet comprising top and bottom rigid elements, a central post connected with the top and bottom elements to form an assembly therewith, a flexible peripheral wall having upper and lower ends connected over a major portion of the length thereof to said top and bottom elements so as to be fixed therewith and leaving unconnected minor portions to define a free end which is movable between open and closed positions, means at said upper and lower ends of the flexible peripheral wall for detachably securing the wall to said top and bottom elements in the open and closed position, bracket means, said central post having means supporting said bracket means therefrom, and shelf means supported on said bracket means and extending from said central post within the confines of said peripheral wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A closet for clothes, said closet comprising top and bottom rigid elements, a central post connected with the top and bottom elements to form an assembly therewith, a flexible peripheral wall having upper and lower ends connected over a major portion of the length thereof to said top and bottom elements so as to be fixed therewith and leaving unconnected minor portions to define a free end which is movable between open and closed positions, means at said upper and lower ends of the flexible peripheral wall for detachably securing the wall to said top and bottom elements in the open and closed position, bracket means, said central post having means supporting said bracket means therefrom, and shelf means supported on said bracket means and extending from said central post within the confines of said peripheral wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1 comprising grip means between said top and bottom elements and said major portion of the wall to hold the wall taut between said elements, said grip means comprising a U-shaped section on said top and bottom elements and an interengaging element on said upper and lower ends of the wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1 comprising means connecting the top and bottom elements to said central post including a resilient element between the top element and the post urging the top element away from the bottom element to stretch the peripheral wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means at the upper and lower ends of the peripheral wall for detachably securing the wall to the top and bottom elements comprises elements fixed to said wall at said ends and cooperating attachment members on said top and bottom elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 4, wherein said elements fixed to the wall comprise resilient elements containing magnetic pieces, said attachment members being fixed magnetic elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom elements include dividing partitions with recesses therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means on the central post supporting the bracket means includes two pairs of axial grooves of different length in the post at diametrically opposed locations at different levels, said bracket means comprising brackets mountable in pairs in grooves of different size, one in each pair, in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of said post at each level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 7, wherein each said bracket has a notch which forms spaced tongues adapted for engaging grooves of different size, one in each pair.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 8, wherein each bracket has a free end with an upper edge having a notch therein to provide a shoulder at said free end, said shelf means comprising a shelf having a socket for receiving the shoulder of the bracket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 9, wherein said shelf comprises four ribs connected in pairs and defining a passageway between the rib pairs for entry of a bracket with little clearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 10, wherein said shelf has a plane of symmetry and said passageway is offset from said plane of symmetry so as to be mountable on either of the pair of brackets at each level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said interengaging elements on said wall comprise channel members interengageable with said U-shaped sections of the grip means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A clothes cloSet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bottom element includes integral feet thereon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top and bottom elements are substantially identical and have recesses for selective engagement of feet therein when serving as bottom elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
A closet for clothes, said closet comprising top and bottom rigid elements, central post means connected with the top and bottom elements to form an assembly therewith, a flexible peripheral wall having upper and lower ends connected over a major portion of the length thereof to said top and bottom elements so as to be fixed therewith and leaving unconnected minor portions to define a free end which is movable between open and closed positions, and means at said upper and lower ends of the flexible peripheral wall for detachably securing the wall to said top and bottom elements in the open and closed position, said top and bottom elements respectively comprising first and second members with outer portions joined together and a central tube securing the first and second members at the centers thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
A closet for clothes, said closet comprising top and bottom rigid elements, central post means connected with the top and bottom elements to form an assembly therewith, a flexible peripheral wall having upper and lower ends connected over a major portion of the length thereof to said top and bottom elements so as to be fixed therewith and leaving unconnected minor portions to define a free end which is movable between open and closed positions, and means at said upper and lower ends of the flexible peripheral wall for detachably securing the wall to said top and bottom elements in the open and closed position, said top and bottom elements respectively comprising first and second members with outer portions joined together and a central tube securing the first and second members at the centers thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first member has a curved peripheral portion so as to be hollow and of dish shape, and said second member is accommodated in said first member, said central tube extending approximately the height of said second member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 16, wherein said central post means comprises a plurality of axially assemblable telescopic sections, said sections having reduced ends for interfitting in one another and in said tubes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 15, wherein said first member is external and said second member is internal, each internal member having a peripheral rib with a portion of generally rectangular outline to secure the first and second members together at the outer portions thereof and feet on said external member of the bottom element received within the rectangular outline of the ribs, said internal member having outer edges resting on the external member on the curved peripheral portion thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 15, wherein said central tube has a lengthwise slot proximate said top element and a stretching key turnably insertable in said slot to raise the top element on said post and stretch said wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 19, wherein said key has an outer surface of rounded shape with increasing radii resting on the post at the lower end of the slot so that as the key is inserted into the post the top element is gradually raised.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 15, wherein said central tube is provided with pairs of axially spaced holes in diametric opposition, and comprising brackets with spaced ends engageable in respective pairs of holes such that pairs of brackets can be mounted on the post to extend in the same plane in opposite direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 21, wherein each said bracket is constituted as a rod with upper and lower arms each with an inner end adapted for engaging one hole in each pair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 22, wherein the upper arm of each bracket includes a lug thereon engageable in the upper hole in a pair and the lower arm includes a flat portion extending at right angles to said lug for engaging the other hole of the pair, said flat portion having shoulders for abutment with the post at the outer periphery thereof, and further comprising shelves mountable on respective brackets, each shelf having a median groove of rectangular section for receiving the upper arm of a corresponding bracket, tapered ribs extending transversely of said groove, and a post engaging portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
71 words
A clothes closet as claimed in claim 23, wherein said post engaging portion of each shelf has a notch to permit the shelf to peripherally engage the post over substantially one-half of the peripheral extent thereof, each shelf including a peripheral stiffening rib, said nOtch extending into said rib, said tapered ribs being of triangular section and having a height at said median groove to receive both arms of a bracket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |