Origami-based collapsible and watertight cases

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267613-B2
Application number	US-201916967094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Feb 2, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A foldable, waterproof case includes a first wall and a second wall coupled to the first wall. The first and second walls at least partially define a cavity within the case. A lid is coupled to the second wall and is configured to selectively cover the cavity. A hinge is disposed between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall is rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case. In the first position, the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume that is less than the first volume. The hinge provides a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity; and
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position,
wherein the first wall includes a first panel, a second panel, and a hinge disposed between the first and second panels, the first panel rotatable relative to the second panel between the first position and the second position of the case, and
wherein the first panel and the second panel fold outwardly, away from the cavity in the second position of the case.

2. The case of claim 1 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are each made from metal.

3. The case of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes one of a barrel and a pin, and the second wall includes the other of the barrel and the pin, the pin removably received within the barrel to couple the lid to the second wall, wherein the pin is pivotable within the barrel.

4. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity; and
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position,
wherein the first wall includes a first channel and the second wall includes a second channel, and wherein the hinge is a flexible membrane and is received within the first channel and the second channel.

5. The case of claim 4 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are each made from metal.

6. The case of claim 4 , wherein the lid includes one of a barrel and a pin, and the second wall includes the other of the barrel and the pin, the pin removably received within the barrel to couple the lid to the second wall, wherein the pin is pivotable within the barrel.

7. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity;
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position; and
a base coupled to the first wall and the second wall and disposed opposite the lid, the base including one of a recess and a projection and the lid including the other of the recess and the projection, the recess and the projection having a complementary shape, wherein the recess configured to receive a projection on a second lid having substantially the same shape as the projection on the lid.

8. The case of claim 7 , wherein the lid includes one of a barrel and a pin, and the second wall includes the other of the barrel and the pin, the pin removably received within the barrel to couple the lid to the second wall, wherein the pin is pivotable within the barrel.

9. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity; and
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position,
wherein the first wall is a first side of the case and the second wall is a first end, the case further comprising,
a third wall opposite the first wall and coupled to the second wall;
a fourth wall opposite the second wall and coupled to the first wall and the third wall;
a base coupled to the first, second, third, and fourth walls;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth walls, and the base are moveable relative to one another between the first position and the second position, and wherein water is prevented from entering or exiting the cavity when the lid is coupled to the first end in the first position.

10. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity;
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position; and
a base positioned opposite the lid and including one of a pivoting member and a projection, and the second wall including the other of the pivoting member and the projection, wherein the pivoting member is moveable between a locked position and a release position, the pivoting member engaging the projection in the locked position and creating a waterproof seal between the base and the second wall, and the pivoting member disengaging the projection in the unlocked position and allowing the base to move relative to the second wall.

11. A foldable, waterproof case comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall coupled to the first wall and at least partially defining a cavity within the case;
a lid coupled to the second wall and configured to selectively cover the cavity;
a hinge disposed between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall rotatable relative to the second wall between a first, expanded position of the case and a second, collapsed position of the case, wherein in the first position the cavity includes a first volume and in the second position, the cavity includes a second volume less than the first volume, the hinge providing a waterproof connection between the first and second walls in the first position and in the second position; and
a base coupled to the first wall and the second wall and disposed opposite the lid, wherein a latch is configured to mechanically secure the lid relative t

Assignees

• Jiang Hanqing
• Zhai Zirui
• Univ Arizona State

Inventors

• Jiang Hanqing
• Zhai Zirui

Classifications

• B65D5/3628 Primary

  collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body · CPC title

• B65D43/0202

  without integral tamper element · CPC title

• B65D21/086 Primary

  Collapsible or telescopic containers (B65D1/0292 and B65D21/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D25/2802

  fixed, i.e. non-swingable, handles (B65D25/2867, B65D25/2882 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65D1/225

  Collapsible boxes · CPC title