'US007938291B2 2) United States Patent (io) Patent No: US 7,938,291 B2 Christensen 4s) Date of Patent: May 10, 2011 (54) FOLDABLE WATER TANK WITH Ladeas7 A + 21925 Volters a Usaneas A | 41095 Day PIII A + 2198) Wallace eta aps (73) Inveator: Jan Cheistensen, Rock Island, IE. (US) Soonsat A | 1971 Sum ea Nslozl At S1975 Schmidt 16.366 (73) Assignee: “Eldred Corporation, Milan, IL (US) 4356595 8 * 11982 Heiinger ea 16251 4356933 111982 Connolly (*) Notice: Suijct to any disclaimer, the term of this 4610907 A VIET Tay patent is extended ot adjusted under 35 Suasess + T1996 Wang’ Ioan USC. 15440) by 697 days simon A$ How Wing Soot Shwe A+ Lig98 Cheng ‘esto Q No. Sgoneso 8" 3900 We GI) Anpl. Nos 1UTI 6664 emesis Ais 82001 Micha 2094 (22) Filed: Mar 12,2007 Sommers BS Cinsenscs a (65) Prior Publication Data Gao earls S 20080228863 A1 Sep. 18, 2008 Primary Examiner — Anthony Stashiek Assistant Examiner — Robert I Vicks 6) Inc. (74) Attornes, Agent, or Firm —Shlesinger, Arkwright & BOSD w18 (2006.01) Garvey LLP us. cl. 2201666; 2004.28 Fleld of Classification Search 2anais, (57) ABSTRACT 220/612, 434,433, 93.9.2.9.1, 23.86, A foldable water tank includes foldable receptacle having a 220/666, 495.06, 16, 4.01, 413, 495.01, bottom wall and vertical sidewalls: anda folding frame wo ‘220POR. 122, FOR. 120, FOR. 115, FOR. 112; support the sidewalls in an upright position. The fame has 206/600, 386, 4/587, 586, 585, 584; 16/386, first, secon, third and fourth upper rails joined end-to-enl 16/364, 362, 361,287, 250, 251, 319, 346, The frame has a folded postion wherein the upper rails are T6I348, 349, 352, 365, 387 adjacent to eachother. First hinges disposedat end portions of ‘See application ile for complete sear history. ‘uid upper rails pivotably connect the upper rails. The second . ‘nd fours rails each includes frst and second sections having 36) References Cited ‘adjacent end portions. Second hinges connect the fend portions to allow the second and fourth rails to Told U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS inssardly to be disposed berseen the frst and third rails inthe 314752. A * SI885.Throskmoron 44s8T folded postion. The second hinges each includes shield to seas A > 71907 Tynes 32092 cover the adjacent end portions thereby to protect a user's a : ‘hand rom being pinched by the adjacent end portions ding DAS A915 Grosenbcck 22093 a A> Sole Bower 32303 unfolding or folding of the frame 2A 61919 Vols TsO A 121919 Philips 13 Claims, 7 Drawing SheetsUS 7,938,291 B2 Sheet 1 of 7 May 10, 2011 U.S, PatentU.S. Patent May 10, 2011 Sheet 2 of 7 US 7,938,291 B2 28 FIG. 3 28 x z 8. By 6 ) g a aq — a— 28.U.S. Patent May 10, 2011 Sheet 3 of 7 US 7,938,291 B2U.S. Patent May 10, 2011 Sheet 4 of 7 US 7,938,291 B2U.S, Patent May 10,2011 Sheet Sof 7U.S. Patent May 10, 2011 Sheet 6 of 7 US 7,938,291 B2U.S. Patent May 10, 2011 Sheet 7 of 7 US 7,938,291 B2 1 KU LyfUS 7,938,291 B2 1 FOLDABLE WATER TANK WITH SHIELDED HINGES, FIELD OF THE INVENTION “The preseat invention is dirccted generally toa foldable water tank and specifically o a fokdable water tank having & foldable frame that folds substantially Bat for storage and transport OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION Its an object ofthe present invention to provide folding water tank that folds substantially flat for storage and trans- Port while minimizing the risk of injury tothe user's hands ‘when unfokding or folding I is another object of the present invention fo provide a Jiolding water tank tht allows placement ofthe user's hand >, ‘over the hinges for maximum application of force during {olding and unfolding ofthe tank while minimizing the isk oF injury to the user's bunds. ‘In summary, the present invention provides a foldable ‘water tank, comprising foldable receptack having bottom wall and vertical sidewalls: and folding frame to support the sidewalls in an upeight position. The frame has frst, second, ‘hind and fourth upper rails joined end-to-end to form an ‘enclosure in an unfolded position, The frame has a folded Position wherein the upper mils are adjacent to each other First hinges disposed at end portions of said upper rails piv= ‘lably connect the upper rails to form the enclosure atthe unfolded postion. The first and second upper rails are oppo- site to each otber, and the second and fourth upper rails are ‘opposite to eachother. The second and fourth rails each Jnludes first and second seetions having adjacent end por- tions. Second hinges connect the adjacent end portions 10 ‘allow the second aad fourth rails to Told inwardly o be diss posed between the first and third rails inthe folded position. ‘Thesecond hinges each includes ashield cover the adjacent ‘end portions thereby to protect a user's hand from being Pinched by the adjacent end portions during unfolding or Toing ofthe frame. ‘These and other objects of the present invention will bocome apparent frm the following detailed deseription. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG. 1 isa perspective view of a foldable water tank made {in acoordanee with the present invention, FIG. 2is a perspective view of the frame of the foldable water tank of FIG. I shown without the receptacle for larity. TIG, 3 isa perspective view of the frame of FIG. 2, shown, parially folded IG. 4s an assembly view of a hinge used in the folding fame of FIG. 2 TIG, 8 i a perspective view ofthe hinge of FIG. 4, com= pletely assembled TIGS, 6-8 show various postions of the hinge of FIG, S during the folding ofthe frame of FIG. 2 FIGS, 9 and 10 are perspective views ofthe hinge of FIG. §, showing how the hand of a wser is shielded from the pinching motion ofthe ends of the frame atthe hinge during Tolding and unfolding of the tank. FIG. 11 isa perspective view of foldable water tank made in accordance with he present invention, shown in the folded position 0 o 2 FIG, 12s the foldable water tank of FIG. 11, shows fully unfolded position FIG. 134 is anenlarged perspective view ofa hinge show- ‘ng a altemative embodiment ofa hinge used in the present invention, FIG. 138 isa plan view of FIG. 13, with portions shown FIG. 144 is similar to FIG. 13A, showing the hinge in 3 parly unfolded position FIG. 14B isa plan view of FIG. 14, with portions shown IG. 15A ie similar to FIG. 13A, showing the binge is {ally unfolded position IG. 138 is' plan of FIG. 15, with portions shown ia cross-section the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A foldable water tank 2 made in accordance with the present invention is disclosed in FIG. 1. The tank 2 bas @ folding frame 4 and a flexible receptacle 6 mad from eon- ventional watertight material, The receptacle 6 has bottom ‘wall Sand vertical sidewalls 7 secured tothe frame 4 with 2 rope orsimiluaematerial threaded through openings along the upper edge portion ofthe receptacle 6 and spirally wound ‘round the upper rails of the frame. The frame 4 forms a tre-standing structreto provide supporto the sidewalls 7in the vertical position soas to keep the receptacle 6 in te open positon ready torecsive ater. Thetank 2 isshown filled with ‘Water to aleve below the openings 10, "The frame dis preferably 4-sded, The framed basa pairof ‘opposite sides 12 and another pair of opposite sides M4. Fach side 12 includes an upper rail 16, a bottom rail 18 and a plurality of vertical posts 20 joining the bottom ral to the respoctive upper rl Each ofthe sides Id includes a pair of ‘upper rls 22nd apairof bottom els 24.A plurality of posts 26 join the bottom rails to the respective upper rails. The frame 4 is preferably made from tubular members of any cross-sectional shape, such as square (see FIG. 3) or circular (Gee FIG. 11). The sides 12 are attaches tothe coresponding Sides 1d with hinges 28 secured tothe respective comers of the adjacent sides. Fach ofthe sides 14 js made of two sec- tions attached to eachother with hinges 30and 32. Thehinges 28, 30 and 32 advantageously allow the frame 4 to be folded into a compact, substantially Nat configuration, where the ‘upper and bottom rails of the sides 12 and 14 ate parallel t0 cach other, FIG, 3 shows the Trame 4 in a partially folded positon (the receptacle 6 s not shown for clarity bt shoo be understood thatthe receptacle remains attached 10 the frame as the frame is folded). The hinges advantageously allow the inward rotation of the sections 22 toward the respec: tive sides 12 such thatthe tank 2 may be folded into a com- pact, substantially Mat shape. The hinges advantageously Allow rotation ofthe sides to accomplish he folding feature of the tank 2 "The hinges 32 are the same asthe hinges 28. The hinges 30, ‘each includes a U-shaped shield 34 to protect the usee’s hand in folding or unfolding the frame 4, as will be discussed below. The hinge 30 includes members 36 and 38 attached to respective upper rails 22 and pivotably joined together with a bolt 40 anda nut 42 received in openings 44 in the respective members 36 anc 38, The bolt 0 functions as the pivot pin for the hinge. The shield 34 is attached tothe bok 40 in a sliding ‘manner along slots 46. The shield 34 is advantageously shaped to enclose the ends 48 of the upper mils 22. The shield 34 slides into or away from the bol 40 along the slotsUS 7,938,291 B2 3 46,98 shovin in FIGS, 6, 7 and 8, The sliding motion ofthe shield 34 allows the pivoting of the upper rails 22 about the bolt 40 without exposing the user’s hand to possible pinching by the ends 48 when unfolding the frame 4. As shown in FIGS. Sand 10, the frame 4isunfolded by grabbing the shield ‘Mand pulling on thesheldto open the side 14s thatthe rails 22 willlineup, as best shown in FIG. 2. Without the shield 34, the ends 48 could pinch the user's hand or fingers, With the shield 34, the user's hand is advantageously protected from the possible pinching injury. Furthermore, the provision of the shield 34 advantageously provides a place where the user ‘ean suely gra the frame to exer a force to unfold or fold the tank 2 and have the force directed at the axis of rotation Joeated about bolt 40 where itis most efficient To fol he frame, the shield 4 is prabhed by the wserand pulled towards the center of the frame, rotating the sides 14 relative tothe side 12 about the respective hinges, as best shown in FIG. 3. Whe flly folded, the upper and bottom rl ofthe sides willbe substantially parle! to each other. "The hinges 28 and 32 are the same asthe hinges 30 except forthe inekasion of the shield 34 in the hinge 30 Referring to FIG. 14 the foldable water tank 2 is shown in the folded position including the frame 4 and the receptacle 6. The tank 2 of FIG. 11 uses an altemative embodiment of 3 shield 50 disposed aver each ofthe upper hinges 30. The tank 2 oF FIG. 11s showa flly unfolded in FIG. 12 ‘he shield 80 is substantially Usaped, witha base wall 52 ‘anda pair of opposing side walls $4 joined athe base wall 82 ‘The sce walls 84 are joined a their distal edge portions by 3 ‘connecting member 56 disposed eentaly from one distal ‘edge tothe opposite distal edge. Themember S6acts 28. stp when the frame is in the folded position $8. The member 56 furor provides reinforcement to the opposing walls 54 0 prevent an undue clamping aetion on the enclosed upper rail ‘end portions of 48 when thebol 0 is ightened during assem bly. ‘While this invention has been described as having pre= fered design, itis understood that itis capable of furhee modification, uses and/or adaptations following in general the principle ofthe invention and including such departures rom the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice inthe at to which the invention pertains, and as may beapplicdto the essential features set forth, and fall within the scope ofthe invention othe limits ofthe appended clits Tela 1. foldable water tank, comprising: 8) foldable receptacle having a bottom wall a vertical sidewalls; ya folding frame to suppor said sidewalls in an upright position; ©) said frame having first, second, third and fours upper rails joined end-to-end to form an enclosure in an ‘unfolded position, said frame having a folded position ‘wherein std upper rails are adjacent to each other, 0 4 4) frst hinges disposed at end portions of said upper rails pivotably connecting said upper tals to form said enclo- Sure at sail unfolded position; ©) sid fist and third upper rails are opposite to exch other, said second and fourth upper rails are opposite to each other: 1) said second and fourth rails each including frst and second sections having adjacent end portions 12)second hinges each connecting respective said adjacent ‘end portions to allow said second and fourth ails to fold nwa to be disposed between sid ist and third ails in sid folded postion: bh) a plurality of shields each operably associated with respective said second hinges to cover respective said ‘adjacent end portions thereby to protect a user’s hand from being psched by sid adjacent end portions during ‘unfolding oF folding of sad frames i) each of said second hinges including a pivot pin about ‘which each of said adjacent end portions is pivotable; and {) each of said shields is secured to each respective sid pivot pin 2A foldable water tank as in claim 1, whersin: ‘cach of sid shields includes a slot through whieh said pivot pin is disposed: and 'b) each of said shields is slidable over respective said second hinges through ssid slot. 3.A foldable water tank as in claim 1, wherein each of aid shields is U-shaped, 4. foldable water tank as inclaim 3, wherein each of said shields includes @ base wall and a pair of opposing walls joined at said base wall, ‘5. foldable water tank asin elaim 4, nd farther compris: nga member joining said pair of opposing wallsattheirdistal ccdge portions 6.A foldable water tanks in claim 4, wherein said pairof ‘opposing sie walls are rectangular 7A foldable water tank asin claim 8, wherein said distal ‘edge portions are curved 8A foldable water tank as in claim 1, wherein said upper nls ae tubular '9.A foldable water tank a in claim 8, wherein said upper nis are rectangular in cross-section, 10, foldable water tank as in elaim 8, wherein said upper rls are cylindrical in eros-secton. 11, A. foldable water tank 38 in claim 1, wherein: 4) Sai frame ineludes bottom rails; and ») poss joining said upper ras to said bottom rails 12, foldable water tank as ia claim 11, wherein said bottom rails are hingedly connected to one another. 13. A foldable water tank as in claim 1, wherein said sidewalls are attached to said upper els.