US Patent 8100280 Collapsible laundry hamper

A collapsible laundry hamper comprising a collapsible frame and a panel member removably attached to the frame to enclose and define the hamper. The frame includes a top frame member, a bottom frame member, and a set of elongate upright frame members disposed therebetween. Each of the upright frame members comprises at least two sub-members. The members are biased into engagement with each other via a biasing member. The biasing member maintains the frame members in a rigid frame position. The members are capable of being pulled apart against the biased engagement provided by the biasing member and articulated to allow the frame to be placed into a collapsed position. When either one of the top frame member and the bottom frame member is pulled away from the other in the collapsed position, the frame is urged to return to the rigid frame position under the influence of the biasing members.