HO-033 Crossed-frame collapsible cloth hamper

Collect small dry household cloths in a removable bag and fold the empty frame for storage after unclipping the bag.

Original bounded component build. Dimensions describe this example, not an approved structural, occupied-building or universal fit design. Unbuilt / untested. US customary dimensions control.

Before cutting

• Read the whole assembly and inspect its receiving space before cutting. Measure actual sheet thickness; nominal lumber labels do not control these joints.
• Set aside straight, clean stock and allow it to acclimate. Keep fingers clear of blades, clamp work and use tool-appropriate eye/hearing protection.
• Dry-fit moving pieces before final fastening; stop if a proposed dimensional substitution changes clearances. Purchased hardware dimensions and hole patterns below must match the actual item.

Materials and actual cuts

Hardware and tools

• 8 x #8 x 1 1/2 in wood screw. Two through each rail into each leg end
• 8 x #6 x 3/4 in wood screw. Two per webbing cleat
• 4 x Smooth-jawed 2 in spring cloth clamp. Removable bag-hem attachment; no load capacity inferred
• 1 x Suitable sewing thread. Fabric-compatible thread and seams; no lifting-container certification

Tape, square, pencil; clamped saw setup appropriate to the material; drill/driver and depth stop; countersink for wood fasteners; files/sanding block; clamps. Specific additional tools are noted in the steps. Fabric shears, seam gauge, fabric-compatible needle/thread and an ordinary sewing machine or suitable hand-sewing method are also required.

Measured assembly reference

x=left/right, y=front/rear, z=up; origin is front-left underside unless stated

Retained segments with the same part/instance belong to one machined stock piece, not additional parts. Positions and sizes below are US inches; rotations are degrees.

Numbered assembly

1. Build the frame and its own removable sewn bag as ONE project. Use only light dry cloths; it is not seating, a step, a child crib or a rated lifting bag. Keep hands out of both X crossings while moving it.
2. Cut A and B two each 30 x 1 1/2 x 3/4 in from straight-grained hardwood. Mark local y across the 1 1/2 in width and z along 30 in length. Keep the mirrored end profiles distinct, not four identical square-ended legs.
3. Cut A ends to the four profile points(0, 1 1/8), (1 1/2, 0), (1 1/2, 28 7/8), (0, 30) in. Cut B to(0, 0), (1 1/2, 1 1/8), (1 1/2, 30), (0, 28 7/8) in. These miters put both ends horizontal in the stated open pose.
4. Register all four pivot locations at local(y, z)=(3/4, 15) in and bore 13/32 in across the 3/4 in thickness. Clamp a backing board and keep the holes perpendicular; do not enlarge a misaligned pair to conceal drift.
5. Cut D two 3 in x 3/8 in dowels, E four 3/4 in x 1/8 in cross pins, and F two 3/4 in-diameter x 1/16 in washers with 13/32 in bores. Cross-drill D 1/8 in at 1/4 in from each end.
6. Assemble the left pair A at x 1/2-1 1/4 in, F at 1 1/4-1 5/16 in and B at 1 5/16-2 1/16 in. Assemble the right pair B at 15 15/16-16 11/16 in, F at 16 11/16-16 3/4 in and A at 16 3/4-17 1/2 in. D spans x 0-3 and 15-18 in.
7. Install E in all four cross bores, leaving the joints free. Open each A/B pair to the same 3: 4: 5 slope: leg length direction rises 4 in for every 3 in horizontal travel. Pivot centers become y 8 in, z 11.55 in; both feet sit flat at z 0.
8. Cut C two 18 x 1 1/2 x 3/4 in mouth rails. Fit the front rail at y-1.4125-0.0875 in, rear at 15.9125-17.4125 in, undersides z 23.1 in. Both rails span x 0-18 in; their upper faces finish z 23.85 in.
9. Use the actual CENTRAL PARTIAL bearing: each horizontal leg end is 1 7/8 in deep; its centered C rail covers 1 1/2 in, leaving 3/16 in of end face uncovered on each side. Do not describe this as full bearing or infer a capacity. Pilot two vertical #8 x 1 1/2 in screws through C into each leg, eight total. Use each leg thickness center x, with y=-3/4 and -1/4 in on the front C; y=16 1/4 and 16 3/4 in on the rear C. Screws cross 3/4 in C and enter the inclined leg 3/4 in. The drawing shows their complete paths in retained wood. Seat flush without crushing the narrow end face.
10. Cut G two 18.825 x 1 in webbing strips at the stated clamp thickness. Lay them under the rails at x 3-4 and 14-15 in, y-1.4125-17.4125 in. Each rail covers 1 1/2 in of strip end; the free middle span is 15.825 in.
11. Cut H four 1 x 1 1/2 x 1/4 in cleats. Clamp each G end beneath its rail with two #6 x 3/4 in screws through H and G into C. Quarter-inch cleat plus 1/16 in webbing leaves 7/16 in wood engagement. The strips become taut together at the shown open pose.
12. Fold the EMPTY frame slowly by bringing the rails together. The rigid mouth rails tilt with their leg pairs; stop before they contact and never force fully parallel legs. Webbing goes slack rather than stretching. Reopen until both strips straighten; stop if one rail racks, one foot rocks or a cross pin moves. The strips limit opening but provide no rated load or anti-collapse device.
13. Cut I two 24 x 18 in cloth panels, J two 24 x 18.325 in panels and K one 18.325 x 18 in bottom. Keep height 24 in on all four walls. Mark 1/2 in side/bottom seams and a 1 1/2 in top hem zone before sewing.
14. With right sides together, sew I/J/I/J into a continuous rectangular wall using 1/2 in side allowances. Finish raw edges by the fabric-appropriate method. Alternating cut widths 18 and 18.325 in yield finished 17 x 17.325 in mouth dimensions.
15. Pin K to the four wall bottoms, right sides together, matching all corners. Sew 1/2 in around the bottom and turn right-side out. Inspect every corner for an unsewn gap; this is not a certified load-bearing textile container.
16. At the open top turn 1/2 in inward, then another 1 in, using the marked 1 1/2 in hem zone. Stitch around the hem. Finished wall height is 24-1/2-1 1/2=22 in; finished bag bottom is 17 x 17.325 in.
17. Clip the four hem corners to the mouth rails with four smooth-jawed 2 in spring cloth clamps, clear of webbing and pivot paths. Keep the hem outside the webbing cleats and lead the soft bag walls inward below them without pinching. Top reference height is about 23.85 in and bag bottom about 1.85 in above the floor; adjust only the removable clips to avoid dragging.
18. Trial with one small dry cloth. Do not carry a loaded frame or pull it by its bag. Remove all contents and unclip the bag before folding; wash the textile by its actual care instructions, then dry fully before clipping it back.

Checks

• Both mirrored end profiles and pivot centers match the measured 3: 4: 5 open pose.
• Each C bears on the central 1 1/2 in of both corresponding 1 7/8 in leg-end flats; 3/16 in of each flat remains outside both rail edges. Both opening straps become taut together.
• Frame pivots freely without clamped washers; all four cross pins remain outboard of wood.
• The sewn bag is 17 x 17.325 x 22 in finished and stays above the floor; it is removed before folding.

Use and maintenance

Dry cloth collection only; no seating, climbing, carrying a load or unattended child access.

Remove the bag before folding and keep fingers away from both X crossings. Webbing limits opening but is not a personnel-rated restraint.

Inspect the actual joints, moving interfaces and fasteners before each use. Stop at splitting, binding, loose retention or an exposed sharp edge.

Brush debris from separated contact faces and follow the actual material/finish supplier cleaning instructions. Dry fully before reassembly; do not conceal damage with coating.

Repeat the empty functional check after humidity or fit changes. Replace damaged parts rather than forcing the mechanism. No physical build, load, impact, safety or service-life performance is certified.

Measured interface notes

Decimal inches preserve the exact 3: 4: 5 layout: 18.825 in strap=478.155 mm; 17.325 in bag depth=440.055 mm; 23.1 in rail underside=586.74 mm.

Cloth scene faces are flexible assembled envelopes. The five flat cut panels and their seam allowances are explicitly specified here and in the drawings.

Nominal covered fraction of each horizontal end flat is 1.5/1.875=0.8 (80%). This is geometry, not an 80% load rating or strength comparison. No strap, rail, bag or opening dimension has changed.

At the deepest front screw section z=22.35 in, A extends y=-1.0375..0.8375 in; front axes y=-0.75, -0.25 remain in wood. At the deepest rear screw section B extends y=15.1625..17.0375 in; rear axes y=16.25, 16.75 remain in wood.

Primary context

Purdue University Extension: Wood drying: FNR-37 Source

US Consumer Product Safety Commission: Window Covering Cords Source