US20020053575A1

US20020053575A1 - Personal storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20020053575A1
Application number: US10/008,660
Authority: US
Inventors: Chad Oliver
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-06
Filing date: 2001-11-03
Publication date: 2002-05-09

Abstract

A new and improved apparatus is disclosed for allowing military people, hunters, campers, travelers, survivalists, truck drivers and other individuals to easily carry toiletries and other small items. The apparatus would comprise a sturdy plastic case which would have a base and a lid. The plastic case would preferably be approximately 11½ inches by 11½ inches, which would allow the plastic case to fit in a government issue duffle bag or M1 bag.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is that of a new and improved apparatus for allowing military people, hunters, campers, travelers, survivalists, truck drivers and other individuals to easily carry toiletries and other small items.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. D203,022, issued to Mayer, discloses a cosmetic case.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,591,515, issued to Diskin, discloses a sanitary kit or case that includes a plurality of toiletry articles with the articles being secured to as to be instantly accessible.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,288,267, issued to Stone, discloses an improvement in a traveler's suit or bag and more particularly relates to a traveler's suit or bag having a removable tray.

III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is that of a new and improved apparatus for allowing military people, hunters, campers, travelers, survivalists, truck drivers and other individuals to easily carry toiletries and other small items. The apparatus would comprise a sturdy plastic case which would have a base and a lid. The plastic case would preferably be approximately 11½ inches by 11½ inches, which would allow the plastic case to fit in a government issue duffle bag or M1 bag.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a personal storage apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the personal storage apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the personal storage apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the personal storage apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The personal storage apparatus is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present personal storage apparatus. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regard as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a personal storage apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal storage apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal storage apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a personal storage apparatus which is economically affordable and available for relevant purchasing government entities.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention after the lid of the storage apparatus has been closed on top of the base. [0014]
FIG. 2 shows a side cutaway view of the present invention after the lid of the storage apparatus has been closed on top of the base. [0015]

V. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is that of a new and improved apparatus for allowing military people, hunters, campers, travelers, survivalists, truck drivers and other individuals to easily carry toiletries and other small items. The apparatus would comprise a sturdy [0016] plastic case 2 which would have a base 6 and a lid 4. The plastic case 2 would preferably be approximately 11½ inches by 11½ inches, which would allow the plastic case 2 to fit in a government issue duffle bag or M1 bag. The base 6 would have a continuous side edge 7 which would be attached to the inner surface of the base 6, with the exact height of the continuous side edge 7 varying depending on the needs of an individual.
The [0017] base 6 would be pivotally mounted to the lid 4 by a hinge 16, with the lid 4 being capable of being removably attached to the base 6 via a pair of straps 8. Each strap 8 would be preferably fabricated from nylon, or alternatively could be fabricated from another rugged material. Each strap 8 would have two ends, a first end and a second end, with the first end of each strap 8 being attached to an outer surface of the lid of the plastic case 2 via a sealable rivet 18. The second end of each strap 8 would be capable of removable attaching to the base 6 via attachment means 15 when the plastic case 2 would be in a closed position. The attachment means 15 would preferably be a first snap portion 12 which would be located on the second end of each strap 8 and a second snap portion 13 which would be located on the top face of the lid 4. The first snap portion 12 of each strap 8 would be capable of attaching to a second snap portion 13 located on the top face of the lid 4 when the lid 4 would be flush against the base 6 and the plastic case 2 would be in a closed position.
The [0018] lid 4 of the plastic case 2 would have a rubber seal 14 which would travel alongside the entire lip of the lid 4. This lid 4 would ensure that when the lid 4 of the plastic case would be placed flush against the base 6, the plastic case 2 would be watertight to outside moisture and water sources and would not allow moisture to enter inside the plastic case 2. The seal 14 would be placed within a groove when the plastic case 2 would be closed.
In addition, the plastic case would have a [0019] tray 20 located inside the plastic case 2 which could hold water and be used for shaving. The tray 20 would preferably be made from stainless steel or sturdy plastic. In addition, the inside of the lid 4 of the plastic case would have an attached mirror 22, which would ensure that a user would be able to wash their face, shave, comb their hair, or do other related tasks with the plastic case 2 using the mirror 22.

Claims

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A storage case comprising:

(a) a base, the base preferably having dimensions of eleven and one-half inches by eleven and one-half inches, the base having two surfaces, an inner surface and an outer surface,

(b) a continuous side edge having two ends, a first end and a second end, the first end of the continuous side edge being attached to the perimeter of the inner surface of the base, the continuous side edge also having an inner surface and an outer surface,

(c) a lid having four edges, a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge, the first edge of the lid being pivotally attached to the continuous side edge, the lid having two surfaces, an inner surface and an outer surface,

(d) a pair of straps comprising a first strap and a second strap, each strap within the pair of straps having two ends, a first end and a second end,

(e) a first attachment means for fixedly attaching the first end of each strap of the pair of straps to the outer surface of the lid,

(f) a second attachment means for removably attaching the second end of each strap of the pair of straps to the outer surface of the continuous side edge,

(g) a rubber seal attached to the perimeter of the inner surface of the lid,

(h) a tray located within the storage case, and

(i) a mirror attached to the inner surface of the lid.

2. A storage case according to claim 1 wherein the first attachment means further comprises:

(a) a first rivet fixedly attaching the first end of the first strap of the pair of straps to the outer surface of the lid, and

(b) a second rivet fixedly attaching the first end of the second strap of the pair of straps to the outer surface of the lid.

3. A storage case according to claim 2 wherein the second attachment means further comprises:

(a) a first snap portion attached to the second end of the first strap of the pair of straps,

(b) a second snap portion attached to the outer surface of the lid,

(c) a third snap portion attached to the second end of the second strap of the pair of straps,

(d) a fourth snap portion attached to the outer surface of the lid,

(e) wherein an individual would removably attach the first snap portion to the second snap portion, and further wherein the individual would removably attach the third snap portion to the fourth snap portion.

3. A storage case according to claim 2 wherein each strap of the pair of straps would preferably be fabricated from nylon.