US20200037660A1

US20200037660A1 - Multi-Compartment Storage Container

Info

Publication number: US20200037660A1
Application number: US16/055,515
Authority: US
Inventors: Arkady Grigoryan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-08-06
Filing date: 2018-08-06
Publication date: 2020-02-06

Abstract

A multi-compartment storage container for stowing smoking articles and a partially smoked item includes a shell that defines an interior space. The shell has a top that is open. A wall is coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space. The wall extends between a front and a back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell. The wall extends from a bottom of the shell to the top to define a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space. The large compartment is configured to stow smoking articles and the small compartment is configured to stow a lit smoking item. A lid is hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top. The lid is positioned to pivot to sealably close the top to extinguish the lit smoking item.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to storage containers and more particularly pertains to a new storage container for stowing smoking articles and a partially smoked item.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a shell that defines an interior space. The shell has a top that is open. A wall is coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space. The wall extends between a front and a back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell. The wall extends from a bottom of the shell to the top to define a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space. The large compartment is configured to stow smoking articles and the small compartment is configured to stow a lit smoking item. A lid is hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top. The lid is positioned to pivot to sealably close the top to extinguish the lit smoking item.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a multi-compartment storage container according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 10 thereof, a new storage container embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10, the multi-compartment storage container 10 generally comprises a shell 12 that defines an interior space 14. The shell 12 has a top 16 that is open. The shell 12 is substantially rectangularly box shaped. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a front 18 of the shell 12 is dimensionally shorter than the back 20 of the shell 12 so that the top 16 of the shell 12 is tapered.
A wall 22 is coupled to the shell 12 and positioned in the interior space 14. The wall 22 extends between the front 18 and the back 20 of the shell 12 proximate to a respective opposing side 24 of the shell 12. The wall 22 extends from a bottom 26 of the shell 12 to the top 16 to define a small compartment 28 and a large compartment 30 within the interior space 14. The large compartment 30 is configured to stow smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, and the small compartment 28 is configured to stow a lit smoking item.
A lid 32 is hingedly coupled to the shell 12 proximate to the top 16. The lid 32 is positioned to pivot to sealably close the top 16 to extinguish the lit smoking item. As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 32 is tapered so that the lid 32 and the shell 12 are substantially rectangularly box shaped when the lid 32 is closed. A tab 120 is coupled to and extends from a front edge 98 of the lid 32. The tab 120 is positioned substantially equally distant from the opposing sides 24 of the shell 12. The tab 120 is configured to position a digit of a hand to pivot the lid 32 relative to the shell 12 for opening the top 16.
A cover panel 34 is coupled to an interior surface 36 of the lid 32 so that the cover panel 34 aligns with the wall 22 when the lid 32 is closed so that the small compartment 28 is isolated from the large compartment 30.
A first slot 38 is positioned the shell 12 and extends to the small compartment 28. The first slot 38 has an upper end 40 that is positioned proximate to the top 16 and a lower end 42 that is positioned proximate to the bottom 26 of the shell 12.
A first plate 44 is positioned in the small compartment 28 so that the first plate 44 is substantially parallel to the bottom 26 of the shell 12. The first plate 44 is dimensionally smaller than a cross-section 46 of the small compartment 28 so that a first gap 48 is positioned between the first plate 44 and the wall 22, the first plate 44 and the front 18, and the first plate 44 and the back 20. The first gap 48 is configured to allow debris, such as ash, to fall from the first plate 44 to a first debris collection space 50 that is defined by the bottom 26 of the shell 12 and the first plate 44 when the first plate 44 is positioned at the lower end 42 of the first slot 38.
A first slat 52 is coupled to the first plate 44 and extends through the first slot 38. A first knob 54 is coupled to the first slat 52 externally to the shell 12. The first knob 54 is configured to slide the first plate 44 toward the top 16 to lift a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment 28 through the top 16.
A first gasket 56 is coupled to a circumference 58 of the first slot 38. The first gasket 56 is positioned to frictionally couple to the first slat 52 to fixedly position the first plate 44 and to sealably closing the first slot 38.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a panel 60 is coupled to the shell 12 and is positioned in the interior space 14. The panel 60 extends between the front 18 and the back 20 of the shell 12 proximate to a respective opposing side 24 of the shell 12 distal from the wall 22. The panel 60 extends from the bottom 26 of the shell 12 to the top 16 define a small subcompartment 62 and a large subcompartment 106 within the large compartment 30. The small subcompartment 62 is configured to selectively stow a second lit smoking item and smoking aids, such as matches.
A second slot 64 is positioned the shell 12 and extends to the small subcompartment 62. The second slot 64 has an upper end 66 that is positioned proximate to the top 16 and a lower end 68 that is positioned proximate to the bottom 26 of the shell 12.
A second plate 70 positioned in the small subcompartment 62 so that the second plate 70 is substantially parallel to the bottom 26 of the shell 12. The second plate 70 is dimensionally smaller than a cross-section 72 of the small subcompartment 62 so that a second gap 116 is positioned between the second plate 70 and the panel 60, the second plate 70 and the front 18, and the second plate 70 and the back 20. The second gap 116 is configured for debris to fall from the second plate 70 to a second debris collection space 74 defined by the bottom 26 of the shell 12 and the second plate 70 when the second plate 70 is positioned at the lower end 68 of the second slot 64.
A second slat 76 is coupled to the second plate 70 and extends through the second slot 64. A second knob 78 is coupled to the second slat 76 externally to the shell 12. The second knob 78 is configured to slide the second plate 70 toward the top 16 to selectively lift a second extinguished smoking item or the smoking aid from the small subcompartment 62 through the top 16.
A second gasket 80 is coupled to a circumference 82 of the second slot 64. The second gasket 80 is positioned to frictionally couple to the second slat 76 to fixedly position the second plate 70 and to sealably closing the second slot 64.
A sheet 84 is coupled to the front 18 of the shell 12 proximate to the bottom 26 of the shell 12, as shown in FIG. 10. The sheet 84 extends from proximate to the opposing sides 24 of the shell 12. The sheet 84 is coarse so that the sheet 84 is abrasive and configured to strike a match.
In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the lid 32 comprises a first section 86 and a second section 88. The first section 86 and the second section 88 are independently pivotable relative to the shell 12. The first section 86 is complementary to an upper perimeter 90 of the small compartment 28. The second section 88 is complementary to an upper perimeter 92 of the large compartment 30. The configuration of this embodiment allows a user to selectively access the small compartment 28 and the large compartment 30.
In this embodiment, a first protrusion 94 is coupled to the first section 86 and a second protrusion 96 is coupled to the second section 88. The first protrusion 94 and the second protrusion 96 extend from a front edge 98 of the lid 32. The first protrusion 94 and the second protrusion 96 are configured to position a digit of a hand to selectively pivot the first section 86 and the second section 88 relative to the shell 12 to open the small compartment 28 and the large compartment 30, respectively.
In still yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the lid 32 comprises a first segment 100, a second segment 102, and a third segment 104. The first segment 100, the second segment 102, and the third segment 104 are independently pivotable relative to the shell 12. The first segment 100 is complementary to an upper perimeter 106 of the small compartment 28. The second segment 102 is complementary to an upper perimeter 108 of the large subcompartment 106. Third segment 104 is complementary to an upper perimeter 110 of the small subcompartment 62. The configuration of this embodiment allows a user to selectively access the small compartment 28, the large subcompartment 106, and the small subcompartment 62.
In this embodiment, a first extrusion 118 is coupled to the first segment 100, a second extrusion 112 is coupled to the second segment 102, and a third extrusion 114 is coupled to the third segment 104. The first extrusion 118, the second extrusion 112, and the third extrusion 114 extend from the front edge 98 of the lid 32. The first extrusion 118, the second extrusion 112, and the third extrusion 114 are configured to position the digit of the hand to selectively pivot the first segment 100, the second segment 102, and the third segment 104 relative to the shell 12 to open the small compartment 28, the large subcompartment 106, and the small subcompartment 62, respectively.
In use, the user stows the smoking articles, such as the cigarettes, in the large compartment 30. When needed, the user is positioned to stow the lit smoking item in the small compartment 28. Closing the lid 32 causes the lit smoking item to extinguish. When the user wishes to retrieve the first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment 28, the first knob 54 is used to slide the first plate 44 toward the top 16 to lift the first extinguished smoking item through the top 16.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

I claim:

1. A multi-compartment storage container comprising:

a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open;

a wall coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the wall extending between a front and a back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell, the wall extending from a bottom of the shell to the top defining a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space wherein the large compartment is configured for stowing smoking articles and the small compartment is configured for stowing a lit smoking item; and

a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item.

2. The container of claim 1, further including the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped.

3. The container of claim 2, further comprising:

the front being dimensionally shorter than the back such that the top is tapered;

the lid being tapered such that the lid and the shell are substantially rectangularly box shaped when the lid is closed; and

a cover panel coupled to an interior surface of the lid such that the cover panel aligns with the wall when the lid is closed such that the small compartment is isolated from the large compartment.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising:

a first slot positioned is the shell and extending to the small compartment, the first slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;

a first plate positioned in the small compartment, the first plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell;

a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;

a first knob coupled to the first slat externally to the shell wherein the first knob is configured for sliding the first plate toward the top for lifting a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment through the top; and

a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot.

5. The container of claim 4, further including the first plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small compartment such that a first gap is positioned between the first plate and the wall, the first plate and the front, and the first plate and the back wherein the first gap is configured for debris to fall from the first plate to a first debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the first plate when the first plate is positioned at the lower end of the first slot.

6. The container of claim 5, further comprising:

a panel coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the panel extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell distal from the wall, the panel extending from the bottom of the shell to the top defining a small subcompartment and a large subcompartment within the large compartment wherein the small subcompartment is configured for selectively stowing a second lit smoking item and smoking aids;

a second slot positioned in the shell and extending to the small subcompartment, the second slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;

a second plate positioned in the small subcompartment, the second plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell;

a second slat coupled to the second plate and extending through the second slot;

a second knob coupled to the second slat externally to the shell wherein the second knob is configured for sliding the second plate toward the top for selectively lifting a second extinguished smoking item and the smoking aid from the small subcompartment through the top; and

a second gasket coupled to a circumference of the second slot wherein the second gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the second slat for fixedly positioning the second plate and for sealably closing the second slot.

7. The container of claim 6, further including the second plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small subcompartment such that a second gap is positioned between the second plate and the panel, the second plate and the front, and the second plate and the back wherein the second gap is configured for debris to fall from the second plate to a second debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the second plate when the second plate is positioned at the lower end of the second slot.

8. The container of claim 1, further including a sheet coupled to the front of the shell proximate to the bottom of the shell, the sheet extending from proximate to the opposing sides of the shell, the sheet being coarse such that the sheet is abrasive wherein the sheet is configured for striking a match.

9. The container of claim 1, further including a tab coupled to and extending from a front edge of the lid, the tab being positioned substantially equally distant from the opposing sides of the shell wherein the tab is configured for positioning a digit of a hand for pivoting the lid relative to the shell for opening the top.

10. The container of claim 1, further including the lid comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first section being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second section being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large compartment.

11. The container of claim 10, further including a first protrusion coupled to the first section and a second protrusion coupled to the second section, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first section and the second section relative to the shell for opening the small compartment and the large compartment, respectively.

12. The container of claim 6, further including the lid comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large subcompartment, third segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small subcompartment.

13. The container of claim 12, further including a first extrusion coupled to the first segment, a second extrusion coupled to the second segment, and a third extrusion coupled to the third segment, the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment relative to the shell for opening the small compartment, the large subcompartment, and the small subcompartment, respectively.

14. A multi-compartment storage container comprising:

a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open, the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped, the shell having a front and a back, the front being dimensionally shorter than the back such that the top is tapered;

a wall coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the wall extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell, the wall extending from a bottom of the shell to the top defining a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space wherein the large compartment is configured for stowing smoking articles and the small compartment is configured for stowing a lit smoking item;

a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item, the lid being tapered such that the lid and the shell are substantially rectangularly box shaped when the lid is closed;

a tab coupled to and extending from a front edge of the lid, the tab being positioned substantially equally distant from the opposing sides of the shell wherein the tab is configured for positioning a digit of a hand for pivoting the lid relative to the shell for opening the top;

a cover panel coupled to an interior surface of the lid such that the cover panel aligns with the wall when the lid is closed such that the small compartment is isolated from the large compartment;

a first plate positioned in the small compartment, the first plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the first plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small compartment such that a first gap is positioned between the first plate and the wall, the first plate and the front, and the first plate and the back wherein the first gap is configured for debris to fall from the first plate to a first debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the first plate when the first plate is positioned at the lower end of the first slot;

a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;

a first knob coupled to the first slat externally to the shell wherein the first knob is configured for sliding the first plate toward the top for lifting a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment through the top;

a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot;

a second plate positioned in the small subcompartment, the second plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the second plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small subcompartment such that a second gap is positioned between the second plate and the panel, the second plate and the front, and the second plate and the back wherein the second gap is configured for debris to fall from the second plate to a second debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the second plate when the second plate is positioned at the lower end of the second slot;

a second gasket coupled to a circumference of the second slot wherein the second gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the second slat for fixedly positioning the second plate and for sealably closing the second slot; and

a sheet coupled to the front of the shell proximate to the bottom of the shell, the sheet extending from proximate to the opposing sides of the shell, the sheet being coarse such that the sheet is abrasive wherein the sheet is configured for striking a match.

15. A multi-compartment storage container comprising:

a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open, the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped;

a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item, the lid comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large subcompartment, third segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small subcompartment;

a first extrusion coupled to the first segment, a second extrusion coupled to the second segment, and a third extrusion coupled to the third segment, the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment relative to the shell for opening the small compartment, the large subcompartment, and the small subcompartment, respectively;

a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;

a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot