ELASTOMERIC FOAM FOR OBJECT STORAGE
An object storage device with at least one first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface, and at least one second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface is provided. The second side surface of the second section is positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region between the sections for object storage. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a slit indicator that indicates the position of the slit region.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/931,103 filed May 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a device for storing small objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStorage devices are well known in the art for storing and sometimes organizing sets of small objects, such as fishing lures, jewelry, sewing accessories, and other similar objects. Some storage devices simply provide a case with partitioned compartments in which objects are placed. Such devices are typically inexpensive but do not secure objects within the compartments. Therefore, objects can easily be spilled if the storage device is tipped.
Other types of storage devices provide a case with slits or grooves in which objects can be placed and secured. The slits or grooves may be provided in a foam component such that a hooked or pointed end of an object to be stored may pierce the foam. This results in an object that is secured to the storage device. However, repeated piercing of the foam can significantly reduce its useable life, requiring the foam to be replaced or a new storage device to be obtained. In addition, the slits may be difficult to locate if they are provided on flat surfaces.
Considering the limitations of previous storage devices for small objects, an improved design is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an object storage device with at least one first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface, and at least one second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface. The second side surface of the second section is positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region between the sections for object storage. In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes a slit indicator that indicates the position of the slit region.
In some embodiments of the invention, the device includes an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction. In addition, in some embodiments of the invention, each of the sections includes a plurality of interdigitating fingers with side surfaces. The side surfaces of the fingers define slit regions.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description that follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring to
The object storage device 10 may be placed in a storage box or soft-sided container such that the lower surfaces 16 and 16′ are attached to the container. Although the side surfaces 20 and 20′ between adjacent first and second sections 12 and 12′ are preferably not connected, a connection may be useful in some cases. For example, the ratio of the height of the end surfaces 18 and 18′ to the base length of the end surfaces 18 and 18′ shown in
As discussed above, the object storage device 10 may be placed in a storage box or soft-sided container such that the lower surfaces 16 and 16′ are attached to the container. Alternatively, the object storage device 10 may be used separately from a container as a patch, such as a fly patch. Fly patches are a well known type of fly fishing component.
An object may be inserted into a slit 22 at the interface between two side surfaces 20 and 20′ by several methods. For example, a user may use his or her fingers to separate and hold the side surfaces 20 and 20′ and insert an object thereafter. Alternatively, a user may simply use part of the object to press down on the interface thereby separating the side surfaces. Preferably, only part of the object is inserted into the slit 22 between the side surfaces 20 and 20′ so that another part of the object remains visible and above the upper surfaces 14 and 14′.
The object storage device 10 may be used for fly fishing lure storage, although other uses are contemplated. For example, the object storage device 10 may be used to hold jewelry, sewing accessories, and other small objects. Referring to
As briefly described above, the first and second sections 12 and 12′ of the present invention are made from an elastomeric foam. Specifically, the first and second sections 12 and 12′ are preferably made from a closed-cell crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) foam with a nominal density of about 6.0 lb/ft3. Minicel® L600 produced by Sekisui Voltek of Lawrence, Mass. is an appropriate closed-cell XLPE foam. The closed-cell structure of foams, such as Minicel® L600, provide resistance to water absorption as well as a resilient material. Other types of elastomeric foam may be used to form the first and second sections 12 and 12′. However, a closed-cell XLPE foam with a nominal density of about 6.0 lb/ft3 is preferred since the material provides a suitable combination of water absorption resistance, memory, tear resistance, shape retention, and a proper grip for holding stored objects.
The first and second sections 12 and 12′ of the present invention are preferably formed by a die-cutting operation. Die-cutting operations are well known in the art for shaping components, including components made of elastomeric foam.
Referring to
Referring to
As discussed above, the sections of the object storage device may be partially connected if the sections are relatively tall. Similarly, the side surfaces 234 between adjacent sections 212 may be connected if the ratio of the radius of the outer surface 230 to the distance between side surfaces 234 of a single section 212 is larger than 1:1 (i.e., the sections 212 are relatively flat). Such a connection, if used, is preferably only used in a small area of each slit 222, thereby permitting the majority of each slit 222 to be used for object storage.
Referring to
As shown in
The contoured upper surfaces 314 and 314′ are preferably formed by a compression molding operation after the die-cutting process. Compression molding operations are well known in the art. However, compression molding typically involves pressing a stock of raw material. In the present invention, a sheet of preheated elastomeric foam is subjected to the compression molding operation. The compression molding apparatus includes a metal mold that is the inverse shape of the contoured upper surfaces 314 and 314′ and a flat plate that supports the lower surfaces 316 and 316′. In the operation, the sheet of elastomeric foam is first heated to a temperature just below its melting point. The sheet of foam is then compressed between the mold and the flat plate. The sheet of foam is held in the mold until cool, and thereafter the sheet of foam retains the shape of the mold.
As shown in
As shown in
The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the number of sections shown in the figures. The number of sections shown in the figures represents examples, and any number of sections may be used according to this invention. In addition, it is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An object storage device, comprising:
- a first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface; and
- a second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface;
- wherein the second side surface of the second section is positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region between the sections.
2. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface with a generally flat shape.
3. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface with a contoured shape.
4. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction.
5. The object storage device of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of fingers with side surfaces, wherein the plurality of fingers of the first section are interdigitated with the plurality of fingers of the second section thereby defining slit regions between adjacent fingers.
6. The object storage device of claim 5, further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction.
7. The object storage device of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a base portion to which the respective plurality of fingers connect and each finger tapers from an end connected to the base portion to an opposite end.
8. The object storage device of claim 1, wherein the first section is a different color than the second section.
9. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first sections and a plurality of section sections.
10. An object storage device, comprising:
- a first section made of elastomeric foam and including a first side surface;
- a second section made of elastomeric foam and including a second side surface positioned adjacent to the first side surface of the first section to define a slit region there between; and
- a slit indicator that indicates the position of the slit region;
- wherein the slit indicator is selected from a group of the first section having a color that is different than a color of the second section; the first section having a height that is different than a height of the second section, and at least one of the first and second side surfaces having a chamfered portion.
11. The object storage device of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second sections has an upper surface with a contoured shape.
12. The object storage device of claim 10, further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction.
13. The object storage device of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a plurality of fingers with side surfaces, wherein the plurality of fingers of the first section are interdigitated with the plurality of fingers of the second section thereby defining slit regions between adjacent fingers.
14. The object storage device of claim 13, further comprising an upper surface with a constant shape in a first direction and a contoured shape in a second direction.
15. The object storage device of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second sections comprises a base portion to which the respective plurality of fingers connect and each finger tapers from an end connected to the base portion to an opposite end.
16. The object storage device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of first sections and a plurality of second sections.
17. A method of creating an object storage device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of separate sections, each section including at least one side surface and being made of an elastomeric foam; and
- arranging the sections adjacent to one another such that at least one pair of side surfaces of adjacent sections forms a slit region.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of forming the plurality of separate sections using a die-cutting process.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of subjecting the plurality of separate sections to a compression molding operation.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the compression molding process forms a contoured surface on the plurality of separate sections.
Type: Application
Filed: May 21, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 27, 2008
Inventor: Joseph A. Sorensen (Cambria, CA)
Application Number: 12/124,537
International Classification: B65D 1/36 (20060101);