CELL PHONE STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A cell phone storage device of the present invention discloses a cabinet and a plurality of compartments suitable to retain cell phones. Each compartment provides a cradle dimensioned and configured to dimensions of a cell phone in which a cell phone is securely retained. In use, a user opens the compartment, deposits the cell phone in the cradle and closes the compartment to secure the cell phone within the confines of the cell phone storage device.

Description

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/951,838, filed Jul. 25, 2007, entitled “CELL PHONE STORAGE DEVICE,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lockers, specifically to lockers dimensioned and configured to receive and hold cell phones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cell phones are a ubiquitous part of modem life. No longer are they considered a luxury item, rather now they are a necessity of daily life. Cell phones are convenient and they provide the user with a direct communication outlet. In today's environment, many parents or guardians find cell phones to be a good way to be in contact with their children. These cell phones provide parents or guardians with piece of mind when children are outside the home as the phones provide an open communication line between parent or guardian and child. However, not all find favor in children having cell phones. For instance, schools frown on children bringing cell phones to school. In April 2005, New York City schools enforced a ban on cell phones in city public schools to prevent students from using cell phones in inappropriate ways, e.g. cheating on examinations or taking pictures of fellow students. However, parents/guardians question whether those concerns outweigh safety and convenience issues where students have an open line of communication to their parent/guardian. Issues related to cell phone use are not limited to children in schools, but to other locations requiring quite environments such as libraries, hospitals, courts, movie theaters.

What is needed is a solution that balances a cell phone owner's needs for access and use of their cell phones with an establishment's need for quite and/or safety. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a means for cell phone owners to store cell phones safely while occupied in a quite establishment. This and other objects will be apparent from the disclosure below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cell phone storage device of the present invention discloses a cabinet and a plurality of compartments suitable to retain cell phones. Each compartment provides a cradle dimensioned and configured to dimensions of a cell phone in which a cell phone is securely retained. In use, a user opens the compartment, deposits the cell phone in the cradle and closes the compartment to secure the cell phone within the confines of the cell phone storage device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a front, side perspective view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a rear, side perspective view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 1C is a front view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 1D is a right side view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 1E is a view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention showing the inside of a cabinet of the device and a backside of components hinged from the cabinet.

FIG. 1F is a view of a backside of the components and the side view of the cabinet of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 1G is a front view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention with components hinged away from the device.

FIG. 1H is a front, side view of the cell phone storage device of the present invention with bottom door open showing collection boxes.

FIG. 2A is a front view of components of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a side view of components of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is an exploded, side view of components of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 2D is a front view of a frame of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 2E is a side view of a frame of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 2F is a side, perspective view of a frame of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a front view of a compartment of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a view along line B-B shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is an exploded, side view of a compartment of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is front, side perspective view of a cabinet of the cell phone storage device of the present invention without components.

FIG. 4B is front view of a cabinet of the cell phone storage device of the present invention without components.

FIG. 4C is a left side view of a cabinet of the cell phone storage device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cell phone storage device 100 of the present invention provides a means for safely storing a plurality of cell phones in a plurality of compartments 150 that are dimensioned and configured to dimensions of modern cell phones. See FIG. 1. The device 100 may be referred to herein by the trade name “Celstor Lockers”™. The term “Celstor Lockers” is the term used for the inventive embodiment shown in the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the generic term for this device is a cell phone storage device or locker device 100, which is used interchangeably with “Celstor Lockers” herein.

Referring now in general to FIGS. 1A-1H, device 100 is a stainless steel cabinet 170 that contains a plurality of individual small self storage compartments 150 defined within a storage composite 166. Composite 166 comprises a plurality of backings 160, a plurality of compartments 150, frame 162, a plurality of locking mechanisms 164 and a connecting rod 165. See FIGS. 2A-2F. The parts of the composite 166 cooperate together to permit each individual compartment to open, close and be secured within the cabinet 170 of the device 100. Backings 160 support the compartments 150 within the device 100 and the locking mechanisms 164 are attached to each compartment 150 to lock the compartment 150 within the cabinet 170 of the device 100.

The figures of the present invention show eighty (80) individual small self storage compartments 150, however more or fewer compartments can be employed with device 100. The device 100 is steel welded and weather tight. Roof top 110 juts out past the front of the 100 to provide an overhang extension to provide a measure of protection to the compartments 150 from inclement weather. See FIGS. 4A-4C.

The cabinet 170 sits upon two stainless steel pedestals 120 that are about 18″ from the ground which are strong enough to support the cabinets. See FIGS. 4A-4C. The components 166 are received within the cabinet 170 and placed flush against backing 116. Apart from the pedestals 120, this 18″ space is unobstructed, exposed and open to view. The height to the top or roof top 110 of the cabinet 170 is approximately 7′ high. The top of the cabinet can be lowered by reducing the height of the pedestals 120 or decreasing the number of units in the cabinet 170. Pedestal 120 may be positioned on a base on directly into the ground. It should be noted that any and all measurements cited in the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the invention.

The compartments 150 are about 6″ high by 2.4″ wide by 5.5″ deep and have transparent front doors 152 that allow the contents of the compartment 150 to be observed from the outside, see FIGS. 1E, 2B and 3A-3C. The front doors 152 may be made of unbreakable polycarbonate plastic or similar material. The compartments 150 can be enlarged in height and width by decreasing the amount of units in the device 100. The compartments 150, however, were designed to hold the largest cell phone sold in the market place today, while preventing the storage of larger items that were not intended to be stored in the compartments. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the compartments 150 are dimensioned and configured to receive a cell phone.

The interior of the compartments 150 is designed to remain dry and secure for the safe storage of cell phone equipment. Each compartment 150 is constructed in a manner which will prevent snow, water or other liquid from entering and settling in the compartment 150 when the door 152 is closed. The compartment doors 152 are fitted closely into their frames 162 so there are no gaps around the edges when their doors 152 are closed, see FIGS. 1A and 2C. The seams of the compartment doors 152 are weather tight. The bottom of the compartment 150 slopes downward towards the door 152 to prevent the seepage or settling of liquids in the compartment. The bottom of the compartment 150 contains a drainage hole 159 where liquid will flow away from and outside the compartment 150. See FIGS. 3A-3C. The compartment 150 is designed as a cradle defined with matching and interlocking left and right casings 154, 154′, the transparent front door 152 and spring 174.

Each compartment 150 is dimensioned and configured to receive a cell phone. In use, a user pivots forward compartment 150 at its base to reveal the interior of the compartment 150. The user then deposits the cell phone within compartment 150 in the cradle defined by casings 154, 154′. Afterwards, the user pivots the compartment 150 back into the device 100 to secure the cell phone within the confines of the compartment 150. The compartment 150 pivots out with the assistance of spring 174. In some embodiments, the compartment 150 may partially slide out and pivot or slide out entirely to expose the interior of the compartment 150. The user can visually locate the cell phone or the contents of a compartment 150 by viewing the interior through the transparent door 152.

Each compartment 150 is numbered and locked by individual locks 164 located next to the compartment. The locks 164 may be operated with individual keys. The individual keys may also be numbered. In one instance, the compartment 150 may lock and the keys will be released from the lock upon removal of the key. In another instance, the deposit of coins in the slot next to the lock will release the key. In this case, coins will drop into a coin collection box 126 on the bottom of the cabinet, said bottom being optionally defined by a door 124. Collection box 126 rest at the bottom of the cabinet 170 in compartment 128. Said collection box 124 may of any size box, see FIG. 1E. The key can then be used to reopen the compartment 150 and retrieve a cell phone inside. The device 100 of the present invention may be disposed outside or inside a building and may be suitable for locations such as schools, courts, movie theatres, libraries, etc.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, those of normal skill in the art will appreciate the modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are envisioned to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cell phone storage device comprising;

a cabinet;

at least one compartment dimensioned and configured to dimensions of a cell phone, said compartment being able to securely store the cell phone, said compartment being retained within said cabinet; and

a locking mechanism, said locking mechanism attached to the at least one compartment, said locking mechanism locking the at least one compartment within the cabinet.

2. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is designed as a cradle having two casings and a transparent door, said cradle being dimensioned and configured to dimensions of the cell phone.

3. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment has a drainage hole to allow liquids to flow away from and outside the compartment.

4. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is about 6″ high, about 2.4″ wide and about 5.5″ deep.

5. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment pivots forward to reveal an interior of the at least one compartment.

6. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment slides out to reveal an interior of the at least one compartment.

7. The cell phone storage device of claim 1, wherein there are 80 compartments.

8. A cell phone storage device comprising;

a plurality of compartments dimensioned and configured to dimensions of a cell phone, each said compartment of said plurality of compartments serving to safely store cell phone equipment;

at least one backing, said at least one backing supporting each compartment of said plurality of compartments;

a plurality of locking mechanisms, said plurality of locking mechanisms corresponding in number to the plurality of compartments, said locking mechanisms being attached to each compartment to lock contents retained in the compartment; and

a frame, said plurality of compartments being fitted closely to the frames so there are no gaps around the edges when the compartments are closed.

9. The cell phone storage device of claim 8, wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments being designed to remain dry and secure.

10. The cell phone storage device of claim 8, wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments is constructed in a manner which will prevent snow, water or other liquid from entering and settling in the compartment when closed.

11. The cell phone storage device of claim 8, wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments has weather tight seams formed with said frame.

12. The cell phone storage device of claim 8, wherein said plurality of compartments, said at least one backing, said plurality of locking mechanisms and said frame are disposed within a cabinet.