MULTIPURPOSE RECEPTACLE
One embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects may include a container having a base and one or more walls extending from the base to define a chamber. Further, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a cover having a frame and one or more apertures. The cover may also have two or more lids pivotally carried by the frame to selectively block the apertures. The lids may also be slidably carried by the frame to be received within the chamber of the container. Furthermore, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a first storage compartment received within the chamber and carried by at least one of the frame and the rim. In addition, the multipurpose receptacle may include a second storage compartment carried by the container adjacent to the base and spaced apart from the chamber.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/114,315 filed on Nov. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure generally relates to receptacles, and more particularly, to a multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects in an automobile.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREAutomobile manufacturers typically manufacture automobiles having storage compartments carried by various spaced apart portions of a passenger cabin. For example, the storage compartments may be carried by the doors, the center console, the seatbacks and the dashboard to store items, such as loose coins, parking garage cards, hand wipes, or trash. It may be somewhat burdensome for occupants to repeatedly reach for these compartments in various locations of the vehicle to access particular items. Further, a portion of the storage compartments may be integral parts of the vehicle that cannot be removed for transporting their contents. Other storage compartments, such as an ash tray, may be removed from the vehicle. However, the ashtray may be generally small for carrying its contents and may also lack a cover for preventing its contents from spilling or otherwise being readily transported.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREOne embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects. The multipurpose receptacle may include a container having a base and one or more walls extending from the base to define a chamber. The walls may terminate at a rim that defines an open mouth communicated with the chamber. Further, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a cover having a frame that is carried by the rim and has one or more apertures. The cover may also have two or more lids pivotally carried by the frame to selectively block the apertures. The lids may also be slidably carried by the frame to be received within the chamber of the container. In addition, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a first storage compartment received within the chamber and carried by the frame or the rim. Also, the multipurpose receptacle may include a second storage compartment carried by the container adjacent to the base. The second storage compartment may be spaced apart from the chamber.
These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSUREThe exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular multipurpose receptacle, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.
The present disclosure provides a receptacle (“receptacle”) for receiving and holding a plurality of objects. The term “plurality of objects” as used herein relates to both useful objects such as parking garage cards, papers, notes, visiting cards, credit cards, coins, tissue papers and the like, and trash objects such as cigarette butts, scrap papers, candy wrappers, candy sticks, and the like. The receptacle 1000 may be used to objects in, for example, an automobile or other locations as desired.
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Further, the rim 108 may have one or more radially extending annular flanges 124. Alternatively, the rim 108 may include external threads (not shown). Similarly, the bottom portion 116 may have one or more external outwardly extending annular flanges 126. Alternatively, the bottom portion 116 may include external threads (not shown).
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Further, the cover 200 may include two or more lids 222, 224 pivotally carried by the frame 202 to block the aperture 204. The lid 222 may include a first pair of protrusions 226, 228 that may be received within the first pair of notches 214, 216. Each notch may have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the respective protrusion pivotally carried therein. The first pair of protrusions 226, 228 may also be slidably carried by the frame along the first pair of tapered slots 206, 208, during both assembly and while in use for sliding the lid 222 into the chamber 106. The lid 222 may also have a first handle portion 234 capable of pivotally moving the first pair of protrusions 226, 228 within the first pair of notches 214, 216 and also slidably moving the first pair of protrusions 226, 228 along the first pair of tapered slots 206, 208. Similarly, the lid 224 may include a second pair of protrusions 230, 232 that may be received within the second pair of notches 218, 220. Each notch may have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the respective protrusion pivotally carried therein. Also, the second pair of protrusions 230, 232 may be slidably carried along the second pair of tapered slots 210, 212 during both assembly and while in use for sliding the lid 224 into the chamber 106. Further, the lid 224 may include a second handle portion 236 capable of pivotally moving the second pair of protrusions 230, 232 within the second pair of notches 218, 220 and also slidably moving the second pair of protrusions 230, 232 along the second pair of tapered slots 210, 212.
Also, the frame 202 may include a plurality of protrusions 238 configured on an inner surface 240 of the frame 202. The protrusions 238 may snap over the annular flange 124 of the rim 108 and be received in one or more recesses (not shown), such that the cover 200 may be carried by the container 100 in a snap fit arrangement. Alternatively, the inner surface 240 may have internal threads (not shown) for mating with the external threads of the container 100.
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In one form, the receptacles 1000, 2000, 3000 may be an elongated cylindrical structure that may be made of a light weight, fire resistant material, such as a polyethylene plastic material. However, the receptacle may instead have other shapes, such as an elongated polygonal structure or an elongated cuboidal structure, and/or be made of other suitable materials. The above mentioned material of construction of the receptacle may not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.
The receptacle such as the receptacles 1000, 2000, 3000 may be beneficial for receiving and holding a plurality of objects in the automobile. The plurality of objects may include both useful objects such as parking garage cards, papers, notes, visiting cards, credit cards, coins, tissue papers, and the like and trash objects such as cigarette butts, scrap papers, candy wrappers, candy sticks, and the like. Further, the receptacle may be helpful in protecting the natural environment as occupant of automobiles may desist from throwing trash on the road side. Furthermore, the receptacle may be beneficial to keep an interior of the automobile clean. Also, the receptacle may be simple in construction, portable and easy to use. The receptacle of the present disclosure may find its utility at a multitude of places such as homes and commercial places. However, for the sake of brevity, the receptacle capable of receiving and holding the plurality of objects in an automobile has been explained and the same may not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects, the multipurpose receptacle comprising:
- a container having a base and at least one wall extending from the base to define a chamber, the at least one wall terminating at a rim that defines an open mouth communicated with the chamber;
- a cover including a frame that is carried by the rim and has at least one aperture, the cover further having at least two lids pivotally carried by the frame to selectively block the at least one aperture, the at least two lids also being slidably carried by the frame to be received within the chamber of the container;
- a first storage compartment received within the chamber and carried by at least one of the frame and the rim;
- a second storage compartment carried by the container adjacent to the base, the second storage compartment being spaced apart from the chamber.
2. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, wherein the first storage compartment includes a cup having an open end, the first storage compartment also including at least one flange extending radially outward from the cup, such that the at least one flange is carried by at least one of the rim and the frame.
3. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, wherein the first storage compartment further includes a cap pivotally carried by the cup to selectively block the open end.
4. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, further comprising at least one divider extending across the chamber of the container such that the chamber includes a first pocket and a second pocket that is not communicated with the first pocket.
5. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 4, wherein the at least one divider comprises a slot for receiving the plurality of objects.
6. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 4, wherein the first storage compartment is received within the first pocket.
7. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, wherein the second storage compartment is a cup portion having a bottom wall and at least one sidewall extending from the bottom wall, and the at least one sidewall is selectively carried by the container to define a pocket.
8. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 7, wherein the bottom wall includes a port communicated with the pocket, and the second storage compartment also includes at least one door slidably carried by the bottom wall to block the port.
9. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1 further comprising at least one light emitter carried by at least one of the container, the cover and the second storage compartment.
10. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 9, wherein the at least one light emitter is a plurality of light emitting diodes carried by the at least one of the container, the cover and the second storage compartment.
11. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 9, wherein the light emitter includes an optical waveguide to receive light from the plurality of light emitting diodes and generate at least one continuous ring of light.
12. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, wherein each of the lids has a pair of protrusions, and the frame of the cover has two pairs of tapered slots terminating with a respective one of two pairs of notches, such that each pair of protrusions is slidably moved along the pair of tapered slots and pivotally carried within the pair of notches.
13. The multipurpose receptacle of claim 1, wherein the container includes a top portion having a first outer diameter and a bottom portion having a second outer diameter that is less than the first diameter.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 10, 2009
Publication Date: May 13, 2010
Inventor: Kimberly Young (Austin, TX)
Application Number: 12/615,298
International Classification: B65D 25/04 (20060101);