USB FLASH DRIVE/KEEPSAKE STORAGE DEVICES

Abstract

A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device has a first chamber for repeatedly receiving a USB flash drive and a second chamber for permanently holding one or more objects or materials. A variety of locking mechanisms can be used to permanently seal the second chamber.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority with respect to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/170,500 filed Apr. 17, 2009 entitled “Keepsake Flash Drive and Methods of Use.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to portable electronic devices such as flash memory cards and, more particularly, to those that utilize Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) components. This invention is also concerned with portable devices for storing keepsake objects or materials.

2. Discussion of the Background

USB flash memory cards can be made portable because they do not require a specialized reader. For example, they can be plugged into a USB connector on a host system such as a personal computer (PC). USB flash memory cards are used for a variety of purposes such as storing electronic copies of documents, music, pictures and videos. By way of example only, U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,978 (which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) discloses a reduced-length, low-profile USB device that has minimal outer dimensions and a card-like carrier for protecting said device. Its housing supports its peripheral edges and covers various metal contacts when the device is not in use. This card-like carrier does not, however, include a container for storing or holding objects or materials that are not directly related to the functionality of the USB flash memory device. More specifically, currently available USB flash memory devices do not include a chamber, container or similar vessel portion that allows them to also serve as keepsake storage devices.

Portable keepsake storage devices are well known. They are frequently used to hold cremation ashes, locks of hair, dried flowers and the like. Since these devices are used to store cremation ashes, their users are often especially concerned that these materials be securely stored. The security problems associated with such devices have been fully recognized—but not completely resolved. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,287 (“the '287 patent”), which is also incorporated by reference herein, recognizes the problem in the following passage (at column 2, lines 49-64):

• • “The apparatus 10 has a clasping mechanism 19 to hold the cover 15 in place with the base 11. In addition, the apparatus 10 has a safety lock 20 to ensure that the apparatus 10 does not accidentally open and spill the contents. This is important in that the cremation ashes will be virtually irretrievable if they are accidentally spilled. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the base 11 has an internal threaded bore 21 extending from the exterior side of the base 12 through the external ridge 14 and through to the interior side of the base 13. The cover 15 has a second internal bore 22 extending from the interior 16 of the cover 15 to a point between the interior 16 and exterior 17 of the cover 15. When the cover 15 is in the closed position, a screw 23 extends through the first bore 21 and into the second bore 22 to provide a safety lock which ensures that the apparatus 10 remains closed.”

This clear recognition of the cremation ash security problem notwithstanding, the fact remains that the screw 23 used to secure the cover 15 to the base 11 in the '287 patent disclosure can be unscrewed just as easily as it can be screwed down. Hence, ashes stored in this device are still in danger of being spilled and/or lost. In other words, the screw system taught in the '287 patent fails to provide a “permanent” security system for such ashes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,116 (incorporated herein by reference) teaches a keepsake preserving jewelry piece having a front cover that is attached to a back cover e.g., by a compression flange/cavity arrangement or by threaded engagement of the front cover to the back cover. As an added security measure, this patent disclosure also teaches addition of a silicone sealant to its flange/cavity and/or its threaded engagement system. This silicone sealant does indeed serve to “permanently” seal the front cover to the back cover. However, the silicone bead needed to achieve this added measure of security is usually difficult, tedious and messy to properly apply.

Accordingly, there is a need for a closure mechanism that permanently seals a chamber, container or vessel portion of a keepsake storage device to prevent accidental or deliberate opening of such devices. Concomitantly, there is a need for portable USB flash memory devices to be readily accessible while being used in conjunction with a permanently sealed portable keepsake storage chamber device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The USB flash drive/keepsake storage devices of this patent disclosure have several embodiments. They all include a housing with at least one accessible first chamber for holding a USB flash drive and at least one second, permanently sealable, chamber for storing objects or materials such as cremation ashes, dried flowers (e.g., from a wedding, funeral, or other event), locks of hair, etc. Applicants' overall USB flash drive/keepsake storage devices are readily portable by a human being. They can be fashioned into various shapes such as a heart, a dog bone, animal shapes, etc. These devices also can be fashioned in various forms e.g., pendant jewelry, key chain keepsakes, money clips or other portable keepsake storage devices. In any case, Applicants' USB flash drive/keepsake storage devices are especially characterized by the fact that they employ a device for permanently securing (locking) its second chamber(s). Thus, Applicants' USB flash drive/keepsake devices enable a user to carry and repeatedly access electronic data stored on its USB flash drive (e.g., data concerned with a deceased loved one) while safely maintaining the cremation ashes of that loved one.

A variety of “permanent” (i.e., virtually non-removable) locking mechanisms can be employed for securing the contents of Applicants' second (keepsake storage) chamber(s). They include: (1) a bolt that can only turn one way and, hence, which cannot be unscrewed—thereby permanently locking the keepsake storage chamber shut; (2) a bolt having a slip latch wherein the slip latch cooperates with a keepsake chamber cover in such a manner that it can permanently lock the keepsake chamber; (3) a cap that expands and lodges under a blocking shoulder ring when said cap is inserted in the keepsake storage chamber; (4) a flanged insert with movable levers that outwardly expand when inserted in a keepsake chamber—thereby permanently locking said cap in the keepsake storage chamber; and (5) a keepsake storage device having one or more storage chambers whose cover(s) is (are) provided with one or more very tightly engaging, compression fitting C-shaped clamps.

This patent disclosure is also concerned with methods for storing both digital information (e.g., digital information concerned with a deceased person) and keepsake objects (e.g., the cremation ashes of the deceased person) in a portable USB flash drive/keepsake storage device. Accordingly, all such methods comprise: (a) providing a housing having: (1) at least one repeatedly accessible first chamber, (2) at least one removable first chamber cover, (3) at least one fastener receptacle, (4) at least one permanently sealable second chamber and (5) at least one permanently sealable second chamber cover; (b) loading a USB flash device into an accessible first chamber; (c) placing the removable first chamber cover in a closed position; (d) placing a tangible object within a permanently sealable second chamber; (e) placing a second chamber cover in a closed position; and (f) activating a non-removable securing device in locking engagement with a permanently sealable second chamber cover to permanently secure the tangible object within said second chamber.

As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” should be considered as open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in meaning. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

Various embodiments of the present inventions are set forth in the drawings associated with this patent disclosure, as well as in the following detailed discussions of those drawings. It should be understood, however, that these drawings and discussions do not contain every possible aspect or embodiment of the present invention. That is to say that the drawings, and the ensuing discussions of them, are not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner, and that the invention(s) disclosed herein will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to encompass obvious improvements and modifications thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 shown provided with a removable USB flash drive cover that is detached from the remainder of the device while a cover for a keepsake chamber remains permanently attached to said remainder of the device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end, cross-sectional view of one of Applicants' flash drive/keepsake storage devices shown with a representative detached securing mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of a permanent securing mechanism for the device that is based upon the use of a non-reversible bolt head.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the non-reversible bolt head shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of a permanent securing mechanism in the form of a bolt provided with a slip latch.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of another permanent securing mechanism that is shown in its open position.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 11 wherein the securing mechanism is shown being closed.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 11 wherein the securing mechanism is completely closed.

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention wherein a permanent securing mechanism is depicted as being in an open position.

FIG. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 14 wherein the securing mechanism is being closed.

FIG. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 14 wherein the securing mechanism is fully engaged.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of yet another embodiment of this invention wherein the housing of the device contains two permanently sealable keepsake chambers that are respectively secured by a cover plate having two compression fitting C-shaped clamps on its underside.

FIG. 18 is an end, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of this invention that employs a securing mechanism that is activated by a downward pressure on said mechanism.

These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the exterior features of a representative USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 10 constructed according to the teachings of the present patent disclosure. The device 10 has a housing 12 that contains a first (or USB flash drive) chamber and a second (or keepsake storage) chamber. The housing 12 may further comprise an attachment device 14 such as a ring to facilitate attachment of the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 10 to another article such as a hook, necklace, keychain, bracelet and the like. The housing 12 includes a readily removable cap 16. This cap 16 serves to protect a USB flash drive contained within the device 10. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that, although shown suggesting a compression fitting removable cap 16, access to the USB flash drive in the first chamber may be provided by a different type of removable cap, such as a swinging or hinged cap. It also might be noted here that the overall housing 12, including the removable cap 16, may possess alternate configurations e.g., heart shaped, rectangular, square, oval, etc. In any case, the housing 12 will further comprise a non-removable housing portion 18 that may also serve to protect the USB flash drive. The housing 12 is also shown provided with a keepsake chamber cover 20 that can be placed in permanently sealed engagement with either the removable USB cap 16, or the non-removable housing portion 18—as is shown in FIG. 2. The cover 20 is also shown provided with a securing mechanism 22 and an aperture 24 that contains the head of the securing mechanism 22.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 10. It shows the housing 12 containing a first, or flash drive, chamber 32 and a second, or keepsake storage, chamber 34. It might also be noted here that in various figures associated with this patent disclosure (e.g., FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 17) the accessible first chamber is depicted as being partially located in a non-removable housing portion and partially located in a removable cap that forms a part of the overall housing. These depictions notwithstanding, it should be appreciated that at least one such first chamber could be located entirely within the removable cap or entirely located within the non-removable housing portion.

Be that as it may, FIG. 2, in fact, shows a flash drive 36 partially residing in a part of the first chamber 32 that is located in the non-removable housing portion 18. FIG. 2 also suggests that the keepsake chamber cover 20 is attachable to the non-removable housing portion 18 by operation of a permanent securing mechanism 22 such as a threaded bolt that penetrates the cover 20 and mechanically cooperates with a threaded receptacle 26 in the wall 28 of the non-removable portion 18 of the housing 12. It should be specifically noted, however, that the cover 20 should not be removable by simply unscrewing such a threaded bolt 22. The particular non-removable threaded bolt of FIG. 2 is shown by way of example only. Indeed, the securing mechanism 22 may comprise a variety of non-threaded, non-removable securing devices hereinafter more fully described. It might also be noted here that, in at least one embodiment of this invention, the chamber cover 20 may be made of a substantially clear material to enable viewing of the contents (e.g., hair sample, flower sample, or other memento) within the keepsake chamber 34. The inside rim of the cover 20 may also be provided with a gasket 21 (e.g., one made of a compressible polymeric material such as a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber e.g., styrene-butadiene, a polymeric material e.g., cellular polystyrene, etc.) that is affixed (e.g., by gluing) to the inside rim of the cover 20. The gasket 21 may also be seated in a groove (not seen) located on the rearward side 23 of the cover 20. As seen in FIG. 2, a light 30 also may be provided within the keepsake chamber 34 to enable better viewing of the contents of said chamber.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 10 is again shown with its USB cap 16 separated from the non-removable housing portion 18. It should be noted however that when said USB cap 16 is so removed, the threaded securing mechanism 22 remains engaged with the threaded receptacle 26 seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. That is to say that the chamber cover 20 remains in chamber-sealing engagement with the chamber wall 28 once the permanent securing mechanism 22 is engaged—whether or not the cap 16 is removed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, cross-sectional, view of the USB flash drive/keepsake device 10. Among other things, it shows that a protective inner barrier 38 is located between the keepsake chamber 34 and the USB flash drive chamber 32. Hence, the two chambers 32 and 34 are separate and distinct from one another. FIG. 4 also shows how, in some embodiments of this invention, the USB cap 16 will include one or more braces 40 for frictionally engaging a portion of the USB flash drive 36.

FIG. 5 is an end, cross-sectional, view of the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 10. As noted above, the chamber cover 20 will eventually be permanently secured to some part of the housing using a variety of non-removable, and hence “permanent,” securing mechanisms. For example, FIG. 5 depicts the use of a non-removable bolt hereinafter more fully described with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7, as a permanent securing mechanism 22.

FIG. 6 depicts, in cross section, a non-removable threaded bolt 42 being used in conjunction with a cover plate 20 and a chamber wall 28. Said non-removable threaded bolt 42 includes a top 44 that has a base 46 and a bolt head component 48. This bolt head component 48 has a left bolt head portion 48A and a right bolt head portion 48B. A slot 50 for receiving a screwdriver tip (not shown) resides between the left and right bolt head portions 48A and 48B. The respective perpendicular sides of the slot 50 e.g., the perpendicular side surface 48C of the left head portion 48A of the bolt head component 48 and the perpendicular side surface 48D of the right head portion 48B respectively constitute surfaces against which a screwdriver tip (not shown) can abut when said screwdriver tip is turned in a first direction (e.g., the clockwise direction suggested by direction arrow 43 of FIG. 7). As also can be better seen in FIG. 7, the top surface of both the left bolt head portion 48A and the right bolt head portion 48B have an upwardly inclined surface such that the tip of a screwdriver (not shown) would climb up the inclined surface if one tried to use a screwdriver to turn the bolt head 48 in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise). Thus, the non-removable threaded bolt 42 can be turned in a bolt stem advancing (i.e., clockwise 43) direction only in order to advance the bolt stem 47 into the threaded receptacle 26 in the wall 28. That is to say, the non-removable threaded bolt 42 can be advanced—but not reversed—because there are no abutting engagement surfaces for the sides of a screwdriver to contact in order to unscrew the non-removable threaded bolt 42 from the threaded receptacle 26. Hence, the chamber covered by plate 20 is permanently shut after the bolt stem 47 is screwed into the receptacle 26.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the non-removable bolt 42/cover 20 system depicted in FIG. 6. Among other things, this perspective view shows the perpendicular (screwdriver tip engaging) surface 48C of the left head portion 48A of the bolt head 48. A counterpart perpendicular screwdriver tip engaging surface 48D is found on the right bolt head portion 48B. Consequently, the bolt 42 can only be turned (e.g., by a screwdriver) in a bolt advancing (e.g., clockwise) direction.

FIGS. 8-10 show another embodiment of this invention. It features another type of non-removable threaded bolt 52. The stem 58 of this bolt 52 is received in a threaded receptacle 26. The underside of bolt base 54 is provided with a slip latch 60 whose front end interior region snaps on to a nub 68 located on the side 24 S of the aperture 24 in the chamber cover 20. This action serves to permanently secure or otherwise lock the keepsake chamber 34 shut. By way of further explanation, FIGS. 9 and 10 show that the non-removable threaded bolt 52 includes a slip latch 60 having: (1) a flexible leading portion 64 that passes over the nub 68 on the sidewall 24 S of the aperture 24 in the cover plate 20 and (2) a female receptacle 66 for receiving the nub 68 on the sidewall 24 S. This engagement occurs at the end of the last rotation of the advancing non-removable threaded bolt 42. As seen in the bottom view depicted in FIG. 10, the presence of the male nub 68 in the female latch receptacle 66 of the slip latch 60 prevents reverse rotation of the non-removable threaded bolt 42, thereby preventing access to the keepsake chamber 34 once it is permanently closed (e.g., after cremation ashes are placed in the chamber covered by said plate 20).

In an alternative embodiment of this invention, the front end exterior region of the slip latch 60 can be provided with a protruding element such as the one shown (in dotted lines) as item 67 in FIG. 9 (the top view of the device shown in FIG. 8). This protruding element 67 can—on the last turn of the bolt 52—enter a female receptor in the sidewall 24 S of the aperture 24. Thus, item 68 in FIG. 8, in this alternative embodiment, can be thought of as such a female receptor for the protruding element 67 on the front end exterior region of the slip latch 60. It should also be appreciated that the bolt head 52 in either of these two embodiments can be a non-reversible bolt head of the type shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 11-13 depict another kind of non-removable securing mechanism that can be used in the practice of the present invention. It comprises a keepsake chamber sealing device 70 that can be made a component of the USB flash drive/keepsake storage devices of this patent disclosure. A representative way in which this association can be made is shown in FIG. 18. In any case, FIG. 11 depicts the keepsake storing device 70 in its unlocked state. The device 70 has walls 72 and a bottom 74 that define a vessel 75 having an inner chamber 76 in which objects or materials (e.g., cremation ashes) can be permanently stored. The securing or locking mechanism of this device 70 has a flexible pressure receiving plate 78 that can receive a downwardly directed force 80 (e.g., supplied by a human hand). A plunger stem 82 made of a flexible material such as rubber, is affixed to the underside 79 of the flexible pressure receiving plate 78. This plunger stem 82 has an upper plunger stem ring 84 and a lower plunger stem ring 86 respectively affixed to it. The locking mechanism also has a flexible elastomeric plug 88 whose outer rim is designated as 88R. The flexible plug 88 also has a hole (not shown) through which the plunger stem 82 passes. This hole is large enough to pass the plunger stem 82, but not large enough to pass the upper plunger stem ring 84. The inner side 89 of the vessel 75 is provided with a rigidly affixed blocking shoulder ring 92.

FIG. 12 depicts the keepsake storing device 70 as it is being permanently closed. The downward force 80 applied to the flexible pressure receiving plate 78 causes said plate 78 to be deformed in a concave (i.e., downward) manner. This action drives the plunger stem 82 downward. Consequently, the upper plunger ring 84 is driven downward as well. This action, in turn, causes the flexible elastomeric plug 88 to be deformed in a concave manner (i.e., downward). Consequently, the rim 88R of the flexible, elastomeric plug 88 is forced downward along the vertical sides of the blocking shoulder ring 92. Eventually, the rim 88R of the flexible, elastomeric plug 88 will be forced past the lower edge of the blocking shoulder ring 92.

FIG. 13 depicts the mechanical consequences of forcing the rim 88R of the flexible, elastomeric plug 88 past the lower edge of the blocking shoulder ring 92. Namely, under the influence of its elastomeric “memory,” the elastomeric plug 88—including its rim 88R—will seek to expand back to its original diameter (i.e., its diameter prior to being forced past the blocking shoulder ring 92). Hence, the elastomeric plug 88 will expand radially (i.e., outward) until it abuts against the inside surface 89 of the vessel wall 72. Moreover, the rim 88R will come to rest and be “locked” underneath the bottom surface of the blocking shoulder ring 92. Hence, the undersurface 79 of the pressure receiving plate 78 will be firmly pressed against the upper rim 90 of the vessel wall such that the vessel 75 is permanently sealed shut.

FIGS. 14-16 depict yet another permanently sealable keepsake storage device 94. FIG. 14 shows the device 94 in its unsealed state. This device 94 also has walls 96 and a bottom 98 that define a vessel 100 having a chamber 102 in which objects or materials such as cremation ashes can be permanently stored. The securing or locking mechanism of this device has a pressure receiving plate 104 that receives a downwardly directed force 106 (e.g., supplied by a human hand). A plunger stem 108 is affixed to the underside 110 of the pressure receiving plate 104. The plunger stem 108 has a collar 112 rigidly attached to it. The collar 112 has a plurality of arms 114, 116, etc. that radiate outwardly from said collar 112. These arms 114, 116, etc. are respectively provided with a biasing mechanism such as a spring 118, 119, etc. The inner side 120 of the vessel 100, near its top rim 122, is shown provided with a rigidly affixed blocking shoulder ring 124.

FIG. 15 depicts the keepsake storing device 94 as it is being closed. A downward force 106 is applied to the pressure plate 104. This forces the plunger stem 108 downward. Consequently, the collar 112, and the arms 114, 116, etc. attached to it, are driven downward. This, in turn, causes the tip of each arm (e.g., tip 126 of arm 114 and tip 128 of arm 116, etc.) to be driven downward along the vertical sides of the blocking shoulder ring 124. Eventually, these tips 126, 128, etc. will be forced past the lower edge of the blocking shoulder ring 124.

FIG. 16 depicts the mechanical consequences of forcing the tips 126, 128, etc. of the arms 114, 116, etc. past the lower edge of the blocking shoulder ring 124. Under the influence of the respective springs 118, 119, etc. respectively attached to the arms 114 and 116, the tips 126, 128 of said arms will seek to expand radially outward. That is to say that these tips 126, 128, etc. will radially (i.e., outwardly) expand until they abut against the inside surface 120 of the vessel walls 96. Moreover, these tips will come to rest (and hence be “locked”) underneath the bottom surface of the blocking shoulder ring 124. Consequently, the undersurface 110 of the pressure receiving plate 104 will be firmly pressed against the upper rim 122 of the vessel wall 96 and thereby permanently sealing the chamber 102 shut.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of this invention. This USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 130 has a housing 131 that has a non-removable housing portion 132 and a removable housing portion 134. The non-removable portion 132 is shown provided with an attachment device 133 for hanging this USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 130 in pendant fashion (e.g., on a necklace). A USB flash drive device 136 is shown partially residing in a first (or flash drive) chamber 138. A top portion 138A of this chamber 138 is located in the non-removable housing portion 132. A bottom portion 138B of the chamber 138 is located in the removable housing portion 134. The removable housing portion 134 is shown equipped with two braces 140 and 142 that respectively frictionally engage with the top and bottom surfaces of the flash drive 136 when the removable housing portion 134 is attached to the non-removable housing portion 132.

Next it should be noted that such a USB flash drive/keepsake storage device can have one or more separate and distinct keepsake storage chambers. For example, the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device 130 of FIG. 17 has a first keepsake storage chamber 144 that resides in the non-removable housing portion 132 and a second keepsake storage chamber 146 that resides in the removable housing portion 134. The first keepsake storage chamber 144 has a separate and distinct first cover plate 148. The second keepsake storage chamber 146 has a comparable second cover plate 150. The underside of the first cover plate 148 is shown provided with a first post that terminates in a C-shaped clamp 156 and a second post that terminates in another C-shaped clamp 158. The C-shaped clamp 156 tightly clamps around (in a tight, and hence strongly holding, compression fit) a post 152 located within the first keepsake chamber 144. In a similar manner, C-clamp 158 fits around a second post 154 in the first keepsake chamber 144 in a similar tight (and hence strongly holding) compression fit. It should also be appreciated that these cover plates need only one C-clamp in order to adequately function as securing or locking devices of the type described above.

It should also be noted that when it is covering the opening of the first keepsake chamber 144, the first cover plate 148 will rest upon a carved out, seating ledge 157 that surrounds the cover plate receiving opening of the first keepsake storage chamber 144. Thus, the first cover plate 148 can seal the opening of the first keepsake storage chamber 144 by (1) a tight compression fit of the C-shaped clamps 156 and 158 respectively around posts 152 and 154 and (2) a compression fit of the plate cover 148 against walls 143 of the opening of the chamber 144 that is located above the seating ledge 157.

C-shaped clamps 160 and 162 are likewise attached to posts (not shown) on the underside of the second cover plate 150. They engage posts 153 and 155 in the second keepsake chamber 146. The second cover plate 150 also rests upon a ledge seating surface 159. Said cover plate 150 will also reside in the opening of the second keepsake chamber 146 in a tight compression fit with the vertical side surface 145 of the ledge seating surface 159 in order to permanently seal said second chamber 146. Finally, it should be noted that the removable housing portion 134 can be attached to the non-removable portion 132 by means of a tab 164 in the non-removable portion 132 that snuggly (but not lockingly) fits into a top receptacle 166 in the removable housing portion 134.

FIG. 18 illustrates how the keepsake storage devices (in their permanently closed states) shown in FIGS. 13 and 16 can be incorporated into the USB flash drive/keepsake storage device depicted in FIG. 5. By way of example only, the keepsake storage device of FIG. 13 is shown residing in a USB flash drive/keepsake storage device similar to the one depicted in FIG. 5.

Finally, those skilled in this art will appreciate that, while this invention has been described in detail and with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this patent disclosure.

Claims

1. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having at least one first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, at least one second chamber for receiving a keepsake item and at least one mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device;

a cap for covering/uncovering a first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing a second chamber; and

a securing device for permanently securing a second chamber after a keepsake item has been placed in said second chamber.

2. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a bolt having a head that can be turned in only one direction thereby rendering said bolt non-removable.

3. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a bolt having a head that is provided with a slip latch that has a male component that engages with a receptacle in a wall of the second chamber and thereby rendering said bolt non-removable.

4. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a bolt having a head that is provided with a slip latch that has a female component that engages with a protrusion in a wall of the second chamber and thereby rendering said bolt non-removable.

5. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a cap having a flexible plate that expands when forced past a blocking shoulder ring located on the inside of the second chamber.

6. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a cover plate attached to movable levers that outwardly expand when forced past a blocking shoulder ring located on the inside of a second chamber.

7. The USB flash drive/keepsake storage device of claim 1 wherein the securing device is a chamber cover plate whose underside is provided with one or more compression fitting C-shaped clamps that respectively engage with receiver post(s) located in said second chamber.

8. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item and a mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device;

a removable cap for covering/uncovering the first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing the second chamber; and

a bolt that has a head that allows said bolt to be rotated in one direction only and thereby permanently locking the second chamber after a keepsake item has been placed in said second chamber.

9. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item and a mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device;

a cap for covering/uncovering the first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing the second chamber; and

a bolt that has a head having a left bolt head portion and a right bolt head portion that are each provided with an upwardly inclined surface such that a tip of a screwdriver would climb up either inclined surface if one tried to turn the bolt head in a direction opposite to the direction used to advance said bolt.

10. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item, a mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device and a device for hanging the device in a pendant fashion;

a removable cap for covering/uncovering the first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing the second chamber; and

a bolt having a head that is provided with a slip latch that engages with a side wall of an aperture in the cover and thereby permanently locking said second chamber after a keepsake item has been placed in said second chamber.

11. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item and a mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device;

a removable cap for recovering/uncovering the first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing the second chamber; and

a bolt having a head whose underside is provided with a slip latch whose front end exterior region has a male component that engages with a receptacle in a wall of an aperture of the second chamber and thereby rendering said bolt non-removable.

12. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item and a mechanism for cooperatively receiving a securing device;

a removable cap for covering/uncovering the first chamber;

a cover for permanently sealing the second chamber; and

a bolt having a head whose underside is provided with a slip latch whose front end interior region has a female component that engages with a protrusion in a wall of an aperture of the second chamber and thereby rendering said bolt non-removable.

13. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, a second chamber for permanently receiving a keepsake item and wherein said second chamber has at least one post for cooperatively receiving at least one compression fitting C-clamp;

a removable cap for covering/uncovering the first chamber; and

a cover whose underside is provided with at least one compression fitting C-shaped clamp that engages with a receiver post located in said second chamber.

14. A USB flash drive/keepsake storage device comprising:

a housing having: (1) a first chamber for receiving a USB flash drive, (2) a second chamber located in a non-removable portion of the housing, for permanently storing a keepsake item and (3) a second chamber, located in a removable cap portion of the housing, for permanently storing a keepsake item;

a cover for the second chamber in the non-removable portion of the housing and wherein said cover has an underside provided with two compression fitting C-shaped clamps that respectively engage two receiver posts located in the second chamber located in the non-removable portion of the housing; and

a cover for the second chamber in the removable cap portion of the housing and wherein said cover has an underside provided with two compression fitting C-shaped clamps that respectively engage two receiver posts located in the second chamber located in the removable cap.

15. A method of storing digital information and keepsake objects within a portable USB flash drive/keepsake storing device, said method comprising:

providing a portable housing with a first chamber for removably storing a USB flash drive and a second chamber for permanently storing a keepsake item;

loading a USB flash drive into the first chamber;

enclosing the first chamber with a removable cap;

placing a keepsake item in the second chamber; and

enclosing the second chamber with a non-removable cover through operation of a non-removable locking device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the enclosing of the second chamber is by operation of a bolt having a head that can be turned in one direction only.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the closing of the second chamber is by operation of a bolt having a slip latch that engages with a wall of an aperture in the non-removable cover of the second chamber.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the closing of the second chamber is by operation of a cap having a flexible plate that expands when forced past a blocking shoulder ring located on an inside surface of the second chamber.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the closing of the second chamber is by operation of a cap having movable levers that outwardly expand when forced past a blocking shoulder ring located on an inside surface of the second chamber.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the closing of the second chamber is by operation of a cover whose underside is provided with at least one compression fitting C-shaped clamp that engage(s) with a receiver post located in said second chamber.