MULTI-CHAIN JEWELRY BOX HOLDER

Abstract

The present invention discloses a jewelry storage apparatus and method of use. The jewelry storage apparatus generally comprises a horizontally elongate container with a lid and a base to define an interior chamber and a plurality of holding fixture adapted to securely fasten a wide range of styles and sizes of jewelry inside the interior chamber.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/830,187 filed Jun. 3, 2013. The entire contents of the above application are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of containers for small items. More specifically, the present invention relates to containers for storing and organizing jewelry.

BACKGROUND

Jewelry, and particularly necklaces and bracelets with chains, are usually stored in a jewelry box or in a drawer. As a result, the necklace and bracelet chains often become tangled and locating a particular necklace or item of jewelry becomes difficult. There are numerous but yet inadequate prior attempts to organize jewelry, particularly for travel purposes. While there are jewelry boxes that have holes to accommodate earrings and U-shaped slots to hold necklaces and bracelet chains, they are not suitable for travel purposes due to their size and orientation constraints. There are commercially available jewelry holders for travel purposes that include a series of pouches; however, the jewelry essentially becomes “lost” in the relatively large pouch and makes it difficult if not impossible to quickly select the necklace or bracelet the user wants to wear. Furthermore, the chains get tangled within these pouches.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to address several challenges in previous attempts to store jewelry, particularly necklaces and bracelet chains for travel purposes. The present invention discloses a jewelry storage apparatus and method of use. The jewelry storage apparatus generally comprises a horizontally elongated container with a lid and a base to define an interior chamber and a plurality of holding fixtures adapted to securely fasten a wide range of styles and sizes of jewelry inside the interior chamber. The present invention is easy to manufacture in different sizes to accommodate small and large jewelry collections of both men and women. The jewelry storage apparatus prevents damage to even the most delicate of necklace and bracelet chains and avoids detangling time before wearing the necklace. Further, the jewelry storage apparatus may store rings and earrings in addition to necklaces and bracelets. The jewelry storage apparatus may be constructed from lightweight materials, making it useful to store during air travel in checked luggage without any extra baggage weight expense. Additionally, the smaller sizes may be stored in carry-on luggage, preventing any chance of theft or loss in checked luggage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of the jewelry storage apparatus of the present invention in the open position.

FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a top view of an example of the jewelry storage apparatus of the present invention showing placement of a necklace within the apparatus in the open position.

FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a top view of an example of the jewelry storage apparatus of the present invention in the open position.

FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a perspective view an example of the jewelry storage apparatus in the closed position wherein the lid and base are pivotably attachable by a hinge structure.

FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view of an example of the jewelry storage apparatus of the present invention in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIG. 1, the jewelry storage apparatus of the present invention is comprised generally of a horizontally elongated container with a lid 101 and a base 102 that when in the closed position defines an interior chamber. The lid 101 has an interior and exterior surface and a proximal and distal end along the vertical and horizontal planes of the lid. The base 102 has an interior and exterior surface and a proximal and distal end along the vertical and horizontal planes of the base. In FIGS. 1-4, the proximal end of the horizontal plane is shown as the right side of the figures; the distal end of the horizontal plane is shown as the left side of the figures; the proximal end of the vertical plane is shown as the top side of the figures; and the distal end of the vertical plane is shown as the bottom side of the figures.

The exterior surface of the lid 101 and base 102 may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to, wood, cardboard, hardboard, chipboard, plastic, glass, metals or combinations thereof. The lid 101 and base 102 may also have a protective lining attached to their interior surfaces. The protective lining may be made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to, foam, velour, velvet, velour-type material, imitation velvet or combinations thereof.

The lid 101 may be pivotably attached to the base 102 along the distal end of the vertical plane of the lid 101 and the proximal end of the vertical plane of the base 102 to allow for both an open configuration and a closed configuration of the horizontally elongated container. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, hinges 121 may be used to pivotably attach the lid 101 to the base 102. Further, the hinges may be spring-loaded in order to keep the container in the closed position when not in use. The lid 101 may also be completely detached from the base when in the open position and attached in the closed position to the base 102 such that a press-fit seal is formed between the inner surface of the lid 101 and the outer surface of the base 102. Various other well-known methods in the prior art for opening and closing a box may be used.

The jewelry storage apparatus uses a plurality of holding fixtures that are adapted to securely fasten a wide range of styles and sizes of jewelry items inside the interior chamber. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding fixture may be comprised of hook devices attached to the interior surface of the base 102 and lid 101 that are aligned to hold a chain in a linear fashion. Hook devices 108, 111 and 114 are attached to the interior surface of the base 102 at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the base 102. Hook devices 106, 109, and 112 are attached to the interior surface of the base 102 at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the base 102. Hook devices 107, 110 and 113 are attached to the interior surface of the base 102 and align between hook devices 108, 111, 114 and 106, 109, 112, respectively. The hook devices may be of different sizes to accommodate different gauges and lengths of necklace and bracelet chains. For example, matching size hook devices 108, 107 and 106 are smaller in size than hook devices 111, 110 and 109, which are smaller in size than matching size hook devices 114, 113, and 112. Hooks devices may also be used in the lid 101. As shown in FIG. 3, hook devices 116 and 118 are attached to the interior surface of the lid 101 at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the lid 101 and they align with hooks 115 and 117 that are attached to the interior surface of the lid 101 at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the lid 101. As shown further in FIG. 3, the base 102 or lid 101 may also have a plurality of embedded storage compartments. For example, storage compartment 119 and 120 may be used to store excess lengths of chain, rings, earrings or other pieces of jewelry.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holding fixture may be comprised of a first vertical channel 103 located at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the base; a second vertical channel 104 located at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the base; and a plurality of linear lanes 105 embedded within the interior surface of the base 102 along the horizontal plane of the base 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the jewelry storage apparatus is opened by removing the lid 101 from the base 102 or opening the lid along the pivotal attachment with the base 102 and the middle portions of a necklace or bracelet chain 201 and 202 are pressed into the linear channels 105 and rest inside the edges of the linear lanes at edges 205, 206, 207 and 208. One end of the chain 204 is placed in the vertical channel 103 while the other end of the chain 203 is placed in the vertical channel 104. After pressing the middle portion of the chain into the linear lane, any remaining length of the chain may be pressed into the same lane or another linear lane or may rest inside one or more of the vertical channels 103 and 104 or other storage compartment. The lid 101 may now be closed with the base 102 in a secure fashion, such as pivotably attaching the lid 101 to the base 102 or forming a press-fit seal between lid 101 and base 102 (as discussed above) to form the interior chamber. The chains are safely stored and transported within the container. The base 102 or lid 101 may also have a plurality of embedded storage compartments. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 vertical channels 103 and 104 may be used to store excess lengths of chain, rings, earrings or other pieces of jewelry.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, this specific language intends no limitation of the scope of the invention, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the method (and components of the individual operating components of the method) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections might be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A jewelry storage apparatus comprising:

(a) a horizontally elongated container with (i) a lid having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along vertical and horizontal planes; and (ii) a base having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along vertical and horizontal planes; wherein the lid and base define an interior chamber;

(b) at least one first hook device attached to the interior surface of the base at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the base; and

(c) at least one second hook device attached to the interior surface of the base at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the base;

2. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one third hook device attached to the interior surface of the base between the proximal and distal ends of the horizontal plane of the base and aligned between the first hook device and second hook device.

3. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the base along the proximal end of the vertical plane of the base and the distal end of the vertical plane of the lid to allow for both an open configuration and a closed configuration of the horizontally elongated container.

4. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first hook device and second hook device align along a horizontal line in the base of the container.

5. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) at least one fourth hook device attached to the interior surface of the lid at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the lid; and

(b) at least one fifth hook device attached to the interior surface of the lid at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the lid.

6. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 5 wherein the fourth hook device and fifth hook device align along a horizontal line in the lid of the container.

7. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of storage compartments embedded within the interior surface of the base or the lid.

8. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the lid is made from a material comprising wood, cardboard, hardboard, chipboard, plastic, glass, metal, or combinations thereof.

9. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of the base is made from a material comprising wood, cardboard, hardboard, chipboard, plastic, glass, metal or combinations thereof.

10. A jewelry storage apparatus comprising:

(a) a horizontally elongated container with (i) a lid having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along vertical and horizontal planes; and (ii) a base having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along vertical and horizontal planes; wherein the lid and base define an interior chamber;

(b) a plurality of holding fixtures adapted to securely fasten a wide range of styles and sizes of jewelry items inside the interior chamber;

11. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the base along the proximal end of the vertical plane of the base and the distal end of the vertical plane of the lid to allow for both an open configuration and a closed configuration of the horizontally elongated container.

12. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 wherein the lid is attached to the base such that a press-fit seal is formed between the inner surface of the lid and the outer surface of the base.

13. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 wherein the holding fixture is comprised of:

(a) a first vertical channel located at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the base; and

(b) a second vertical channel located at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the base.

(c) a plurality of linear lanes embedded within the base along the horizontal plane of the base.

14. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of storage compartments embedded within the interior surface of the base or lid.

15. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a protective lining wherein the protective lining is attached to the interior surfaces of the lid and base.

16. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 15 wherein the protective lining is comprised of a material selected from the group comprising foam, velour, velvet, velour-type material, imitation velvet or combinations thereof.

17. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 wherein the exterior surface of the lid is made from a material comprising wood, cardboard, hardboard, chipboard, plastic, glass, metal, or combinations thereof.

18. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 10 wherein the exterior surface of the base is made from a material comprising wood, cardboard, hardboard, chipboard, plastic, glass, metal or combinations thereof.

19. A method for securing a necklace for storage purposes comprising:

(a) opening a jewelry storage apparatus, the jewelry storage apparatus comprising: (i) a horizontally elongated container with (x) a lid having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along the vertical and horizontal planes; (y) a base having an interior and exterior surface and proximal and distal ends along the vertical and horizontal planes;

wherein the lid and base define an interior chamber; (ii) a first vertical channel located at the proximal end of the horizontal plane of the base; and (iii) a second vertical channel located at the distal end of the horizontal plane of the base; (iii) a plurality of linear lanes embedded within the base along the horizontal plane of the base.

(b) placing one end of the chain of a necklace in the first channel;

(c) pressing at least one first middle portion of the chain of the necklace into a at least one linear lane;

(d) placing the second end of said chain of the necklace in the second channel;

(e) closing the jewelry storage apparatus.

20. The jewelry storage apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lid is attached to the base such that a press-fit seal is formed between the inner surface of the lid and the outer surface of the base.