Magnifying Container Apparatus
A magnifying container apparatus including a generally cylindrical member and one or more magnifying lenses is provided for magnifying, viewing, and carrying items. A magnifying lens is detachably connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member to close the lower end. The magnifying lens magnifies the items present below the magnifying lens. The cylindrical member accommodates and carries the items within a space defined by a generally cylindrical wall and between an open upper end and the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The magnifying container apparatus further includes a threaded rod, a threaded wheel, and a generally cylindrical sieve member. The sieve member drains a predetermined amount of an extraneous element from the magnifying container apparatus, when the threaded rod, in communication with the threaded wheel, traverses the magnifying lens from the lower end of the cylindrical member toward a lower end of the sieve member.
This patent application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 14/083,454, titled “Magnifying Container Apparatus”, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 19, 2013.
The specification and drawings of the above referenced application are incorporated by reference into this application.
BACKGROUNDMagnifying lenses, generally made of glass, are typically used in a wide range of products, for example, handheld lenses, telescopes, cameras, etc., for magnifying items. Magnifying lenses also find applications in under water viewing and aquatic research. A handheld device, for example, a handheld telescope, is generally used to view items, for example, elements of marine life such as starfish, sea shells, mussels, shrimp, plants, moss, rocks, pebbles, etc. Researchers and diving experts carry shovels, bags, buckets, etc., along with the handheld telescopes for viewing and carrying items. They view the items using the handheld telescopes and then transfer the items into the bags or buckets using the shovels. A magnifying lens is typically provided as an independent component in a kit, for example, a beach bucket kit. The beach bucket kit includes a bucket, a shovel, and a handheld magnifying lens. A user views items in a shallow sea bed using the handheld magnifying lens and then uses the shovel to transfer the items from the shallow sea bed to the bucket. The user then carries the items in the bucket. The user has to carry two independent components, that is, the bucket and the handheld magnifying lens separately for performing multiple functions, for example, magnifying, viewing, and carrying different items, which requires more effort and is inconvenient.
Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a combination magnifying container apparatus that allows a user to perform multiple functions, for example, magnifying, viewing, and carrying different items, for example, elements of marine life such as starfish, sea shells, mussels, shrimp, plants, moss, rocks, pebbles, etc., without having to carry separate independent components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The apparatus disclosed herein addresses the above mentioned need for a combination magnifying container apparatus that allows a user to perform multiple functions such as magnifying, viewing, and carrying different items, without having to carry separate independent components. As used herein, the term “item” refers to any object, for example, elements of marine life such as starfish, sea shells, mussels, shrimp, plants, moss, rocks, pebbles, other aquatic elements, insects such as spiders, ants, etc., frogs, and other animals, etc., that can be viewed or identified at different areas, for example, in a shallow sea bed, an ocean, a pool, a bath tub, etc. The magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein comprises a generally cylindrical member and one or more magnifying lenses. The cylindrical member is configured, for example, in the shape of a bucket such as a cylindrical bucket, a truncated cone shaped bucket, etc. The cylindrical member comprises an open upper end and a lower end separated by a generally cylindrical wall extending therebetween. A magnifying lens is detachably connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member to close the lower end of the cylindrical member. The magnifying lens is, for example, a convex lens, a concave lens, or a combination thereof.
In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus further comprises a lower threaded section configured proximal to the lower end of the cylindrical member and along the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member. A threaded edge of the magnifying lens is detachably engaged with the lower threaded section of the cylindrical member for detachably connecting the magnifying lens to the lower end of the cylindrical member. In another embodiment, the magnifying lens is hingedly connected to the lower end of the cylindrical member for opening and closing the lower end of the cylindrical member. The magnifying lens is configured to magnify and identify the items present below the magnifying lens and to enable viewing of the items. The cylindrical member accommodates and carries the items within a space defined by the cylindrical wall and between the open upper end and the closed lower end. The magnifying container apparatus enables a user to magnify and identify items, for example, sea shells, mussels, shrimp, etc., from a sea bed and to pick them up.
In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises one or more supplementary magnifying lenses of predetermined sizes positioned within the space defined by the cylindrical wall and between the open upper end and the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The supplementary magnifying lenses are connected along an inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member. The supplementary magnifying lenses comprise, for example, a concave lens, a convex lens, or a combination thereof. The supplementary magnifying lenses traverse along a track configured along the inner surface of the cylindrical wall from the open upper end to the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises a handle member detachably attached at the open upper end of the cylindrical member. The handle member is configured to be held by a user for carrying the magnifying container apparatus. In another embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises one or more handle grips defined proximal to the open upper end of the cylindrical member. The handle grips are configured to be gripped by a user for gripping the magnifying container apparatus.
In another embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises one or more pouches attached at the open upper end of the cylindrical member for storing one or more of the items. In another embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises a spout defined at the open upper end of the cylindrical member. The spout converges flow of an extraneous element contained in the magnifying container apparatus and conveys the extraneous element out from the magnifying container apparatus. As used herein, the term “extraneous element” refers to any element, for example, water or another liquid, sand, etc., that is external to the items to be magnified, viewed, or collected by a user. In another embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises one or more light sources operably connected to one or more locations on the cylindrical member. The light sources illuminate the magnifying container apparatus and areas proximal to the magnifying container apparatus.
In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises a trap assembly detachably attached to the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The trap assembly comprises, for example, a rod member and a net member. The rod member is hingedly connected to the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The rod member is configured to accommodate particles, for example, food particles to attract items such as fish for viewing through the magnifying lens. The net member is detachably attached to the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The net member traps the items below the closed lower end of the cylindrical member.
In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein is also used for carrying the items in a desired or selectable amount of an extraneous element, for example, water in the magnifying container apparatus. In this embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus disclosed herein further comprises at least one guide ring member, a threaded rod, a threaded wheel, and a generally cylindrical sieve member. The guide ring member is fixedly attached to an outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member. The threaded rod is slidably inserted into the guide ring member. The magnifying lens is operably connected to a lower end of the threaded rod proximal to the lower end of the cylindrical member. The threaded rod changes a position of the magnifying lens by a linear movement of the threaded rod in an upward direction and a downward direction. The threaded wheel is positioned on the outer cylindrical wall of the cylindrical member. The threaded wheel operably engages with the threaded rod to transfer a rotary motion of the threaded wheel to the threaded rod for the linear movement of the threaded rod in the upward direction and the downward direction. The cylindrical sieve member extends from the closed lower end of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical sieve member is configured to drain a predetermined amount of an extraneous element, for example, water or another liquid, sand, etc., from the magnifying container apparatus, when the threaded rod, in communication with the threaded wheel, traverses the magnifying lens from the closed lower end of the cylindrical member towards a lower end of the cylindrical sieve member.
Disclosed herein is also a method for magnifying and viewing items, and carrying the items in a desired or selectable amount of an extraneous element in the magnifying container apparatus. A user magnifies and views the items present below the magnifying lens in the extraneous element via the magnifying lens of the magnifying container apparatus. The user collects and accommodates the items along with the extraneous element in the space defined by the cylindrical wall and between the open upper end and the closed lower end of the cylindrical member of the magnifying container apparatus. The user drains a predetermined amount of the extraneous element accommodated in the space of the cylindrical member via the cylindrical sieve member of the magnifying container apparatus to the selectable amount, by lowering the magnifying lens towards the lower end of the cylindrical sieve member. The user can lower the magnifying lens by rotating the threaded wheel operably engaged with the threaded rod to transfer the rotary motion of the threaded wheel to the threaded rod for linearly moving the threaded rod from a first position to a second position in the downward direction. The first position is proximal to the closed lower end of the cylindrical member and the second position is proximal to the lower end of the cylindrical sieve member. The user can then raise the magnifying lens towards the lower end of the cylindrical member by linearly moving the threaded rod, in communication with the threaded wheel, from the second position to the first position in the upward direction, to close the lower end of the cylindrical member and carry the items in the selectable amount of the extraneous element in the magnifying container apparatus.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and components disclosed herein. The description of a structure or a method step referenced by a numeral in a drawing carries over to the description of that structure or method step shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.
The cylindrical member 101 of the magnifying container apparatus 100 is configured in different cross-sectional shapes, for example, a generally cylindrical shape, a generally conical shape, a generally trapezoidal shape, etc. In an embodiment, the cylindrical member 101 is made of a transparent material. The cylindrical member 101 is configured, for example, in the shape of a bucket such as a cylindrical bucket, a truncated cone shaped bucket, etc. The cylindrical member 101 comprises an open upper end 101a and a lower end 101b separated by a generally cylindrical wall 101d extending therebetween. The magnifying lens 102 is detachably connected at an inner periphery 101c of the lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101 to close the lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101. The magnifying lens 102 is, for example, a concave lens, a convex lens, or a combination thereof of different shapes, sizes, and shades of color. The magnifying lens 102 is configured to magnify and identify the items 201 present below the magnifying lens 102 and to enable viewing of the items 201. The cylindrical member 101 accommodates and carries the items 201 within a space 104 defined by the cylindrical wall 101d and between the open upper end 101a and the closed lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101. In an embodiment, the magnifying container apparatus 100 disclosed herein further comprises a handle member 103 detachably attached at the open upper end 101a of the cylindrical member 101. The handle member 103 is configured to be held by a user for carrying the magnifying container apparatus 100.
In an embodiment, the magnifying lens 102 is retractable and can be slidably retracted to open the lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101 for draining the magnifying container apparatus 100. In this embodiment, the magnifying lens 102 can be rotated out from below the lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101, for example, by a rod (not shown) connected to a lower surface of the magnifying lens 102.
In an example, a user attaches food particles 1101, for example, fish food, worms, etc., on the rod member 113 of the magnifying container apparatus 100 and hooks the rod member 113 to the closed lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101 via a hook member 116 attached to the distal end 113b of the rod member 113. The hook member 116 is hooked onto a hook receiver 117 provided at a diametrically opposing edge 101h of the closed lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101. The user holds the magnifying container apparatus 100 over the extraneous element 202, for example, water and leaves the net member 114 in an open position as exemplarily illustrated in
As exemplarily illustrated in
The cylindrical sieve member 124 extends from the closed lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101. The cylindrical sieve member 124 is configured to drain a predetermined amount of the extraneous element 202 from the magnifying container apparatus 100, when the threaded rod 122, in communication with the threaded wheel 123, traverses the magnifying lens 102 from the first position 125 proximal to the closed lower end 101b of the cylindrical member 101 exemplarily illustrated in
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention disclosed herein. While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.
Claims
1. A method for magnifying and viewing items using a magnifying container apparatus, said method comprising:
- providing said magnifying container apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical member comprising an open upper end and a lower end separated by a generally cylindrical wall extending therebetween; one or more magnifying lenses detachably connected to said lower end of said generally cylindrical member to close said lower end of said generally cylindrical member; and a trap assembly detachably attached to said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member, wherein said trap assembly comprises: a rod member hingedly connected to said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member, wherein said rod member is adapted to accommodate particles; and a net member detachably attached to said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member;
- magnifying and viewing said items present below said magnifying lens via said magnifying lens of said magnifying container apparatus.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, accommodating said items in a space defined by said generally cylindrical wall between said open upper end and said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member of said magnifying container apparatus.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said trap member traps said items below said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member.
4. A method for magnifying and viewing items using a magnifying container apparatus, said method comprising:
- providing said magnifying container apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical member comprising an open upper end and a lower end separated by a generally cylindrical wall extending therebetween; one or more magnifying lenses detachably connected to said lower end of said generally cylindrical member to close said lower end of said generally cylindrical member; and one or more supplementary magnifying lenses of predetermined sizes positioned within said space defined by said generally cylindrical wall and between said open upper end and said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member, and connected along an inner surface of said generally cylindrical wall of said generally cylindrical member;
- magnifying and viewing said items present below said one or more magnifying lenses via said magnifying lens of said magnifying container apparatus;
- adjusting magnification by altering position of said one or more supplementary magnifying lenses, wherein said one or more supplementary magnifying lenses traverse along a track located along said inner surface of said generally cylindrical wall from said open upper end to said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member.
5. A method for magnifying and viewing items, and carrying said items in a selectable amount of an extraneous element, said method comprising:
- providing a magnifying container apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical member comprising an open upper end and a lower end separated by a generally cylindrical wall extending therebetween; a magnifying lens detachably connected to said lower end of said generally cylindrical member to close said lower end of said generally cylindrical member; at least one guide ring member fixedly attached to an outer said generally cylindrical wall of said generally cylindrical member; a threaded rod slidably inserted into said at least one guide ring member, said threaded rod adapted to change a position of said magnifying lens operably connected to a lower end of said threaded rod proximal to said lower end of said generally cylindrical member, by a linear movement of said threaded rod in an upward direction and a downward direction; a threaded wheel positioned on said outer said generally cylindrical wall of said generally cylindrical member, said threaded wheel adapted to operably engage with said threaded rod to transfer a rotary motion of said threaded wheel to said threaded rod for said linear movement of said threaded rod in said upward direction and said downward direction; and a generally cylindrical sieve member extending from said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member;
- magnifying and viewing said items present below said magnifying lens in said extraneous element via said magnifying lens of said magnifying container apparatus;
- accommodating said items along with said extraneous element in a space defined by said generally cylindrical wall and between said open upper end and said closed lower end of said generally cylindrical member of said magnifying container apparatus;
- draining a predetermined amount of said extraneous element accommodated in said space of said generally cylindrical member of said magnifying container apparatus via said generally cylindrical sieve member of said magnifying container apparatus to said selectable amount, by lowering said magnifying lens towards a lower end of said generally cylindrical sieve member by said linear movement of said threaded rod, in communication with said threaded wheel, from a first position to a second position in said downward direction; and
- raising said magnifying lens towards said lower end of said generally cylindrical member of said magnifying container apparatus by said linear movement of said threaded rod, in communication with said threaded wheel, from said second position to said first position in said upward direction, to close said lower end of said generally cylindrical member and carry said items in said selectable amount of said extraneous element in said magnifying container apparatus.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first position is proximal to said lower end of said generally cylindrical member and said second position is proximal to said lower end of said generally cylindrical sieve member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 31, 2017
Publication Date: May 18, 2017
Inventor: Seneca S. Cooper (Paulsboro, NJ)
Application Number: 15/420,102