MULTI-MODULE UTILITY CASE
A multi-module, multi-use utility case to house and protect various items in separate compartments within the utility case, that provides ready access to the various stored items, is disclosed. The multi-module utility case has a plurality of separate compartments used to store and protect various items in separate compartments or modules from other stored items. With respect to the modules, the utility case may have small, medium, and large volume modules, liquid-proof modules, heat insulated modules, spray modules, and tool specific modules such as a mirror, a contact lens case, a hair comb, and a cigar cutter. With respect to expansion capability for the utility case, supplementary elements, such as a charging or energy storage element, or a style plate, may be attached to the outside of case. The utility case may be manufactured from various thermoplastic materials including polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride, or from various metallic materials.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/956,583, filed on Jan. 2, 2020, the benefit of priority of which is claimed hereby, and the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if set forth in full.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to the field of organizing containers and, more specifically, relates to containers or utility cases that may be used to easily organize, maintain, protect, and provide ready access to a wide variety of individual or limited use items, where the utility case is formed as a multi-module/multi-compartment utility case with a plurality of openings and/or compartments formed within or housed within the case.
BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONMost everyone carries a wide variety of smaller items along with themselves during each day. Many of these items, including chewing gum, medicines, wipes, cologne or perfume, and so on, are either difficult to carry discretely in a pocket because of larger packaging, or are difficult to carry and protect as individual items. For example, carrying an entire aspirin or ibuprofen container, having hundreds of pills or tablets, when a user may only want or need one or two tablets, is cumbersome. Similarly, items such as perfumes or colognes are difficult to carry in the larger original manufacturing packaging, when all that is desired is a smaller amount for one or two individual uses. Still further, other items may need to be protected from heat, friction, or impact such as individual cleaning wipes, medications, or condoms.
While many manufacturers have acknowledged the need for individual packaging, many of these individual packets are themselves fragile or difficult to carry. What is needed is a single, compact and discrete, container or case that is flexible enough to store or house multiple, disparate items or products that may be for single use or limited use.
Various cases and containers have been designed. However, there does not appear to be any one or more of such products that have achieved consumer acceptance or commercial success. More specifically, many of these containers are designed for use with a particular type of item and are not able to accommodate different sized, different shaped, or merely disparate items, such as pills, tablets, liquid products, powder products, and other items.
Several examples of such containers and cases include U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,045,597 and 9,284,095, both granted to Caruth. The '597 patent discloses a medication carrying case having a modular interior and a deployable tray work surface. While the case structure of the '597 patent provides several different sizes and designs, the device is limited to housing and storing medication type articles.
Similarly, the '095 patent discloses a medication carrying case having a modular interior and deployable tray work surface. The '095 patent further discloses a structure that allows for the storage of several different size medication containers, which like the '597 patent is a limitation of the '095 patent. Neither the '597 nor the '095 patents provide any disclosure for a compact carrying case that discretely houses and stores a wide variety of items within various size modules such as a thermally insulated module, a liquid-proof module, a contact lens module, an electrical charger, and other similar items.
Each of these patents and other prior devices disclose certain products that have particular uses or applications, but none provides a comprehensive solution for the overall objective and need to compactly, and securely hold multiple different types of items within a single utility case where each such item may only be a single use or single application.
Accordingly, while certain of the current designs and products appear to provide certain components and elements attempting to address the need for carrying single use, or individual use items, none of these designs provides a comprehensive solution that teaches or discloses a multi-module or multi-compartment utility case for carrying and protecting a plurality of individual use items. Indeed, what is needed is a multi-module/multi-compartment utility case, that has a plurality of openings and compartments formed within the case, and a plurality of modules sized to form fit within at least one of the plurality of openings and compartments formed within the case, and further wherein the plurality of modules may include at least one of a thermal insulated module, a liquid-proof module, a spray module; an electrically insulated module, a mirror, a dental pick, an electrical charger, a hair comb module, a toothbrush module, and/or a contact lens case module. Such a device or case has not been created, disclosed, or used in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and fulfills the needs described above by providing multi-module utility case in varied embodiments using different sized, shaped, and configurations of modules that fit within the utility case.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-module utility case, comprising a case having a plurality of compartments and openings formed within said case; a plurality of modules, with each said module being sized and shaped to form fit within at least one of the plurality of compartments and openings formed within the case; a retention means incorporated into each of the case plurality of compartments wherein each retention means provides a force to hold each respective module within a respective compartment; wherein said plurality of modules are at least one of a thermal insulated module, a liquid-proof module, a spray module, an electrically insulated module, a mirror, a dental pick, an electrical charger, a hair comb module, a toothbrush module, a contact lens case module.
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-module utility case, comprising a case sleeve having a larger opening at one end, a plate sized and shaped to slide within said case sleeve larger opening and to form fit within said case sleeve; a plurality of modules, with each said module being sized and shaped so that said plurality of modules form fit upon said plate; and a retention means incorporated into said case sleeve and plate to provide a retaining force of said plate and said plurality of modules within said case sleeve.
A further embodiment of the invention is a multi-module utility case, comprising a case sleeve having a larger opening at one end, a plate sized and shaped to slide within said case sleeve larger opening and to form fit within said case sleeve; a plurality of modules, with each said module being sized and shaped so that said plurality of modules form fit upon said plate; and a retention means incorporated into said case sleeve and plate to provide a retaining force of said plate and said plurality of modules within said case sleeve, wherein said plurality of modules are dimensionally sized in length and width to permit rearranging of said plurality of modules into different configurations on said plate.
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refers to the figure number in which that element is or was first shown and introduced.
An innovative multi-module, multi-purpose utility case for use by anyone who desires to carry one or more of a variety of items, in a discrete and compact utility case, is disclosed. The multi-module utility case is designed to be compact, and discrete, while still providing users with a highly versatile and flexible tool within which they may store, carry, have ready access to, and protect a wide variety of single-use, limited use, or multi-use items.
In more particularity, and in certain embodiments as shown in
In another embodiment, each of the modules 120 may have a small detent 112 that fits within a corresponding section of the respective opening 110 or compartment 111. The small detent providing an additional retention force along with the surface friction to hold the module 120 within the compartment 111 and utility case 100.
In other embodiments, the multi-module utility case 100 may also or alternatively incorporate a push spring release mechanism 150 located with each of the utility case 100 plurality of compartments 111 wherein each said spring release mechanism 150 provides a spring force to urge the respective module 120 out of the case opening 110 and case compartment 111 when push actuated by a user.
In more specific embodiments, the plurality of modules 120 are at least one of a thermal insulated module, a liquid-proof module, a spray module, an electrically insulated module, a mirror, a dental pick, an electrical charger, a hair comb module, a toothbrush module, a marker or pen, and/or a contact lens case module.
In further detail, in preferred embodiments, the utility case 100 and one or more of the modules 120 may be partially or fully manufactured using a resilient thermoplastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or a polycarbonate material. Through use of such thermoplastic materials, a blow-molding manufacturing process may be used to rapidly and repeatedly fabricate the utility case 100 and modules 120. Alternatively, the utility case 100 and/or one or more of the modules 120 may be alternatively manufactured from a lightweight metal such as aluminum or steel. For obvious durability reasons, and to protect the contents of each of the modules 120, having the case manufactured from a resilient or rigid material would be beneficial.
As shown in one embodiment in
The utility case 100, as shown in
While the
In other embodiments, as shown and described in
Another embodiment of a re-usable module, as shown in
A further module embodiment, being a further example of a one-time usage module and as shown in
In a further embodiment of a one-time usage module 120, the module may be fabricated with a removable end or corner to allow access to a liquid or powder product stored within the module 120. As shown in
A further embodiment of a reusable module 120 may be a spray device 1010 as illustrated in
In a similar configuration, a further embodiment of a module 120 having contents held under pressure, could be an epinephrine auto-injector type device such as an EpiPen®. Such a module would likely be a one-time usage device.
Certain modules 120 may be of a size and shape that they may be too large to fit within the utility case 100. In such configurations and embodiments, the module may be attached to the outside of the utility case. One such example of this type of side module 120 could be where the module 120 is a mirror as shown in
Another example of a module could be a rechargeable battery pack as shown in
Similarly, another type of module 120 could be a cigar cutter 1310 as shown in
As described above, the modules 120 may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The shapes for example may be created to specifically house particular products or devices. By way of one example, in another embodiment, a module could be a contact lens case 1020 as illustrated in
Another example of a module that may be shaped and formed for a particular purpose and utility is where a module 120 could be a hair comb 1030 as shown in
A further embodiment of a module 120 could be a flashlight as shown in
Similar to the above described spray module 1010, a further module could be a flame lighter as shown in
A further module could be a pen or marker as illustrated in
Another module could be another type of liquid container that would dispense the liquid in droplet fashion when slightly compressed, as illustrated in
As shown in
Accordingly, in different embodiments, the utility case 100 may have different size compartments and openings to accommodate the different configuration and size modules. As such, in alternative embodiments, the utility case 100 may be larger or smaller in overall dimensions based upon the number and size of modules fitting within the utility case 100. The overall shape and size of the utility case 100 is fully flexible to meet the needs of the users' purposes for the utility case 100.
Another embodiment for the utility case 100, illustrating a varied structure and configuration for the utility case 100, includes, as shown in
As shown in
The mounting plate 310 may also mechanically, or friction fit within the case sleeve 300 to provide a retaining force to maintain the mounting plate 310 and modules 330 within the case sleeve 300. In another embodiment, the mounting plate 310, or the case sleeve 300, may incorporate a magnet that applies a retaining force between the mounting plate and case sleeve 300 and thereby provide a retaining force to keep the mounting plate 310 and modules 330 within the case sleeve 300.
In either configuration of the mounting plate 310 being friction retained, or magnetically retained within the case sleeve 300, for ease of operation, a means to urge or force the mounting plate 310 out of the case sleeve 300 may be provided by incorporating a smaller hole 303 at the opposite end of the case sleeve 300 from the larger opening 301. The smaller hole 303 should have a diameter large enough to allow a user to easily push the mounting plate 310 out of the case sleeve 300 by applying pressure from the user's finger tip.
As shown in
One feature of the utility case 100 configuration and embodiment shown in
More particularly, in certain embodiments, the modules may have three or more different sizes, including a larger square size and shape 330a; a smaller rectangular size and shape 330b; and a longer rectangular size and shape 330c. In one embodiment for example, the width of the smaller rectangular module 330b could be half the length of the module 330b, and one half of the width of the mounting plate 310. In such a dimensional configuration, the smaller module 330b could fit across the mounting plate 310 as shown in
While several preferred embodiments and features of the inventive utility case 100 have been described and disclosed, in particular with reference to certain figures and drawings showing certain exemplary embodiments that relate to a particular sized case having a particular number of, and particular sizes for the modules, such a case and the particular design shown are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the inventive device or inventive products. For example, as described above, the utility case 100 may be made having different sizes or shapes, such as having rounded edges, or being contoured to more readily and comfortable fit in a user's pocket. Such different shapes for the utility case and/or the modules could be formed for particular user's needs or tools, including for example first-aid needs, or camping, or hiking uses. Moreover, alternative materials may be used for the utility case to provide different outside design configurations or ornamental features. All such alternate embodiments are believed to be within the scope of the inventive design and the below claims.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that other modifications, substitutions, and/or other applications are possible, and all such modifications, substitutions and applications are within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. It is likewise understood that the above disclosure and attached claims are intended to cover all such modifications, substitutions, and/or applications.
Claims
1. A multi-module utility case, comprising:
- a case having a plurality of compartments and openings formed within said case;
- a plurality of modules, with each said module being sized and shaped to form fit within at least one of the plurality of compartments and openings formed within the case;
- a retention means incorporated into each of the case plurality of compartments wherein each retention means provides a force to hold each respective module within a respective compartment;
- wherein said plurality of modules are at least one of a thermal insulated module, a liquid-proof module, a spray module, an electrically insulated module, a mirror, a dental pick, an electrical charger, a hair comb module, a toothbrush module, a contact lens case module.
2. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein said retention means is a detent and corresponding projection incorporated into each of the case plurality of compartments.
3. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein said retention means is a push spring release mechanism incorporated into each of the case plurality of compartments wherein each said spring release mechanism provides a spring force to urge the respective module out of the case opening when push actuated by a user.
4. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein said case is manufactured from a thermoplastic material.
5. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein said case is manufactured from a metallic material.
6. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a one-time usage liquid-proof module incorporating a removable seal strip to open said module to provide access to a liquid-based item.
7. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules has a slide section to provide access to an interior of said module.
8. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a one-time usage module that includes at least one push-through section or packet.
9. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a one-time usage module that incorporates a tear corner to open said module to allow dispensing of a powder or liquid-based composition.
10. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is a spray device formed with nozzle, an actuator, and a pressure valve to allow users to load said spray device with a liquid-based composition under pressure.
11. The multi-module utility case of claim 10, wherein the spray device module further comprises a clear section to view the liquid-based composition within the spray device module.
12. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules has a flexible section and nozzle allowing a user to apply pressure to the module and force any contents within the module out the nozzle.
13. The multi-module utility case of claim 12, wherein said at least one plurality of modules with a flexible section and nozzle is an eye-drop dispenser.
14. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of magnets incorporated into said utility case; and an additional element having respective magnets incorporated into said additional element wherein said additional element may be directly and magnetically attached to an outside surface of said utility case.
15. The multi-module utility case of claim 13, wherein said additional element is one of at least a mirror, a retractable comb, a cigar cutter, a contact lens case, a light emitting diode flashlight, a lighter, a rechargeable battery, an inductive charger device, and a decorative plate.
16. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules is an epi-pen module.
17. The multi-module utility case of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of modules houses at least one of a straw and a food utensil.
18. A multi-module utility case, comprising:
- a case sleeve having a larger opening at one end,
- a slidable plate sized and shaped to slide within said case sleeve larger opening and to form fit within said case sleeve;
- a plurality of modules, with each said module being sized and shaped so that said plurality of modules form fit upon said plate; and
- a retention means incorporated into said case sleeve and plate to provide a retaining force of said plate and said plurality of modules within said case sleeve.
19. The multi-module utility case of claim 18, wherein said plurality of modules are dimensionally sized in length and width to permit rearranging of said plurality of modules into different configurations on said plate.
20. The multi-module utility case of claim 18, further comprising magnetic elements within each of said plurality of modules to provide a retaining force between said plurality of modules and said slidable plate.
21. The multi-module utility case of claim 18, wherein said plurality of modules are at least one of a thermal insulated module, a liquid-proof module, an electrically insulated module, a contact lens case module.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 31, 2020
Publication Date: Jul 8, 2021
Inventors: Kevin R. Quillinan (Hoboken, NJ), Zachary Everett (Hoboken, NJ)
Application Number: 17/139,430