Abstract:
Integrated utility devices are disclosed having a myriad of synergistic features. A body having an internal storage cavity may be sealed by a cap comprising a self-contained flashlight assembly. Also, hook attached to the body may serve dual purposes of providing a bracing surface for a bottle opener and a hook portion for a gated carrying clip for the body having internal storage cavity.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/274,335 (filed Jan. 3, 2016) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to integrated utility device having multiple uses particularly suited for outdoor activities. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Preparing for outdoor activities such as, for example, camping, can require a myriad of tools and/or equipment for an enjoyable experience. A combination integrated utility device that combines features in an effective and synergistic manner can offer much needed convenience and efficiency. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an integrated utility device of the present disclosure, which can be a combination flash light, match case, and bottle opener with carrying clip comprising a hook and spring-loaded gate. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side cross sectional view of the integrated utility device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of a bottom portion of the integrated utility device of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an enlarge partial cross sectional view of the top portion of the integrated utility device of  FIG. 2 , further showing a bottle cap attached to an unopened bottle, with the bottle cap tucked beneath a backside bracing surface of the carrying hook with an edge thereof resting against a bottle opener protrusion member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, an integrated utility device comprises a body having a cavity for storing items. A cap is removably coupled to the body and seals an opening of the cavity, and the cap contains a light source. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, the integrated utility device comprises a body having an internal cavity containing matches. A carrying clip is attached to body and a bottle opener comprises a bracing surface of the clip for use in bracing a top portion of a bottle cap attached to a bottle and a protrusion member disposed adjacent the clip for use in abutting a bottom edge of the bottle cap while the utility device is pivoted relative to the bottle cap. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    In the present description, where used, the terms “about” and “consisting essentially of” mean±20% of the indicated range, value, or structure, unless otherwise indicated. It should be understood that the terms “a” and “an” as used herein refer to “one or more” of the enumerated components. The use of the alternative (e.g., “or”) should be understood to mean either one, both, or any combination thereof of the alternatives, unless expressly stated otherwise. As used herein, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used synonymously, and those terms and variants thereof are intended to be construed in a non-limiting, open sense. 
         [0013]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, upon reviewing this disclosure, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. In other instances, well-known or widely available materials of construction or structures associated with electric (e.g., LED) flashlights, matches, consumer products, etc., have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-4  show an example embodiment of the integrated utility device  2  of the present disclosure, which can be a combination match case, flashlight, bottle opener, and carry hook with spring loaded gate. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in some embodiments, the utility device  2  includes a main body  4 , having a main body outer wall  4   a,  with a cavity  6  formed within the wall. In some embodiments, the wall  4   a  can be approximately cylindrical in shape, enclosing the cavity  6  therein. The cavity  6  can be used for storing items for transportation and/or keeping, such as, for example, match sticks  6 ′, or other items that may require shelter from moisture or other elements. 
         [0016]    The body  4  can have a rim  10   a  at a first end portion thereof, defining an opening of the cavity  6 . Also, a cap  12  can be releasably coupled to the rim  10   a  to seal the cavity  6 . The cap  12  can be shaped as a cylinder, which can be shorter in length than the body  4  in some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the body  4  can include an internally threaded portion  10  proximate the rim  10   a,  and the cap  12  can include a generally cylindrically shaped perimeter cap wall  12   a,  having an external threaded portion  16  proximate a first end portion of the cap  12 . The respective threaded portions  10 ,  16  of the body  4  and cap  12  may be configured such that the threaded portion  16  of the cap  12  can function as a female threaded portion to releasably mate with the threaded portion  10  of the body  4  functional as a male threaded portion. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the cap  12  can include a flashlight assembly comprising a lens  20  on a second (or outer) end portion of the cap  12 , a bulb or LED light source  22  contained behind the lens  20 , an electrical power supply  22 ′ (e.g., battery), a reflector surface  24  proximate the light source  22 , and a switch  26  for actuating power to the light source  22  (e.g., selectively completing or breaking a circuit). Moreover, the lens  20 , light source  22  and reflector surface  24  can be fixedly coupled to an annular retaining member  19 , and the annular retaining member  19  can be selectively removed or connected to, the cap  12  (e.g., to unscrew the various flashlight components to access a battery within the cap  12  to replace the battery). That is, in some embodiments, the annular retaining member  19  can include external threads  18  configured to mate with internal threads  14  of the cap  12 , for use in selectively attaching and detaching the annular retaining member  19  to or from the cap  12 . 
         [0018]    Moreover, in some embodiments, an end portion  19   a  of the annular retaining member  19  protrudes past an end  12   b  of the cap  12 . See, e.g.,  FIG. 1 . The end portion  19   a  can include an outer perimeter wall  19   b  having ribs  19   c  disposed thereon for aiding a user in gripping the outer perimeter wall  19   b  to selectively turn the annular retaining member  19  relative to the cap  12 , to unscrew the retaining member  19  from the cap  12  via threads  14 ,  18 , or to attach the retaining member  19  to the cap  12 . In some embodiments, the end portion  19   a  further includes notches  32 , which can be formed on the end portion  19   a  receding in an axial direction into the end portion  19   a.  The notches  32  can receive a rigid tool to aid a user in turning the end portion  19   a,  and hence the annular retaining member  19 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon reviewing this disclosure. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the cap  12  can thus operate as a flashlight when attached to the body  4 , as a user can actuate the light source  22  by selectably depressing the switch  26 , and in some embodiments, the cap  12  can operate as a flashlight when removed from the body  4 , as well as when attached to the body  4 , as the flashlight assembly as described above can be entirely contained within the cap  12 . 
         [0020]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , in some embodiments, a match strike pad  30  is removably attached to the main body  4 . That is, for example, a flat surface portion can be formed on the outer wall  4   a,  with holding tabs  28  formed at edges thereof extending over the flat surface. A replaceable match strike pad  30  can be configured to fit over the flat surface and can be retained by the holding tabs  28 . 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, a second end portion of the body  4 , opposite the cap  12  and rim  10   a,  can be integrally formed with a clip comprising an axially outwardly extending hook  8  and spring-loaded gate  8   c.  As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hook  8  and gate  8   c  define a closed loop with an interior portion  8   b,  when the spring-loaded gate  8   c  is biased in a closed position (shown in  FIG. 2  in solid line). However, a user can manually force the gate  8   c  to pivot against a spring force to pivotably open the gate  8   c  in the direction of arrow “A” in  FIG. 2 . When the user-applied tension on the spring-loaded gate  8   c  is released, the gate  8   c  automatically returns to the closed loop position. As such, a secure clip is provided. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, a backside surface portion  8   a  of the hook  8  slants laterally inward toward a base of the hook  8  and joins a laterally outwardly extending wall surface  8   e.  The wall surface  8   e  extends laterally outward from a base portion  8   g  of the hook  8 . Also, an axially extending protrusion member  8   d  protrudes in an axially outward direction away from the wall surface  8   e.  In some embodiments, an interior portion of the protrusion member  8   d  is embedded in material defining the wall surface  8   e  (which can be, for example, a plastic), and the embedded portion can bent laterally inward relative to a portion thereof that protrudes axially outward from the wall surface  8   e.  In some embodiments, the protrusion member is stainless steel or other formable durable material capable of long term use in the bottle opening function described herein. 
         [0023]    As best seen in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, a user can brace a bottle cap  36  of an unopened bottle  34  against the backside bracing surface  8   a  of the hook  8  with a bottom edge of the cap  36  rested against the protrusion member  8   d  and disposed between the backside surface  8   a  and the protrusion member. Thereafter, a user can manually pivot the hook  8  relative to the bottle cap  36  generally in the direction of arrow “B” as shown in  FIG. 4 , to remove the cap  36 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, an O-ring can be provided on the cap  12  and/or body  4  to keep the cavity  6  waterproof and the match strike pad can also be moved if necessary into the cavity. Also, if needed, the cap  12  is a self-contained flashlight can be removed and used separate from the body  4 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the integrated utility device  2  has an axial length “L” as shown in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, the overall axial length “L” as measure from the top of the hook  8  to the bottom surface of the annular retaining member  19  can be between about 5 to about 8 inches, or longer or shorter, in other embodiments. Also, in some embodiments, a maximum width of the integrated utility device  2  can be between about 2 inches to about 4 inches, or wider or more narrow in other embodiments. In some embodiments, a maximum axial length of the cavity  6  is greater than a maximum axial length of the cap  12 . In some embodiments, the maximum axial length of the cap  12  is less than one half (½), or about one half (½), of a maximum axial length of the cavity  6 . 
         [0026]    Some embodiments of the present disclosure comprise methods for using an integrated utility device comprising storing matches in a cavity  6  of a body  4  and sealing an access opening to the cavity  6  with a removable cap  12  containing a self-contained flashlight assembly that is operable attached to the body, as well as detached from the body  4 . The methods also include opening a bottle by bracing a bottle cap against a carry clip having a spring-loaded gate, and abutting a portion of the bottle cap against a protrusion member extending from a wall of the body adjacent the carrying clip, and then pivoting the integrated utility device relative to the bottle cap. 
         [0027]    After reviewing the present disclosure, an individual of ordinary skill in the art will immediately appreciate that some details and features can be added, removed and/or changed without deviating from the spirit of the invention. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “some embodiments,” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment(s) is included in at least one or some embodiment(s), but not necessarily all embodiments, such that the references do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment (s). Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.