Abstract:
An apparatus that allows a user to conveniently store and dispense materials and substances of high viscosity. A pair of lids are hingeably coupled to a storage structure at opposite ends of the storage structure. The storage structure defines a storage cavity that is adapted to receive highly viscous substances, oils and gels. The lids adapted to swing onto a storage position proximate to the storage cavity. Magnets and ferromagnetic materials are optionally included and positioned to maintain one or more flaps in a closed storage position and/or to maintain a relative coupling of the two or more storage structures. The storage structure may additionally comprise internal walls that define internal features for holding portions of a material or substance. The internal storage features may define a plurality of storage volumes of equally dimensioned shapes adapted for distributing stored material or substance in equal volumes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to methods and devices for the handling and transportation of materials and objects that have high degrees of viscosity. More particularly the invented method relates to methods and devices for securing and materials that are semi-solid or exhibit a high viscosity. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is a common task of consumers and workers in various fields to package and retain materials of viscosity within their clothing or in storage containers. The prior art offers wide varieties of containers, fails to optimally provide containers that enable easy packaging and dispensing of highly viscous materials contained therein 
         [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to allow a user to conveniently store and transport materials having a high viscosity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Towards this object and other objects that are made obvious in light of the present disclosure, a device is provided that includes a storage zone and one or more lid elements. The invented device may be or comprise silicone and/or other suitable flexible and soft materials known in the art, in singularity or in combination, 
         [0005]    In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pair of lids are hingeably coupled to a storage structure at opposite ends of the storage structure. The storage structure defines a storage cavity that is adapted to receive materials and substances, such as highly viscous oils and gels. The lids are shaped and positioned to both swing onto a storage position proximate to the storage cavity. 
         [0006]    In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, magnets and ferromagnetic materials are included and positioned to maintain one or more flaps in a position proximate to the storage cavity. 
         [0007]    According to another optional aspect of the method of the present invention, magnets and ferromagnetic materials are included and positioned within one two or more storage structure to maintain a relative coupling of the two or more storage structures. 
         [0008]    According to a still other optional aspect of the method of the present invention, the storage structure comprises internal walls that define structures for holding portions of the material or substance stored within the storage cavity. More particularly, the internal walls may define a plurality of storage volumes of equally dimensioned shapes that are useful in distributing the stored material or substance in equal volume of material or substance. 
         [0009]    The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    These, and further features of the invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification and drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  shows a top view of the of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  shows an alternate side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  shows a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows an alternate bottom perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a side cut-away view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  shows a top view of a second version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with magnets; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  shows a bottom view of the second version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with magnets; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6C  shows a top view of a third version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6D  shows a bottom view of the third version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7A  shows a side view of a first version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7B  shows a side view of the first version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8A  shows a top view of a fourth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with additional magnets; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8B  shows a top view of a fifth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of with interlocking features; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a side cut-away view of a sixth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 9  with inserts; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  shows a cut-away side view plurality of the sixth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 9  in stacks; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of the sixth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  shows a top view of an optional hexagonal-stored structure of the sixth version of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  shows a cut-away side view of the sixth version of  FIG. 9  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with stored structures; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  shows the sixth version of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 9  of the present invention in use with solidified or frozen substances. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]    It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. 
         [0034]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1A  shows a top view of a first preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention (hereinafter, “first version”  2 ). The first version  2  may be or comprise silicone and/or other suitable flexible and soft materials known in the art, in singularity or in combination. 
         [0035]    A storage body  4  defines a lip  5  and a storage cavity  6 . The lip  5  of the storage body  4  is adapted for scraping a material from an external tool. A back flap  8  and a front flap  10  are rotatably coupled to the storage body respectively and separately at a first back flap score line  8 A and a front flap score line  10 A. A second back flap score line  8 B positioned between a back flap intermediate plate  8 C and a back flap cover plate  8 D enable a rotatable coupling of the back flap intermediate plate  8 C with the back flap cover plate  8 D. 
         [0036]    Signage S 1 -S 4  is present on the first version  2  for display at the storage body  4 , the back flap  6  and the front flap  10 . A pair of posts  14 A &amp;  14 B extend from the storage body  4  and are shaped and sized, as further discussed in reference to  FIG. 7 , to detachably attach the back flap  8  and the front flap  10  in positions that are proximate to the storage cavity  6 . One or more posts  14 A &amp;  14 B may be or comprise silicone and/or other suitable elastic, deformable, flexible and soft materials known in the art, in singularity or in combination, 
         [0037]    The posts  14 A &amp;  14 B each extend from separate sloping sidewalls  4 A &amp;  4 B of the storage body  4 . Each of a pair of back flap side apertures  8 E &amp;  8 F of the back flap cover plate  8 D are preferably sized and positioned for separate traversals of an individual and separate post  14 A &amp;  14 B without interference or physical contact with either post  14 A &amp;  14 B. 
         [0038]    Each of a pair of front flap side apertures  10 B &amp;  10 C are sized and positioned to separately, detachably and securely couple with a post  14 A &amp;  14 B whereby the back flap  8  is captured between the front flap  10  and the sloping sidewalls  4 A &amp;  4 B of the storage body  4  and the back flap  8  is thereby detachably coupled with the sloping sidewalls  4 A &amp;  4 B and proximate to the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0039]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1B  shows a side view of the first version  2  wherein a first signage Si is presented. 
         [0040]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1C ,  FIG. 1C  shows an alternate side view of the first version  2  and wherein the sloping sidewalls  4 A &amp;  4 B of the storage body are viewable. 
         [0041]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1D ,  FIG. 1D  shows a bottom view of the first version  2 , wherein a second signage S 2  and a third signage S 3  are visible. 
         [0042]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the first version  2 . 
         [0043]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 3  shows a bottom perspective view of the first version  2 , wherein the first signage S 1 , the second signage S 2  and the third signage S 3  are visible. 
         [0044]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  shows an alternate bottom perspective view of the first version  2 , wherein the first signage S 1 , the second signage S 2  and the third signage S 3  are visible. 
         [0045]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  shows a side cut-away view of the first version  2  wherein a semi-solid substance  15  is deposited within the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0046]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6A  shows a top view of a second version  16  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with magnets  16 A and ferromagnetic material pads  16 B are presented. The magnets  16 A and the ferromagnetic material pads  16 B are shaped and positioned to employ magnetic force to maintain the back flap  8  and the front flap  10  of the second version  16  in position relative and proximate to the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0047]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6B  shows a bottom of the second version  16  with additional magnets  16 A and additional ferromagnetic material pads  16 B are presented. The magnets  16 A and the ferromagnetic material pads  16 B are shaped and positioned to employ magnetic force to maintain the back flap  8  and the front flap  10  of the second version  16  in position relative and proximate to the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0048]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6C ,  FIG. 6C  shows a top view of a third version  18  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with alternate magnets  18 A and alternate ferromagnetic material pads  18 B are presented. The alternate magnets  18 A and the alternate ferromagnetic material pads  18 B are shaped and positioned to employ magnetic force to maintain the back flap  8  and the front flap  10  of the third version  18  in position relative and proximate to the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0049]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6D ,  FIG. 6D  shows a bottom view of the third version  18  with additional magnets  18 A. The magnets  18 A are shaped and positioned to employ magnetic force to maintain the back flap  8  and the front flap  10  of the third version  18  in position relative and proximate to the storage cavity  6 . 
         [0050]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the first post  14 A and indicates a front flap radius R 1  of the first front flap aperture  10 B, a back flap radius R 2  of the first back flap aperture  8 E. 
         [0051]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 7B ,  FIG. 7B  shows a side view of the first post  14 A and indicates a button radius R 3  of a first post button  14 AB of the first post  14 A and a shaft radius R 4  of a first post shaft  14 AS of the first post  14 A. It is understood that the maximum button radius R 3  is larger than the maximum shaft radius R 4 , and that the back flap radius R 2  is larger than the maximum button radius R 3 . It is further understood that the front flap radius R 1  of the first front flap aperture  10 B is both larger than the maximum shaft radius R 4  and smaller than the maximum button radius R 3 . In practice, a user may force front flap  10  past the post button heads  14 AB &amp;  14 BB by deforming the post button heads  14 AB &amp;  14 BB to achieve the position of  FIG. 7B , wherein the front flap  10  detachably couples both itself and the back flap  8  to the posts  14 A &amp;  14 B. 
         [0052]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8A ,  FIG. 8A  shows a top view of a fourth version  20  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with additional side magnets  22 . Each side magnet  22  is placed within a sidewall  4 A &amp;  4 B and oriented to attract the side magnet  22  of a neighboring fourth version  20 . 
         [0053]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 8B ,  FIG. 8B  shows a top view of a fifth version  24  of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of with interlocking features  26  &amp;  28 . 
         [0054]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 9  shows a side cut-away view of a sixth version  30  having an outer shell  32 , a pliable insert  34  and a lid  36 . 
         [0055]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 10  shows a cut-away side view of a plurality of the sixth version  30  further comprising interlocking stacking features  30 A &amp;  30 B and placed in a stacked position. 
         [0056]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 11  shows an exploded view of the sixth version  30 . 
         [0057]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 12  shows a top view of an optional hexagonal-storage structure  38  of the pliable insert  34  of the sixth version  30 . Each hexagonal-storage structure  38  is preferably of a same three dimensional shape and more preferably defines a substantively equal storage volume of each other hexagonal-storage structure  38 . 
         [0058]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 13  shows a cut-away side view of the sixth version  30  wherein the hexagonal-storage structure  38  of the pliable insert  34  of the sixth version  30  is present. 
         [0059]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 14  shows the pliable insert  34  being manually deformed by a user  40  whereby substantively equal volumes of the substance  15  is being dispensed. 
         [0060]    The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the Present Invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the Present Invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible configurations or aspects of the Present Invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred configurations or aspects of the Present Invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the Present Invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the Present Invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.