Abstract:
A TSA-compliant accessory kit facilitates the carry-on of approved liquids for air travel. The kit contains clear, three ounce plastic bottles. Each bottle has a secured cap with large grips in different colors and with raised symbols for ease of distinction. The bottles and caps are housed in a closely tailored, quart-sized, zippered transparent bag with adhesive decals and a permanent marker pen for labeling the bottles.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Disclosure 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to travel accessories and, in particular, to an improved system, method and apparatus for travel accessories that comply with the “3-1-1” guidelines established by the Travel Security Administration. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    The Travel Security Administration (TSA) has implemented restrictions on passengers for air travel. These restrictions are commonly referred to as the “3-1-1” guidelines. Currently, air travelers may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bags when going through airport security checkpoints. With certain exceptions for prescription and over-the-counter medicines, baby formula, breast milk, and juice, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, the following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols that may be carried through a security checkpoint: 
         [0005]    (a) All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller; 
         [0006]    (b) All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a quart-sized, clear plastic bag with a zip-top closure at the top of the bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag; and 
         [0007]    (c) Each traveler must remove his or her quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from his or her carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening. X-raying the bag separately allows TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items. 
         [0008]    This is only a brief description of the TSA requirements. A complete list of carry-on requirements is available at http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm. 
         [0009]    These restrictions sometimes frustrate travelers as there is no ‘toiletry kit’ for air travel that complies with the “3-1-1” guidelines established by the TSA. Accordingly, many air travelers acquire small ‘travel size’ containers of their favorite toiletries. Some travel size containers have easy access ‘pop-top’ lids that are not designed for excessive handling or air travel environments. Other travelers acquire inexpensive bottles and fill them with their shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, body wash, body lotion or other personal grooming liquids. 
         [0010]    The conventional containers and bottles are placed in a zip-top bag. These bags have a flat design or “footprint” that is intended to contain loose foods or liquids that are not housed in separate containers. Accordingly, the flat design of the bags renders their volume less efficient for use with contents that are separately containerized, particularly with bulky, non-uniform containers. Moreover, liquids stored in loosely packed containers with pop-top lids are more apt to leak and be accidently opened during handling and when subjected to the significant pressure changes encountered during a flight cycle. Accordingly, there is a need for improved travel accessories that address all of these issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for travel accessories are disclosed. For example, the travel kit comprises a bag and bottles located in the bag. Each bottle has joining features that interchangeably connect the bottles to the other bottles. Caps are mounted and retained to the bottles. The caps have unique colors that differentiate them from each other. The caps also may be configured with unique icons that differentiate them from each other. 
         [0012]    The joining features may comprise dovetail joints that slidingly assemble and disassemble the bottles. The bag may have an oval cylindrical shape that closely conforms to two rows of three bottles that form rigid bottle chains, with one row stacked on top of the other row inside the bag. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present disclosure may be better understood, and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of one embodiment of a kit constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of two bottles, shown with caps, for a kit and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an embodiment of three bottles, shown without caps, and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged top view of an embodiment of two joined bottles and is constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top view of embodiments of caps constructed in accordance with the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional side view of an embodiment of an unengaged bottle and cap in accordance with the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged sectional side view of an embodiment of a threadingly engaged bottle and cap in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a bottle constructed in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]    The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-8  disclose embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for travel accessories. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , one embodiment comprises a travel kit having a bag  11  and a plurality of bottles  13  (e.g., six bottles) removably located in the bag  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the bottles  13  has joining features  14  ( FIG. 3 ) that interchangeably connect the bottles  13  to any of the other bottles  13 . In some embodiments, one bottle  13  may be joined to up to two other bottles  13  to form a bottle chain. A cap  15  is removably mounted to each of the bottles to define a plurality of caps  15  that interchangeably mount to the bottles  13 , in the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, each of the caps  15  has a unique color that differentiates it from other ones of the caps  15 . Using unique colors for each cap in a set allows the traveler with sight limitations or the child unable to read to easily locate an item by glancing at the color of the cap. 
         [0025]    Each of the caps  15  also may be configured with a unique icon  17   a - f  ( FIG. 5 ) that differentiates it from other ones of the caps. The icons  17  may be located on tops of the caps  15 . The icons may comprise raised boundary or outlined ribs that tactilely distinguish the caps from each other. Examples of the icons  17  include a star  17   a,  cross  17   b,  bar  17   c,  equal sign  17   d,  circle  17   e  and triangle  17   f,  as shown. In some embodiments, the icons comprise filled-in solids. These allow users to locate the desired bottle by only touching the icon. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , each of the caps  15  may further comprise a retention device  21  having a connecting strap  23  and a ring  25  that retains the caps  15  on respective ones of the bottles  13 . In the embodiment shown, the caps  15  are threaded  16  and the bottles  13  have necks  27  that are threaded  29  and define thread axes  31 . The necks  27  extend from bodies  33  of the bottles  13 . The rings  25  of the retention devices  21  secure the caps  15  to the necks  27  of the bottles  13 . The threads  29  are axially spaced apart from the bodies  33  to provide clearance  34  for the rings  25  to freely rotate about the bottles  13  when the caps  15  are unthreaded from the bottles  13 . 
         [0027]    The retention device for the cap may comprise fillet radii to enhance the integrity of the connection to the cap. Flex notches in the cap retaining ring are located away from the retention strap. The root of each flex notch has a full radius to enhance strength and reduce breakage. Each cap  15  also may comprise enlarged radial bumps  35  ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ) to provide enhanced grip for the caps  15 . These bumps allow travelers with compromised dexterity to more easily grasp a cap when opening or closing a bottle. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the seal between the cap  15  and the bottle  13  includes a seal rib  71  and a back wall  73  in the interior of the cap  15  where it engages the bottle  13 . The threads  29 ,  16  on the bottle  13  and cap  15  may comprise a modified buttress thread. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ), the joining features  14  comprise dovetail joints that slidingly assemble and disassemble the bottles  13 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the dovetail joints may be configured with a compression clearance  37  to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the bottles  13 . Each bottle  13  may be provided with a male dovetail rail or bar  39  and a set (e.g., four) female dovetail ribs  41  for forming the dovetail joints. The male dovetail bars  39  may be diametrically opposed and located on opposite sides of the bottles  13  with respect to the set of female dovetail ribs  41 . The male dovetail bars  39  act as a pin or tenon, and the set of female dovetail ribs  41  act as a tail to form a socket-like recess or mortise. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the bottles  13  may be configured with an oval cylindrical shape and have major and minor axes  43 ,  45 . The male dovetail bars  39  and female dovetail ribs  41  are located on minor axis sides  47  of the bottles. Each of the bottles  13  also may be provided with a stop  49  beneath the female dovetail ribs  41  for engaging a respective male dovetail bar  39  to limit sliding dovetail travel of one bottle  13  relative to another bottle  13 . 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the bag  11  also has an oval cylindrical shape. The bag  11  may be provided with a flat bottom  51 , a flat top  53 , and a zipper  55  that circumscribes approximately about 60 to 90% (e.g., 80%) of a perimeter of the bag  11 . The bottles  13  may be configured in two rows of three bottles ( FIG. 1 ) to form rigid bottle chains. One row may be stacked on top of the other row inside the bag  11 . Furthermore, the bag  11  may be configured and shaped to closely conform to the two stacked rows of bottles  13 . 
         [0032]    The dimensions of the bag may be less than allowed by the TSA to provide a more compact design that requires less space in carry-on luggage. The design has reduced height and width and a rugged zipper customized to allow easy access at the top of the bag. By employing this solution the six bottles fit into the bag with no wasted space or material and little opportunity for the bottles to move around inside the bag. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, each bottle  13  has a raised descriptor  57  of a volume capacity of the bottle  13 . The kit may further comprise a pen  58  and a sheet  60  of preprinted and blank adhesive labels  62 . The bottles have de-bossing pads  61  for placement of the adhesive labels. The raised descriptors  57  and de-bossing pads  61  may be located on the major axis sides  63  ( FIG. 8 ) of the bottles  13 . 
         [0034]    In some embodiments, the bottle may be formed from a material that is chemically resistant to personal care and toiletry products. A high level of clarity of the material is desirable. For example, the clarity of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) is suitable but it has insufficient chemical resistance. Polypropylene has good chemical resistance and a lower cost than PET. Grades of polypropylene are available that have a high translucence or milky transparency, but the clarity of PET is unavailable. 
         [0035]    Similarly, the cap may be formed from a material that is chemically resistant, but also colorable and with good impact properties. Polyethylene satisfies these parameters. In addition, the cap has good flex properties for the retention ring. Other suitable materials for the components comprise polypropylene and polyvinylchloride. 
         [0036]    The invention has numerous advantages. In some embodiments, the product is designed to carry the toiletries of a passenger in carry-on luggage while traveling by air. The invention is useful to business travelers, families and other leisure vacationers seeking to minimize impact on the environment. Although the design is suitable for all air travelers, specific design features were added to address the challenges faced by those with sight limitations and reduced manual dexterity. 
         [0037]    As required by the TSA, the carry-on liquid containers are three ounces (3 oz) or less, and enclosed in a transparent zippered bag that is no more than one quart in volume. The containers perform at elevated cabin pressures involved in flying at high altitudes. The bottles have a large opening to easily refill or pour the liquid being stored. The bottles also are reusable for people who travel often. Since some travelers are visually impaired to at least some degree, a tactile logo or symbol is provided on the bottle or cap so that they can be readily distinguished. Other travelers have arthritis and/or difficulty gripping some items, so an enhanced grip is provided on the lids. In some embodiments, the materials for all components are biodegradable. 
         [0038]    The slide connecting features on the bottles permits several bottles to be attached to one another for easy handling. The bottles also have de-bossing pads for placement of adhesive labels to describe their contents. Each cap has a different embossed symbol and a different color to make each bottle unique. The connecting strap and ring on the cap prevents the caps from getting lost or switched during use. 
         [0039]    The connecting strap and ring also can be removed from the bottle. The interiors of the caps have seals to prevent leaks inside bags and suitcases. The exterior of the caps have large grips for easy screwing and unscrewing. 
         [0040]    This written description uses examples, including the best mode, and also to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.