Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention disclose and describe a container for displaying, visualizing, and aroma sampling botanical materials—such as tea,  cannabis , and the like including a container body, lid, and lens. The container body is shaped to define a mounting projection wherein a sample, such as a botanical sample, may be held. Container body and lid form an airtight seal. A sample may be visualized through the lens. In a preferred embodiment, lid is shaped to define scent openings permitting aroma sampling of a sample contained within. In one embodiment option, one or more projections secure a card bearing sample identification information.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Display containers are known in the prior art. Customers commonly wish to visualize contents contained within a display container, and on some occasions, visualize contents under magnification. Further, prospective purchasers frequently wish to test the aroma of contained contents for suitability, freshness, or other features. For example, customers wishing to purchase tea may wish to inspect leaves and sample the aroma. Further, purchasers of legally available  cannabis  commonly wish to inspect the botanical product in detail and sample aroma. Such display containers that permit adequate storage, preservation, and presentation of botanical samples, such as  cannabis , are not adequately described or available. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present invention disclose and describe a container for displaying, visualizing, and aroma sampling botanical materials—such as tea,  cannabis , and the like. Aspects of the present invention further disclose a container permitting stabilization and magnification of a portion of a sample material—such as a botanical sample. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment container body of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of an embodiment container body of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of an embodiment container body of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of an embodiment lid of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken through line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment lid of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of an embodiment container body and embodiment tether. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , container  5  comprises, a container body  10  having an interior surface  15  and exterior surface  20 . Container body  10  is shaped to define an open top  25 , a bottom  30 , a front  35 , a back  40 , a first side  42 , a second side  44 , and a plurality of feet  45 . Container body  10  is further shaped to define a perimetrical ridge  50  surrounding said open top  25 . A portion of the container body  10  is shaped to define mounting projection  55  to hold a subject sample such as a botanical sample. 
     Lid  60  has an interior lid surface  65  ( FIG. 7 ) and exterior lid surface  70 . Lid  60  is shaped to define a perimeter  75 , and optionally further shaped to define at least one projection  80  disposed on a portion of said exterior surface  70  of said lid  60 . One or more projection  80  functions as a card holder to provide information on the sample within container body. Optionally, projection  80  is omitted and informational material is presented within container body—such as a portion of container body  10  shaped to define a card holder within container body  10 . Lid  60  is further shaped to define a viewing opening  85 . Lid  60  is further shaped to define a recessed area  90 , and further shaped to define a plurality of scent openings  95  within said recessed area  90 . In one example embodiment, scent openings are about 0.125 inches in diameter and arranged in two rows. Removable plug  105  shaped to fit within recessed area  90  forming an airtight seal. In one embodiment, the recessed area and removable plug are omitted, and scent holes are located flush on the surface of lid  60 , and optionally scent hole patency is adjustable. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , Lens  100  disposed to cover said viewing opening  85 . Lens  100  may be affixed to lid  60  by snap fit, or friction fit or adhesively. Lens  100  covers viewing opening  85 . Lens  100  forms an airtight seal between lens  100  and said lid  60 . In a preferred embodiment, lens  100  is adhesively affixed within viewing opening  85 . In one embodiment, lens  100  is a plano-convex lens such as Lens #90-1235 manufactured by J.P. Manufacturing. A variety of lenses may be used such as a 1×, 2×, or 3× magnifier. In an alternative embodiment, the lens is not a magnifier. 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , Lid  60  is fitted on the perimetrical ridge  50  of said container body  10  forming an airtight chamber  110 , wherein said plug  105  forms an airtight seal between plug  105  and recessed area  90  of said lid  60  completely sealing chamber  110 . In one embodiment, plug  105  is comprised of soft material such as soft rubber or silicone. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of container body  10  showing interior surface  15 . It should be noted that in one embodiment, corners  115  between container body  10  front  35 , a back  40 , a first side  42 , a second side  44 , are rounded, yet in an alternative embodiment corners may be relatively sharp. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of container body  10  showing exterior surface  20 . In one embodiment, bottom  30  is flat, in another embodiment, container body  10  bottom may be convex or concave. In a preferred embodiment, bottom  30  is flat and feet  45  allow container body  10  to be set on a flat resting surface where bottom  30  is not in contact with the flat surface. Mounting recess  66  allows an optional tether  120  to be affixed to the apparatus ( FIGS. 10-11 ). In one embodiment, illustrated by  FIGS. 10-11 , tether  120  terminates in eyelet  122 . Eyelet  122  is affixed to container  5  by screw  125  which passes through eyelet  122  and tapped into recess  66  thereby holding eyelet  122  and tether  120  in place. Tether  120  allows apparatus  5  to be carried by tether. Apparatus  5  may be rested on a flat surface with tether  120  in place because feet  45  provide sufficient clearance between the eyelet and the flat resting surface. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation view illustrating feet  45  and perimetrical ridge  50 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 , illustrating a section of mounting spike  55  and recess  66  within.  FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of lid  60  demonstrating exterior lid surface  70  and projection  80 .  FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken through line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . Lens  100  is shown within viewing opening  85 . In one preferred embodiment, lens  100  is countersunk within viewing opening  85 . In an alternative, lens  100  may be domed above viewing opening  85 . Lens  100  may be mounted on or within viewing opening  85  in any fashion permitting visualization through viewing opening  85 . In one embodiment, lens  100  may be replaced with a window which provides viewing but lacks magnification power. 
     In use, a botanical sample, such as a sample of  cannabis , is selected and placed within container body  10 . A portion of the sample may be mounted on mounting projection  55 . In one example, the end of mounting projection  55  is relatively sharp and capable of piercing a botanical sample—such as a botanical sample of  cannabis . The sample is held on projection  55  due to frictional contact with the sample and aided by the sticky nature of the resin. Lid  60  engages perimetrical ridge  50  container body  10  fastening lid  60  and container body  10  together to form chamber  110 . Plug  105  is inserted within recessed area  90  to seal the plurality of scent openings  95  to make chamber  110  airtight. An identification card, bearing information about the botanical product, may be secured by two projections  80 . An optional, tether  120  may be affixed as described above. In one embodiment, such a tether may be a lanyard worn about the neck. In another embodiment, tether  125  may be retractable. Tether  125  may be affixed by other means—screw  125  and eyelet  122  providing only an example. 
     Container body  10  and lid  60  may be formed by injection molding and comprised of Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Alternatively, container body  10  and lid  60  may be comprised of Styrene Acrylonitrile resin (SAN) or polycarbonate plastic. Container body  10  and lid  60  may be comprised of any moldable material. Container body  10  and lid  60  may be transparent, translucent or opaque—depending on the specimen to be contained within. 
     Container  5  may be used for a variety of purposes. For example the inventive apparatus may be used as an entomological storage display. In an alternative, mounting projection  55  may be outfitted with one or more pins, clips, fasteners, prong holder, or adhesive contacts to prepare and display specimens. Further, the present invention is of use for storage, presentation and display of many other items where magnification of the sample or product is desired. For example, projection  55  may be modified to hold other collectable collectible items such as coins, stamps, or jewelry. It these embodiments, lid  60  will be optional shaped without a recessed area or scent holes, or shaped to provide an opening for ventilation. In one embodiment, lid  60  provides user-adjustable ventilation. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications and variations can be easily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. It is further intended that any other embodiments of the present invention that result from any changes in application or method of use or operation, which are not specified within the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein yet, are considered apparent or obvious to one skilled in the art are within the scope of the present invention. Further, it should be noted that several inventive embodiments and features are disclosed together for convenience; unless specified otherwise, all embodiment inventive options disclosed herein may be used independently from each other or cooperatively together. Use of distinct reference characters is for illustrative purposes only, and the illustrated embodiment or feature may be used either cooperatively with or distinctly from any other embodiment or feature unless specified otherwise.