Abstract:
The present invention is directed to multipurpose containers in which a variety of items can be stored, such as eyeglasses writing instruments, pills, medicines, thermometers, rulers, note pads, to name a few of the nearly limitless number of items that can be stored. The containers are provided with lighters, video game players, and currency converters.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/002,253, filed Nov. 2, 2001 pending. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to multipurpose containers in which a variety of items can be stored, such as eyeglasses writing instruments, pills, medicines, thermometers, rulers, note pads, to name a few of the nearly limitless number of items that can be stored. The containers may be provided with an item of additional functionality, such as a massage element, a fan, a calculator, personal digital assistant, a radio, an MP3 player, to name a few possibilities. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are numerous containers in the prior art that can be used to store items, that may or may not have another purpose associated with it, such as an attached writing instrument, or storing another item, or providing information on a prevailing aspect of the moment, such as temperature or time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to multipurpose containers and that can be used to store and retain a variety of items, including such items as eyeglasses, medicines, foods, rulers, thermometers, note pads, to name but a few of the possibilities. The containers have an interior space for storing an item. Further, the containers are provided with an item that provides an additional functionality to the container. Those items include massage elements, personal digital assistants (“PDA&#39;s”), radios, MP3 players and other digital music systems, calculators, utility storage devices (like Swiss army knives), fans, currency converters, a lighter, video gaming device. 
   While the detailed description relates to a container for eyeglasses, it is immediately apparent that other items can be stored in the containers as well. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a container provided with a massage element 
       FIGS. 2-6  are side elevational views of additional embodiments of containers provided with a massage elements. 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a personal digital assistant and container. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of a radio and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a radio and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of a MP3 device and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a MP3 device and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of a calculator and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a calculator and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a side elevational view of a utility storage device and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a utility storage device and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a side elevational view of fan and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a fan and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 20  is a side elevational view of a lighter and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a lighter and container. 
       FIG. 22  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a lighter and container. 
       FIG. 23  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a lighter and container. 
       FIG. 24  is a side elevational view of a currency converter and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 25  is an alternative embodiment of a side elevational view of a currency converter and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26  is an alternative embodiment of a side elevational view of a currency converter and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 27  is a side elevational view of a video gaming device and container of the present invention. 
       FIG. 28  is an alternative embodiment of a side elevational view of a video gaming device and container of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows a container  10  for storing eyeglasses or other items. The container  10  is provided with a body  11  defining a cavity in which an item such as eyeglasses can be stored. The container is provided with a cap  12  dimensioned to close the opening  13  of the body  11 , through which opening  13  the eyeglasses are inserted into the cavity. When the cap  12  is joined to the body  11 , the interior space is enclosed. When the cap is removed from the body, the interior space can be accessed, permitting the user to insert or remove the eyeglasses from the space. 
   The container is further provided with a massage element  15  at its other end. The massage element has a spherical tip suited to providing a pleasing or therapeutic effect to parts of a person&#39;s body. The massage effect can be provided manually, or it can be provided mechanically. One such manner of providing the effect mechanically can be provided by placing a vibrator within the housing  17 , which can hold a battery (not shown) for powering the vibrator. 
   In an alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the container opens between the housing  15  and body  11 . Body  11  can be provided with rim  11   a  that fits within the interior wall of the housing  15  and forms a frictional fit therewith. In yet a further alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the housing is provided with a recess or opening  18  on one of its sides for receiving the body  11 . This positions the massage element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body  11 .  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment where the opening  13 , and cap  12 , which seals the opening, is positioned at the end opposite the massage element  15 . 
     FIG. 5  shows an alternative arrangement in which the massage element  15  is mounted to a clamshell type eyeglass case. The clamshell-type eyeglass case is provided with an upper portion  20 , and a lower portion  22  each of which are joined to each other by a hinge  24 .  FIG. 6  shows a claim-shell type arrangement for the case wherein the massage head is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. 
     FIG. 7  shows a container for storing eyeglasses having a PDA device (Personal Digital Assistant)  28  located on the container. In the embodiment shown, the container  10  is provided with a portion  22  that is attached to the body  20  by a hinge  24 . The PDA is provided with a keyboard  30 , display  32 , and functionality keys  34 . The portion  22  can be opened and closed in order to provide access to the interior of the container. In another arrangement shown in  FIG. 8 , the container can be provided with an opening in at least one end. A cap or other closure  12  can then be placed over the opening, or removed therefrom, to provide access to the interior of the container. 
     FIG. 9  shows a container on which a radio  40  is positioned on the container  10 . The radio is provided with the standard controls: an on-off switch  42 , a tuner control  44 , a volume control  46 , band selection, and a tuner display.  FIG. 9  shows the container provided with a container body which has an opening at one end through which a the glasses can be inserted and removed from the container. The cap  12  can be placed over the container in order to seal the interior of the container from the outside environment, or, as the case may be, removed to provide access to the interior of the container.  FIG. 10  shows a container in a clam-shell arrangement in which a radio is positioned on the container. 
     FIG. 11  shows a portable MP3 player in which is positioned on the container  10  is in a clam shell type arrangement. The MP3 player is provided with the conventional controls, including ones that permit track selection, fast forward, rewind, skip forward, skip backward, erase, upload, download, on and off, and volume. The device is also provided with ports that can be used to interface the device to a source from which MP3&#39;s can be transferred, either to or from the MP3 device.  FIG. 12  shows the container provided with a container body which has an opening at one end through which a the glasses can be inserted and removed from the container. The cap can be placed over the container in order to seal the interior of the container from the outside environment, or, as the case may be, removed to provide access to the interior of the container. 
     FIG. 13  shows a calculator which is positioned on the container that is provided with a clam shell type arrangement. The calculator is provided with the conventional controls, including ones that buttons for digits, mathematical functions, clear, and on/off. It is also provided with a numeric display  52 .  FIG. 14  shows the container provided with a container body which has an opening at one end through which a the glasses can be inserted and removed from the container. The cap  12  can be placed over the container in order to seal the interior of the container from the outside environment, or, as the case may be, removed to provide access to the interior of the container. 
     FIG. 15  shows a utility type device  100  which provides a container having a body  102  for storing eyeglasses in an interior portion, and other compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108   110 , for holding any of a number of useful items, such as scissors, tweezers, a screw driver, and a pen. The container may also be provided with a flashlight  112  having a light source, an on/off switch  114 , and a recess for a power supply, such as a battery. A sidewall portion  116  is joined to the body  102  by a hinge  118 . The sidewall can be opened and closes along the hinge.  FIG. 16  shows an embodiment in which the container is open and closed with a cap as in every other even numbered embodiment. 
     FIG. 17  shows a container  10  for storing eyeglasses or other items. The container  10  is provided with a body  11  defining a cavity in which an item such as eyeglasses can be stored. The container is provided with a cap  12  dimensioned to close the opening  13  of the body  11 , through which opening  13  the eyeglasses are inserted into the cavity. When the cap  12  is joined to the body  11 , the interior space is enclosed. When the cap is removed from the body, the interior space can be accessed, permitting the user to insert or remove the eyeglasses from the space. 
   The container is further provided with a fan  150  at its other end. The fan  150  has a propeller  152  joined to the body  11  by axial pin  156 . The body  11  contains a power source (not shown), such as a battery (not shown), that powers a motor that rotates the axial pin  156 . Switch  158  turns the motor on and off. 
   In an alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 18 , the container opens between the housing  154  and body  11 . Body  11  can be provided with rim  11   a  that fits within the interior wall of the housing  154  and forms a frictional fit therewith.  FIG. 19  shows an alternative arrangement in which the fan  150  is mounted to a clamshell type eyeglass case. The clamshell-type eyeglass case is provided with an upper portion  20 , and a lower portion  22  each of which are joined to each other by a hinge  24 . 
     FIG. 20  shows a container  10  for storing eyeglasses or other items. The container  10  is provided with a body  11  defining a cavity that serves as storage space where an item such as eyeglasses can be stored. The container is provided with a cap  12  dimensioned to close the opening  13  of the body  11  positioned at end  14 , through which opening  13  the eyeglasses are inserted into the cavity. When the cap  12  is joined to the body  11 , the interior space is enclosed. When the cap  12  is removed from the body, the interior space can be accessed, permitting the user to insert or remove the eyeglasses from the space. 
   The container is further provided with a lighter  16  at its other end  17 . The lighter  16  is provided with a housing  18 , and a flint  19 , such as a flint mounted on a wheel  18   a , and a surface positioned to engage the wheel in frictional contact when the wheel is rotated. When the flinted portion of the wheel and the surface contact each other and the wheel is moved, sparks are formed. When wheel  18   a  is rotated while the button  20  is depressed, a flow of butane or other combustible fluid is released, thereby producing a flame. The flame has a burns for a length of the time that the button is depressed. The fluid can be stored in a cavity (not shown) that is positioned under the housing  18 . 
   In an alternative embodiment depicted in  FIG. 21 , the container opens between the end portion  15  and body  11 . Body  11  can be provided with rim  11   a  that fits within the interior wall of the end portion  15  and forms a frictional fit therewith. 
     FIG. 22  shows an alternative arrangement in which the lighter  16  is mounted to a clamshell type eyeglass case. The clamshell-type eyeglass case is provided with an upper portion  20 , and a lower portion  22  each of which are joined to each other by a hinge  24 . 
     FIG. 23  shows an alternative embodiment in which the first end  14  is closed and the opening is provided at the other end  17  where lighter  16  is positioned. Thus the glasses are removed or inserted though the same end  16  where the lighter is located. 
     FIG. 24  shows a container for a pair of eyeglasses that is provided with a currency converter. The container is provided with a body  11  defining a cavity having first and second ends  14  and  17 , one of which is closed and the other of which is open. As shown in the Figure, first end  14  is closed and second end  17  is open, though it should be understood that the opening could be placed at the first end  14 . The second end  17  can be closed with a cap  12 , which when removed from the container provides access to the cavity where glasses or other items can be stored. 
   The container  11  is provided with a keypad  30  for entering the information necessary to carry out a currency conversion operation. The container is further provided with a display  32 , such as a liquid crystal display, in order to display information. The converter is provided with a CPU, memory and storage and a power supply (such as a battery) in order to carry out the currency conversions. In addition to being provided with keys necessary to enter numbers and decimal points, the keypad may optionally be provided with buttons to scroll up and down information displayed on the screen (such as for example, units of currency). Optionally, the converter and be provided with keys to enter particular units of currency. The converter may also be provided with an enter button, to signify that all data, or data pertaining to a particular step, has been entered. Also, the converter may be provided with a data port  34 , such as a USB port so that current exchange rates can be downloaded to the storage device on the converter. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26  show alternative embodiments of the currency converter in which the container is provided with a door or flap  20  that is mounted to the body  11  by a hinge  24 . When the door is open the glasses or other items can be inserted through the opening into the cavity, and the door can then be shut.  FIG. 26  shows a currency converter located on a container in a clam shell type arrangement that is similar to the one shown in FIG.  22 . 
     FIG. 27  shows a container for storing eyeglasses having a video game device  28  located on the container. The device is provided with a display  32  and keypad  30  with the individual keys necessary to operate the device, such as a set of keys arrayed around the perimeter of a larger key pad. The device is provided with a CPU, memory, storage and a power supply (such as a battery) in order to carry out the function associated with the game. These keypads can be used to control the movement of a game piece that appears on the screen. In  FIG. 27 , the container  10  is provided with a body  11  defining a cavity in which an item such as eyeglasses can be stored. The container is its provided with a cap  12  dimensioned to close the opening  13  of the body  11  positioned at end  14 , through which opening  13  the eyeglasses are inserted into the cavity. When the cap  12  is joined to the body  11 , the interior space is enclosed. When the cap  12  is removed from the body, the interior space can be accessed, permitting the user to insert or remove the eyeglasses from the space. 
     FIG. 28  shows an alternative to the  FIG. 27  embodiment wherein a video game device located on a container in clamshell type container as previously described is provided.