Abstract:
A transparent or semi-transparent container with an integrally molded carrying handle for storing and transporting pieces of fabric and fabric assemblies of various sizes and shapes known to makers of quilts, quilters and the quilting industry as Blocks or collections of paper, pictures, fabric, personal mementos and other items in various stages of assembly used to create and manufacture Scrapbook Pages.  
     The container includes an internal clamping or securing device to securely hold the Blocks or Scrapbook Pages for storage or transport. Thus, if the container is stood on one end or side, the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages would be prevented from sliding or bunching at the lowest point thereby causing the Blocks or Scrapbook Pages to loose their shape or become wrinkled, creased or folded.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a transparent or semi-transparent hand held storage container for professionals, crafter&#39;s and hobby enthusiasts who produce quilts, scrapbooks and participate in other craft activities. The subject invention can be used by quilters and quilt makers to store and hold pieces of fabric and assemblies of fabric materials of various designs, sizes, shapes and dimensions known to makers of quilts, quilters and the quilting industry as Blocks. The subject invention can also be used by hobby enthusiasts and professional makers of scrapbooks to store and hold collections of paper, pictures, fabric, personal mementos and other items in various stages of assembly used to create and manufacture scrapbook Pages. The subject invention has many other potential uses to store craft projects in various stages of completion.  
           [0002]    Manufacturing quilts of various designs, sizes and shapes utilizing the gamut of available fabrics is an industry and hobby for enthusiasts and professionals, and thus there is a need at present for a container capable of accommodating quilt Blocks for storage and transportation in a secure manner. At present there are no known manufacturers of rigid storage and transportation containers specifically designed to store and transport quilt Blocks.  
           [0003]    Manufacturing pages to be included in a scrapbook holds the same requirements as described for manufacturing quilt Blocks. Preventing finished scrapbook page(s) from becoming wrinkled, creased, dog-eared or in some way damaged creates a need to protect the finished portions of a scrapbook project while the remainder of the project is work in progress. At present there are no known manufacturers of rigid storage and transportation containers specifically designed to store and transport Scrapbook Pages.  
           [0004]    A typical quilt Block can be one piece of material or several pieces of material sewed together in an unlimited number of sizes and shapes that will subsequently be assembled and sewed together to become one side of a finished quilt. Examples of what has been utilized previously to store and transport quilt Blocks have been zip lock bags, plastic and paper sacks, small rectangular boxes similar to pizza boxes and other similar types of devices. These devices have certain shortcomings, as more particularly noted hereinafter.  
           [0005]    Existing devices used for storing or transporting quilt Blocks such as a container similar to a zip lock bag, plastic and paper sacks are not of rigid construction and thus do not prevent the quilt Block(s) from becoming crushed, folded, creased, wrinkled, etc. Another type of container often utilized is a pizza box or box similar in shape and design to a pizza box offer some resistance to crushing, folding creasing, wrinkling, etc to the quilt Blocks, but do not secure the quilt Blocks, and thus, if the box is stood on an end or side, the unsecured quilt Blocks will fall to the lowest point. This shortcoming requires the container to be transported and stored with the bottom side down if the quilt Blocks are to remain as they were when placed into the container.  
           [0006]    Examples of what is being used to store finished Scrapbook Pages is two pieces of cardboard cut to the same size or slightly larger as the scrapbook page(s). The finished pages are then sandwiched between the two pieces of cardboard. Another example would be the use of a clipboard that would hold the finished product in place. These devices have certain shortcomings, as more particularly noted hereinafter.  
           [0007]    Existing devices used for storing or transporting Scrapbook Pages such as two pieces of cardboard are not of rigid construction and thus do not prevent the Scrapbook Pages from becoming crushed, folded, creased, wrinkled, etc. Another storage device often utilized is a clipboard. A clipboard will not prevent the Scrapbook Pages from becoming soiled, folded, creased, wrinkled, etc. or offer protection similar to the storage device by fully enclosing the Scrapbook Pages in rigidly constructed storage container.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is the object of the subject invention to provide a convenient, portable, hand held storage container for crafter&#39;s and hobby enthusiasts that firmly secure pieces of fabric and assemblies of fabric materials of various designs, sizes, shapes and dimensions known to makers of quilts, quilters and the quilting industry as Blocks.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a convenient, portable, hand held storage container for crafter&#39;s, hobby enthusiasts and professionals that firmly secure collections of paper, pictures, fabric, personal mementos and other items in various stages of assembly used to create and manufacture Scrapbook Pages.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a crafter&#39;s and hobby enthusiast a universal storage container that firmly grips the Blocks and Scrapbook Pages by a retaining means so as to positively secure the quilt Block(s) or Scrapbook Pages within the storage container to facilitate storage and transporting of the Block(s) or Scrapbook Pages.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a transparent or semi-transparent crafter&#39;s and hobby enthusiast universal storage container that firmly grips the Block(s) or Scrapbook Pages which by virtue of being transparent or semi-transparent enables the items stored inside to be readily identified.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a portable, hand held transparent or semi-transparent crafter&#39;s universal storage container which is easy to use, of rigid construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In accordance with the above and further objects and advantages, the portable, hand held transparent or semi-transparent universal crafter&#39;s storage container—the block box of the subject invention is formed having spaced side, end, top and bottom walls forming a hollow enclosure for selectively containing different size and shaped quilt Blocks and Scrapbook Pages therein, with the means for positively engaging the storage container with the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages basically comprising a clamping device or devices attached to the inside bottom panel of the storage container. The portion of the clamping device or devices that will contact the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages for the purpose of securing said quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages within the container can be equipped with an edge with a variety of thicknesses or a flat section either and any of which will serve to securely clamp the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages into place.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The accompanying drawings further describe the invention:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of crafter&#39;s universal block storage container of the subject invention and including a stack of quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages shown in phantom lines preparatory to being mounted within the storage container:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the storage container of the subject invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2, preparatory to the mounting of a stack of quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages into the storage container of the subject invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a side view of the storage container of the subject invention in the fully closed position  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, the new crafter&#39;s universal storage container of the subject invention is generally designated by the number  10  and is designed to accommodate a varying number (stack) of quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages, designated by the number  12 . The stack of quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  shown for reference only is of a square configuration, assembled to form a design. As noted above quilt Blocks  12  may also be cut from a single piece of fabric. The Blocks  12  may be of varying designs, sizes and shapes and when sewn together to form a Blocks  12 , may contain one or more seams. Also noted above the Scrapbook Pages  12  may be a collection of paper, pictures, fabric, personal mementos and other items in various stages of assembly used to create and manufacture Scrapbook Pages  12 .  
         [0020]    The crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  is also of generally rectangular or square, box-shaped configuration and in its closed position forms a hollow enclosure for storage and transportation of quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12 . Preferably the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  is formed from a molded plastic material, such as polypropylene but may be fabricated from other materials. The crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  includes a rectangular-shaped flat wall panel  20  having upstanding parallel end walls  22  and  24 , and a front wall, designated by the numeral  26 . The upstanding walls  22 ,  24 , and  26  are preferably formed integral with the wall panel  20  and are arranged in a generally U-shaped configuration to enclose three sides of the wall panel  20 . Preferably, the walls  22 ,  24 , and  26  are disposed slightly inwardly a short distance from the outer edges of wall  20  to form an outer, exposed U-shaped portion  28  extending about the periphery of wall  20 . Formed on the inner surface of front wall  26  are preferably three pairs of tab receiving hollow members  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30  that include top openings  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32  and which form a portion of the locking means for the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 .  
         [0021]    The wall  20  is hingedly connected by a double living-hinged panel assembly, indicated generally at  34  to a flat, rectangular-shaped lid  36 . Lid  36  is similar in size and configuration to the wall panel  20 , and has integrally formed therewith a U-shaped flange which projects upwardly from the inside surface of the lid  36 . The U-shaped flange includes a pair of parallel end portions  38  and  40 , and an outer connection front portion  42 . The U-shaped flange  38 - 42  is spaced a short distance inwardly from the outer edges of the lid  36 , similar to the inward spacing of the walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  on the bottom panel  20 .  
         [0022]    Formed on the front portion  42  of the U-shaped flange are preferably three pairs of spaced. tabs  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44  which are adapted to fixedly engage the tab-receiving members  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30  when inserted through the openings  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32 ,  32  in order to fixedly secure the lid  36  in the closed position. Preferably the tabs  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44  are molded integrally with the front portion  42 .  
         [0023]    The crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  includes a generally rectangular shaped carrying handle  14  with an opening in the center providing sufficient space to insert a hand to precipitate transporting the storage container while held in one hand. Preferably the carrying handle  14  is molded integrally with the front wall  26 . When viewed in FIG. 3, the carrying handle  14  preferably includes an offset so that when the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  is closed, the lid  36  is flush or nearly flush with the carrying handle  14 . The carrying handle  14  is preferably offset from the horizontal centerline of front wall  26  so that when the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  is closed, the top of the carrying handle  14  is flush or nearly flush with the outside surface of the lid  36 .  
         [0024]    The double living-hinged panel assembly  34  comprises an elongated, rectangular-shaped panel  50  of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the wall panel  20  and the lid  36 , with panel  50  being connected to the inner edges of the wall  20  and lid  36  along respective hinge lines  52  and  54 . Disposed at the opposite ends of the panel  50  are a pair of upstanding transversely extending flanges  56  and  58  which are respectively aligned with the flange portions  22 ,  38  and  24 ,  40  of the wall panel  20  and lid  36 .  
         [0025]    The crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  of the subject invention preferably includes an internally mounted retaining means, designated by the numeral  70  for positively maintaining and securing the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  within the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 . The retaining means  70  includes a securing device  71  to positively engage and secure the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  and maintain the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages within the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 . More particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  includes a retaining means  70  which is securely fastened to the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  preferably by rivets  72 ,  74  which penetrate the wall panel  20  in two places  76 ,  78 . Preferably the two penetrations  76 ,  78  are formed integrally with the wall panel  20 . Furthermore, the subject retaining means  70  is capable of accommodating the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  of various sizes and shapes.  
         [0026]    After the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  are engaged and secured by the retaining means  70 , the lid  36  and wall panel  20  may be rotated relative to each other for closing of the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  at which time the tabs  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44  engage tab receiving portions  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 .  
         [0027]    To insert quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  into the subject crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 , the user would stack one or more quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  one on top of the other placing the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  beneath the securing device  71  of the retaining means  70 . Pressure from the securing device  71  of the retaining means  70  would secure the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages within the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 . To remove the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  from the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 , the user would release the pressure of the securing device  71  of the securing means  70  and remove the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  from the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10 .  
         [0028]    The benefits of the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  are its ability to provide a portable, hand held storage container for crafter&#39;s, hobby enthusiasts and professionals to firmly secure pieces of fabric and assemblies of fabric materials of various sizes, shapes and dimensions known as Blocks  12  or hold collections of paper, pictures, fabric, personal mementos and other items in various stages of assembly used to create and manufacture Scrapbook Pages  12  for transportation and or storage. The subject invention being fabricated from a transparent or semi-transparent material will also aid in identifying the contents stored within. The subject invention with its ability to firmly secure the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  and thus maintain a fixed location will aid in preventing the quilt Blocks or Scrapbook Pages  12  from becoming wrinkled, folded or otherwise assume a change in their intended shape or appearance.  
         [0029]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is readily apparent that various modifications, alterations and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example: in lieu of employing a single retaining means  70  attached to the wall panel  20  as illustrated in the drawings, two or more retaining means could be affixed to either the wall panel  20 , the lid  36  or a vertical wall  26 , or portions of the retaining means  70  could be made integral to the wall panel  20 ; or, fabricating all or a portion of the crafter&#39;s universal storage container  10  utilizing a material that is not transparent or semi-transparent and providing a labeling means whereby identification of the contents of the crafter&#39;s universal storage container is possible. Furthermore, modifications to the carrying handle  14 , such as eliminating the offset location and thus the feature enabling two crafter&#39;s universal storage containers  10  to be carried lid  36  to lid  36  by placing the handle in a more centered position; or modifying or eliminating the. integrally located tabs  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44 ,  44  and tab-receiving members  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30 ,  30  and replacing the means to fixedly secure the lid  36  in the closed position with an externally located device(s).