Patent Publication Number: US-2020275750-A1

Title: Jewelry storage case

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to jewelry storage and in particular to jewelry storage cases. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Jewelry is often stored in jewelry storage cases which may be stationary and/or portable. Some jewelry storage cases store multiple pieces of jewelry in a single compartment which can cause the jewelry to become disorganized and/or entangled. 
     Some jewelry storage cases contain multiple compartments, wherein each compartment is designed to store a single piece of jewelry. Although the single piece of jewelry is stored on its own, it may become entangled with itself. 
     Improvements in jewelry storage cases are desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are described in detail below, with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the jewelry storage case in a closed position according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the jewelry storage case of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the jewelry storage case of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the jewelry storage case of  FIG. 1  during use; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the jewelry storage case of  FIG. 1  during use; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a jewelry storage case in an open position according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the jewelry storage case of  FIG. 6  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a jewelry storage insert in a suitcase; and 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a jewelry storage insert in a drawer of a jewelry box. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a jewelry storage case comprising a first portion having a first surface and a wall extending from a periphery of the first surface; a base having a generally planar surface and positioned on the first surface of the first portion; and a plurality of projections extending upward from the planar surface of the base, the projections spaced apart from one another to receive a portion of jewelry. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection extends upward from the planar surface perpendicularly. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection comprises a body connected at one end to the planar surface. 
     In one or more embodiments, an opposite end of each projection comprises a rounded head. 
     In one or more embodiments, the projections are arranged in rows and adjacent rows of the projections are offset from one another. 
     In one or more embodiments, the jewelry storage case further comprises a second portion having a first surface and a wall extending from a periphery of the first surface, a first side of the second portion hingedly connected to a first side of the first portion allowing relative pivotal movement between open and closed positions, wherein in the closed position the first and second portions define an enclosed space and in the open position the first and second portions are adjacent to one another. 
     In one or more embodiments, the jewelry storage case further comprises a securing mechanism selectively securing the first and second portions in the closed position. 
     In one or more embodiments, the jewelry storage case further comprises a zipper extending about and selectively securing remaining sides of the first portion to corresponding remaining sides of the second portion in the closed position. 
     In one or more embodiments, the jewelry storage case further comprises a blocking member positionable within the enclosed space and is dimensioned such that an end of each projection contacts the blocking member in the closed position. 
     In one or more embodiments, the blocking member is removable. 
     In one or more embodiments, the blocking member is connected to the first surface of the second portion and has a height greater than a height of the wall of the second portion. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection has a height equal to a height of the wall of the first portion. 
     According to another aspect there is provided, a jewelry storage insert comprising a base having a generally planar surface; and a plurality of projections extending upward from the planar surface, the projections spaced apart from one another to receive a portion of jewelry. 
     In one or more embodiments, the projections extend upward from the planar surface perpendicularly. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection comprises a body connected at one end to the planar surface. 
     In one or more embodiments, an opposite end of each projection comprises a rounded head. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection extends through the base. 
     In one or more embodiments, each projection is formed integrally with the base. 
     In one or more embodiments, the projections are arranged in rows and adjacent rows of the projections are offset from one another. 
     In one or more embodiments, a distance between each projection is 0.5 cm and each projection has a height of 2 cm. 
     Other aspects and features of the present application will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following description of examples in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     In the present application, the term “and/or” is intended to cover all possible combinations and sub-combinations of the listed elements, including any one of the listed elements alone, any sub-combination, or all of the elements, and without necessarily excluding additional elements. 
     In the present application, the phrase “at least one of . . . and . . . ” is intended to cover any one or more of the listed elements, including any one of the listed elements alone, any sub-combination, or all of the elements, without necessarily excluding any additional elements, and without necessarily requiring all of the elements. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a jewelry storage case is shown and is generally identified by reference numeral  100 .  FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the jewelry storage case  100  in a closed position.  FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the jewelry storage case  100  in an open position.  FIG. 3  is a zoomed in cross-sectional view showing a portion of the jewelry storage case  100  in the closed position. As can be seen, the jewelry storage case  100  comprises a first portion  110  hingedly connected to a second portion  120 . A jewelry storage insert  130  is connected to the first portion  110  and a blocking member  140  is connected to the second portion  120 . 
     The first portion  110  comprises a first surface  150  and a wall  160  extending from a periphery of the first surface  150 . In this embodiment, the first surface  150  is generally rectangular shaped and has rounded corners. The first portion  110  is made of a rigid material such as for example molded plastic, wood, metal, rubber, etc. The exterior  165  of the first portion  110  may be covered with a material or aesthetically pleasing material such as for example leather, etc. 
     The second portion  120  is complimentary in shape to the first portion  110  and similarly comprises a first surface  170  and a wall  180  extending from a periphery of the first surface  170 . In this embodiment, the first surface  170  is generally rectangular shaped and has rounded corners. The second portion  120  is made of a rigid material such as for example molded plastic, wood, metal, rubber, etc. The exterior  185  of the second portion  120  may be covered with a material or aesthetically pleasing material such as for example leather, etc. 
     The first portion  110  and the second portion  120  are hingedly connected to one another. In this embodiment, the hinge connection is defined by a material  200  connected to respective sides  210 ,  220  of the first and second portions  110 ,  120 . When connected, the material  200  extends from side  210  of first portion  110  to side  220  of the second portion  120 . The material  200  is made of an elastic material. 
     The hinge connection defined by material  200  permits relative pivotal movement of the jewelry storage case  100  between the open position (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and the closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ). As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the closed position, the first portion  110  and the second portion  120  define an enclosed space. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the open position, the first portion  110  and the second portion  120  are adjacent to one another. 
     A securing mechanism  230  is used to selectively secure the jewelry storage case  100  in the closed position. Put another way, the securing mechanism  230  is used to selectively secure the first portion  110  to the second portion  120  such that the jewelry storage case  100  can only be opened once the securing mechanism is released  230 . In this embodiment, the securing mechanism  230  is in the form of a zipper  240 . The zipper  240  connects at a first end  250  to the first and second portions  110 ,  120  at a location adjacent to an end of the material  200  and at a second end  260  to the first and second portions  110 ,  120  at a location adjacent to an opposite end of the material  200 . The zipper  240  extends from the first end  250 , about remaining sides  270 ,  280 ,  290  and  300 ,  310 ,  320  of the first and second portions  110 ,  120 , respectively, and to the second end  260 . 
     The jewelry storage insert  130  is connected to the first surface  150  of the first portion  110 . In this embodiment, the jewelry storage insert  130  is not readily removable from the first surface  150  of the first portion  110 . The jewelry storage insert  130  comprises a base  400  having a generally planar surface. The base  400  is made of a rigid material such as for example molded plastic, wood, metal or rubber. A plurality of projections  410  extend upward from the planar surface  400 . Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the plurality of projections  410  may be one hundred and twenty ( 120 ) projections. The projections  410  are equally spaced apart from one another at a distance to receive a portion of jewelry. As will be appreciated, in another embodiment the projections  410  may be spaced apart in a manner such that they are not equally spaced apart from one another. The projections  410  may be made of a rigid material such as for example molded plastic, wood, metal, rubber, etc. 
     In this embodiment, the projections  410  extend perpendicularly from the planar surface of the base  400 . The projections  410  are arranged in rows. Adjacent rows of the projections  410  are offset from one another. As such, the projections are equally spaced apart at a distance of 0.5 cm. 
     Each projection  410  comprises a body  420  connected at a first end to the planar surface of the base  400 . An opposite end of each projection comprises a rounded head  430 . Each projection  410  is dimensioned to have a height equal to that of the wall  160  of the first portion  150 . In this embodiment, each projection has a height of 2 cm. 
     The blocking member  140  is dimensioned to fit within a space defined by the first surface  170  and walls  180  of the second portion  120 . In this embodiment, the blocking member  140  is made of a foam material and is connected to the first surface  170  using adhesive such as glue. The height of the blocking member  140  is set such that when the jewelry storage case  100  is in the closed position, the head  430  of each projection  410  contacts the blocking member  140 . Put another way, the height of the blocking member  140  is greater than a height of the walls  180  of the second portion  120 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the jewelry storage case in the closed position. As can be seen, when in the closed position, the base  400 , the projections  410  and the blocking member  140  minimize or prevent the jewelry from moving around within the enclosed space such as for example during travel. For example, the projections  410  may minimize or prevent horizontal or side-to-side movement of the jewelry within the jewelry storage case  100 . The projections  410 , base  400  and blocking member  140  may minimize or prevent vertical or up-and-down movement of the jewelry within the jewelry storage case  100 . As a result, entangling of the jewelry is minimized or prevented. 
     The operation of the jewelry storage case  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . During operation, when the jewelry storage case  100  is in the open position, jewelry such as for example necklaces, bracelets, anklets, rings and earrings may be dropped or placed into the first portion  110 . As the jewelry is dropped or placed in the first portion  110 , the jewelry is directed by the projections  410  and at least some of the jewelry comes to rest on the base  400 . Example necklaces N 1  and N 2  are shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . It will be appreciated that other accessories may also be stored in the jewelry storage case  100  such as for example headphones, earphones, lanyards, mobile phone charging cords, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the jewelry storage case  100  is moved to the closed position and as such the blocking member  140  comes into contact with the head  430  of each projection  410 . The zipper  240  is used to secure the jewelry storage case  100  in the closed position. The base  400 , the projections  410  and the blocking member  140  minimize or prevent the jewelry from moving around within the enclosed space such as for example during travel. As such, entangling of the jewelry is minimized or prevented. Further, different pieces of jewelry will remain separated within the enclosed space. 
     Jewelry may be removed from the jewelry storage case  100  by using the zipper  240  to unsecure the jewelry storage case  100  and then moving the jewelry storage case  100  to the open position. The jewelry may then be lifted out from between the projections  410 . 
     Although the jewelry storage case is described as having a jewelry storage insert  130 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that in another embodiment a jewelry storage case  600  may have two (2) jewelry storage inserts  630   a  and  630   b  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Jewelry storage case  600  is similar to jewelry storage case  100  describe above and jewelry storage inserts  630   a ,  630   b  are of the same type as jewelry storage insert  130  described above. In this embodiment, each jewelry storage insert  630   a ,  630   b  is positioned in a respective portion of the jewelry storage case  600 . In this embodiment, a blocking member  640 , similar to blocking member  140 , is positioned such that it is located in-between the jewelry storage inserts  630   a ,  630   b  when the jewelry storage case  600  is in the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Although the jewelry storage insert  130  is described as being connected to the jewelry storage case  100 , in another embodiment the jewelry storage insert  130  may be removable from the jewelry storage case  100 . 
     The jewelry storage insert  130  may be used for jewelry storage in a number applications. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the jewelry storage insert  130  may be used within a compartment of a suitcase  800 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the jewelry storage insert  130  may be placed in or used in a drawer  900  of a jewelry box. The jewelry storage insert  130  may additionally or alternatively be used in a drawer of a dresser, night table, etc. Although not shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in these examples the blocking member is positioned in a manner similar to that described above. 
     Although the jewelry storage case  100  is described as having first and second portions being rectangular shaped with rounded corners, those skilled in the art will appreciate that any shape may be used, such as for example a round or circular shape, a square shape, a triangle shape, etc. 
     Although the securing mechanism  230  is described as being in the form of a zipper, those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternatives are available. For example, in another embodiment a snap and button mechanism may be used. In another embodiment, a Velcro strap may be used. In another embodiment, a clasp or magnetic clasp may be used. 
     Although the hinge connection is described as being defined by a piece of material such as elastic, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of hinge connections may be used such as for example a metal hinge, etc. In another embodiment, the hinge connection may permit the first and second portion from being detached from one another. 
     Although in embodiments the blocking member  140  is described as being positioned within the space defined by the first surface  170  and wall  180  of the second portion  120  and connected to the first surface  170 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternatives are available. For example, in another embodiment the blocking member may be removable. In this embodiment, the blocking member may be placed within the space or on top of the projections  410 . When the jewelry storage case  100  is closed, the blocking member  140  is held in place by the first surface  170  and walls  180  of the second portion  120 . In another embodiment, the blocking member  140  may be hingedly connected to the material  200 . The blocking member  140  may be made of any solid material. The blocking member  140  may have a shape equal to that of the first and second portions. 
     Although in embodiments the number of projections  410  is described as being one hundred and twenty ( 120 ), those skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of projections may be used. 
     Although in embodiments the projections are described as having the same height, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments projections may have different heights to make removing the jewelry from the jewelry storage case easier. 
     Although in embodiments the projections are described as being equally spaced apart, those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternatives are available. For example, in another embodiment the jewelry storage case may have a first half of projections having one spacing and a second half of projections having a different spacing. In another embodiment, the spacing between projections may be variable. 
     Although in embodiments the projections are described as having a height of 2 cm and being spaced apart by 0.5 cm, those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternatives are available. 
     Although in embodiments, the projections are described as having a body with a rounded head, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the projections may have any shape. 
     Although in embodiments the projections are described as being connected to the planar surface of the base, those skilled in the art will appreciate that in another embodiment the projections may extend through the planar surface. In another embodiment, the projections may be unitary or integral with the planar surface. 
     Although in embodiments the projections are described as extending in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the projections may extend at any angle from the planar surface. 
     As noted, certain adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be made. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive.