Patent Publication Number: US-2005116003-A1

Title: Portable, waterproof case for storing items

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention pertains to portable storage containers, and, more particularly, pertains to a lightweight, waterproof, portable storage case for storing items while engaged in outdoor activities, and especially activities involving water sports or recreation.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Portable storage devices are a common and necessary adjunct for the continuously active, on-the-go present day society. From the ubiquitous backpacks not only borne by students from kindergarten to the college ranks but by attendees at sporting events and musical concerts to the small, lightweight pouches worn on the waist, individuals carry items from water bottles to baby bottles, cellular phones to first aid kits, personal identification papers to personal protection devices such as mace or pepper spray in such varied storage packs or containers. It is for both convenience and personal safety and security that individuals in our hectic society desire to have such items available and easily and immediately accessible.  
      Moreover, the range of outdoor activities has greatly expanded in recent years to include such activities as parachuting, white water rafting, hiking and backpacking, rock climbing, hand gliding, and cross country cycling. Thus, the desire to carry along personal items is accentuated by the fact that much of our recreation now takes place at large, hectic amusement parks such as Disney World and at parks devoted exclusively to water activities or in remote and not easily accessible areas of expansive national forests, trails and parks. In addition, the variety of water sports and activities has increased to include scuba diving, skiing, snorkeling, jet skiing and paragliding. For personal safety and convenience individuals involved in such recreational activities still desire to carry along certain items of both a personal and utilitarian nature.  
      Thus, not only are small, personal pouches or packs desirable but it is also desirable to have available personal pouches or packs that are portable and waterproof.  
      For example the prior art discloses several pouches that are portable and, to some degree, waterproof.  
      The Inagaki patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,551,123 and 4,679,724) disclose waterproof paper containers and methods of manufacturing such containers. Both patents disclose a paper tube sandwiched between heat-shrinkable plastic film with the manufacturing method including the removal of residual air so as to avoid the problems of paper deformation or paper-film separation.  
      The Blakely et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,144) discloses a belt-worn medical supply pouch for carrying medical items such as drug cartridges and syringes, and the pouch includes a compartment for a heating element to thereby maintain the drugs at an appropriate temperature when the pouch is being worn, for example, by a veterinarian attending to farm animals during the winter season.  
      Nonetheless, there is still a need for a small, lightweight, portable, waterproof container especially applicable and usable for individuals involved in or proximate to water activities and sports.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention comprehends a lightweight, portable, waterproof storage case for storing personal items and effects ranging from personal papers and money to eye wear, and which the individual can carry while engaged in various types of physical activities.  
      The storage case includes a unitary body having a continuous side wall, an open upper end, a closed bottom end and an interior storage cavity or chamber for receiving and storage of items therein. A cap or lid is pivotally mounted to the side wall of the case for closing the case and protecting and sealing the contents stored within the chamber from the external environment, and especially from moisture. The upper end of the case includes a rubber seal or gasket to facilitate the protection and sealing of the contents stored within the chamber. The case also includes a side or secondary compartment integrally formed on the side wall of the case body for storing therein personal papers and items such as a driver&#39;s license or credit cards.  
      The individual can attach the case to his or her body in several ways for carrying the case. The case can be carried on the individual&#39;s neck by a lanyard or cord or the case can be attached to the waistband of the individual&#39;s pants or to the belt by a side waist clip. In addition, the individual can attach the case to his or her hand or waist by a Velcro strap or the individual could attach the case about his or her waist by using an elongated Velcro strap.  
      It is an objective of the present invention to provide a storage case that is lightweight, portable, and water proof and that can be easily carried by individuals engaged in various outdoor activities.  
      It is another objective of the present invention to provide a storage case that can be unobtrusively carried on the individual&#39;s neck, wrist, arm or waist while the individual is engaged in various outdoor activities.  
      It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a storage case that includes several compartments for storing both paper and non-paper personal items and effects.  
      These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the followed detailed description of the invention read in conjunction with the accompany drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the portable, lightweight, waterproof storage case of the present invention showing the use of a cord for attaching the case about the neck, wrist, arm or ankle of the individual;  
       FIG. 2  is sectioned elevational view of the storage case of  FIG. 1  illustrating the use of side waist clip for attaching the storage case to the individual&#39;s belt or waist band; and  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the storage case first shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the storage case partially submerged in water while maintaining its water proof capability. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is a lightweight, portable, waterproof storage container or case  10  that can be unobtrusively carried by and on the individual while the individual is engaged in various outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, backpacking, swimming, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, hang gliding, canoeing, white water rafting, or attending fair, carnivals, amusement parks such as Six Flags and Disney World, and water parks. The case  10  is waterproof so that personal items and effects such as drivers license, credit cards, park passes, money, personal identification papers, eye wear and sunglasses can be stored therein and readily available for presentation and use as the need arises. Carrying such personal items and effects on oneself obviates the problems of security and theft that occur when, for example, such items are stored in lockers, bins, and baskets that are the common storage means used at parks and other outdoor facilities.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the portable, waterproof storage case  10  of the present invention includes a unitary case body  12  having a length that is greater than the width. The storage case  10  is preferably composed of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic. The storage case body  12  includes an open upper end  14 , an opposite closed bottom or floor portion  18 , and a continuous side wall  20 . The side wall  20  further defines an interior storage chamber or cavity  22  for receiving and holding therein the above-described personal items and effects. In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the storage case  10  includes an ancillary or secondary side storage compartment  24  that is integrally formed on the side wall  20  of the body  12  of the storage case  10 . The side compartment  24  is specifically useful for storing therein paper items such as a driver license, amusement park passes and tickets, credit cards, etc.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the storage case  10  includes a lid or cap  26  pivotally or hingeably mounted to the body  12  of the case  10  adjacent the upper end  14 . The lid  26  pivots upon a pivot member or rod  28  for opening and closing the lid  26 . The lid  26  includes a recess  30  to further accommodate items held within the storage chamber  22  and a prong or catch  32  that extends outwardly from the lid  26  on the side of the lid  26  opposite of where the lid  26  is pivotally secured to the body  12  of the storage case  10 .  
      In order to secure the lid  26  to the storage case body  12  and protect the items contained in the storage chamber  22  from the external environment, the storage case  10  includes a closure member  34  pivotally mounted to the side wall  20  of the body  12  of the case  10 . The closure member  34  includes a catch member  36  for locking onto the prong  32  of the lid  26  and a pivotal finger locking and releasing member  38 . When the finger locking and releasing member  38  is pivoted towards the body  12  of the storage case  10  the catch member  36  can be locked onto the prong  32  thus securing the lid  26  to the body  12  of the case  10 . Pivoting the finger locking and releasing member  38  away from the body  12  of the case  10  allows for the release of the catch member  36  from the prong  32  so that the lid  26  can be opened.  
      The storage case  10  of the present invention includes several features to further enhance the safety and waterproof containment of material and items stored within the storage chamber  22 . The upper end  14  of the body  12  of the storage case  10  includes a rubber seal or gasket  40  that the lid  26  closes against to assure a waterproof securement of the lid  26  to the upper end  14  of the body  12  of the case  10 . Also, the interior chamber  22  is lined with a foam padding  42  to alleviate damage to, for example, eye wear that may occur when the storage case  10  is jostled or shook as a result of the physical activity the individual is undergoing. The interior recess  30  of the lid  26  is also lined with foam padding  44  for the same purpose. The storage case  10  can be attached or secured to the individual or the individual&#39;s clothing in various ways. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cord or lanyard  46  is attached to the lid  26 , and the cord  46  can be placed about the individual&#39;s neck or wrapped on the wrist or arm. The cord or lanyard  46  can be of a flexible, stretchable material, such as Velcro for adaptability to individuals of different physical sizes and measurements. Shown in  FIG. 2  is a side waist clip  48  that can be easily placed on and removed from the waistband of the individual&#39;s pants or the belt the individual is wearing. In addition, an elongated strap, cord or lanyard, that can also be composed of Velcro can be used for placement or wrapping about the waist of the individual. Thus, these various methods of attaching the storage case  10  to the individual provide for some flexibility in so far as if it is uncomfortable for the individual to have the storage case  10  directly attached to the neck, arm, or wrist, the storage case  10  can still be secured to a portion of the individual&#39;s article of clothing.  
      The foregoing description discloses and describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations may be possible and practicable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the following appended claims.