Patent Publication Number: US-10321788-B2

Title: Portable container apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 62/366,527, filed Jul. 25, 2016 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of portable showers and more specifically relates to a portable container apparatus. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Family trips to the beach or to the lake are memorable times for families. Fishing and swimming are popular pastimes for many people on these outings. When it comes time to head back to the vehicle and go home, sometimes it creates some unpleasant memories as well. People, especially children, tend to bring back sand, dirt, or mud clinging to the legs, clothes, or feet, and people that are particular about keeping a clean vehicle can tend to get edgy when it is drug into the vehicle requiring a big cleanup later. Cleaning fish tends to bring a different unwanted constituent back to the vehicle which can adhere to inside vehicle surfaces as well, and have the added unpleasantness of bad odor. Melted ice in the drink cooler provides some water for washing but generally has such a low temperature that only very small amounts of water, not enough to get clean, gets used. At times, more than a wash-up is needed. Children tend to get sand in their hair which ends up all over the inside of the vehicle on the trip home. In reality, they actually need a shower before getting back into the vehicle. When camping in remote areas for any duration of time, adults as well need to shower, and a wet washcloth doesn&#39;t always make the individual feel much cleaner. Makeshift showers are usually constructed of various materials and work for one-time use but lack very much in convenience. The bathing materials such as soap, washcloths, shampoo, must be set in a convenient location while bathing. The amount of materials taken to accommodate such a trip tends to fill a vehicle and must be searched for in the camping gear or the vehicle in order to construct the shower. A more convenient solution to these problems is needed. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 9,179,806 to Kristian Allos; U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,908 to Charles P. Hall; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,643 to Sam Cordova et al. This art is representative of portable showers. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a portable shower should provide a multipurpose container that is completely self contained, and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable portable container apparatus to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known portable shower art, the present invention provides a novel portable container apparatus. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a multipurpose container that is completely self-contained. 
     The portable container apparatus may comprise a main body that includes a first side having a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members, a second side having a plurality of spaced connector portions, a third side including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members, a fourth side including a plurality of spaced connector portions, a base member including a plurality of drainage perforations therethrough adapted to allow water to pass therethrough and is connected to lower edge portions of the first, second, third, and fourth sides forming a rectangular interior volume and a plurality of divider inserts. 
     The plurality of divider inserts are adapted to be respectively placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members of the first and third sides thereby forming a plurality of individual compartments. A lid member is adapted to be removably attached to an upper edge of at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sides. At least one removable water tank is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the spaced connector portions upon the second and fourth sides and reside within the rectangular interior volume and is adapted to hold water therein and dispense the water. 
     At least one removable capsule is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the plurality of spaced connector portions upon the second and fourth sides and reside within the rectangular interior volume, and is adapted to hold beach gear therein. The base member further includes a textured slip resistant material on the upper surface. The second side includes a drainage nozzle attached thereto in proximity to the lower edge portion and is adapted to allow water to controllably drain outwardly from the rectangular interior volume. The lid member further includes a plurality of drainage perforations adapted to allow water to pass therethrough and the lid member further includes a textured slip resistant material on an upper surface thereof. 
     The divider inserts are preferably formed having a rectangular shape. The at least one removable water tank is adapted to hold at least 2½ gallons of water therein. The removable water tank is formed from an insulating material adapted to retain the temperature of the water and includes a removable cap member thereon. The removable cap member is removably attached via respective interdigitating thread members. There are three divider insert holder members on both the first and third sides, and there are three the divider inserts respectively and removably placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members thereby forming four individual compartments. 
     There are two spaced connector portions on each of the second and fourth sides and there are four water tanks releasably and respectively connected to the four spaced connector portions. The removable capsule(s) include(s) at least one pocket member therein adapted to store items therein. A removable shower head including a shower head hose member is adapted to be releasably connected to at least one of the removable water tanks, to thereby allow the user to transfer water from within each of the removable water tank(s) and upon themselves. 
     The invention may be offered as a portable beach shower kit comprising a water dispenser member including a water holding tank portion and a hose member connected to the water holding tank portion that is adapted to transfer water therefrom. The water dispenser member is adapted to hold water therein for use within the portable container apparatus. The hand pump member is adapted to be connected to the water holding tank portion and pump water from the water holding tank portion through the hose member. The portable container apparatus may comprise a main body having a first side including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members, a second side including a plurality of spaced connector portions, a third side including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members, a fourth side including a plurality of spaced connector portions, and a base member including a plurality of drainage perforations therethrough adapted to allow water to pass therethrough. 
     The base member is connected to the lower edge portions of the first, second, third, and fourth sides forming a rectangular interior volume. The plurality of divider inserts are adapted to be respectively placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members of the first and third sides, thereby forming a plurality of individual compartments. The lid member is adapted to be removably attached to the upper edge of at least one of the sides. 
     At least one removable water tank is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the spaced connector portions upon the second and fourth sides and reside within the rectangular interior volume, and is adapted to hold water therein and dispense the water. At least one removable capsule is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the plurality of spaced connector portions upon the second and fourth sides and reside within the rectangular interior volume to hold beach gear therein. 
     The portable container apparatus further comprises a removable shower head including a shower head hose member adapted to be releasably connected to at least one removable water tank to thereby allow a user to transfer water from within each of the removable water tanks and upon themselves. The second side of the portable container apparatus further includes a drainage nozzle attached thereto in proximity to the lower edge portion thereof and is adapted to allow water to controllably drain outwardly from the rectangular interior volume. 
     The portable container apparatus comprises three divider insert holder members on both the first and third sides, and there are three divider inserts respectively and removably placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members thereby forming afour individual compartments. There are four water tanks releasably and respectively connected to the four spaced connector portions. The removable capsule(s) include at least one pocket member therein adapted to store items therein. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a portable container apparatus. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, portable container apparatus constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating a portable beach shower kit  200  of a portable container apparatus in an unassembled condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cutaway view illustrating the portable container apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view illustrating the main body of the portable container apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view illustrating the location of the removable water tanks within the portable container apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a portable shower and more particularly to a portable container apparatus as used to improve the portability and convenience of a completely self contained shower apparatus. 
     Generally speaking, portable container apparatus is a portable washing and shower station having a rectangular container with removable divider inserts and removable compartment inserts inside to create various compartments for the storage of various cleaning accessories, and is formed to hold up to four removable water containers that are insulated to maintain either a warm or a cold water temperature, or a mixture for washing or showering. A hand pump is able to pressurize the water tanks to force the water through a coiled shower hose and shower head, and a removable perforated base within and above the inside bottom of the outer casing is sturdy enough to stand on while showering and draining the used water through the perforated base into the catchment below. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , shows a perspective view illustrating a portable beach shower kit  200  of a portable container apparatus  100  in an unassembled condition according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Portable container apparatus  100  may comprise main body  105  that includes first side  106  having a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members  107 , second side  108  having a plurality of spaced connector portions  109 , third side  110  including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members  111 , fourth side  112  including a plurality of spaced connector portions  109 , base member  114  including a plurality of drainage perforations  115  adapted to allow water to pass therethrough and is connected to lower edge portions  117  of the first  106 , second  108 , third  110 , and fourth  112  sides forming rectangular interior volume  120  and a plurality of divider inserts  125 . As such a user may create customized individual compartments  135  within portable container apparatus  100  for storing objects. This functionality may be useful for dividing wet gear from dry gear and dirty gear from clean gear. 
     The plurality of divider inserts  125  are adapted to be respectively placed within and between respective opposing spaced divider insert holder members  130  and spaced divider insert holder members  111  of the first  106  and third sides  110  thereby forming a plurality of Individual compartments  135 . Portable container apparatus  100  may be manufactured of lightweight sturdy materials such that it may be easier to transport and may not easily break. Lid member  140  is adapted to be removably attached to upper edge  118  of at least one of first side  106 , second side  108 , third side  110 , and fourth side  112 . At least one removable water tank  145  is adapted to be releasably connected to one of spaced connector portions  109  upon second side  108  and fourth sides  112  and reside within rectangular interior volume  120  and is adapted to hold water therein and dispense the water. The at least one removable water tank  145  may comprise a threaded lid member  140  similar to a bottle cap useful for filling up or removing water from removable water tank  145 . The at least one removable water tank  145  may comprise insulation useful for maintaining a hot temperature of water placed there within. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , is a side cutaway view illustrating portable container apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     At least one removable capsule  150  is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the plurality of spaced connector portions  109  upon second side  108  and fourth side  112  and reside within rectangular interior volume  120 , and is adapted to hold beach gear therein. Base member  114  further includes textured slip resistant material  175  on upper surface  116 , useful for preventing a user from slipping when standing in portable container apparatus  100  and taking a shower or washing off. Textured slip resistant material  175  on upper surface  116  is also useful for preventing a user from slipping when standing on lid member  140  when it is removed from portable container apparatus  100  and placed on a ground surface. As such, lid member  140  may be used as a second wash station for a user. Second side  108  includes drainage nozzle  160  attached thereto in proximity to lower edge portions  117  and is adapted to allow water to controllably drain outwardly from rectangular interior volume  120 . Drainage nozzle  160  may be useful for draining dirty water from rectangular interior volume  120  of portable container apparatus  100 . Lid member  140  further includes a plurality of drainage perforations  115  adapted to allow water to pass therethrough and lid member  140  further includes textured slip resistant material  175  on upper surface  142  thereof. 
     Divider inserts  125  are preferably formed having a rectangular shape. The at least one removable water tank  145  is adapted to hold at least 2½ gallons of water therein. Removable water tank  145  is formed from insulating material  146  adapted to retain the temperature of the water and includes removable cap member  147  thereon. Removable cap member  147  is removably attached via respective interdigitating thread members  148 . There are three divider insert holder members  130  on both first side  106  and third side  110 , and there are three divider inserts  125  respectively and removably placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members  130  thereby forming four individual compartments  135 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , is a top plan view illustrating main body  105  of portable container apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     There are two spaced connector portions  109  on each of second side  108  and fourth sides  112  and there are four removable water tank  145  releasably and respectively connected to the four spaced connector portions  109 . Removable capsules  150  include(s) at least one pocket member  151  therein adapted to store items therein. Removable shower head  165  including shower head hose member  170  is adapted to be releasably connected to at least one of removable water tank  145 , to thereby allow the user to transfer water from within each of removable water tanks  145  and upon themselves. 
     The invention may be offered as portable beach shower kit  200  comprising water dispenser member  205  including water holding tank portion  210  and hose member  215  connected to water holding tank portion  210  that is adapted to transfer water therefrom. Water dispenser member  205  is adapted to hold water therein for use within portable container apparatus  100 . Hand pump member  225  is adapted to be connected to water holding tank portion  210  and pump water from water holding tank portion  220  through hose member  215 . Portable container apparatus  100  may comprise main body  105  having first side  106  including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members  107 , second side  108  including a plurality of spaced connector portions  109 , third side  110  including a plurality of spaced divider insert holder members  111 , fourth side  112  including a plurality of spaced connector portions  109 , and base member  114  including a plurality of drainage perforations  141  therethrough adapted to allow water to pass therethrough. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , is a top plan view illustrating the location of removable water tanks  145  within portable container apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Base member  114  is connected to lower edge portions  117  of first side  106 , second side  108 , third side  110 , and fourth side  112  forming rectangular interior volume  120 . The plurality of divider inserts  125  are adapted to be respectively placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members  130  of first side  106  and third side  110 , thereby forming a plurality of individual compartments  135 . Lid member  140  is adapted to be removably attached to upper edge  118  of at least one of first side  106 , second side  108 , third side  110 , or fourth side  112 . Lid member  140  of portable container apparatus  100  may snap fit to upper edge  118  of portable container apparatus  100  in order to be secure for holding objects. Alternatively, other securing means may be used to secure lid member  140  of portable container apparatus  100 . 
     At least one removable water tank  145  is adapted to be releasably connected to one of spaced connector portions  109  upon second side  108  and fourth side  112  and reside within rectangular interior volume  120 , and is adapted to hold water therein and dispense the water. At least one removable capsule  150  is adapted to be releasably connected to one of the plurality of spaced connector portions  109  upon second side  108  and fourth side  112  and reside within rectangular interior volume  120  to hold beach gear therein. 
     Portable container apparatus  100  further comprises removable shower head  165  including shower head hose member  170  adapted to be releasably connected to at least one removable water tank  145  to thereby allow a user to transfer water from within each of removable water tanks  145  and upon themselves. Second side  108  of portable container apparatus  100  further includes drainage nozzle  160  attached thereto in proximity to lower edge portions  117  thereof and is adapted to allow water to controllably drain outwardly from rectangular interior volume  120 . 
     Portable container apparatus  100  comprises three divider insert holder members  130  on both first side  106  and third side  110 , and there are three divider inserts  125  respectively and removably placed within and between respective opposing divider insert holder members  130  thereby forming four individual compartments  135 . There are four removable water tanks  145  releasably and respectively connected to the four spaced connector portions  109 . Removable capsule(s)  150  include at least one pocket member  151  therein adapted to store items therein. 
     Portable container apparatus  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods and purposes of use may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.