Patent Publication Number: US-2010116825-A1

Title: Multipurpose receptacle

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/114,315 filed on Nov. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure generally relates to receptacles, and more particularly, to a multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects in an automobile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Automobile manufacturers typically manufacture automobiles having storage compartments carried by various spaced apart portions of a passenger cabin. For example, the storage compartments may be carried by the doors, the center console, the seatbacks and the dashboard to store items, such as loose coins, parking garage cards, hand wipes, or trash. It may be somewhat burdensome for occupants to repeatedly reach for these compartments in various locations of the vehicle to access particular items. Further, a portion of the storage compartments may be integral parts of the vehicle that cannot be removed for transporting their contents. Other storage compartments, such as an ash tray, may be removed from the vehicle. However, the ashtray may be generally small for carrying its contents and may also lack a cover for preventing its contents from spilling or otherwise being readily transported. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle for receiving and holding a plurality of objects. The multipurpose receptacle may include a container having a base and one or more walls extending from the base to define a chamber. The walls may terminate at a rim that defines an open mouth communicated with the chamber. Further, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a cover having a frame that is carried by the rim and has one or more apertures. The cover may also have two or more lids pivotally carried by the frame to selectively block the apertures. The lids may also be slidably carried by the frame to be received within the chamber of the container. In addition, the multipurpose receptacle may also include a first storage compartment received within the chamber and carried by the frame or the rim. Also, the multipurpose receptacle may include a second storage compartment carried by the container adjacent to the base. The second storage compartment may be spaced apart from the chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle having a container, a cover carried by the container and a second storage compartment carried by the container; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a portion of the multipurpose receptacle of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the receptacle having a first storage compartment; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the second storage compartment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the second storage compartment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a portion of another embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle, illustrating the receptacle including a pocket adapted for storing cards; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a portion of yet another embodiment of a multipurpose receptacle, illustrating the receptacle including a top portion having a first diameter and a bottom portion having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular multipurpose receptacle, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present disclosure provides a receptacle (“receptacle”) for receiving and holding a plurality of objects. The term “plurality of objects” as used herein relates to both useful objects such as parking garage cards, papers, notes, visiting cards, credit cards, coins, tissue papers and the like, and trash objects such as cigarette butts, scrap papers, candy wrappers, candy sticks, and the like. The receptacle  1000  may be used to objects in, for example, an automobile or other locations as desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the receptacle  1000  may include a container  100  having a base  102  and one or more walls  104  extending from the base  102 . The base  102  and the walls  104  may define a chamber  106 . Further, the wall  104  may terminate at a rim  108  that may define an open mouth  110  communicated with the chamber  106 . Also, in one form, the container  100  may include one or more dividers extending across the chamber  106  to define one or more pockets. For example, the dividers may include a vertical rectangular wall  118  that may extend half the distance from the rim  108  toward the base  102 . In addition, the dividers may also include a semicircular horizontal wall  128  that may extend between the vertical rectangular wall  118  and the walls  104 , such that the dividers define a first pocket  120  and a second pocket  122  that may not be communicated with the first pocket  120 . The first pocket  120  may be one-fourth of the volume of the chamber, and the second pocket may be three-fourths of the volume of the chamber. Of course, the container may have more or less than two dividers having various shapes to define any number of pockets that form any other fractions of the volume of the chamber. In addition, the container  100  may include an outer surface  112  having a top portion  114  adjacent to the rim  108  and a bottom portion  116  adjacent to the base  102 . 
     Further, the rim  108  may have one or more radially extending annular flanges  124 . Alternatively, the rim  108  may include external threads (not shown). Similarly, the bottom portion  116  may have one or more external outwardly extending annular flanges  126 . Alternatively, the bottom portion  116  may include external threads (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , the receptacle  1000  may include a cover  200  configured to be carried by the rim  108  of the container  100 . The cover  200  may include a frame  202  and one or more apertures  204 . The frame  202  may include two pairs of tapered slots, such as a first pair of tapered slots  206 ,  208  and a second pair of tapered slots  210 ,  212 . Also, the frame  202  may include two pairs of notches such as a first pair of notches  214 ,  216  and a second pair of notches  218 ,  220 . The two pairs of tapered slots may terminate with a respective one of the two pairs of notches. 
     Further, the cover  200  may include two or more lids  222 ,  224  pivotally carried by the frame  202  to block the aperture  204 . The lid  222  may include a first pair of protrusions  226 ,  228  that may be received within the first pair of notches  214 ,  216 . Each notch may have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the respective protrusion pivotally carried therein. The first pair of protrusions  226 ,  228  may also be slidably carried by the frame along the first pair of tapered slots  206 ,  208 , during both assembly and while in use for sliding the lid  222  into the chamber  106 . The lid  222  may also have a first handle portion  234  capable of pivotally moving the first pair of protrusions  226 ,  228  within the first pair of notches  214 ,  216  and also slidably moving the first pair of protrusions  226 ,  228  along the first pair of tapered slots  206 ,  208 . Similarly, the lid  224  may include a second pair of protrusions  230 ,  232  that may be received within the second pair of notches  218 ,  220 . Each notch may have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the respective protrusion pivotally carried therein. Also, the second pair of protrusions  230 ,  232  may be slidably carried along the second pair of tapered slots  210 ,  212  during both assembly and while in use for sliding the lid  224  into the chamber  106 . Further, the lid  224  may include a second handle portion  236  capable of pivotally moving the second pair of protrusions  230 ,  232  within the second pair of notches  218 ,  220  and also slidably moving the second pair of protrusions  230 ,  232  along the second pair of tapered slots  210 ,  212 . 
     Also, the frame  202  may include a plurality of protrusions  238  configured on an inner surface  240  of the frame  202 . The protrusions  238  may snap over the annular flange  124  of the rim  108  and be received in one or more recesses (not shown), such that the cover  200  may be carried by the container  100  in a snap fit arrangement. Alternatively, the inner surface  240  may have internal threads (not shown) for mating with the external threads of the container  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the receptacle  1000  may include a first storage compartment  300  received within the chamber  106 . For example, the first storage compartment  300  may be received within the first pocket  120  of the chamber  106 . The first storage compartment  300  may include a cup  302  having an open end  304  and one or more flanges  306  extending radially outward from the open end  304 . The flanges  306  may be adapted to be carried by at least one of the rim  108  and the frame  202 . The first storage compartment  300  may further include a cap  308  pivotally carried by the cup  302  to selectively block the open end  304  and seal the contents therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8 , the receptacle  1000  may include a second storage compartment  400  carried by the container  100  adjacent to the base  102 , such that the second storage compartment  400  may be spaced apart from the chamber  106 . The second storage compartment  400  may include a cup portion  402  having a bottom wall  404  and one or more sidewalls  406  extending from the bottom wall  404 . An interior surface  408  of the sidewall  406  may include a plurality of protrusions  410 . The sidewall  406  may be selectively carried by the container  100  to define a pocket  412 . For example, the protrusions  410  may be adapted to snap over the annular flange  126  of the container  100  and received in recesses thereon (not shown) such that the second storage compartment  400  may be carried by the container  100  in a snap fit arrangement. Alternatively, the interior surface  408  may have internal threads (not shown) for mating with the external threads of the container  100 . In another form, the second storage compartment  400  may be hingedly carried by the container  100  or be carried by the container using any other suitable fastening method. Further, the bottom wall  404  may include a port  414  communicated with the pocket  412  and one or more doors  416  slidably carried by the bottom wall  404  to block the port  414 . Of course, the doors may be pivotally carried by the bottom wall  404  as desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  7 , the receptacle  1000  may further include one or more light emitters  500  that may be carried by at least one of the container  100 , the cover  200  and the second storage compartment  400 . In one form, the light emitter  500  may be carried by the top portion  114  and the bottom portion  116  of the container  100 . In another form, the light emitter  500  may be carried by the frame  202  of the cover  200 . In yet another form, the light emitter  500  may be carried by the sidewall  406  of the second storage compartment  400 . The light emitter  500  may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (not shown). Further, the light emitter  500  may include an optical waveguide  502  capable of receiving light from the LEDs and thereafter generate at least one continuous ring of light. Further, the light emitter  500  may be associated with a power source (not shown) such as a battery to provide requisite electrical energy for working of the LEDs. Also, the requisite electrical energy may be actuated by a switch (not shown) for actuating the light emitter  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , another embodiment of a receptacle  2000  may include a container  1100 , a cover  1200 , a first storage compartment (not shown) and a second storage compartment  1400 . In addition, the cover  1200  may have slots (not shown) for slidably carrying lids and notches (not shown) for pivotally carrying the lids. The receptacle  2000  may be similar to the receptacle  1000  of  FIG. 1 , respectively having the container  100 , the cover  200 , the first storage compartment  300  and the second storage compartment  400 . However, the container  1100  may include a divider  1118  that may extend across the chamber  1106  and have a slot  1120  therein, as compared to the divider  118  of  FIG. 2  being a continuous wall without a slot. The slot  1120  may be adapted to receive and hold objects that may include, for example, parking garage cards, an automobile insurance card, or a driver&#39;s license. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , yet another embodiment of a receptacle  3000  may include a container  2100 , a cover  2200 , a first storage compartment (not shown) and a second storage compartment  2400 . Further, the cover  1200  may have slots (not shown) for slidably carrying lids and notches (not shown) for pivotally carrying the lids. The receptacle  3000  may be similar to the receptacle  1000  of  FIG. 1 , respectively having the container  100 , the cover  200 , the first storage compartment  300  and the second storage compartment  400 . However, as compared to the receptacle  1000  of  FIG. 1 , the receptacle  3000  may include a top portion  2114  that may have a first outer diameter and a bottom portion  2116  that may have a second outer diameter that is less than the first diameter, such that the bottom portion may be received in an automobile cup holder (not shown). 
     In one form, the receptacles  1000 ,  2000 ,  3000  may be an elongated cylindrical structure that may be made of a light weight, fire resistant material, such as a polyethylene plastic material. However, the receptacle may instead have other shapes, such as an elongated polygonal structure or an elongated cuboidal structure, and/or be made of other suitable materials. The above mentioned material of construction of the receptacle may not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The receptacle such as the receptacles  1000 ,  2000 ,  3000  may be beneficial for receiving and holding a plurality of objects in the automobile. The plurality of objects may include both useful objects such as parking garage cards, papers, notes, visiting cards, credit cards, coins, tissue papers, and the like and trash objects such as cigarette butts, scrap papers, candy wrappers, candy sticks, and the like. Further, the receptacle may be helpful in protecting the natural environment as occupant of automobiles may desist from throwing trash on the road side. Furthermore, the receptacle may be beneficial to keep an interior of the automobile clean. Also, the receptacle may be simple in construction, portable and easy to use. The receptacle of the present disclosure may find its utility at a multitude of places such as homes and commercial places. However, for the sake of brevity, the receptacle capable of receiving and holding the plurality of objects in an automobile has been explained and the same may not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.