Patent Publication Number: US-2018041059-A1

Title: Multi-purpose storage container having cover for charging stand

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a multi-purpose storage container having a charging stand for an electronic device on its cover, more particularly to a multi-purpose storage container having a container body, a cover, and a storage compartment. The multi-purpose storage container can contain a power strip and/or a charging adapter for supplying a power source to the electronic device, and it has a charging stand on the cover for charging the electronic device such as a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet computer, mp3 player, and so forth. The storage compartment of the multi-purpose storage container can store stationery such as writing instruments, erasers, glue, sticky notes, and so forth. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     People usually use their items such as stationery, a power strip, a charging adapter, and an electronic device on their desk for personal or business use. Many people use a desk organizer to organize stationery like writing instruments, pens, erasers, glue, sticky notes, and the like. Currently, many people use a charging station or charger for an electronic device such as mobile phone, smart phone, tablet computer, mp3 player, and the like. In addition, a cord container or organizer is intended for organizing a power source such as a power strip, a power cord wire, a charging adapter, or the like, for using the computer and electronic devices. To help organize those items, a number of products are on the market such as organizers, containers, and charging stations, for consumers and businesses. Even if those products are used to organize or charge items for personal or business use on the desk, those products still need to be organized for efficient use on the desk. Also, if such items are not well organized, they may cause inconvenience or poor work performance. Thus, there is a need for a container having integrated structures and functions for organizing, storing, and containing items, and charging electronic devices easily and conveniently for a user. 
     Furthermore, an electronic device, such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, and the like, has become popular and widely used for communication, entertainment, and other purposes. These electronic devices need to be charged to be used and thus there are many charging stations in the market. Those charging stations have different charging connectors depending on the electronic device or operating system. Thus, if, in the user&#39;s lifetime, a user changes the electronic device using a different operating system or the electronic device is made by different manufacturer, the user may need to change the charging station for charging the different electronic devices. 
     Therefore, to solve such problems and facilitate several functions together to conveniently organize items, such as stationery, a power strip, a charging adapter, and an electronic device, there is a need for a multi-purpose storage container for storing stationery and having a charging station for electronic devices, having a compact, stylish, and integrated structure of a container, a cover having a charging stand and a storage compartment. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention provides a multi-purpose storage container having a charging stand for an electronic device on its cover, and more particularly, a multi-purpose storage container having a container body, a cover, and a storage compartment. The multi-purpose storage container can contain a power strip and/or a charging adapter for supplying a power source for the electronic device, and provides a charging stand on the cover for charging an electronic device such as a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet computer, mp3 player, and so forth. The storage compartment of the multi-purpose storage container can store stationery such as writing instruments, erasers, glue, sticky notes, and so forth. 
     The object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose storage container, including: a container body, having a sidewall and a bottom, for receiving a power strip and a charging adaptor; a cover for covering a top opening of the container body wherein a charging stand for an electronic device is formed on the cover; and a storage compartment, constructed to be removably received in the container body. A side opening is formed on the sidewall of the container body so that a power cable can pass through the side opening. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose storage container, including: a container body, having a sidewall and a bottom, for receiving a power strip and a charging adaptor, wherein the sidewall comprises a front sidewall and a rear sidewall both of which face each other; a cover for covering a top opening of the container body wherein a charging stand for an electronic device is formed on the cover; and a storage compartment, constructed to be removably received in the container body, having a plurality of sub-compartments, wherein a side opening is formed on the rear sidewall of the sidewall of the container body so that a power cable can pass through the side opening, wherein a sound-transmitting portion is formed on an upper portion of the front sidewall of the sidewall of the container body so that sound generated by the electronic device can pass through the plurality of holes. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a multi-purpose storage container, having a charging stand for an electronic device formed on the cover of the multi-purpose storage container. A groove formed on a top of the cover receives the electronic device therein and sound generated by the electronic device can pass through a plurality of holes formed on the groove. Then, the sound passes through a sound transmitting portion of the container body. Preferably, the sound transmitting portion includes a plurality of holes. 
     The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the multi-purpose storage container of the present invention, having a container body, a cover with a charging station, and a storage compartment, has a well designed and integrated structure for multi-purposes such as organizing and storing items, such as stationery, a charging adapter, and a power strip, and charging an electronic device; (2) the charging stand of the cover of the present invention can provide a stand for charging the electronic device, such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, securely or conveniently received in a groove on top of the cover of the present invention; (3) holes on the groove and the sound transmitting portion of the present invention allow transmission of sound generated from the electronic device, reducing the sound attenuation in the container body; (4) the storage compartment of the present invention can provide sub-compartments of various sizes so that stationery of various sizes, such as writing instrument, erasers, glue, sticky notes, and so forth, can be conveniently stored therein; (5) the storage compartment and the cover having the charging stand of the present invention can easily be attached or detached to the container body; (6) a power strip or a charging adapter for supplying a power to the electronic device is safely stored or organized in the container body of the present invention, so that a damage from spilling liquid on the power strip or the charging adapter can be prevented by the structure of the container body; (7) the multi-purpose storage container of the present invention has a compact, stylish, and integrated structure; and (8) the container body, the storage compartment, or the cover having the charging stand can be molded by a single molding such as an injection molding, and thus, it is easy to manufacture the multi-purpose storage container and the manufacturing cost is low. 
     Although the present invention is briefly summarized, a fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed descriptions, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a multi-purpose storage container having a storage compartment and a charging stand according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a container body and a storage compartment of the multi-purpose storage container assembled together according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view of the container body and the storage compartment of the multi-purpose storage container assembled together in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the container body of the multi-purpose storage container; 
         FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of the container body of the multi-purpose storage container; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view of the multi-purpose storage container containing a power strip and a charging adapter for an electronic device; 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded view of the multi-purpose storage container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a bottom plan view of the multi-purpose storage container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the cover having the charging station; 
         FIG. 10  shows a top plan view of the cover having the charging station; 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the storage compartment of the multi-purpose storage container of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of use of the multi-purpose storage container containing stationery stored in the storage compartment and the electronic device received in the charging stand of the cover; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross sectional view the container body of the multi-purpose storage container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. 
     Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about”, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. 
       FIGS. 1 and 6  show perspective and cross-sectional views of the multi-purpose storage container  100  having a container body  10 , a cover  60 , and a storage compartment  50 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  show perspective and front views, rear and top plan views of the container body  10  and the storage compartment  50  of the multi-purpose storage container  100  assembled together.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show rear and top plan views of the container body  10 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  respectively show a perspective view and a top plan view of the cover  60  having a charging stand  70 . 
     The multi-purpose storage container  100  includes: a container body  10 , having a sidewall  20  and a bottom  26 , for receiving a power strip  80  and/or a charging adaptor  85 ; a cover  60  for covering a top opening  23  of the container body  10  wherein a charging stand  70  for an electronic device  88  may be formed on the cover; and a storage compartment  50 , constructed to be removably received in the container body  10 . A side opening  35  is formed on the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  so that a power cable  81  can pass through the side opening  35 . The power strip  80  may have a power cable  81  and one or more power outlets  82 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the charging stand  70  has a groove  62  formed on a top  61  of the cover  60  to receive the electronic device  88 . The groove  62  of the cover  60  may include a plurality of holes  63  through which sound generated by the electronic device  88  can pass. Smart phones like iPhone™ have a speaker on its bottom and sound from the speaker can pass through the holes  63  since the holes  63  are close to the speaker. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container body  10  may include a sound-transmitting portion  40  formed on an upper portion  34  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  so that the sound generated by the electronic device  88  can pass through the sound-transmitting portion  40 . Accordingly, sound generated from the speaker of the electronic device  38  passes through the holes  63  of the groove  620  and then through the sound-transmitting portion  40  to the outside of the multi-purpose storage container  100 . 
     The sound-transmitting portion  40  may include a plurality of holes  41 . The groove  62  and the sound-transmitting portion  50  are substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, the plurality of holes  41  may be in the form of circular holes, rounded rectangular holes, or so forth. Alternatively, the sound-transmitting portion  40  may be made of fabric, paper or other material through which sound can easily pass. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the charging stand  70  may further include a recess  64  formed on a bottom of the groove  62 . The recess  64  of the charging stand  70  may include a cable hole  65  so that a connector  87  of the charging adaptor  85  can pass through the cable hole  65 . Preferably, the cable hole  65  is “T”-shaped as in  FIG. 10 . The connector  87  is sized sufficient to pass through the “T”-shaped cable hole  65 , but the length of the connector  87  is greater than the width of the cable hole  65  so that the connector  87  inserted into the cable hole  65  may not be slipped out the cable hole  65 . 
     The cover  60  may further include a sidewall  66  and the sidewall  66  may include a cavity  69  formed on a peripheral lower portion  76  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60 . A front portion  67  and a back portion  68  of sidewall  66  of the case  60  may respectively include a first recess  71  and a second recess  72 . Preferably, the first recess  71  of the front portion  67  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may be located on the side where the sound-transmitting portion  40  is located. The second recess  72  of the back portion  68  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may be located on the side where the cable opening  35  is located. Besides, the cavity  69  of sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may form a friction fit with the boundary of the opening  23  of the container body  10  for a secure coupling between the cover  60  and the container body  10 . An upper portion  77  of sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may be flushed with the upper portion  34  of sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5, 6, 11, and 13 , the container body  10  may include a pair of first fixing guards  31 , wherein the storage compartment  50  may include a flange  55 , and wherein a pair of receiving grooves  38  may be respectively formed on the first fixing guards  31  to receive both sides of the flange  55  for removably mounting the storage compartment  50  into the container body  10 . The flange  55  may extend around one of the compartment openings  51  as in  FIG. 11 . 
     Furthermore, the container body  10  may further include a second fixing guard  27 , fixedly attached to the bottom  26  of the container body  10 , which may be “U”-shaped with substantially rectangular corners. The storage compartment  50  may be constructed to fit in a space formed by the second fixing guard  27  and the sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . Once the storage compartment  50  is received in the space, it is securely kept in the space and does not horizontally move. Preferably, the second fixing guard  27  is “U”-shaped as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the second fixing guard  27  may be comprised of two “L”-shaped members. 
     Besides, the container body  10  may include a container opening  30  formed on the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  and the storage compartment  50  may include a compartment opening  51  formed on a location substantially corresponding to the container opening  30  of the container body  10 . 
     As shown in the  FIG. 2 , the side opening  35  of the container body  10  may be vertically and longitudinally formed on the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  up to the top opening  23  of the container body  10 . Furthermore, the side opening  35  may be sized such that a power cable  81  can pass through the side opening  35 , but the power strip  80  cannot pass through the side opening  35  even though the power strip  80  can pass through the top opening  23  of the container body  10  and be received in the container body  10 . Thus, the power strip  80  can be inserted into container body  10  through the top opening  23  of the container body  10 , however, once it is inserted and the cover  60  is closed to the top opening  23 , the power strip  80  does not be taken out of the side opening  35 . A charging adaptor  85  can be inserted into the container body  10  through the top opening  23  as well. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a multi-purpose storage container  100  may include a container body  10 , having a sidewall  20  and a bottom  26 , for receiving a power strip  80  and a charging adaptor  85 , wherein the sidewall  20  may include a front sidewall  21  and a rear sidewall  22  both of which face each other; a cover  60  for covering a top opening  23  of the container body  10  wherein a charging stand  70  for an electronic device  88  may be formed on the cover; and a storage compartment  50 , constructed to be removably received in the container body  10 , having a plurality of sub-compartments  56 . A side opening  35  may be formed on the rear sidewall  22  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  so that a power cable  81  can pass through the side opening  35 . A sound-transmitting portion  40  may be formed on an upper portion  34  of the front sidewall  21  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  so that sound generated by the electronic device  88  can pass through the sound-transmitting portion  40 . The power strip  80  has a power cable  81  and one or more power outlets  82 . 
     As shown in the  FIG. 3 , the container body  10  may include the plurality of container openings  30  formed on the front sidewall  21  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  and wherein the storage compartment  50  may include the plurality of compartment openings  51  formed on locations respectively and substantially corresponding to each of the container openings  30  of the container body  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 13 , the container body  10  may include a pair of first fixing guards  31  fixedly attached to the front sidewall  21  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . In addition, the storage compartment  50  may include a flange  55  formed around one of the sub-compartments  56 . A pair of receiving grooves  38  may be respectively formed on the first fixing guards  31  to receive both sides of the flange  55  for removably mounting the storage compartment  50  into the container body  10 . The flange  55  may extend around one of the compartment openings  51  as in  FIG. 11 . 
     Furthermore, the container body  10  may further include a second fixing guard  27 , fixedly attached to the bottom  26  of the container body  10 , which may be “U”-shaped and have substantially rectangular corners. The storage compartment  50  may be constructed to fit in a space formed by the second fixing guard  27  and the front sidewall  21  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . Once the storage compartment  50  may be received in the space, it may be securely kept in the space and does not horizontally move. Preferably, the second fixing guard  27  is “U”-shaped as in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, it  27  may comprise two “L”-shaped elements. 
     As shown in the  FIGS. 6 and 9 , the charging stand  70  may include a groove  62  formed on a top  61  of the cover  60  to receive the electronic device  88 . The groove  62  may be substantially parallel to the front sidewall  21  of the sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . Also, the groove  62  of the cover  60  may include a plurality of holes  63  through which the sound generated by the electronic device  88  can pass. 
     Furthermore, the charging stand  70  may further include a recess  64  formed on a bottom of the groove  62 . The recess  64  of the charging stand  70  may include a cable hole  65  so that a connector  87  of the charging adaptor  85  can pass through the cable hole  65 . Preferably, the cable hole  65  may be “T”-shaped. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cover  60  may further include a sidewall  66  of the cover  60 , wherein the sidewall  66  may include a cavity  69  formed on a peripheral lower portion  76  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60 . A front portion  67  and a back portion  68  of sidewall  66  of the case  60  may include a first recess  71  and a second recess  72  respectively. Preferably, the first recess  71  of the front portion  67  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may be located at the sound-transmitting portion  40 . The second recess  72  of the back portion  68  of the sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may be located at the cable opening  35 . Besides, the cavity  69  of sidewall  66  of the cover  60  may form a friction fit with the opening  23  of the container body  10  and wherein a upper portion  77  of sidewall  66  the cover  60  may be flushed with the upper portion  34  of sidewall  20  of the container body  10 . 
     As shown in the  FIG. 2 , the side opening  35  is vertically and longitudinally formed on the sidewall  20  of the container body  10  up to the top opening  23  of the container body  10 , and wherein the side opening  35  is sized such that a power cable  81  can pass through the side opening  35 , but the power strip  80  cannot pass through the side opening  35  even though the power strip  80  can pass through the top opening  23  of the container body  10  and be received in the container body  10 . Thus, the power strip  80  can be inserted into container body  10  through the top opening  23  of the container body  10 , however, once it is inserted and the cover  60  is closed to the top opening  23 , the power strip  80  does not be taken out of the side opening  35 . A charging adaptor  85  can be inserted into the container body  10  through the top opening  23  as well. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions, and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.