Patent Publication Number: US-2009229628-A1

Title: Compact, multi-purpose tool for women

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 11/873,915 filed Oct. 17, 2007, which claims the benefit of Ser. No. 60/829,726 filed Oct. 17, 2006, and also claims the benefit of provisional patent application having Ser. No. 61/034,565 filed Mar. 7, 2008, which are herein incorporated in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to a women&#39;s personal compact mirror which also functions as a multi-tool by containing one or more of a number of implements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pocket knives, such as SWISS army knives, often contain other implements or tools such as tweezers, a corkscrew, small scissors, and a number of various sized pocket knives. This type of tool, which is marketed to men, can be easily carried in a pants pocket or shirt pocket. 
     Women also have a need for a multi-purpose device which is capable of containing a number of implements that are more directed to their needs. Accordingly, there is a need for a personal mirrored compact device which also functions as a multi-tool for women. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a personal mirrored compact device which generally includes a top member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a bottom member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a mirror positioned adjacent to or within the bottom surface of the top member, a least one receptacle contained within the bottom member, at least one implement contained within the at least one receptacle, and a hinge mechanism connecting the top and bottom members. One or more receptacles are contained within the bottom member for retaining one or more implements. These implements may include, but are not limited to, a pocket knife, a shears, a razor, a bottle opener, a corkscrew, a scissors, a tweezers, a light, a nail clipper, a whistle, a brush, a screwdriver, a comb, and a nail file. 
     Depending upon the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the implements may be removably retained within the receptacles contained in the bottom member or, alternatively, they may be attached to the receptacles in such a way that enables them to be ejected or released into a position where the implement can be used by a user while it is still attached to the bottom member. In one exemplary embodiment, the implements may be retained within the receptacles contained within the bottom member by magnets. In another exemplary embodiment, the implements may be retained within the receptacles contained within the bottom member by hinges or any other type of pivot like mechanism known in the art. 
     In yet exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bottom member may include a watertight compartment which can be sealed with a slotted cap member so that matches, money, or other items which must be kept dry can be contained within the watertight compartment. 
     In still another exemplary embodiment, the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention may include a whistle permanently contained within an edge of the bottom member so that a user can easily access and employ the whistle in an emergency situation. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the personal mirrored compact device may include a light member contained within the bottom member along with a battery compartment capable of containing a battery for powering the light member and a switch contained within the bottom member for activating the light member. 
     In still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the personal mirrored compact device may include at least one removable spool of thread contained within the bottom member of the device. A cutting member for cutting thread or paper may also be contained within the bottom member. In addition, the bottom member may include a receptacle for retaining a sewing needle and a needle may be removably contained within that receptacle. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the personal mirrored compact device may include a nail file embedded within the bottom surface of the bottom member. Further, the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention may include a latch member for retaining the bottom surface of the top member against the top surface of the bottom member when in a closed position and releasing the top member from the bottom member when in an open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention shown with the top member in an open position so that one can view the bottom surface of the top member; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the bottom member of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the top surface of the bottom member; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention when shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention when in a closed position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of an implement contained within the bottom member of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention with the implement shown in both the ejected and closed positions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a personal mirrored compact device  10  which includes a top member  12  having a top surface (not shown) and a bottom surface  16  which is connected to a bottom member  18  having a top surface  20  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a bottom surface  22  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). Top member  12  of personal mirrored compact device  10  is connected to bottom member  18  of device  10  by one or more hinges  24  or other type of pivot mechanism well known in the art. Mirrored compact device  10  also includes a mirror  26  that is positioned adjacent to, or contained within, the bottom surface  16  of top member  12 .  FIG. 1  shows a front elevational view of the personal mirrored compact device  10  of the present invention shown with top member  12  in an open position so that one can view the bottom surface  16  of top member  12  along with mirror  26 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the top surface  20  of bottom member  18 . Bottom member  18  of device  10  includes one or more receptacles  28  which are capable of retaining various implements  30  which may include, but are not limited to, a pocket knife, a shears, a razor, a bottle opener, a corkscrew, a scissors, a tweezers, a light, a nail clipper, a whistle, a brush, a screwdriver, a comb, a nail file, a watertight compartment, a sewing needle, and a spool of thread. For example, one receptacle  28  contains an implement  30  which constitutes a watertight or water proof container  32  having a slotted cap  34 . Watertight/waterproof container  32  can be used to store matches, money, or any other item which must be kept dry. Slotted cap  34  seals watertight/waterproof container  32  to insure that no moisture or water leaks into watertight/waterproof container  32 . Bottom member  18  may also include a light member  36 , a battery compartment  38  for retaining a battery to power light member  36 , and a switch  40  to activate light member  36 . 
     Bottom member  18  may also include one or more round receptacles  42  for retaining one or more removable spools of thread  44 . In addition, bottom member  18  may include long thin receptacles  46  for retaining one or more sewing needles  48 . Bottom member  18  of mirrored compact device  10  may also include a thread or paper cutter  52  and a whistle  54  contained or embedded within an edge of bottom member  18  so that a user can easily access whistle  54  in an emergency situation. 
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of bottom member  18  of personal mirrored compact device  10  of the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows bottom surface  22  of bottom member  18  which contains a nail file  56 . In addition, slotted cap  34  can be seen from the bottom  22  of bottom member  18 . Slotted cap  34  enables a user to open watertight/waterproof container  32  and then reseal watertight/waterproof container  32  contained in bottom member  18  with slotted cap  34 . 
     A front elevational view of personal mirrored compact device  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4  in a closed position.  FIG. 4  shows whistle  54  contained in bottom member  18  of device  10  and slotted cap  34  contained in bottom member  18  of device  10 . In addition,  FIG. 4  shows a latch member  58  which is used to retain bottom surface  16  of top member  12  against top surface  20  of bottom member  18  while in a closed position and is also used to release top member  12  from bottom member  18  when device  10  is in an open position. 
     A side elevational view of the personal mirrored compact device of the present invention when in a closed position is shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows one or more magnets  50  or similar functioning devices which can be used to retain implements  30  within bottom member  18 . A step  60  may be contained within receptacle  28  which contains implement  30  to assist pivoting or elevating implement  30  into an ejected position for use or removal.  FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of an implement  30  contained within bottom member  18  of personal mirrored compact device  12  of the present invention with implement  30  shown in both the ejected and closed positions. 
     Although the invention has been described herein in conjunction with the appended drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope of the invention is not so limited. Modifications in the selection, design, and arrangement of the various components discussed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.