Patent Publication Number: US-6341710-B1

Title: Sheathed receptacle with locking means

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to sheathed receptacles generally, and more particularly to sheathed receptacles having locking means for securing the receptacles within respective enclosures. The present invention also relates to methods for securing receptacles within respective enclosures. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of receptacles for use in removable relationship with associated enclosures have been proposed and implemented. In particular, relatively smaller portable sheathed receptacles have become more popular as small totable products have pervaded society. Such small products include compact batteries, vitamins, pharmaceuticals in various forms, keys, and so forth. Some of these products, e.g. certain medications, may need to be accessed in short periods of time, such that immediate availability of such products is desirable. Portable receptacles may be used to store and dispense such products, and thus provide convenient means for keeping such products on-hand at all times. 
     An important feature of such portable receptacles is to provide a means for securing the receptacles within an associated enclosure, so as to prevent unwanted receptacle removal and, potentially, spillage of the respective products. Furthermore, such securing means preferably inhibits ready access by small children and the like. Thus, an actuating means is desired to enable receptacle removal without allowing unwanted receptacle ejection from associated enclosures. 
     Portable receptacles proposed and implemented to date have utilized various receptacle securing means for holding the receptacles within respective enclosures. Most applications, however, do not provide an easy and reliable means for securing receptacles within associated enclosures, and for efficiently actuating removal of such receptacles from respective enclosures. 
     It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient means for securing and actuating removal of a receptacle within an enclosure. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable storing and dispensing receptacle which includes a simple and efficient means for securing and actuating removal of the receptacle within an enclosure. 
     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a portable storage and dispensing device having a releasable locking means for releasably securing a receptacle within an enclosure. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide unified means for securing and actuating removal of a receptacle within an enclosure. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for attaching a portable storage/dispensing device to various objects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By means of the present invention, an improved device for storing small objects is provided. Contemplated in the invention is an object receptacle having a base and walls defining bounded areas for holding such objects. The receptacle further includes a handle portion extending from the base, which handle portion has gripping portions extending outwardly from opposing side edges of the handle portion such that the gripping portions are substantially in face-to-face relationship with one another. Securing means extend from, and integrally formed with, the gripping portions. 
     To secure the objects held in the receptacle bounded areas, the receptacle is inserted into a sheath-like enclosure. At a desired point of insertion into the enclosure, the securing means become aligned with respective slots in the enclosure, and preferably engage with such slots to secure the receptacle in the enclosure. The enclosure is preferably sized and configured to receive the receptacle such that the respective objects are secured between the bounded areas of the receptacle and respective walls of the enclosure. 
     In a particular embodiment of the sheathed receptacle device, the integrally formed gripping portions/securing means are cantilevered from a wall extending upwardly from a distal edge of the handle portion. Such a cantilevered arrangement provides a spring action to the integral body embodying the gripping portions and the securing means. Through such a spring action on the integral body, the gripping portions may be manually manipulated to directly actuate the securing means into and out of the respective slots in the associated enclosure. Thus, the present invention provides a means for simultaneously gripping an object receptacle and actuating an integral securing means, which allows a user to easily and efficiently insert and remove the object receptacle from the enclosure. 
     A further aspect of the present invention includes an aperture in the sheathed receptacle device for connection of the device to various objects such as key rings and the like. Such an aperture may be disposed in the enclosure or in the handle portion of the receptacle, or in any position that allows the user to attach the device to another object. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable container of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the receptacle shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the receptacle shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of a receptacle utilized in the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the enclosure shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the enclosure shown in FIGS.  1  and  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The objects and advantages enumerated above together with other objects, features and advances represented by the present invention will now be presented in terms of detailed embodiments described with reference to the attached drawing figures which are intended to be representative of various possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are recognized as being within the grasp of those having ordinary skill in the art. 
     Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, a sheathed receptacle device  10  is shown. Sheathed receptacle device  10  preferably includes an enclosure  12  and a tray-like receptacle  14  inserted therein. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, receptacle  14  is secured within enclosure  12  through securing means, as is designated at  16 . The receptacle  14  may then be removed from enclosure  12  by actuating unlocking means, as designated at  18 . In preferred embodiments, unlocking means  18  is formed integral with securing means  16 . 
     Receptacle  14  is shown in more detail in the isometric view of FIG.  2 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, receptacle  14  includes a tray portion  22  having a base  24  and an upstanding wall  26  extending along a perimeter of base  24 . Wall  26  may be continuous or discontinuous, and may not be in alignment with an outer perimeter of base  24 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, wall  26  generally includes first and second generally opposing side sections  28 ,  30 , and first and second generally opposing end sections  32 ,  34 . End section  34  preferably includes a concave portion  36 . 
     The present invention contemplates various configurations for tray portion  22  of receptacle  14 . Tray portion  22  may include multiple walled sections of various size, individual walled or enclosed compartments, or any other configuration which may be desirable for particular applications. 
     Receptacle  14  also includes a handle portion  40  extending generally outwardly from base  24  of tray portion  22 . Handle portion  40  preferably includes an extension member  42  and an upstanding wall  44  extending upwardly from at least a portion of extension member  42 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, extension member  42  generally extends in a plane coextensive with base  24  of tray portion  22 . Preferably, handle wall  44  includes generally opposed gripping portions  46  and generally opposing locking ears  48 , wherein respective gripping portions and locking ears are formed integral with one another. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, gripping portions  46  and locking ears  48  are cantilevered from handle wall  44 . Such cantilevering provides spring-like action to the gripping portions and locking ears so that a user may impart inward pressure on the gripping portions  46  to deflect the gripping portion/locking ear combinations inwardly, thereby alternatively engaging and disengaging the respective locking ears  48  in enclosure  12 . 
     As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, handle wall  44  preferably extends upwardly from a distal end  50  of handle portion  40  such that handle wall  44  is substantially parallel to end portion  32  of tray wall  26 . In some embodiments, handle wall  44  includes a depressed portion  52 , which depressed portion assists a user in grasping handle portion  40  of receptacle  14 . 
     Gripping portions  46  preferably extend from handle wall  44  in a direction substantially toward tray portion  22 , and are disposed in a generally face-to-face relationship with one another such that respective inner surfaces of the gripping portions substantially face each other. Gripping portions  46  preferably include textured surfaces  54 . Such textured surfaces may be in the form of ridges and grooves, raised areas, depressed areas, or any other texture pattern which aids a user in grasping the gripping portions  46 . 
     As is better illustrated in FIG. 3, which is a top view of the receptacle  14  of FIG. 2, locking ears  48  preferably comprise knobs or flanges that extend outwardly from locking extension members  60 . In a particular embodiment, locking ears  48  include relatively flat portions  62  that face substantially perpendicularly to the respective side sections  28 ,  30  of tray wall  26 . As shown in FIG. 3, locking extension members  60  and locking ears  48 , in combination, preferably form a substantially unshaped arrangement, with locking ears  48  being disposed inwardly of gripping portions  46 . Such an arrangement, however, is but exemplary of a variety of locking ear/extension member combination arrangements contemplated by the present invention, each of which has the intended purpose of providing a means for integrally securing receptacle  14  within enclosure  12  and alternatively removing the receptacle from the enclosure. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the receptacle, as designated at  80 . Receptacle  80  includes upwardly-extending wall portions  82  which define enclosed areas  84 . In preferred embodiments receptacle  80  includes multiple enclosed areas  84 , which areas are preferably sized and configured to receive various products, including vitamins, compact batteries, pharmaceuticals, and the like. Such enclosed areas  84  may be sized and configured to receive designated products so that such products may be relatively tightly secured within respective enclosed areas  84 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, gripping portions  86  and locking ears  88  are cantilevered from handle wall  90 . Gripping portions  86  may include outwardly-extending tabs which provide a means for depressing the gripping portions inwardly, to thereby actuate the locking ears  88 . Handle portion  92  may include an aperture  94  for connection purposes to various objects such as key rings and the like. 
     The enclosure  12  of FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in the isometric view of FIG.  5 . Sheath-like enclosure  12  preferably includes a top  102 , a generally opposing bottom  104 , a first side  106  and a generally opposing second side  108 , and a closed end  110  and a generally opposing open end  112 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, enclosure  12  includes one or more slots  114  formed in respective sides  106 ,  108 . In some embodiments, slots  114  may extend through respective sides  106 ,  108 . In other embodiments, however, slots  114  may not extend entirely through respective sides  106 ,  108 , or may be formed in other locations of enclosure  12 . Enclosure  12  preferably includes an open passageway  116  extending therethrough for connection purposes to various objects such as key rings and the like. 
     Open end  112  of enclosure  12  is preferably sized and configured to receive receptacle  14  such that locking ears  48  may be engaged with slots  114 . In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a portion of receptacle  14  protrudes outwardly from open end  112  when receptacle  14  is fully inserted into enclosure  12 . 
     A top view of the enclosure  12  of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG.  6 . Slots  114  may extend through a portion of enclosure top  102  and/or enclosure bottom  104 . Furthermore, slots  114  may be positioned at any location along respective sides  106 ,  108 , so long as locking means  16  may be received therein. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 6, closed end  110  may be curved for appearance or functionality purposes. 
     Receptacle  12  and enclosure  14  are preferably fabricated from durable materials, particularly those which may be molded into various arrangements. The cantilevered gripping portions, extension portions, and locking ears preferably have a degree of elasticity, such that the cantilevered portions provide a spring action when depressed inwardly. Preferred materials include various plastics. Individual components making up the present invention are preferably formed in an injection molding process utilizing thermoplastic materials. Other common fabrication methods such as stamping or vacuum molding are also contemplated in the present invention. 
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, small products placed in receptacle  14  may be stored within enclosure  12  when the receptacle is inserted into the enclosure. Enclosure  12  is preferably sized and configured to receive at least a portion of receptacle  14 . Most preferably, tray portion  22 , securing means  16 , and a portion of handle portion  42  may be received in enclosure  12 . In some embodiments, an upper edge  27  of wall  26  is adjacent to, or in intimate contact with, top  102  of enclosure  12  when receptacle  14  is inserted into enclosure  12 , such that most products positioned in containment areas in receptacle  14  may not escape. Such positioning of wall  26  adjacent to, or in intimate contact with, top  102  of enclosure  12  may provide a degree of moisture resistance for products held within the containment areas, in that moisture is inhibited from passing between wall  26  and top  102  to enter the containment areas. The moisture resistance characteristic may be advantageous in storing pharmaceuticals which are moisture-sensitive. To maximize area within the containment areas, a portion of wall  26  may be adjacent or in intimate contact with respective sides  106 ,  108  of enclosure  12 . 
     Sheathed receptacle  10  is preferably operated by initially placing objects to be stored in respective containment areas of receptacle  14 . The loaded receptacle is then inserted into open end  112  of enclosure  12  until locking ears  48  abut respective sides  106 ,  108  of enclosure  12  at open end  112 . A user then depresses unlocking means  18  by inwardly squeezing gripping portions  46 , which actuates securing means  16  inwardly. The user subsequently continues to insert receptacle  14  into enclosure  12  while depressing unlocking means  16  until locking ears  48  are in alignment with slots  114  in enclosure  12 . To secure receptacle  14  within enclosure  12 , the user releases the inward pressure on gripping portions  46 , and allows locking ears  48  to engage with slots  114 . To remove receptacle  14  from enclosure  12 , the user depresses unlocking means  18  at gripping portions  46  to actuate securing means inwardly, thereby removing locking ears  48  from slots  114 . With the securing means actuated inwardly, the user may remove receptacle  14  from enclosure  12 . 
     A particular feature of the present invention is embodied in the integral and cantilevered nature of the unlocking means  18  and the securing means  16 . Such an arrangement allows a user to simultaneously obtain a firm grip on receptacle  14  while actuating securing means  16 . Thus, inward pressure of unlocking means  18  at gripping portions  46  provides a convenient gripping means and an actuating means simultaneously. The cantilevered arrangement provides sufficient spring action in the unlocking means to enable effective actuation of the securing means in and out of respective slots  114 . 
     The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes, and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the invention as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.