Patent Publication Number: US-11035567-B2

Title: Illuminated container apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/814,072, filed Mar. 5, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to containers and illuminated devices. One embodiment of the invention comprises an illuminated container apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is common when using a container for the user to desire a light to illuminate the interior of the container. For example, in the case of a toolbox, light can aid the user in grasping a particular tool in the toolbox at night or in a dimly lit area. Attempts have been made in the prior art to address this need. However, many such prior art devices comprise containers in which lights are electrically wired to the container itself. Such a system can be relatively expensive, and if the lights fail it is generally difficult and impractical to repair. Also, it can be relatively difficult to replace batteries in such containers. 
     SUMMARY 
     One object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device that can be retrofitted into existing containers. Another object of the invention is to provide an illumination device that can be shaped and sized to fit within containers of various shapes and dimensions. Another object of the invention is to provide an illumination device that can be used in a container without electrically connecting the device to the container. These and other objects of the invention can be achieved in one or more embodiments of the invention described herein. 
     One embodiment of the invention comprises an illuminated foam that can be adapted for use in a variety of containers. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises an illumination apparatus comprised of a foam material, and at least one light emitting device positioned within the foam material. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a container comprising an illuminated foam. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the container can be a toolbox, fishing tackle box, gun case, or luggage. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a kit comprising a container and an illumination apparatus. According to an embodiment of the invention, the illumination apparatus comprises a solid foam material and at least one light emitting device positioned within the foam material. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises an illumination apparatus comprised of an aerogel material, and at least one light emitting device positioned within the aerogel material. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a container comprising an illuminated aerogel. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method of making a container apparatus comprising an illuminated foam. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises an illumination apparatus comprising a foam section, a recess formed in the foam section, and a light emitting device removably positioned within the recess. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the foam section can be comprised of polyurethane and/or polystyrene. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the light emitting device comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the light emitting device includes a touch sensitive on/off mechanism, such as a capacitive touch sensor. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a container and an illumination apparatus positioned within the container. The illumination apparatus can comprise a cushioning section, and a light emitting device positioned within the cushioning section. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the cushioning section is comprised of a solid foam. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the solid foam can be polyurethane or polystyrene. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the cushioning section can be comprised of an aerogel material, such as silica aerogel or tantalum aerogel. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the container can be a toolbox, fishing tackle box, gun case, and luggage. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the light emitting device can comprise one or more light emitting diodes. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the light emitting device includes a touch sensitive on/off mechanism operatively connected to the light emitting diode, so that pressing on the cushioning section can turn the light emitting diode on and off. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a recess can be formed in the cushioning section and the illumination apparatus is positioned within the recess. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a slit can be formed in communication with the recess, such that the light emitting device can be slid and out of the recess. 
     Another embodiment of the invention comprises a method of making a container apparatus. A container is provided having an interior surface defining a size and shape. A piece of solid foam is cut to conform to the size and shape of the interior of the container, and an opening is cut in the piece of solid foam. A light emitting device is inserted into the piece of solid foam. The piece of solid foam is positioned with the interior of the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a container apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the container apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the container apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the container apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the container apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the container apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A container apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , and shown generally at reference numeral  100 . The container apparatus  100  comprises a container  110 , and an illumination apparatus  10  positioned within the container. The container  110  can be comprised of pivotally attached container sections  111 ,  112 . Section  112  can be a container body, and section  111  can be a container lid, or vice versa. The container  110  can be a toolbox, fishing tackle box, gun case, luggage or other suitable container. 
     The illumination apparatus  10  comprises a cushioning section  12 , and a light emitting device  14  positioned within the cushioning section  12 . The cushioning section  12  can be comprised of solid foam. The term “solid foam” as used herein, refers generally to a soft, resilient solid material having trapped cells of gas within the solid material, and/or materials having the characteristics of foam, such as polyurethane (foam rubber), polystyrene, phenolic and other manufactured foams. 
     Preferably, the light emitting device  14  comprises a light emitting diode with a touch sensitive on/off mechanism, such as a capacitive touch sensor. Pressing down on the cushioning section  12  triggers the capacitive touch sensor, turning the light emitting device  14  on and off. As such, the light emitting device  14  can be turned on and off by pressing down on the cushioning section  12 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the cushioning section  12  is comprised of an aerogel material. The term “aerogel” refers generally to a porous ultralight material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component for the gel has been replaced with a gas. For example, the aerogel material can be silica (SiO 2 ) aerogel or tantalum (Ta 2 O 5 ) aerogel. 
     The illumination apparatus  10  comprising the cushioning section  12  can be positioned within container section  112 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . A second cushioning section  13 , made of a foam or aerogel material, can be positioned within the other container section  111 . 
     In a method of making the illumination apparatus  10  according to the invention, a piece of solid foam is cut with a laser cutter to conform to the size, shape and dimensions of the interior of the container  110 . A recess can be formed in the foam by the laser cutter, and the light emitting device  14  can be positioned within the recess in the foam. A slit can be formed in communication with the recess, whereby the light emitting device  14  can be slid and out of the recess. As such, the light emitting device can be easily removed from the foam section  12  for charging, replacing batteries or replacing with another light emitting device. 
     According to another method of making the illumination apparatus  10 , a foam piece is cut into sections, the light emitting device  14  is positioned within the sections, and the sections are adhered together using an adhesive. Alternatively, the foam sections can be melted together using heat. Preferably, the light emitting device  14  is a light emitting diode. The light emitting device  14  is fully integrated into the foam material  12 . According to another embodiment of the invention, the illumination apparatus  10  can comprise a plurality of multi-colored light emitting devices, such as light emitting diodes. 
     In another method of making the illumination apparatus  10  according to the invention, a hot blade is used to melt a portion of the foam piece, creating a slot within the foam in which a light emitting device  14  is positioned. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the illumination apparatus  10  comprises means for maintaining a space between the light emitting device  14  and the foam of the cushioning section  12 . The illumination apparatus  10  can include a substantially rectangular frame positioned within a recess formed in the cushioning section  12 . The light emitting device  14  is substantially rectangular, and is positioned within the frame. Preferably, the frame has a thickness of approximately two inches, whereby there is a space of approximately two inches between the light emitting device  14  and the foam section  12 . Alternatively, the cushioning section  12  can be comprised of top and bottom layers of foam. The frame is positioned on the bottom layer, the light emitting device is positioned on the bottom layer, and the top layer is positioned over the frame. 
     The illumination apparatus  10  includes a power source operatively connected to the light emitting device  14  to power the light emitting device  14 . The light emitting device  14  can be powered by a rechargeable battery, and can be operatively connected to a USB switch  16  that can selectively turn the light emitting device  14  on and off and charge the battery of the light emitting device  14 . The USB switch  16  can be positioned in the foam section  12 . Alternatively, the light emitting device can be operatively connected to a plunger switch. When desired, the user can engage the switch to turn on the light emitting device  14 , which illuminates the interior of the container  12 . 
     The foam  12  of the illumination apparatus  10  provides cushioning, and stabilizes items within the container  110  and prevent their unwanted movement. For example, a firearm  50  can be positioned in the container  110 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The foam  12  of the illumination apparatus  10  cushions and stabilizes the firearm  50 , helping to prevent unwanted movement of the firearm  50  when the container  110  is carried and moved about. 
     The foam  12  of the illumination apparatus  10  can be easily cut to conform to the interior size, shape and dimensions of a variety of containers. As such, the illumination apparatus  10  can be used with container  110  as well as other containers not shown in the drawings. 
     The light emitting device  14  is fully integrated into the foam  12 . The illumination apparatus  10  illuminates the interior of the container  110  without requiring any electrical connection between the illumination apparatus  10  and the container  110 . Accordingly, the illumination apparatus  10  can be used with a variety of existing conventional containers. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the illumination apparatus  10  can include wireless technology, such as the wireless communication technology sold under the mark “BLUETOOTH”, which is operatively connected to the light emitting device  14  and a remote control, such that the remote control can turn the light emitting device  14  on and off. The remote control can be a computing device comprising a computer processor, such as a computer or mobile smartphone. The remote control can be operated by a human user that activates the light emitting device  14  at times the user deems appropriate. Alternatively, the remote control comprises a computer processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising software having programming instructions that, when executed, cause the computer processor to automatically activate the light emitting device  14  at a predetermined time of day. In another embodiment, the software can be integrated into a mobile application that can be downloaded onto mobile smartphones and allows a user to control the light emitting device  14  with a mobile smartphone. 
     A container apparatus and method of using same are described above. Various changes can be made to the invention without departing from its scope. The above description of embodiments and best mode of the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation—the invention being defined by the claims and equivalents thereof.