Patent Publication Number: US-11021298-B2

Title: Organization and storage device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/924,757 filed on Oct. 23, 2019. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to portable storage devices. More particularly, the present invention provides for a portable organization and storage device that can be utilized to transport food, drink, tools, and other necessary personal items to and from a worksite while also providing a space on which an individual can sit and rest. 
     Many individuals, when venturing from the house, carry a wide assortment of personal items as well as food and drink with them. For example, construction workers typically carry a lunch box, a thermos, a tool belt, a large variety of tools, a cellphone, keys, and various other personal items to and from the jobsite. Similarly, outdoorsmen and women may venture out on a fishing or camping trip, or the like, and desire to bring certain personal items, food, and drink with them. Organizing and carrying such an eclectic assortment of items may be difficult and cumbersome. Forgetting one or more items may result in a missed meal, dehydration, or the individual lacking a necessary tool for the job. Additionally, once the individual is at their intended destination, or a point along the way, there may not be a comfortable spot to sit and rest. 
     Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to portable storage devices. These include devices that have been patented and disclosed in patent application publications. However, the devices in the known art have several drawbacks. Some portable coolers lack additional storage space and can be immensely bulky and cumbersome to transport. Additionally, such coolers typically do not provide a comfortable surface on which an individual can rest. Relatedly, these coolers are also not constructed to support an individual&#39;s weight over a prolonged period of time. The present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing portable storage devices. In this regard the present invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable storage devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides for a portable organization and storage device that can be utilized to transport food, drink, tools, and other necessary personal items to and from a worksite while also providing a space on which an individual can sit and rest. The present organization and storage device comprises a housing including a base with at least one sidewall extending therefrom, thereby defining an interior volume and an open end. The housing is divided into a series of compartments by dividers. A first compartment can store a liquid, such as ice water, and is in operable connection with a spout disposed on the sidewall. A tray is removably disposed above the first compartment. A cover can be removably secured to the open end of the housing and a drawer is disposed proximal to the base. In some embodiments, a toolbelt channel is disposed along a circumference of the sidewall, that can be utilized to secure a toolbelt with tools. The device can support an individual in a seated position and can be utilized to transport a variety of necessary items to and from a work site. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the organization and storage device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, a preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for the organization and storage device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. The organization and storage device comprises a housing  110  including a base  120  with at least one sidewall  130  extending upwardly therefrom, thereby defining an interior volume  140  and an open end  150 . In the shown embodiment, the housing  110  is cylindrical with a radius and size analogous to a five-gallon bucket. The housing  110  is comprised of durable materials that are able to withstand impacts as well as wear associated with rough environments such as a work site. The housing  110  comprises an insulating material  111  that is configured to form a thermal barrier between the interior volume  140  and the outside of the device. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the insulating material  111  will enable the device to keep personal items and fluids stored therein within a temperature range independent of the temperature outside the device. 
     The interior volume  140  is configured to store a liquid therein. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the housing  110  includes liquid-tight seals such that the liquid stored within the interior volume  140  will be contained therein and not leak or spill outside the device. The interior volume  140  is also in fluid communication with a spout  160  disposed on the sidewall  130 . In the shown embodiment, the spout  160  further comprises a push-button  161 , wherein actuation of the push-button  161  enables the fluid stored in the interior volume  140  to travel through the spout  160  to the exterior of the device. In this manner, a user can store a desired fluid, such as water, mixed with ice  141  in the interior volume  140  and dispense the ice water via actuation of the push-button  161 , resulting in the flow of the ice water into a cup or other desired container positioned underneath the spout  160 . In one embodiment, a plurality of ventilation holes are disposed through an external surface of the at least one sidewall  130  that allow the fluid stored in the interior volume  140  to flow properly when the spout  160  is utilized. 
     A drawer  170  is disposed proximal to the base  120 . In one embodiment, the drawer  170  is slidably received in a drawer channel (as shown in  FIG. 2, 171 ) disposed in the base  120 . In the shown embodiment, the spout  160  is disposed above a drawer  170  such that when the drawer  170  slides out of the drawer channel, the drawer  170  does not come into contact with the spout  160 . In the shown embodiment, the drawer  170  further includes a notch  172  that can be utilized to pull the drawer  170  open and that further enables the drawer  170  to slide out without coming into contact with the spout  160 . 
     A tray  180  is removably disposed within the interior volume  140 . In one embodiment, the sidewall  130  includes a perimeter shelf  181  that is configured to receive a lip portion  182  of the tray  180 . In such a manner, the tray  180  can rest on the perimeter shelf  181  and be held within a top portion of the interior volume  140 , and can be held in a position such that the tray  180  does not fall into, or be submersed in, the liquid stored therein. The tray  180 , in this manner, provides a dry area within the device in which food  183  and drinks  184  can be stored. In the shown embodiment, the tray  180  further includes a pair of internal handles  185  which can be utilized to remove and replace the tray  180  within the interior volume  140 . In one embodiment, the tray  180  includes a depression  186  which is configured to receive an ice pack  187  or a heating pack. 
     A cover  190  is removably secured to the open end  150  of the housing  110 . In one embodiment, the cover  190  is threadably secured to a complimentary threading  191  on the open end  150  of the housing  110 . Such a mating of threaded surfaces enables the cover  190  to be held on securely to the housing  110 , thereby preventing the cover  190  from falling off. In an alternate embodiment, the cover  190  is frictionally secured to the open end  150  of the housing  110 . In one embodiment, the cover  190  is configured to support the weight of a person. The cover  190 , when secured to the housing  110 , can function as a seat such that a person can sit on the device and rest. The cover  190  and the housing  110  are constructed of durable materials that can withstand the weight and stresses associated with a person resting thereon. In one embodiment, the cover  190  comprises a padded material. Such a padded material provides a comfortable surface on which a person can rest while seated. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a front perspective view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. In some embodiments, the housing further comprises a cup recession  200  disposed in at least one sidewall. The cup recession  200  is sized to receive a drinking container  201  such as an 8-ounce, 12-ounce, or 16-ounce drinking cup. In other embodiments, various other size drinking cups, and related drinking containers  201  can be received therein. In further embodiments, a cup holder  202  is pivotally secured to the sidewall via a hinge  203  disposed on the sidewall  130 . The cup holder  202  is configured to cover the cup recession  200  when oriented in a closed position and can support the weight of a full drinking container  201  in an open position. In the shown embodiment, a pair of fingerholes  204  are disposed through the cup holder  202  which can be utilized to move the cup holder  202  between the open and closed positions. 
     In the shown embodiment, a handle  210  is disposed on the at least one sidewall. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand how the handle  210  can be utilized to carry the device and that the handle is of sufficient strength and durability to carry a full load without breaking. In the shown embodiment, the handle  210  is hingedly disposed on the at least one sidewall at opposing faces of the sidewall. Such a configuration enables the handle  210  to fold down and rest against the sidewall when not in use and enables a user to rotate the handle  210  into an upright position which can aid the user in carrying the device. 
     In some embodiments, a speaker recession  220  is disposed in the sidewall. Similar to the cup recession  200 , the speaker recession  220  can receive a portable speaker  221  therein. In a further embodiment, the speaker recession  220  can receive the portable speaker  221  such that when the portable speaker  221  is fully received therein, a front face of the speaker  221  can rest flush and continuously with the at least one sidewall. In such a manner, a user can secure the speaker  221  in the speaker recession  220  without any portion of the speaker  221  extending beyond the sidewall, thereby preventing accidental contact with the speaker  221 . 
     As discussed previously, a drawer  170  is slidably received in a drawer channel  171  disposed in the base  120 . The drawer  170  can be utilized to store personal items  270  such as sunglasses, cellphones, keys, and the like. In one embodiment, the drawer  170  includes a lock  271  that can be utilized to secure the drawer  170  in the base  120 . In such a manner, a user can secure their personal items  270  in the drawer  170  and lock them away such that an unauthorized user is unable to access them. In one embodiment, a seal is formed when the drawer  170  is fully received inside the drawer channel  171 . In a further embodiment, the seal is a waterproof seal. The seal can ensure that undesirable materials, such as mud and water, do not enter into the drawer  170  when the drawer is fully secured and received inside the drawer channel  171 , thereby preventing such materials from contacting the personal items  270 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there are shown a front perspective view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device and a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the organization and storage device. In one embodiment, a toolbelt channel  300  is disposed along a circumference of the at least one sidewall. The toolbelt channel  300  is configured to receive a toolbelt  310  therein. In one embodiment the toolbelt  310  is permanently secured within the toolbelt channel  300 . In other embodiments, the toolbelt  310  is removably secured within the toolbelt channel  300 . In such embodiments, a fastener  320  is disposed on opposing terminal ends of the toolbelt  310 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the fastener  320  can be a belt buckle or comprise complimentary male and female parts to secure together. In one embodiment, the toolbelt channel  300  further comprises a plurality of retaining members  330 , wherein the retaining members  330  are configured to receive the toolbelt  310  thereunder. The retaining members  330  are sized to allow a band  301  of the toolbelt  310  to slide through and under the retaining members  330 . The retaining members  330  help to ensure that the toolbelt  310  remains within the toolbelt channel  300  and does not slide or fall off of the device. 
     In various embodiments, the toolbelt  310  comprises a plurality of pockets  340 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that in various embodiments, the toolbelt  310  may contain a variety of sizes, shapes, and number of pockets  340 . Each pocket  340  may be utilized to store a desired item of the appropriate size. For example, one pocket  340  may be sized to store a large item such as a cellphone or tape measure, while another pocket  340  may be sized to store a small assortment of items such as nails or screws  343 . In further embodiments, the pockets  340  can include an open end  341  thereby enabling a user to easily insert tools such as screwdrivers  352 , marking devices such as pencils  351 , and other personal items. In some embodiments, the pockets  340  can include a flap  342  that is sized to cover the open end  341 . The flap  342  can include a flap closure  349  to enable the flap  342  to be held in a closed position, thereby providing an enclosed storage space for smaller items, such as screws  343 . The flap  342  enables the smaller items to remain within an interior volume of the pocket  340  such that the items will not spill out unintentionally. In one embodiment, a loop  360  is disposed on the toolbelt  310 . The loop  360  can be utilized, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to receive and store tools such as a hammer  361 . 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.