Patent Abstract:
A storage container system adapted to support a number of open-ended storage tubes. A lanyard, retainer clips and/or tethered paraphernalia (e.g. forceps, fingernail clippers, scissors, magnifying glass etc.) are supported to appending arms. Loops and/or sleeves at the carrier compressively contain bobbers, forceps, scissors and other relatively long stemmed items. Relatively large loops can project from the carrier to contain other detachable film canisters. Internal vent channels and ports at the carrier or the tubes can communicate with the atmosphere to vent moisture from the tubes. In lieu of fitting each tube to a bore, projecting cap pieces can contain the tubes to the carrier.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to storage containers and, in particular, to a user mounted container system for conveniently storing fishing tackle, small parts and the like. 
     A problem encountered by fisherpersons or other individuals who desire to carry a number of small items is that of conveniently storing the items. For example, a fisherperson may want to store lures, hooks, sinkers, bobbers, bobber stops, fingernail clippers/line cutters, forceps/hook removers, hook eye cleaners, among other accessories. The problem is especially troublesome to those who desire to be mobile, such as when wading, shore fishing or ice fishing. Relatively large tackle boxes can be carried, but the economic risks of losing significant amounts of tackle can be great with accidental spillage. A more portable container assembly is therefore desired. 
     For most circumstances, only a relatively few items need to be carried. Although a variety of hinge covered, multi-compartmented, molded plastic containers can be used, the compartments frequently do not accommodate long and/or bulky accessories such as bobbers and forceps. Roll-up fabric containers and commercially available threaded, stackable tubular storage containers also experience the same problem. All of the foregoing containers also typically require the fisherperson to separately carry the container in an available pocket, backpack or vest. 
     A variety of user supported, lanyard and clip mounted assemblies have been developed specifically for the fisherperson. These assemblies typically include various arrangements of forceps, fingernail clippers, magnifying glasses, hook eye busters, and/or other tools. The lanyards are typically worn from the neck. Otherwise, available retainer clips and spring-biased tethers can support the tools to the belt or other items of clothing. Each accessory tool is thereby made available with relatively little encumbrance to the fisherman. 
     The foregoing assemblies, however, do not contain the fishing tackle or other small items. Some relatively small, hinge covered plastic containers that provide a number of covered compartments are available that are also mounted to a lanyard. The single lid that covers the storage compartments, however, is susceptible to accidental release and the consequent risk of spilling the costly contents. 
     The storage assemblies of the present invention were developed to provide an inexpensive portable storage system for a fisherperson. The assemblies are also useful for other users desiring a portable, hands-free storage system (e.g. for pins, needles, screws, nuts etc.). A length adjustable lanyard or tether, among a variety of retainers, is secured to an elastomer carrier that supports a number of separate transparent storage tubes or containers that plug-mount to the carrier. The tubes contain miscellaneous items. Loops, tabs and other appendages project from the carrier and support fingernail clippers, weights, forceps, bobbers, hand-tools and other fishing paraphernalia. A live bait container can also be mounted to the carriers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a primary object of the invention to provide a storage assembly that contains miscellaneous utility items for a fisherperson or other users. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an elastomer carrier having a number of projecting appendages that accept and support a length adjustable lanyard or other user retainer to tether the carrier to a user and support a variety of small items, tools and appliances (e.g. forceps, scissors, magnifying glass, among other paraphernalia). 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a carrier having projecting loops that compressively retain forceps, scissors, bobbers, film canisters etc. to external surfaces of the carrier. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a carrier that accepts a number of transparent storage tubes and that may also include vents to each tube hole and/or cap piece that mounts into the tubes to secure the tubes to the carrier. 
     The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention, among others, are obtained in a number of presently preferred constructions that each provide an elastomer storage container carrier. A number of bores at the carrier accept plug-mounted, open-ended storage tubes. Fore and aft carrier appendages attach to a lanyard, retainer clips, a chain and/or other tethered paraphernalia (e.g. forceps, scissors, magnifying glass). Loops and/or a sleeve at the carrier compressively contain relatively long stem items, such as bobbers, forceps, scissors, tools etc. Relatively large loops can project from the carrier to contain detachable film canisters that support a variety of larger items. The body of the carrier can also include a cavity or bore that receives a larger container such as for live bait. Internal vent channels and ports at the carrier or holes in the containers can communicate with the atmosphere to vent moisture from the tubes. Projecting cap pieces that mount internal to each tube can also be used alone or in combination with the bores to contain the tubes to the carrier. 
     Still other objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following detailed description with respect to the appended drawings. Similar components and assemblies shown at the various drawings are referred to with similar alphanumeric reference characters. To the extent various modifications and improvements have been considered, they are described as appropriate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exploded assembly drawing of a carrier outfitted for a fisherman with a forceps and line cutter/eye buster. 
     FIG. 2 shows a front view of the carrier of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a right side view of the carrier of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a left side view of the carrier of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the carrier of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a front view to a carrier similar to the carrier of FIG. 1 but including a relatively large accessory loop at one end and a separate container that mounts thereto. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing shown in exploded assembly and partial cutaway to an alternative carrier having a longitudinal storage pocket. 
     FIG. 8 shows a front view of the carrier of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 7 in partial cutaway to expose vents and alternative tube and accessory mountings. 
     FIG. 10 shows another alternative carrier in exploded assembly that supports fewer storage tubes. 
     FIG. 11 shows a front view of the carrier of the carrier of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 shows another alternative carrier in exploded assembly that supports the storage tubes at plug ends that project from the carrier. 
     FIG. 13 shows a front view of the carrier of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 shows a partial perspective drawing in exploded assembly of a disk-shaped carrier, radially extending storage containers and a live bait container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a perspective drawing is shown to a portion of a storage assembly  2  of the invention that is designed for a typical fisherperson. A length adjustable strap or lanyard  4  that mounts about a user&#39;s wrist or neck is attached to a bore  5  of an appending arm  6  at a fore end  8  of an elastomer carrier  10 . One or more cinch beads  3  determine the loop size of the lanyard  4 . A variety of other tethers, including chains and retainer clips can alternatively be secured to the arm  6  to retain the carrier  10  to a user. Mating hook and loop material  11 , such as VELCRO, can also be used to secure the carrier  10  to the user or to any convenient surface, reference FIG.  5 . 
     A second arm  12  extends from an aft end  14  and supports a chain  16  and an attached fish line cutter-paint removal tool  18 . A notch  20  is provided at the arm  12  to accept the prongs of an alligator clip  22  and attached weight  24  that is commonly used to check water depth, such as when ice fishing, reference FIG.  10 . 
     A number of transparent open-ended tubes  26  are retained to the carrier  10  at a series of bores  28  let into the sides of the carrier  10 . Tubes  26  of a variety of different sizes and shapes can be used with the carrier  10 , for example, ⅜×1⅛ inch or ½×1½-inch cylindrical tubes are presently preferred. The tubes  26  are used to contain one or more lures, sinkers, hooks, bobber stops, beads, floats and various other paraphernalia used by a fisherperson. Whatever the item, the contents are visible to the user and are readily accessible upon withdrawing the tubes  26  from the carrier  10 . The diameter and depth of the bores  28  are sized to assure the tubes  26  are held fast under normal conditions. Because the carrier  10  is molded from rubber, a friction fit is obtained to each tube  26 . 
     A pair of loops  30  project from a flat longitudinal surface  32  and retain a pair of forceps  34 . The forceps  34  are used to remove hooks from fish and are compressively held by the loops  30 . A variety of other long stemmed implements and accessories can also be secured to the loops  30 , such as scissors or a bobber  36 , reference FIG.  9 . Other large diameter loops  40  are shown in dashed line that might be included at the carrier  10  and that might be used to support other containers such as film canisters  42 , also shown in dashed line. 
     The carrier  10  is molded from a resilient material, such as natural rubber, latex rubber or silicone rubber. Such materials are durable and readily accept a variety of pigments and other surface ornamentation to accentuate consumer appeal. The material accommodates the normally intended, outdoor environment and also allows the bores  28  to stretch and compress over the tubes  26  during mounting. As will become apparent below, the size of the carrier  10  can be varied as desired. The carrier  10 , however, presently exhibits a nominal 6-inch length, a 1¼-inch width and a ¾-inch thickness. 
     FIG. 6 shows another assembly  50  and carrier  51 , similar to the carrier  10 , but having an end loop  52  that is sized to contain a film canister  42 . Two of the bores  54  are also shown with exemplary beveled, internal cap pieces  56  that mount within a tube  26  to contain the open end of a tube  26  in an annular groove space  58 . The cap pieces  56  can be added to the carrier  10  to improve the retention of each tube  26  or can be used alone, such as in the fashion of the assembly  100  of FIG.  12 . 
     Another assembly  60 , similar to the assemblies  2  and  50 , is shown at FIGS. 7-9. A carrier  62  includes a pocket or sleeve  64  along a longitudinal surface  66  that retains a forceps  34 . The sleeve  64  provides a hollow cavity space  66  to receive the forceps  34  or any other appliance inserted into the space  66 . A chain  16  extends from an aperture  68  at an appending arm  69  and supports a fingernail clipper  70 . A number of tubes  26  extend from the sides of the carrier  62 . The lanyard  4  is secured to a retainer clip  71  and swivel  72  at an appending arm  74 . A variety of other types of available retainer clips  71  that directly attach to a user can also be used without a lanyard  4 . 
     FIG. 9 shows a cutaway portion of the carrier  62  and the construction of a cap piece  56  and annular groove  58  as it appears if included in one of the bores  28 . Also shown are vent channels  78  and associated vent ports  80  that can be included at each adjoining set of bores  28  to vent moisture from the tubes  26  secured thereto. With the return of any wet items to the tubes  26 , the items can rust or surface oxidation can damage the item and which conditions are overcome by allowing the moisture to vent to the atmosphere. Holes  82  might also be let into the tubes  26  to a similar effect. A long stemmed bobber  36  is shown in dashed line mounted to a pair of loops  84  that are also shown in dashed line and that might be included to depend from the bottom of the carrier  62 . 
     FIGS. 10-13 show alternative assemblies  90  and  100 . The assemblies  90  and  100  each support three tubes  26  along each side. The carrier  92  is molded to a shorter, generally similar shape to the carrier  10 . A forward arm  94  supports a lanyard  4  and an aft arm  95  supports a depth measuring weight  24  at a groove  96 . A chain or other tethered appliance can be secured to an aperture  97 . A forceps  34  is pinched to an appendage  98  that projects from the surface of the carrier  92 . 
     The assembly  100  of FIG. 13 varies from the assemblies  2 ,  50 ,  60  and  90  in that the carrier  102  provides a series of cap pieces  104  having beveled edges  106  that project from the sides of the carrier  102 . A chain  16  and fingernail clipper  70  mount to an aperture  108  of an arm  110 . A lanyard  4  mounts to an aperture  112  of an arm  114  and a forceps grips an appendage  116 . Except for the projecting cap pieces  104 , the carrier  102  is essentially flat, but can be constructed to any other desired shape. 
     In the latter regard and with attention to FIG. 14, an exemplary assembly  118  is shown and wherein a carrier  120  is fabricated in the form of a disk or hub. A number of storage containers  26  radiate from a series of bores  121  or cap pieces  122  that are displaced around the carrier  120 . Appendages  124  and  126  support a chain  16 , forceps  34  and a user retainer clip  128 . A circular bore or cavity  130 , which are alternately depicted by the cutaway presentation, is provided at the center of the carrier  120  and supports a live bait container  132 . A base  134  of the container  132  mounts to the bore/cavity  130  and a cap  136  is exposed for removal and access to live bait contained in the container  132 . For example, the container  132  might contain any of a variety of live bait such as mealworms, waxies, maggots and other grubs, fish eggs, crickets etc. The container might also contain any variety of large storage items desired by the user. 
     Although each of the carriers  10 ,  51 ,  62 ,  92 ,  100  and  118  are presently constructed from a silicone rubber, the carriers can be molded from a variety of plastics. A variety of different types of accessory support appendages and/or bore that support other tethered paraphernalia can be included at each carrier depending upon the typically intended user. That is and even though various constructions discussed above are intended for fisherpersons, the assemblies can be used to contain sewing accessories, electrical parts, hardware items or other small items, related tools and paraphernalia. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a number of presently considered constructions and various considered modifications and improvements thereto, still other constructions may be suggested to those skilled in the art. The disclosed features might also be combined in other combinations and mounting arrangements. The invention should therefore be broadly construed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0