Abstract:
A container that consists of a looped component for linking up to various types of key holder components, compartments to insert toothbrush and toothpaste bottle, and an enclosing cover to these compartments.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application for:  
         [0002]    Title: “Container for carrying toothbrush &amp; toothpaste bottle on key holders” Bar code label: jc996 U.S. PTO 60/426,091 Nov. 13, 2002 (see sheet attached) 
     
    
     
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
         [0003]    Not applicable  
         SEQUENCE LISTING  
         [0004]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This invention relates to use of containers that promotes dental hygiene practices by allowing users to carry toothbrush and toothpaste bottle along with their key holder(s).  
         PRIOR ART, OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0006]    This invention relates to use of containers, which has a looped component that links up with a key holder component, to promote dental hygiene practices by allowing users to carry toothbrush and toothpaste bottle along with their key holder(s). Key holder component as mentioned above includes key holder main loop assembly as well as its surrounding assemblies. The container contains compartments for inserting toothbrush and toothpaste bottle as well as enclosing cover for these compartments.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,239 to Kraut and U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,686 to Lee show various types of key holder components and their securing mechanisms. These various securing mechanisms listed in the patents include rings, hook, threaded loops, connecting rings, and protruding member to enclose loop. This invention seeks to allow the container to link up with these types of key holder components.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,497 for Stacy, D412,247 for Adkins, D408,186 for Bowers, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,522 for Lee, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,700 for Slendebroek show various types of containers for toothbrush and/or toothpaste bottle. In addition, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,345,629 for Vives and D426,067 for DeMelo show a pocket toothbrush as well as a portable toothbrush/toothpaste bottle system. As demonstrated in these patents above, while these containers can hold both toothbrush and toothpaste bottle and/or are portable, they are carried independently. Since carrying these containers alone can sometimes become inconvenient for users, this invention, which is linked up to key holder(s), seeks to make it easier for users to carry it around.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,298 for Mayne and U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,739 for Masrour-Rad show a toothbrush that has pocket size or can be adjusted in size to fit into a confined compartment area. Since conventional sizes of toothbrushes and toothpaste bottles make it difficult for users to carry them around comfortably, for example, in a pants pocket, this pocket-size container would set a precedent for utilizing smaller-sized toothbrushes and toothpaste containers that would fit into the container compartments. This invention seeks to utilize such types of toothbrushes and toothpaste bottles. These compartments, roughly equal in size, would be divided by a straight separation component along the middle of the container. Separation component serves as a way to reduce internal movement of toothbrush and toothpaste bottle. Either one of the two compartments will be sufficient for inserting toothbrush or toothpaste bottle.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,376 for Meshberg, U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,345 for Rodriguez, and D460,694 for Llusca show various types of enclosing methods for containers. These various enclosing methods include snap-on, cap (for one-piece container), and cap (for two-piece container). This invention seeks to recognize several variations of these enclosing methods for a container.  
           [0011]    In conclusion, insofar as I am aware, no container formerly developed provides the convenience of carrying toothbrush and toothpaste bottles on users&#39; key holder(s).  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    This invention, use of containers for carrying toothbrush and toothpaste bottle on key holders, provides users with increased convenience for carrying toothbrush and toothpaste bottle. Since key holder is an everyday product for most of its users, linking up this container to key holders significantly improves convenience level for users.  
           [0013]    The present invention also recognizes several variations of the following: 1) key holders and their securing mechanisms; 2) mechanisms by which the looped component of the container supports the key holder component; and 3) enclosing methods. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a container that are constructed in accordance with the invention, with enclosing cover closed and open, respectively.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 3, 4, and  5  are perspective views of the looped component of the container where key holder component links up to the container.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the compartments for toothbrush and toothpaste container.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 8, 9, and  10  are perspective views of the enclosing covers for the compartments of the container. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0018]    [0018] 11  container  
         [0019]    [0019] 12  looped component that links up to key holder component  
         [0020]    [0020] 13  container enclosing cover  
         [0021]    [0021] 14  snap-on component (enclosing cover) with teeth  
         [0022]    [0022] 15  snap-on component (container) with teeth  
         [0023]    [0023] 16  toothbrush/toothpaste bottle compartment  
         [0024]    [0024] 17  separation component  
         [0025]    [0025] 18  outer lip  
         [0026]    [0026] 19  inner lip  
         [0027]    [0027] 20  container/enclosing cover joint section  
         [0028]    [0028] 21  snap-on closure surface  
         [0029]    [0029] 22  outer surface of enclosing cover  
         [0030]    [0030] 23  male sliding surface  
         [0031]    [0031] 24  female sliding surface  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a container ( 11 ) with looped component ( 12 ) attached to it that is constructed in accordance with the invention, with enclosing cover ( 13 ) closed and open, respectively. In order to fasten the enclosing cover ( 13 ) over the compartments ( 16 ), this container utilizes a single snap-on mechanism with overlapping teeth arrangements in which the teeth from the snap-on component of the enclosure cover ( 14 ) sets in directly below the teeth on the snap-on component of the container ( 15 ). Upon closing this enclosing cover ( 13 ), this overlapping teeth arrangement through the snap-on mechanism allows for tight fit of the container and the enclosing cover. When enclosing cover ( 13 ) closes over the compartments ( 16 ), the inner lip ( 19 ) and separation component ( 17 ) will serve as a stopper for the enclosing cover, while the outer surface of the enclosing cover ( 22 ) will have same height as outer lip ( 18 ). In addition, the separation component ( 17 ) and the snap-on closure surface ( 21 ) will have the same height as the inner lip ( 19 ). Container ( 11 ) and enclosing cover ( 13 ) are connected thinly and flexibly with material at the container/enclosing cover joint section ( 20 ). Snap-on closure surface ( 21 ) is shaped in such a way that the snap-on component from the enclosing cover ( 14 ) fits in comfortably.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 3, 4, and  5  are perspective views of the looped container component ( 12 ) where key holder component links up to the container. In these figures, key holder component may be loose, as shown in FIG. 3, or partially supported by the looped component of the container, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the toothbrush and toothpaste bottle compartments. In these figures, compartments may be completely separated with separation component ( 17 ) where this separation component has the same height as outer lip ( 18 ), as shown in FIG. 6, or partially separated with separation component ( 17 ), as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 8, 9, and  10  are perspective views of the enclosing covers for the container compartments. Compartments may be enclosed with a hollow cap as enclosing cover ( 13 ), as shown in FIG. 8, enclosed with double snap-on pieces with overlapping teeth arrangements ( 14  and  15 ), as shown in FIG. 9, or enclosed by sliding the compartment enclosing cover ( 13 ) into the container by joining male ( 23 ) and female ( 24 ) sliding surfaces, as shown in FIG. 11.