Abstract:
A device for storing and dispensing hockey pucks includes a box defining an interior capable of receiving a plurality of the hockey pucks, wherein the box comprises a first door opening and a second door opening disposed approximately perpendicular to the first door opening, a first door pivotably attached to the box within the first door opening, wherein, when closed, the first door encloses the interior when closed, and wherein, when open, the first door forms a ramp for receiving the hockey pucks through the first door opening and into the interior, and a second door pivotably attached to the box within the second door opening, wherein, when closed, the second door encloses the interior, and wherein, when open, the second door dispenses the hockey pucks from the interior through the second opening.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation-in-part of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/076,108, filed Nov. 6, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to structures for storing or dispensing objects and, more particularly, to a storage and dispensing device for storing and dispensing hockey pucks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When playing or practicing the game of hockey, a lot of pucks are required in order to maintain a proper practice. This is to ensure everyone participating can practice shooting, passing, or basic puck keeping skills. When performing these practice skills on ice, it is imperative that the pucks can be gathered in a single place because of the tendency for the pucks to travel farther due to the relative lack of friction of practicing on ice. 
     Gathering pucks is time consuming because of the need to bend over and grab a myriad of pucks and place them in a container. There is therefore a need to provide a puck holding container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a puck holding container that allows users to “shoot” or otherwise direct pucks inside of the container while also being capable of easily dispensing the pucks housed inside. The development of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail herein, substantially departs from conventional solutions to fulfill this need. 
     In one (1) embodiment, the disclosed device for storing and dispensing hockey pucks includes a box defining an interior capable of receiving a plurality of the hockey pucks, wherein the box comprises a first door opening and a second door opening disposed approximately perpendicular to the first door opening, a first door pivotably attached to the box within the first door opening, wherein, when closed, the first door encloses the interior when closed, and wherein, when open, the first door forms a ramp for receiving the hockey pucks through the first door opening and into the interior, and a second door pivotably attached to the box within the second door opening, wherein, when closed, the second door encloses the interior, and wherein, when open, the second door dispenses the hockey pucks from the interior through the second opening. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosed device for storing and dispensing hockey pucks includes a box defining an interior capable of receiving a plurality of hockey pucks, wherein the box includes a first side, a first door opening disposed in the first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a second door opening disposed in the second end, a top, and a bottom, wherein the bottom slopes downward from the first side to the second side. The device also includes a first door pivotably attached to the box within the first door opening, wherein, when closed, the first door encloses the interior when closed, and wherein, when open, the first door forms a ramp for receiving the hockey pucks through the first door opening and into the interior, and a second door pivotably attached to the box within the second door opening, wherein, when closed, the second door encloses the interior, and wherein, when open, the second door dispenses the hockey pucks from the interior through the second opening. 
     In yet another embodiment, the disclosed device for storing and dispensing hockey pucks includes a box defining an interior capable of receiving a plurality of hockey pucks, wherein the box includes a first side, a first door opening disposed in the first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a second door opening disposed in the second end, a top, a bottom, wherein the bottom slopes downward from the first side to the second side, a plurality of bottom apertures disposed through the bottom to drain water from within the interior, at least two (2) second side apertures disposed through the second side to enable tilting of the box about the first side to dispense the hockey pucks from within the interior through the first door opening, a first end aperture disposed through the first end to enable tilting the box about the second end to dispense the hockey pucks from within the interior through the second door opening, an opposed pair of first door slide apertures, a first door slide aperture disposed in each of the first end and the second end near the bottom, an opposed pair of first door latch apertures, a first door latch aperture disposed in each of the first end and the second end near the top, and an opposed pair of second door slide apertures, a second door slide aperture disposed in each of the first side and the second side near the bottom. The device also includes a first door pivotably attached to the first side within the first door opening, wherein when closed, the first door encloses the interior when closed, and when open, the first door forms a ramp for receiving the hockey pucks through the first door opening and into the interior. The first door includes an opposed pair of first door pivot pins near a first door bottom edge, an opposed pair of first door latch pins near a first door top edge, an opposed pair of ramp ridges extending from a first door bottom edge to a first door top edge on opposing sides of the ramp, and a ramp nose extending along the first door top edge, wherein the first door pivot pins are rotatably and slidably retained within the first door slide apertures to allow the first door to open and close, the first door latch pins are releasably retained within the first door latch apertures when the first door is closed. The device also includes a second door pivotably attached to the second end within the second door opening, wherein when closed, the second door encloses the interior, and when open, the second door dispenses the hockey pucks from the interior through the second opening. The second door includes an opposed pair of second door pivot pins near a second door top edge, and a second door tab protruding from a second door bottom edge, wherein the second door pivot pins are rotatably and slidably retained within the second door slide apertures to allow the second door to open and close, and the second door tab is releasably retained within the second door slot when the second door is closed. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the embodiments disclosed by this disclosure may be combined in various manners and implementations as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment disclosed by this disclosure. 
     Further advantages of the embodiments disclosed by the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a puck container for pick-up, storage, and dispensing of hockey pucks, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the puck container, as viewed from a different angle from  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of the puck container, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the puck container shown with a first door open, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the puck container shown with a second door open, in accordance with the one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  puck container 
               20  box 
               25  first side 
               30  first stile 
               32  first door opening 
               35  second stile 
               40  first door slide aperture 
               45  first door latch aperture 
               50  second side 
               55  second side aperture 
               60  first end 
               65  first end aperture 
               70  indicia 
               75  second end 
               80  third stile 
               85   a  second door slide aperture 
               85   b  second door blind slide aperture 
               90  second door inset 
               93  second door slot 
               95  second door opening 
               100  bottom 
               105  bottom aperture 
               110  top 
               115  handle aperture 
               120  center strut 
               125  interior 
               130  first door 
               133  first door top edge 
               135  first door pivot pin 
               140  first door latch pin 
               145  first door exterior 
               150  first door actuator 
               155  ramp face 
               160  ramp ridge 
               165  ramp nose 
               170  second door 
               175  second door pivot pin 
               178  second door top edge 
               180  door tab 
               185  second door exterior 
               190  second door actuator 
               200  hockey puck 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a one or more of the disclosed embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. 
     Further, those skilled in the art will recognize that other styles and configurations can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and that the example configurations shown and described herein are for the purpose of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation. 
     As used herein, singular terms such as “a”, “an”, and “the” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1), as well as a plurality of, the referenced items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     As used herein, terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are used as labels to describe various elements, features, and/or components, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the referenced items, unless other indicated. For example, such terms may be used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. 
     As used herein, relative terms such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “top”, “bottom”, “below”, “above”, “upper”, “lower”, “horizontal”, or “vertical” are used to describe a relationship of one element, feature and/or region to another element, feature and/or region as illustrated in the figures. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-5 , a puck container (herein described as the “device”)  10  is disclosed, where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. Generally, the disclosed device  10  provides for the pick-up, storage, and dispensing of a plurality of hockey pucks  200  to collect and store the hockey pucks  200  easily and efficiently so as to have them available for an ensuing event. It is envisioned that in various embodiments, the device  10  may be presented in a different size so as to be capable of storing more, or fewer, hockey pucks  200  without limitation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an isometric view of the device  10 , according one embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  includes a box  20  having a first side  25 , a planar second side  50 , a planar first end  60 , a second end  75 , a planar top  110  and a sloped bottom  100  joined along all horizontal and vertical abutting edges to form an interior  125  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     As one example, the box  20  is made from a plurality of injection-molded thermoplastic pieces fitted together in a manufacturing process necessary to yield the finished product in the shape of a rectangular prism. As such, the box  20  may be presented in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and surface textures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the first side  25  is more of a nominal position than a physical vertical barrier as the majority of the first side  25  is formed by a first door  130  enclosing a first door opening  32 , on a longer side of the box  20  ( FIG. 4 ). The first door  130  is a planar cover for the first door opening  32  having a pair of first door pivot pins  135  located on either side of the first door  130  in proximity to a first door bottom edge. The first door  130  is also provided with a pair of first door latch pins  140 . The first door latch pins  140  are located on either side of the first door  130  adjacent to the first door top edge  133 . 
     The first side  25  has a first stile  30  configured to essentially be a corner in conjunction with the first end  60 . A second stile  35  is located at an opposite position along the first side  25  as a corner in conjunction with the second end  75 . The first stile  30  and the second stile  35  have identical corresponding first door pin apertures  40  and first door latch apertures  45  to accommodate the respective first door pivot pins  135  and first door latch pins  140  to mount the first door  130 . 
     The first door pivot pins  135  are configured to be assembled into the first door pin apertures  40  for the purpose of hingedly connecting the first door  130  to the box  20 . The first door pin apertures  40  are elongated slots with semicircular ends to accommodate lifting the first door  130  slightly to disengage the first door latch pins  140  from the first door latch apertures  45  so as to be able to pivot the first door  130  about the first door pivot pins  135  in order to open the first door  130 . 
     The first door  130  is provided with a first door actuator  150  located on the first door exterior  145 . The first door actuator  150  is a handle adapted to be manipulated by a user as a means to raise and rotate the first door  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first end  60  is configured to be a planar vertical barrier on a narrow end of the box  20  being perpendicular to the first side  25 . A second door  170  is located in a second end  75  of the box  20  ( FIG. 2 ). However, the device  10  is not limited to the arrangement shown here as the first end  60  may be on either the right or left side without limiting the scope, or the intent of the device  10 . 
     For the purpose of this disclosure, the first end  60  is that end of the box  20  in which a first end aperture  65  is disposed. The first end aperture  65  is a horizontal slot, having semicircular ends, into which a user may place a portion of a hand; lift the first end  60  of the box  20  so as to position the box  20  at a declining angle; and, enable any hockey pucks  200  contained within the interior  125  to be dislodged and dispensed out of the second door  170  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     It is envisioned that some surface portions of the box  20  may include various indicia  70 , which may provide script or logos based upon a user&#39;s preference and may include images such as, but not limited to, business names, team logos, personal names, symbols, lines, pictures, and the like, in various colors and patterns, to further customize and personalize the device  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , disposed in the top  110  of the box  20  are two (2) handle apertures  115 . The handle apertures  115  are configured to be oval-shaped or similarly shaped slots arranged such that a center strut  120 , located between the handle apertures  115 , can serve as a handle by which the box  10  may be transported, with, or without, hockey pucks  200  in the interior  125 , from one location to another. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an isometric view of the device  10 , from a viewing angle different that  FIG. 1 , according to one (1) embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The second side  50  is configured to be a planar vertical barrier on a longer side of the box  20  opposite from the first side  25 . Two (2) circular second side apertures  55  are disposed in the second side  50 , into which a user may place one (1) or more fingers and a thumb of a hand for the purpose of position the box  20  at a declining angle to dispense contained hockey pucks  200  through the first door  130 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the second end  75 , similar to the first side  25  includes a second door opening  95  ( FIG. 5 ). This second door opening  95  is an aperture in a second door inset  90  formed into the second end  75 . A second door slot  93  is a crease, or slot, in a lower face of the second door inset  90  in the second end  75  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     The second end  75 , as previously discussed, shares a second stile  35  with the first side  25 . A third stile  80  is located at an opposite position from the second stile  35  along the second end  75  as a corner in conjunction with the second side  50 . The third stile  80  is provided with a second door slide aperture  85   a  into which a second door pivot pin  175  is inserted as a means to pivotally install the second door  170 . Disposed in the second stile  35  is a second door blind slide aperture  85   b  having similar function to the second door slide pin aperture  85   a . However, due to the proximity of the latch aperture  45  of the first door  130  in that same second stile  35  the depth of the second door blind slide aperture  85   b  must be truncated so as to not interfere with the first door latch aperture  45 . The second door slide apertures  85   a ,  85   b  are configured to be elongated slots with semicircular ends to accommodate lifting the second door  170  slightly to disengage the door tab  180  from the second door slot  93  so as to be able to pivot the second door  170  about the second door slide pins  175  in order to open the second door  170 . 
     The second door inset  90  is adapted to span a space between the second stile  35  and the third stile  80  ( FIG. 5 ). The second door  170  is a planar cover of the second door opening  95  having a pair of second door slide pins  175  located on either side of the second door  170  in proximity to a second door top edge  178 . The second door  170  is also provided with a door tab  180  ( FIG. 5 ), along an edge opposite from the second door top edge  178 . This door tab  180  is adapted to fit within the second door slot  93  to secure the closure of the second door  170 . The second door  170  is provided with a second door actuator  190  located on the second door exterior  185 . The second door actuator  190  is a handle, similar to the first door actuator  140  as pictured in  FIG. 1 , adapted to be manipulated by a user as a means to raise and rotate the second door  170 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a section view taken along line A-A, as shown in  FIG. 1 , of the device  10 , according to one (1) embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The bottom  100  of the box  20  is configured to be sloped downwardly from the entry of a hockey puck  200  on the first side  25 , to the second side  50 . The intended purpose of this arrangement is to function positively in regard to retaining the hockey pucks  200  within the interior  125 . Additionally, some moisture may inadvertently be introduced into the interior  125 , either by transferring shaved ice on a hockey puck  200  or by condensed moisture resulting from the hockey pucks  200  being frozen prior to play in a conventional manner. The sloped bottom  100  provides a means to direct the collected water to a plurality of bottom apertures  105  disposed in the bottom  100  whereby the collected water may exit the interior  125 . The bottom apertures  105  may be lateral or longitudinal slots in proximity to the second side  50 . Other configurations may be utilized for the bottom apertures  105  without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an isometric view of the device  10 , with the first door  130  in an open state so as to receive hockey pucks  200 , according to one (1) embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The aforementioned first door  130  is configured to pivot about the first door pivot pins  135  in the first door pin apertures  40 . This pivoting action reveals a ramp face  155  disposed on that side of the first door  130  directed toward the interior  125  of the box  20 . The first door  130  will pivot without restriction to touch upon the ice surface thereby forming a ramp via which the hockey pucks  200  may be slid into the interior  125  of the box  20 . 
     The first door  130  is provided with a ramp nose  165  at the first door top edge  133 , which provides a tapered edge portion of the first door  130  to assist the hockey pucks  200  onto the ramp face  155  with a minimal amount of obstruction. 
     Vertically protruding extensions of parallel outer edges of the ramp face  155  constitute ramp ridges  160 . A ramp ridge  160  on either side of the ramp face  155  prevents the hockey pucks  200  from sliding off of the sides of the ramp face  155  prior to entering the interior  125 . 
     After all of the hockey pucks  200  are pushed into the box  20 , the first door  130  may be rotated into the first door opening  32  to close the first door  130 . The first door  130  may be raised slightly in the first door pin apertures  40  to allow the first door latch pins  140  to be engaged within the first door latch apertures  45 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an isometric view of the device  10 , with the second door  170  partially opened to dispense hockey pucks  200 , according to one (1) embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The second door  170  can be selectively opened to permit the hockey pucks  200  to exit from the interior  125  of the box  20 . The slope of the bottom  100  relative to the second door inset  90  is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The second door slot  93  at the lower edge of the second door inset  90  is also clearly illustrated. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that other styles and configurations of the disclosed device  10  can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and that only particular configurations have been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The example embodiments of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be arranged and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     The method of arranging and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  10  having a desired size and style to suit the taste of a user; placing the device  10  on the ice surface at some location in which an obstruction, such as the boards or the net, may obviate any displacement of the device  10 ; orienting the first door  130  away from the stabilizing obstruction; raising the first door  130  slightly, by manipulating the first door actuator  150 , to disengage the first door latch pins  140  from the first door latch apertures  45 ; rotating the first door  130  about the first door pivot pins  135  in the first door pin apertures  40  to lower the ramp nose  165  onto the ice surface, thereby exposing the ramp face  155 ; utilizing a hockey stick, or other similar device, to push a desired number of hockey pucks  200  up the ramp face  155 , between the ramp ridges  160 , into the interior  125 ; and, closing and latching the first door  130  by engaging the first door latch pins  140  and first door latch apertures  45 . 
     The device  10  may be transported to another location for retrieval of additional hockey pucks  200 , if desired, by placing one (1) or more digits into one (1) of the handle apertures  115  and the thumb of the same hand into the other handle aperture  115 , and carrying the device  10  by grasping and lifting the center strut  120 . 
     The hockey pucks  200  may be removed from the interior  125  of the box  29  by manipulating the second door actuator  190  to enable displacement of the door tab  180  from the second door slot  93 ; rotating the second door  170  about the second door slide pins  175  in the slide apertures  85   a ,  85   b ; opening the second door  170 ; manipulating the device  10  using the handle apertures  115 , center strut  120 , and second side apertures  55  to eject a desired number of hockey pucks  200  at a desired location. 
     Accordingly, the disclosed device  10  beneficially provides an efficient and convenient means to collect and store a plurality of hockey pucks  200 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.