Abstract:
There is provided a travel shower case including a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. A cover is pivotally coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidingly coupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first position to a second position. The lock member includes a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to the field of travel accessories, and in particular to bath utility accessories, including a case for containers, with the case including a lock and a hook feature. 
         [0002]    A traveler typically will take personal hygiene supplies along for use, usually, in hotel or motel rooms. Certain limitations by governmental authorities prohibit fluids exceeding certain volumes. Transporting fluids must be in secured containers. At the destination of the traveler, the use of the personal hygiene supplies should be conveniently available, especially in a shower stall. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    One embodiment relates to a travel shower case. The travel shower case includes a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. A cover is pivotably coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidingly coupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first position to a second position. The lock member includes a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray. 
         [0004]    Another embodiment relates to a method for exposing a travel shower case interior. The case includes a tray defining an interior, a cover including a lock member having a hook member slidingly coupled to the cover, with the cover pivotally coupled to the tray. The method includes moving the lock member from a first position substantially within the perimeter of the cover to a second position, wherein the lock member unlocks the cover from the tray; and rotating the cover about a pivot member coupled to the cover and the tray to a position longitudinally parallel to the tray, wherein the interior of the tray is exposed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a travel shower case according to an exemplary embodiment in an open position with a hook member coupled to a receiving member. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the travel shower case of  FIG. 1  with the lock member shown in a first position according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the travel shower case of  FIG. 1  with the lock member shown in a second position according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the travel shower case of  FIG. 1  showing the cover being rotated from a closed position to an open position according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the travel shower case of  FIG. 1  with the lock member shown in a third position and configured to engage a receiving member according to an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the travel shower case of  FIG. 2  taken along line  6 - 6  showing the engagement of a protrusion in the cover with a corresponding locating feature defined in the tray according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring in general to the FIGURES and especially to  FIG. 1 , a travel shower case  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Travel shower case  10  holds one or more containers  12  and includes a tray  20 , a cover  30 , and a lock member  40 . Travel shower case  10  is configured to be manipulated between a closed or travel position and an open or use position. According to an exemplary embodiment, the components of case  10  are substantially formed from a molded (e.g., injection molded, vacuum molded, etc.) polymer such as a plastic or any other material that is resilient to water. 
         [0012]    Tray  20  (e.g., container, receptacle, main body, etc.) is a generally thin-walled structure with an open side  22  exposing the interior of tray  20 . Tray  20  is configured to receive one or more containers  12  for various fluids used in the bathroom (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, aftershave, etc.). While  FIG. 1  shows four containers  12  arranged side to side in one row, it should be understood that many variations are possible. For example, tray  20  may be configured to receive more or fewer than four containers  12  or containers may be arranged differently in the interior of tray  20 . Tray  20  includes a lip  24  that extends outward from the open side  22 . Lip  24  increases the strength and stiffness of tray  20  and provides several other functional roles as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0013]    Cover  30  (e.g. lid, closure, top, etc.) is coupled to tray  20  and is moveable between a closed position and an open position as shown best in  FIGS. 3-5 . According to an exemplary embodiment, cover  30  rotates about a pivot member  32  coupled to lip  24  of tray  20 . According to various exemplary embodiments, pivot member may be a rivet, threaded connector, snap-fit, or any other feature or member that couples cover  30  to tray  20  and allows cover  30  to rotate relative to tray  20 . In the closed position, cover  30  is positioned over tray  20  to form a generally closed structure and cover  30  held in place with lock member  40 . When cover  30  is in the closed position, containers  12  are trapped within tray  20  (e.g., during transportation of case  10 , etc). Cover  30  may be formed from a transparent polymer to allow containers  12  to be visible when travel shower case  10  is closed. According to other exemplary embodiments, cover  30  may be substantially opaque or may include one or more windows or other indicia to allow a person to see containers  12  when cover  30  is in the closed position. 
         [0014]    Cover  30  is rotated about pivot member  32  to the open position and aligned longitudinally with tray  20  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) to expose containers  12  and allow containers  12  to be removed from tray  20 . Cover  30  includes one or more indexing feature, shown as protrusions  34 . Protrusions  34  (e.g., nubs, bumps, stops, etc.) extend downward from the face of cover  30  proximate to an edge of cover  30 . Two protrusions  34  are provided symmetrically about pivot member  32 . As shown best in  FIG. 6 , protrusions  34  engage corresponding locating features  26  (e.g., hollows, depressions, recessed areas, etc.) defined in lip  24  to substantially lock cover into place in the open and closed positions. Sufficient sideways force (e.g., in the direction of rotation about pivot member  32 ) applied to cover  30  disengages protrusions  34  from locating features  26  and allows cover to rotate about pivot member  32 . Protrusions  34  may further include features shown as ramps  36  to aid in disengaging protrusions  34  from locating features  26 . 
         [0015]    Lock member  40  is slidably coupled to cover  30  generally opposite of pivot member  32 . According to one exemplary embodiment, lock member  40  is coupled to cover  30  with a sliding member shown as a rivet  42  that slides along a corresponding slot  38  in cover  30 . According to other exemplary embodiments, lock member  40  may coupled to the cover in another way such as with a longitudinal channel or overhang such that lock member  40  is allowed to slide relative to cover  30 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , lock member  40  includes an end with a J-shaped cross section that forms a catch portion  44 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the first position, lock member  40  is slid along cover  30  such that catch portion  44  engages lip  24 . Catch portion  44  prevents cover  30  from rotating about pivot member  32  and prevents cover  30  from being lifted away from tray  20 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , when lock member  40  is slid away from tray  20  to the second position, catch portion  44  disengages lip  24 . 
         [0016]    Lock member  40  further includes a hook portion  46 . Hook portion  46  is aligned with cover  30  and is located within the perimeter of cover  30 . Hook portion  46  is pulled away from cover  30  and brought into an operable position when lock member  40  is slid away from cover  30  to the third position. In the third position, hook portion  46  provides a hanger that supports shower case  10  and allows shower case  10  to be suspended from the shower head pipe (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), a towel rack, a soap dish, the curtain rod, a hook, or any other suitable receiving member or feature in the bathroom. Hook portion  46  includes a flexible portion  48  formed from rubber or other suitable material. Flexible portion  48  helps reduce the tendency of shower case to slide along a tilted and/or water-slicked object such as a shower head pipe. 
         [0017]    In the open position, containers  12  are exposed to a user and are held within tray  20  by partitions  28  provided in the interior of tray  20 . Containers  12  may be removed from tray  20  to dispense the fluid held within containers  12 . 
         [0018]    For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between the two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature. 
         [0019]    The construction and arrangement of the elements of the travel shower case shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, including any of a wide variety of moldable plastic materials in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments.