Abstract:
This invention relates to a spring-loaded compartmented container that may be used to house Non-Gluten, substantially Gluten-Free, Eucharistic Wafers, and other objects. A goal of the invention is to provide relief to individuals that wish to practice Holy Communion that may have Celiac disease or other Gluten or non-gluten allergies. The compartmented container may contain an attachment device, such as a clip, on at least a side of the container which may be used for mounting purposes, a retaining plate and spring on the interior of the container which may be used to move circular objects to a forward position, and a lid mounted to a hinge that may be activated by a depressible button with a single hand.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    It is well understood that significant amounts of people may have allergic reactions to specific nutritional compositions. For example, persons suffering from Celiac disease may have adverse allergic reactions to nutritional compositions comprising processed wheat. Persons suffering from Celiac disease have few efficient alternatives when partaking in group activities that involve food-based products that may have wheat or other additives. For example, persons suffering from Celiac disease that wish to participate in Communion by receiving a Eucharistic Wafer may have to refrain from participation due to a food allergy. Viewed from the perspective of a Eucharistic Minister it is difficult to effectively separate non-gluten from ordinary Eucharistic Wafers such that one can administer non-gluten wafers to parishioners with food allergies in confidence. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a container may be provided. The container may include a cupped body having a fixed sidewall and bottom wall. The container may further have a hinged lid. A stopper mechanism may be disposed on an interior surface of the bottom wall of the container. A retaining plate may be disposed in an opening of the cupped body of the container. The container may include a closure latch disposed on the lid and a corresponding release button disposed on the sidewall. Finally, an attachment device may be disposed on an exterior surface of the bottom wall. 
         [0003]    According to another exemplary embodiment, a container may be provided. The container may include a cupped body having a flat bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical sidewall. The container may further include a hinged lid, which may be configured to cover an opening of the cupped body. A closure latch may be provided on the lid and a release button may be disposed in the cupped body. The closure latch and release button may act in concert to close and release the hinged lid. A stopper mechanism may be disposed on an interior bottom surface of the body and a retaining plate may be disposed in an end of the cupped body. The stopper mechanism may bias an object against the retaining plate. Finally, an attachment device may be disposed on an exterior surface of the bottom wall. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0004]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0005]    Exemplary  FIG. 1  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container; 
           [0006]    Exemplary  FIG. 2  may show an exemplary embodiment of the attachment portion of a container; 
           [0007]    Exemplary  FIG. 3  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container in an open position with an exemplary food product; 
           [0008]    Exemplary  FIG. 3B  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container in an open position; 
           [0009]    Exemplary  FIG. 4  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container in an open position; 
           [0010]    Exemplary  FIG. 5  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container in an open position; 
           [0011]    Exemplary  FIG. 6  may show an exemplary embodiment of a container in a position that may represent an advantageous operable position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0013]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0014]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a container may be provided. The container may have a body having fixed side and bottom walls, a hinged lid, and a stopper mechanism capable of angling the orientation of contents of the container. The angling of the contents may cause contents to rest against a retaining plate, as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. This may facilitate the extraction of contents. In some alternative embodiments, the stopper mechanism may be a spring or other spring like mechanism, that acts in concert with a retaining plate thereby keeping an object in a retained position flush against the retaining plate. The container may have a closure latch configured to act in concert with a release button. Additionally, the container may have an attachment device, which may be shaped like a clip. The attachment device may alternatively be magnetic such that the container may magnetically attach to other articles. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  generally, a container  100  may be provided. The container  100  may have a body  101  with sidewalls substantially in the shape of a circle. The body may have a fixed bottom and a top or lid  103 . The lid  103  may be mounted to the body  101  by a hinge  105  or other similarly situated mechanism. When used in an upright orientation, hinge  105  may allow lid  103  to open downward. The container may feature a closure latch and a release button whereby the closure latch and release button act in concert to close and release the lid. The closure latch and release button may be spring or hinge activated such that the lid of the container may be releasable in operation with a single hand. The lid  103  may remain in a closed position when a closure latch  111  engages with the underside of the lid  103 . The lid  103  and hinge  105  may optionally be spring-loaded or have actuated hinges. The container may feature a release button  109  that when activated releases the closure latch  111  from an engaged position with the lid  103 . The release button may be spring activated by a sprung lever arm or other similarly situated mechanism. The container may have a stopper mechanism  115  secured to the interior portion of the bottom of the body. The stopper mechanism  115  may be a fixed element and may cause contents of the container to be disposed at an angle, such that contents are inclined to lean against a retaining plate  107 . In a fixed element embodiment, a stopper mechanism may be any piece of material capable of functioning as a stopper, such as a piece of metal wire, a block of material, or other elements as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. In some alternative embodiments, the interior surface of the bottom of the body may be angled, such that contents of the container are included to lean against a retaining plate  107 . In some embodiments, the stopper mechanism  115  may be a sprung lever arm, a helical spring, or other similarly situated mechanism. The spring may provide a modest force sufficient to push an object  200 , such as an edible wafer against a retaining plate  107 . 
         [0016]    The retaining plate  107  may be attached to the upper lip of the substantially circular shaped sidewalls of the body  101 . The retaining plate may be angled, or beveled, in such a way that the object  200  is retained in a biased position such that it can be easily removed from the container and can be easily viewed. The container may have an attachment device  113  that may be mounted to the body  101 . The attachment device  113  may be a clip or it may be a magnet. It should be noted that attachment device  113  is depicted as a clip yet it is envisioned that the attachment device can take the form of any hook and loop, carabineer, magnet, or other arch like shape. The aforementioned elements may be composed of bronze, silver, gold, platinum, or other metallic compositions. The container may also be plated with any unique combination of previously stated or other similar compositions. Additionally, the container may be engraved with writing. In some embodiments, the container may further have symbolic or decorative material affixed to its surface. 
         [0017]    The container may have surface ornamentation  120  as pictured in  FIG. 1 . The container may have a body  101  attached to the lid  103  by a hinge  105  as depicted in an open position by  FIG. 3A . The container may have an attachment device  113  attached to the underside of the exterior of the bottom face of the body  101 . The lid  103  may remain in a closed position as illustrated by  FIG. 1 . The lid  103  may remain retained in a closed position by the closure latch  111  shown in  FIG. 3A . The release button  109  may move the closure latch  111  such that it releases from an engaged position with the lid  103 . The body may have a spring like mechanism  115  as shown in  FIG. 3A  that may provide a modest force to object  200 . This force may be sufficient to retain the object  200  against the retaining plate  107 . The object  200  may be a wafer such as commonly used during Eucharistic Communions. The object  200  may be a substantially gluten free wafer. The object  200  may alternatively be any other object that may require sorting in a compartmented container such as disclosed herein. 
         [0018]    Referring generally to  FIG. 4  an exemplary embodiment of a container  100  may be disclosed. A retaining plate is not shown in  FIG. 4  to more clearly define the interior elements. The container may have a lid  103  attached to the body  101 . The body  101  may have a depressible insert or release button  109 . The release button  109  may be coupled to a closure latch  111  that may secure to the underside of the lid  103 . The lid  103  may further have a catch  103 A. The catch  103 A may be sized accordingly to properly engage with the closure latch  111 . It should be noted that various size catches  103 A may be configured to interact with various size closure latches  111  such that they would not deviate from the spirit of this invention. In an alternative embodiment, the lid  103  may be shaped with an indentation such that a catch  103 A is not required. The container  100  may have a stopper mechanism  115 , which may be a fixed element, a spring or spring-like element, a bent lever arm, or a rigid wire. As illustrated in  FIG. 4  the stopper mechanism  115  may provide a biasing element, in the form of a rigid wire or rigid strip, to incline contents, such as a wafer toward an opening or a retaining plate. The retaining plate is not illustrated to further define the stopper mechanism  115 , which would be substantially obscured from view if the retaining plate were illustrated. More particularly, the stopper mechanism  115  may include angled feet  117 , which may work in conjunction with the remainder of stopper mechanism  115  to retain contents at a desired angle. Angled feet  117  may hold one side of contents against the bottom while, while a raised portion of the stopper mechanism spaces the opposite side of the contents away from the bottom, angling the contents toward an opening formed between the half wall or retaining plate and the sidewall. Angled feet  117  may be formed integrally with stopper mechanism  115  or may optionally be distinct from stopper mechanism  115 . Angled feet  117  may help hold a wafer in the bottom of the container. This may help a wafer to be tilted toward the retaining plate  107 . Additionally, elements from alternate embodiments may be incorporated or omitted, as desirable. For example, the retaining plate may be any size such that it may adequately provide a rigid retaining plane to act in concert with the stopper mechanism  115 . The retaining plate may be similar to  FIG. 5  element  107  or it may be similar to element  307  of  FIG. 3B . In some alternate embodiments, a stopper mechanism may be a helical spring coupled at an angle to the interior of the bottom side of the body  101  to provide a force in a biased direction toward an opening formed between the retaining plate  107  and the body  101 . 
         [0019]    The interior arm  112  of  FIG. 5  may interact with the release button  109  and closure latch  111  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 5  illustrates at least one possible embodiment in which the interior arm  112  may be configured to provide a modest force against the closure latch  111  such that it remains closed. As shown in  FIG. 5  in light of  FIG. 4  it may be seen that interior arm  112  may be moved away from the closure latch  111  when the release button  109  is activated. 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  may show an embodiment of container  100  in a desired orientation for operation, where the attachment device  113  may secure container  100  to an edge of a Eucharistic Bowl, on the pants or shirt pocket of an individual, or any alternate structure that lends itself well to similar uses. In some embodiments, the attachment device  113  may permanently affix container  100  to an object or surface, as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. In this orientation, lid  103  may be coupled to the body  101  by a hinge  105 . The hinge may be disposed toward the lowest portion of the body  101  such that it may be assisted by gravity. In at least some embodiments the assistance of gravity is not necessary as a spring like mechanism or actuated hinges may be used in the alternative. Container  100  may have a retaining plate  107  that is roughly 50% of the surface area of the underside of the lid  103 . Stated another way the retaining plate  107  may have a surface area that is roughly 50% of the surface area of the open top of the container body  101 . In some alternative embodiments, as shown in exemplary  FIG. 3B , the retaining plate  307  may have a smaller surface area, allowing contents to project further from the container. The retaining plate  107  may be any desired size, as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.  FIG. 6  may show an advantageous resting orientation for an object  200  such that it may be easily viewed and removed. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple objects  200  may be stacked on top of one another in the container. 
         [0021]    The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments, and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0022]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.