Abstract:
A retainment device may have a retainment vessel with a first section and a second section that, when joined, form a hollow retainment device. The retainment device may provide a fluid seal allowing both liquid and/or solid objects to be retained within the interior. The retainment device is preferably transparent and enables one to attach it to various items such as a bottle stopper or a keychain. Items may be stored within the retainment vessel and viewed therethrough. A tag mechanism may allow a description of the object contained within the retainment mechanism to be identified.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Application 62/293,859 filed on Feb. 11, 2016, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0002]    The field of the embodiments of the present invention relate to retainment devices, namely retainment devices which allows any number of individuals to store and/or view the contents contained therein. In particular, the field relates to items intended to hold keepsakes bought, collected, or otherwise obtained and display said keepsakes for viewing and remembrance. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0003]    Keepsakes or mementos are kept by people all over the globe as ways to remember people, places, events, etc. that have a particular meaning or sentimentality attached to it. For example, an individual may purchase a seashell from a beach side store which serves as a reminder to a vacation they took with their family. In other instances, an individual may have received an item from a close friend or family member and that item helps them to conjure particular thoughts or memories associated with that friend or family member. These items may come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and may virtually be any item to which meaning can be prescribed. 
         [0004]    Often times, such items may be fragile or small which can cause them to easily become lost or broken. Such an event may be devastating to the owner of the item as the item may be irreplaceable and have great meaning for that person. Further, it is often customary to display or show various keepsakes, mementos, etc. for purposes of discussion and remembrance with friends and family. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus capable of displaying and/or describing such an item and further keeping it safe while it is displayed. The present invention and its embodiments meets and exceeds these objectives. 
       Review of Related Technology 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,147 pertains to a transparent globular photograph holder. The holder consists of a pair of transparent semiglobular members—each such complementary transparent member consisting of a hollow semiglobe having a flat, planar, circular face, said flat, planar, circular face constituting an inner frame disc. Each such inner frame disc consists of an integrally-formed inner circular ring for co-operating together to provide back-up rings for holding two photographs, back-to-back, for two-way viewing. The hollow semiglobes are being selectively secured together at a selected area of their respective flat, planar, circular faces by hinge means. They also are releasably temporarily locked together at another area of their respective flat, planar, circular faces by means of a flexible clasp on one of said inner frame discs which co-operates with a retaining slot in said other inner frame disc: means are provided for hanging the transparent globular photograph holder. 
         [0006]    U.S. Patent Application 2011/0253731 pertains to an annular attachment device that is adapted to engage the threads of a threaded container and provide a connection point for the threaded container. In such an arrangement, the threads of a container may be placed through a center aperture in the attachment device. By threading a lid onto the container, the annular attachment device may be trapped between the container and its lid. An aperture or hook on an outer surface of the annular attachment device allows the device and a supported container to be tethered to a desired location. 
         [0007]    Various systems and methodologies are known in the art. However, their structure and means of operation are substantially different from the present disclosure. The other inventions fail to solve all the problems taught by the present disclosure. The present invention and its embodiments provide for a lightweight, fluid sealed, portable apparatus that holds an item for viewing and safe keeping. The present invention may further be coupled to items, such as a bottle stopper or a keychain, to be displayed and serve as a functional gripping surface. At least one embodiment of this invention is presented in the drawings below and will be described in more detail herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    In general the present invention and its embodiments provide for a keepsake apparatus intended to provide a hollow object with a transparent or translucent or opaque surface. Items may be stored within the apparatus for viewing and enjoyment by the owner of the item and those associated with said owner. The apparatus may have a fluid seal allowing it to contain either solid or liquid items or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, an internal divider may be used to separate the interior into multiple compartments. The present invention and its embodiments may then be coupled to another item, such as a bottle stopper or a keychain, so that is may serve as a functional surface or display piece on such a secondary object. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention there is a keepsake apparatus having a retainment vessel comprising a first section having first threads and a second section having second threads, the first section being capable of being threadably engaged to the second section, wherein the first threads and the second threads form a fluid seal; a protruding member extending from the retainment vessel, wherein the protruding member is capable of being coupled to a secondary object. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a keepsake apparatus having a transparent, substantially circular retainment vessel comprising a first section having first threads and a second section having second threads, the first section being capable of being threadably engaged to the second section, wherein the first threads and the second threads form a fluid seal, and wherein the first section and the second section have a thickness defining an interior space of the retainment vessel when the first section is coupled to the second section; a threaded protruding member extending from a top end of the retainment vessel, wherein the threaded protruding member is capable of being coupled to a threaded receptacle on a keychain or a bottle stopper; at least one planar surface disposed on a bottom surface of the retainment vessel; and an annular sealing member disposed on an outer surface of the retainment vessel, the annular sealing member covering a juncture of the first section and the second section. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the present invention there is a keepsake system having a transparent, substantially circular retainment vessel comprising, a first section having first threads and a second section having second threads, the first section being capable of being threadably engaged to the second section, wherein the first threads and the second threads form a fluid seal, and wherein the first section and the second section have a thickness defining an interior space of the retainment vessel when the first section is coupled to the second section; a threaded protruding member extending from a top end of the retainment vessel, wherein the threaded protruding member is capable of being coupled to a threaded receptacle on a keychain or a bottle stopper; at least one planar surface disposed on a bottom surface of the retainment vessel; and a tag member capable of being coupled to the retainment vessel, the tag member having at least one writable surface thereon. 
         [0012]    In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, benefits and objectives. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that is lightweight and portable. 
         [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that is capable of retaining item(s) placed therein and present the item(s) for viewing. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that may be used by individuals of all ages. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that identifies information pertaining to the keepsake(s) contained therein. 
         [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that is reusable. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that has a fluid seal enabling liquids and/or solids to be retained therein. 
         [0019]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that may be coupled to another item such as a keychain, bottle stopper, or the like. 
         [0020]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a keepsake apparatus that is durable and resilient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a disassembled form. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6A  is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention coupled to a key chain ring. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention coupled to a bottle stopper. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals. 
         [0030]    Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is a perspective view of an embodiment of a keepsake apparatus  100 . The keepsake apparatus  100  may have a first section  105  and a second section  110  with each section having threading  120  thereon. In some embodiments, there may be more than two sections and may be as many as ten sections forming the keepsake apparatus  100 . Each section may be sized to be the same or different as every other section. From one or both of the sections there may be a protruding member  125 . A keepsake  130  may then be able to be stored therein. 
         [0032]    The sections may be fashioned from any number of materials including plastics, glass, minerals, metals, ceramics, composites, resins, and the like or any combination thereof. Plastics used in construction of the sections may include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and polycarbonate (PC), or any combination thereof. 
         [0033]    It is preferable that the material selected be chosen to enable the keepsake apparatus  100  to be translucent or transparent for viewing of the contents contained therein. In other embodiments, the material chose is opaque in nature thereby obscuring the contents held within the keepsake apparatus  100 . Further, any such material(s) should be chosen to enable the object to have a sufficient rigidity and resiliency to prevent breaking of the keepsake apparatus  100  when dropped from a height of about ten feet. 
         [0034]    The sections may be of varying shapes and sizes and may be polygonal or non-polygonal in shape. The sections are preferably shaped such that when the threads  120  are engaged to one another, an interior  115  or hollow is formed. In some embodiments, the keepsake apparatus  100  has an interior volume of about 1 cm 3  to about 10,000 cm 3  or other equivalent volumetric amounts. More preferably, the interior volume or hollow interior  115  is about 400 cm 3  to about 4,000 cm 3 . 
         [0035]    For example, the sections may be semi-circular, as shown, with each semi-circular section forming a concavity which forms the hollow interior  115  when the two sections are brought together. Further, the threads  120  may form a fluid seal when engaged thus enabling solids, liquids, and gases, and other matter states to readily be contained therein. In other embodiments, other mechanisms of sealing such as friction fits, putty, cements, glues, and the like or some combination thereof may be utilized. In some embodiments, an additional sealing member may be used such as an O-ring or the like to help create such a fluid seal. Preferably, the sections are transparent or translucent enabling one to visualize a keepsake  130  stored within. 
         [0036]    The protruding member  125  is preferably a length of material that emanates from the keepsake apparatus  100  and may be utilized for securement of secondary items to the keepsake apparatus  100 . The protruding member  125  may be formed from the same or a different material than the sections comprising the keepsake apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, the protruding member  125  is removable. In other embodiments, the protruding member  125  may be integrated with the material forming the section or sections thereby permanently affixing it to the keepsake apparatus  100 . The protruding member  125  may be coupled to either the first section  105  or the second section  110  or a combination thereof. 
         [0037]    The protruding member  125  may be about 0.1″ to about 6 inches in length and is more preferably about 0.15″ to about 1″ in length. The protruding member  125 , in some embodiments, may be extendable and may be capable of being employed to couple the keepsake apparatus  100  to a secondary item (see  FIGS. 6A and 6B ). In such instances, the protruding member  125  may have threading thereon or may be sized to create a friction fit with the secondary item. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2-5  show an embodiment of the keepsake apparatus  100  from a front or back, side, top, and a bottom respectively. The structure of this particular embodiment of the keepsake apparatus  100  is apparent from these views. Shown in these figures are at least the protruding member  125 , annular sealing member  145 , planar surface  170 , and juncture  185 . 
         [0039]    The annular sealing member  145  overlays the juncture  185  of the two sections thereby, in some embodiments, providing an enhanced or reinforced seal to prevent the contents of the keepsake apparatus  100  from leeching therefrom or the sections from separating from one another. In some embodiments the annular sealing member  145  may have an adhesive on one side which serves to adhere the annular sealing member  145  to the keepsake apparatus  100 . In other embodiments, the annular sealing member  145  is sized to the particular keepsake apparatus  100  and retained by other mechanisms such as being coupled to the threading  120  (see  FIG. 1 ) or other structure of the keepsake apparatus  100 . 
         [0040]    The planar surface  170  may be a surface of the keepsake apparatus  100  itself or may be a secondary piece affixed to a surface of the keepsake apparatus  100 . If the planar surface  170  is affixed to the surface of the keepsake apparatus  100  then the planar surface  170  may be permanently affixed or removably affixed to the surface. If removably affixed to the surface, then the planar surface  170  may be repositionable on the surface of the apparatus  100  as needed. The planar surface  170  may be affixed via adhesives or other conventional means. The planar surface  170  may also comprise a non-slip or non-stick surface that allows the apparatus to be securely stored on a surface. In other embodiments, the planar surface  170  is simply a surface of the keepsake apparatus  100  that has been shaped, ground, etc. to provide a stable resting surface for the apparatus. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate various potential implementations of the keepsake apparatus  100 . The implementations shown are for illustrative purposes only and other iterations may be contained under the purview of this application and apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 6A , there is a keepsake apparatus  100  on a ring member  135  of a keychain. The keepsake apparatus  100  may have an annular sealing member  145  which covers the juncture  185  between the sections of the keepsake apparatus  100 . The annular sealing member  145  may be a piece of fabric, such as a ribbon, or may be of a sturdier material such as a polymer band, a metal band, a composite band or the like or some combination thereof. A planar surface  170  allows the keepsake apparatus  100  to be positioned and remain level on a surface. The keepsake  130  is preferably visible through the keepsake apparatus  100 . 
         [0043]    The ring member  135  may be coupled to a threaded recess  140 , via chain links or other connection means, which is capable of engaging the protruding member  125  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the keepsake apparatus  100 . In other embodiments, adhesives, snaps, clasps, buckles, friction fittings and the like may be used in lieu of threading. The ring member  135  enables the keepsake apparatus  100  to be easily transported and kept on a person or object under their control as desired. In some instances, the ring member  135  may be used to hang the keepsake apparatus  100  from another object such as a tree branch or limb or a specifically designed holding apparatus. 
         [0044]    Further, a writable tag  160  having a writable surface  165  thereon may be coupled to the keepsake apparatus  100  or ring member  135 . The writable tag  160  may comprise a particular material or have a particular coating that is conducive to receiving writing thereon. For example, the writable tag may be coated in a white paint or be comprised of a slate material. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, any such writing may be permanent whereas in other embodiments the writing may be removable. The writable tag  160  enables identification of the keepsake  130  contained therein via descriptions, dates, images, colors, symbols, etc. or any combination thereof. In some instances, the writable tag  160  features a particular image (embossed, engraved, etc.) on one side of the writable tag  160  and the writable surface  165  is on an opposing side of the writable tag  160 . In other embodiments, both surfaces of the writable tag  160  may be configured to receive writing. The tag may be coupled to the apparatus  100  via conventional mechanisms such as fabrics, metals, chains, clasps, locks, and the like or some combination thereof. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 6B , the keepsake apparatus  100  has been coupled to a bottle stopper  150 . The bottle stopper  150  may have a threaded recess that receives and engages the protruding member  125  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the keepsake apparatus. 
         [0047]    As described herein, other mechanisms of coupling and attachment of the keepsake apparatus  100  and secondary object may be employed. The bottle stopper  150  may have stopper rings  155  disposed thereon to situate the bottle stopper  150  in an opening of a bottle thereby providing a substantially airtight seal. In other embodiments, such a structure may lack the stopper rings and function as a more decorative topper for a bottle or other receptacle as generally described herein. While the ring member  135 , as shown in  FIG. 6A , and the bottle stopper  150 , as shown in  FIG. 6B , may be used, the keepsake apparatus  100  may be coupled to virtually any other item. In other instances, the keepsake apparatus  100  is used on its own and is not coupled to any particular object. 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  demonstrates another embodiment of the present invention. Here the keepsake apparatus  100  may comprise a protruding member  125 , a writable tag  160  having a writable surface  165 , an annular sealing member  145 , a planar surface  170 , a dividing mechanism  180 , coupling mechanisms  190 , a first interior space  195 , and a second interior space  200 . A keepsake  130  and  130 ′ may be reside in each of the first interior space  195  and the second interior space  200  respectively. 
         [0049]    The dividing mechanism  180  divides the hollow interior into multiple sections. In some embodiments, there are multiple dividing mechanisms  180  utilized and such mechanisms may be oriented in any number of fashions within the keepsake apparatus  100 . For example, the dividing mechanism  180  may form a number of parallel compartments or interior sections. In other embodiments, the dividing mechanism  180  may allow for both vertical and horizontal divisions. The dividing mechanism  180  may be held in place by a retainment mechanism  190  such as grooves in the inner surface of the sections. The retainment mechanism  190  may also be a repositionable or removable structure capable of being adhered to an inner surface of the keepsake apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, the dividing mechanism  180  and retainment mechanism  190  interfaces with the threads on each of the two sections (see  FIG. 1 ) in order to properly retain those elements. The dividing mechanism  180  is intended, in some embodiments, to form a fluid seal thereby allowing a liquid to be stored on one side of the dividing mechanism  180  and a solid to be stored on the other side of the dividing mechanism  180 . 
         [0050]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.