BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a storage structure, and more particularly to an adjustable storage device.
2. Description of Related Art
There are a wide variety of tools available nowadays, such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches, all of which have different shapes. To easily carry tools with various shapes, one usually uses a portable storage device for accommodation. Among all kinds of conventional portable storage devices, the most commonly seen type has a structure that a base material of an appropriate size is used as a sheet, on which a band is stitched thereto, and the band and the plate together form multiple accommodating openings of fixed sizes. These accommodating openings can be used to carry said various tools.
However, since these accommodating openings have fixed sizes, a user can only carry tools having matching sizes, which limits the practicality can be provided by a conventional storage device. For example, if a tool has a size smaller than that of the accommodating opening it is stored therein, the tool may not be able to securely fit in the accommodating opening and may fall easily. On the other hand, if a tool is larger than the size of an accommodating opening, it simply cannot be accommodated in such an accommodating opening, and, in such cases, a user has no choice but to look for other suitable storage devices, which is unnecessarily inconvenient.
Therefore, conventional storage devices still have room for improvement.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable storage device, which utilizes the changes of an elastic band to allow the sizes of accommodating openings to be flexibly adjusted, whereby various tools of different sizes can be firmly placed in the accommodating openings.
The present invention provides an adjustable storage device, which includes a sheet, at least one restriction band, and an elastic band. The at least one restriction band has two ends, which are fixedly connected to the sheet, respectively, wherein the at least one restriction band and the sheet form at least one through hole therebetween. The elastic band has a fixed end and a free end, wherein the fixed end is fixedly connected to a side of the sheet, while the free end is detachably engaged to another side of the sheet. The elastic band is provided in a manner that it either goes through or not goes through the at least one through hole. When the elastic band is provided without going through the at least one through hole and the free end thereof is engaged to the another side of the sheet, the elastic band and the sheet form a first accommodating opening therebetween; when the elastic band is provided in a manner that it goes through the at least one through hole and the free end thereof is engaged to the another side of the sheet, the elastic band and the sheet form a plurality of second accommodating openings therebetween. A maximum storage size of the first accommodating opening is greater than that of each of the second accommodating openings.
By providing the elastic band through or not through the through hole, the maximum storage size of the accommodating opening formed by the elastic band can be adjusted accordingly. While in use, the size of the accommodating opening can be adjusted based on the size of the tool which is going to be placed therein. In this way, tools of various sizes can be stored by one single storage device at the same time, which improves the convenience for storing tools.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable storage device of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the adjustable storage device of the aforementioned first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the adjustable storage device viewed from the side, showing the first accommodating opening;
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the adjustable storage device viewed from the side, showing a tool is stored in the first accommodating opening;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing how to use the adjustable storage device to store tools, and the second accommodating opening is shown therein;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an adjustable storage device of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing how the components are assembled;
FIG. 6A is a schematic view of an adjustable storage device of a third embodiment of the present invention, showing how the components are linked together;
FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing the condition of the adjustable storage device shown in FIG. 6A when it is being used;
FIG. 6C is a schematic view showing how the components of the adjustable storage device shown in FIG. 6B are assembled;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an adjustable storage device of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing how it is used to store tools;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an adjustable storage device of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing the elastic band is provided through the restriction band;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the adjustable storage device of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing the fifth accommodating opening; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing how the adjustable device of the fifth embodiment can be used to store tools.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an adjustable storage device 100 of a first embodiment of the present invention includes a sheet 10, a restriction band 20, and an elastic band 30, wherein the sheet 10 is planar, which is made by selecting an appropriate size from a base material. The sheet 10 has a first surface 10a and a second surface 10b, and the first surface 10a is opposite to the second surface 10b. The first surface 10a is provided with a first engaging member 12, and the second surface 10b is provided with a second engaging member 14, wherein a side of the second engaging member 14 and the second surface 10b form an opening 16 and an accommodating pocket 18 therebetween. The opening 16 communicates with the accommodating pocket 18. In the current embodiment, the sheet 10 is made of plastic.
Two ends of the restriction band 20 are fixedly connected to the first surface 10a of the sheet 10, respectively, so that the restriction band 20 and the sheet 10 form at least one through hole 22 therebetween.
The elastic band 30 is a long and elastic band, which has a fixed end 32, a free end 34, a fastening member 36, and a grip 38. The fixed end 32 is provided on a side of the sheet 10, and the free end 34 is detachably engaged to another side of the sheet 10. More specifically, the elastic band 30 could either pass through or not pass through the at least one through hole 22 when the free end 34 is engaged to the another side of the sheet 10. In other words, the free end 34 could enter the opening 16 of the sheet 10 and get disposed in the accommodating pocket 18. The fastening member 36 is provided on the free end 34 and is connected to the grip 38. When the fastening member 36 is detachably provided in the accommodating pocket 18, the grip 38 could be pulled to make the fastening member 36 leave the accommodating pocket 18. In the current embodiment, the number of the at least one through hole 22 is one. In more details, the through hole 22 has a first side 22a and a second side 22b, wherein the first side 22a is opposite to the second side 22b. The first side 22a is near the fixed end 32 of the elastic band 30, and the second side 22b is away from the fixed end 32 of the elastic band 30.
As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, if the elastic band 30 does not pass through the through hole 22 when the free end 34 is engaged to the another side of the sheet 10, the elastic band 30 and the sheet 10 form a first accommodating opening 40 therebetween, which could be used to store a tool. Specifically, when the free end 34 is received in the accommodating pocket 1 through the opening 16 of the sheet 10 and the elastic band 30 does not pass through the through hole 22, the grip 38 could be pulled outward relative to the opening 16, so that the free end 34 could leave the accommodating pocket 18 as a result. The multimeter illustrated in FIG. 3B as being stored in the first accommodating opening 40 is merely an example, and of course, is not a limitation of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the free end 34 is engaged with the another side of the sheet 10 after passing through the through hole 22 (more specifically, when the free end 34 is engaged with the another side of the sheet 10 after passing through the through hole 22 in a direction from the first side 22a toward the second side 22b), the elastic band 30 and the sheet 10 form multiple second accommodating openings 42 therebetween. These second accommodating openings 42 can be used to store tools. In an example shown in FIG. 4, each of the second accommodating openings 42 respectively holds a slotted screwdriver therein.
It should be understandable from FIG. 3B and FIG. 4 that the first accommodating opening 40 has a maximum storage size, and the maximum storage size of the first accommodating opening 40 is defined as a maximum receivable size for any object received therein. As shown in the current embodiment, each of the second accommodating openings 42 also has its maximum storage size, and the maximum storage size of the first accommodating opening 40 is greater than the maximum storage size of each of the second accommodating opening 42. For example, the multimeter stored in the first accommodating opening 40 cannot be accommodated in any of the second accommodating openings 42 because the maximum storage size of each of the second accommodating opening 42 is not sufficient for encompassing the multimeter, but the maximum storage size of the first accommodating opening 40 is greater than or equal to an outline size of the multimeter, and therefore a user could, when necessary, adjust the elastic band 30 of the adjustable storage device 100 to make it have the first accommodating opening 40, so that the multimeter could be stored in the first accommodating opening 40 of the storage device 100. On the other hand, though the screwdriver stored in the second accommodating opening 42 can be put into the first accommodating opening 40, the elastic band 30 would not be able to tightly hold the screwdriver since the maximum storage size of the first accommodating opening 40 is way greater than the size of the screwdriver. In other words, it would be also inappropriate to store a screwdriver in the first accommodating opening 40, for the screwdriver would be much easier to fall out of the first accommodating opening 40.
As shown in FIG. 5, an adjustable storage device 200 of a second embodiment of the present invention has similar structures with the first embodiment, except that a sheet 50 thereof has a second engaging member 54 provided on a second surface 52 thereof, wherein the second engaging member 54 is detachably engaged with an engaging portion 58 of a carrier 56, which would make the storage tool even more convenient to use. In the current embodiment, the second engaging member 54 is a hook side of a hook-and-loop fastener as an example, and the carrier 56 is a backpack as an example, where the engaging portion 58 of the carrier 56 is a loop side of the hook-and-loop fastener as an example. However, this is not a limitation of the present invention. By engaging the loop side on the backpack with the hook side of the second surface 52, the sheet 50 could be attached to the loop side of the backpack. Since there is no need to hold the sheet 50 by hand, it would not hinder the movement of the user. In practice, the hook side and the loop side could be provided in the opposite way, i.e., the hook side could be the engaging portion 58 of the carrier 56, and the loop side could be the second surface 52 of the sheet 50, by which the engaging portion 58 and the second surface 52 could still provide the effect of engaging with each other. Similarly, the carrier 56 is not limited to be a backpack, as long as the carrier 56 has the engaging portion 58 and is attachable to other objects, it should be considered fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, a jacket having a hook side or a loop side, or a suitcase having a hook side or a loop side could also be deemed the aforementioned carrier 56.
As shown in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C, an adjustable storage device 300 of a third embodiment of the present invention has similar structures with the second embodiment, except that the third embodiment further includes another carrier 60, which is a belt-bag as an example. The another carrier 60 has at least one band provided on a surface 62 thereof, wherein the bands 64 are arranged in a vertical direction and across the surface 62. In this way, the bands 64 and the surface 62 form at least one passage 642 therebetween, wherein the passage 642 is adapted to be passed through by a free end 68 of an elastic band 66 in a detachable manner. Furthermore, the free end 68 is engaged with a side of a sheet 70, so that a second engaging member 74 provided on a second surface 72 of the sheet 70 could be exposed. With such design, the second engaging member 74 could be engaged with the engaging portion 58 of the carrier 56, which is the loop side of a hook-and-loop fastener as an example, and whereby it would no need for a user to carry the belt-bag by hand, which is convenient to use. In the current embodiment, the second engaging member 74 is a hook side of the hook-and-loop fastener as an example, but this is not a limitation of the present invention. The number of the at least one band 64 is three, and therefore the bands 64 and the surface 62 of the another carrier 60 form three passages 642 therebetween. However, in practice, there could be more than three bands 642, say five bands 642 in total, and a length of the elastic band fixedly provided on the sheet could be extended or shortened according to the number of the at least one band 642.
As shown in FIG. 7, an adjustable storage device 400 of a fourth embodiment of the present invention has similar structures with the first embodiment, except that a sheet 80 of the fourth embodiment has a larger first surface 82 and a second surface (not shown). Two ends of each of multiple restriction bands 84 are fixedly connected to the sheet 80, respectively, and the restriction bands 84 and the sheet 80 form the through holes 88 therebetween. Each of the through holes 88 has a first side 88a and a second side 88b, wherein the first side 88a and the second side 88b are opposite sides, and the first side 88a is near the fixed end 32 of the elastic band 86, while the second side 88b is away from the fixed end 32 of the elastic band 86. When each of the elastic bands 86 gets engaged in one of multiple accommodating pockets (not shown), respectively, without passing through any of the through holes 88, the elastic bands 86 and the sheet 80 form a third accommodating opening (not shown) therebetween; when the elastic bands 86 pass through at least one of the through holes 88 in a direction from the first side 88a toward the second side 88b to be engaged with the accommodating pockets of the sheet 80, respectively, the elastic bands 86 and the sheet 80 form multiple fourth accommodating openings 90 therebetween, and a maximum storage size of the third accommodating opening is greater than a maximum storage size of the fourth accommodating openings 90.
In the current embodiment, the number of the restriction bands 84 is two, and the number of the elastic bands 86 is three. Each of the restriction band 84s and the sheet 80 form multiple through holes 88 therebetween. The free end 87 of the elastic bands 86 sequentially passes through the restriction bands 84 before getting engaged in the accommodating pockets of the sheet 80, whereby to form the fourth accommodating openings 90 therebetween. From the left side to the right side of FIG. 7, the fourth accommodating openings 90 are, sequentially, the fourth accommodating opening denoted as 90a, the fourth accommodating opening denoted as 90b, and the fourth accommodating opening denoted as 90c, each of which is adapted to store a tool of an appropriate outline size. For example, the tools stored in the fourth accommodating openings 90 are, from the left side to the right side of FIG. 7, a pair of lineman's pliers, a screwdriver, and a multimeter. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the fourth accommodating openings 90 have different maximum storage size. More specifically, while the lineman's pliers could be received in the rightmost fourth accommodating opening 90c, the multimeter would not be able to fit in the leftmost fourth accommodating opening 90a, for the maximum storage size of the leftmost fourth accommodating opening 90a is not sufficient for holding the multimeter; on the other hand, the maximum storage size of the rightmost fourth accommodating opening 90c is greater than or equal to the outline size of the multimeter.
As shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, an adjustable storage device of a fifth embodiment of the present invention has similar structures with the fourth embodiment, except that the elastic bands 86 of the fifth embodiment pass through at least one of the through holes 88 in a direction from the second side 88b toward the first side 88a, forming multiple fifth accommodating openings 92 between the elastic bands 86 and the sheet 80. In more details, in the current embodiment, the fastening member 36 of each of the elastic bands 86 goes into the second side 88b of the through holes 88 and gets out from the first side 88a. Each of the fastening members 36 is disposed on the first surface 82 of the sheet 80, and each of the grips 89 is exposed on the second side 88b of the through holes 88, whereby the elastic bands 86 and the sheet 80 form the fifth accommodating openings 92 therebetween, and the fifth accommodating openings 92 have a maximum storage size capable of receiving objects such as a sleeping bag.
It is worth mentioning that, the grip 89 of each of the elastic bands 86 has an accommodating tube 89a, which is hollow and tubular, and is made by sewing a piece of cloth. In the current embodiment, the accommodating tubes 89a are adapted to hold pens such as a pencil B, which is apparently not a limitation of the present invention. The accommodating tubes 89a are also adapted to store lighting instruments such as a flashlight. Unoccupied through holes 88 could be also adapted to store objects of suitable sizes, such as a lighter C, a USB flash drive, etc., for examples.
Based on the above descriptions, by making different numbers of the elastic bands pass through the restriction bands, the restriction bands and the sheet could form the accommodating openings of changeable maximum storage sizes therebetween. In other words, if the elastic bands do not pass through any of the restriction bands, the accommodating openings would have a greater maximum storage size; if any of the elastic bands pass through any of the restriction bands, the accommodating openings would have a smaller maximum storage size. By utilizing the elastic bands and restriction bands in different ways, the maximum storage sizes could be changed for receiving tools of various sizes.
It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.
Patent Grant
10849411
