The present invention relates to a carrying case that holds personal protective equipment. The present invention further provides a system for alerting a user if the personal protective equipment is not within the carrying case.
There are various materials and devices for combatting the spread of the viruses and bacteria. Such devices include facemasks for covering the nose and mouth and liquid hand sanitizers. However, the accessibility of these devices greatly determines their effectiveness. Not only must these devices be available for purchase, but they must be easily stored and readily locatable. Personal devices that are typically carried on in a pocket or purse, such as mobile electronic devices, are not designed to efficiently carry a facemask, hand sanitizer containers, or other personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect from an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, influenza and the common cold.
There exists some known art that provides a compartment for storing items, wherein the compartment is integrated onto clothing, helmet, or case, and designed for a specific type of heavy-duty usage, such as at a construction site, or a critical medical device, such as an inhaler or an epinephrine auto-injector. These devices are limited in their scope of use and ease for daily use because they are not capable of accommodating different objects other than for which they are designed. In addition, the devices fail to integrate into the daily life of a user as needed to protect from infectious disease due to their bulkiness and limited applicability to much of the population.
Further, it is important to isolate some PPE from other stored items within a common case. Some people do not want to contaminate credit cards, keys, cellphones, and the like by exposing those items to used PPE. Therefore, there exists a need to provide a device that has a separate compartment isolated from other common objects used daily. Some of these known devices include carrying cases designed to receive a smartphone, carry credit cards and other related items. However, they fail to provide any type of storage capability that can store infectious disease prevention equipment, as well as keep the equipment isolated.
Some devices in the known art provide a thin case or sleeve that is attachable to a rear side of a smartphone. However, inserts within the sleeves are not designed to store a PPE or provide a fully integrated solution to prevent infection. In addition, these sleeves are not enclosed and are exposed to the exterior, which can lead to exposure and contamination of the items stored therein. Therefore, there is a need for a carrying case having a fully enclosed compartment for storing PPE.
Existing devices fail to provide a fully integrated system capable of storing various PPE that is securable to a personal mobile electronic device. The existing devices therefore fail to promote widespread and mobile PPE usage, storage, personal utilization protocols, encouragement of adhering to health and safety protocols, and potential smartphone integration.
The present invention provides a carrying case that is mountable to a mobile electronic device and designed to safely store and dispense various PPE. The carrying case is adapted to removably secure to the electronic device, providing protection for the device and ease of access for the PPE, such as hand sanitizer and a facemask. The present invention ensures that facemasks and other types of PPE are readily available to the user, thereby encouraging and enable ease of daily use.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements and methods from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement for a carrying case and system for personal protective equipment. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of carrying cases and systems for personal protective equipment now present in the known art, the present invention provides a new carrying case and system wherein the same can be utilized for retaining a facemask therein and providing alerts to a user, while securing to a personal device, such as a cellphone.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an embodiment of the carrying case and system for personal protective equipment comprising a housing having a base pivotally secured to a door, wherein a rear side of the base is configured to secure to a personal device, such as a mobile electronic device. The base and door form an interior volume when in a closed configuration, wherein the interior volume is adapted to store a personal protective equipment, such as a facemask.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an embodiment of the carrying case and system for personal protective equipment further comprising a facemask, wherein the case and the facemask are each configured to transmit information to a software application installable on the user's mobile electronic device. The information transmittable includes usage data of the facemask, sanitizer liquid, and the like. Further, the application is configured to provide reminders and alerts to the user regarding the PPE usage when leaving or entering a home or public location and replacement of the PPE as needed. In some embodiments, the information can be sharable with a secondary device, such as a watch adapted to monitor health characteristics.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved carrying case and system for personal protective equipment that has all of the advantages of the known art and none of the disadvantages.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for storing personal protective equipment that is securable to a mobile electronic device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiment (s) of the invention. References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “first embodiment”, “second embodiment”, or “third embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 1300 comprises a rectangular shaped cross section. However, in alternate embodiments, the housing comprises a shape that corresponds to the shape of the personal device to which it is intended to attach. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 1300 comprises rounded edges to provide for a smooth, unobstructed transition into and out from the user's clothing or bag. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 1300 is composed of a rigid, plastic material. However, in alternate embodiments, the housing 1300 is composed of any suitable durable material. In some embodiments, the housing comprises one or more cutouts within the base that are configured to align with buttons or cameras of a smartphone to which the housing is intended to attach so as not to interfere with the function of the smartphone. In some embodiments, the housing includes antibacterial and antiviral material disposed on an exterior thereof to prevent further transmission of any bacteria or virus.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base 1200 comprises an entirely planar exterior surface so as to rest flush against a mating planar surface of the personal device. In the illustrated embodiment, the base 1200 is composed of a material adapted to magnetically secure to the personal device. In alternate embodiments, a fastener is disposed on the exterior surface of the base and adapted to secure to an existing phone case or directly to a rear side of the smartphone. In some embodiments, a layer of adhesive is disposed over the entire exterior surface of the housing, wherein the layer is protected by a sheath. When the sheath is removed from the base, the adhesive layer will be exposed for use. In some embodiments, the rear side of the base 1200 comprises a sidewall extending opposite from a front side of the base and adapted to enclose a smartphone or other personal device. In alternate embodiments, a ringlet fastener is disposed along a corner of the housing and configured to secure to a backpack or purse. In this way, the carrying case 1000 can secure directly to an alternate personal device if the user does not have a smartphone. The fastener is any suitable mechanism adapted to secure the housing to the personal device.
In the illustrated embodiment, a door 1300 is pivotally secured to the base 1200, wherein the door 1300 is configured to provide access to the interior volume 1110 of the housing. The door 1300 is moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the closed configuration the interior volume is closed forming a seal to prevent access to the personal protective equipment to prevent contamination thereof by isolating the interior volume from any exterior contaminants. In the illustrated embodiment, the door 1300 and base 1200 form a clamshell shaped housing 1100 attached to one another via a living hinge 1250. The clamshell shape of the housing 1100 allows a user to rotate the door 1300 at least approximately 180 degrees from the base 1200 to have unobstructed access to the interior volume 1110. The door 1300 rotates along a horizontal axis and is secured to a first side 1210 of the base 1200, wherein the first side 1210 comprises a length shorter than a length of an adjacent lateral side 1220. However, in other embodiments, the door 1300 is disposed in other positions on the housing such as a sidewall or front side thereof. In some embodiments, the door 1300 is disposed along the lateral side 1220 and configured to rotate about a vertical axis. In other embodiments, the door is slidably attached to the base and, in alternate embodiments, the door is removably attached from the base.
In the illustrated embodiment, a tab 1310 is disposed along an edge of the door 1300 to assist a user in separating the door 1300 from the base 1200 when in a closed configuration. The tab 1310 extends from an exterior of the door sidewall to form a handle. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 1310 is molded or monolithic with the door.
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the carrying case comprises a latching fastener having a tapered latch 1400 configured to engage with a corresponding recess 1410 (shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the rear end of the door 1300, which is opposite to the free end, comprises a cutout 1340. The cutout 1340 comprises a substantially triangular shape and is intended to prevent interference between the door 1300 and the edge of the base 1200 when the door 1300 is transitioning between the open and closed configurations.
Referring now to
The system 1000 is configured to provide alerts to the user, as well as generally inform the user of usage of the personal protective equipment. In some embodiments, a sensor 1120 and transmitter 1110 are disposed within the housing 1100, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence of the personal protective equipment and the transmitter sends the information to the application on the smartphone. The sensor 1120 is any suitable sensor such as a proximity, ultrasonic, capacitive, photoelectric, inductive, or magnetic sensor, and the like. For example, the information communicated to the user through the application includes notification whether the housing is empty via the sensor 1120. In some embodiments, the sensor 1120 is positioned on the interior of the housing to detect the proximity of an object therein.
In some embodiments, the system 1000 is configured to send a first notification 1610 to the application 1600 on the smartphone if the user and facemask 1500 are over a predetermined distance from each other. The user location is determined by a GPS locator or similar device disposed within the user's smartphone. This is beneficial in that the system 1000 can alert the user to prevent leaving his or her facemask 1500 at home or at another location upon departure with his or her smartphone. The application 1600 comprises an interface having one or more inputs 1650 that allows a user to enter and customize the distance in which the system 1000 should send an alert.
In some embodiments, the application comprises a second notification 1620 if the user nears the maximum range of the facemask 1500 position detection by the smartphone. For example, the second notification 1620 can be set between 5 to 20 feet from the maximum distance range via an input option on the interface.
In some embodiments, the application 1600 is configured to detect whether the user has left his or her house and is in public without removing the facemask 1500 from the housing 1100. In this situation, the system is configured to provide a third notification 1630 as a reminder to don the facemask 1500 when entering a public location or a general reminder to bring the housing 1100 having the PPE when leaving the home. In this embodiment, the application comprises a home location input that allows a user to set a home location such that the application detects when the user is a predetermined distance away from the home location. The third notification 1630 is based on the distance that the user enters within the application as the maximum radius to be considered at the home location until a public location is detected. In the illustrated embodiments, each notification or alert is adapted to be enabled or disabled by the user.
In some embodiments, the user can enable communication and data-sharing through the application 1600 with wearable devices and other health related applications that are adapted to monitor health characteristics, such as body temperature and heart rate.
Referring now to
A user transitions the housing 1100 between the open and closed configurations by grasping the tab 1310 to release or fasten the locking fastener. As the user applied outward force or pulls on the tab 1310, the latches are released from the recesses. Once released, the user removes the facemask 1500 or replaces the facemask 1500 within the housing 1100 as needed.
The application comprises an alert system embedded in a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic, that when executed, causes the alert system to send a first notification alert if the personal protective equipment and the housing are over a predetermined maximum distance from one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the application comprises a first input configured to allow a user to set the predetermined maximum distance of the first notification. In some embodiments, the logic is further configured to send a second notification if the personal protective equipment and housing are within a predetermined range of the maximum distance, wherein a second input is disposed within the application interface configured to allow a user to set the predetermined range of the second notification. In other embodiments, the logic is further configured to send a third notification if the housing is outside of a home location and the personal protective equipment is not detected within the housing, wherein the application comprises a third input configured to allow a user to set the home location of the third notification. In alternate embodiments, the logic is further configured to send a fourth notification alert if the personal protective equipment is detected as not within the housing. In some embodiments, the application comprises only one notification alert, all notification alerts, or some number of notification alerts therebetween. In some embodiments, there is only one input configured to receive all the input information for each notification alert, whereas other embodiments comprise a distinct input disposed on the application interface for each type of notification alert.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/077,074 filed on Sep. 11, 2020. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63077074 | Sep 2020 | US |