Cases are used to carry items, and many cases have multiple compartments to facilitate in the organization of carrying dissimilar items in the same case. Sometimes cases are made from dissimilar materials. Attaching these dissimilar materials to each other when manufacturing the case can present issues.
In view of the foregoing, a case is provided that includes a first container, a second container, and a connector. The first container includes a first moveable door and a skirt. The first moveable door moves to selectively provide access to a first storage compartment in the first container. The skirt is made from a first material. The second container is made from a second material that is more pliable than the first material. The second container defines a second storage compartment. The second material is folded over the connector and connected with itself to attach the connector with the second container. An opening is provided in the skirt or in the connector. A barb protrudes from the skirt or from the connector. The barb is received in the opening to connect the connector and the second container with the first container. As such, a case made from dissimilar materials can be provided.
With reference to
The first container 12 includes a shell, which in the illustrated embodiment is made up of an upper shell 20 and a lower shell 22. The first container 12 is similar in configuration to the On-the-Go wipes dispenser available from OXO, with the exception of including a skirt 24 (
The skirt 24 is provided to facilitate the connection between the first container 12 and the second container 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the skirt 24 depends from the lower shell 22. As illustrated, the skirt 24 is integrally formed with the lower shell 22. The skirt 24 also surrounds the periphery of the lower shell 22. As illustrated, the skirt 24 is continuous, i.e., a single skirt is provided depending downwardly from the lower shell 22. With reference to
With reference to
The second container 14 is made from a second material that is more pliable than the first material. In the illustrated embodiment, the second container 14 is made from a fabric material, which allows the second container 14 to compress and take up less space in another bag, such as a diaper bag. With reference back to
With reference back to
The case 10 also includes a connector 60 that is used to connect the second container 14 to the first container 12. The material that makes up the second container 14 is folded over the connector 60 and connected with itself to attach the connector 60 with the second container 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the material that makes up the second container 14 is folded over the connector 60 and sewn to itself to attach the connector 60 within the second container 14. The material that makes up the second container 14 can be folded over the connector 60 and connected with itself and other conventional manners, for example through an adhesive. In the illustrated embodiment, material that makes up the second container 14 is folded over the connector 60 at the open side 44. Once the second container 14 is connected with the connector 60, the connector 60 can connect with the skirt 24 to connect the second container 14 with the first container 12.
In the illustrated embodiment, openings 62 are provided in the skirt 24 and barbs 64 are protruding from the connector 60. Each barb 64 is received in a respective opening 62 to connect the connector 60 and the second container 14 with the first container 12. In an alternative arrangement, an opening similar to the opening 62 provided in the skirt can be provided in the connector 60, and a barb similar to the barb 64 can be provided on the skirt 24. In this instance, the barb (similar to the barb 64) would still be received in the opening (similar to the opening n62) to connect the connector 60 and the second container 14 with the first container 12. The connector 60 and the skirt 24 provide for a mechanical connection between the first container 12 and the second container 14 that is designed to be permanent and robust.
With reference to
The connector 60 also includes a flange 90 (a plurality of flanges are provided in the illustrated embodiment) that receives the skirt 24 when the barb 64 is received in the opening 62 to connect the second container 14 with the first container 12. With reference to
The connector 60 in the illustrated embodiment is a one-piece molded ring-shaped part. In an alternative arrangement, a plurality of connectors could be provided and connected with the second container 14 where the second material, which makes up the second container 14, is folded over each connector and connected with itself to attach the connectors with the second container 14. Each of these connectors could include either a barb, similar to the barb 64, or a flange, similar to the flange 90. Providing the connector 60 as a one-piece molded ring-shaped part, however, provides more rigidity to the connection between the first container 12 and the second container 14.
With reference back to
As such, a case made from dissimilar materials, e.g., a rigid plastic and a fabric material, can be provided with a robust connection that is simple and mechanical. A case has been described above with particularity. Although the case has been described as useful for carrying wipes and diapers, other cases made from dissimilar materials could also be made using the connection described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiments described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.
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