BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of devices made for securely holding a substance. More specifically, the invention comprises a portable container to secure powders and other dry substances.
2. Description of the Related Art
Supplements in many forms are common in the exercise industry. In particular, the use of powder mixed with other substances to make smoothies and similar drinks is popular for daily use to increase health and fitness. An amount of powder, made up of selected vitamins and nutrients, is combined with different substances to create a smoothie or shake. These substances can include, but are not limited to, milk, water, vegetables, fruits, and yogurt.
Typically, a large amount of powder is stored in a large plastic container or large bag. See for example FIG. 1, showing a large plastic prior art container 10 with a wide prior art lid 12 storing multiple servings of powder. A user can scoop out a serving of powder using a provided measuring cup and easily add it to a smoothie mixture. It is typical for a user to make a smoothie mixture daily, either after a workout or to replace a meal. However, it is difficult to continue a regimen of drinking smoothies when out of the home because the container or bag that the powder is stored in is simply too large. The prior art storage unit does not fit efficiently in travel luggage or gym bags and is not convenient to carry around during the day. One prior art solution includes carefully scooping out a serving of powder into multiple plastic zip lock bags. This takes a considerable amount of time and can be messy. Additionally, zip lock bags can fail after loaded with the powder, creating a mess.
Therefore, what is needed is portable container which stores powders and other solid substances securely within the container in usable portions. The present invention achieves this objective, as well as others that are explained in the following description.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device for storing substances such as an amount of powder. The device is generally made up of a main body and a series of drawers removably engaged with slots on the main body on either end of main body. Main body is formed from two parallel sidewalls, having a first end and a second end, connected by a series of parallel ledges. Ledges include a bottom ledge, a top ledge and at least one internal ledge between the two. Ledges extend beyond the first end and second end of each sidewall to allow access to the lateral walls of drawers when fully engaged with main body.
Drawers are made up of a front wall, rear wall and two lateral walls. An optional lid can be included on top of drawer. Drawers fit into slots on main body. Slots are empty areas defined by two sidewalls and two ledges. Lateral walls of drawers include a catch which is designed to engage with a receiver on interior surface of sidewalls within slot. When fully engaged, drawers do not slip out of place when device is moved about and substances within drawers do not escape. When fully released, drawers are independent of main body.
The position and engagement of drawers with main body allows the user to easily store and transport an amount of powder or other substances.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing a prior art container for powder.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing a component part of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, showing a component part present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view, showing the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view, showing the removal of drawers during use of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view, showing a drawer removed during use of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view, showing another embodiment of a component part of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view, showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view, showing another embodiment of drawer of the present invention.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
10 prior art container
12 prior art lid
14 device
16 main body
18 drawer
20 receiver
22 catch
24 top ledge
26 bottom ledge
28 internal ledge
30 sidewall
32 first end
34 second end
36 interior surface
38 base
40 lateral walls
42 slot
44 lid
46 handle
48 glass
50 amount of powder
52 front wall
54 rear wall
56 tab
58 grip
60 section
62 stripping
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 illustrates the present invention in one embodiment. Device 14 is generally comprised of a main body 16 and two sets of drawers 18, creating a rectangular box-like structure. The reader will appreciate that device 14 can be any size or shape and made of any material, however it is desirable for device 14 to be portable in size and durable in construction. A component part view of main body 16 is shown in FIG. 3. Main body 16 can be one integrated unit. Two sidewalls 30 (first and second sidewall) are connected to one another in parallel planes by a series of ledges, bottom ledge 26, top ledge 24 and at least one internal ledge 28. Ledges (24, 26, 28) span the distance between sidewalls 30 and sit parallel to one another. Each sidewall 30 includes a first end 32, a second end 34 and an interior surface 26. Interior surface 26 of each sidewall 30 includes a plurality of receivers 20. Ledges (24, 26, 28) extend past first end 32 and second end 34 of each sidewall 30. In other words, ledges (24, 26, 28) protrude outward from each end (32, 34) of main body 16. Slots 42 are formed by two sidewalls 30 and two ledges (24, 26, 28). Slots 42 accept drawers 18 (illustrated in FIG. 5). A rear perspective view of main body 16 is identical to the front perspective view illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 shows drawer 18, generally made up of base 38 and at least four walls, including at least two lateral walls 40 having a catch 22, a front wall 52 and a rear wall 54. Catch 22 is located on orie or both lateral wall 40 of each drawer 18. Moving to FIG. 5, drawers 18 are shown engaging with main body 16 of device 14. Catch 22 is configured to engage with receiver 20 when slid into position on main body 16 (arrows A illustrate the directional movement of drawers 18). An empty slot 42 illustrates the area into which drawer 18 fits. At least one receiver 20, on interior surface 36 of sidewall 30 accepts catch 22 when drawer 18 is slid into a slot 42. In one embodiment, drawer 18 has two catches 22 and each slot 42 includes two receivers 20 formed on interior surface 36 of sidewalls 30 to accept each catch 22. Any known engagement with main body 16 can be included in the design so long as drawers 18 are securely in place within each slot 42 on main body 16.
FIG. 6 shows the way drawers 18 are released from main body 16. To release drawers 18 from main body 16 user pushes inward (as shown by arrows X) on lateral walls 40 of drawer 18 while simultaneously pulling drawer 18 outward (as shown by arrows Y). It is therefore important that user can adequately grip lateral walls 40 of drawer 18 when drawer 18 is securely in place on main body 16. This is made possible by the extension of top ledge 24, internal ledges 28 and bottom ledge 26 past first and second end (32, 34) of sidewall 30 on main body 16. As user applies force to drawer 18, lateral walls 40 can deform slightly inwards to draw catch 22 (or the front edge of catch 22) away from sidewall 30 and out of receiver 20. However, it is not required that laterals walls 40 deform inward to release catch 22. As drawer 18 is pulled outward, catch 22 fully releases from receiver 20 and drawer 18 is free of any engagement with main body 16, as shown in FIG. 7. Catch 22 can be smooth in shape, pliable or spring activated to ease entry into and out of slot 42 on main body 16 of device 14.
FIG. 8 illustrates a drawer 18 fully removed from its slot 42 on main body 16. Because drawer 18 is independent from main body 16, the user can easily dump an amount of powder 50 into glass 48 (or any other receptacle, such as a blender, mixing bowl or bottle) for mixing with other substances. Multiple drawers 18 can be fully removed from main body 16 at once, to assist the user with mixing multiple amounts of powder 50 stored within each drawer 18. Drawers 18 can be inserted back into slot 42 when complete, even if an amount of powder 50 remains in drawer 18.
Drawers 18 are designed to engage with main body 16 in a manner that prevents powder 50 or other substances from escaping device 14. This requires a secure and fitted engagement between drawer 18 and main body 16, as illustrated herein. To further prevent substances from escaping, another embodiment, shown in FIG. 9, includes a lid 44 that is engaged with walls (40, 52, 54) of drawer 18 by frictional engagement. In addition to frictional engagement, lid is also held in place by its positioning in slot 42. Here, lid 44 includes a protrusion that fits into opening on top of drawer 18. However, lid 44 can also be configured to fit over drawer 18, such that lid extends downward and slides over drawer 18, partially covering the exterior of walls (40, 52, 54) of drawer 18. The reader will appreciate that lid 44 can also be attached to drawer 18 by other known methods including, but not limited to, pivotal attachment or slidable engagement. It is in this manner that the amount of powder 50 can be further secured within drawer 18 in use.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate several other optional or alternate features of device 14. In FIG. 10, main body 16 includes tab 56 which is cut into sidewalls 30. Receiver 20 still acts to accept catch 22, however receiver 20 is a void in tab 56. As drawer 18 is moved into and out of slot 42, tab 52 gives outward to allow catch 22 to slip into or out of receiver 20. Tab 56 includes a chamfered, tapered, or curved edge on its free edge. Catch 22 is curved to allow for a secure but smooth fit into receiver 20.
Three slots 42 are shown on both ends of main body 16 in FIG. 10. Device 14 can include any number of slots 42 (and therefore drawers 18) on either end of main body 16.
FIGS. 10 and 11 also illustrate another embodiment of drawer 18. Lateral walls 50 of drawer 18 includes a section 60 that juts out such that front wall 52 is wider than rear wall 54. As shown in FIG. 10, section 60 creates a clean appearance and fits into slot 42, such that the whole of slot 42 is filled. Drawer 18 (optionally including lid 44) can be any shape such that it can fit and engage with main body 16 of device 14. Therefore, section 60 may be curved or include raised or indented walls to enhance the user's ability to grasp each drawer or for other purposes. A grip 58 is shown added to laterals walls 40 on section 60 for ease of use. The reader will appreciate that grip 58 is an optional feature that can be added to any embodiment of drawer 18. As an example, grip 58 could be added to lateral wall 40 (proximate front wall 52) of drawer 18 (as illustrated in FIG. 6).
Another option for securing an amount of powder within device 14, is the addition of an optional stripping 62, illustrated in FIG. 11. Stripping 62 for purposes of this disclosure is defined as a thin strip of flexible or pliable material that is added to the entire perimeter along the top edge of the walls of drawer 18 (including section 60 if present). Stripping 62 provides a seal of sorts between the interior of drawer 18 and interior of top ledge or interior ledge (24, 28) that drawer 18 opens toward.
The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.
Patent Application
20230159217
