PORTABLE STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A portable storage device for transporting and providing access to items. The portable storage device includes a cylindrical body portion including a lower portion, an upper portion, and a plurality of storage portions arranged along a length of the cylindrical body portion in a longitudinal direction, each storage portion configured to store and provide access to an item. The portable storage device further includes a base portion detachably arranged on the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to a portable storage device having a plurality of accessible storage parts configured to store items during transport and provide access upon arrival.

BACKGROUND

For outdoor or recreational activities, carrying items such as chairs, umbrellas, beverages, sun blocks, books, magazines, towels, change of clothes, snacks, first aid supplies, ice, hats, and sunglasses have become commonplace, especially at beaches, outdoor concerts, festivals, sporting events, and other outdoor activities like camping, tailgating, and picnics.

These recreational activities concern the question of how to carry all items and have convenient access to personal items while at the same time fully enjoying the particular outdoor activity. Often, keeping personal items on one's person, such as in a pocket or a cart is simply not feasible. For example, it would not be feasible to keep electronic devices such as a cell phone in the pocket while swimming or practicing yoga. Also having quick access to items stored in a bag or cart is frustrating or time consuming.

At other times, carrying multiple items in bags or carts may adversely impact the appearance or ambiance of the surrounding area. Such would be the case, for example, during outdoor celebrations. Thus, there is a need for a device to conveniently carry and store personal items such as smartphones, cash, credit cards, eye glasses, medicine, cosmetics, keys, snacks, drinks, first aid kits, towels, book and/or magazine and the like while participating in outdoor activities, especially while at a beach, park or at a swimming pool. These and other problems are addressed by the following disclosed embodiments.

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments provide for a portable storage device for transporting and providing access to item that satisfy the need for an improved storage means while participating in outdoor activities.

In an embodiment there is provided a portable storage device for transporting and providing access to items. The portable storage device includes a cylindrical body portion including a lower portion, an upper portion, and a plurality of storage portions arranged along a length of the cylindrical body portion in a longitudinal direction, each storage portion configured to store and provide access to an item, and a base portion detachably arranged on the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion.

A cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction may be a circle. A cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction may be an ellipse.

The plurality of storage portions may include at least one of a compartment, shelf, drawer, and an arm. The compartment may include a door configured to open and close the compartment and provide access to the item. The arm may be arranged on the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion. The arm may be a retractable arm. The retractable arm may be a retractable sun shield arm arranged on the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion.

The cylindrical body portion may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, carbon fiber, and polymer-based material.

The portable storage device may be operable in a transport mode and an access mode. A largest width of a footprint of the base portion may be longer than a largest width of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode. A ratio of the largest width of the footprint of the base portion to the largest width of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode is in a range of 1.5:1 to 10:1. The base portion may be detached from the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion in transport mode, and the base portion may be attached to the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode. The base portion may be retracted within the cylindrical body portion in the transport mode. The base portion may include a plurality of legs configured to support the cylindrical body portion on a floor or the ground in the access mode.

A length of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction may be in a range of 50 cm to 150 cm. A ratio of a length the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction to a largest width of a footprint of the base portion in the access mode may be in a range of 1:1 to 10:1.

The portable storage device may include a transportation attachment configured to allow a user to transport the portable storage device.

The portable storage device may include a solar power source disposed on the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion.

The item may be at least one personal item selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, cash, a credit card, eye glasses, medicine, a cosmetic, a key, a snack, a drink, a first aid kit, a towel, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a wallet, sunscreen, binoculars, and a writing utensil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate disclosed embodiments and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable storage device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is perspective view of a portable storage device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable storage device according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable storage device for transporting and providing access to items according to embodiments may be operable in a transport mode and an access mode. Transport mode is defined as a mode in which items stored in the portable storage device are in a secured or semi-secured state by the storage portions of the device and the portable storage device is in a state suitable for transport from location to another. Access mode, or standing or user mode, is defined as a mode in which items stored in the portable storage device are accessible to a user via the storage portions of the device and the portable storage device is stably setup on the floor or ground for use.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the portable storage device 100 may include a body portion 101 including an upper portion 101a, a lower portion 101b, and a plurality of storage portions 160 arranged along a length of the body portion 101 in a longitudinal direction. The upper portion 101a is disposed towards the top of the body portion 101 whereas the lower portion 101b is located distal from the upper portion 101a.

The body portion 101 may be comprised of any suitable material. In embodiments, the material is a lightweight, corrosion resistant metal including, but not limited to, a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, carbon fiber, and polymer-based material.

A length of the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction is not particularly limited and can vary depending on the types of personal items to be stored and carried for outdoor activities. For example, the length may be in a range of 25 cm to 1 m, 25 cm to 500 cm, 50 cm to 150 cm, or 75 cm to 150 cm. A width of the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction, or a diameter/major axis in the case of a circular/elliptical cylindrical body portion, is not particularly limited. For example, the width may be in a range of 5 cm to 30 cm, 10 cm to 20 cm, or 10 cm to 15 cm.

The shape of the body portion 101 is not particularly limited. The body portion 101 may have any suitable longitudinal (or vertical) and cross-sectional shape and can vary depending on the types of personal items to be stored and carried for outdoor activities. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the body portion 101 is a cylindrical body portion. This shape assists with aerodynamics when the portable storage device 100 is in use in both transport and access mode, but especially during access mode. The cylindrical body portion may be a circular or elliptical cylindrical body portion, i.e., having a cross-sectional shape of a circle or ellipse on at least a portion of the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction. A cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion 101b and the upper portion 101a of the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction may be a circle. A cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion 101b and the upper portion 101a of the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction may be an ellipse. The cross-sectional shape of the body portion 101 may vary in the longitudinal direction.

Each storage portion 160 is configured to store and provide access to an item 200 such as, for example a personal item. The item 200 may include, but is not limited to, a smartphone, towel, cash, credit card, eye glasses, medicine, cosmetic, key, snack, drink, first aid kit, book, newspaper, magazine, wallet, sunscreen, binoculars, and a writing utensil. The storage portion may be at least one of a compartment 103, 104, 105, a shelf, including a swing-out shelf 108 and a fold-out shelf 109, and a drawer 106 and an arm 107, 110.

The compartment may include a door 103a, 104a, 105a, configured to open and close the respective compartment 103, 104, 105 and provide access to the item located therein. The door, e.g., door 105a, itself may include attachment means such as a shelf, hanger, or strap to secure the item 200, a shown FIG. 2. The disclosed doors may be secured by and openable via a locking mechanism such as, for example, a push-button release closure. The arm 107 may be arranged on the lower portion 101b of the body portion 101. The arm 110 may be arranged on the upper portion 101a of the body portion 101. The arms 107, 110 may be retractable arms. Arm 110 may be a retractable arm including a sun shield or light at the upper portion 101a of the body portion 101.

By way of example, and with reference to FIG. 2, storage compartments 103, 104 and 105 may be designed to store personal items including without any limitation towel, change of clothes, first aid kit, ice, smartphones, cash, credit cards, eye glasses, medicine, cosmetics, keys, snacks, drinks, water, monocular, binocular, book and/or magazine, and the like. The user can open several doors along the length of the device to store items of their choice. The portable storage device 100 may include a plurality of storage compartments along the length of the body portion 101, as discussed above. The drawer 106 may open up for carrying objects such as food, snacks, drinks or other objects required during outdoor activities. The drawer 106 may also be utilized for storing and transporting garbage. The portable storage device 100 may include a plurality of drawers along the length of the vertical cylinder body 101, as discussed above. The holder arm 107 may be a retractable book and/or magazine holder arm. The retractable book and/or magazine holder arm 107 can be attached towards the lower portion 101b of the body portion 101 to facilitate easy access of the book and/or magazine by a user seated on the floor or ground. The retractable book and/or magazine holder arm 107 may also include a fastening mechanism (not illustrated) to hold the book and/or magazine and the like. The book and/or magazine holder arm 107 can be folded in when not in use or folded out to mount the book and/or magazine.

By way of example, and with reference to FIG. 3, the drawer 108 may be a beverage drawer that may be circular in shape to accommodate a wide variety of sizes and shapes of beverage containers such as plastic soda bottles, aluminum cans, water bottles and paper cups. The beverage drawer 108 may include cavities (not illustrated) to receive a beverage bottle in a place without any movement while transporting the device from one place to another. Alternatively, the cavity may be provided with an insulating material such as foam and the like. The portable storage device 100 may also include a book or magazine storage shelf 109. The book or magazine storage shelf 109 is configured to be folded in when not in use or folded out to access the book and/or magazine. The book or magazine storage shelf 109 may be used to store electronic tablets/cell phones. Alternatively, a separate arm can be attached to hold electronic tablets/cell phone devices and the like.

The body portion 101 may include a base portion 102. The base portion 102 is located adjacent to and configured to attach to the lower portion 101b of the body portion 101. The base portion 102 may comprise any suitable configuration. For example, the base portion 102 may be a retractable stand. The base portion 102 may be a three-leg, four-leg, or five-or-more leg stand to support the body portion 101 to aid in stability while standing on a ground or floor in access mode. The base portion 102 may be configured to stand on a flat, undulating, or rough/uneven surface. In this regard, the length of each leg of the base portion 102 may be adjustable independently of other legs to facilitate the free standing of the device on any surface.

In embodiments, the base portion 102 may be detachably arranged on the lower portion 101b of the body portion 101. The base portion 102 may be detached from the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion in transport mode, and the base portion 102 may be attached to the lower portion of the body portion 101 in the access mode. The base portion 102 may be retracted within the cylindrical body portion in the transport mode and pulled out in access mode. The base portion 102 may include a plurality of legs 102a configured to support the cylindrical body portion on the floor or the ground.

The base portion 102 may be comprised of any suitable material. In embodiments, the material is a lightweight, corrosion resistant metal including, but not limited to, a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, carbon fiber, and polymer-based material.

A length of the base portion 102 in the longitudinal direction in access mode is not particularly limited and may be designed to be wider than the body portion 101 with sufficient width and length to prevent the device from tipping over when in use. For example, the length may be in a range of 1 cm to 50 cm, 1 cm to 25 cm, 5 cm to 15 cm, or 5 cm to 10 cm. A width of a footprint F of the base portion 102 in access mode is not particularly limited. For example, the width may be in a range of 1 cm to 50 cm, 1 cm to 25 cm, 5 cm to 15 cm, or 5 cm to 10 cm.

The largest width of a footprint F of the base portion 102 may be longer than a largest width of the body portion 101 in the access mode. A ratio of the largest width of the footprint F of the base portion 102 to the largest width of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode may be in a range of 1.1:1 to 50:1, 1.5:1 to 10:1, 2:1 to 10:1, 3:1 to 10:1 or 5:1 to 7:1.

A ratio of a length the body portion 101 in the longitudinal direction to a largest width of a footprint of the base portion in the access mode may be in a range of 0.5:1 to 50:1, 1:1 to 25, 1:1 to 10:1, or 3:1 to 5:1.

The portable storage device 100 may further include additional elements. For example, the portable storage device may also include a solar battery/charger 175 and/or a transportation attachment 300, as shown in FIG. 3. The solar battery/charger is configured to power an electronic device such as a smartphone and the like. The solar battery may be attached to an upper section of the portable storage device. The solar battery/charger can be attached to the upper portion 101a of the portable storage device 100 with the help of a retractable or moveable arm.

The transportation attachment 300 may be, for example, a hook or latch, configured to allow a user to transport the portable storage device. The transportation attachment 300 may include a strap 310 for carrying the portable storage device 100 during transportation. It will be understood that the portable storage device 100 may further include additional elements and/or functionalities (not shown). For example, the portable storage device may include a personal fan/mister, a cellular phone safe with solar-power charged back-up battery/charger, device a charging station, audio devices (e.g., bluetooth speakers), a microphone, a trash/recycle bin, an ashtray, and the like.

It will be appreciated that the above-disclosed features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into different devices, systems, and methods. Also, various alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments. As such, various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A portable storage device for transporting and providing access to items, the portable storage device comprising: a cylindrical body portion including a lower portion, an upper portion, and a plurality of storage portions arranged along a length of the cylindrical body portion in a longitudinal direction, each storage portion configured to store and provide access to an item; anda base portion detachably arranged on the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion.

2. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction is a circle.

3. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of at least one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction is an ellipse.

4. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of storage portions include at least one of a compartment, shelf, drawer, and an arm.

5. The portable storage device according to claim 4, wherein the compartment includes a door configured to open and close the compartment and provide access to the item.

6. The portable storage device according to claim 4, wherein the arm is arranged on the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion.

7. The portable storage device according to claim 4, wherein the arm is a retractable arm.

8. The portable storage device according to claim 7, wherein the retractable arm is a retractable sun shield arm arranged on the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion.

9. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein cylindrical body portion is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium, magnesium alloys, carbon fiber, and polymer-based material.

10. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage device is operable in a transport mode and an access mode.

11. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein a largest width of a footprint of the base portion is longer than a largest width of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode.

12. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein a ratio of the largest width of the footprint of the base portion to the largest width of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode is in a range of 1.5:1 to 10:1.

13. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein the base portion is detached from the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion in transport mode, and the base portion is attached to the lower portion of the cylindrical body portion in the access mode.

14. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein the base portion is retracted within the cylindrical body portion in the transport mode.

15. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a plurality of legs configured to support the cylindrical body portion on a floor or the ground in the access mode.

16. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction is in a range of 50 cm to 150 cm.

17. The portable storage device according to claim 10, wherein a ratio of a length the cylindrical body portion in the longitudinal direction to a largest width of a footprint of the base portion in the access mode is in a range of 1:1 to 10:1.

18. The portable storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a transportation attachment configured to allow a user to transport the portable storage device.

19. The portable storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a solar power source disposed on the upper portion of the cylindrical body portion.

20. The portable storage device according to claim 1, wherein the item is at least one personal item selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, cash, a credit card, eye glasses, medicine, a cosmetic, a key, a snack, a drink, a first aid kit, a towel, a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a wallet, sunscreen, binoculars, and a writing utensil.