The present invention is generally directed to a dice container, and more specifically, to a container that not only stores or otherwise retains one or more dice, but also imparts, infuses or applies a fragrance, aroma or scent to the dice via a fragrance diffuser disposed therein.
Dice, as used herein, are common multi-sided throwable objects generally with markings or indicia disposed on one or more of the sides which can be used to play various games. In particular, depending on the game played, the dice may be four-sided, six-sided, eight-sided, ten-sided, twelve-sided, twenty-sided, etc., and may include numbered indicia, dots, symbols, graphics, logos, colors, etc. disposed or displayed on the various sides thereof.
It may be desirable, in some instances, to store dice or other game pieces, for example, when the game pieces are not being used or when the game is not being played. In this manner, basic storage containers for dice and/or other game pieces are well known.
It may also be desirable to infuse or impart a calming, energetic or other scent or fragrance to the dice or other game piece, for example, but not necessarily limited to, prior to playing a game with the dice or other game pieces. The scent or fragrance may provide an additional element or sensory aspect to the game, while in other cases, the scent or fragrance may simply be a desire or appeal to the users or players thereof.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a storage or other container that can be used to not only store various items, including, but not limited to one or more dice, game piece(s), jewelry, and/or other item(s), as well as a combination thereof, but can also be used to impart, apply or infuse a selected or desired fragrance to the one or more items while being stored within the container. In this manner, when the dice or other items are removed from the container, for example, in order to be used during the furtherance of a game, the dice or other items exhibit a pleasing, calming, energetic or other fragrance.
Accordingly, at least one embodiment of the present invention is directed to a container or enclosure that includes one or more fragrance diffusers that can be used to apply or infuse a selected, desired or other fragrance to the dice or other items stored or retained therein.
More specifically, a fragrance diffuser, including but not limited to an evaporative fragrance diffuser, may be disposed within an enclosure, such as a tight-closing box or other like container. In some embodiments, the fragrance diffuser includes a pad, plate or other air permeable, fibrous or porous membrane which may be secured, for example, via an adhesive layer, to the inside of the enclosure. The fragrance diffuser can be manufactured or made of, but is certainly not limited to, polyester, wool, cellulose fiber, natural fiber, or any other fibrous or non-fibrous material that is capable of receiving, at least partially absorbing, and/or otherwise diffusing the fragrance source (e.g., an essential oil, scented oil, etc.) and operate in the intended manner, as described herein.
Furthermore, a dice holder is also disposed or disposable within the interior portion of the enclosure, and which includes a plurality of dice retention portions, holes, recesses or openings that are each sized to at least partially receive a die or a plurality of dice therein. In particular, each of the dice retention portions or openings are arranged or positioned within the enclosure relative to the fragrance diffuser in a manner such when a fragrance source, such as but not limited to a scented oil or an essential oil, is applied to a portion of the fragrance diffuser, the scented oil (or other fragrance source) will at least partially evaporate and/or diffuse through the fragrance diffuser and/or within the enclosure. This will then cause the scented oil (e.g., the at least partially evaporated or vaporized oil) to flow to the dice retention portions or openings where the one or more dice are stored, thereby infusing or applying the fragrance to the dice.
Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the fragrance diffuser includes a designated application portion disposed or otherwise defined on one end thereof to which the scented oil, or other fragrance source, is applied. Specifically, in at least one embodiment, the application portion is offset from, not aligned with, and therefore not in direct contact with the dice retention portions or the one or more dice stored therein. In this manner, when applied to the fragrance diffuser, the oil does not come in direct contact with the dice, except through the diffusion and/or evaporation thereof, thereby minimizing or preventing the dice from becoming oily in the process.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when the drawings as well as the detailed description are taken into consideration.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings provided herein.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to
More specifically,
Furthermore, the dice 5, as used herein, refers to a common multi-sided throwable object generally with markings or indicia disposed on one or more of the sides which can be used to play various games. In particular, depending on the game played, the dice may be four-sided, six-sided, eight-sided, ten-sided, twelve-sided, twenty-sided, etc. and may include numbered indicia, dots, symbols, graphics, logos, colors, etc. disposed or displayed on at least one, but more commonly on a plurality of or all of the various sides thereof. In some embodiments, the dice 5 may be constructed or made of a material, including but in no way limited to acrylic, that allows the dice to pick up or at least temporarily retain the fragrance or aroma imparted thereupon via the present invention. However, it should be noted that the dice may be constructed or made of virtually any material, such as, but in no way limited to, resin, stone, semi-precious stone, precious stone, aluminum, heavy metal, wood, bone, etc.
Furthermore, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates, the term “dice” is used herein to indicate both the singular (e.g., one die) and the plural (e.g., more than one dice) forms.
Moreover, the container 10 of certain embodiments of the present invention may be used to store or retain other items (in addition to or instead of dice) including, for example, game pieces, e.g., figurines, tiles, chips (e.g., poker-style chips), tokens, cards, etc., that may or may not be used in connection with or in furtherance of playing a game.
In any event, and still referring to
In other embodiments, however, the enclosure 20 may be constructed in other forms or manners such that access to the interior portion is accomplished in a different manner. For example, the lid 24 may be slidably connected to the base 24 and either fully or partially removable therefrom. Additionally, the lid 24 may be movably or pivotally connected to the base 22, e.g., via one or more hinges or other like features. Other enclosures defining an interior portion are contemplated within the full spirit and scope of the present invention.
It should be noted, however, that, in many embodiments or implementations, the lid 24 and the base 22 form a tight (e.g., an air tight or substantially air tight) seal preventing or substantially restricting the flow of air from escaping from the interior area 25 thereof, while the lid 24 enclosing the interior area 25. The tight seal facilitates the retention of the aroma or fragrance, as described herein, which thereby facilitates the infusion or application of the fragrance to the one or more dice or other items stored therein.
Furthermore, the example illustrated in
Moreover, still referring to
As just an example, the fragrance diffuser 30 of at least one embodiment is a porous or permeable pad or other like structure to which the fragrance source 7 or oil is applied. More specifically, the fragrance diffuser 30 may be manufactured or made of, but is certainly not limited to, polyester, wool, cellulose fiber, natural fiber, or any other fibrous or non-fibrous material that is capable of or otherwise structured and configured to operate as a fragrance diffuser and/or an evaporative fragrance diffuser as contemplated within the scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, with reference to the bottom view of an exemplary fragrance diffuser as shown in
Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the fragrance diffuser 30 may include a shape and size that corresponds with or substantially corresponds with the shape and size of the interior area 25 of the enclosure 20. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the interior area 25, and in particular, the bottom surface 23 thereof, includes a rectangular shape defined by interior enclosure walls 22a-d. In other words, the enclosure 20 includes an inner surface area defined by the interior enclosure walls 22a-d, which in the embodiment shown is rectangular in shape, although other shapes and sizes are contemplated. Furthermore, the fragrance diffuser 30 of at least one embodiment includes a corresponding shape and size such that a perimeter edge defined by edges 32a-d is sized to match, correspond with or otherwise fit within the inner surface area of the enclosure 20. In other words, each of the edges 32a-d of the fragrance diffuser 30 of at least one embodiment extend to or near a corresponding interior enclosure wall 22a-d. In other embodiments, the fragrance diffuser 30 may fit or be disposed within the interior area 25 in a different manner.
Furthermore, as shown in
In addition, as previously mentioned, at least one embodiment of the present invention also includes an item holder, which in the embodiment illustrated, is a dice holder generally referenced as 40. The item holder or dice holder 40 may include at least one or a plurality of retention openings, holes, recesses, or other like portions 45 which operate to receive, hold or retain one or more die/dice 5 or other item(s) therein. For instance, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in
As shown, the opening(s) 45 may be formed of one or more various shapes and/or sizes in order to receive or correspond with the die/dice 5 (or other items) that may have different shapes and/or sizes. In other words, the openings 45 or other recesses or retention portions of the dice holder 40 may, in some embodiments, all be the same shape and size, although in other embodiments, as shown in
In any event, the item holder or dice holder 40 of at least one embodiment is disposed or disposable within the interior portion 25 of the enclosure 20 and is fluidically arranged or fluidically communicative with the fragrance diffuser 20. More specifically, the fragrance or scented oil that evaporates from or through the fragrance diffuser 20, will flow or permeate within the enclosure, or will otherwise fluidically flow (e.g., via the flow of air) to the dice holder 40. In this manner, application of the fragrance source 7 to the fragrance diffuser 30 will cause the fragrance source 7 and/or vapor thereof to at least partially diffuse through the diffuser 30 and in some cases evaporate or diffuse within the enclosure, in order to infuse to, apply to or impart upon any one or more of the dice 5 (or other items) that are stored or retained within the item/dice holder 40.
In particular, as shown in
With reference to the exploded view of
It should also be noted that, in at least one embodiment, prior to stacking or layering the dice holder 40 on top of the fragrance diffuser 30, the fragrance oil or other fragrance source 7 may be applied to at least a portion of the fragrance diffuser 30. More specifically, one or several drops of a scented oil or other fragrance source may be applied to a portion (e.g., a designated application portion, as described in accordance with at least one embodiment) of the fragrance diffuser 30. Then, with the fragrance source or oil applied to the diffuser 30, the dice holder 40 can be stacked within the enclosure 20.
In other embodiments, however, the fragrance oil may be applied to the fragrance diffuser 30 with the dice holder 40 in place. In other words, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the fragrance diffuser 30 may be accessible while the dice holder 40 is in place or stacked thereon such that the dice holder 40 may not need to be removed completely in order to apply the fragrance oil or other source to the diffuser 30.
Furthermore, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, with the dice holder 40 in place and stacked on top of the fragrance diffuser 30, the die/dice 5 or other item(s) may be secured, retained or disposed within the openings or other retention portions, and the lid 24 can be placed on top of the base 22 to secure the enclosure 20 in the closed position. While closed, the fragrance source 7 or oil will diffuse within the interior area 25 of the enclosure and impart upon or otherwise be applied to the dice 5 or other items therein.
Referring now to
Furthermore, still referring to
It should also be noted that the designated application portion 33 may be marked directly on the fragrance diffuser 30 via one or more demarcations, indicia or marking such as, but not limited to, one or more lines, boxes, instructions, colors, shading, etc. In other cases, however, there may not be any markings, indicia or demarcations that physically or visually identify the designated application portion 33.
Accordingly, with the dice retention openings 45 (and therefore the dice retained therein) offset from or not aligned with the designated application portion 33 where the fragrance oil is applied, the dice 5 are not in direct contact with oil or other fragrance source. The offset or non-aligned relation allows the fragrance to be applied to the dice via diffusion, vapor and/or at least partial evaporation of the fragrance oil, but prevents or minimizes the dice from becoming oily, which may occur in the event of direct contact with the oil applied to the diffuser.
Thus, as provided herein, the fragrance oil may be applied directly to the diffuser only within the designated application portion referenced as 33 in
Accordingly, with the fragrance oil or other fragrance source applied to the application portion 33 of the diffuser, in at least one embodiment, the oil may diffuse through the porous pad of the diffuser 30, for example, through the remaining portion 36 thereof. The oil may also at least partially evaporate or permeate throughout the interior area 25 of the enclosure, particularly with the lid 24 closed and secured to the base 22. This allows the fragrance or vapor caused thereby to impart upon, apply to or infuse to the dice 5 or other item(s) disposed within the enclosure.
Referring now to
As described herein, the fragrance diffuser 30 may be disposed within an enclosure 20 or otherwise within an interior area of an enclosure 20 or container, as shown for example in
Referring again to
Next, as shown at 106 in
As shown at 108 in
It should also be noted, and apparent, that adding more fragrance oil to the diffuser and/or allowing the dice to remain within the enclosure 20 with the fragrance oil and diffuser for longer periods of time can impact or otherwise increase the amount of fragrance that is ultimately imparted to the dice. The user can thus experiment according to his or her preferences in terms of what fragrance source to use, how much fragrance source to use, and how long to diffuse the dice within the container.
Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. This written description provides an illustrative explanation and/or account of the present invention. It may be possible to deliver equivalent benefits using variations of the specific embodiments, without departing from the inventive concept. This description and these drawings, therefore, are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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9022365 | Brosmith | May 2015 | B2 |
20060043215 | Evans | Mar 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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202819895 | Mar 2013 | CN |