The present disclosure pertains to a security container that can be easily and securely connected to a holding device such as, but not limited to, a rod, pole, handle, latch, etc. such that the security container can be securely and easily connected and disconnected from the holding device.
During travel, it can be desirable to secure a storage container to a fixed structure such as a pole, a closet rod, etc. There is currently no convenient type of traveling container that can be temporarily secured in a closet foe use by a traveler.
The present disclosure pertains to a security container that can be easily and securely connected to a fixed structure such as, but not limited to, a closet rod, pole, leg of a room radiator, etc. such that the security container can be securely and easily connected and disconnected from the fixed structure.
In one non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a security container that includes a container body having one or more interior cavities, one or more doors and/or drawers that are movable between an open and closed position, a locking arrangement that is configured to secure the one or more doors and/or drawers in a locked and closed position, and a securing arrangement used to releasably secure the container body a fixed structure (e.g., leg of a radiator, closet clothes handing pole, portion of a bed, portion of a desk, handle on a lockable drawer, fixed pole, fixed bracket or handle, etc.).
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the container body is configured to contain one or more items in an interior cavity of the container body. The container body can be formed for any type of durable material (e.g., plastic, metal, wood, composite material, ceramic, etc.). The size and shape of the container body are non-limiting. In one non-limiting arrangement, the volume of the container body is no more than 5 cubic feet (e.g., 0.01-5 cubic feet and all values and ranges therebetween), and is typically 0.03-1 cubic feet. The weight of the container body is generally no more than 20 lbs. (e.g., 0.1-20 lbs, and all values and ranges therebetween). In one non-limiting configuration, the container body a) has a cubic shape or rectangular cuboid, b) has a volume of 0.03-0.5 cubic feet, c) 5-100% (and all values and ranges therebetween) of the container body includes metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, titanium, etc.), and d) has a weight of no more than 5 lbs. (e.g., 0.2-5 lbs. and all values and ranges therebetween).
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the shape of the one or more interior cavities in the container body is non-limiting. The one or more interior cavities of the container body can optionally include one or more pockets, shelves, hoods, nooks, cavities, ledges, and/or drawers. These optional features can be used to organize and/or facilitate in the storage of items in the one or more interior cavities of the container. The one or more interior cavities of the container body can optionally include fabric walls, printed color walls, and/or cushioned walls.
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the security container optionally includes one or more doors so as to allow or deny access to the interior region of the interior cavity of the container body. The one or more doors can be connected to any region on the container body. The one or more doors can be optionally hingedly connected to the container body so as to move via one or more hinges between the open and closed positions. The one or more doors can be removably or irremovably connected to the container body. When two or door doors are connected to the container body, the doors can a) be connected on the same or different sides of the container body, and/or b) have the same or different size, shape and/or configuration. The material used to form the one or more doors can be the same or different material from the composition of the container body. In one non-limiting configuration, the security container includes a single door that is hingedly connected to the container body, and 5-100% (and all values and ranges therebetween) of the door is formed of the same material as the container body.
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the security container optionally includes one or more drawers that are movable between open and closed positions. The one or more drawers can be removably or irremovably connected to the container body. The security container can include a) both one or more drawers and one or more doors, b) only one or more drawers, or c) only one or more doors. When two or door drawers are used, the drawers can a) be positioned on the same or different sides of the container body, and/or b) have the same or different size, shape and/or configuration. The material used to form the one or more drawers can be the same or different material from the composition of the container body. In one non-limiting configuration, the security container includes one to four drawers, and 5-100% (and all values and ranges therebetween) of the drawers are formed of the same material as the container body.
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the locking arrangement, when used with the one or more doors and/or one or more drawers, is configured to secure the one or more doors and/or one or more drawers in a locked and closed position. When the one or more doors are in the locked and closed position, access to the interior region of the interior cavity of the container body is limited to prevented. When the one or more drawer are in the locked and closed position, access to the contents of the one or more drawers is limited to prevented. The type of locking arrangement is non-limiting (e.g., key lock, combination lock, biometric lock, electronic lock, wireless [e.g., Bluetooth, wifi, etc.] controlled lock, magnetic lock, RFID lock, etc.). When one or more wireless controlled locks are used, such locks can be locked and/or unlocked by a smart device (e.g., smart phone, tablet, computer, etc.) and/or by a device that can generate a wireless signal (e.g., key fab, etc.).
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the securing arrangement is configured such that it is a) partially or fully releasably connected to the container body, or b) is hingedly connected or otherwise movably connected to the container body. The material, type, size and configuration of the securing arrangement are non-limiting. In one non-limiting embodiment, material used to partially or fully form the securing arrangement includes solid metal, metal strands or fibers, durable manmade fibers (e.g., ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers (UHMWPE), aramid fibers [e.g., Kevlar™, Nomex™ etc.], polybenzoxazole (PBO) fibers, polyarylate fibers [e.g., Vectran™ fiber, etc.], carbon fibers), ceramic materials, composite materials. The securing arrangement may or may not be flexible. One or both end portions of the securing arrangement can be configured to be releasably securable to the container body. In one non-limiting arrangement, one or both end portions of the securing arrangement are configured to be releasably securable to the interior of the interior cavity of the container body. In such an arrangement, one or both end portions of the securing arrangement can only be secured or detached from the container body by accessing a connection arrangement that is located in the interior cavity of the container body. As such, when the one or more doors and/or drawers are in the closed and locked position to prevent access to the interior cavity of the container body, the connection arrangement for the securing arrangement cannot be accessed. Thus once the securing arrangement is connected to the container body by the connection arrangement and the one or more doors and/or drawers are closed and locked, the securing arrangement cannot be detached from the container body. The type of connection arrangement that can be used is non-limiting (e.g., latch, hook, snap, clip, pin lock arrangement, hook and loop fastener, mushroom and stem connection arrangement, screw, clamp, any mechanical fastening arrangement, etc.). When the securing arrangement is connected to the container body, a portion of the securing arrangement extends outwardly from the container body. This outwardly extending portion of the securing arrangement extends outwardly from the container body can be used to wrap about and/or otherwise be connected to a fixed structure so as to secure the container body to the fixed structure.
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the securing arrangement can optionally have a U-shaped configuration. The two legs of the securing arrangement can optionally include a pin hole on the lower portion of each leg of the U-shape device. The pin can be configured to be inserted into one or both pin holes. The container body can optionally include one or more body slots that is configured to enable a portion of a leg to be inserted therein. After one or both legs are inserted into the body slots, the pin or other type of connection arrangement is inserted in the pin holes to thereby secure the securing arrangement to the container body.
In another non-limiting aspect of the disclosure, the securing arrangement can optionally include an insertion limiter (e.g., angled flange or other extension members, thicker portion, etc.) to limit the degree or amount that one or both legs of the securing arrangement into the one or more body slots in the container body. Once a portion of one or both of the legs of the securing arrangement is inserted into the container body, the connection arrangement in the form of a pin or other configuration is inserted through the one or more pin holes to secure securing arrangement to the container body.
Other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate various embodiments that the disclosure may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangement of parts wherein:
A more complete understanding of the articles/devices, processes, and components disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are, therefore, not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.
Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising” may include the embodiments “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.” The terms “comprise(s),” “include(s),” “having,” “has,” “can,” “contain(s),” and variants thereof, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended transitional phrases, terms, or words that require the presence of the named ingredients/steps and permit the presence of other ingredients/steps. However, such description should be construed as also describing compositions or processes as “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” the enumerated ingredients/steps, which allows the presence of only the named ingredients/steps, along with any unavoidable impurities that might result therefrom, and excludes other ingredients/steps.
Numerical values in the specification and claims of this application should be understood to include numerical values which are the same when reduced to the same number of significant figures and numerical values which differ from the stated value by less than the experimental error of conventional measurement technique of the type described in the present application to determine the value.
All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the recited endpoint and independently combinable (for example, the range of “from 2 grams to 10 grams” is inclusive of the endpoints, 2 grams and 10 grams, and all the intermediate values).
The terms “about” and “approximately” can be used to include any numerical value that can vary without changing the basic function of that value. When used with a range, “about” and “approximately” also disclose the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints, e.g. “about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.” Generally, the terms “about” and “approximately” may refer to plus or minus 10% of the indicated number.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
As illustrated in
The container body 200 is illustrated as having a rectangular cuboid shape. As can be appreciated, the container body 200 can have other shapes. The shape and size of the container body can optionally be configured to be thin to facilitate in fitting the container body 200 between other hanging items on the closet pole 600 in the closet when the security container 100 is releasably connected to a closet pole. The security container 100 can be configured to be positioned on at or near eye-level when the security container 100 is releasably connected to a closet pole. In one non-limiting embodiment, the height of the container body is about 3-20 inches in height (and all values and ranges therebetween), 2-10 inches in width (and all values and ranges therebetween), and 3-20 inches deep (and all values and ranges therebetween). In one non-limiting configuration, the height of the container body is about 5-12 inches in height, 2-5 inches in width, and 5-12 deep. In one non-limiting embodiment, container body is made of a metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), and a volume of the container body is about 0.03-1 cubic feet, and the container body has a weight of less than 15 lbs. so that the security container can be easily packed and transported in a carry-on suitcase or a standard backpack.
The door 300 can be movably connected to the container body 200 by various arrangement (e.g., hinge, etc.) so that the door 300 can move between an open and closed position.
A locking arrangement 400 is used to lock the door 300 in a locked position. The type of locking arrangement 400 used is non-limiting (e.g., key, combination, etc.). The location of the locking arrangement 400 on the security container 100 is non-limiting (e.g., container body 200 and/or door 300). As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The securing arrangement 500 is illustrated as being a generally U-shaped device; however, many other shapes can be used (e.g., V-shaped, C-shaped, etc.). The securing arrangement includes two legs 510, 520 and a curved or flat top portion 530 that is connected to the two legs. In one non-limiting configuration, the legs 510, 520 are generally parallel to one another along 20%-100% (and all values and ranges therebetween) the longitudinal length of the legs 510, 520. In another non-limiting configuration, the longitudinal length, width, thickness and shape of legs 510, 520 is generally the same; however, this is not required. As illustrated in
The lower portion of one or both of the legs includes a pin opening 540 that is configured to receive a portion of a connector pin 700. The shape of the pin openings is non-limiting. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Positioned above one or both of the pin openings 540 in each leg 510, 520 is an optional insert limiter 550. The insert limiter (e.g., angled flange or other extension members, thicker portion, etc.) is configured to limit the degree or amount that the legs 510, 520 of the securing arrangement 500 can be inserted into the container body 200. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In one non-limiting configuration, the width of a body slot is 100-150% (and all values and ranges therebetween) the thickness of at least one or each of the legs. In another non-limiting configuration, the longitudinal length of a body slot is 100-150% (and all values and ranges therebetween) the width of at least one or each of the legs. Such a non-limiting configuration allows for the legs to be inserted into the body slots, and limit access to the interior of the container body when the securing arrangement is releasably connected to the container body. The location of the one or more body slots 210, 220 on the container body 200 is non-limiting. As illustrated in
Once the lower portions of the legs 510, 520 are sufficiently inserted through the body slots 210, 220, the securing arrangement 500 can be releasably connected to the container body by inserting a connector pin 700 partially or fully through the pin openings 540 in legs 510, 520. The configuration of the connector pin is non-limiting. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the security container 100 is to be secured to a fixed structure 600 such as a closet hanger pole that is permanently mounted in a closet, a user places the top portion 530 of the securing arrangement 500 on the fixed structure 600 as illustrated in
A user can optionally place one or more items in the interior cavity 250 of the container body. The door 300 can be moved to the closed position and the locking arrangement 400 can be used to lock the door 300 in the locked position. When the door is in the closed position and locked, access to connector pin is prevented, thus the securing arrangement cannot be separated from the container body and the container body cannot be removed from the fixed structure 600. The security container 100 thereby functions as a security box or container that a user can temporarily mount in a closet, such as a hotel closet while the user is traveling. When the user decides to remove the securing container 100 from the fixed structure, the user simply opens the door and removes the connector pin 700 from the legs 510, 520 of the securing arrangement 500. Thereafter, the securing arrangement 500 can be separated from the container body 200 and the securing arrangement 500 is removed from the fixed structure 600.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the constructions set forth without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The disclosure has been described with reference to preferred and alternate embodiments. Modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed discussion of the disclosure provided herein. This disclosure is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the disclosure herein described and all statements of the scope of the disclosure, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between. The disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. These and other modifications of the preferred embodiments as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be obvious from the disclosure herein, whereby the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.
The present disclosure claim priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/188,018; filed May 13, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6085671 | Kerr | Jul 2000 | A |
9428941 | Yang | Aug 2016 | B1 |
20040074265 | Bruening | Apr 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220363441 A1 | Nov 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63188018 | May 2021 | US |