Patent Application
20110049391
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a container and, more particularly, to a storage container to receive and store articles, such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional storage container comprises a container body having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber and a top cover removably mounted on the container body. In use, when articles, such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and the like, are placed in the receiving chamber of the container body, the top cover is mounted on the container body to close the receiving chamber of the container body and to cover the articles. However, the receiving chamber of the container body is sealed by the top cover so that the articles are disposed at a wet and closed condition, so that bacteria are deposited on the articles, thereby easily incurring a sanitary problem.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a storage container, comprising a container body having an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber, a top cover removably mounted on the container body to close the receiving chamber of the container body, a circuit board mounted in the top cover, an ultraviolet light mounted on the circuit board and directed toward the receiving chamber of the container body, a control switch mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with the ultraviolet light to turn on or off the ultraviolet light, at least one battery mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected with the control switch and the ultraviolet light, and a push button mounted on the top cover and contacting with the control switch to control operation of the control switch.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a storage container having a sterilizing function by using ultraviolet rays.
According to another objective of the present invention, the ultraviolet light provides a sterilizing function to the articles placed in the receiving chamber of the container body so as to achieve a sanitary purpose.
According to a further objective of the present invention, the volume of the circuit board is reduced to the minimum by provision of the mercury battery and the ultraviolet LED light so that the storage container has a smaller volume and lighter weight to facilitate packaging, storage and transportation of the storage container.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The container body 10 has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The container body 10 has an open upper end provided with a stepped mounting portion 12 and has a closed bottom portion provided with at least one draining hole 13 connected to the receiving chamber 11.
The circuit board 30 is located at a mediate portion of the top cover 20. The circuit board 30 is fixed in the top cover 20 by a retaining member 40. The circuit board 30 is located above the retaining member 40. The top cover 20 has an inner wall provided with a retaining groove 22 to retain the retaining member 40. The retaining member 40 is made of a waterproof rubber and has a ring shape. The retaining groove 22 of the top cover 20 has an annular shape. The inner wall of the top cover 20 is further provided with a stepped fixing recess 24 to receive the circuit board 30. The fixing recess 24 of the top cover 20 is located above and connected to the retaining groove 22.
The top cover 20 has an inverted U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The top cover 20 has a closed top portion 23 abutting an upper end of the control switch 32 and an open lower end provided with a stepped mounting hole 25 mounted on the mounting portion 12 of the container body. The push button 21 is made of soft pad and is mounted on the top portion 23 of the top cover 20. Preferably, the push button 21 is located at a central portion of the top portion 23 of the top cover 20.
The control switch 32 has an upper end abutting the top portion 23 of the top cover 20 and the push button 21 and has a lower end mounted on a top of the circuit board 30. The control switch 32 is electrically connected with the circuit board 30.
The ultraviolet light 31 is a light emitting diode (LED) and protrudes downward from a bottom of the circuit board 30. The ultraviolet light 31 is electrically connected with the circuit board 30. The ultraviolet light 31 and the control switch 32 are located at two opposite sides of the circuit board 30. The battery 33 is preferably a mercury battery.
In operation, referring to
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage container further comprises a timer mounted on and electrically connected with the circuit board 30 to control the operation time of the ultraviolet light 31.
Accordingly, the ultraviolet light 31 provides a sterilizing function to the articles 50 placed in the receiving chamber 11 of the container body 10 so as to achieve a sanitary purpose. In addition, the volume of the circuit board 30 is reduced to the minimum by provision of the mercury battery 33 and the ultraviolet LED light 31 so that the storage container has a smaller volume and lighter weight to facilitate packaging, storage and transportation of the storage container.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.
