Patent Application
20090078591
This disclosure relates generally to the field of travel accessories, and in particular to bath utility accessories, including a case for containers, with the case including a lock and a hook feature.
A traveler typically will take personal hygiene supplies along for use, usually, in hotel or motel rooms. Certain limitations by governmental authorities prohibit fluids exceeding certain volumes. Transporting fluids must be in secured containers. At the destination of the traveler, the use of the personal hygiene supplies should be conveniently available, especially in a shower stall.
One embodiment relates to a travel shower case. The travel shower case includes a tray. The tray includes a lip on one side of the tray. A cover is pivotably coupled to the tray. A lock member is slidingly coupled to the cover. The lock member is movable from a first position to a second position. The lock member includes a catch portion configured to engage the lip of the tray when the lock member is in the first position. The lock member includes a hook portion operative when the lock member is in the second position, wherein the hook portion will support the tray.
Another embodiment relates to a method for exposing a travel shower case interior. The case includes a tray defining an interior, a cover including a lock member having a hook member slidingly coupled to the cover, with the cover pivotally coupled to the tray. The method includes moving the lock member from a first position substantially within the perimeter of the cover to a second position, wherein the lock member unlocks the cover from the tray; and rotating the cover about a pivot member coupled to the cover and the tray to a position longitudinally parallel to the tray, wherein the interior of the tray is exposed.
Referring in general to the FIGURES and especially to
Tray 20 (e.g., container, receptacle, main body, etc.) is a generally thin-walled structure with an open side 22 exposing the interior of tray 20. Tray 20 is configured to receive one or more containers 12 for various fluids used in the bathroom (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, aftershave, etc.). While
Cover 30 (e.g. lid, closure, top, etc.) is coupled to tray 20 and is moveable between a closed position and an open position as shown best in
Cover 30 is rotated about pivot member 32 to the open position and aligned longitudinally with tray 20 (as shown in
Lock member 40 is slidably coupled to cover 30 generally opposite of pivot member 32. According to one exemplary embodiment, lock member 40 is coupled to cover 30 with a sliding member shown as a rivet 42 that slides along a corresponding slot 38 in cover 30. According to other exemplary embodiments, lock member 40 may coupled to the cover in another way such as with a longitudinal channel or overhang such that lock member 40 is allowed to slide relative to cover 30. As shown best in
Lock member 40 further includes a hook portion 46. Hook portion 46 is aligned with cover 30 and is located within the perimeter of cover 30. Hook portion 46 is pulled away from cover 30 and brought into an operable position when lock member 40 is slid away from cover 30 to the third position. In the third position, hook portion 46 provides a hanger that supports shower case 10 and allows shower case 10 to be suspended from the shower head pipe (as illustrated in
In the open position, containers 12 are exposed to a user and are held within tray 20 by partitions 28 provided in the interior of tray 20. Containers 12 may be removed from tray 20 to dispense the fluid held within containers 12.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between the two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.
The construction and arrangement of the elements of the travel shower case shown in the various exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, including any of a wide variety of moldable plastic materials in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments.
