Patent Application
20200375327
This disclosure relates to the field of portable travel cases. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a portable and modular case for transporting cosmetics and other personal care items.
Traveling with cosmetics and other personal care items is typically restricted, such as by rules limiting a volume or container of the cosmetics and personal care items. For example, in the U.S. the Transportation Security Administration implements rules that place strict limits on liquids and gels that may accompany a traveler as part of the traveler's carry-on luggage. The TSA imposes limits to the volume of products that may accompany the traveler. While larger volumes of product may be checked with the traveler's luggage, this is typically undesirable where a traveler is only traveling with carry-on luggage, and in particular business travelers.
While travel sizes of cosmetics and other personal care products are available for purchase, those products are typically provided in containers that are too large for most trips. This results in significantly wasted amounts of products that are not used during travel. A traveler may further accumulate a significant number of products that have not been fully consumed during travel, resulting in further waste. Travel sized products are typically limited in availability. Particular products desired by a traveler may not be available in travel size, therefore requiring the traveler to purchase different items than would normally be desired by the traveler.
Finally, a traveler desiring to bring multiple cosmetics or personal care items in individual travel containers is required to carry several separate containers for those products. Those items may become lost in the traveler's luggage, or the traveler is required to place the items in a baggie within the traveler's luggage. Those items may leak or otherwise spill within the luggage or baggie causing the contents of those items to be leaked onto other items within the traveler's luggage. Further, placing multiple items such as cosmetics and personal care products in separate containers will require a significant amount of space of a traveler's luggage and is undesirable for carry-on luggage.
What is needed, therefore, is a portable and modular case for transporting cosmetics and other personal care items that allows a traveler to transport a desired quantity of cosmetics or personal care items with the traveler.
The above and other needs are met by a portable and modular case for transporting cosmetics and other personal care items that allows a traveler to transport a desired quantity of cosmetics or personal care items with the traveler. In a first aspect, a modular travel case for transporting personal care items includes: a base having opposing side rails formed along sides of the base, the side rails forming elongate channels therein; a plurality of container modules removably secured on the base, the plurality of container modules having a base plate having a width extending across a width of the base such that sides of the base plate fit within the elongate channels formed by the side rails of the base, one or more containers formed on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the one or more containers including an open end, and one or more caps secured to the one or more containers over the open end. Sides of the plurality of base plates slidably engage the elongate channels formed on the base such that the plurality of container modules are removably secured to the base.
In one embodiment, the opposing side rails further include closed ends formed on a first end of the base. The closed ends of the opposing side rails prevent sliding of the plurality of container modules from slidably disengaging the base at the first end of the base. In another embodiment, the travel case further includes a retention mechanism formed on the base for securing the plurality of container modules within the elongate channels formed on the base. In yet another embodiment, the retention mechanism includes a plurality of magnets located on at least one of the base and the plurality of container modules.
In one embodiment, the one or more caps are threadably secured to the one or more containers of the plurality of container modules. In another embodiment, the travel case further includes a recess cavity formed on a bottom surface of the base, wherein the recess cavity is located under the base plates of the plurality of container modules when the plurality of container modules are slidably secured on the base. In yet another embodiment, the travel case further includes a spatula shaped to fit within the recess cavity. The spatula is secured in the recess cavity by the plurality of container modules slidably secured to the base.
In one embodiment, the travel case further includes a recessed portion formed on the one or more caps of the plurality of container modules for receiving a label.
In a second aspect, a modular travel case for transporting personal care items includes: a base including opposing side rails formed along sides of the base, the side rails forming elongate channels therein, closed ends formed on a first end of the opposing side rails of the base, and a plurality of magnets located on the base; a plurality of container modules removably secured on the base, the plurality of container modules having a base plate having a width extending across a width of the base such that sides of the base plate fit within the elongate channels formed by the side rails of the base, one or more containers formed on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the one or more containers including an open end, one or more caps secured to the one or more containers over the open end, and a plurality of magnets located on the base plate. Sides of the plurality of base plates slidably engage the elongate channels formed on the base such that the plurality of container modules are removably secured to the base. The plurality of container modules are removably secured to the base when the plurality of magnets of the base plate are aligned with the plurality of magnets on the base plate of the plurality of container modules.
In one embodiment, the plurality of magnets are embedded within the base plate and the base of the travel case. In another embodiment, the one or more caps are threadably secured to the one or more containers of the plurality of container modules.
In yet another embodiment, the travel case further includes a recess cavity formed on a bottom surface of the base, wherein the recess cavity is located under the base plates of the plurality of container modules when the plurality of container modules are slidably secured on the base. In one embodiment, the travel case further includes a spatula shaped to fit within the recess cavity, wherein the spatula is secured in the recess cavity by the plurality of container modules slidably secured to the base. In another embodiment, the travel case further includes a recessed portion formed on the one or more caps of the plurality of container modules for receiving a label.
In a third aspect, a modular travel case for transporting personal care items includes: a base including opposing side rails formed along sides of the base, the side rails forming elongate channels therein and a recess cavity formed on a bottom surface of the base; a plurality of container modules removably secured on the base, the plurality of container modules having a base plate having a width extending across a width of the base such that sides of the base plate fit within the elongate channels formed by the side rails of the base, one or more containers formed on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, the one or more containers including an open end, and one or more caps secured to the one or more containers over the open end. Sides of the plurality of base plates slidably engage the elongate channels formed on the base such that the plurality of container modules are removably secured to the base. The recess cavity is located under the base plates of the plurality of container modules when the plurality of container modules are slidably secured on the base.
In one embodiment, the opposing side rails further include closed ends formed on a first end of the base. The closed ends of the opposing side rails prevent sliding of the plurality of container modules from slidably disengaging the base at the first end of the base. In another embodiment, the travel case further includes a retention mechanism formed on the base for securing the plurality of container modules within the elongate channels formed on the base. In yet another embodiment, the retention mechanism includes a plurality of magnets located on at least one of the base and the plurality of container modules.
In one embodiment, the one or more caps are threadably secured to the one or more containers of the plurality of container modules. In another embodiment, the travel case further includes a spatula shaped to fit within the recess cavity, wherein the spatula is secured in the recess cavity by the plurality of container modules slidably secured to the base.
Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Some of these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. The definitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words being defined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If the definition of any term below diverges from the commonly understood and/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions below control.
The travel case 10 includes a base 12. As shown in the bottom view of
Referring to
As shown in
Referring again to
The container module 26A includes a base plate 28 sized to extend substantially across a width of the base 12. As shown in
The container module 26A further includes at least one container 30 formed on the base plate 28 and extending upwardly therefrom. The container 30 extends upwardly from the base plate 28 and defines a cavity 32 (
Each container 30 preferably includes a cap 36 shaped to fit over an open end of the container 30 to secure contents of the container 30. The cap 36 is preferably threadably secured on the container 30 by engaging the threads 34 formed around the outer surface of the container. However, it is also understood that the cap 36 may otherwise be secured to the container 30, such as by securing the cap 36 onto the container 30 with a hinge or other similar mechanism.
The cap 36 preferably includes a recess 38 formed on an upper surface of the cap 36. The recess 38 is preferably shaped to receive a label or other identifier for identification of contents of the container 30. While the figures illustrate a recess 38 formed therein, it is also understood that the cap 36 may include other features for identification of contents of the container 30, such as a flattened area for application of a label or identifying information integrated on the cap 36.
Referring to
In one embodiment, as shown in
The one or more base magnets 42 are located on the base 12 and are located such that the one or more base magnets 42 are aligned with the one or more container magnets 40 of the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C when the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C are slidably engaged with the base 12. The one or more base magnets 42 may be located on an upper surface of the base 12 such that the one or more base magnets 42 are proximate to the one or more container magnets 40. The one or more base magnets 42 are preferably embedded within the base 12.
Referring now to
Referring again to
In use, the travel case 10 is configured to contain multiple cosmetics or other personal care products items such as soaps, shampoos, lotions, and other luxury items within the containers 30 of the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C. A user may place contents into the container 30 and subsequently secure the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C to the base 12 by slidably engaging the base 12. The plurality of containers modules 26A, 26B, and 26C are secured to the base with the retention mechanism to prevent the container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C from disengaging the base during travel. When the user reaches a desired location, the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C may be removed from the base 12.
As shown in the figures, the travel case 10 may be configured to transport six different cosmetics or personal care products on the plurality of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C. The arrangement of container modules 26A, 26B, and 26C as shown may be adjusted based on a desired number of cosmetics or personal care products to be transported. For example, the travel case 10 may be provided with four containers instead of six as illustrated. Further, each of the container modules may be configured to include only a single container or more than two containers depending on a desired configuration.
Embodiments of the travel case described herein advantageously enable a user to transport multiple cosmetics and other personal care products during travel. The user may carry multiple cosmetics and personal care products in a single case carried in luggage of the user while allowing the user to separate individual containers after reaching a destination. The user may refill contents of the containers of the travel case from other containers without requiring the user to purchase travel-sized containers of product.
The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the precise form(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
This application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/424,940 filed on May 29, 2019, for a Travel Cosmetic Kit, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16424940 | May 2019 | US |
| Child | 16835511 | US |
