Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
FLEXIBLE CASE FOR CARRYING SMALL OBJECTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to cases or storage pouches and particularly
s to flexible cases for storing small articles such as a cloth eyeglass wipe
or spare change
and which may be easily carried in a user's pocket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
There are many uses for small pouches or cases suitable for carrying in
one's pocket or handbag. One such use is to carry a wipe for eyeglasses, to
keep the
~o wipe clean and readily available. Another common use is to carry spare
change.
The use of cloth wipe, such as a piece of microfibrous fabric for cleaning the
lenses of eyeglasses is recommended by the optometrists. A fabric wipe is also
convenient for use with a variety of equipment including cameras, computer
screens and
binoculars. Such fabrics provide a quick, effective and scratch-free cleaning
of a tense
15 or other surface. Needless to mention a fabric wipe should be kept clean
for better
efficiency. Generally, eyeglass wearers carry a wipe in the eyeglass
protective case, with
the risk of not having the wipe at hand when the case has been forgotten
elsewhere.
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Combined eyeglass case and cleaning kits are disclosed in U.S. patents Nos.
6,170,651
to Taormina; 6,164,452 to Ellis; and 5,803,244 to Shefler et a1.
U.S. patents Nos. 5,366,072 to Goldenberg and 6,131,202 to Thayeret al.
attemptto solve this problem by providing a protective case which can be
secured to the
s arms of the eyeglass by straps or attached to a belt. An optical cleaner can
be carried
within such a case, but this solution can be aesthetically unappealing as well
as
inconvenient, the case can hamperthe back of the wear's head, orthe user may
not be
dressed adequately to wear a belt.
in further efforts to make an optical cloth cleaner conveniently available to
eyeglass wearers, U.S. patents Nos. 6,115,841 to Thompson I I et al. and
6,233.741 to
Loree IV et al. disclose a necktie having attached thereto an optical cloth
cleaner ready
to be used at anytime bythe wearerofthe necktie. Obviously, this invention is
suitable
only when the user wears a tie.
A well known example of a flexible pouch which may be used to hold an
object such as an optical wipe or spare change is the widely used colourful
plastic
change purse, having an oval shape with generallyflat top and bottom surfaces
and a slit
extending along the top surface. The plastic is semi-rigid, such that it
retains its shape
while held in a pocket or handbag, but intentionally squeezing the ends of the
purse
together bends the purse and forces the slit open for access to the interior.
While
zo inexpensive and ubiquitous, there are several disadvantages to this item.
Forexample,
the slit may inadvertently open, releasing the contents at the wrong time.
Constant flexing
of the semi-rigid plastic can cause it to crack, particularly in cold weather.
Similarly, the
resiliency of the plastic will vary with temperature, becoming more flexible
at high
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temperatures resulting in greater likelihood of unwanted opening, while being
too stiff for
convenient use in cold temperatures. Further, the item is often associated
with childhood
and adults may be reluctant to be seen to carry it; there is thus a need for a
more
sophisticated-appearing and versatile pouch.
The priorart discloses several purses, pouches and containers specifically
adapted for eyeglass wipes. U.S. patent No. 5,083,661 to Burwell discloses an
elongated storage containerforoptical cloth. A retaining cord is attached
nearthe centre
of the cloth and extends through the main aperture of the storage container.
The cord
then passes through a small hole at the end of the container opposite the
aperture, and
terminates with a stopper bead. The cloth is removed from the container by
pulling on the
cord. The stopper bead can be a cap forthe aperture or act to latch a hinged
lid forthe
aperture. U.S. patent No.5,000,204 to Smith discloses a plastic portable
storage case
for a chemically treated pig skin chamois. The case consists of an annular
snap-on lid
attached to a short tubular housing by a living hinge. The case comprises a
detachable
~s chain which enables the unit to serve as a key chain or be attachable to
one.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a flexible protective pouch or
purse
forstoring objects such as an optical cloth cleaner, which is compact,
portable and easily
operable.
zo The invention comprises, in one aspect, a flexible purse for holding small
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objects, comprising:
- a flexible skin which has sufficient rigidity to maintain a selected
shape of a hollow purse body i.e. while during normal use, resting in
a users pocket or handbag, having first and second opposed ends
s and a slot for accessing the interior of the body extending between
said ends;
- a frame comprising an elongate, semi-rigid resilient downwardly
curved bar engaged to said skin and extending between said
opposed ends; and
- opposed rigid end caps separate from said skin and covering the
opposed ends of said body, said end caps being engaged to
opposed ends of said frame.
Upon squeezing the first and second opposed ends together, the bar is
flexed and the slot is thereby urged open to allow access to the interior of
the body.
~s The end caps and body preferably form a visually unitary structure with a
continuously curving exterior surface. The skin is possessed of sufficient
rigidity to
maintain a given selected shape such as an ellipsoid during normal use, i.e.
while resting
in a user's pocket or handbag, until compressed or manipulated by a user. The
purse
body defines an interior space for holding objects, such as an optical wipe
cloth.
zo The body may include outwardly protruding lips extending along the borders
of said slot, to define and seal the opening. A tab may protrude from one of
the rigid end
caps, said tab including an aperture to receive a key ring, chain or other
member.
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Directional references within the present specification and claims refer to
terms such as "upper", "lower", "up", "down" and the like. These references
are for
convenience of description only, as it will be understood that the present
invention may
be positioned in any orientation. Directional references refer to the object
when
s positioned generally horizontally, with the access slit facing upwardly.
The term "semi-rigid" as used herein means sufficient rigidity to maintain a
given position during normal use, but when given a firm and deliberate squeeze
by hand
by a user, the item will flex.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment
of the
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protective case, in the normal, closed
position;
15 Figure 2 is a side view of the protective case;
Figure 3 is the upper view of the protective case;
Figure 4 is the bottom view of the protective case;
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively first and the second end views of the
protective case;
zo Figure 7 is a perspective view of the protective case, in the opened
position
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and showing the interior of the case;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1 a of Fig. 1;
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1 b of Fig. 8;
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2a of Fig. 1;
s Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7a of Fig. 7;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the protective case, in the opened
position and showing a tissue or optical wipe cloth being removed or placed
therein; and
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a kit comprising the case of this
invention,
an envelope and an instruction manual.
io DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A perspective view of the purse or case 10 according to the invention is
illustrated in Fig.1. As seen in the figures, the case is of a generally
ellipsoidal shape
with a hollow interior. In general, the case comprises a flexible skin 12
supported by a
resilient frame 13 (seen in its entirety in Fig. 11 ). The skin 12 has
sufficient rigidity to
i~ maintain its shape during normal use, i.e. while held in a user's pocket,
but will deform
with a slight squeeze to the case. For example, the skin may comprise molded
synthetic
rubber having a thickness of about 0.5 mm. A suitable thickness range is about
0.1 mm.
to 2.0 mm, with a preferred range being about 0.2 mm, to 1.0 mm. The skin
forms a body
having open ends, which are fully covered and plugged by rounded and contoured
rigid
zo end caps 14 and 16. The caps are visible from both the exterior and
interiorof the case.
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The end caps 14 and 16 are joined together by an elongate resilient spine 18
which
resides within the interior of the case and is thus visible only when the case
is open, as
will be described below. The spine 18 rests along the lower side of the case,
bearing in
mind the note concerning directional references recited above. The upper side
of the
s skin 12 has an elongate slit 20 which provides access to the interior of the
case and
extends longitudinally along a substantial portion ofthe skin 12, i.e.
extending almost to
each end cap.
The overall configuration of the case is relatively elongate, in relation to
its
width and thickness. In transverse and elongate cross sections, the case is
oval. The
~o preferred overall dimensions of the case are about 8.0 cm x 2.5 cm x 3.5 cm
(length,
height, width). The relatively long, narrow rounded shape ofthe case makes it
convenient
to carry in a pocket and attractive in appearance. The forgoing dimensions
represent a
convenient size forthe present invention but it will be seen that these
dimensions are not
intended to limit the scope of the present invention which may be manufactured
in any
m convenient size. By way of a non-limiting example, the length of the case
may range
between 4 and 12 cm, the height may range between 1 and 4 cm and the width may
range between 2 and 6 cm. It will be seen that a larger-sized version of the
invention
may be suitable for carrying in a handbag, briefcase orthe like, and would be
suitable for
carrying larger objects such as spare batteries or even pens or pencils if the
invention is
zo scaled accordingly.
The body and end capstogetherform an integral, visually unitary structure
with a continuously curving exterior surface. That is, apart from possible
differences in
colour and surface texture, there is minimal visible junction between the end
caps and the
CA 02398047 2002-08-20
body. The curvature of the body is continued in the exterior surface of the
end caps.
Preferably the end caps are molded steel with coated surfaces forcorrosion
resistance.
The exposed exterior surface of the caps has a smooth rounded surface. A tab
24
protrudes outwardly from one of caps 14 or 16, comprising an integrally molded
s horizontal platelike member. An opening 40 extends through the tab for a key
chain, a
cord 50 or the like, for example securing the case to a package 60 which may
hold a
folded optional wiping cloth, and an instructional booklet 62, as illustrated
in Fig. 13.
As best illustrated in Fig. 11, the spine 18 has a generally boat-shaped
configuration in plan view, i.e., the opposed side edges thereof bow outwardly
to reach
a maximum width at the midpoint of the spine. The spine 18 contacts the bottom
surface
28 of the interior of the case and is arcuate (downwardly curved) along its
length within
a vertical plane to conform to the curvature of the body 12 and contact the
inside surface
of the skin for substantially the length of the case. The spine 18 joins at
its ends 30 and
32 respectively with the end caps 14 and 16. The spine 18 is composed of a
highly
~s resilient and moderatelyflexible material, such as steel or a semi-rigid
and highly resilient
plastic. The spine is not required to be glued to the skin, as the skin is
fitted tightly over
the frame composed of the spine and end caps, although if desired, the skin
may be
glued or otherwise fastened to the spine. The spine 18 has sufficient rigidity
to
adequately support the case in the fully extended, closed position under
ordinary
zo conditions of use such as being held in a person's pocket without flexing.
At the same
time, the spine 18 must have sufficientflexibility to permit a userto
intentionally bend the
spine into a more pronounced arc, in order to open the case as will be
described below.
In the example described herein, this is accomplished by providing a spine
fabricated
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from steel, having a length of about 6 mm, a thickness of about 1 mm and a
maximum
width of about 1 cm at its middle tapering at either end to a width of about 3
mm. The
forgoing dimensions are intended to be non-limiting of the scope of the
invention. For
example, the spine may have any length which is slightly shorter than the
length of the
s case, a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 mm, and a maximum width of 0.3 to
3.0 cm,
with the foregoing dimensions intended to serve as a non-limiting range of
possible
dimensions. The selected dimensions of the spine will also depend on the
nature of the
material selected for the spine.
The spine 18 is integral with the end caps 14 and 16 which each have a
~o hollow interior to reduce weight and material costs. The caps 14 and 16 are
rigid and
have an eye-pleasing and ergonomic exterior shape which permits a user to
easily
squeeze them towards each other in orderto flex the spine and thereby open the
case.
The end caps may comprise molded metal such as steel. The end caps 14,
16 and the body 12 togetherform an ellipsoidal (egg-shaped) structure with a
minimally
visible junction between the body and end caps, i.e. only a minimally narrow
space where
the components join.
As best seen in Figs. 8(b) and 11, each of the caps 14 and 16 includes an
inwardly stepped throat 34 surrounded by an annular groove 36. The throats 34
each
receive an open end of the skin 12 with a tight friction fit, while the groove
36 receives a
zo rib 37 protruding inwardlyfrom the skin 12 adjacent each open end, for
securing the skin
12 to the caps 14 and 16.
The skin 12 includes integrally formed lips 21 a and 21 b, which extend
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longitudinally for substantially the full length of the skin on opposed sides
of the slit 20.
The lips 21 provide a ready visual identification of the location of the slit
20. As well,
since the lips join together when the case is closed, they provide a sealing
function.
When the ends of the case are squeezed together, as illustrated in Fig.12,
s this urges the slit 20 open allowing access to the interior of the case, so
that a small
object 35 can be placed therein or removed therefrom. This is accomplished by
pressing
together the end caps 14, 16 in directly opposed directions. The slit 20
closes firmly
when the ends are relaxed.
The slit 20 resists opening unless the ends of the case are squeezed firmly
together. Hence, inadvertent opening is not likely to occur in the ordinary
course of use
unless the user intentionally squeezes the end caps together.
The body 12 of the case can be made of a range of flexible materials having
a degree of stiffness for holding the body shape. A non-limiting list of
examples includes
natural or synthetic rubber, a fabric impregnated or coated with a stiffening
agent, leather
15 or a suitable plastic.
Variations within the scope of this invention will be apparent from the
described embodiment and it is intended that the present description is merely
illustrative
of the inventive features encompassed by the appended claims.
