Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02508401 2005-05-27
KEEPSAKE VESSEL HAVING REMOVABLE REMEMBRANCE CONTAINER THEREIN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to keepsake vessels and more particularly to
a keepsake
vessel with a memorabilia compartment forming a part thereof, for storage of a
removable
remembrance container therein which contains personal effects and mementos of
loved ones.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently keepsake vessels, whether fabricated from wood, metal or plastic, do
not provide
any designated, easily accessible, receptacle or compartment for either the
placement of personal
effects of loved ones therein or the inclusion therein of mementos by family
and friends. There is
accordingly a need for a unique, improved keepsake vessel having an internal
memorabilia
compartment for the placement, display and storage of a removable remembrance
container therein
which contains personal effects and mementos of loved ones, wherein the
remembrance container
can be moved from a concealed storage position in the keepsake vessel to a
display position exterior
of the keepsake vessel, by means of attachment means detachably engageable
with the remembrance
container, for viewing and remembrance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved keepsake vessel
having an
integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage of a
removable
remembrance container therein which contains personal effects and mementos.
The memorabilia
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compartment is configured in the keepsake vessel so as to provide convenient
access to the user for
placement and removal of the remembrance container therein and to provide
display of the personal
effects and mementos placed therein for viewing by the user, when the
remembrance container is
removed.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved
keepsake vessel
wherein the remembrance container which contains the personal effects and
mementos can be moved
from the concealed storage position to a display position exterior of the
keepsake vessel for viewing
by the user, by means of attachment means engaged with and connected to the
remembrance
container.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keepsake
vessel having
a remembrance container therein containing personal effects and mementos
comprising a shell
having a slit or aperture integrally formed as part of the shell, the
remembrance container being
positioned within the shell through the slit or aperture; and attachment means
being mounted within
the shell and connected to the remembrance container, the attachment means
being moveable to and
between a display position and a storage position, the display position
providing access outside of
the shell to the remembrance container, and the storage position providing
concealed storage of the
remembrance container placed inside the shell.
A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a keepsake vessel
having a
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remembrance container containing personal effects and mementos therein
comprising a shell, the
remembrance container being positioned within the shell through the slit or
aperture; a cap closeable
upon the remembrance container, the cap being integrally connected to the
shell, said cap being
moveable to and between an open position and a closed position; and attachment
means being
mounted within the shell and connected to the remembrance container, the
attachment means being
moveable to and between a display position and a storage position, the display
position providing
access outside of the shell to the remembrance container, and the storage
position providing
concealed storage of the remembrance container placed inside the shell.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
keepsake vessel
having a memorabilia compartment therein for storage of a remembrance
container containing
personal effects and mementos comprising a shell having a front panel and rear
panel, the front panel
being defined by a first edge portion and the rear panel defined by a second
edge portion whereby
the first edge portion and the second edge portion are connected together
along a substantial length
thereof to form the shell, the rear panel further having opposed first and
second overlapping plies
of material; a memorabilia receiving opening on an outer surface of the rear
panel of the shell, the
memorabilia receiving opening being positioned where the first and second
plies of material overlap
and providing access to the memorabilia compartment; and attachment means
being mounted within
the memorabilia compartment and connected to the remembrance container, the
attachment means
being moveable to and between a display position and a storage position, the
display position
providing access outside of the shell to the remembrance container, and the
storage position
providing concealed storage of the remembrance container placed inside the
shell.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
keepsake vessel
having a memorabilia compartment therein comprising a body portion having a
slit or aperture
integrally formed as part of the body portion, which provides access to the
memorabilia
compartment; a remembrance container containing personal effects and mementos
being positioned
within the memorabilia compartment through the slit or aperture, the
remembrance container
comprising a first shell and a second shell, the first shell and the second
shell being joined together
such that the remembrance container may be opened and closed, each of the
first shell and the second
shell having an inner surface thereof which is concave, a peripheral edge, and
an outer surface which
forms an outside of the remembrance container, and a framing member defining a
substantially
hollow interior therein positioned within the first shell and the second
shell, an outer circumference
of the framing member being slightly smaller than an outer circumference of
either of the first shell
and the second shell, whereby the framing member can be positioned within
either of the first shell
and the second shell so as to outline the personal effects and mementos stored
in the remembrance
container; and attachment means being mounted within the body portion and
connected to the
remembrance container, the remembrance container being moveable to and between
a display
position and a storage position, the display position providing access outside
of the body portion to
the remembrance container, and the storage position providing concealed
storage of the
remembrance container placed inside the body portion, wherein, when the
remembrance container
is to be used in the display position, the attachment means and the
remembrance container
connected thereto are removed through the slit or aperture, whereby the
remembrance container is
positioned outside of the memorabilia compartment and exterior to an outer
surface of the body
portion.
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According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
remembrance
container for receiving and storing personal effects and mementos therein
comprising a first shell
and a second shell, the first and the second shell being joined together such
that the remembrance
container may be opened and closed, each of the first and the second shell
having an inner surface
thereof which is concave, a peripheral edge, and an outer surface which forms
an outside of the
remembrance container; and a framing member defining a substantially hollow
interior therein
positioned within the first and the second shell, an outer circumference of
the framing member being
equal to an outer circumference of either of the first and the second shell,
whereby a peripheral edge
of the framing member can be positioned over the peripheral edge of either of
the first and the
second shell so as to substantially cover the inner surface thereof, the
framing member being secured
to the either of the first and the second shell by welding.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
remembrance
container for receiving and storing personal effects and mementos therein
comprising a first shell
and a second shell, the first and the second shell being joined together such
that the remembrance
container may be opened and closed, each of the first and the second shell
having an inner surface
thereof which is concave, a peripheral edge, and an outer surface which forms
an outside of the
remembrance container; and a framing member defining a substantially hollow
interior therein
positioned within the first and the second shell, an outer circumference of
the framing member being
equal to an outer circumference of either of the first and the second shell,
wherein the peripheral
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edge of the first and the second shell each define a groove formed therein for
receiving a bonding
material placed within the groove, whereby a peripheral edge of the framing
member can be
positioned over the peripheral edge of either of the first and the second
shell so as to substantially
cover the inner surface thereof, the framing member being secured to the
either of the first and the
second shell by the bonding material placed within the groove.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved
keepsake vessel with
an integral memorabilia compartment for the placement, display and storage of
a remembrance
container therein which contains personal effects and mementos. The
memorabilia compartment is
configured in the keepsake vessel so as to provide convenient access to the
user for placement of the
remembrance container therein and to provide display of the personal effects
and mementos placed
therein for viewing by the user.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it provides
improved keepsake vessel
wherein the remembrance container which contains the personal effects and
mementos can be moved
from the concealed storage position to a display position exterior of the
keepsake vessel for viewing
by the user, by means of attachment means detachably engaged with and
connected to the
remembrance container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
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accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a keepsake vessel of the present
invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of an opening to the internalized
memorabilia
compartment in the keepsake vessel of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the attachment means of the
present invention;
Figure 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the attachment means as shown in
Figure 3,
which illustrates the attachment means being connected at one end to the
internalized
memorabilia compartment;
Figure SA is a top view of an embodiment of the remembrance container of the
present invention, in an open position;
Figure SB is a side view of an embodiment of the remembrance container of the
present invention, in an closed position;
Figure SC is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the remembrance
container of the
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present invention, which illustrates the framing members positioned within the
shells; and
Figure SD is a front view of an embodiment of the framing member of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Refernng now to the drawings, and as seen in the example given in Figure 1, in
one
embodiment the present invention is a keepsake vessel 1, such as a plush toy
animal or doll (as
illustrated in Figure 1 ) , having a memorabilia compartment therein (not
shown) for the placement,
display and storage of a remembrance container therein which contains personal
effects and
mementos of loved ones, though it is conceivable that various other designs
and other forms of
keepsake vessels could be used, as would be apparent to a person skilled in
the art. In one
embodiment (not shown) of the present invention an exterior surface of the
shell features a cap or
cover closeable upon the memorabilia compartment, the cap or cover being
integrally connected to
the shell, and being moveable to and between an open position and a closed
position. In a further
embodiment, the cap or cover is hingedly connected to the shell. Attachment
means (shown in Figure
4) are mounted within the memorabilia compartment, at one end, and another end
is connected to the
remembrance container, the attachment means being moveable to and between a
display position and
a storage position, the display position providing access outside of the
memorabilia compartment to
the remembrance container, and the storage position providing concealed
storage of the remembrance
container placed inside the memorabilia compartment of the shell.
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In a preferred embodiment, and with reference to Figure 2, the present
invention comprises
a shell 2 having a front panel 3 and rear panel 5 each defined by edge
portions which are connected
together along a substantial length thereof to form the shell 2. In the
embodiment shown in Figure 2,
the front 3 and rear panels S meet so as to form the shell 2, the shell 2
having a slit or aperture 7
integrally formed therein, and which provides access to a memorabilia
compartment 11 positioned
within the shell 2. Preferably, the front panel 3 or rear panel 5 comprise a
non-overlapping single
piece of material (which is then connected to the opposed panel) having an
opening defined therein.
It should be noted that it is also possible for the front panel to be
comprised of overlapping plies of
material.
Generally, the shell material used in constructing the keepsake vessel can be
plastic, ceramic,
metal, wood or a textile material, though it is conceivable that other
variations could be used. It is also
to be understood that the memorabilia compartment 11 within the shell 2, and
the shell itself, can be
adapted to accommodate varying sizes of any remembrance container placed
therein.
As noted previously herein, and with reference to Figures 3 and 4, attachment
means 13 are
mounted on an interior surface of the memorabilia compartment 11, the
attachment means 13 being
moveable to and between a display position and a storage position; the display
position providing
access to the user for attaching personal effects and mementos to the
attachment means for viewing
by the mourners and loved ones, and the storage position providing concealed
storage of the personal
effects and mementos placed in the memorabilia compartment. Of course, the
attachment means
which are mounted within the memorabilia compartment are accessible through
the memorabilia
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receiving opening 7 positioned on the exterior surface of the shell 2.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and with reference to
Figure 4, the
attachment means 13 comprises a first end 15 and a second end 17, the first
end 15 being connected
or sewn to an interior surface of the memorabilia compartment 11, and the
second end 17 being
connected to a securing device such as a clamp or clip or ring 21 detachably
attached to the
remembrance container, it being understood that various other designs and
forms of securing devices
could also be used, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. Of
course, if the remembrance
container containing the effects and mementos are to be removed or replaced
from the clamp or clip
or ring 21, it can be, in a preferred embodiment, detached and removed.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the attachment means 13 can,
preferably,
be made of textile or other fabric like material (and could be presented as a
"string" or 'rope" of
material, for example) one end of which is sewn into an interior surface of
the memorabilia
compartment 11 ), and the other end being detachably connected or attached, by
means of the material,
with reference to Figure 3, being "looped" 55 to clamp or clip or ring 21,
which is, of course,
connected to the remembrance container (not shown). Of course, when the
remembrance container
is to be used in the display position, the attachment means 13 and the
remembrance container (not
shown) connected thereto are removed through the slit or aperture 7, whereby
the remembrance
container is positioned outside of the memorabilia compartment 11 and exterior
to an outer surface
of the shell 2.
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With reference to Figures SA, SB, SC and SD, the present invention comprises a
remembrance
container 23, having a first shell portion 2S connected to a second shell
portion 27, and movable
between open and closed positions. In a preferred embodiment, the first shell
portion 2S and the
second shell portion 27 are hingedly connected together (29). The first shell
portion 2S and the second
shell portion 27 can be assisted in maintaining the closed position through
use of a magnet 33, which
inhibits the opening of the first shell portion 2S and the second shell
portion 27 from each other, but
yet does not prevent the opening thereof, if required or desired. With
reference to Figure SA, the first
shell portion 2S and the second shell portion 27 may also comprise, in a
further embodiment, an
attachment ring 77, which can provide for attachment to the securing device
such as a clamp or clip
or ring 21 shown in Figure 4.
In one embodiment of the remembrance container, and with reference to Figure
SA and SC,
the peripheral edge 15 of the first shell portion 2S and the second shell
portion 27 contains a recessed
groove 9 therein. Of course, it will be understood that the peripheral edges 1
S of only one of the first
shell portion 2S and the second shell portion 27 may possess the recessed
groove therein (in the
embodiment shown in Figure SA), or both of the peripheral edges 1 S of the
first shell portion 2S and
the second shell portion 27 may possess the recessed groove 9 (in the
embodiment shown in Figure
SC). The recessed groove 9 can, in one embodiment, be filled with a sealant
such as glue, for
example, or the like. The peripheral edges 1 S of any of the first shell
portion 2S and the second shell
portion 27 having the groove therein may then be covered, as shown in Figure
SC, with a cover 17,
so as to cover the peripheral edges 1 S of the first shell portion 2S and the
second shell portion 27, the
sealant in the glue providing the bond necessary to seal them together. In
this manner, for example,
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personal effects of a loved one, such as the ashes of a deceased person, can
be sealingly retained in
the shell portions and sealed by the cover 17 placed thereon. With reference
to Figures SC and SD,
in another embodiment, such as when a picture or other memento of a loved one
is placed within the
shell portions, a framing member 19 can be positioned within any of the first
shell portion 25 and the
second shell portion 27, an outer circumference of the framing member 19 being
slightly smaller than
an outer circumference of any of the first shell portion 25 and the any of the
first shell portion 25 and
the second shell portion 27 for framing and highlighting pictures and mementos
placed therein. The
framing member 19 can be sealed in place with a sealant such as glue, or can
be removably placed
within any of the first shell portion 25 and the second shell portion 27, for
removal by hand when
desired. In this manner, the pictures and mementos can be viewed, provided
that the user first opens
the first shell portion 25 which is connected to the second shell portion 27.
Obviously, if personal
pictures and mementos were to be replaced from any of the first shell portion
25 and the second shell
portion 27, the first shell portion 25 would be swung open, the framing member
19 would be removed
(if not sealed in place by the sealant), and the personal effects and mementos
removed from the first
shell portion 25 and the second shell portion 27. It will be understood that
either of the first shell
portion 25 and the second shell portion 27 can have sufficient depth to
accommodate pictures,
personal effects and mementos placed therein. It will also be understood that
the cover 17 can be
positioned so as to cover a framing member 19 which is positioned within any
of the first shell
portion 25 and the second shell portion 27.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments.
However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of
variations and modifications
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can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described
herein.
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
A keepsake vessel having a remembrance container therein comprising:
a shell having a slit or aperture integrally formed as part of the shell, the
remembrance
container being positioned within the shell through the slit or aperture and
containing
personal effects and mementos; and
attachment means being mounted within the shell and connected to the
remembrance
container, the attachment means being moveable to and between a display
position
and a storage position, the display position providing access outside of the
shell to the
remembrance container, and the storage position providing concealed storage of
the
remembrance container placed inside the shell.
2. A keepsake vessel having a remembrance container therein comprising:
a shell, the remembrance container being positioned within the shell through
the slit
or aperture and containing personal effects and mementos;
a cap closeable upon the remembrance container, the cap being integrally
connected
to the shell, said cap being moveable to and between an open position and a
closed
position; and
attachment means being mounted within the shell and connected to the
remembrance
container, the attachment means being moveable to and between a display
position
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