Flat opening clamshell-style first aid kit

Abstract

A first aid kit with a clamshell-style case is disclosed. The case has a base portion and front and back panels pivotally secured thereto at first and second pivots, respectively. The first and second pivots are aligned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other thereby allowing the front and back panels are pivoted away from each other so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the base portion to allow easy access to items within the case.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 573,245 filed on May 20, 2004.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to first aid kits, and more particularly, to a kit of first aid items received within a case. The case opens widely and allows items to be logically stored therein so that they are quickly and easily located and accessible, particularly during an emergency. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] First aid kits are widely used. The typical first aid kit includes a case containing a variety of first aid items such as bandages, ointments, pain relievers, and the like. These first aid items are usually combined into one to three chambers within the case. Such kits also usually include a separate booklet containing use instructions for the first aid items. [0004] During an emergency requiring use of the first aid kit, an aid giver must open the case and quickly locate the required first a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Despite the available first aid kits, there remains a need for an economical and compact first aid kit that stores first aid materials and / or instructions in a logically oriented and logically positioned manner so that they are quickly and easily located and accessed during an emergency. In addition to other benefits that will become apparent in the following disclosure, the present invention fulfills these needs.

[0007] The present invention is a first aid kit that includes a case containing one or more first aid items therein. The case has a closed position in which all the items therein are secured within the case, and an open position in which the items within the case are easily viewable and accessible. In a preferred embodiment, the case is a clamshell style that includes a base portion and front and back panels operably secured thereto. Each panel is pivotally secured to the base portion with the pivots being spaced-apart from each other. In the closed position, the front and back panels are pivoted toward each other and secured together toward their distal ends to define a storage chamber therein. In the open position, the front and back panels are pivoted away from each other so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the base portion, thereby allowing the contents of the case to be fully revealed and easily accessible.

Problems solved by technology

Such activities can take a significant amount of time, which may compromise the effectiveness of the first aid treatment.

However, minimizing the size of the kit necessarily reduces the size of the chambers in which the different first aid items within the kit are grouped.

Accordingly, a user's ability to quickly locate and retrieve a particular first aid item from the collection of other items within a particular chamber further is compromised.

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