Stacking case for accessories

Abstract

A system for retaining small items comprises a first case having a main body with a hollow interior and a laterally pivotable cover, a second case having a main body with a hollow interior and a laterally pivotable cover, and a connection feature defined between the first case and the second case.

Description

STACKING CASE FOR ACCESSORIESTechnical Field

[0001] The field is containers for accessories such as hair accessories, jewelry, or other small personal items, storage systems, and systems for organizing items.Background

[0002] Accessories or other small personal items are sold in packaging that can include plastic envelopes, bags, boxes and other packaging that the user typically throws away. For example, it is known to sell bobby pins, alligator clips, and / or hair ties on a cardboard strip, with the small items taped to, tied to, or otherwise attached to the strip. Such items are sometimes sold in a clear plastic box that is retained by the user for storage, such as a clear plastic box of straight pins or bobby pins.

[0003] Improvements in containers for storing small personal items are desired. A useful, attractive system for retaining small personal items and / or accessories is desired. A system for conveniently organizing such items is desired.Summary

[0004] In an aspect, a system for retaining small items comprises a first case having a main body with a hollow interior and a cover. The cover is attached to the main body and has an open position and a closed position. The cover of the first case is laterally pivotable with respect to the main body of the first case between the open position and closed position. A second case has a main body with a hollow interior and a cover. The cover is attached to the main body and has an open position and a closed position. The cover of the second case is laterally pivotable with respect to the main body of the second case between the open position and closed position. A connection feature is defined between the first case and the second case so that the first case and the second case are detachably connectable to one another; a top end of the cover of the first case is detachably connectable with a bottom end of the main body of the second case.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -1-

[0005] The main body of the first case can have a hole. A pin may be disposed in the hole of the first case and is rotatable therein. In embodiments, a pin is disposed in a hole of the second case and is rotatable therein.

[0006] In embodiments, a spring is attached to the pin. The cover of the first case can be attached to the pin. In embodiments, the cover and the main body of the first case define a stop for stopping movement of the cover when the cover reaches the closed position.

[0007] In an example, the connection feature includes a magnet.

[0008] In embodiments, the first case has a circular cylindrical shape. In embodiments, the second case has a circular cylindrical shape. In an example, a diameter of the first case is the same as a diameter of the second case. In an example, a height of the first case is greater than a height of the second case.

[0009] In certain aspects, the system further comprises a third case. In embodiments, the third case has a main body with a hollow interior and a cover.

[0010] For example, a top end of the cover of the second case is detachably connectable with a bottom end of the main body of the third case.

[0011] In embodiments, a mirror is disposed on the cover of the first case, the cover of the second case, or both. In embodiments, a lock is disposed on the cover of the second case, the lock preventing the cover of the second case from moving to the open position.

[0012] In embodiments, engaging the second case with the first case through the connection feature releases the lock. A lock can be disposed on the cover of the first case, the lock preventing the cover of the first case from moving to the open position. For example, engaging the second case with the first case through the connection feature can secure the lock to prevent the cover of the first case from moving to the open position.Brief Description of the drawings

[0013] In order that the disclosure may be readily understood, aspects of the apparatus are illustrated by way of examples in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are referred to with like reference numerals throughout.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system according to embodiments, in cross-section;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a case, according to embodiments;

[0016] FIG. 2Ais a front perspective view of a case, according to embodiments;ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -2-

[0017] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view view of the system of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the system of FIGS. 1 and 3, with a cover removed and an interior of a case visible;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, with a cover removed, in detail; and

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a system according to embodiments, in cross-section. Detailed Description

[0021] A container, box, or case, and a container system is shown in FIGS. 1-5. Although the case 10 is in the shape of a round cylinder, the case can have other shapes, such as square, cubed, globular, egg-shaped, etc. In embodiments, the case is cylindrical having a cross-section that is round, egg-shaped, star-shaped, rectangular, etc.

[0022] The case 10 has a main body 12 and a cover 14. The cover 14 is attached to the main body 12 at a pivot point 16, which can comprise a mechanical hinge, living hinge, tie, bolt, etc. The main body 12 has a hollow interior 18 that is closed by the cover 14. The cover 14 in embodiments has an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body 12. The cover 14 and main body 12 can have a snap, magnet, a latch, or the like for maintaining the cover in the closed position. In embodiments, the cover 14 and main body 12 have inter-engaging features that maintain the cover in the closed position. The cover and body in embodiments have a snap fit relationship.

[0023] The cover 14 in embodiments pivots in an upward direction with respect to the main body 12 to move to the open position. In embodiments, the case is round cylindrical. In embodiments, the cover is attached to the main body 12 by a pin 20. The pin 20 may be attached to the cover and disposed in a hole 22 in the main body. In embodiments, the cover is movable in a lateral direction to the open position. For example, the cover 14 can pivot about the pin 20 sidesways to the open position. The case 10 is formed from a polymer, wood, fabric, metal or any suitable material and / or combinations thereof. The main body and cover of the case 10 can be made, for example, by molding from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polyurethane (“PU”), or other suitable materials. In another example the cover and main body are machined from metal.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -3-

[0024] Tn embodiments, the cover 14 is not attached to the main body but removably coupleable thereto. For example, the cover 14 and main body 12 can have a snap fit relationship or held in the closed position by a magnet. In embodiments, the cover 14 has one or more snaps that engage corresponding snaps on the main body 12. In embodiments, the cover has a ridge that is receivable in a groove on the main body (or vice-versa).

[0025] In embodiments, the cover 14 and main body 12 have inter-engaging flanges, a bayonet connection, or the like.

[0026] In embodiments, the main body 12 of the case 10 has an interior 18 defining more than one compartment. In embodiments, the case 10 has more than one cover. For example, the case 10 can have a first cover at a top end 24 and a second cover at a bottom end 26.

[0027] As seen in FIG. 4, the case 10 has complementary engaging surfaces on the cover 14 and main body 12, in certain embodiments. The cover 14 has a shaped ledge 30 and the main body 12 has a ridge 32 with a complementary shape so that when the cover 14 is moved to the closed position, such as by sliding the cover laterally, the ledge 30 and ridge 32 engage one another. This engagement can be frictional in nature, or the ledge and ridge can have snap-fit features. In embodiments, the cover and the main body of the first case define a stop for closure of the cover with respect to the case. In embodiments, the ledge and ridge have a ramp 33 that engage one another, stopping movement of the cover when the cover reaches a closed position.

[0028] In embodiments, a system 100 includes more than one case. In embodiments, a first case 110 and a second case 112 are engageable with one another through a connection feature 114. In embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 3-5, a first round cylindrical case 110 is engageable with a second round cylindrical case 112 through connection feature 114. In embodiments, first case, second case, or both have a connection feature 114. In embodiments, the first case, second case, or both are not openable when they are engaged with one another. In embodiments, the bottom 116 of the main body 118 of the second case 112 is engaged with the top 120 of the cover 122 of the first case 110. In embodiments, a third case can be engaged with first case 110 or second case 112. In embodiments, a fourth case can be engaged with the third case; and in embodiments a fifth case can be engaged with the fourth case, etc.

[0029] In embodiments, the cover of a case 10 is attached to the main body of the case by a pin 20 that is spring-loaded. For example, the pin 20 can be attached to a spring 21. In embodiments, the cover 14 is biased toward the closed position. In embodiments, the cover of the case and theARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -4-main body 12 have inter-engaging flanges that define a detent. In embodiments, a detent is overcome to open the case.

[0030] In embodiments, the case 10, or one or more of the cases in the system 100, has a mirror 101. For example, a cover 14 can have a mirror attached to the cover 14. In embodiments, the case 10 includes a lock 103 preventing the cover 14 from moving to the open position. In embodiments, engaging the first case 110 with the second case 112 through the connection feature 114 releases the lock on the cover of the first case 110. In embodiments, engaging the second case 112 with the first case 110 secures a lock on the cover of the second case 112.

[0031] In embodiments, a system includes a first case 110 and a second case 112, as shown in FIG. 6. The case 110 has a main body 212 and a cover 214. The cover 214 is attached to the main body 212 at a pivot point 216, which can comprise a mechanical hinge, living hinge, tie, bolt, etc. The main body 212 has a hollow interior 218 that is closed by the cover 214. The cover 214 in embodiments has an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body 212. The cover 214 and main body 212 can have a snap, magnet, a latch, or the like for maintaining the cover in the closed position. In embodiments, the cover 214 and main body 212 have interengaging features that maintain the cover in the closed position. The cover and body in embodiments have a snap fit relationship.

[0032] The case 112 has a main body 312 and a cover 314. The cover 314 is attached to the main body 312 at a pivot point 316, which can comprise a mechanical hinge, living hinge, tie, bolt, etc. The main body 312 has a hollow interior 318 that is closed by the cover 314. The cover 314 in embodiments has an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body 312. The cover 314 and main body 312 can have a snap, magnet, a latch, or the like for maintaining the cover in the closed position. In embodiments, the cover 314 and main body 312 have interengaging features that maintain the cover in the closed position. The cover and body in embodiments have a snap fit relationship.

[0033] Each cover in embodiments can pivot in an upward direction with respect to the main body to move to the open position, or in other embodiments, the cover is attached to the main body by a pin 20. The pin 20 may be attached to the cover and disposed in a hole in the main body. In embodiments, the cover is movable in a lateral direction to the open position. For example, the cover can pivot about the pin 20 sidesways to the open position.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -5-

[0034] Tn embodiments, the cover is not attached to the main body but removably coupleable thereto. For example, the cover and main body can have a snap fit relationship or held in the closed position by a magnet. In embodiments, the cover has one or more snaps that engage corresponding snaps on the main body. In embodiments, the cover has a ridge that is receivable in a groove on the main body (or vice-versa).

[0035] The case 110, case 112, or both, have complementary engaging surfaces on the cover and main body, in certain embodiments. For example, the cover 214 has a shaped ledge 330 and the main body 312 has a ridge 332 with a complementary shape so that when the case 112 is placed on case 110, case 112 can be pressed down and the ledge 330 and ridge 332 engage one another. This engagement can be frictional in nature, or the ledge and ridge can have snap-fit features. The case 110 and case 112 can be snapped together so that they are attached. In embodiments, the case 110 and case 112 have a marking, spine, or other visible feature on the main body of each case, so that the cases can be aligned with one another prior to being snapped together. In embodiments, case 110 and case 112 are attachable to one another by one or more magnets.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -6-

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS1. A system for retaining small items, comprising:a first case having a main body with a hollow interior and a cover, the cover being attached to the main body and having an open position and a closed position, the cover of the first case being laterally pivotable with respect to the main body of the first case between the open position and closed position;a second case having a main body with a hollow interior and a cover, the cover being attached to the main body and having an open position and a closed position, the cover of the second case being laterally pivotable with respect to the main body of the second case between the open position and closed position; anda connection feature defined between the first case and the second case so that the first case and the second case are detachably connectable to one another, a top end of the cover of the first case being detachably connectable with a bottom end of the main body of the second case.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the main body of the first case has a hole.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a pin is disposed in the hole of the first case and is rotatable therein.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a pin is disposed in a hole of the second case and is rotatable therein.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a spring attached to the pin.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the cover of the first case is attached to the pin.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover and the main body of the first case define a stop for stopping movement of the cover when the cover reaches the closed position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection feature includes a magnet.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first case has a circular cylindrical shape.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second case has a circular cylindrical shape.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -7-11. The system of claim 10, wherein a diameter of the first case is the same as a diameter of the second case.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein a height of the first case is greater than a height of the second case.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third case.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the third case has a main body with a hollow interior and a cover.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a top end of the cover of the second case is detachably connectable with a bottom end of the main body of the third case.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mirror on the cover of the first case, the cover of the second case, or both.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lock on the cover of the second case, the lock preventing the cover of the second case from moving to the open position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein engaging the second case with the first case through the connection feature releases the lock.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lock on the cover of the first case, the lock preventing the cover of the first case from moving to the open position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein engaging the second case with the first case through the connection feature secures the lock to prevent the cover of the first case from moving to the open position.ARACHNE 010.2-3.3 -8-

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