U.S. patent application number 12/105040 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for fold-out pencil cup.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANFORD, L.P.. Invention is credited to Chris Sweet.
Application Number | 20090261006 12/105040 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41200228 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090261006 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sweet; Chris |
October 22, 2009 |
FOLD-OUT PENCIL CUP
Abstract
An instrument storage device comprises a first housing member, a
second housing member, and at least one compartment. The second
housing member is pivotally connected to the first housing member
and adapted to be displaced between a closed position in close
proximity to the first housing member and an open position spaced
from the first housing member. The compartment is disposed between
the first and second housing members and includes a flexible
material such that the compartment is disposed in a collapsed state
when the second housing member is in the closed position, and an
expanded state when the second housing member is in the open
position. The compartment comprises a continuous sidewall that
defines a cavity for receiving and storing one or more instruments
when in the expanded state.
Inventors: |
Sweet; Chris; (Cambridge
City, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, 6300 SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6357
US
|
Assignee: |
SANFORD, L.P.
Oak Brook
IL
|
Family ID: |
41200228 |
Appl. No.: |
12/105040 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/34 20130101;
A45C 7/0077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/371 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/28 20060101
B65D085/28 |
Claims
1. An instrument storage device, comprising: a first housing
member; a second housing member pivotally connected to the first
housing member and adapted to be displaced between a closed
position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open
position spaced from the first housing member; at least one
compartment disposed between the first and second housing members,
the compartment including a flexible material and comprising a
continuous sidewall that defines a cavity for receiving and storing
one or more instruments, the compartment disposed in a collapsed
state when the second housing member is in the closed position, and
an expanded state when the second housing member is in the open
position.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the at least one
compartment comprises a first volume when the at least one
compartment occupies the collapsed state and a second volume when
the at least one compartment occupies the expanded state, the
second volume greater than the first volume.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment
further comprises at least one support member spanning a portion of
the cavity and attached to the sidewall.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment
further comprises a support web spanning the cavity and attached to
the sidewall, the support web defining a plurality of apertures,
each aperture adapted to receive and store one or more instruments
when the compartment is in the expanded state.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of apertures have
varying dimensions.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the volume of the plurality of
apertures increases with increased distance from an axis about
which the second housing member pivots relative to the first
housing member.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment
comprises a plurality of compartments circumferentially spaced
between the first and second housing members.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible material of the at
least one compartment further comprises a resilient material such
that the at least one compartment is biased into the expanded state
when the second housing member is in the open position.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one compartment is
constructed of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon
material.
10. An instrument storage device, comprising: a first housing
member; a second housing member pivotally connected to the first
housing member and adapted for displacement between a closed
position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open
position spaced from the first housing member; at least one
compartment, each compartment including a flexible material and
comprising at least one continuous sidewall defining a containment
cavity, the at least one compartment fixed between the first and
second housing members of the housing such that the containment
cavity has a first volume when the second housing member is in the
closed position, and a second volume that is greater than the first
volume when the second housing member is in the open position.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one compartment
further comprises at least one support member spanning a portion of
the containment cavity and attached to the sidewall.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one compartment
further comprises a support web spanning the containment cavity and
attached to the sidewall, the support web defining a plurality of
apertures, each aperture adapted to receive and store one or more
instruments when the second housing member is in the open
position.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of apertures have
varying dimensions.
14. The device of claim 13, wherein the volume of the plurality of
apertures increases with increased distance from an axis about
which the second housing member pivots relative to the first
housing member.
15. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one compartment
comprises a plurality of compartments circumferentially spaced
between the first and second housing members.
16. The device of claim 10, wherein the flexible material of the at
least one compartment further comprises a resilient material such
that the sidewall is biased to define the containment cavity as
having the second volume when the second housing member is in the
open position.
17. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one compartment is
constructed of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon
material.
18. An instrument storage device, comprising: a first housing
member; a second housing member pivotally connected to the first
housing member and adapted for displacement between a closed
position in close proximity to the first housing member and an open
position spaced from the first housing member; a plurality of
compartments circumferentially spaced between the first and second
housing members, each compartment constructed of a flexible
material and comprising: a continuous sidewall defining a
containment cavity, and a support web spanning the containment
cavity and attached to the continuous sidewall, the support web
defining a plurality of apertures, each aperture for receiving and
storing one or more instruments.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the support web comprises a
plurality of intersecting support members.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of apertures have
varying dimensions.
21. The device of claim 18, wherein each compartment is disposed in
a collapsed state when the second housing member is in the closed
position and an expanded state when the second housing member is in
the open position.
22. The device of claim 18, wherein each containment cavity define
a first volume when the compartments are disposed in the collapsed
state, and a second volume that is greater than the first volume
when the compartments are disposed in the expanded state.
23. The device of claim 18, wherein the flexible material of each
compartment further comprises a resilient material such that each
compartment is biased into the expanded state.
24. The device of claim 18, wherein each compartment is constructed
of at least one of a rubber material and a silicon material.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a pencil cup,
and more particularly, to a pencil cup adapted to be reconfigured
for storage and/or transport.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Most commercially available pencil cups comprise rigid cup
or box-shaped structures adapted to receive pens, pencils,
paper-clips, or generally any other office or home supply, for
example. Some pencil cups are of solid construction, while others
are formed of a metal or plastic mesh providing the user the
ability to view the contents of the cup. While such conventional
pencil cups are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, their
rigid structures can be rather cumbersome to store and/or transport
because they do not fit easily into smaller storage compartments
such as the accessory pockets of a school bag or briefcase, for
example.
SUMMARY
[0003] One embodiment of the present disclosure includes an
instrument storage device such as a fold-out pencil cup. The device
includes a first housing member, a second housing member, and at
least one container compartment. The second housing member is
pivotally connected to the first housing member and adapted to be
displaced between an open position and a closed position. In the
closed position, the second housing member is disposed in close
proximity to the first housing member. In the open position, the
second housing member is spaced from the first housing member. The
at least one container compartment is disposed between the first
and second housing members and constructed of a flexible material.
The container compartment includes a continuous sidewall that
defines a cavity for receiving and storing one or more instruments
such as pens and pencils, for example. The flexible material of the
container compartment enables the compartment to occupy a collapsed
state when the second housing member is in the closed position, and
an expanded state when the second housing member is in the open
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fold-out
pencil cup constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present disclosure and disposed in an open configuration;
[0005] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fold-out pencil cup of
FIG. 1 disposed in a closed configuration;
[0006] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fold-out pencil cup of FIGS. 1
and 2 disposed in an open configuration; and
[0007] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fold-out
pencil cup of FIGS. 1-3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] The present disclosure provides an instrument storage device
that is easily configurable between an open configuration for
receiving and storing writing instruments, for example, and a
closed configuration that is compact and simple to store and
transport. One embodiment of the storage device is capable of
storing instruments in either a generally vertical orientation,
similar to a standard pencil cup, or, alternatively, in a
horizontal orientation. Some users may find this horizontal storage
orientation ergonomically friendly. Thus, a storage device
constructed in accordance with the present disclosure is compact,
versatile, and highly mobile.
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of an instrument storage
device 10 (hereinafter referred to as a "storage device")
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
disclosure. In general, the storage device 10 comprises a foldable
housing 12 and a plurality of container compartments 14a-14e. Each
of the compartments 14a-14e is adapted to receive and store
instruments 16a-16c, which are depicted as writing instruments in
FIG. 1. It should be appreciated, however, that the compartments
14a-14e can store generally any type of instrument, knick-knack,
article, or any other conceivable desk accessory or item of
appropriate size. The housing 12 comprises a first housing member
12a and a second housing member 12b. The first and second housing
members 12a, 12b are pivotally connected to each other with a pivot
pin 18. For the sake of description, the first and second housing
members 12a, 12b are adapted to be displaced relative to each other
between an open position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, and a
closed position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2. When the housing
members 12a, 12b are in the open position (FIG. 1), the
compartments 14a-14e occupy an expanded state, as illustrated in
FIG. 1. When in the expanded state, the compartments 14a-14e are
suited to receive instruments. With the housing members 12a, 12b
are disposed in the closed position, the compartments 14a-14e
occupy a collapsed state, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When in the
collapsed state, the compartments 14a-14e are not suited to receive
instruments.
[0010] Still referring to FIG. 1 and also referring to FIG. 4, the
first and second housing members 12a, 12b comprise rigid bodies of
generally uniform thickness. In one embodiment, the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b can be constructed a plastic
material.
[0011] The first housing member 12a includes an inner surface 20a,
an outer surface 22a, an end lip 24a, a tongue 26 (shown in FIG.
4), and opposing side edges 27. The tongue 26 includes a tubular
member having a longitudinal dimension that is smaller than a width
dimension of the first housing member 12a, as depicted in FIG. 4,
for example. The second housing member 12b includes an inner
surface 20b, an outer surface 22b, an end lip 24b, a yoke 28 (shown
in FIG. 4), and opposing side edges 29. The yoke 28 includes a pair
of tubular legs 28a, 28b (shown in FIG. 4) disposed on opposite
sides of the second housing member 12b, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
The yoke 28 of the second housing member 12b accommodates the
tongue 26 of the first housing member 12a between the legs 28a,
28b. The pivot pin 18 extends through the tubular legs 28a, 28b of
the yoke 28 of the second housing member 12b and the tongue 26 of
the first housing member 12a, thereby pivotally connecting the
first and second housing members 12a, 12b together.
[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second
housing members 12a, 12b are curved such that the inner surfaces
20a, 20b comprise concave surfaces, and the outer surfaces 22a, 22b
comprise convex surfaces. So configured, when the housing 12 is in
the closed position, the end lips 24a, 24b of the first and second
housing members 12a, 12b are disposed in contact with each other,
with the first and second housing members 12a, 12b forming a shape
generally resembling a clamshell, as illustrated in FIG. 2, such
that the housing 12 defines a storage cavity 30 for storing the
collapsed compartments 14a-14e. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 1,
the curved housing members 12a, 12b assist in supporting the
storage device 10 on a horizontal surface. That is, the curved
housing members 12a, 12b provide a more stable geometry when stood
on the side edges 27, 29.
[0013] As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the plurality of container
compartments 14a-14e of the presently disclosed embodiment of the
storage device 10 comprises first through fifth compartments
14a-14e that are spaced circumferentially between the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b when the housing 12 is in the open
position. Each compartment 14a-14e includes a sidewall 32, a
support web 34, and a pair of flanges 36 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4).
For the sake of clarity, only one flange 36 is expressly identified
in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the flanges 36 can be fixed into
bores 37 formed in the tongue 26 of the first housing member 12a.
The flanges 36 can be secured into the bores 37 with an adhesive,
or some other means. In another embodiment, the storage device 10
can further comprise a flexible sleeve (not shown) integrally
formed with and/or connected to the flanges 36 of the compartments
14a-14e, whereby the flexible sleeve can be snap-fit or glued onto
the tongue 26 of the first housing member 12a, for example, thereby
not requiring the bores 37. In still further embodiments, the
flanges 36 can be fixed to the legs 28a, 28b of the yoke 28 of the
second housing member 12b via bores or some other means, instead of
being fixed to the tongue 26 of the first housing member 12a.
Therefore, it should be appreciated that other means for fixing the
compartments 14a-14e to the housing 12 are intended to be within
the scope of the present application.
[0014] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, each sidewall 32 of the
disclosed embodiment of the compartments 14a-14e is continuous and
formed of a film-like structure to have a generally elliptical
shape. For the sake of description, each sidewall 32 includes top
and bottom edges 32a, 32b, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and first and
second curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
So configured, each compartment 14a-14e includes a top opening 35a
defined by the top edge 32a, a bottom opening 35b defined by the
bottom edge 32b, and a containment cavity 40 disposed between the
top and bottom openings 35a, 35b. Due to the elliptical shape of
the sidewalls 32 of the presently disclosed embodiment, the top and
bottom openings 35a, 35b are generally elliptical. Therefore, the
containment cavities 40 are generally cylindrical with elliptical
cross-sections. When the compartments 14a-14e occupy the expanded
state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the containment cavities 40
have a fixed volume, which is defined herein as a "second volume."
In contrast, when the compartments 14a-14e occupy the collapsed
state illustrated in FIG. 2, the containment cavities 40 have a
fixed volume, which is defined herein as a "first volume." The
second volume is greater than the first volume.
[0015] Still referring to FIG. 3, each support web 34 of each
compartment 14a-14e extends across, i.e., spans, the respective
containment cavity 40 and is attached to the sidewall 32. In one
embodiment, the support webs 34 are formed integrally, i.e., as
one-piece, with the sidewalls 32 through an injection molding
process, for example. Each support web 34 includes a plurality of
support members 38 spanning various portions of the cavities 40 and
constructed of a film-like material. The support members 38
intersect at various locations to define a plurality of apertures
42, only one of which is expressly identified with reference to the
fourth compartment 14d in FIG. 4. The plurality of apertures 42
have varying dimensions, e.g., varying shapes and/or sizes, such
that they are adapted to receive writing instruments or other
articles of varying dimensions, e.g., varying shapes and/or
sizes.
[0016] To facilitate orderly, aesthetic organization of various
articles in the instrument storage device 10, the volumes of at
least some of the apertures 42 of the compartments 14a-14e may vary
generally proportionally with increased distance from an axis,
e.g., the pivot pin, about which the first and second housing
members 12a, 12b pivot relative to each other such that smaller
diameter items, such as pens, pencils, or crayons, etc., may be
stored closer to the pivot pin 18, while wider/thicker articles,
such as hi-lighters, magic markers, etc., may be stored further
away from the pivot pin 18. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the
support webs 34 can have a height dimension that is smaller than a
height dimension of the sidewalls 32 of the compartments 14a-14e.
For example, in FIG. 1, the support webs 34 are attached to the
respective sidewalls 32 such that they extend from the bottom edges
32b of the sidewalls 32 to a location approximately halfway between
the top and bottom edges 32a, 32b. So configured, the compartments
14a-14e are also advantageously designed to receive and store
articles that are too large to be stored in the apertures 42
including, for example, stress balls, binder clips, erasers, etc.
Such larger articles can rest directly on top of the support webs
34 above one or more apertures 42 and can be retained in the
respective compartments 14a-14e by the sidewalls 32.
[0017] For the sake of description, the plurality of support
members 38 can be subdivided into a plurality of major support
members 44a-44d and a plurality of minor support members 46a-46d.
For the sake of clarity, the major and minor support members
44a-44d, 46a-46d are only identified with reference to the second
compartment 14b in FIG. 3. In the disclosed embodiment, the
plurality of major support members 44a-44d includes first through
fourth major support members 44a-44d, and the plurality of minor
support members 46a-46d includes first through fourth minor support
members 46a-46d. The major support members 44a-44d extend generally
beside a major axis A1 (shown in FIG. 3) of the elliptically-shaped
compartments 14a-14e. The minor support members 46a-46d extend
generally beside a minor axis A2 (shown in FIG. 3) of the
elliptically-shaped compartments 14a-14c.
[0018] In the disclosed embodiment, the major and minor support
members 44a-44d, 46a-46d are shaped and configured to facilitate
the transformation of the compartments 14a-14e between the expanded
state depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the collapsed state
illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, as depicted in FIG. 3, when the
compartments 14a-14e occupy the expanded state, the major support
members 44a-44d curve away from the major axis A1 of the
compartments 14a-14e. Moreover, in the disclosed embodiment, the
first and fourth major support members 44a, 44d are mirror images
of each other, and the second and third major support members 44b,
44c are mirror images of each other. As is also depicted in FIG. 3,
the minor support members 46a-46d are also curved, but in a
different manner. That is, the minor support members 46a-46d are
each curved in generally the same direction and have an apex
47a-47d located on the major axis A1 of the compartments 14a-14e.
This configuration, as mentioned above, facilitates transformation
of the compartments 14a-14e between the expanded and collapsed
states.
[0019] Specifically, to transform the storage device 10 from the
open configuration depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3 to the closed
configuration depicted in FIG. 2, a user pivots one of the first
and second housing members 12a, 12b relative to the other such that
the inner surfaces 20a, 20b move toward each other. For the sake of
description, it can be assumed that the user pivots the second
housing member 12b relative to the first housing member 12a. With
reference to FIG. 3, as the second housing member 12b begins to
pivot, its inner surface 20b engages the second curved sidewall
portion 33b of the fifth compartment 14e. Continued pivoting of the
second housing member 12b causes the fifth compartment 14e to
collapse in a direction along its minor axis A2 such that the first
and second curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b of the sidewall 32
move toward each other, thereby reducing the volume of the
containment cavity 40. As the curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b
move toward each other, they move toward a flattened state, which
is illustrated in FIG. 2, for example. Additionally, as the curved
sidewall portions 33a, 33b move toward each other, the major
support members 44a-44d of the support web 34 move toward each
other. As the major support members 44a-44d move toward each other,
the minor support members 46a-46d fold approximately in half at
their apexes 47a-47d such as to facilitate the total collapse of
the fifth compartment 14e. Next, continued pivoting of the second
housing member 12b causes the fifth compartment 14e to engage the
second curved sidewall portion 33b of the sidewall 32 of the fourth
compartment 14d. Further pivoting of the second housing member 12b
causes the fourth compartment 14d to collapse in a manner identical
to that described with reference to the fifth compartment 14e. The
remaining third, second, and first compartments 14c, 14b, 14a also
collapse with further pivoting of the second housing member 12b,
until the end lip 24 of the second housing member 12b contacts the
end lip 24 of the first housing member 12a and all of the
compartments 14a-14e occupy the collapsed state and are disposed
within the storage cavity 30 of the housing 12, as depicted in FIG.
2.
[0020] While the transformation of the storage device 10 from the
open configuration to the closed configuration, and the
compartments 14a-14e from the expanded state to the collapsed
state, has just been described as including the compartments
14a-14e collapsing in reverse sequential order, for example, it
should be appreciated that this description was merely for the sake
of explanation. In actual practice, it should be understood that
pivoting one of the first and second housing members 12a, 12b
relative to the other could cause all of the compartments 14a-14e
to collapse generally simultaneously, or in any other sequential or
non-sequential order.
[0021] To further facilitate the transformation of the compartments
14a-14e between the expanded and collapsed states, one embodiment
of the storage device 10 includes the compartments 14a-14e
constructed of a flexible material. Specifically, in one embodiment
the compartments 14a-14e may be constructed of a rubber material
such as a silicon material, or a silicon rubber material. Moreover,
in one embodiment, the compartments 14a-14e may be constructed of a
flexible material that is also resilient such that the compartments
14a-14e would naturally return to the expanded states illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 3 when the first and second housing members 12a, 12b
are moved from the closed position to the open position.
[0022] Furthermore, while the storage device 10 is illustrated in
FIG. 1 as being horizontally oriented on a horizontal surface such
that gravity retains the instruments 16a-16c within the containment
cavities 40, the storage device 10 can also be vertically oriented
as illustrated in FIG. 3. Specifically, as illustrated, because the
first and second housing members 12a, 12b are curved, as described
above, portions of the outer surfaces 22a, 22b of the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b that are located adjacent the end
lips 24a, 24b can engage a horizontal surface and support the
storage device 10 in this vertical orientation. So oriented,
instruments such as the writing instruments illustrated in FIG. 1,
for example, can be disposed through the apertures 42 in the
compartments 14a-14e and supported by the various support members
44a-44d, 46a-46d of the support web 34. Thus, this design provides
a further degree of versatility.
[0023] Although not described above, in one embodiment, the pivot
pin 18 may be sized such that it frictionally retains the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b in a desired position relative to
each other. For example, the pivot pin 18 may have an outer
diameter that frictionally engages an inner diameter of the tubular
legs 28a, 28b of the yoke 28 of the second housing member 12b and
the tubular tongue 26 of the first housing member 12a. In another
embodiment, the storage device 10 may include a torsion spring, for
example, operably connecting the pivot pin 18 to either or both of
the first and second housing members 12a, 12b. Such a torsion
spring could bias the storage device 10 into one of the open (FIGS.
1 and 3) or closed configurations (FIG. 2). In the event such a
torsion spring is designed to bias the housing 12 into the open
position (FIGS. 1 and 3), the storage device 10 could further be
equipped with a clasp, e.g., a latch, for securing the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b together in the closed position
(FIG. 2). In the event such a torsion spring is designed to bias
the housing 12 into the closed position (FIG. 2), the storage
device 10 could further be equipped with a clasp, e.g., a latch,
for securing the first and second housing members 12a, 12b together
in the open position (FIGS. 1 and 3).
[0024] Additionally, while the disclosed embodiment of the present
disclosure has been described as including curved first and second
housing members 12a, 12b, alternative embodiments of the storage
device 10 may include any suitably-shaped housing members 12a, 12b,
and the housing members 12a, 12b do not necessarily need to define
a storage cavity 30 or resemble a clamshell when in the closed
position.
[0025] Furthermore, while the storage device 10 has been described
herein as including first through fifth compartments 14a-14e,
alternative embodiments can include generally any number of
compartments. For example, in one embodiment, the compartments
14a-14e can be all integrally formed together, i.e., as one-piece,
thereby effectively including a single compartment.
[0026] Finally, while the compartments 14a-14e have been described
herein as including flanges 36 attached to the tongue 26 of the
first housing member 12a, in alternative embodiments, the
compartments 14a-14e may be otherwise secured between the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b. For example, in one alternative
embodiment and with reference to FIG. 3, the compartments 14a-14e
may be secured to the inner surfaces 20a, 20b of the first and
second housing members 12a, 12b.
[0027] Specifically, the first curved sidewall portion 33a of the
first compartment 14a may be secured to the inner wall 20a of the
first housing member 12a and the second curved sidewall portion 33b
of the fifth compartment 14e may be secured to the inner surface
20b of the second housing member 12b. Additionally, the first and
second curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b of the second compartment
14b may be secured to the respective second and first curved
sidewall portions 33a, 33b of the first and third compartments 14a,
14c; the first and second curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b of the
third compartment 14c may be secured to the respective second and
first curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b of the second and fourth
compartments 14b, 14d; and the first and second curved sidewall
portions 33a, 33b of the fourth compartment 14d can be secured to
the respective second and first curved sidewall portions 33a, 33b
of the third and fifth compartments 14c, 14e. Thus, it should be
appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited by the
specific means of attaching the compartments 14a-14e to the housing
12 expressly disclosed herein.
[0028] In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that an
instrument storage device 10 constructed in accordance with the
embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provides a
easily collapsible/expandable device that may be stored,
transported, etc., while requiring only minimal space for doing so.
While various details of embodiments of the storage device 10 have
been described herein, the present disclosure is not limited to
these details, but rather, is intended to be defined by the spirit
and scope of the claims and all equivalents thereof.
* * * * *