Mountable container for electronic device and methods of making the same

A temporary storage container assembly for restricting access to a portable electronic device in a group setting including at least one person prone to distracting use of the portable electronic device, the temporary storage container assembly comprising:

• a container body including a plurality of side walls defining a receptacle, the receptacle being sized and dimensioned to contain the portable electronic device;
• a cover including a plurality of side edges, one of the side edges being rotatably attached to one of the plurality of side walls of the container body, wherein the cover is rotatable away from the container body to an open position establishing a passageway to receive the portable electronic device, and wherein the cover is rotatable toward the container body to a closed position restricting physical access to the portable electronic device in the receptacle;
• a locking mechanism maintaining the cover in the closed position, and
• a switch coupled to the container body, the switch in communication with a remote control device in the group setting at a distance from the container body, the switch being responsive to the remote control device to unlock the locking mechanism, allowing the portable electronic device to be accessed in the group setting.

A system for restricting access to portable electronic devices in a group setting including persons prone to distracting use of portable electronic devices in a group setting, the system comprising:

• a plurality of temporary storage container assemblies arranged about the persons in the group setting, each of the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies comprising:
• a container body including a plurality of side walls defining a receptacle, the receptacle being sized and dimensioned to contain a portable electronic device;
• a cover including a plurality of side edges, one of the side edges being rotatably attached to one of the plurality of side walls of the container body, wherein the cover is rotatable away from the container body to an open position establishing a passageway to receive the portable electronic device, and wherein the cover is rotatable toward the container body to a closed position restricting physical access to the portable electronic device in the receptacle;
• a locking mechanism maintaining the cover in the closed position, and
• a switch coupled to the container body;
• and
• a single remote control device in the group setting and in communication with each switch of each of the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies to selectively unlock the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies individually or collectively to permit physical access to the portable electronic device in each container assembly in the group setting.

A method for restricting access to portable electronic devices in a group setting including persons prone to distracting use of portable electronic devices in a group setting, the portable electronic devices selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a smart watch, and a music media player;

• wherein the method is implemented with a system including:
• a plurality of temporary storage container assemblies arranged about the persons in the group setting, each of the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies comprising:
• a container body including a plurality of side walls defining a receptacle, the receptacle being sized and dimensioned to contain a portable electronic device;
• a cover including a plurality of side edges, one of the side edges being rotatably attached to one of the plurality of side walls of the container body, wherein the cover is rotatable away from the container body to an open position establishing a passageway to receive the portable electronic device, and wherein the cover is rotatable toward the container body to a closed position restricting physical access to the portable electronic device in the receptacle;
• a locking mechanism maintaining the cover in the closed position, and
• a switch coupled to the container body;
• and
• a single remote control device in the group setting and in communication with each switch of each of the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies to selectively unlock the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies individually or collectively to permit physical access to the portable electronic device in each container assembly in the group setting;
• wherein the method comprises:
• locking the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies after each person deposits a portable electronic device into the container assembly;
• and
• selectively unlocking of each of the plurality of temporary storage container assemblies individually or collectively, via the remote control device and from a location within the group setting, to allow the respective persons access to the respective portable electronic devices in the group setting.