Back to results
US 6,644,488 B1Granted
Combination gum and mint caddy
OwnerJune L. Colemaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus for carrying gum and mints in separate compartments thereof. The gum and mint caddy is preferably constructed with a plurality of compartments, one or more of which are separable from the other so as to allow a user to carry gum, mints or both gum and mints. The caddy includes locking, resealable lids, and an adjustable inner lid and alignment mechanism to allow the gum compartment to be used with a plurality of gum package sizes (e.g., different stick quantities). The various components of the caddy are preferably made from a plastic or similar thermosetting material so as to provide durability during normal use
Claims22
A storage container comprising:
- a first container portion including a plurality of walls and a base that define a first elongated compartment suitable for storing a plurality of stick-shaped condiments, wherein said first container portion further includes an inner lid for covering a portion of the first elongated compartment, said inner lid including an aperture to allow access to individual pieces of gum stored within the first elongated compartment;
- a hinged lid for said first container, wherein said lid substantially covers a top of said first container when closed, and wherein said hinged lid is connected to said first container by a flexible hinge extending substantially along an upper edge of the first elongated compartment, said hinge being integrally formed between the lid and the upper edge of the first elongated compartment;
- a second container, releasably attached to said first container, wherein said second container includes at least one wall and a base that define a second compartment suitable for storing a plurality of small items therein;
- a second lid for said second container, said second lid being operatively associated with said second container so as to retain the plurality of small items within the second compartment when said second lid is closed;
- and
- a releasable attachment mechanism shared between said first and said second containers including
- a slide rail on an outer surface of a wall of one of said first and said second containers,
- a slide having engageable shoulders, on an outer surface of a wall of the other of said first and said second containers,
- wherein said slide rail and said slide are slideably and releasably engageable with each other.
6 more elements
A storage container comprising:
- a first container portion including a plurality of walls and a base that define a first elongated compartment suitable for storing a plurality of stick-shaped condiments , wherein said first container further includes a vertical support for engaging an outermost piece of a plurality of sticks of chewing gum stored therein, and holding the plurality of sticks of chewing gum in a generally upright orientation;
- a hinged lid for said first container, wherein said lid substantially covers a top of said first container when closed, and wherein said hinged lid is connected to said first container by a flexible hinge extending substantially along an upper edge of the first elongated compartment, said hinge being integrally formed between the lid and the upper edge of the first elongated compartment;
- a second container, releasably attached to said first container, wherein said second container includes at least one wall and a base that define a second compartment suitable for storing a plurality of small items therein;
- a second lid for said second container, said second lid being operatively associated with said second container so as to retain the plurality of small items within the second compartment when said second lid is closed;
- and
- a releasable attachment mechanism shared between said first and said second containers including
- a slide rail on an outer surface of a wall of one of said first and said second containers,
- a slide having engageable shoulders, on an outer surface of a wall of the other of said first and said second containers,
- wherein said slide rail and said slide are slideably and releasably engageable with each other.
6 more elements
A combination gum and mint storage apparatus comprising:
- a gum container including an elongated rectangular compartment suitable for storing a plurality of sticks of chewing gum therein, and a lid for substantially covering a top of the elongated rectangular compartment, wherein the lid is connected to the gum container by a flexible hinge extending substantially along an upper edge of the rectangular compartment, said hinge being integrally formed between the lid and the rectangular compartment, wherein said gum container further includes an inner lid for covering a portion of the elongated rectangular compartment, said inner lid including an aperture to allow access to sticks of gum stored within the elongated rectangular compartment;
- a mint container, including a second compartment suitable for storing a plurality of mints therein and a second lid for substantially covering the top of the second compartment when closed;
- and
- wherein the mint container and the gum container are releasably attached to one another by a releasable attachment mechanism shared between the mint and the gum containers including:
- a slide rail on an outer surface of a wall of one of the mint and the gum containers;
- a slide having engageable shoulders, on an outer surface of a wall of the other of the mint and the gum containers;
- wherein the slide rail and the slide are slideably and releasably engageable with each other.
4 more elements
A combination gum and mint storage apparatus comprising:
- a gum container including an elongated rectangular compartment suitable for storing a plurality of sticks of chewing gum therein, and a lid for substantially covering a top of the elongated rectangular compartment, wherein the lid is connected to the gum container by a flexible hinge extending substantially along an upper edge of the rectangular compartment, said hinge being integrally formed between the lid and the rectangular compartment, wherein said gum container further includes a vertical support for engaging an outermost stick of the plurality of sticks of chewing gum, and holding the plurality of sticks of chewing gum in a generally upright orientation;
- a mint container, including a second compartment suitable for storing a plurality of mints therein and a second lid for substantially covering the top of the second compartment when closed;
- and
- wherein the mint container and the gum container are releasably attached to one another by a releasable attachment mechanism shared between the mint and the gum containers including:
- a slide rail on an outer surface of a wall of one of the mint and the gum containers;
- a slide having engageable shoulders, on an outer surface of a wall of the other of the mint and the gum containers;
- wherein the slide rail and the slide are slideably and releasably engageable with each other.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.