US20090008270A1

US20090008270A1 - Personal care products storage caddy and usage apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20090008270A1
Application number: US12/217,282
Authority: US
Inventors: Monica Anne Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-05
Filing date: 2008-07-03
Publication date: 2009-01-08

Abstract

The present invention is a portable personal product caddy and usage apparatus which is constructed to accommodate a personal product container and its associated tool. The apparatus body is sized to the personal product container to be used with a holder that accommodates the associated tool for storage when not in use.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable and durable storage caddy and usage apparatus for personal care products that combines the usage of a structure to hold a personal care product container and an associate personal care tool while being portable, inexpensive and sanitary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today personal care products come in numerous containers and many times require tools to apply, remove, or distribute the product on a person's body. The products could be in the form of hairspray, shaving lotion, body lotion, etc that would also require the usage of a personal care tool such as a comb, brush, shaver/razor, applicator sponge etc. In most household bathrooms, the product containers are stored in one place of a vanity with the corresponding tool stored elsewhere such as a drawer. When a user applies a product, many times he or she has to go searching for the appropriate tool. This situation is also seen when a college student is living in a dormitory where bathroom facilities are shared space and the student must carry his or her personal care products to the bathroom each time they are to be used. It would be desirable for the student to be able to carry his or her personal care products along with the necessary tools to the bathroom facilities in a convenient, portable, sanitary container that additionally serves as a storage place when the items are not in use.
It would also be desirable for the user to be able to use the personal care product without having to remove it from the storage container and would be suitable for use in a wet environment such as in the shower.
Previous inventions such as that described in patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,168,023 and 4,141,445 serve the purpose of providing a receptacle for items that are used for the purpose of shaving. However, these devices are either not portable as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,023 which is intended to sit stationary with the removal necessary of each item prior to usage or has a very specific application as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,445.
It would be desirable, therefore, to incorporate in a simple caddy apparatus the storage of a personal care product container and its associated tool reducing the likelihood of misplacing or separating the tool from the product it is intended to be used with. Additionally, it would be desirable to be able to use the product without having to remove it from the caddy apparatus. This caddy apparatus should also be inexpensive, safe to handle and of a design that can be easily manufactured into various sizes and shapes to accommodate different personal care products and the associated tools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a personal care product storage caddy and usage apparatus is provided that includes a body to carry and store a personal care product container and a holder attached to the body by which a personal care tool may be attached. The body is sized to accommodate varying sized containers. The holder is sized to accommodate the tool associated with the use of a given personal care product. The body base contains vent holes to allow water to drain and air to flow around the product container to discourage mold and mildew from forming.
Several advantages are provided by the present invention. One advantage is that the apparatus provides an easy means by which to use, store, and carry a personal care product and tool in a single caddy apparatus. Another advantage of the apparatus is the user may use or apply the product while the product container remains in the apparatus without having to remove the product container from the apparatus. Furthermore, the apparatus provides a level of protection to the product container as well as the user if the apparatus is dropped. Another advantage is that the apparatus provides a rust barrier means between the personal care product container and any surface on which it sits while not in use.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention rotated 90 degrees

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the based of the present invention

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the recessed base

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention as applied to the use with a shaving can and razor. The present invention is not limited to this application but is used for illustration. The present invention may be used for numerous, well known personal care products and the associated tools such as hair care products and combs, body lotion and applicator, sunscreen and applicator, etc.
Now referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is comprised of a body 10 and is designed to accept a personal product container (known from hereon as product container) 15, a holder 20 to accept a tool, applicator, utensil (known from hereon as tool) 22, and a base 30 and are made from any material that is not prohibitively heavy such that the weight of the body and holder would make it inconvenient to carry and prevent usage of the product while the product container remains in the body. In the preferred embodiment the material is a thermoplastic material. The body, holder, and base are preferably of the same material.
The body has an opening 12 whereby a product container is placed into the body. The body is sized to the product container specifications to fit securely in the apparatus.
The holder 20 is sized to the specifications to fit a tool that corresponds to the product. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment a sill 25 is attached to the body to rest the tool upon. The sill is manufactured of the same material as the body or holder and is attached to the body by any well known means such as, but not limited to gluing, stapling, banding, bonding, or molded to the holder as a single unit.
The holder and base 30 are attached to the body by any well known means such as, but not limited to gluing, stapling, banding, bonding, or molded to the holder as a single unit.
FIG. 3 is a view of the base showing vent holes 35. The vent holes provide a means by which water can drain from the body if the apparatus is used in a shower thus reducing the possibility of mold forming. The base provides containment of rust if it should occur. In a preferred embodiment, FIG. 4, the base is recessed, 37, from the base plane of the body by means to facilitate air flow and water drainage.
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A personal product storage caddy and usage apparatus comprising:

a body for accommodating a personal product container, a holder attached to the side of the body, and a base.

2. The body as set forth in claim 1 is sized to the personal product container specifications.

3. The holder as set forth in claim 1 is sized to the specifications to fit a tool corresponding to the product.

4. The holder as set forth in claim 1 containing a sill to rest the tool upon.

5. The base as set forth in claim 1 is recessed from the plane of the body.

6. The base as set forth in claim 1 having vent holes.

7. The body, holder and base as set forth in claim 1 are made from a thermoplastic material.