STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a storage container for at least one portable electronic apparatus including a circumferential side wall and a bottom wall connected thereto for forming a main receiving space of the storage container as well as a lid construction for closing the main receiving space, wherein at least one additional receiving space accessible from the outside and substantially closed with respect to the main receiving space is formed in the lid construction.

Claims

1. A storage container for at least one portable electronic apparatus, comprising: a circumferential side wall and a bottom wall connected thereto for forming a main receiving space of the storage container as well as a lid construction for closing the main receiving space, wherein at least one additional receiving space accessible from the outside and substantially closed with respect to the main receiving space is formed in the lid construction.

2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the lid construction comprises a circumferential first side wall as well as an inner first lid wall connected thereto, wherein the first lid wall is formed such that it substantially closes the additional receiving space with respect to the main receiving space.

3. The storage container according to claim 2, wherein the lid construction comprises a circumferential second side wall and a second lid wall connected thereto for forming the additional receiving space.

4. The storage container according to claim 3, wherein at least one receiving opening is formed in the area of the second side wall and/or of the second lid wall.

5. The storage container according to claim 4, wherein the receiving opening is formed closable or non-closable.

6. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the lid construction is connected to the side wall in pivotable and foldable manner.

7. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the lid construction is connected to the side wall via at least one hinge flap.

8. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein at least one opening is formed in the side wall and/or the bottom wall and/or the lid construction in the area of corresponding electrical or electronic terminals of the received electronic apparatus.

9. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein an exterior shape of the main receiving space is formed such that they substantially correspond to the shape of an outer circumference of the electronic apparatus.

10. The storage container according to claim 2, wherein an exterior shape of a receiving space formed by the inner first side wall and the first lid wall of the lid construction is formed such that they substantially correspond to the shape of an outer circumference of the electronic apparatus.

11. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a mobile phone, a music player or a charging station of a mobile phone, of cordless headphones or other electronic apparatuses comprising at least one chargeable accumulator for current supply.

12. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the additional receiving space of the lid construction is formed for receiving accessory elements of the portable electronic apparatus.

13. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is integrally formed.

14. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the side wall, the bottom wall and the lid construction are composed of an elastic material.

15. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the side wall, the bottom wall and the lid construction are composed of a silicone material or a plastic material.

16. The storage container according to claim 4, wherein the shape and/or a diameter of the receiving opening are variable by exertion of pressure on the lid construction.

17. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is configured and arranged for storing at least one portable electronic apparatus in at least the main receiving space as well as for storing at least one accessory element in the additional receiving space of the lid construction.

18. The storage container according to claim 17, wherein the portable electronic apparatus is a mobile phone, a music player or a charging station of a mobile phone, of cordless headphones or other electronic apparatuses comprising at least one chargeable accumulator for current supply.

19. The storage container according to claim 17, wherein the accessory element is a replacement part of the electronic apparatus, a retaining and positioning element of a headphone and/or an electronic and/or electrical element connectable to a charging station for accumulators storable in the storage container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematically illustrated lateral top view of a storage container according to the invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematically illustrated side view of the storage container according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional representation of the storage container according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematically illustrated top view to the lid construction of the storage container according to the invention according to FIG. 1; and

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematically illustrated top view to the bottom wall of the storage container according to the invention according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematically illustrated lateral top view to a storage container 10 for at least one portable electronic apparatus (not illustrated). Therein, the storage container 10 includes a circumferential side wall 12 and a bottom wall 14 connected thereto for forming a main receiving space 16 (compare FIG. 3). Furthermore, the storage container 10 includes a lid construction 18 for closing the main receiving space 16. One recognizes that the circumferential side wall 12 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 14 in the illustrated embodiment and forms a rounded transitional area. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the lid construction 18 is connected to the side wall 12 by means of a hinge flap 36. Thereby, the lid construction 18 is connected to the side wall 12 in pivotable and foldable manner. On the side of the storage container 10 opposing the hinge flap 36, a grip opening 32 is formed.

[0023] Furthermore, one recognizes that the lid construction 18 comprises a circumferential second side wall 26 and a second lid wall 28 connected thereto. The second side wall 26 as well as the second lid wall 28 are again formed integrally with each other and form a rounded transitional area. In the area of the second lid wall 28, an elongated formed receiving opening 30 is arranged. The lid construction 18 additionally comprises an additional receiving space 20 accessible from the outside via the receiving opening 30 and closed with respect to the main receiving space 16. Therein, the additional receiving space 20 is closed with respect to the main receiving space 16 by a first lid wall 24 (compare also FIG. 3).

[0024] The illustrated storage container is composed of a flexible, impact-resistant silicone material and thus overall forms a silicone envelope for the portable electronic apparatus to be received. Therein, the wall thicknesses can be 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters, in particular 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters. However, other thicknesses are also conceivable. Furthermore, the surface of the silicone material can be formed rough, corrugated, smooth or as a combination thereof. By the flexible configuration of the lid construction 18, it is possible that the receiving opening 30 can be changed in its shape and/or its diameter by means of exerting pressure on the lid construction 18. This means that the illustrated slit-shaped receiving opening 30 can for example be deformed such that the distance between the edge areas of the longitudinal slit is widened such that a corresponding item can be introduced into the additional receiving space 20 via the receiving opening 30. After introducing the item, the exertion of pressure on the lid construction 18 is aborted such that the receiving opening 30 can again assume its original shape and/or its original diameter. Thereby, secure storage of the items in the additional receiving space 20 results. In addition, the insertion and removal of the items from the receiving space 20 is simply and readily possible. There is also the possibility that separate closure mechanisms close the receiving opening 30 (not illustrated).

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematically illustrated side view of the storage container 10 according to FIG. 1. It becomes clear that the lid construction 18 is connected to the circumferential side wall 12 via the hinge flap 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage container 10 is integrally formed, that means that all of the elements of the storage container 10 can be manufactured, in particular molded, in one working step. However, there is also the possibility that the lid construction 18 and the circumferential side wall 12 forming the main receiving space 16 and the bottom wall 14 connected thereto are for example manufactured as separate elements. These separate elements are then connected to each other via a corresponding hinge connection.

[0026] Furthermore, FIG. 2 clearly shows the rounded shapes formed at the ends of the storage container 10. Furthermore, the configuration of the additional storage space 20 becomes clear, which is delimited with respect to the main receiving space 16 by means of the inner lid wall 24. With respect to the further features shown in the figure, we make reference to the description of FIG. 1. Therein, identical reference characters denote identical features.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional representation of the storage container 10 according to FIG. 1. One recognizes that the lid construction 18 comprises a circumferential first side wall 22 as well as the inner first lid wall 24 connected thereto. Therein, the first lid wall 24 is formed such that it closes the additional receiving space 20 with respect to the main receiving space 16. One recognizes that the inner lid wall 24 forms an arch-like receiving space 38 in the lid construction 18 together with the first side wall 22. Therein, the inner lid wall 24 serves as a bottom area for the additional receiving space 20, which is accessible via the receiving opening 30 in the area of the second lid wall 28.

[0028] Furthermore, it becomes clear that the main receiving space 16 and the receiving space 38 in the lid construction 18 overall form a contiguous receiving space for the portable electronic apparatus to be received. Therein, the exterior shape of the main receiving space 16 and/or the exterior shape of the receiving space 38 are usually formed such that they substantially or at least partially correspond to the shape of an outer circumference of the electronic apparatus to be received. Thereby, the storage container 10 can closely abut on the electronic apparatus such that it can be securely stored. In addition, a protective function arises thereby since the storage container 10 forms an additional envelope of the electronic apparatus. Therein, the portable electronic apparatus can be a mobile phone, a music player or a charging station of a mobile phone, a charging station of cordless headphones or a charging station of another electronic apparatus comprising at least one chargeable accumulator for current supply. The additional receiving space 20 of the lid construction 18 usually serves for receiving accessory elements for the portable electronic apparatus. They can for example be replacement parts of the electronic apparatus, retaining and positioning elements of a headphone and/or an electronic and/or electrical element connectable to a charging station for accumulators storable in the storage container 10. Such elements for example include lighting and signaling electrical elements. Of course, other elements can also be introduced in the additional receiving space 20, which are required by the user of the storage container 10. The configuration of the storage container 10 allows also transporting further elements such as accessory parts in one and the same storage device besides the actual electronic apparatus. In addition, the required space or space requirement is not substantially increased with respect to conventional storage containers such that the storage container 10 can also be relatively comfortably transported and handled.

[0029] Furthermore, one recognizes that openings 34 are formed at the side wall 12 and the bottom wall 14 in the area of corresponding electrical or electronic terminals of the received electronic apparatus. The grip opening 32 facilitates opening the storage container 10. With respect to the further features, we make reference to the description of figures of the preceding figures, wherein identical reference characters denote identical features.

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a schematically illustrated top view to the lid construction 18 of the storage container 10 according to FIG. 1. One again recognizes the slit-shaped configuration of the receiving opening 30 and the additional receiving space 20 located below. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the storage container 10 has a shape rounded at the ends also in cross-section. With respect to the further features, we make reference to the description of figures of the preceding figures, wherein identical reference characters denote identical features.

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a schematically illustrated top view to the bottom wall 14 of the storage container 10 according to FIG. 1. One recognizes the configuration of the opening 34, the shape of which is modeled on the corresponding shape of an electrical or electronic terminal. With respect to the further features, we make reference to the description of figures of the preceding figures, wherein identical reference characters denote identical features.

[0032] The storage container 10 in particular finds use for storing at least one portable electronic apparatus in at least the receiving space 16 as well as for storing at least one accessory element or the like in the additional receiving space 20 of the lid construction. Therein, the storage container 10 can be formed of one or more materials, in particular silicone materials or plastic materials.

[0033] While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented only as illustrations and examples of the present invention, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents. It will also be understood that each feature of each embodiment discussed herein, and of each reference cited herein, can be used in combination with the features of any other embodiment. All patents and publications discussed herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.