MULTI-PURPOSE ATTACHMENT ACCESSORY

Abstract

An attachment accessory includes a storage compartment having a floor and at least one first wall extending upwardly from the floor to form a storage space. A first engagement member and first extension member having a first aperture extend from the at least one first wall. An accessory compartment is positioned next to the storage compartment and includes an opening. A cap member includes a ceiling and at least one second wall extending downwardly from the ceiling. A second engagement member and second extension member having a second aperture extend from the at least one second wall. The first and second extension members are attached together via the first and second apertures. The storage compartment and the cap member are configured to be lockingly coupled together to enclose the storage space when the first and second engagement members are engaged.

Claims

1. An attachment accessory comprising: a base member having a first end and an opposing second end, the base member comprising: a storage compartment positioned between the base member first and second ends, the storage compartment having a floor and at least one first wall extending upwardly from the floor, a storage space formed between the floor and the at least one first wall, the at least one first wall having a first engagement member, an accessory compartment having an inner retaining wall and at least one outer retaining wall extending from the inner retaining wall to the base member second end, an opening formed at the base member second end, and a retaining space formed between the opening and the inner retaining wall, and a first extension member extending from the at least one first wall to the base member first end, the first extension member having a first aperture extending therethrough; a cap member having a first end and an opposing second end, the cap member comprising: a ceiling positioned between the cap member first and second ends, at least one second wall extending downwardly from the ceiling, the at least one second wall having a second engagement member, and a second extension member extending from the at least one second wall to the cap member first end, the second extension member having a second aperture extending therethrough; wherein the base member and the cap member are configured to be attached together via the first and second apertures, and wherein the base member and the cap member are configured to be lockingly coupled together to enclose the storage space when the first and second engagement members are engaged.

2. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein the first engagement member extends outwardly from the at least one first wall and the second engagement member extends inwardly into the at least one second wall.

3. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein the at least one first wall is directly adjacent to the inner retaining wall.

4. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein a lower end of the at least one second wall is chamfered.

5. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein the first and second extension members are substantially the same size and shape.

6. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein the first and second apertures are substantially the same size and shape.

7. The attachment accessory of claim 1, wherein the base member and the cap member are constructed of a flexible and durable material.

8. The attachment accessory of claim 7, wherein the material is silicone.

9. An attachment accessory comprising: a storage compartment having a floor and at least one first wall extending upwardly from the floor, a storage space formed between the floor and the at least one first wall, the at least one first wall having a first engagement member; an accessory compartment having an inner retaining wall positioned directly adjacent to the at least one first wall, at least one outer retaining wall extending from the inner retaining wall, an opening formed at a distal end of the at least one outer retaining wall, and a retaining space formed between the opening and the inner retaining wall; a first extension member extending outwardly from the at least one first wall, the first extension member having a first aperture; a cap member having a ceiling and at least one second wall extending downwardly from the ceiling, the at least one second wall having a second engagement member extending inwardly into the at least one second wall, and a second extension member extending outwardly from the at least one second wall, the second extension member having a second aperture extending therethrough; wherein the first and second extension members are attached together via the first and second apertures, and wherein the storage compartment and the cap member are configured to be lockingly coupled together to enclose the storage space when the first and second engagement members are engaged.

10. The attachment accessory of claim 9, wherein a lower end of the at least one second wall is chamfered.

11. The attachment accessory of claim 9, wherein the first and second extension members are substantially identical.

12. The attachment accessory of claim 9, wherein the storage compartment, accessory compartment and first extension member are integrally formed and constructed of a flexible and durable material.

13. The attachment accessory of claim 9, wherein the cap member and second extension member are integrally formed and constructed of a flexible and durable material.

14. An attachment accessory comprising: a storage compartment having a floor and at least one first wall extending upwardly from the floor, a storage space formed between the floor and the at least one first wall, the at least one first wall having a first engagement member; an accessory compartment having an inner retaining wall and at least one outer retaining wall extending from the inner retaining wall, an opening formed at a distal end of the at least one outer retaining wall, and a retaining space formed between the opening and the inner retaining wall; a first extension member extending from the at least one first wall, the first extension member having a first aperture; a cap member having a ceiling and at least one second wall extending from the ceiling, the at least one second wall having a second engagement member, and a second extension member extending from the at least one second wall, the second extension member having a second aperture extending therethrough; wherein the first and second extension members are attached together via the first and second apertures, and wherein the storage compartment and the cap member are configured to be lockingly coupled together to enclose the storage space when the first and second engagement members are engaged.

15. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein the first engagement member extends outwardly from the at least one first wall and the second engagement member extends inwardly into the at least one second wall.

16. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein the at least one first wall is directly adjacent to the inner retaining wall.

17. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein a lower end of the at least one second wall is chamfered.

18. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein the first and second extension members are substantially the same size and shape.

19. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein the storage compartment, accessory compartment and first extension member are integrally formed and constructed of a flexible and durable material.

20. The attachment accessory of claim 14, wherein the cap member and second extension member are integrally formed and constructed of a flexible and durable material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0016] In the drawings:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of an attachment accessory of the present invention coupled to a retractable leash;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a top view of the attachment accessory and retractable leash combination of FIG. 1 with another embodiment of a loop;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view of the retractable leash and attachment accessory combination of FIG. 2 in a first extended state;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a top view of the retractable leash and attachment accessory combination of FIG. 2 in a second extended state;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a top view of the attachment accessory of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the attachment accessory of FIG. 5;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the attachment accessory of FIG. 5;

[0024] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view the attachment accessory of FIG. 5 disassembled; and

[0025] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of an attachment accessory of the present invention is a disassembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] To facilitate an understanding of the invention, identical reference numerals have been used, when appropriate, to designate the same or similar elements that are common to the figures. Further, unless stated otherwise, the features shown in the figures are not drawn to scale, and are shown for illustrative purposes only.

[0027] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The article “a” is intended to include one or more items, and where only one item is intended the term “one” or similar language is used. Additionally, to assist in the description of the present invention, words such as top, bottom, side, upper, lower, front, rear, inner, outer, right and left may be used to describe the accompanying figures. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

[0028] Referring to the figures, an attachment accessory 1 of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, in the embodiment shown, the attachment accessory 1 is operably coupled with a retractable leash assembly 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The leash assembly 10 includes a biased hook 12 capable of opening and closing for attaching and detaching from an object.

[0030] The leash assembly 10 also includes a body 14 for storing a leash 16 operably coupled with a biasing mechanism so that the leash 16 is extendable from the body 14 and retractable to the body 14, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The leash 16 is constructed of a flexible yet durable material such as nylon and has a length sufficient for a user to extend the attachment accessory 1 a distance from the hook 12 necessary to properly use any items or attachments coupled with the attachment accessory 1.

[0031] A distal end of the leash 16 includes an attachment member 18 having a loop 20 attached thereto. The attachment member 18 includes an aperture extending therethrough to receive the loop 20. In this embodiment, the attachment member 18 is rotatable about the loop 20 but in another embodiment, the attachment member 18 could be constructed to also rotate about the leash 16. The attachment member 18 is constructed of a plastic material but could also be constructed with other materials such as metal. The leash 16 extends through a ring 19, which is positioned between a top end of the attachment member 18 and a bottom end of the body 14 to prevent direct contact between the top end of the attachment member 18 and bottom end of the body 14, thus avoiding unwanted noise when the leash 16 is retracted. In this embodiment, the ring 19 is constructed of a flexible plastic material but other materials such as rubber could be used as well. With this configuration, the leash 16 can freely rotate to accommodate different orientations of the attachment accessory 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the loop 20 could be of different sizes depending on the size and shape of the attachment accessory 1.

[0032] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, the hook 12 and body 14 are constructed with metal to ensure strength and durability. The body 14 also includes an outer plastic material to provide additional strength and durability. Inner components of the leash assembly 10 are constructed of plastic to reduce manufacturing costs but could also include metal components for added strength.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the attachment accessory 1 includes a base member 30 and a cap member 60, which are detachably coupled together as will be described in more detail below. The base member 30 includes a first end 31 having a base extension member 32 with an aperture 34 extending therethrough. In this embodiment, the base extension member 32 has a width W1 of 10.5 mm and the aperture 34 has a diameter D1 of 3 mm, but the extension member 32 and aperture 34 could have other dimensions depending on the application.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, the base member 30 also includes a storage compartment 40 intermediate the first end 31 and a second end 33 of the base member 30 for storing items therein. The storage compartment 40 has a floor 42 with a wall 44 extending upwardly therefrom, forming a neck portion above a base lower surface 46b, which culminates at an uppermost portion at a base upper surface 46a. In this embodiment, the floor 42 is substantially circular and the wall 44 is substantially cylindrical and continuous. However, other embodiments include other shapes and sizes, for example, a box-like storage compartment have a square floor and four separate walls extending upwardly therefrom. The wall 44 includes a continuous inner surface and an opposing outer surface having a base engagement member or lip 48 extending radially outward from the neck portion of the walls 44 positioned below the upper surface 46a. In this embodiment, the base engagement member 48 is a protrusion, ring or detent. The base lower surface 46b is formed intermediate the base upper surface 46a and the floor 42, and extends radially outwardly, including to the first end 31 located on the extension member 32 on one side and the second end 33 located on the accessory compartment 50 an opposing side.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the base includes an accessory compartment 50 positioned intermediate the second end 33 of the base member 30 and the storage compartment 40. The accessory compartment 50 includes a plurality of outer retaining walls 52 extending from an inner retaining wall 54 positioned adjacent the storage compartment 40. As such, an opening 56 is provided at a distal end of the accessory compartment 50, i.e., the second end 33 of the base member 30, and a space 58 is formed between the opening 56 and the inner retaining wall 54. In this embodiment, the outer retaining walls 52 are configured such that the opening 56 and space 58 are rectangular in shape. However, the accessory compartment 50 could take on other shapes and sizes.

[0036] The extension member 32, storage compartment 40 and accessory compartment 50 are integrally formed by injection molding a flexible yet durable plastic, such as silicone, having an elasticity sufficient to deform to a certain degree while maintaining structure. However, other materials such as rubber could be used as well. As such, even though the accessory compartment 50 is rectangular in cross-section, items that are not necessarily rectangular in cross-section are capable of being held within the accessory compartment 50. For example, while lighters 100 with a rectangular cross-section would fit well within the accessory compartment 50, as shown in FIG. 1, lighters with other cross-sections, e.g., round, oval or square, could also fit securely therewithin due to the elastic nature of the outer retaining walls 52. Other objects that are not necessarily rectangular in cross-section, e.g., pens, pencils, markers and screwdriver handles, could be secured within the accessory compartment 50 as well. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the overall length L1 of the base member 30 is 68.8 mm. However, the overall length could vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the cap member 60 includes a cap extension member 62 with an aperture 64 extending therethrough. In this embodiment, the extension member 62 has a width W1 of 10.5 mm and the aperture 64 has a diameter D1 of 3 mm, but the extension member 62 and aperture 64 could have other dimensions depending on the application. As shown in FIGS. 6-9, the size and shape of the cap extension member 62 and aperture 64 are substantially identical to the size and shape of the based extension member 32 and aperture 34.

[0038] The cap member 60 includes a ceiling 72 with a wall 74 extending downwardly therefrom and culminating at a lowermost portion to form a cap lower surface 76b. As shown in FIG. 7, an inner surface of the ceiling 72 includes a circular cut-out 73 such that a radially inner portion of the upper surface 46a is not engaged with the radially inner portion inner surface of the ceiling 72, i.e., the cut-out 73, while remaining portions of the inner surface of the ceiling 72 forms a cap upper surface 76a extending radially outwardly. In this embodiment, the ceiling 72 is substantially circular and the wall 74 is substantially cylindrical and continuous. However, other embodiments include other shapes and sizes that match the storage compartment 40, for example, a box-like cap have a square ceiling and four separate walls extending downwardly therefrom. Also, in this embodiment, the wall 74 is chamfered radially inwardly from the lower surface 76b to form a chamfered space 77, as shown in FIG. 7. The chamfered space 77 aids the user in disengaging the cap member 60 from the base member 30 when access to the storage compartment 40 is desired. That is, the overall surface area of engagement between the cap member 60 and the base member 30 is decreased, thereby decreasing the overall frictional force therebetween when engaged. As a result, the user is able to remove the cap member 60 from the base member 30 more easily and without struggle.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, the wall 74 includes a continuous outer surface and an opposing inner surface having a cap engagement member 78 extending radially inward from the wall 74 positioned intermediate the ceiling 72 and the lower surface 76b. In this embodiment, the cap engagement member 78 is a groove shaped and sized substantially similar to the shape and size of the base engagement member 48.

[0040] Like the base member 30, the cap member 60 is formed by injection molding a flexible yet durable plastic, such as silicone, having an elasticity sufficient to deform to a certain degree while maintaining structure. However, other materials such as rubber could be used as well.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 5, the overall length L1 of the attachment accessory 1 is 68.8 mm, the diameter D2 of the cap member 60 and storage compartment 40 is 32.5 mm, and the width W1 of the extension members 32, 62 is 10.5 mm. However, in other embodiments, the sizes and shapes of the attachment accessory could vary without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0042] In operation, the loop 20 is inserted in the apertures 34, 64 of the base member 30 and cap member 60, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. An item such as a lighter 100, hand sanitizer bottle, etc. is positioned within the accessory compartment 50 and secured therein by friction fit, as shown in FIG. 1. The silicone material of the base member 30 provides a less slippery surface thereby creating more friction between the item 100 and the accessory compartment 50 to secure the same. Objects or materials such as medication pills, earrings, etc. are stored in the storage compartment 40 and the cap member 60 is secured onto the storage compartment 40 by pressing the cap member 60 downward until the engagement members 48, 78 are engaged and respective upper surfaces 46a, 76a and respective lower surfaces 46b, 76b are engaged, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This engagement provides an air-tight, water-tight, friction-fit between the cap member 60 and storage compartment 40. To remove the cap member 60 from the storage compartment 40, the user engages the outer surface of the cap wall 74 and applies an upward force, thereby disengaging the engagement members 48, 78 and providing access to the storage compartment 40, as shown for example in FIG. 9. The base member 30 and cap member 60 are attached to the loop 20 at all times. With such a configuration, any possible misplacement of the cap member 60 is eliminated.

[0043] Another embodiment of the attachment assembly 2 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9, which is identical to the embodiment of the attachment assembly 1 described above, with a few exceptions. As such, like parts are labeled with the same reference numbers and the descriptions of the same from above are incorporated by reference. In this embodiment, in the base 130, the base engagement member 148 is a protrusion, ring or detent positioned intermediate the base upper surface 46a and the base lower surface 46b on the neck portion. In the cap 160, the cap engagement member 178 is a matching groove positioned intermediate the cap upper surface 76a and the cap lower surface 76b. That is, the outer vertical surfaces of the storage compartment wall 44 and the inner surfaces of the cap wall 74 are mirror images of each other. As such that when the respective engagement members 148, 178, respective upper surfaces 46a, 76a and respective lower surfaces 46b, 76b are engaged, a secure air-tight, water-tight seal is formed by friction-fit between the base 130 and the cap 160.

[0044] In another embodiment, the outer surface of the storage compartment wall 44 could be provided with threads, and the cap member 60 could be stand-alone without the extension member 62 while the inner surface of the cap wall 60 could be provided with threads matching the threads of the outer surface of the storage compartment wall 44. The threaded walls could also be constructed of a harder plastic to ensure ease of engagement and disengagement. In this configuration, the user could apply and remove the cap rotatably to and from the storage compartment 40.

[0045] The attachment accessory 1, 2 of the present invention could also be used in different applications. Instead of coupling the attachment accessory 1, 2 to the leash assembly 10, the attachment accessory 1, 2 could be detachably coupled to a non-extendable string that is fixed to a surface. The attachment accessory could also be attached to other loops such as a stand-alone key loop or a loop on a key chain. Useful examples of the attachment accessory 1, 2 include, but are not limited to, fixing a small box of band aids to the accessory compartment 50 while storing ointment in the storage compartment 40, fixing a toothbrush to the accessory compartment 50 while storing toothpaste in the storage compartment 40, and fixing a screwdriver to the accessory compartment 50 while storing screws in the storage compartment 40.

[0046] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention, therefore, will be indicated by claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced within their scope.