HEATED STORAGE CASE DEVICE

Abstract

A heated storage case device for inhibiting a garden hose from freezing includes a storage case that is comprised of a thermally insulating material to inhibit thermal communication between a garden hose stored within the storage case and ambient air. A pair of handles is each attached to the storage case thereby facilitating the storage case to be carried. A heating pad is attached to the storage case such that the heating pad defines a floor of the storage case to support the garden hose when the garden hose is positioned in the storage case. The heating pad produces heat when the heating pad is turned on to heat the garden hose thereby inhibiting the garden hose from freezing during cold temperatures. A pouch is attached to the storage case having the pouch being positioned inside of the storage case for storing one or more objects.

Claims

1. A heated storage case device for inhibiting a garden hose from freezing during storage in cold temperatures, said device comprising: a storage case being comprised of a thermally insulating material wherein said storage case is configured to inhibit thermal communication between a garden hose stored within said storage case and ambient air; a pair of handles, each of said pair of handles being attached to said storage case thereby facilitating said storage case to be carried; a heating pad being attached to said storage case such that said heating pad defines a floor of said storage case wherein said heating pad is configured to support the garden hose when the garden hose is positioned in said storage case, said heating pad producing heat when said heating pad is turned on wherein said heating pad is configured to heat the garden hose thereby inhibiting the garden hose from freezing during cold temperatures; and a pouch being attached to said storage case having said pouch being positioned inside of said storage case wherein said pouch is configured to store one or more objects.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said storage case has a perimeter wall which has a top edge and a bottom edge; said storage case has a lid being hingedly disposed on said perimeter wall for opening or closing an interior space defined by said perimeter wall; said lid has a perimeter edge which has a rear side being hingedly coupled to a rear side of said top edge of said perimeter wall; said lid has a ridge extending downwardly from a bottom surface of said lid; said ridge is aligned with and extends around said perimeter edge of said lid; and said ridge rests upon said top edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is positioned in a closed position.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: said device includes a first coupler being attached to an outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case; said first coupler is aligned with said top edge of said perimeter wall; said first coupler extends along a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a front side of said perimeter wall; said device includes a second coupler being attached to an outwardly facing surface of said ridge on said bottom surface of said lid; said second coupler extends around a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a front side of said outwardly facing surface; and said second coupler is releasably matable to said first coupler when said lid is in said closed position for retaining said lid in said closed position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said storage case has a perimeter wall, said perimeter wall having an outer surface which has a first lateral side and a second lateral side; each of said pair of handles has a first end and a second end; each of said first end and said second end of each of said pair of handles is attached to said outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that each of said pair of handles forms an arch on said perimeter wall; each of said pair of handles is positioned on a respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said perimeter wall; each of said pair of handles is oriented to lie on a horizontal plane; and each of said pair of handles is positioned closer to a top edge of said perimeter wall than a bottom edge of said perimeter wall.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said storage case has a perimeter wall which has a bottom edge and an outer surface; and said heating pad has an upper surface which is bonded to said bottom edge of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that an outer edge of said heating pad is aligned with said outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said storage case has a perimeter wall which has a top edge; said pouch has a coupled edge which is coupled to an inside surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case; said pouch has an upper edge which is perpendicularly oriented with said coupled edge; said upper edge curves away from said inside surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that said upper edge defines an opening into said pouch; and said upper edge is aligned with said top edge of said perimeter wall of said storage case.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein: said device includes a power cord being coupled to and extending away from said heating pad; said power cord is electrically coupled to said heating pad; and said power cord has a male plug being electrically coupled to a distal end of said power cord wherein said male plug is configured to be plugged into a power source comprising a female electrical outlet.

8. A heated storage case device for inhibiting a garden hose from freezing during storage in cold temperatures, said device comprising: a storage case being comprised of a thermally insulating material wherein said storage case is configured to inhibit thermal communication between a garden hose stored within said storage case and ambient air, said storage case having a perimeter wall which has a top edge and a bottom edge, said storage case having a lid being hingedly disposed on said perimeter wall for opening or closing an interior space defined by said perimeter wall, said lid having a perimeter edge which has a rear side being hingedly coupled to a rear side of said top edge of said perimeter wall, said lid having a ridge extending downwardly from said bottom surface of said lid, said ridge being aligned with and extending around said perimeter edge of said lid, said ridge resting upon said top edge of said perimeter wall when said lid is positioned in a closed position; a first coupler being attached to an outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case, said first coupler being aligned with said top edge of said perimeter wall, said first coupler extending along a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a front side of said perimeter wall; a second coupler being attached to an outwardly facing surface of said ridge on said bottom surface of said lid, said second coupler extending around a first lateral side and a second lateral side and a front side of said outwardly facing surface, said second coupler being releasably matable to said first coupler when said lid is in said closed position for retaining said lid in said closed position; a pair of handles, each of said pair of handles being attached to said storage case thereby facilitating said storage case to be carried, each of said pair of handles having a first end and a second end, each of said first end and said second end of each of said pair of handles being attached to said outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that each of said pair of handles forms an arch on said perimeter wall, each of said pair of handles being positioned on a respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side of said perimeter wall, each of said pair of handles being oriented to lie on a horizontal plane, each of said pair of handles being positioned closer to said top edge of said perimeter wall than a bottom edge of said perimeter wall, each of said pair of handles being comprised of a flexible material wherein each of said pair of handles is configured to enhance comfort when gripping said pair of handles; a heating pad being attached to said storage case such that said heating pad defines a floor of said storage case wherein said heating pad is configured to support the garden hose when the garden hose is positioned in said storage case, said heating pad producing heat when said heating pad is turned on wherein said heating pad is configured to heat the garden hose thereby inhibiting the garden hose from freezing during cold temperatures, said heating pad having an upper surface being bonded to said bottom edge of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that an outer edge of said heating pad is aligned with said outer surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case; a pouch being attached to said storage case having said pouch being positioned inside of said storage case wherein said pouch is configured to store one or more objects, said pouch having a coupled edge being coupled to an inside surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case, said pouch having an upper edge being perpendicularly oriented with said coupled edge, said upper edge curving away from said inside surface of said perimeter wall of said storage case such that said upper edge defines an opening into said pouch, said upper edge being aligned with said top edge of said perimeter wall of said storage case; and a power cord being coupled to and extending away from said heating pad, said power cord being electrically coupled to said heating pad, said power cord having a male plug being electrically coupled to a distal end of said power cord wherein said male plug is configured to be plugged into a power source comprising a female electrical outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a heated storage case device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a lid in an open position and a garden hose placed within a storage case.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new storage case device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0018] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the heated storage case device 10 generally comprises a storage case 12 that is comprised of a thermally insulating material to inhibit thermal communication between a garden hose 14 stored within the storage case 12 and ambient air. The storage case 12 has a perimeter wall 16 which has a top edge 18 and a bottom edge 20 and the storage case 12 has a lid 22 which is hingedly disposed on the perimeter wall 16 for opening or closing an interior space 24 defined by the perimeter wall 16. The lid 22 has a perimeter edge 26 which has a rear side 28 that is hingedly coupled to a rear side 30 of the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16. Additionally, the lid 22 has a ridge 32 which extends downwardly from a bottom surface 34 of the lid 22 and the ridge 32 is aligned with and extends around the perimeter edge 26 of the lid 22. The ridge 32 rests upon the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 when the lid 22 is positioned in a closed position. As is most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a hinge 35 is attached between the rear side 28 of the perimeter edge 26 of the lid 22 and a rear side 30 of the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16.

[0019] A first coupler 36 is provided and the first coupler 36 is attached to an outer surface 38 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12. The first coupler 36 is aligned with the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 and the first coupler 36 extends along each of a first lateral side 40 and a second lateral side 42 and a front side 44 of the perimeter wall 16. A second coupler 46 is provided and the second coupler 46 is attached to an outwardly facing surface 48 of the ridge 32 on the bottom surface 34 of the lid 22. The second coupler 46 extends around each of a first lateral side 50 and a second lateral side 52 and a front side 54 of the outwardly facing surface 48. Additionally, the second coupler 46 is releasably matable to the first coupler 36 when the lid 22 is in the closed position for retaining the lid 22 in the closed position. Each of the first coupler 36 and the second coupler 46 may comprise complementary halves of a zipper or other type of mechanical closure that can be repeatedly opened and closed.

[0020] A pair of handles 56 is provided and each of the pair of handles 56 is attached to the storage case 12 thereby facilitating the storage case 12 to be carried. Each of the pair of handles 56 has a first end 58 and a second end 60; each of the first end 58 and the second end 60 of each of the pair of handles 56 is attached to the outer surface 38 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12 such that each of the pair of handles 56 forms an arch on the perimeter wall 16. Furthermore, each of the pair of handles 56 is positioned on a respective one of the first lateral side 40 and the second lateral side 42 of the perimeter wall 16 and each of the pair of handles 56 is oriented to lie on a horizontal plane. Each of the pair of handles 56 is positioned closer to the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 than the bottom edge 20 of the perimeter wall 16. Additionally, each of the pair of handles 56 is comprised of a flexible material, including but not being limited to rubber or silicone, to enhance comfort when gripping the pair of handles 56.

[0021] A heating pad 62 is attached to the storage case 12 such that the heating pad 62 defines a floor 64 of the storage case 12. In this way the heating pad 62 supports the garden hose 14 when the garden hose 14 is positioned in the storage case 12. The heating pad 62 produces heat when the heating pad 62 is turned on thereby enabling the heating pad 62 to heat the garden hose 14. In this way the heating pad 62 inhibits the garden hose 14 from freezing during cold temperatures. The heating pad 62 has an upper surface 66 which is bonded to the bottom edge 20 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12 such that an outer edge 68 of the heating pad 62 is aligned with the outer surface 38 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12. The heating pad 62 may comprise an electric heating pad which might include a plurality of heating electric elements and the heating pad 62 may have an operational temperature ranging between approximately 50.0 degrees Fahrenheit and 80.0 degrees Fahrenheit.

[0022] A pouch 70 is provided and the pouch 70 is attached to the storage case 12. The pouch 70 is positioned inside of the storage case 12 for storing one or more objects. The pouch 70 has a coupled edge 72 which is coupled to an inside surface 74 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12 and the pouch 70 has an upper edge 76 that is perpendicularly oriented with the coupled edge 72. The upper edge 76 curves away from the inside surface 74 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12 such that the upper edge 76 defines an opening 78 into the pouch 70. Additionally, the upper edge 76 is aligned with the top edge 18 of the perimeter wall 16 of the storage case 12. A power cord 80 is coupled to and extends away from the heating pad 62 and the power cord 80 is electrically coupled to the heating pad 62. The power cord 80 has a male plug 82 which is electrically coupled to a distal end 84 of the power cord 80. Additionally, the male plug 82 can be plugged into a power source 86 comprising a female electrical outlet 88.

[0023] In use, the storage case 12 is placed outdoors and the power cord 80 is plugged into the female electrical outlet 88 to supply electrical power to the heating pad 62. The garden hose 14 is placed in the interior space 24 of the storage case 12 and the lid 22 is closed and the first coupler 36 and the second coupler 46 are mated to each other to secure the lid 22. In this way the heating pad 62 can keep the garden hose 14 warmed thereby inhibiting the garden hose 14 from freezing due to ambient air temperatures dropping below the freezing point of water. The garden hose 14 can remain in the storage case 12 for an indeterminate duration of time until such time that the garden hose 14 is to be employed.

[0024] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, device and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0025] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.