US20080121641A1

US20080121641A1 - "TAC-PAC" small component storage system

Info

Publication number: US20080121641A1
Application number: US11/604,926
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph W. Rankin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-28
Filing date: 2006-11-28
Publication date: 2008-05-29

Abstract

The invention specifically is a storage device system to orderly, safely and predictably house small items. The device more specifically would place the items into predetermined compartments where they would be readily accessible and protected from the outside elements such as dirt and moisture. The invention would cushion the items and provide sound deadening capabilities by virtue of the design and material selection. In the venues of law enforcement, military operations, and competitive shooting sports, there are needs to carry spare batteries for the different tactical equipment required to carry out a certain mission. The batteries required are sometimes of a differing voltage and size specification such as but not limited to AA, N, 1/3N, CR123. Some of the equipment, such as tactical high powered equipment and flashlights, are of such a high intensity that the batteries only last a short period. In situations that might require the use of these flashlights, often times the batteries will drain and the old ones need to be quickly replaced with fresh ones. Not being able to find spare batteries quickly or to have the correct size and voltage batteries that are known to be fresh, can be a dangerous situation. The invention addresses these problems of storing different sized components in an orderly, predictable, and safe manner.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a storage device system to orderly and predictably house small items. The device more specifically would place the items into predetermined compartments where they would be readily accessible and protected from the outside elements such as dirt and moisture. The invention would cushion the items and provide sound deadening capabilities by virtue of the design and material selection.
In the venues of law enforcement, military operations, and competitive shooting sports, there are needs to carry spare batteries for the different tactical equipment required to carry out a certain mission. The batteries required are sometimes of a differing voltage and size specification such as but not limited to AA, N, 1/3N, CR123. Some of the equipment, such as tactical high powered equipment and flashlights, are of such a high intensity that the batteries only last a short period. In situations that might require the use of these flashlights, often times the batteries will drain and the old ones need to be quickly replaced with fresh ones. Not being able to find spare batteries quickly or to have the correct size and voltage batteries that are known to be fresh, can be a dangerous situation. The invention addresses this problem.
In PRIOR ART, some of the methods of storing these batteries was to keep them in pockets in the clothing. Another method of storing the batteries might be to place them into plastic storage bags and place them in pockets. Some have wrapped the batteries with tape and stored them together. In PRIOR ART the methods of storing the batteries so they were readily available, predictable in their location, and protected from damage and outside elements has shortcomings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is comprised of a shaped housing, FIG. 1A, that is somewhat rectangular and flat with one side open. The open side of the housing will accept an insert that is shaped to closely fit the inside dimensions of the housing. The insert, FIG. 1 B, is shaped or cut to accommodate placing the batteries into the insert cavities with a slight friction fit between the batteries and the insert. Once the batteries are in place in the insert that is already in the housing, there is placed a flexible lid, FIG. 1 C, onto the housing that seals the batteries in the insert and closes the housing, batteries, and insert to the outside elements. This assembled unit is then placed into a pouch, FIG. 3 A that can be carried on the person, more specifically on the persons belt or just placed into a backpack or other carrying device. The assembled unit can also be used without a pouch if desired and stored accordingly.
The invention will store the batteries in a clean and dry environment. The invention will keep the battery terminals from contacting objects and causing them to discharge or potentially to generate damaging heat or even fire. The invention is part of a system whereby the storage device is placed into a pouch and can be attached to a belt or tactical garment and be readily available and predictable as to its location. The invention has the flexibility in the design to have multiple changeable configurations, FIG. 3A, of the inner compartment to accommodate different battery shapes and sizes. The invention allows the operator to configure the shape of supplied blank inserts to suit the needs of the operator. The invention will store and protect small parts other than batteries that will fit into the size parameters described by the main housing shape by virtue of the defined configured and interchangeable shape of the interior of the blank insert. FIG. 3A

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 D shows an assembled unit

FIG. 1 A shows the rigid formed housing

FIG. 1 B shows a changeable shaped insert

FIG. 1 C shows the flexible lid

FIG. 2 F shows an assembled unit

FIG. 2 A shows the rigid formed housing

FIG. 2 B shows a shaped insert different shaped cavities

FIG. 2 C shows a shaped insert with similar cavities

FIG. 2 D shows a blank insert

FIG. 2 E shows a flexible lid

FIG. 3 A shows a flexible lid

FIG. 3 B shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place

FIG. 3 C shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place

FIG. 3 D shows an assembled unit

FIG. 4 A shows a flexible lid

FIG. 4 B shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place and batteries in place in the formed insert.

FIG. 4 C shows the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place and batteries in place in the formed insert

FIG. 4 D shows an assembled unit with batteries in place in the shaped insert and the flexible lid applied to the formed housing.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the assembled unit and how the batteries are located.

Detail A FIG. 5 shows how the flexible lid is applied to the rigid housing.

FIG. 6 A Shows an assembled unit

FIG. 6 B shows a nylon pouch for storing the assembled unit and attaching it to a belt or other gear.

FIG. 7 shows a photograph of the components to assemble a complete system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in general, the drawings are to describe the preferred embodiment of the invention and not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
As best shown in FIG. 1A, the invention is comprised of a rigid formed housing Designed to withstand impact and maintain its rigid shape. The invention utilizes a changeable shaped insert, FIG. 1B, that is placed into the rigid formed housing. This assembling of the Rigid formed housing, FIG. 1 A, with the changeable shaped insert FIG. 1 B, provides a means of accepting small components with similar shapes to the interior shapes of the changeable shaped insert. The rigid formed housing is designed to accept a closely fitted changeable insert whose exterior perimeter is designed to closely match the interior cavity of the formed housing and providing a closely matching fit. Once the changeable shaped insert is placed into the rigid formed housing, the flexible lid is stretched over the rigid formed housing to form a sealing component.
In its preferred embodiment, the invention would be composed of a rigid formed housing FIG. 2A. The invention would be designed to have the a rigid formed housing with interior walls that would be shaped to accept a mating shaped insert.
In its preferred embodiment, the invention would have a shaped insert that would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housing, FIG. 2 D.
In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housing and a changeable interior shape. FIG. 2 B
In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housing and a changeable interior shape. FIG. 2 C
In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housing and have no predetermined interior shape and thus be blank.
In its preferred embodiment, the shaped insert would have an exterior shape that would closely match the interior of the rigid formed housing and have no predetermined interior shape and could be configured by the user to accept the desired component shape to be stored in the insert. FIG. 2 D
In its preferred embodiment, a blank shaped insert FIG. 2 D, could be configured, but not limited to, an insert similar to the shaped inserts FIG. 2 B and FIG. 2 C.
In its preferred embodiment, the rigid formed housing with a shaped insert in place inside the housing FIGS. 3 B and 3 C, would have a flexible lid FIG. 3 A installed by stretching over the lip on the rigid formed housing creating an assembled unit FIG. 3 D.
In its preferred embodiment, the assembled unit, FIG. 6, A could be placed into a storage pouch and installed onto a belt or piece of gear. FIG. 6 B
In its referred embodiment, the invention would be comprised of a rigid housing with a changeable shaped insert that is or can be configured to accept small components such as but not limited to batteries. The invention can also easily have shaped inserts whose interior cavities will be shaped to accept any small items that will fit into the interior confines of the housing. The rigid housing will be of a non conductive material such as but not limited to injection molded plastic. The shaped insert will be of a material that provides a cushioning from impact. The shaped insert will be of a non conductive material to separate components and keep them apart from other components. The shaped insert could be made from but not limited to a semi rigid foam or similar material that can be cut or shaped. The flexible lid would have a mating(s) surface to provide an attachment to the rigid housing by means of stretching over and around the perimeter of the rigid housing FIG. 5 Detail A and contain the shaped insert and components within the rigid housing. The flexible lid could be made from but not limited to a rubber material. The assembled unit can be used as is and placed into a storage device or pouch such as shown in FIG. 6 B.

Claims

1) A complete storage system that is comprised of a rigid formed housing with an interchangeable and configurable matching shaped insert that can be adapted and configured to safely store small items of differing or similar shapes and sizes, such as but not limited to batteries, and when said housing and insert is closed using a flexible lid, becomes a shock resisting, sound deadening, water resistant, and protective device for separating and storing above said small items and the assembled unit can be placed into a pouch and attached to a belt or other desired gear.

2) A storage system that is comprised of a rigid housing in claim 1 that will maintain its relative shape and offer impact resistance and non conductive electrical properties.

3) A storage system that is comprised of a rigid housing in claim 1 that by design will accept a corresponding shaped insert.

4) A storage system in claim 1 that has a shaped insert whose exterior shape will closely fit the interior perimeter walls of the housing in claim 1.

5) A storage system in claim 1 that has a shaped insert that can have its interior cavities designed and shaped to accept the outside shapes of the desired small items to be stored.

6) A storage system in claim 1 that has the ability to insert and remove shaped inserts with differently shaped interior cavities determined by the exterior shape of the small items to be stored, into the rigid housing in claim 1.

7) A storage system in claim 1 that has a blank shaped insert that the end user can configure the interior cavities to the shape of the desired exterior shape of the small parts to be stored.

8) A storage system in claim 1 that has a shaped insert that will separate items into a predetermined and predictable location.

9) A storage system in claim 1 that will provide sound deadening properties for the items being stored in the shaped insert, by virtue of positive retention of the items in the insert and the items not being loose in the insert.

10) A storage system in claim 1 that has a flexible lid that can be stretched over the rigid housing to form a sealing function to keep the small parts being stored in their proper location inside the shaped housing cavities.

11) A storage system in claim 1 that has a flexible lid that can be stretched over the rigid housing to provide moisture and dirt resistance for the shaped insert and the small components being stored inside the formed housing.

12) A storage system in claim 1 that has a flexible lid that can be stretched over the rigid housing to provide cushioning and sound deadening properties if the small items would happen to contact the flexible lid.

13) A storage system in claim 1 that has a pouch that will house an assembled unit described in claim 1 and can be attached to a belt or other gear.