CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/292,694, filed on December 22, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers including coolers and wagons have long been key parts of an active family’s lifestyle. Individuals within a group on an outing may need their own snacks and drinks.

[0003] For example, during a family picnic, the parents may desire to have a bottle of wine with deli sandwiches, whereas other family members may desire to have orange juice with a peanut butter and jelly and sandwich, and yet others may desire to have soft drinks.

[0004] Conventionally, groups would place all the drinks and snacks into one container such as a cooler or a wagon, creating an unruly and disorganized container. Worse yet, an individual would have to dig through the container in order to find their preferred refreshment or snack, thus risking the possibility of squishing other food and drink products. Thus, there is a need for a way to customize a container to provide for better organization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This disclosure generally relates to an attachment hub. More specifically, this disclosure relates to an attachment hub for joining two containers together, such as a pouch and a cooler. The attachment hub can also be used for joining other accessories with a main body, such as attaching an ice bucket onto a wagon, or a cup holder onto a folding chair. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of container with attachment hubs and an accessory according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0007] FIG. 2A illustrates a front elevation view of a female portion of one of the attachment hubs of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 2B illustrates a side elevation view of the female portion the attachment hub of FIG. 2A.

[0009] FIG. 2C illustrates a perspective view of the female portion the attachment hub of FIG. 2A.

[0010] FIG. 3A illustrates a front elevation view of a male portion of one of the attachment hubs of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3B illustrates a side elevation view of the male portion the attachment hub of FIG. 3 A.

[0012] FIG. 3C illustrates a perspective view of the male portion the attachment hub of FIG. 3 A.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates perspective views of several exemplary embodiments of containers including attachment hubs.

[0014] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments. The features of the invention disclosed herein in the description, drawings, and claims can be significant, both individually and in any desired combinations, for the operation of the invention in its various embodiments. Features from one embodiment can be used in other embodiments of the invention.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a system 100 is shown wherein a container 200 is equipped with two attachment hubs 300 according to an exemplary embodiment. As set forth hereinbelow, one or more accessories 400 can be joined or attached to the container 200 via the attachment hubs 300.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment provided in FIG. 1, the container 200 can be a backpack or a tote bag. The container 200 can have an outer shell 210 made of a soft material such as a fabric (for example, nylon or a similar material), a hard material such as plastic (for example, polycarbonate or a similar material) or metal (for example, aluminum or a similar material), or a combination of any thereof.

[0018] The attachment hub 300 can be affixed onto the container 200 through several methods. For example, the attachment hub 300 can be sewn into or onto the container 200, which is advantageous when the outer shell 210 is made of fabric. Alternatively, the attachment hub 300 can be affixed onto the container 200 through adhesives, welding, fasteners, or another appropriate method, which is advantageous when the outer shell 210 is made of a hard material such as plastic or metal. [0019] The atachment hub 300 can include two portions: a female portion 310

(illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C; not shown in FIG. 1 due to perspective) and a male portion 350. A male portion 350 can be coupled to one of the container 200 and the accessory 400, and the female portion 310 can be coupled to the other of the container 200 and the accessory 400. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, two male portions 350 of the atachment hub 300 are affixed to the container 200, and two female portions 310 of the attachment hub 300 are affixed to the accessory 400. However, any number of male portions 350 and female portions 310 may be provided as appropriate and may depend on the size of the accessory 400 and/or the size of the container 200. Thus, when the female portions 310 are mated with the male portions 350, the accessory 400 is coupled to the container 200.

[0020] The container 200 and accessory 400 may take on any appropriate form. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the container 200 is a backpack and the accessory 400 is a pouch. However, it is understood that the accessory 400 can take on many forms, such as a strap, a mesh, a cupholder, a water bottle, an umbrella, another bag, a chair, a wagon, or the like. Likewise, the container 200 need not be a backpack, but can instead be a suitcase, a tote bag, a cooler, a wagon, a folding chair, a folding table, a storage container, or the like.

[0021] A female portion 310 of the atachment hub 300 according to an exemplary embodiment is illustrated in several different views in FIGS. 2A-2C. The female portion 310 of the atachment hub 300 can be of generally a horseshoe shape or a “U” shape. The female portion 310 can include two generally straight arms 311 and a generally curved connection portion 313, forming the “U” shape thereof. It should be understood that the connection portion 313 need not be curved in some embodiments.

[0022] The female portion 310 can include a first base portion 312 and a first top portion 314 opposite from the first base portion 312. A first side portion 316 running substantially perpendicular relative to the first base portion 312 and the first top portion 314 can connect the first base portion 312 with the first top portion 314. Referring to FIG. 2B in particular, the first side portion 316 can define a vertical wall. The first bottom portion 312 can intersect a first end 317 of the first side portion 316 perpendicularly and form a first bottom surface 321, while the first top portion 314 intersects a second end 319 of the first side portion 316 perpendicularly and forms a first top surface 323.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2A, when viewed from the top, the first top surface 323 of the first top portion 314 can extend outwardly away from a central axis C of the female portion 310. In an exemplary embodiment, the first top surface 323 can extend outwardly from the second end 319 of the first side portion 316, forming a perpendicular (i.e., “L” or “T” shape) cross-section at the second end 319 with the first side portion 316. Further, the first bottom surface 321 can extend inwardly from the first end 317 of the first side portion 316, forming a perpendicular (i.e., “L” or “T” shape) cross-section at the first end 317 with the first side portion 316.

[0024] In some embodiments, an outer surface 322 of the first side portion 316 can be generally flat as provided in FIG. 2B, while an inner surface 324 of the first side portion 316 can be stepped or curved as provided in FIG. 2A.

[0025] The male portion 350 of the attachment hub 300 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown in several different views in FIGS. 3A-3C. The male portion 350 of the attachment hub 300 can be of generally a pill shape, “stadium-like” shape, a “discorectangle,” or “obround” shape. It should be understood that the male portion 350 can also be of other shapes such as an oval, a circle, a rectangle, or other suitable shapes, so long as the female portion 310 is of a shape that is mateable with the male portion 350. The male portion 350 can include a second base portion 352 and a second top portion 354 opposite from the second base portion 352. A second side portion 356 can connect the second base portion 352 with the second top portion 354. [0026] The second top portion 354 itself can also be of generally a pill shape, a stadium shape or a discorectangle shape, which may also be called an obround shape. In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the second bottom portion 352 can have a first diameter larger than a second diameter of the second top portion 354. Further, as best shown in FIG. 3B, the second side portion 356 can have a third diameter that is smaller than both the first diameter of the second bottom portion 352 and the second diameter of the second top portion 354. Such differences in diameters can form a recessed channel 360 that surrounds the second side portion 356.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second side portion 356 can include edges of different profiles. Referring to FIG. 3B, a first edge 357 of the second side portion 356 can be stepped or have a generally slanted or slopped profile, while a second edge 359 of the second side portion 356 can have a “U” shape profile. In some embodiments, the female portion 310 and the male portion 350 can each be molded out of plastic forming respectively singular pieces.

[0028] In operation, the second bottom portion 352 of the male portion 350 can be affixed onto a container (such as the container 200 in FIG. 1) or a main frame such as a folding chair or a folding table through a suitable method such as sewing, thermoforming, welding, gluing, or other appropriate methods known in the art. Further, the first top portion 314 of the female portion 310 can be coupled to an accessory (such as the accessory 400 in FIG. 4) for example through the same or similar methods. As can be appreciated, the female portion 310 and the male portion 350 can be affixed on either an accessory or a container interchangeably. For universal adaptability and ease of use, it may be preferrable to have larger items be provided with the male portion 350 and smaller items (i.e., an accessory) be provided with the female portion 310 or vice-versa.

[0029] As described, the female portion 310 can engage the male portion 350, thus forming the attachment hub 300. Specifically, in an exemplary embodiment, the first bottom portion 312 of the female portion 310 can engage the second side portion 356 of the male portion 350. That is, the female portion 310 can slide onto the male portion 350, thus affixing or clipping the female portion 310 onto the male portion 350, either through gravity (when arranged vertically) and/or through snap fit, friction fit, or another means known in the art.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, when mated, the first bottom portion 312 of the female portion 310 can abut the second bottom portion 352 of the male portion 350 on a first surface and abut the second top portion 354 of the male portion 350 on a second surface, thus filling or partially filling the recessed channel 360 on three sides. In some embodiments, the first bottom portion 312 of the female portion 310 need not abut both the second bottom portion 352 of the male portion 350 and the second top portion 354 of the male portion 350.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates several exemplary embodiments of how one or more attachment hubs 300 can be used on various container types. In configuration 500A, a tote bag is shown with one attachment hub 300 arranged vertically. Thus, an accessory can be engaged or disengaged from the tote bag through a generally vertical motion (i.e., up down).

[0032] In configuration 500B, a backpack is shown with two attachment hubs 300 arranged vertically, with one attachment hub 300 above the other attachment hub 300 (i.e., in a series configuration). In configuration 500C, a luggage style container is showed with two attachment hubs 300 arranged vertically but in a parallel configuration. In configuration 500D, a hauler style container is showed with two attachment hubs 300 arranged vertically but in a parallel configuration. Additional attachment hubs and additional arrangements and configurations can be appreciated by a person skilled in the art from this disclosure and are within the scope herein.

[0033] In yet other embodiments contemplated herein, a male portion 350 of an attachment hub 300 (or a female portion 310, in alternative embodiments) may be provided to the interior wall or pole of a tent or shelter. That way, an accessory having a female portion 310 (or male portion 350 in alternative embodiments) may mate therewith. Such a configuration makes a tent site more organized, thus leading to less misplaced gear. [0034] Specific embodiments of an attachment hub according to the present invention have been described for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the invention can be made and used. It should be understood that the implementation of other variations and modifications of this invention and its different aspects will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that this invention is not limited by the specific embodiments described. Features described in one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments. The subject disclosure is understood to encompass the present invention and any and all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein.