Flat opening clamshell-style first aid kit

Abstract

A first aid kit with a clamshell-style case is disclosed. The case has a base portion and front and back panels pivotally secured thereto at first and second pivots, respectively. The first and second pivots are aligned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from each other thereby allowing the front and back panels are pivoted away from each other so as to lie in substantially the same plane as the base portion to allow easy access to items within the case.

1 . A first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein, said first aid kit comprising: 
 a case having a base portion, a front portion and a back portion;    said front portion pivotally secured to the base portion at a first pivot;    said back portion pivotally secured to the base portion at a second pivot; and    said first and second pivots aligned parallel to and spaced apart from each other to allow the front portion and back portion to be pivoted towards each other, thereby defining a closed position for the first aid kit, and to allow the front portion and back portion to be pivoted away from each other so as to allow the front portion, base portion and back portion to align substantially along the same plane thereby defining an open position for the first aid kit.    
   
   
       2 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion and said back portion are substantially planar.  
   
   
       3 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said front portion is pivotally secured to said base portion as a first end of said front portion, and said front portion has a first distal end opposite said first end;    a first through opening extends through said front portion towards said first distal end;    said back portion is pivotally secured to said base portion at a second end of said back portion, and said back portion has a second distal end opposite said second end; and    a second through opening extends through said back portion towards said second distal end; and,    said first and second through openings are substantially aligned when said first aid kit is in said closed position thereby defining a handle said first aid kit.    
   
   
       4 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , further including a clasp for detachably holding said first aid kit is said closed position.  
   
   
       5 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion, front portion and back portion are integrally formed to define a monolithic structure.  
   
   
       6 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 5 , wherein said monolithic structure is a molded polymer and said first pivot and said second pivot flexible portions of material formed during the molding process.  
   
   
       7 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel and said back panel each have a substantially planar interior surface, and at least one of said interior surfaces includes a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending therefrom; and, 
 a resilient member is operably secured to said spaced apart protrusions thereby allowing first aid items to be operably secured between the resilient member and said at least one of said interior surfaces.    
   
   
       8 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 7 , further including a second pair of spaced apart protrusions extending from said at least one of said interior surfaces; and, 
 a second resilient member operably secured to said second pair of spaced apart protrusions.    
   
   
       9 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes a substantially planar portion, and first aid items are detachably secured to said substantially planar portion within said first aid kit.  
   
   
       10 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 1 , wherein said front panel has a substantially planar interior surface, and further including: 
 a plurality of partitions extending from said interior surface defining a plurality of cubbies for storing the first aid items therein.    
   
   
       11 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 10 , wherein said partitions have a defined height, and said define height is upwardly increasing from a distal end of the front portion to the opposite end of said front portion.  
   
   
       12 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 10 , wherein said partitions extend are substantially perpendicular to said interior surface.  
   
   
       13 . The first aid kit for receiving first aid items therein of  claim 10 , wherein said partitions are integrally molded with said front portion.  
   
   
       14 . A case for operably receiving items therein, said case comprising: 
 a base portion;    a substantially planar front portion;    a substantially planar back portion;    said front portion pivotally secured to the base portion at a first pivot;    said back portion pivotally secured to the base portion at a second pivot; and    said first and second pivots aligned parallel to and spaced apart from each other to allow the front portion and back portion to be pivoted towards each other, thereby defining a closed position for the case, and to allow the front portion and back portion to be pivoted away from each other so as to allow the front portion, base portion and back portion to align substantially along the same plane thereby defining an open position for the case.    
   
   
       15 . The case of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said front portion is pivotally secured to said base portion as a first end of said front portion, and said front portion has a first distal end opposite said first end;    a first through opening extends through said front portion towards said first distal end;    said back portion is pivotally secured to said base portion at a second end of said back portion, and said back portion has a second distal end opposite said second end; and    a second through opening-extends through said back portion towards said second distal end; and,    said first and second through openings are substantially aligned when said first aid kit is in said closed position thereby defining a handle said case.    
   
   
       16 . The case of  claim 14 , wherein said front panel and said back panel each have a substantially planar interior surface, and at least one of said interior surfaces includes a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending therefrom; and, 
 a resilient member is operably secured to said spaced apart protrusions thereby allowing items to be operably secured between the resilient member and said at least one of said interior surfaces.    
   
   
       17 . The case of  claim 14 , wherein said base portion includes a substantially planar portion so as to allow items to be detachably secured to said substantially planar portion within said case.  
   
   
       18 . The case of  claim 14 , wherein said front panel has a substantially planar interior surface, and further including: 
 a plurality of partitions extending from said interior surface defining a plurality of cubbies for storing the first aid items therein.    
   
   
       19 . The case of  claim 18 , wherein said partitions extend are substantially perpendicular to said interior surface.