Method and Apparatus for Creating a Resealable Opening

Abstract

An apparatus for creating a resealable opening is a locket that includes at least an inner ring and a hatch. The hatch includes a door and a mounting portion, the mounting portion including protrusions and the door being pivotably coupled to the mounting portion. For example, the door may be pivotably coupled to the mounting portion via a two-part hinge. The inner ring includes bosses configured to receive the protrusions, such that when the inner ring and hatch are installed on opposite sides of an item, the protrusions may extend therethrough and be secured within the bosses, thereby securing the locket to an item. A method for creating a resealable opening includes installing the inner ring to a first side of an item, installing the hatch to a second, opposite side of the item, and securing the plurality of protrusions within the plurality of bosses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for creating a resealable opening, comprising:
 an interior portion; and   a hatch, the hatch including a door that is rotatably coupled to a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a first engagement portion and the and the interior portion including a second engagement portion, wherein the first and second engagement portions are configured to engage each other such that the apparatus may be removably installed onto various items by installing the hatch on a first side of an item, installing the interior portion on a second, opposite side of the item, and coupling the two engagement portions together through the item such that the apparatus is secured to the item with the hatch secured on the first side and the interior portion secured on the second side.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert disposed between the interior portion and the hatch, the insert having a resilient inner surface including a slit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 2 , wherein the insert is formed integrally with the mounting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 2 , wherein the door includes an opening, the opening being aligned with the slit. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 1 , wherein the hatch includes a latch which is configured to releasably secure the door in a closed position to the mounting portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 5 , wherein the latch comprises:
 a first latch portion included on the door; and   a second latch portion included on the mounting portion, wherein the first latch portion is configured to be frictionally secured within the second latch portion.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 1 , wherein the door is removably, rotatably coupled to the mounting portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 7 , wherein the door is removably, rotatably coupled to the mounting portion via a two-part hinge, the two part hinge comprising:
 a hinge section; and   at least one receiver, wherein the hinge section is removably, rotatably secureable within the at least one receiver.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first engagement portion comprises a plurality of protrusions; and   the second engagement portion comprises a plurality of receiving portions configured to receive the plurality of protrusions; such that the apparatus may be removably installed onto various items by inserting the plurality of protrusions through the item and securing the protrusions within the plurality of receiving portions of the second engagement portion.   
     
     
         10 . A method for creating a resealable opening on an item, comprising the steps of:
 installing an inner portion on a first side of an item;   installing a hatch on a second, opposite side of an item, the hatch including a door that is rotatably coupled to a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a plurality of protrusions and the inner portion g including a plurality of receiving portions configured to receive the plurality of protrusions;   securing the plurality of protrusions within the plurality of receiving portions; and   securing the door in a closed position to the mounting portion.   
     
     
         11 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 10  further comprising the step of:
 installing an insert between the inner portion and the hatch, the insert having a resilient inner surface including a slit. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 11 , wherein the insert is formed integrally with the mounting portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 11 , wherein the door includes an opening, the opening being aligned with the slit. 
     
     
         14 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 10 , wherein the hatch includes a latch, the latch comprising:
 a first latch portion included on the door; and   a second latch portion included on the mounting portion, wherein the first latch portion is configured to be releasably secured to the second latch portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 14 , wherein the step of securing the door in a closed position to the mounting portion further comprises:
 folding the door onto the mounting portion; and   securing the first latch portion within the second latch portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 10 , wherein the step of securing the door in a closed position to the mounting portion further comprises:
 rotatably coupling the door to the mounting portion with a hinge, the hinge including a hinge pin section and at least one receiver, the hinge pin section being removably, rotatably secureable within the at least one receiver.   
     
     
         17 . The method for creating a resealable opening on an item of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first end of the hinge pin section into a cavity of a first of the at least one receivers; and   sliding a second end of the hinge pin section into a cavity of a second of the at least one receivers, the second end of the hinge portion being slid through a slot included in the second of the at least one receivers.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for creating a resealable opening, comprising:
 an inner portion; and   a hatch, the hatch including a door that is rotatably coupled to a mounting portion, the mounting portion including a plurality of protrusions and the inner portion including a plurality of receiving portions configured to receive the plurality of protrusions, such that the apparatus may be removably installed onto various items by installing the hatch on a first side of an item, installing the inner portion on a second, opposite side of the item and inserting the plurality of protrusions through the item such that the protrusions are secured within the plurality of receiving portions on the second side of the item.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 18 , wherein the door is rotatably coupled to the mounting portion via a hinge, the hinge comprising:
 a hinge pin section; and   at least one receiver, wherein the hinge pin section is removably, rotatably secureable within the at least one receiver.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for creating a resealable opening of  claim 19 , wherein each of the at least one receiver includes a cavity that includes a slot configured to allow the hinge pin section to slidably engaged one of the at least one receivers.