Container and holder

Abstract

A portable container is provided for fastening to another item during use of the container. The container has a first end which is open and sufficiently flexible to be repeatedly deformed and a second, opposing end that is either closed or covered by a cap. Another cap has a flexible portion extending over the at least one open end of the container with a slit in the cap that opens when the open end of the body and the cap are manually deformed. Male and female latching portions are located on the container. A holder has either male or female latching portions thereon configured to engage the latching portions on the container. The latching portions are arranged on opposing sides of a linear holder, or on an exterior side of a circular holder. The caps are shaped to nest with each other so the containers can be stacked.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable container for fastening to another item during use of the container, comprising: 
 a tubular body having a first end which is open and sufficiently flexible to be repeatedly deformed and a second, opposing end that is either closed or covered by a cap;    a first cap having a flexible portion extending over the at least one open end with a slit in the cap that opens when the open end of the body and the cap are manually deformed;    a first latch portion connected to the container and forming an opening configured to releasably engage a second, projecting latch portion during use of the container.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second, projecting latch portion on the first cap.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is closed.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein there is a second cap over the closed end.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap is rotatably engaged with the body adjacent the first end.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body is sufficiently transparent to see into the container and wherein a portion of the body is visible when the first cap is placed on the container.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising a second container having at least one of a first and second latch portion thereon and engaging one of the first and second latch portions on the first container, the second container having a flexible cap with a slit therein which opens upon squeezing the flexible cap.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first latch portion is connected to a second, projecting latch portion on a holder.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first and second latch portions is connected to a mating latch portion on a holder.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein one of the first and second latch portions is connected to a mating latch portion on a holder having a handle attached to the holder.  
     
     
         11 . A portable container, comprising: 
 a hollow body having an opening covered by a cap having a flexible surface with a slit therein that opens when the flexible surface is deformed by moving opposing ends of the slit toward each other; and    at least one male and one female releasable latch portion on the container.    
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the latch portions are on the cap, and the cap is deformed to open the slit.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a tube with a closed end and the cap covers an opposing, open end of the tube, with the latch portions integrally molded with the cap.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the cap is convexly curved and the closed end is curved toward an interior of the container.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the container is sufficiently transparent to see inside the container.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising a holder having a third latch portion engaging one of the latch portions on the container and supporting the container.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the holder has a handle.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the holder is linear with a plurality of latch portions on opposing sides of the holder.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of containers each having a latch portion thereon and each mating to one of the latch portions on the holder.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein there are an even number of latch portions on each side of the holder.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the holder has a plurality of latch portions arranged in a circle.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the holder has a handle is movable between an extended and recessed position.  
     
     
         23 . A system for holding containers, comprising: 
 a first plurality of containers each having an opening covered by a deformable surface with slits therein that form an opening when the ends of the slit are moved toward each other; and    male and female latching portions on each of a second plurality of said containers.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a holder having a plurality of male or female latching portions thereon, substantially all of which are either all male or all female.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the holder has the same number of latching portions on each of two opposing sides of the holder.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein there are six latching portions, and a handle connected to the holder.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the latching portions on the holder are male.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the latching portions on the holder are female.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the holder has a plurality of latching portions arranged in a circle.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the holder has a handle.  
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein a plurality of the containers comprise cylindrical tubes with one closed end and a cap on that closed end.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the two caps are spaced apart to expose the body of the container, and the body is sufficiently visible to see into the container.  
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a protrusion extending from a side of the container an amount sufficient to inhibit rolling of the container over the protrusion.  
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the protrusion comprises a longitudinal rib on the cap.  
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising a protrusion extending from a side of the container an amount sufficient to inhibit rolling of the container over the protrusion.  
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 35 , wherein the protrusion comprises a longitudinal rib on the cap.  
     
     
         37 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising a protrusion extending from a side of the container an amount sufficient to inhibit rolling of the container over the protrusion.  
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37 , wherein the protrusion comprises a longitudinal rib on the cap.