Container for storing split shot

Abstract

This invention pertains to a container for storing split-shot used by fisherpersons in fly fishing or other small objects. A preferred embodiment is an elongate receptacle having a closed bottom wall, an open top, and a body having a generally cylindrical shape and smooth outer surface whereby a cavity is defined within the receptacle, and a pliable and resilient elongate closure having an open end, a closed end, and a tubular body, said elongate closure being sized such its open end fits over the open top of the elongate receptacle to frictionally engage the body of the elongate receptacle, said tubular body having at least one slit passing through it providing access to the cavity within the receptacle.

1 . A container useful for storing pieces of split-shot therein, comprising: 
 a. an elongate receptacle comprising a closed bottom wall, a top opening, and a body between the top opening and the closed bottom wall, the body having a smooth outer surface, whereby a cavity is defined within the elongate receptacle, and    b. a pliable and resilient tubular closure having an open end, a closed end, and an elongate body between the open end and the closed end, said tubular closure being sized such the open end fits over the top opening of the elongate receptacle to frictionally engage the cylindrical body of the elongate receptacle, said tubular closure defining at least one slit through the elongate body providing access to the cavity within the receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the elongate receptacle is generally cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit comprises a pair of intersecting slits.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit comprises three intersecting slits.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular closure defines an aperture through the tubular closure at the closed end thereof whereby said aperture provides a place where said container can be attached to a retractor and hung by the tubular closure.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate receptacle is transparent.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular closure comprises soft plastic tubing having one end thereof sealed closed.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the generally cylindrical body of the elongate receptacle further comprises a threaded section at the top opening such that a cap can be screwed thereto when the elongate closure is not frictionally engaged with the elongate receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate receptacle is a bottle made of a material chosen from the group consisting of glass and plastic.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the elongate receptacle is a glass bottle and the threaded section has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the generally cylindrical body of the elongate receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the tubular closure is made from soft plastic tubing.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the glass bottle is a dram bottle between about 0.5 drams and about 2 drams.  
   
   
       13 . In a bottle of the type comprising a closed bottom wall, a top opening, a generally cylindrical body having a smooth outer surface, and optionally a threaded portion between the top opening and the cylindrical body, with a cavity defined within the bottle, the improvement being a closure for the bottle, the closure comprising: a pliable and resilient elongate tube comprising an open end, a closed end, and a tubular body between the open end and the closed end, wherein the open end is sized to frictionally engage the smooth outer surface of the generally cylindrical body of the bottle, and the tubular body of the closure defines at least one slit passing through the tubular body and providing access to the cavity defined within the bottle.  
   
   
       14 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the at least one slit comprises a pair of intersecting slits.  
   
   
       15 . The closure of  claim 13  wherein the at least one slit comprises three intersecting slits.  
   
   
       16 . The closure of  claim 13 , wherein the closure defines an aperture passing through the closure at the closed end whereby said aperture provides a place where said container can be attached to a retractor and hung by the closure.  
   
   
       17 . The closure of  claim 13 , wherein the closure comprises soft plastic tubing having one end thereof sealed closed.  
   
   
       18 . The closure of  claim 13 , wherein the closure is sized to fit a standard sized bottle.  
   
   
       19 . The closure of  claim 18 , wherein the standard sized bottle is a 1-dram bottle.