Shipping tube content extractor

Abstract

A shipping tube content extractor preferably includes a retention member and a pull member. The retention member includes at least two upright tabs extending upward from the retention member. The pull member preferably includes a lengthwise strip. A snap pin is formed on one end of the lengthwise strip that is sized to be firmly received by a base interference fit hole in the retention base. A plurality of snap sections are formed on the other end of the lengthwise strip. Any number of snap sections are broken-off the other end of the lengthwise strip to accommodate a particular length of shipping tube. A pull tab includes a finger opening and a tab snap pin extending therefrom. The tab snap pin is sized to be received by a strip interference fit hole formed through each snap section.

1 . A method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a retention member having at least two upright tabs extending upward therefrom;    extending a pull member upward from said retention member, said pull member having a first end and a second end; and    retaining material inside the inner perimeter of said at least two upright tabs.    
   
   
       2 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 inserting said retention member into the shipping tube using the material.    
   
   
       3 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 withdrawing the material from the shipping tube by pulling said pull member.    
   
   
       4 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a snap pin on said first end of said pull member, forming a base interference fit hole in said retention member to receive said snap pin.    
   
   
       5 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of snap sections on said second end of said pull member by forming a plurality of separation lines between adjacent said plurality of snap sections.    
   
   
       6 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of finger openings through said plurality of snap sections to receive a finger.    
   
   
       7 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a pull tab having a tab finger opening and a tab snap pin, forming a plurality of tab interference fit holes in a second end of said pull member to receive said tab snap pin.    
   
   
       8 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of peripheral snap sections on said second end of said pull member, forming a plurality of peripheral recessed areas between adjacent said plurality of peripheral snap sections.    
   
   
       9 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of contoured snap sections on said second end of said pull member, forming a plurality of separation lines between adjacent said contoured snap sections.    
   
   
       10 . A method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a retention member having at least two upright tabs extending upward therefrom;    extending a pull member upward from said retention member, said pull member having a first end and a second end;    retaining material inside the inner perimeter of said at least two upright tabs; and    inserting said retention member into the shipping tube using the material.    
   
   
       11 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 withdrawing the material from the shipping tube by pulling said pull member.    
   
   
       12 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a snap pin on said first end of said pull member, forming a base interference fit hole in said retention member to receive said snap pin.    
   
   
       13 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of snap sections on said second end of said pull member by forming a plurality of separation lines between adjacent said plurality of snap sections.    
   
   
       14 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of finger openings through said plurality of snap sections to receive a finger.    
   
   
       15 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing a pull tab having a tab finger opening and a tab snap pin, forming a plurality of tab interference fit holes in a second end of said pull member to receive said tab snap pin.    
   
   
       16 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of peripheral snap sections on said second end of said pull member, forming a plurality of peripheral recessed areas between adjacent said plurality of peripheral snap sections.    
   
   
       17 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a plurality of contoured snap sections on said second end of said pull member, forming a plurality of separation lines between adjacent said contoured snap sections.    
   
   
       18 . A method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a retention member having at least two upright tabs extending upward therefrom;    extending a pull member upward from said retention member, said pull member having a first end and a second end, forming a plurality of snap sections on said second end of said pull member by forming a plurality of separation lines between adjacent said plurality of snap sections; and    retaining material inside the inner perimeter of said at least two upright tabs.    
   
   
       19 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 inserting said retention member into the shipping tube using the material.    
   
   
       20 . The method of withdrawing material from a shipping tube of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 withdrawing the material from the shipping tube by pulling said pull member.