Protective container

Abstract

A container comprising a first tubular body defining a fastening structure and a seam that extends across an end wall, and at least one depressed channel formed in the end wall. The seam is located in the depressed channel so as to separate the seam from the contents of the container. In an embodiment, there is a second tubular body secured to the first tubular body by a fastening structure that cooperates with the fastening structure of the first tubular body. The second tubular body also has a seam that extends across a wall that is located in a depressed channel so as to separate the seam from the contents of the container.

1 . A container comprising: 
 a first tubular body having first and second ends; and    a first end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said first tubular body, said first end wall closing the second end of said first tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said end wall also defining at least one channel in said major surface, said channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said first tubular body, said channel including a seam of said end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said first end wall.    
   
   
       2 . A container as in  claim 1  wherein the first end of said first tubular body defines a fastening structure, said container further comprising: 
 a second tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said second tubular body defining a fastening structure that cooperates with the fastening structure of said first tubular body to selectively secure the first end of said first tubular structure together with the first end of said second tubular structure; and    a second end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said second tubular body, said second end wall closing the second end of said second tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said second end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said second end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said second tubular body, said channel including a seam of said second end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said second end wall.    
   
   
       3 . A container comprising: 
 a first tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said first tubular body defining a first plurality of helical threads;    a first end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said first tubular body, said first end wall closing the second end of said first tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said first tubular body, said first end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said first tubular body, said channel including a seam of said end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said first end wall;    a second tubular body having first and second ends, the first end of said second tubular body defining a second plurality of helical threads that cooperates with the first plurality of helical threads of said first tubular body to selectively secure the first end of said first tubular body together with the first end of said second tubular body; and    a second end wall that is integrally connected to the second end of said second tubular body, said second end wall closing the second end of said second tubular body and defining a major surface that faces the interior of said tubular body, said end wall also defining at least one channel having a bottom surface that is offset from the major surface of said second end wall in a direction that extends longitudinally away from said second tubular body, said channel including a seam of said second end wall such that said seam is located within said channel and is longitudinally offset from the major surface of said second end wall.    
   
   
       4 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein said major surface of said first end wall meets a sidewall of said first tubular body and/or said major surface of said second end wall meets a sidewall of said second tubular body.  
   
   
       5 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein at least one of said end walls further defines a second channel is said major surface of said end wall.  
   
   
       6 . A container as in  claim 5  wherein said first and second channels are perpendicular to each other and intersect substantially at their midpoints.  
   
   
       7 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein said first and second tubular bodies are cylindrical.  
   
   
       8 . A container as in  claim 7  wherein a diameter of one of said tubular bodies ranges from about 25 mm to about 160 mm.  
   
   
       9 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein a depth of one of said channels ranges from about 5 mm to about 13 mm.  
   
   
       10 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein a width of one of said channels ranges from about 9 mm to about 18 mm.  
   
   
       11 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein said container is made from plastic.  
   
   
       12 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 3  wherein said container is made from metal.  
   
   
       13 . A container as in any of claims  1 - 2  wherein said fastening means is one of the following: 
 a. a plurality of helical threads;    b. an end cap;    c. a detent; or    d. a clamp.