Attachable packages for thin, elongated devices

Abstract

Individual elongated containers, preferably square or rectangular in cross section are provided for holding tools and materials necessary for a dental procedure. The containers all have structure on two or more sides thereof to allow them to be assembled together into a single structure so that the practitioner can assemble his own procedure kit. This allows the user to assemble a series of containers holding different sized devices or different devices in a small assembled structure for easy access, to vary the components of the structure as required for each procedure and to remove an empty container or a container with the incorrect contents from the assembly and replace it with a proper device or material. The containers are particularly configured to hold thin, elongated devices, such as a series of containers for different size endodontic files, gutta percha, swabs, absorbent paper points, posts, or other dental tools or materials.

1 . Connectable containers for devices or materials each container comprising:
 a hollow receptacle having a closed bottom, at least four side walls and an open top for receiving the devices or materials, at least one of said side walls having thereon or therein a first half of a connector and another of said side walls having thereon or therein a second half of a connector,   said first half of the connector and said second half of the connector located and configured to receive a compatible second half of a connector or a first half of a connector, respectively on at least a second receptacle said first half of the connector and said second half of the connector functioning to join two or more receptacles together.   
     
     
         2 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein said first half of the connectors and said second half of the connectors are molded into or onto the side walls or are attached to the side walls. 
     
     
         3 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein said first half of the connectors comprises an extension from at least one side wall and said second half of the connectors comprises a compatible indent in at least a second side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein said first half of the connectors comprises a fastener attached to at least one side wall and said second half of the connectors comprises a compatible fastener attached to at least a second side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein all of the side walls have connectors thereon or therein and, where the container has an even number of side walls, half of the side walls have the first half of the connectors therein or thereon and the remainder of the side walls have the second half of the connectors therein or thereon, the first half of the connectors and the second half of the connectors alternating around the periphery of the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein all of the containers have the same length. 
     
     
         7 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein the containers are of two or more different lengths. 
     
     
         8 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  each container having one first half connector and one second half connector the first half connector and second half connector not being on adjacent sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The connectable containers of  claim 1  wherein the first and second halves of the connectors are compatible extensions and indents, or compatible hook and loop fasteners, or adhesive fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly of two or more containers for devices or materials, said containers arrangeable and connectable by a user in a random manner comprising multiple hollow receptacles
 each hollow receptacle having a closed bottom, at least four side walls and an open top for receiving the devices or materials, at least one side wall having thereon or therein a first half of a connector and another of said side walls having thereon or therein a second half of a connector,   said first half of the connector and said second half of a connector located and configured to receive a compatible second half of a connector or a first half of a connector respectively on at least a second receptacle said first half of the connector and said second half of the connector functioning to join said two or more receptacles together.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of two or more containers of  claim 10  wherein said first half of the connectors and said second half of the connectors are molded into or onto the side wall or are attached to the side walls. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of two or more containers of  claim 10  wherein said first half of the connectors comprises an extension from at least one side wall and said second half of the connectors comprises a compatible indent in at least a second side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of two or more containers of  claim 10  wherein said first half of the connectors comprises a fastener attached to at least one side wall and said second half of the connectors comprises a compatible fastener attached to at least a second side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of two or more containers of  claim 10  wherein all of the side walls have connectors thereon or therein and, where each container has a even number of side walls, half of the side walls have the first half of the connectors therein or thereon and the remainder of the side walls have the second half of the connectors therein or thereon, the first half of the connectors and the second half of the connectors alternating around the periphery of the receptacle. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of two or more containers of  claim 10  comprising four or more containers connected together. 
     
     
         16 . An endodontic procedures kit comprising two or more containers for devices or materials, said containers arrangeable and connectable by a user in a random manner comprising multiple hollow receptacles
 each individual containers having therein a specific content selected from endodontic files of different taper or diameter, gutta percha, swabs, absorbent paper points, and posts, and other containers having contents selected by the user.   
     
     
         17 . A package for endodontic files comprising hollow receptacle having a closed bottom, at least four side walls and an open top for receiving the devices or materials, at least one side wall having thereon or therein a first half of a connector and another of said side walls having thereon or therein a second half of a connector,
 said first half of the connector and said second half of a connector located and configured to receive a compatible second half of a connector or a first half of a connector respectively on at least a second receptacle said first half of the connector and said second half of the connector functioning to join said two or more receptacles together.