US2012298546A1PendingUtilityA1

Container for stackable items

21
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 23, 2011Filed: May 21, 2012Published: Nov 29, 2012
Est. expiryMay 23, 2031(~4.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Frederick F. Abler
G07D 9/006G07D 9/004
21
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A container for stackable items is disclosed. A hollow cylinder of resilient material having at least one closed end retains stackable items. The closed end is formed by opposite sides of the cylinder being cut perpendicularly to the length of the cylinder so as to form retainers and the retainers are attached to each other such that the retainers extend across the end of the cylinder thereby forming the closed end. The retainers of the closed end can lay flat when the hollow cylinder is collapsed. The hollow cylinder can be openable at an end opposite the closed end for the insertion and removal of the stackable items.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A container for stackable items comprising:
 a hollow cylinder of resilient material having at least one closed end that retains stackable items, the closed end being formed by opposite sides of the cylinder being cut perpendicularly to the length of the cylinder so as to form retainers and the retainers being attached to each other such that the retainers extend across the end of the cylinder thereby forming the closed end.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the hollow cylinder is openable at an end opposite the closed end allowing for insertion of stackable items. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the openable end comprises toggle retainers formed from sides of the cylinder, wherein the toggle retainers are not attached to each other and can be manipulated to close the end of the retainer thereby retaining the stackable items within the container. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein at least or more of the retainers of the closed end and the retainers of the openable end are angled so as to project the retainers toward a central portion of the hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 3 , further comprising notches in the sides of the cylinder adjacent to each toggle retainer wherein the notches facilitate manipulation of the toggle retainers. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , having two closed ends. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 1 , having lines of weakness that extend the length of the container on opposite sides. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7 , wherein the hollow cylinder comprises an openable end having toggle retainers formed from sides of the cylinder and wherein the lines of weakness are continued onto the toggle retainers. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is collapsible to lay flat such that its thickness is no more than twice the thickness of the sidewalls of the cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a segment of lay-flat tubing. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a seam along its length. 
     
     
         12 . A container for stackable items comprising:
 a collapsible hollow cylinder of resilient material having at least one closed end that retains the stackable items by self-forming a retainer when the hollow cylinder is expanded wherein the retainer of the closed end lays flat when the hollow cylinder is collapsed.   
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the hollow cylinder is openable at an end opposite the closed end allowing for insertion of stackable items. 
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 13 , where in the openable end comprise toggle retainers formed from sides of the cylinder, wherein the toggle retainers are not attached to each other and can be manipulated to close the end of the retainer thereby retaining the stackable items within the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14 , further comprising notches in the sides of the cylinder adjacent to each toggle retainer wherein the notches facilitate manipulation of the toggle retainers. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 12 , having two closed ends. 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 12 , having lines of weakness that extend the length of the container on opposite sides. 
     
     
         18 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the container is collapsible to lay flat such that its thickness is no more than twice the thickness of the sidewalls of the cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein the container is formed from a segment of lay-flat tubing. 
     
     
         20 . A container for stackable items comprising a segment of a collapsible cylinder having a rectangular shape including two sides and two ends, a first end having blind cuts adjacent but spaced from the first end and extending parallel to the ends from both sides to blind ends, and having lines of weakness extending parallel to the sides from the first end to the blind ends of the blind cuts of the first end, and a second end having blind cuts adjacent but spaced from the second end and extending parallel to the ends and having lines of weakness extending parallel to the sides from the second end to blind ends of the blind cuts of the second end and the second end having areas of opposite surfaces of the cylinder attached to each other. 
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 20 , wherein the cylinder is openable at the first end for accepting stackable items. 
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 21 , wherein the second end is a closed end that retains the stackable items by self-forming a retainer when the cylinder is expanded and wherein the retainer of the closed end lays flat when the cylinder is collapsed. 
     
     
         23 . A container for stackable items comprising:
 a hollow cylinder of resilient material having at least one closable end for retaining stackable items, the closable end being formed by opposite sides of the cylinder being cut perpendicularly to the length of the cylinder so as to form retainers and the retainers being angled so as to project the retainers toward a central portion of the hollow cylinder.   
     
     
         24 . The container according to  claim 23 , wherein the retainers of the closable end are attached to each other such that the retainers extend across the end of the cylinder thereby forming the closed end. 
     
     
         25 . The container according to  claim 24 , wherein the hollow cylinder is openable at an end opposite the closed end allowing for insertion of stackable items wherein the openable end comprises toggle retainers formed from sides of the cylinder. 
     
     
         26 . The container according to  claim 25 , having lines of weakness that extend the length of the container on opposite sides. 
     
     
         27 . The container according to  claim 26 , the lines of weakness are continued onto the toggle retainers.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2012298546A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.