Patent Publication Number: US-2005126945-A1

Title: Package for flexible tubing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to packages or boxes for storage and dispensing of flexible tubing.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Boxes are widely used to store and dispense flexible tubing. One example of a conventional box is U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,817. Such conventional boxes are not designed for storing and dispensing rolls of small diameter flexible tubing. Small diameter flexible tubing is defined as any flexible tubing having an outside diameter in the range of about 0.25 inches to 1.50 inches. There is a need to develop a box that can store and dispense a roll of small diameter flexible tubing in an easy-to-use manner by the consumer and which can be cost effectively manufactured, stored, and distributed by the manufacturer.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a box for use by a person to store and dispense a roll of small diameter flexible tubing. The box comprises a front wall, a rear wall, first and second substantially open side walls, and an inside portion. The box further comprises a first flap extending from the rear wall to the front wall and substantially centered between the first and second side walls. The first flap is removably engageable with the front wall between an open position where the person may remove the first flap and insert the roll of flexible tubing into the inside portion and a closed position where the person may engage the flap to retain the roll of small diameter flexible tubing and then dispense as needed. The first and second substantially open sidewalls each comprise an elongated strip extending from said front wall to said rear wall to retain the roll of small diameter flexible tubing. The box is made from a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a plurality of fold lines. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The following detailed description of the invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the box of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are side elevation views of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevation view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is top plan view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the present invention in an unfolded state; and  
       FIG. 9  is perspective view of the present invention in a substantially folded state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the present invention is a box  10  for use by a person (not shown) to store and dispense a roll of flexible tubing  12  for flexible tubing having an outside diameter in the range of about 0.25 inches to 1.50 inches.  
      The box  10  comprises a front wall  14 , a rear wall  16 , first and second side walls  18  and  20 , a bottom wall  21 , and an inside portion  22  formed thereby. The first and second substantially open sidewalls  18  and  20  comprise elongated strips  17  and  19 , respectively, extending from the front wall  14  to the rear wall  16 . The front and rear walls  14  and  16  extend substantially above the elongated strips  17  and  19 . The elongated strips  17  and  19  each comprise first and second portions  40  and  42  having an inner edge bearing surface  33  and a planar bearing surface  44 , respectively. The inner edges  33  of elongated strips  17  and  19  are disposed inward of the outermost ends of the front and rear walls  14  and  16 . The relative position of the inner edges  33  allows proper width retention and dispensing of small diameter flexible tubing  12  within the inside portion  22 . When folded, the first portions  40  and inner edges  33  act as bearing surfaces to retain the roll of small diameter flexible tubing  12  during storage and dispensing, and the second portions  42  provide engagement support with the rear wall  16 . The use of elongated strips  17  and  19  provide a substantially opened sidewall support system for small diameter flexible tubing and a significant reduction in material waste.  
      The box  10  further comprises a first flap  24  extending from the rear wall  16  to the front wall  14  and substantially centered between the first and second side walls  18  and  20 . The first flap  24  has a tab  25  removably engageable with the front wall  14  between an open position where the person may disengage and the first flap  24  and insert the roll of flexible tubing  12  into the inside portion  22  and a closed position where the person may engage the first flap  24  with the front wall  14  to retain the roll of flexible tubing  12  and dispense the flexible tubing as needed. The box  10  may further comprise a second flap  26  extending from the front wall  14  and having a female fastener  28  in the form of an elongated slot adapted to removably engage with the tab  25  of the first flap  24 . The second flap  26  is substantially centered between the first and second side walls  18  and  20 .  
      As best shown by  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the box  10  is made from a single piece of corrugated cardboard having a plurality of fold lines  30  to form the front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , first and second side walls  18  and  20 , bottom wall  21 , inside portion  22 , and first and second flap  24  and  26 . The box  10  can be manufactured by conventional die-cutting processes. The corrugated cardboard and flexible tubing are widely available in varying materials and sizes from a variety of sources.  
      The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Modifications and variations still falling within the spirit or the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.