Patent ID: 7232038

Claim:
A container for storing and retaining axially elongated articles in parallel upstanding relationship comprising: a) a first shell forming a tray, the tray having side walls, end walls and a tray bottom, the tray side walls and tray end walls defining a rectangular opening, a peripheral tray flange located around the rectangular opening, the peripheral tray flange having first engagement means for frictionally engaging and retaining an associated cover; and the tray bottom having a plurality of wells for receiving and locating articles placed therein; b) a second shell substantially identical to the first shell and forming the associated cover, the cover having side walls, end walls and a cover top, the cover side walls and cover end walls defining a second rectangular opening, a peripheral cover flange located around the second rectangular opening and facing the peripheral tray flange, the peripheral cover flange having second engagement means for frictionally engaging and being retained by said first engagement means; and the cover top having a plurality of domes, each of the domes being in alignment with one of the wells; and c) a central support panel between the tray and the cover, the central support panel having a plurality of support openings, each support opening being in alignment with one of the wells and one of the domes for receiving and supporting an elongated article placed therein, and having alignment openings on its periphery engageable with at least one of said first and second engagement means.