Patent ID: 7347326

Claim:
A tubular container for holding non-straight articles, the container comprising: at least one straight section formed from a first blank folded to form a hollow tubular structure having a triangular cross section; and at least one hinged section formed from a second blank, the second blank comprising four transversely arranged, substantially rectangular panels, the four substantially rectangular panels consisting of a bottom panel, two side panels joined to opposite sides of the bottom panel along parallel, longitudinally extending, first fold lines and an overlapping panel joined to one of the side panels along a second fold line parallel to the first fold lines, the second blank further comprising first, second and third transversely aligned, substantially V-shaped cut out sections, the first cut out section disposed in one of the side panels, the second cut out section disposed in the other of said side panels and the third cut out section disposed in the overlapping panel, each of the first and second cut out sections having an apex contacting one of the first fold lines, there being a hinge line extending transversely across the bottom panel between the apexes of the first and second cut out sections, the second blank being folded along the first and second fold lines and the overlapping panel being affixed to one of the side panels to form a second hollow, tubular structure having a triangular cross section; wherein the at least one straight section and the at least one hinged section are connected by inserting one section inside an end of the other section; and wherein the tubular container can be bent along the hinge line to achieve a container in which the at least one straight section and the at least one hinged section define a non-180 degree angle.