US20090314728A1 - System for securing tubes in a tray - Google Patents
System for securing tubes in a tray Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090314728A1 US20090314728A1 US12/215,087 US21508708A US2009314728A1 US 20090314728 A1 US20090314728 A1 US 20090314728A1 US 21508708 A US21508708 A US 21508708A US 2009314728 A1 US2009314728 A1 US 2009314728A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- aperture
- tray
- tubes
- place
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A45D44/00—Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
- A45D44/02—Furniture or other equipment specially adapted for hairdressers' rooms and not covered elsewhere
- A45D44/04—Special adaptations of portable frames or racks
Abstract
A system and apparatus for securely housing small tubes in a tray. The system and apparatus of the instant invention provides a securing mechanism that includes at least one flange an at least one aperture in the tray that connects with a tube and holds the tube securely in the tray. The system and apparatus prevents any tubes from disengaging from the tray during transport. Each aperture in the tray includes a space of sufficient diameter in which to place the tube. At least one stationary catch surrounds the tube once placed therein, thereby securely holding the tube in place and requiring manual force for removal. At least one flexible catch is placed inside the aperture to allow for the secure placement of a tube therein using manual force.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates generally to the field of securing mechanisms, and particularly to a system and apparatus for securing small tubes containing small doses of product in a tray wherein the tubes do not disengage from the tray during transport.
- 2. Background and Description of the Prior Art
- In the field of cosmetics, products are often contained in very small containers. This may be the case because only a small amount of the product is used at one time. It may also be the case that the product is very expensive and therefore sold in small, affordable quantities. It may also be the case that exposure to a large quantity of the product to ambient conditions can degrade and/or contaminate a product. Therefore it would be advantageous to only expose the amount of product needed for an individual use without exposing a larger sample to ambient conditions, possibly subjecting the entire quantity to degradation and/or contamination. By way of example, a small amount of face cream can be housed in a small tube for a single use wherein the tube is discarded after use and future dosages remain in small tubes without exposure of a larger quantity of product to ambient conditions.
- In a case where each small dose is housed in a single small tube, it would be advantageous to have a tray that houses a plurality of the tubes for easy access of each tube. In addition to easy access, the consumer of the tubes can easily tell when he or she is running low on the product and when replacement will be needed.
- A tray that houses the tubes would optimally hold each tube securely therein so that the tubes do not fall out of the tray during any type of transport. It is to be understood, however, that the system and apparatus defined herein for securing tubes containing cosmetic products to a tray is not limited to any specific product being housed in the tubes. Any product that is packaged in small tubes and that is used in a system where a plurality of tubes is on hand for regular use could benefit from the system and apparatus of the instant invention.
- The instant invention comprises a system for the secure placement and transport of at least one tube, the system comprising the fabrication of a tray, with the tray further comprising a back wall; a front wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; and at least one aperture for placement therein of at least one tube, the aperture further comprising a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one tube; at least one stationary catch positioned in at least one aperture that secures at least one tube in place; and at least one flexible catch positioned in at least one aperture that secures at least one tube in place; and placement of at least one tube in at least one aperture in the tray, placing the tube therein with sufficient force to move the tube past at least one flexible catch and secure the tube against at least one stationary catch in at least one aperture.
- A second embodiment teaches an apparatus for the secure placement and transport of at least one tube, the apparatus comprising a back wall; a front wall; a first side wall; a second side wall; and at least one aperture for placement therein of at least one tube, the aperture further comprising a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive at least one tube; at least one stationary catch positioned in at least one aperture that secures at least one tube in place; and at least one flexible catch positioned in at least one aperture that secures at least one tube in place.
- For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tray of the instant invention. -
FIG. 2 is a top view of the tray of the instant invention. -
FIG. 3 is a close-up top view of one of the securing apertures of the tray of the instant invention. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the securing apertures of the tray of the instant invention taken along the line 4-4 inFIG. 3 . - 10 apparatus
- 11 front wall
- 12 first sidewall
- 13 back wall
- 14 second sidewall
- 15 top of tray
- 16 aperture
- 17 tube
- 18 tip of tube
- 19 expanded portion of tube tip
- 20 area above expanded portion of tube tip
- 21 center hole
- 22 center guides (a,b,c)
- 23 shoulder of tube tip
- 24 body of tube
- 25 flexible catch member
- 26 sidewall between
guides 22 c-22 b-22 a - 27 cylindrical sidewall of hole
- 28 stationary catch member
- 29 first connecting piece
- 30 second connecting piece
- 31 flexible catch flange
- 32 stationary catch flange
- 33 first connecting base from cylinder to sidewall
- 34 second connecting base from cylinder to sidewall
- 35 first open space between 22 c-22 a
- 36 second open space under 22 b and between 33 and 34
- Turning to the drawings, the preferred embodiment is illustrated and described by reference characters that denote similar elements throughout the several views of the instant invention.
- The preferred embodiment refers to a system and apparatus that includes a
tray 10 that can securely hold one or moresmall tubes 17 that may or may not be disposable. InFIG. 1 , thetray 10 is seen in perspective view. Thetray 10 has a front wall 11 aback wall 13 and twosidewalls tray 10 includes a series ofapertures 16 in which to securely place atube 17. In the embodiment illustrated here, thetray 10 can house up to fourteentubes 17, but it is to be understood that this number ofapertures 16 is for illustration purposes only as thetray 10 could house any number oftubes 17. - The
tip 18 of thetube 17 is placed in theaperture 16. Above thetip 18 of the tube is an expandedportion 19 that flares out past the diameter of thetip 18 and thearea 20 above the expandedportion 19. Below the body of thetube 24 and above thearea 20 above the expandedportion 19 is ashoulder 23 that fits securely in the inventive portion of theaperture 16. - In
FIG. 2 , the structure of eachaperture 16 is seen from the top.FIG. 3 shows this structure in greater detail. In the center of theaperture 16 is ahole 21 of sufficient diameter to receive theshoulder 23 portion of thetube 17. Not seen inFIG. 2 is thecylindrical sidewall 27 of thehole 21 which can be seen inFIG. 4 . There are three abuttingguides aperture 16 are not uniform. The back of theaperture 16 is taller than the front. - Looking from the top there is shown a
flexible member 25 with an abuttingflange 31 that is positioned between theguides aperture 16. Thisflexible catch 25 is offset from the centercylindrical sidewall 27 but connects to the bottom of said centercylindrical sidewall 27 through two connectingpieces aperture 16.Open space 35 exists betweenguide flexible catch 25. - On the opposite side of the
aperture 16 from theflexible catch 25 is astationary catch 28 with an abuttingflange 32. Between thestationary catch 28 and the sidewall of theaperture 16 is asidewall 26 located betweenguides open space 35 found in the area surrounding theflexible catch 25. Between the bottom of theaperture 16 and thestationary catch 28 and correspondingflange 32 is a secondopen space 36. A first connectingpiece 33 connects thesidewall 26 to the cylindrical sidewall of thehole 27 while a second connectingpiece 34 connects thesidewall 26 the cylindrical sidewall of thehole 27 while maintaining theopen space 36 found therebetween. - To secure a
tube 17 in theaperture 16, a user places thetube 17 with thetube tip 18 facing into theaperture 16. Thetube 17 is forced with a small amount of manual force to a point that the shoulder of thetube 23 is moved past theflexible flange 31 on theflexible catch 25. Once thetube 17 has been moved into this position it is held in place by thestationary catch flange 32 on thestationary catch 28. - The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention.
- Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of any apparatus embodiment, a method embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
Claims (2)
1. A system for the secure placement and transport of at least one tube, said system comprising
fabrication of a tray, said tray further comprising
a back wall;
a front wall;
a first side wall;
a second side wall; and
at least one aperture for placement therein of said at least one tube, said at least one aperture further comprising
a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive said at least one tube;
at least one stationary catch positioned in said at least one aperture that secures said at least one tube in place; and
at least one flexible catch positioned in said at least one aperture that secures said at least one tube in place; and
placement of at least one tube in said at least one aperture in said tray, placing said tube therein with sufficient force to move said tube past said at least one flexible catch and secure said tube against said at least one stationary catch in said at least one aperture.
2. An apparatus for the secure placement and transport of at least one tube, said apparatus comprising
a back wall;
a front wall;
a first side wall;
a second side wall; and
at least one aperture for placement therein of said at least one tube, said aperture further comprising
a hole with a diameter that is sufficient to receive said at least one tube;
at least one stationary catch positioned in said at least one aperture that secures said at least one tube in place; and
at least one flexible catch positioned in said at least one aperture that secures said at least one tube in place.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/215,087 US20090314728A1 (en) | 2008-06-24 | 2008-06-24 | System for securing tubes in a tray |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/215,087 US20090314728A1 (en) | 2008-06-24 | 2008-06-24 | System for securing tubes in a tray |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20090314728A1 true US20090314728A1 (en) | 2009-12-24 |
Family
ID=41430156
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/215,087 Abandoned US20090314728A1 (en) | 2008-06-24 | 2008-06-24 | System for securing tubes in a tray |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090314728A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100059461A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | David Landsberger | Container rack with locking member |
USD817409S1 (en) * | 2016-05-05 | 2018-05-08 | Scott Siepmann | Beverage pong game board |
US20190075974A1 (en) * | 2017-09-08 | 2019-03-14 | Joseph Stewart | Kit for storing and maintaining a disposable razor and related method of maintaining same |
US11497575B1 (en) * | 2012-08-24 | 2022-11-15 | Pavel Krastev | Multi-purpose rack for organizing containers/packages of dental implant platforms for each tooth |
USD1010227S1 (en) * | 2020-12-10 | 2024-01-02 | Dong Ho Jun | Makeup tool organizer |
USD1015641S1 (en) * | 2020-12-10 | 2024-02-20 | Dong Ho Jun | Makeup tool organizer |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2723037A (en) * | 1953-07-16 | 1955-11-08 | John G Matesic | Adjustable tray having glass retaining means |
US3390783A (en) * | 1966-05-17 | 1968-07-02 | Virginia Packaging Supply Comp | Test tube holder or display device |
US5514343A (en) * | 1994-06-22 | 1996-05-07 | Nunc, As | Microtitration system |
US5993745A (en) * | 1998-03-04 | 1999-11-30 | Roche Diagnostics Corporation | Archival storage tray for multiple test tubes |
US6533133B2 (en) * | 2001-05-18 | 2003-03-18 | Jun-Tai Liu | Test tube rack with inserting structure |
-
2008
- 2008-06-24 US US12/215,087 patent/US20090314728A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2723037A (en) * | 1953-07-16 | 1955-11-08 | John G Matesic | Adjustable tray having glass retaining means |
US3390783A (en) * | 1966-05-17 | 1968-07-02 | Virginia Packaging Supply Comp | Test tube holder or display device |
US5514343A (en) * | 1994-06-22 | 1996-05-07 | Nunc, As | Microtitration system |
US5993745A (en) * | 1998-03-04 | 1999-11-30 | Roche Diagnostics Corporation | Archival storage tray for multiple test tubes |
US6533133B2 (en) * | 2001-05-18 | 2003-03-18 | Jun-Tai Liu | Test tube rack with inserting structure |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100059461A1 (en) * | 2008-09-05 | 2010-03-11 | David Landsberger | Container rack with locking member |
US11497575B1 (en) * | 2012-08-24 | 2022-11-15 | Pavel Krastev | Multi-purpose rack for organizing containers/packages of dental implant platforms for each tooth |
USD817409S1 (en) * | 2016-05-05 | 2018-05-08 | Scott Siepmann | Beverage pong game board |
US20190075974A1 (en) * | 2017-09-08 | 2019-03-14 | Joseph Stewart | Kit for storing and maintaining a disposable razor and related method of maintaining same |
USD1010227S1 (en) * | 2020-12-10 | 2024-01-02 | Dong Ho Jun | Makeup tool organizer |
USD1015641S1 (en) * | 2020-12-10 | 2024-02-20 | Dong Ho Jun | Makeup tool organizer |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |