US20030178327A1

US20030178327A1 - Match book tubes

Info

Publication number: US20030178327A1
Application number: US10/105,896
Authority: US
Inventors: Garry Tsaur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-25
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2003-09-25
Also published as: WO2003082698A1; AU2002255932A1

Abstract

The present invention is an efficient and compact container for small tubes containing fluids. The present invention encloses the small tubes in a container that is in the design of a match book. The design allows easy access to the small tubes even in the dark or while the user is in motion. There are no loose pieces that can be lost. The cover of the match book tubes flips open easily and remains open for easy access to the tubes. The cover of the match book tubes closes easily with a flick of the finger and encloses the remaining tubes. The present invention can be easily carried and can be manufactured in large quantities at very low cost.

Description

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel packaging for conveniently carrying small tubes containing fluid.

BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Small tubes containing fluids such as alcohol, mouth fresheners, perfumes, and other liquids are hard to handle, difficult to carry, and are easily lost due to their small size. Most current designs are too bulky, expensive, or provide limited access to the small tubes.

Some designs enclose the small tubes within a plastic container. The container may have separate housing and cover or the container may be in the form of a clam shell that has the cover attached to the housing at one edge. The containers are bulky and add additional weight to the small tubes. The containers are also relatively expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the containers are difficult to carry due to its bulk. In addition, the container does not provide easy access to the small tubes. With the separate housing and cover design, the cover can be easily lost after it is separated from the housing. Furthermore, the user must keep track of the location of the cover so that it may be replaced on the housing after the small tubes are taken out. This design is virtually impossible to use in the dark. This design also presents a challenge to the user if the user is moving such as while the user is walking or riding in a vehicle. With a clam shell design, the cover will not be easily lost but the container is still bulky and adds additional weight to the small tubes. This design also does not offer easy access to the small tubes. Once the container is opened the small tubes may fall out of the container or may pile up and prevent the cover from closing. This design also suffers from the same problem that the separate housing and cover has, namely, virtually impossible to use in the dark and while the user is moving.

Another design simply places the small tubes in small plastic bags or small paper boxes. This design is inexpensive and rather simple. However, this design limits the access to the small tubes. The user must reach his or her fingers into the small bag or paper box to retrieve the small tubes or the user must pour the small tubes out from within the small bag or small boxes. Reaching into the small bag or paper box requires a delicate movement of the fingers and is difficult to maneuver, especially with small tubes. Pouring the small tubes out from the small plastic bags or paper boxes may spill the small tubes out from the container and lose them. This design is also difficult to use in the dark and while the user is moving.

The present invention is a simple design that adds negligible bulk and weight to the small tubes and can be easily carried in the pocket or purse. The present invention also allows the user to easily access and retrieve the small tubes in the dark and also while the user is moving. The present invention does not contain loose parts that the user may loose. Furthermore, the present invention can be manufactured in large quantities at very low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an efficient and compact container for small tubes containing fluids. The present invention can be easily carried and can be manufactured in large quantities at very low cost. The present invention encloses the small tubes in a container that is in the design of a match book. The design allows easy access to the small tubes even in the dark or while the user is in motion. There are no loose pieces that can be lost. The cover of the match book tubes opens easily and remains open for easy access to the tubes. The cover of the match book tubes closes easily with a flick of the finger and encloses the remaining tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the assembly of the tubes within the preferred embodiment of the match book tubes. [0007]
FIG. 2 shows the side view of the assembly of the tubes within the preferred embodiment of the match book tubes. [0008]
FIG. 3 shows the side view of the assembly of the tubes affixed within the enclosures of the preferred embodiment of the match book tubes. [0009]
FIG. 4 shows the side view of the assembly of the tubes affixed within the enclosures of the preferred embodiment of the match book tubes with its cover open for easy access to the small tubes. [0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the assembly of the [0011] tubes 1 within the match book tubes. Multiple small hollow tubes 1 containing fluids sealed within their hollow housings are aligned in the same direction on the same plane. The small hollow tubes 1 are inserted into a rigid ring 2 retaining the small hollow tubes 1 in their formation. A score 5 is formed near the rigid ring 2 such that when the small hollow tubes 1 are bent, they will break away at the scoring 5. FIG. 3 shows this assembly of the tubes 1 is then affixed to the enclosure of the match book tubes. The enclosure is in a form similar to a match book wherein it is formed from one piece of flexible material. The assembly of the tubes 1 is affixed to the channel 3 at the bottom of the enclosure. The enclosure has a groove 6 formed on its back side such that when the enclosure is opened, the top portion 4 of the enclosure will flip open and bend at the groove 6 and remain open after it passes the top of the small hollow tubes 1 as shown in FIG. 4. Once the enclosure is opened, the small hollow tubes 1 may be accessed by bending and breaking the small hollow tubes 1 out one at a time at the scoring 5. After use, the enclosure may be closed with a flick of the finger, pushing the top portion 4 of the enclosure past the top of the remaining small hollow tubes 1 back to its original closed position. The top portion 4 of the enclosure may be further secured by inserting it into the wall 7 extending from the channel 3 at the bottom of the enclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A match book tubes comprising:

an one piece enclosure with a channel at its bottom;

multiple small hollow tubes aligned in approximately the same direction on approximately the same plane retained within a rigid ring attached to the channel at the bottom of the one piece enclosure;

wherein the enclosure can be opened and remain open to allow easy access to and removal of the multiple small hollow tubes and can be easily closed with a flick of a finger to enclose the remaining small hollow tubes.

2. A match book tubes as in claim 1, wherein the one piece enclosure is fabricated from a flexible material.

3. A match book tubes as in claim 1, wherein the multiple small hollow tubes have scoring formed near the rigid ring such that when the small hollow tubes are bent it will break off at the scoring.

4. A match book tubes as in claim 2, wherein the multiple small hollow tubes have scoring formed near the rigid ring such that when the small hollow tubes are bent it will break off at the scoring.