TUBE ASSEMBLY FOR HOLDING DRINKWARE
There is provided a tube assembly for holding and securing one or more items wherein the items have a top end and a bottom end. The tube assembly includes a tube having a top end, a bottom end and a wall defining a hollow cavity within the tube. A top cap is configured for releasably engaging and sealing the top end of the tube. The top cap includes a slot configured for receiving coins or other objects. The tube assembly also includes a bottom cap configured for releasably engaging and sealing the bottom end of the tube. Within the cavity are located a first spacer comprising a first space for receiving the top end of the item, and a second spacer comprising a second space for receiving the bottom end of the item.
The present invention relates to packaging devices, and more particularly, to a tube assembly for holding and securing drinkware, glassware, cups and other similar objects.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFragile objects such as drinkware, glassware, bottles, breakable valuables, and the like, have unique packaging needs. A set of drinkware (such as drinking glasses), for example, is often packaged in a box that includes separators to create individual compartments for each drinkware item for ensuring that the drinkware items do not contact or collide with each other, thus causing damage, while the drinkware are being moved. In these boxes, the drinkware are often stored in a side-by-side configuration rather than being stacked on top of each other. This type of packaging is used by distributors to store drinkware, department stores to display and sell drinkware, and consumers to buy and transport drinkware, amongst other uses.
This method of packaging drinkware and other glassware has several limitations. One limitation is related to the configuration of the drinkware or glassware. Generally, the items are not stacked on top of each other, which is not always the most efficient use of space. Transporting a small number of items packaged in this way can be cumbersome. Another limitation is related to the disposability of the box in which the drinkware or glassware are packaged. The packaging box is often thrown out once the items are removed. When the drinkware or glassware have to be moved again, a new box must be obtained and ad-hoc separators created to keep the items from contacting or colliding with each other. This is both inefficient and harmful to the environment. Oftentimes, a person will retain the box and store it in a location where it is not visible because the box is not aesthetically pleasing. Storing empty boxes in a house or in a warehouse for potential future use takes up valuable storage space.
Solutions are known in the art for storing glassware such as bottles in rigid containers. Examples of such containers may contain a bottle of a beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage, and may also act as a commemorative keepsake after the beverage is consumed. For example, a bottle of whiskey may be purchased and stored in a rigid container that has aesthetic drawings or photographs on the outside visible surface of the container. After the beverage is fully consumed, however, the container is no longer useful for storing the bottle and takes up valuable storage space on a counter, in a drawer or in other locations. An owner of such a commemorative container may even dispose of the container because it no longer serves any useful purpose.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in packaging that is useful for storing and securing drinkware, glassware and the like.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tube assembly for holding and securing one or more items wherein each of the items have a top end and a bottom end, the tube assembly comprising: a) a tube having a top end, a bottom end and a wall defining a hollow cavity within the tube; b) a top cap configured for releasably engaging and sealing the top end of the tube, and comprising a slot configured for receiving coins or other objects; c) a bottom cap configured for releasably engaging and sealing the bottom end of the tube; d) a first spacer configured to fit within the cavity and comprising a first space for receiving the top end of the item; and e) a second spacer configured to fit within the cavity and comprising a second space for receiving the bottom end of the item.
The items held ands secured within the tube assembly include drinkware, glassware and similar objects, but the present invention is not limited to breakables such as glassware or ceramics, and may include items that are not breakable. Glasses and cups will be used as generic terms throughout the document to refer to several items that may be carried securely in the tube assembly of the present invention.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the present invention and in which:
Reference is first made to
Any or all the components of the tube assembly 100 may comprise a material that is suitable for embossing a logo or design onto. For example, the glass 110, the top cap 104, the tube 102, the bottom cap 106 and the coaster (not shown) may all include a logo or design of a sports team, player or a company on any of their surfaces. Such a configuration allows the tube assembly 100 to serve as a souvenir in addition to protecting and holding the glass 110.
As shown in
Optionally, a coaster 240 may also be included as part of the tube assembly 200. The coaster 240 is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity 201 and is held in place between the top cap 204 and the spacer 222. A user may remove the top cap 204, the coaster 240, the spacer 222 and the glass 210 and rest the glass 210 on the coaster 240 to protect the surface on which the glass 210 is resting while the user is enjoying a beverage.
As with the embodiment of the tube assembly 100 shown in
Reference is next made to
As shown in
Reference is next made to
Reference is next made to
As illustrated in
In this aspect, coasters indicated individually by references 540a, 540b and 540c are included (though not individually shown) in the tube assembly 500 for each of the glasses 510, 514 and 518. In other embodiments, coasters are not included.
Top cap 504 also includes a slot (not shown) that is sized and shaped for receiving coins or other objects in a similar manner to the top cap 204. In this way, the tube assembly 500 is useful for receiving and storing coins or other objects when the glasses 510, 514 and 518 are removed from the cavity 501 of the tube 502.
It will be appreciated that other objects may be included with or in place of the coaster 740 in any embodiment of the present invention. For example, it may be desirable to include a hockey puck (not shown) in the space occupied by the coaster 740 to commemorate a hockey team, player or event. In another aspect, a baseball ball, golf ball or other ball may be included in the glass 710 of the tube assembly 700 that commemorates a baseball team, player or event.
It will also be appreciated that each of the tube assemblies of the present invention may be expanded to include any number of glasses or cups in a way similar to the tube assembly 500 shown in
For example,
Referring next to another embodiment of the invention shown in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the tube assembly of the present invention may include any number of glasses or cups. In addition, the present invention is not limited to breakables such as glassware or ceramics, but may include cups, glasses, dishes or other items that are made of non-breakable material. Glasses and cups have been used as generic terms to refer to several items that may be carried securely in the tube assembly of the present invention.
It will also be appreciated that the tube assembly of the present invention is not limited to any cross-sectional shape such as circular, oval or square. For example, the tube may be shaped as a maple leaf or a star. The glasses held in the tube may also be of any shape, and may or may not correspond to the shape of the tube.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A tube assembly for holding and securing one or more items wherein each of the items have a top end and a bottom end, the tube assembly comprising:
- a) a tube having a top end, a bottom end and a wall defining a hollow cavity within the tube;
- b) a top cap configured for releasably engaging and sealing the top end of the tube, and comprising a slot configured for receiving coins or other objects;
- c) a bottom cap configured for releasably engaging and sealing the bottom end of the tube;
- d) a first spacer configured to fit within the cavity and comprising a first space for receiving the top end of the item; and
- e) a second spacer configured to fit within the cavity and comprising a second space for receiving the bottom end of the item.
2. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a coaster configured to fit within the cavity.
3. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a rigid material.
4. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second spacers comprise a material that secures the items in place within the cavity.
5. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the items comprise drinkware, glassware and similar objects.
6. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the items are bottles.
7. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second spacers each comprise the first space on one side of the spacer and the second space on the second opposite side of the spacer.
8. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 7, comprising two or more items and comprising one more spacer than the number of items in the assembly, wherein each item is separated from other items by a spacer disposed between the items.
9. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top end of the items have different sizes and shapes than the bottom end of the items.
10. The tube assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of any visible surface of the tube, the items, the top cap, the bottom cap and the spacers are printed, embossed or other display visual matter.
Type: Application
Filed: May 11, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 17, 2009
Inventors: Brad SPARLING (London), Richard HARRISON (London), Angela SPARLING (London)
Application Number: 12/463,688
International Classification: B65D 75/00 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);