System for securing tubes in a tray

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

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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.

SUMMARY OF THE 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

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 22c-22b-22a

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 22c-22a

36 second open space under 22b 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 more small tubes 17 that may or may not be disposable. In FIG. 1, the tray 10 is seen in perspective view. The tray 10 has a front wall 11 a back wall 13 and two sidewalls 12, 14. The top 15 of the tray 10 includes a series of apertures 16 in which to securely place a tube 17. In the embodiment illustrated here, the tray 10 can house up to fourteen tubes 17, but it is to be understood that this number of apertures 16 is for illustration purposes only as the tray 10 could house any number of tubes 17.

The tip 18 of the tube 17 is placed in the aperture 16. Above the tip 18 of the tube is an expanded portion 19 that flares out past the diameter of the tip 18 and the area 20 above the expanded portion 19. Below the body of the tube 24 and above the area 20 above the expanded portion 19 is a shoulder 23 that fits securely in the inventive portion of the aperture 16.

In FIG. 2, the structure of each aperture 16 is seen from the top. FIG. 3 shows this structure in greater detail. In the center of the aperture 16 is a hole 21 of sufficient diameter to receive the shoulder 23 portion of the tube 17. Not seen in FIG. 2 is the cylindrical sidewall 27 of the hole 21 which can be seen in FIG. 4. There are three abutting guides 22a, 22b, 22c that are positioned approximately equidistant from each other and rise up a majority of the face of the sidewalls. The sidewalls on the back portion are taller because the sidewalls of the aperture 16 are not uniform. The back of the aperture 16 is taller than the front.

Looking from the top there is shown a flexible member 25 with an abutting flange 31 that is positioned between the guides 22a, 22c located on the back of the aperture 16. This flexible catch 25 is offset from the center cylindrical sidewall 27 but connects to the bottom of said center cylindrical sidewall 27 through two connecting pieces 29, 30 located at the bottom of the aperture 16. Open space 35 exists between guide 22c and 22a both in front of and behind the flexible catch 25.

On the opposite side of the aperture 16 from the flexible catch 25 is a stationary catch 28 with an abutting flange 32. Between the stationary catch 28 and the sidewall of the aperture 16 is a sidewall 26 located between guides 22c, 22b and 22a creating a closed space rather than the open space 35 found in the area surrounding the flexible catch 25. Between the bottom of the aperture 16 and the stationary catch 28 and corresponding flange 32 is a second open space 36. A first connecting piece 33 connects the sidewall 26 to the cylindrical sidewall of the hole 27 while a second connecting piece 34 connects the sidewall 26 the cylindrical sidewall of the hole 27 while maintaining the open space 36 found therebetween.

To secure a tube 17 in the aperture 16, a user places the tube 17 with the tube tip 18 facing into the aperture 16. The tube 17 is forced with a small amount of manual force to a point that the shoulder of the tube 23 is moved past the flexible flange 31 on the flexible catch 25. Once the tube 17 has been moved into this position it is held in place by the stationary catch flange 32 on the stationary 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

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.