Container

#This invention relates to containers which are used to store or transport arrows used in archery or archery hunting as well as other elongate and slim articles of commerce which have length/width ratios of e.g. at least 15/1. In addition, the invention can be applied to non-elongate articles, indeed articles which have similar, or same length and width, or articles which are shorter than they are long. It is well known in the sports of archery and hunting that the sportsman's goal is to shoot arrows in straight flight and to repeatedly hit the target accurately. In order to achieve this goal, an archer's arrows must be in the best possible condition.

#Generally, arrows have a long, straight shaft, a pointed tip at one end, a notch at the opposite end, and fletchings adjacent the notch at the opposite end. During storage and transportation, if the arrows are allowed to shift so as to come in contact with each other or in contact with other objects, or if the arrows are allowed to become exposed to the elements of nature, damage to the arrows can occur. The shaft can become warped, bowed, or even cracked or broken. The tips can be dulled, and the fletchings, which are delicate and critical to the arrows' flight performance, can be misshapen or otherwise damaged.

#In addition to the above described major damages which can be visited on the elements of the arrow when not protected during e.g. ground transportation, any of the elements of the arrow can be scratched, dented, or otherwise experience visibly minor damage, but damage which changes the flight characteristics of the arrow enough to make a difference in satisfaction of the archer who uses such arrow. Since the archer is relying on known flight characteristics of the arrow, any deviation from such flight characteristics jeopardizes the achievement of hitting the intended target at the intended location.

#FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of a quiver of the invention, in a closed configuration.

#FIG. 1A shows a cross-section of the closed configuration quiver of FIG. 1 taken at 1A-1A of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of the quiver of FIG. 1 after the quiver has been transformed to the fully open, reversed configuration.

#The invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in other various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the terminology and phraseology employed herein is for purpose of description and illustration and should not be regarded as limiting. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.

#The drawings illustrate a quiver 10 of the invention which facilitates carrying arrows 12 in a closed and protected configuration, and which quiver structure facilitates quickly reconfiguring the quiver to an open configuration wherein the arrows are readily available for removal from the quiver, and use in shooting such arrows with a bow. FIGS. 1 and 1A show the quiver in the closed configuration. FIGS. 2 and 2A show the quiver in the fully open and reversed configuration. FIG. 3A shows the quiver in the process of being converted between the open and closed configurations, in a stable configuration. FIG. 3B also shows the quiver in the process of being converted between the open and closed configurations, in an unstable configuration.

#Referring to the drawings, quiver 10 includes a multiplicity of arrow-holding cells 14. Each cell has a top wall 16 defining a top wall perimeter, a bottom wall 18 defining a bottom wall perimeter, one or more longitudinal closure side walls 20 on respective longitudinal sides of the cell and one or more imaginary longitudinal open sides 21. A cell perimeter generally extends along the length of the cell between the top wall perimeter and the bottom wall perimeter. Closure side walls 20 of a given cell generally comprise at least 90 degrees of the perimeter of the cell, preferably 180 degrees of the perimeter of the cell, generally depending on the number of cells in the quiver. Open side walls 21 generally comprise at least 60 degrees of the perimeter of the cell, to provide suitable access to the arrows contained in the quiver.