Shipping container
AssigneeErdie End Caps, LLC
InventorJason S. Erdie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a shipping container, a paper tube, an end cap and a method. The shipping container includes a tube and an end cap. The tube has a cylindrical body and an open end. The cylindrical body has a mounting opening formed therein adjacent to the open end. The end cap includes a circular sidewall that is adapted to be received by the open end of the tube such that either the circular sidewall is surrounded by the cylindrical body or the cylindrical body is radially surrounded by the circular sidewall. The circular sidewall includes a projection that extends away from the circular sidewall and into the mounting opening so as to releasably secure the end cap to the tube.
Claims24
A shipping container comprising:
- a tube comprising a cylindrical body, an open end and a mounting opening formed in the cylindrical body adjacent to the open end;
- and
- an end for closing the open end of the tube, the end cap comprising:
- a circular sidewall adapted to abut with a portion of the cylindrical body adjacent to the open end of the tube such that the circular sidewall of the end cap is radially surrounded by the cylindrical body of the tube;
- a projection extending away from the circular sidewall, the projection being adapted to extend into and releasably engage the mounting opening to secure the end cap to the tube;
- and
- a lock member formed integrally with the circular sidewall, wherein the lock member comprises a protruding portion that is adapted to be received within the mounting opening to inhibit disengagement of the projection from the mounting opening.
An end cap for enclosing a tube having a cylindrical body and an open end so as to define a shipping container, wherein the end cap comprises:
- a circular sidewall adapted to abut with a portion of the cylindrical body adjacent to the open end of the tube such that the circular sidewall of the end cap is radially surrounded by the cylindrical body of the tube;
- a projection extending away from the circular sidewall, the projection being adapted to extend into and releasably engage a mounting opening formed in the tube adjacent to the open end to secure the end cap to the tube;
- and
- a lock member formed integrally with the circular sidewall, wherein the lock member comprises a protruding portion that is adapted to be received within the mounting opening to inhibit disengagement of the projection from the mounting opening.
A method of operating a shipping container comprising the steps of:
- providing a tube having a cylindrical body and an open end for receiving items to be shipped, wherein the cylindrical body includes a mounting opening formed therein adjacent to the open end;
- providing an end cap for enclosing the open end of the tube, the end cap comprising a projection for releasably engaging the mounting opening so as to secure the end cap to the tube, and a lock member comprising a protruding portion selectively displaceable into the mounting opening;
- loading the tube with items to be shipped;
- enclosing the open end of the tube with the end cap, wherein the step of enclosing comprises engaging the mounting opening with the projection;
- actuating the lock member so as to selectively displace the protruding portion into the mounting opening, and thereby inhibit releasable engagement of the projection from the mounting opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.