U.S. patent application number 12/081341 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for information tube and tethered end cap used therewith.
This patent application is currently assigned to PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Frederick W. Zeyfang.
Application Number | 20090255933 12/081341 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41163143 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255933 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zeyfang; Frederick W. |
October 15, 2009 |
Information tube and tethered end cap used therewith
Abstract
A tubular assembly comprising a tubular housing, having at least
one open end, at least the open end of the housing being provided
with a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over
the end of a tubular housing; a flexible ring having a dimension
suitable to fit over the end of the tubular housing while retaining
same in fixed encompassing relationship to the tubular housing;
hinge means connecting the cap to the flexible ring; the flexible
tether means extending from the flexible ring, the flexible tether
having at a free end thereof means to support the tubular housing
from a vertically extending surface.
Inventors: |
Zeyfang; Frederick W.;
(Erie, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC
P.O. BOX 1364
FAIRFAX
VA
22038-1364
US
|
Assignee: |
PROTECTIVE INDUSTRIES, INC.
|
Family ID: |
41163143 |
Appl. No.: |
12/081341 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/375 ;
206/446 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 7/18 20130101; B65D
55/16 20130101; G09F 21/04 20130101; G09F 7/002 20130101; G09F
2023/0016 20130101; B65D 59/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/375 ;
206/446 |
International
Class: |
B65D 55/16 20060101
B65D055/16; B65D 85/20 20060101 B65D085/20 |
Claims
1. A tubular assembly comprising: a tubular housing, having at
least one open end, with at least the open end of said housing
being provided with: (a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable
to fit snugly over the end of a tubular housing; (b) a flexible
ring having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of said
tubular housing while retaining same in fixed encompassing
relationship to said tubular housing; (c) hinge means connecting
said cap to said flexible ring; and (d) flexible tether means
extending from said flexible ring, said flexible tether having at a
free end thereof means to support said tubular housing from a
vertically extending surface.
2. The tubular assembly of claim 1, wherein said hinge means
comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge
portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible
cap.
3. The tubular assembly of claim 1, wherein said means to support
said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member.
4. The tubular assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap and said ring
are comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
5. The tubular assembly of claim 4, wherein said polymeric material
comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or thermoset
elastomer.
6. A tethered end cap for use as a closure for the ends of a
tubular member, said tethered end cap comprising: (a) a flexible
cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly over the end of a
tubular housing; (b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to
fit over the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in
fixed encompassing relationship to said tubular housing; (c) hinge
means connecting said cap to said flexible ring; and (d) flexible
tether means extending from said flexible ring, said flexible
tether having at a free end thereof means to support said tubular
housing from a vertically extending surface.
7. The tethered end cap of claim 6, wherein said hinge means
comprises a flexible solid tubular member extending between an edge
portion of said flexible ring and an edge portion of said flexible
cap.
8. The tethered end cap of claim 6, wherein said means to support
said tethered end cap comprises a flexible U-shaped member.
9. The tethered end cap of claim 6, wherein said cap and said ring
are comprised of a flexible polymeric material.
10. The tethered end cap of claim 9, wherein said polymeric
material comprises a vinyl material, thermoplastic elastomer, or
thermoset elastomer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a novel tubular
assembly and tethered end cap for use in both closing and
supporting the tubular member.
[0002] Information tubes or assemblies have been used for a long
period of time. Such information tubes or holders are used to
provide ready access to informational materials, such as sales
material or advertising. See, for example, the products depicted by
Design Pat. Nos. 372,499; 386,536; 540,394; and 543,591; U.S.
patent publication Nos. 2002/0040916; 2004/0079015; and
2007/0107287; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,235,870; 3,156,055; 4,260,090;
4,334,373; 4,574,504; 4,889,268; 4,986,431; 5,102,020; 5,645,203;
and 6,298,590. See also, the information tube described at
www.cartube.com. However, such previous products employ cumbersome
materials, or are not easily used.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0003] There is thus a need to provide means to easily support a
tubular member from a vertical surface.
[0004] There is further a need to provide a means to provide ease
of access to the interior of a tubular member.
[0005] There is still further a need to provide a tubular member
which is easily supported from a vertical surface, with the
interior of the tubular member easily accessible.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is thus
provided a tethered end cap for a tubular housing, said tethered
end cap comprising:
[0007] a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly
over the end of a tubular housing;
[0008] a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over the
end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed in
encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;
[0009] hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring;
and
[0010] flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring,
said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support
said tethered end cap from a vertically extending surface.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, there is also
provided a tethered end cap for use as a closure for the ends of a
tubular housing, said tethered end cap comprising:
[0012] (a) a flexible cap having a dimension suitable to fit snugly
over the end of a tubular housing;
[0013] (b) a flexible ring having a dimension suitable to fit over
the end of said tubular housing while retaining same in fixed
encompassing relationship to said tubular housing;
[0014] (c) hinge means connecting said cap to said flexible ring;
and
[0015] (d) flexible tether means extending from said flexible ring,
said flexible tether having at a free end thereof means to support
said tubular housing from a vertically extending surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention is described in accordance with the following
figures:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tethered end cap of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tethered end cap of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a opposite side view of the tethered end cap of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top view of the tethered end cap of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tethered end cap of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tethered end cap of the
present invention as used as an end cap on a tubular housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention is described in conjunction with FIGS.
1-6.
[0024] The tubular assembly of the present invention is comprised
of a tubular member 17 having at least one open end and associated
tethered end caps 1. The end caps 1 have U-shaped hanging means 9
attached thereto, to permit the tubular assembly and associated end
caps to be hung from a suitable vertically oriented surface, such
as a vehicle window (not shown).
[0025] The assembly includes a tubular member 17. The tubular
member may be cylindrical in configuration (as shown in the
Figures), with two open ends. Alternatively, the tubular member may
be non-cylindrical, such as rectangular. Also, while preferably
both ends of the tubular member are open to permit access to the
inside of the tube, it is also possible for only one end of the
cylinder to be open, with the other end being closed.
[0026] The tubular member may be formed of any suitable material
which enables the tubular member to have sufficient structural
stability. Preferably, the tubular member is comprised of a clear
extrudable plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate
glycol, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.
However, the tubular member need not be comprised of a plastic
material, and is preferably visually clear. For example, a glass
tubular member may be employed, as may be a tubular member formed
from metal such as aluminum. One of ordinary skill in the art can
readily determine which materials may be used while enabling the
objects of the present invention to be achieved.
[0027] The ends of the tubular member are closed with a flexible
end cap 1. The flexible cap has a dimension suitable to fit snugly
over the end of a tubular housing. Advantageously, the end cap is
comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoset rubber material
which enables the end cap to be snugly fit over the end of the
tubular member. An exemplary material which may be used to form the
end cap comprises dip molded polyvinyl chloride plastisol, or an
injection molded thermoplastic elastomer. One of ordinary skill in
the art can readily select an appropriate material for such
use.
[0028] The use of plastisol-type dip molding materials is well
known as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,695,241; 4,800,116; and
6,004,641. A typical formulation for a polyvinyl chloride plastisol
would, for example, on a weight basis comprise 100 parts dispersion
grade PVC resin, 65 parts plasticizer (such as DIDP or DINP), 3-5
parts heat stabilizer such as barium/zinc), and 3-5 parts
colorant.
[0029] As depicted in the Figures, the end cap (for decorative
purposes) may be formed of both inner portion 3 and outer portion
19. The outer portion 19 may be formed, for example, by dip molding
an outer vinyl layer onto an inner preformed vinyl layer, with each
layer having a different color. For instance, enhanced visual
effect may be attained by use of a colored (e.g., red) outer layer
on an inner white layer. However, the color combination, if used,
may be chosen according to the visual effect desired.
[0030] In order to enhance the ease by which the end cap may be
removed from the tubular member, a tab 15 may be provided at an
edge portion of the end cap 1. The tab 15 may be integrally molded
within the end cap, for instance.
[0031] The end cap 1 is attached to the tubular member 17 by means
of a flexible ring 5 having a dimension suitable to fit over the
end of the tubular housing while retaining same in fixed
encompassing relationship to the tubular housing. The flexible ring
5 may be comprised of the same type of material as the end cap 1.
In any event, the ring 5 is comprised of such material as to be
able to be stretched over the exterior of the tubular member
17.
[0032] The flexible ring 5 is attached to the end cap by a hinge
means 7 extending therebetween. The hinge means 7 permits the end
cap 1 to be removed from the end of the tubular member, while
remaining connected to the flexible ring 5. In order to permit the
flexible end cap to be removed from the tubular member, only one
hinge means 7 preferably employed as shown in the Figures. However,
multiple hinge means may be employed while located sufficiently
together along one side of the end cap to still permit the end cap
to be easily removed. The hinge means is preferably in the form of
a cylindrical member which extends therebetween. It is also
desirable to have the hinge positioned at the top of the assembly
(near the tether) to permit the effect of gravity to close the end
cap onto the end of the tubular member. However, the hinge location
may be anywhere along the tube edge.
[0033] Flexible tether means 13 extends from the flexible ring 7,
with the flexible tether 13 having at a free end thereof means to
support the tethered end cap 1 from a vertically extending surface.
The tether means may take many forms, and as shown in the Figures,
may be comprised of a substantially planar member having a greater
width than thickness. For example, the tether may be substantially
rectangular in cross-section. Alternatively, the tether may also be
substantially cylindrical, or have a similar configuration. It is
only important that the tether be flexible by nature, and have
sufficient structural integrity to support the tubular member.
[0034] The supporting means 9 at an end of the tether 13 permits
the tether to be attached to a vertically oriented surface. The
supporting means 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, comprised of
the same type of flexible polymeric material as the tether, end cap
and ring members. However, the supporting means 9 may be comprised
of a substantially inflexible material such as a metallic member or
an inflexible molded polymeric material. As shown in the Figures,
the supporting means 9 comprises a generally U-shaped member
comprised of a flexible vinyl material. The supporting member may,
for example, be inserted onto the top edge of a vehicle window, and
the window closed thereon to hold the supporting member in place.
Once so held in place, the tubular assembly is supported by the
vehicle window.
[0035] The tubular assembly may serve a variety of end uses. For
instance, the tubular assembly, when supported by a vehicle window
in the sales lot of a vehicle dealer, may be used to store printed
information regarding the vehicle, such as manufacturer's
information, pricing information, warranty information, etc.
Potential purchasers of the vehicle may readily access such
information by removing one of the end caps which closes an open
end of the tubular member, to remove the information contained
therein. The fact that the end cap is attached to the ring
surrounding the tubular member prevents the end cap from being
misplaced or lost upon removal.
* * * * *
References