Dispensing Container For Yarn And The Like

Abstract

Two semicylindrical hollow plastic sections are sealed to one another along adjacent flanges of a pair of opposite sides. The other two sides abut one another along their edges to define a dustproof enclosure. The abutting edges can open by squeezing the container to gain access to the end of a ball of yarn in the interior of the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to dispensing containers, and more specifically relates to a container for a wound cord which is accessible through a normally closed slit in the container. The container is formed of identical semicylindrical plastic shells which are secured to one another along opposite edges by heat sealing. The other edges are normally held closed, but can be spread open to withdraw cord from the interior of the container. The semicircular walls of the container are concave to decrease abrasion over the full exterior of the container. The end walls of the semicylindrical sections are corrugated to impart strength to the container and to insure their ability to spread so that the slit closure can be easily opened. Thus, material such as yarn can be safely stored within the container, free of danger of being soiled or tangled and free of dust. However, one end of the yarn can be easily withdrawn from the container, through one or more slits which are "biased" closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the two identical dispenser halves of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end view similar to FIG. 5 and shows the access slit pressed open.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 taken across the section line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 taken across the section line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings, the dispenser consists of two identical semicylindrical shells 10 and 11 of a thin, self-supporting plastic which can be deformed, and will return to its original position. Shells 10 and 11 may, for example, be formed of clear oriented polystyrene having a thickness of about 15 mils, and are shaped by any suitable process such as a vacuum-forming process. Obviously, any suitable material other than polystyrene can be used, preferably one which can be heat sealed. Any desired thickness could be used, preferably a thickness which will make shells 10 and 11 self-supporting. One or both shells 10 and 11 need not be clear or transparent, but can be translucent or colored, as desired.

A roll of yarn 12, having a free end 13, is shown in FIG. 1 and is captured between shells 10 and 11 when they are secured to one another, as will be described. Any suitable flexible elongated material such as yarn or string, hereinafter referred to as "cord," may be contained within the dispenser such that a free end of the cord can be reached and drawn through one or more slits in the dispenser.

Each of shells 10 and 11 has opposing flanges 14, 15 and 16, 17 respectively having a length of about 2 inches and a width of about one-fourth inch. The radius of the body of each can be about 1 inch. Obviously, these dimensions can be varied as desired.

The ends of shells 10 and 11 are formed by corrugated end sections 18, 19 and 20, 21 respectively which abut one another to form two openable slits 22 and 23 respectively (FIGS. 5 to 8).

It will be noted that the semicylindrical bodies of shells 10 and 11 have a concave curvature as indicated at 24 and 25 for shells 10 and 11 respectively in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8.

In assembling the dispenser, the cord 12 is disposed between shells 10 and 11 and flanges 14--15 and 16--17 respectively are heat sealed to one another. The end 13 of cord 12 (FIG. 1) can then easily be extracted from the dustproof container through normally closed slit 22 or 23. Note that where the shells 10 and 11 are not of heat-sealable material, flanges 14--15 and 16--17 could be connected to one another in any desired manner.

It should be observed that many modifications of the structure of FIGS. 1 to 8 are possible. By way of example, the peripheral edges of each shell 10 and 11 could have a continuous flange rather than the short flange sections 14 to 17. The flange portion on the end walls would then assist in imparting rigidity to the semicircular end walls of the shells 10 and 11. Moreover, it would be possible to secure the semicircular end walls together and form the access slit at one or both junctures between flanges 14--15 and 16--17 respectively. Moreover, the container shape could be other than cylindrical and could be any desired hollow form wherein a portion of the adjacent peripheries of two hollow form sections are connected while the remaining portions are unconnected and define an openable slit.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property I claim are defined as follows:

1. A dispensing container comprising, in combination:

a. first and second identical hollow shells havIng continuous closed peripheral edges;

b. first and second flange means extending from at least a first length portion of said peripheral edges of said first and second hollow shells;

c. means for connecting at least portions of said first length portions of said peripheral edges, thereby to hold said first and second hollow shells connected to one another to define a hollow member;

d. remaining portions of said peripheral edges which are removed from said connecting means being pressed against one another to form an openable access slit to the interior of said hollow member;

e. and an elongated cord in the interior of said hollow member; one end of said cord being movable through said access slit.

2. The dispensing container of claim 1 wherein said first and second hollow shells are of a plastic material having a thickness sufficient to make said shells flexible and self-supporting; and wherein said means for connecting is a heat seal.

3. The dispensing container of claim 2 wherein said plastic material is transparent.

4. A dispensing container comprising, in combination:

a. a first semicylindrical shell having first and second opposing flanges extending from two opposite edges thereof respectively and which flanges are parallel to one another, and semicircular end walls extending across the ends of said semicylindrical shell;

b. a second semicylindrical shell having a shape identical to said first semicylindrical shell;

c. means for connecting said first and second flanges of said first and second shells respectively to one another for forming a cylindrical body;

d. disconnected, normally abutting edge portions of peripheral edge portions of said first and second shells forming access slit means into the interior of said cylindrical body;

e. and an elongated cord in the interior of said cylindrical body; one end of said cord being movable through said access slit.

6. The dispensing container of claim 4 wherein said first and second flanges lie in a common plane which includes the axis of said semicircular body; and wherein said access slit means comprises the abutting connection between said semicircular end walls of said first and second shells respectively.

5. The dispensing container of claim 4 wherein said first and second semicylindrical shells have a concave curvature between its ends such that the center of said cylindrical body has a smaller diameter than the ends thereof.

7. The dispensing container of claim 6 wherein said end walls are corrugated.

8. The dispensing container of claim 6 wherein said first and second shells are of thin plastic material, heat sealable to itself, and which is sufficiently thick to be self-supporting.

9. A dispensing container comprising, in combination:

a. a first semicylindrical shell having first and second opposing flanges extending from two opposite edges thereof respectively and which flanges are parallel to one another, and semicircular end walls extending across the ends of said semicylindrical shell;

b. a second semicylindrical shell having a shape identical to said first semicylindrical shell:

c. means for connecting said first and second flanges of said first and second shells respectively to one another for forming a cylindrical body;

d. disconnected, normally abutting edge portions of peripheral edge portions of said first and second shells forming access slit means into the interior of said cylindrical body;

e. said first and second semicylindrical shells having a concave curvature between their ends such that the center of said cylindrical body has a smaller diameter than the ends thereof.

10. A dispensing container comprising, in combination:

a. a first semicylindrical shell having first and second opposing flanges extending from two opposite edges thereof respectively and which flanges are parallel to one another, and semicircular end walls extending across the ends of said semicylindrical shell;

b. a second semicylindrical shell having a shape identical to said first semicylindrical shell;

c. means for connecting said first and second flanges of said first and second shells respectively to one another for forming a cylindrical body;

d. disconnected, normally abutting edge portions of peripheral edge portions of said fist and second shells forming access slit means into the interior of said cylindrical body;

e. said end walls being corrugated by corrugations extending generally transversely to saId disconnected, normally abutting edge portions forming said access slit means.