GB2101972A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A tubular container e.g. for sports balls (16) comprises inner and outer coaxial tubes (3, 6) which have side apertures (5, 9) which can be moved into and out of coincidence by relative rotation of the tubes to permit and prevent dispense of the balls (16). An auxiliary container (8) may be provided at one end for example for resin (17) or golf tees. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers This invention relates to containers and is more particularly concerned with a device for storing and dispensing articles.

Certain games, such as squash, table tennis, golf, usually require a supply of balls to be made available for use by the players and there is the problem of conveniently storing such balls whilst at the same time permitting ready access thereto as and when desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide a container in which articles can be conveniently and securely stored and from which such articles can be readily dispensed when required.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a device for storing and dispensing individual articles, said device comprising a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having an opening therein through which said articles can be dispensed individually, and a cover member mounted on said tubular container so as to be slidable relative thereto between positions at which said cover member respectively opens and closes said opening respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough.

With this arrangement, in one said position, the cover member covers the opening and articles can be conveniently and securely stored in the tubular container, and, as and when desired, such articles can be individually dispensed through the opening by sliding the cover member to a further said position at which the opening is freely exposed.

It is visualised that the device of the invention will find particular application for use with balls for playing games, such as golf, squash, table tennis etc. and in this case the dimensions of the device are preferably such that the smallest inside cross-sectional dimension through the axis of the tubular container (i.e. the internal diameter in the case of a circular cross-section) is less than twice the ball diameter (and preferably substantially equal thereto) so that the balls are stored in a single column within the tubular container and are free to move therealong without undue wastage of space.Preferably also the smallest inside transverse dimension of the opening through the centre thereof (i.e. the internal diameter in the case of a circular aperture) is also less than twice the ball dia meter (and preferably substantially equal thereto) thereby to facilitate dispense of balls one at a time freely yet in a readily controllable manner through the opening. The dimensions are preferably also such that the device can be readily held in the hand and possibly carried in a pocket or sports bag and thus may be such that say three or four balls can be stored therein.

It is however to be understood that the device of the invention is not intended to be restricted to use with sports or games balls but may be used with any suitable articles for any suitable purpose, e.g. for storage and dispense of pharmaceutical or confectionary articles. Also, although it is preferred that the tubular container is substantially of regular circular cross-section and that the opening is also circular, it is to be understood that one or both of these may be of different form as desired and as appropriate. Most preferably the dispensing opening is in a side wall of the tubular container.

The device of the invention may be formed from plastics, cardboard, metal or any other suitable material or combination of materials.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the device comprises an arrangement of inner and outer relatively rotatable tubular members with alignable apertures therein which define in combination the aforesaid tubular container and slide member.

Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for storing and dispensing articles, said device comprising inner and outer tubular members in combination defining a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having respective apertures therein to provide an opening through which said articles can be dispensed, said tubular members being rotatable one relative to the other between positions at which said apertures are respectively in and out of coincidence with each other respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough.

The device of the second aspect of the invention may have any one or more of the features of the first aspect of the invention as desired and as appropriate.

In one embodiment, the device of the first and/or second aspect of the invention has associated therewith an auxiliary storage and dispense container for any suitable article or substance preferably for use with the articles in the main tubular container. In particular, the auxiliary container may have therein resin powder which can be dispensed as desired through an openable and closable outlet or may contain removable golf tees or the like.

Thus and in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for storing and dispensing first articles, said device comprising a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having an opening therein through which said articles can be dispensed, a cover member mounted on said tubular container so as to be movable relative thereto between positions at which said cover member respectively opens and closes said opening respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough, and an auxiliary container associated with said tubular container and adapted to store and permit dispense therefrom of a material or articles different from the first said articles.

The device of the third aspect of the invention may have any one or more of the features of the first and second aspects of the invention.

Most preferably the auxiliary container is located at one end of the tubular container and may be formed integrally therewith.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of one form of a device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a similar view of the top part of an alternative embodiment.

With reference to Fig. 1 a container for sports balls (e.g. squash balls) comprises inner and outer tubular members 1. 2.

The outer member 1 comprises a tube 3 which has the same circular cross-section throughout its length and which is open at one end and closed at the opposite end 4 thereof. The tube 3 is formed from plastics or cardboard or any other suitable material or combination of materials and the closed end 4 may be defined by an integral wall or an attached end cap as desired. Close to the closed end 4 there is a circular aperture 5 in the side of the tube. The diameter of this aperture is substantially the same as the internal diameter of the tube 3.

The inner member 2 comprises a tube 6 which is closed at one end 7 and has an auxiliary container 8 yet to be described at its other end. Between the closed end 7 and the container 8 the tube 6 has the same circular cross-section throughout its length slightly smaller than the cross-section of the outer tube 3. There is a circular aperture 9 in the side of the tube 6 adjacent the closed end 7 and the diameter of this is the same as the diameter of the aperture 5 in the outer tube 3.

The container 8 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 10 of outside diameter the same as that of the tube 6 but which has thicker side walls. The body 10 is joined coaxially with the tube 6 so that the outer surfaces thereof are level with each other and a radially extending disc 11 is pressed into a retaining groove between the adjacent ends of the body 10 and the tube 6 to seal both such ends. The opposite end of the body has a thickened rim 1 2 therearound which projects radially outwardly and a further radially extending disc 1 3 is fixed across the end of the body 10 inside the rim 12.The disc 1 3 has small holes 1 4 therein and a plate 1 5 is mounted on the disc 1 3 so as to be held captive thereon whilst being slidable between positions at which it covers and exposes the holes 14.

The inner tubular member 2 so far described may be formed from plastics, cardboard or any other suitable material or combination of materials. The end wall 7 may be formed integrally with the tube 6 or may be a separate end cap attached thereto. Similarly, the container 8 may be a separate part attached to the tube 6 or may be formed integrally therewith.

As shown in the drawing the tubular member 2 fits coaxially within the outer tubular member 1 with the rim 1 2 abutting the open end of the tube 3. The relative dimensions are such that the inner tubular member 2 is held securely within the outer tubular member 1 whilst being free to slide relative thereto circumferentially. If desired a retaining structure (not shown) such as interengaging male and female configurations may be provided to prevent ready sliding of the inner tubular member 2 axially out of the outer member 1 after assembly thereof.

The tubular members 1, 2 can be manually rotated relative to each other by gripping the rim 12 and the outer member 1, and the two apertures 5, 9 can be moved into and out of coincidence with each other. When in coincidence the tube 6 can be filled with balls 16, as shown, through the apertures 5, 9, the diameters of such balls being slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube 6 and the apertures 5, 9. The members 1, 2 can then be rotated to move the apertures 5, 9 out of coincidence and therefore to retain the balls 1 6 securely in position.

The auxiliary container 8 can be filled with resin powder 1 7 of the kind conventionally used by squash players to improve grip, for example through the top end of the body 10 before the disc 1 3 with its place 1 5 is fixed within the rim 1 2.

With the arrangement described, when desired balls 1 6 can be dispensed one at a time through the apertures 5, 9 after these have been brought into coincidence with each other by rotation of the members 1, 2. Also, as desired, resin 1 7 can be dispensed by sliding the plate 1 5 to one side to uncover the holes 14 and then shaking resin through the holes 14 with the device upturned.

The embodiment of Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1 except that the disc and plate 13, 1 5 are replaced by a disc 1 8 with larger holes 20 therein through which golf tees 1 9 can be inserted, as shown, to be removably retained in the container 8. The tees 1 9 are wedged in the holes 20 and can be removed when required by pulling the exposed heads thereof. Golf balls 21 would be used with this embodiment.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only.

Thus, for example, instead of using an end container with outlet openings therein at the end of the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is possible to use an end container having a side outlet. Thus, for example the respective side apertures may be provided in the body 10 and in the tube 3 such that said apertures can be moved into and out of coincidence with relative movement of the tubular members. In this case these apertures may be in coincidence when the other apertures 5, 9 are not and vice versa. Also, the end container 8 need not be at the top of the device (i.e. at the opposite end to the apertures 5, 9) but instead may be at the bottom of the device below the apertures 5, 9.

Although the embodiments described have two storage and dispense compartments, respectively for the balls and the resin or golf tees, it is to be understood that three or more compartments may be provided as appropriate.

Further, if desired, to facilitate alignment of the apertures 5 9 (and/or side apertures for the auxiliary container where these are provided as mentioned above) it is possible to provide markers on the tubular members (for example on the rim 1 2 and the adjacent end of the tube 3) which, for example, are in alignment when a predetermined relative positioning of the members (e.g. corresponding to coincidence of the apertures) is attained.

Claims (12)

1. A device for storing and dispensing individua-l articles, said device comprising a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having an opening therein through which said articles can be dispensed individually, and a cover member mounted on said tubular container so as to be slidable relative thereto between positions at which said cover member respectively opens and closes said opening respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the said tubular container is substantially of regular circular cross-section.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the said opening is circular.

4. A device for storing and dispensing articles, said device comprising inner and outer tubular members in combination defining a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having respective apertures therein to provide an opening through which said articles can be dispensed, said tubular members being rotatable one relative to the other between positions at which said apertures are respectively in and out of coincidence with each other respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough.

5. A device according to claim 4, which is also a device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A device for storing and dispensing first articles, said device comprising a tubular container in which said articles can be stored along the length thereof and having an opening therein through which said articles can be dispensed, a cover member mounted on said tubular container so as to be movable relative thereto between positions at which said cover member respectively opens and closes said opening respectively to permit and prevent said dispense of articles therethrough, and an auxiliary container associated with said tubular container and adapted to store and permit dispense therefrom of a material or articles different from the first said articles.

7. A device according to claim 6, which is also a device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the said auxiliary container is located at one end of the tubular container.

9. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 0. The combination of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, with a plurality of sports balls in said tubular container.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the balls are disposed in a single column within the container and the opening is wide enough to permit passage of only one ball at a time.

12. The combination of claim 10 or 11 when dependent on any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said auxiliary container has resin therein and such container has an openable dispense outlet through which resin can be shaken.

1 3. The combination of claim 10 or 11, when dependent on any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said auxiliary container has golf tees therein which are freely exposed at and can be removed through dispense holes in an end wall of such container.