Patent Application
20070017951
The present invention relates to a storage container operable to hold various kinds of wraps such as plastic, aluminum or paper.
Almost every adult has bought some form of container containing a plastic wrap, aluminum or paper in their life. These are very popular items in every household. However, the dispensers are not always as easy to use as they may appear.
The current dispensers are typically a cardboard box wherein the front contains some form of cutting edge. The box is normally sealed and contains weakened severing connections on each end as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,002,667. Under ideal conditions, this offers an easy means of opening the box; however, the glue that actually seals the box sometimes extends to areas where it is not supposed to be creating difficulty in opening the box. Alternatively, the weakened severing connections do not always tear apart as they are designed. This leaves you with a section that is either cut off or contains additional material depending on how the weakened severing connections tear apart. This is only part of the problems associated with the current method of dispensing wraps.
If you have ever used plastic wrap, you have obviously experienced some degree of difficulty in getting the wrap to actually dispense from the roll. Because the current cardboard box method of dispensing wrap allows the roll of wrap to come out of the box, it sometimes makes if very difficult to dispense certain wraps such as plastic wrap. The plastic wrap has a tendency to stick to the roll making the dispensing more difficult. Therefore, you are required to use one hand to hold the lid of the box closed while using the other than hand to actually pull the wrap from the box. Once you have actually managed to get the wrap to unroll and you have reached your desired length, you are then faced with trying to cut the wrap from the roll. The difficulty with plastic wrap is that when you attempt to do this with one hand you end up with the wrap getting bunched up once it is cut. Now you are faced with trying to unstick the wrap from itself on the newly cut piece.
While aluminum does not have quite as many problems with dispensing as plastic wrap, it too has its share of problems with the cardboard box. For example, if the ends get crushed on the aluminum, it makes dispensing difficult. It is easy for the ends of the box to be crushed when the boxes are stored in a drawer. With the movement of the draw it allows the box to slide back and forth causing the wrap to slide back and forth within the box. Additionally, when you place these cardboard boxes into a drawer it easy for other objects in the drawer to create problems with the box. Additionally, aluminum comes in more than one size. Sometimes, the wider size is not easily placed in a drawer.
Alternatively, the tops to the various types of wrap boxes do not always stay closed. Therefore, when they are placed in a drawer for storage, you are taking the chance that the top will open while in the drawer. If this happens, the top is likely to become at least partially crushed when you try to open the drawer. At the very least, an open top, creates a problem for the user in trying to get the box out of the drawer.
Another means of wrapping is paper. While we do not always think of paper as a wrapping means in the kitchen, we do use paper to wrap lots of things. Packages are probably the most common. If we are not wrapping packages for gifts, we have all wrapped a package at some point for shipping. Keeping the brown paper that is used for wrapping shipping packages is as difficult as keeping wrapping paper from getting all bunched up. Neither brown wrapping paper nor gift wrap paper currently comes in dispensers similar to those used for plastic wrap or aluminum.
In one embodiment the storage container would be comprised of at least two pieces.
In another embodiment the at least two pieces will be operable to connect.
In another embodiment at least one of the two pieces will comprise a groove on the bottom side.
In still another embodiment the first and second pieces will be slideably connectable by means of the groove.
In still another embodiment the at least two pieces will lock together at the desired length.
In another embodiment the storage container will include a jagged tooth edge.
In yet another embodiment the jagged tooth edge would be operable to cut a material when pressure is applied.
In another embodiment the storage container would comprise two end pieces each having an extended triangular locking piece.
In another embodiment the extended triangular locking pieces would be spring loaded.
In still another embodiment the extended triangular locking pieces would be operable to hold a round tube.
In yet another embodiment the extended triangular locking pieces would be operable to allow a round tube to rotate.
In yet another embodiment the storage container would be comprised of chrome
In still another embodiment the storage container would be comprised of plastic.
In another embodiment the storage container would be comprise a top side which is hinged to the back side.
In another embodiment the storage container would comprise a lip.
In yet another embodiment the lip of the storage container would be thicker to cause the lip to close automatically.
In still another embodiment the storage container would comprise rounded corners.
In another embodiment the storage container would be constructed of chrome.
In still another embodiment the storage container would be constructed of hard plastic.
In another embodiment the storage container would be operable to hold aluminum foil.
In yet another embodiment the storage container would be operable to hold plastic wrap.
In still another embodiment the storage container would be operable to hold rolled paper.
Still other advantages of various embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention simply for the purposes of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different aspects and embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the advantages, drawings, and descriptions are illustrative in nature and not restrictive in nature.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
