CASE WITH ELASTIC-SECURED END CAP

• US 20050023157A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Umbra LLC (Umbra)
• Original Assignee: Umbra Incorporated (Umbra)
• Inventors: Logan, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,981,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/37
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2001/067 Rigid casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/805 Rubber band

Abstract

A case, including a housing having a hollow interior and a channel proximate a perimeter of the housing at two sides thereof, a first end cap fixedly secured to a first end of the housing, the first end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof, a second end cap removably secured to a second end of the housing, the second end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof, and an elastic band positioned within the channel of the housing, the channel of the first end cap and the channel of the second end cap, the elastic band operatively arranged to urge the second end cap into a retained position in engagement with the second end of the housing.

Claims

1. A case, comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior and a channel proximate a perimeter of said housing at two sides thereof;

a first end cap fixedly secured to a first end of said housing, said first end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof;

a second end cap removably secured to a second end of said housing, said second end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof; and

,

an elastic band positioned within said channel of said housing, said channel of said first end cap and said channel of said second end cap, said elastic band operatively arranged to dispose said second end cap into a retained position in engagement with said second end of said housing.

2. The case as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least two fingers/studs disposed within said channels of said housing;

said fingers/studs adapted for passing said elastic band therethrough.

3. The case as recited in claim 2 wherein said second end cap further comprises at least two alignment receptacles;

said alignment receptacles having a shape complementary to said fingers/studs and operatively arranged for mating therewith.

4. The case as recited in claim 3 wherein said elastic band forms a closed loop.

5. A case comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior and a channel proximate a perimeter of said housing at two sides thereof;

a first end cap removably secured to a first end of said housing, said first end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof;

a second end cap removably secured to a second end of said housing, said second end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof; and

,

an elastic band positioned within said channel of said housing, said channel of said first end cap and said channel of said second end cap, said elastic band operatively arranged to dispose said first and second end caps into a retained position in engagement with said housing.

6. The case as recited in claim 5 further comprising a at least two fingers/studs disposed within said channels of said housing;

said fingers/studs adapted for passing said elastic band therethrough.

7. The case as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second end caps each comprise at least two alignment receptacles;

said alignment receptacles having a shape complementary to said fingers/studs and operatively arranged for mating therewith to secure said first and second end caps to said housing.

8. The case as recited in claim 7 wherein said elastic band forms a closed loop.

9. The case as recited in claim 7 comprising first and second linear elastic bands;

said first linear elastic band operatively arranged to urge said first end cap against a first end of said holder and said second linear elastic band operatively arranged to urge said second end cap against a second end of said holder.

10. A case, comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior and a channel proximate a perimeter of said housing at two sides thereof;

a first end cap fixedly secured to a first end of said housing,

a second end cap removably secured to a second end of said housing, said second end cap having a channel proximate a perimeter thereof; and

,

at least one elastic band positioned within said channel of said housing and said channel of said second end cap;

said elastic band operatively arranged to dispose said second end cap into a retained position in engagement with said second end of said housing.

11. The case as recited in claim 10 further comprising at least two fingers/studs disposed within said channels of said housing;

said fingers/studs adapted for securing the a terminal end of said elastic band.

12. The case as recited in claim 11 wherein said second end cap further comprises at least two alignment receptacles;

said alignment receptacles having a shape complementary to said fingers/studs and operatively arranged for mating therewith.

13. The case as recited in claim 10 comprising a pair of linear elastic bands.

14. The case as recited in claim 13 further comprising at least two fingers/studs disposed within said channels of said housing;

said fingers/studs adapted for securing a first free end of each of said elastic bands.

15. The case as recited in claim 14 wherein said second end cap further comprises at least two alignment receptacles;

said alignment receptacles having a shape complementary to said fingers/studs and operatively arranged for mating therewith;

said second end cap adapted for securing a second free end of each of said pair of linear elastic bands.

16. A case, comprising:

a housing having a hollow interior and a channel about a perimeter of said housing at two sides thereof;

a first end cap secured to a first end of said housing, said first end cap having a channel about a perimeter thereof;

a second end cap secured to a second end of said housing, said second end cap having a channel about a perimeter thereof; and

,

an elastic band positioned within said channel of said housing, said channel of said first end cap and said channel of said second end cap.

17. The case as recited in claim 16 wherein said elastic band is operatively arranged to dispose said second end cap into a retained position in engagement with said second end of said housing.

18. The case as recited in claim 16 wherein said elastic band is operatively arranged to dispose said second end cap into a retained position in engagement with said second end of said housing and said first cap into a retained position in engagement with said first end of said housing.

19. The case as recited in claim 17 wherein said first end cap is fixedly secured to a first end of said housing.