Dispenser For Conduit, Related Components, And Tools

• US 20140262866A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Haas, Clint R., Elzey, James A., Burrous, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/225
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/006 Storage means specially adapted for one specific hand apparatus, e.g. an electric drill
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/021 comprising a number of connected storage elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/04 for coils of wire, rope or hose

Abstract

A dispenser for conduit and related components and tools is provided. In one form, the dispenser includes a first container configured to receive tubing and a second container configured to be connected to the first container. The second container has one or more compartments for containing one or more components or tools for use with the tubing.

Claims

1. A dispenser for tubing and related components, the dispenser comprising:

a first container having an opening;

tubing configured to be disposed within the first container;

a second container configured to be connected to the first container to close the opening, the second container having one or more compartments; and

one or more components or tools for use with the tubing, the one or more components or tools being contained in the one or more compartments.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first container has a rim extending about the opening and the second container has a locking portion configured to releasably engage the rim.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 further comprising a lid having a lid locking portion configured to releasably engage the second container locking portion and provide stacked locking of the lid and second container.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the locking portion of the second container includes a snap-fit connection configured to releasably engage the first container rim and the locking portion of the lid includes a snap-fit connection configured to releasably engage the locking portion of the second container.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the second container comprises:

a base having an inner portion with the one or more compartments therein that is configured to close the opening of the first container and an outer portion configured to be connected to the first container; and

a lid having an inner portion that covers the one or more compartments and an outer portion configured to overlap and be connected to the base outer portion.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the second container includes a dispensing aperture configured to permit a section of the tubing to be advanced out of the first container while the second container is connected to first container.

7. The dispenser of 1 wherein the one or more compartments comprise a plurality of compartments and the one or more components or tools comprise different components or tools placed in different compartments.

8. A dispenser for tubing and related components, the container comprising:

a first container having an opening;

tubing configured to be disposed within the first container;

a second container configured to connected to the first container and be positioned at least partially in the opening of the first container;

one or more compartments of the second container for receiving one or more components or tools for use with the tubing;

at least one opening of the one or more compartments that opens into the one or more compartments and permits access to the one or more components or tools.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the second container includes a base member that includes the one or more compartments and the at least one opening of the one or more compartments.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein the second container includes a lid configured to be connected to the base member and cover the at least one opening of the one or more compartments.

11. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the second container includes a transparent member covering the at least one opening of the one or more compartments so that the one or more components or tools are visible through the transparent member.

12. The dispenser of claim 8 further comprising the tubing disposed in the first container and the one or more components or tools disposed in the one or more compartments of the second container.

13. A dispenser for tubing and related components, the container comprising:

a container having an opening;

tubing configured to be disposed within the container;

a tray configured to be connected to the container to close the opening, the tray having one or more compartments for receiving one or more components or tools for use with the tubing; and

an opening defined by the tray and sized to permit a section of tubing to be advanced out of the container.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 further comprising a lid configured to be connected to the tray and cover at least a portion of the tray.

15. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the opening is disposed in one of the one or more compartments of the tray.

16. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the tray includes a device supported thereon that is configured to cut tubing dispensed from the dispensing aperture.

17. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the tubing is wound.

18. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the tubing is pre-coiled and includes an outer wrap of flexible material configured to resist uncoiling of the tubing.

19. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the tray opening includes an edge and the tubing and edge are configured to produce a friction engagement therebetween which controls movement of the tubing through the opening.

20. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the container comprises:

a bottom wall;

a side wall upstanding from the bottom wall;

a rim of the sidewall opposite the bottom wall that extends about the container opening; and

the tray is configured to connect to the rim.

21. A method comprising:

providing a first container configured to receive tubing;

connecting a second container to the first container;

inserting one or more components or tools for use with the tubing into one or more compartments of the second container;

connecting a lid to the second container to capture the one or more components or tools in the one or more compartments of the second container.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein connecting the lid to the second container includes covering one or more openings of the one or more compartments with the lid.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the second container has an aperture and connecting the second container to the first container includes positioning the second container aperture in communication with an interior volume of the first container such that tubing can be withdrawn from the interior volume through the aperture.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein inserting the one or more components or tools into the one or more compartments includes:

inserting a plurality of components or tools into a plurality of compartments of the second container; and

inserting different components or tools into different compartments.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising placing tubing in the first container.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising advancing a length of tubing through a hole in the second container.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein connecting the second container to the first container includes covering an opening of the first container.