Dispenser for conduit, related components, and tools

• US 9,248,952 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
• Inventors: Burrous, Robert A., Haas, Clint R., Elzey, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): REYNOLDS, STEVEN ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/800,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20140262866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 206/409, 206/408, 206/389, 206/225, 206/373, 242/587, 242/588.3, 242/170
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 a bottom wall and at least one side wall upstanding from the bottom wall, the at least one side wall having a first container inner surface portion facing inward about an opening of the first container and a first container outer surface portion facing outward;

tubing for being disposed within the first container;

a second container configured to be releasably connected to the first container to close the opening, the second container comprising;

a base for being releasably connected to the first container, the base defining a plurality of compartments and a base skirt portion, the base skirt portion having a base skirt portion inner surface for engaging the first container outer surface portion and a base skirt portion outer surface opposite the base skirt portion inner surface; and

a lid for being releasably connected to the base, the lid covering the plurality of compartments of the base and including a lid skirt portion, the lid skirt portion having a lid skirt portion inner surface for engaging the base skirt portion outer surface;

a plurality of irrigation components for use with the tubing, the plurality of irrigation components being contained in the plurality of compartments of the base; and

the second container having a first configuration wherein the base and lid are connected together and both the base and lid are disconnected from the first container and a second configuration wherein the base is connected to the first container and the lid is disconnected from the base.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first container has a rim extending about the opening that includes the first container outer surface portion, the base skirt portion inner surface being configured to releasably engage the rim.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the lid skirt portion is configured to releasably engage the base skirt portion and provide overlapping nesting of the lid skirt portion, the base skirt portion, and the first container side wall.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the base skirt portion inner surface includes a snap-fit connection configured to releasably engage the first container rim and the lid skirt portion inner surface includes a snap-fit connection configured to releasably engage the base skirt portion outer surface.

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

16. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first container has a rim that includes the first container outer surface portion;

and

the base skirt portion includes a channel that receives the first container rim, the channel including the base skirt portion inner surface that engages the first container outer surface portion with the base connected to the first container.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the lid skirt portion includes a channel that receives the channel of the base skirt portion, the channel of the lid skirt portion including the lid skirt portion inner surface that engages the base skirt portion outer surface with the lid connected to the base.

6. The dispenser of 1 wherein the plurality of irrigation components comprise different irrigation components in different compartments.

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

a first container having an upper opening and a lower annular projection, the first container having an inner surface facing inward and extending about the upper opening;

tubing for being disposed within the first container;

a second container including a base having an outer portion configured to be connected to the first container and an inner portion sized to be positioned at least partially in the opening of the first container, the second container further including a lid configured to be connected to the base;

one or more compartments of the inner portion of the second container base 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 and the lid covers the at least one opening with the lid connected to the base;

an annular channel portion of the lid of the second container sized to receive a lower annular projection of another dispenser stacked on the lid;

a side wall of the base inner portion extending along the inner surface of the first container with the base outer portion connected to the first container;

a flat portion of the base extending inward from the side wall;

wall portions of the inner portion of the base of the second container extending along the one or more compartments and having outer ends connected to the flat portion and separated from the side wall of the base by a gap sized to receive the annular channel portion of the lid therein; and

the side wall, flat portion, and wall portion ends of the base mating with the annular channel portion of the lid to resist deflection of the lid annular channel portion due to loading from the lower annular projection received in the lid annular channel portion.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the lid includes a transparent portion 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 portion.

9. The dispenser of claim 7 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.

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

a container having an opening and a rim extending about the opening;

tubing for being disposed within the container;

a tray having a tray locking portion configured to be connected to the rim of the container to close the opening, the tray having a tray flange portion disposed outward from the tray locking portion for gripping and separating the tray from the container, the tray having a plurality of compartments for receiving a plurality of irrigation components for use with the tubing;

an opening of one of the plurality of compartments of the tray that is sized to permit a section of tubing to be advanced out of the container through the opening;

a lid for covering the plurality of compartments and having a lid locking portion configured to engage the tray locking portion, the tray extending between the lid and the container so that the lid is completely spaced from the container with the lid locking portion engaging the tray locking portion;

the lid having a lid flange portion disposed outward from the lid locking portion that extends along and overlaps the tray flange portion with the lid connected to the tray for gripping and separating the lid from the tray;

the tray and lid having a first configuration wherein the tray and lid are connected to each other and both the tray and lid are disconnected from the container and a second configuration wherein the tray is connected to the container and the lid is disconnected from the tray.

11. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the tray includes a device supported thereon that is configured to cut tubing dispensed from the tray opening.

12. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the tubing is wound.

13. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the tubing is pre-coiled and includes an outer wrap of flexible material configured to resist uncoiling of the tubing.

14. The dispenser of claim 10 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.

15. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the container comprises:

a bottom wall; and

at least one side wall upstanding from the bottom wall that includes the rim extending about the opening.

18. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the lid flange portion extends outward farther than the tray flange portion.