REUSABLE SHINGLE CARRY AND STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A shingle carry and storage container is constructed of a single piece of flexible continuous and contiguous planar substrate having a pair of opposed long sides and a pair of opposed short sides to form a generally rectangular shape. A plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal creases are provided in the substrate that define a rear end panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a bottom front panel, and a top front panel. Furthermore, a pair of opposed parallel side creases in the substrate spaced from the short sides normal to the longitudinal creases define a pair of opposed side panels having tabs on the ends for folding over and assembling the container.

Claims

1. A shingle carry and storage container, comprising: a single piece of flexible continuous and contiguous planar substrate having a pair of opposed long sides and a pair of opposed short sides to form a generally rectangular shape; a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal creases in said substrate that define a rear end panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a bottom front panel, and a top front panel; and a pair of opposed parallel side creases in said substrate spaced from said short sides of planar sheet normal to said longitudinal creases to define a pair of opposed side panels, each side panel having a top end tab proximate said top panel; and wherein said bottom front panel comprises a longitudinal crease dividing said bottom front panel into two front panel sections that are folded to overlap each other and engage said top front panel to provide three layers of substrate when said container is assembled.

2. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises at least one layer of corrugated paper.

3. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of corrugated paper layers.

4. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1 further comprising: a handle secured to said top front panel for carrying said container.

5. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 4 further comprising: a reinforcement tab having a spaced pair of apertures therein, said reinforcement tab secured to an interior portion of top front panel; a pair of handle tab apertures disposed in said top front panel that communicate with the apertures of said reinforcement tab; and wherein said handle includes a central member that terminates in either end at attachment tabs that are inserted through said reinforcement tab apertures and said handle tab apertures for securing said handle to said top front panel.

6. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 5 comprising: a handle slot disposed in each bottom front panel section arranged so that when said bottom front panel sections are folded the handle slots communicate; and wherein the central member of said handle is positioned through said handle slots when said bottom front panel and said bottom rear panel are placed in an overlapping position, thereby closing said container.

7. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 6 wherein said substrate opposed long sides are up to 47 inches in length and the opposed short sides are up to 41 9/16 inches in length.

8. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1 further comprising: a pocket secured to an exterior portion of said container for carrying storing information relevant to shingles carried and stored in said container.

9. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1 further comprising: a pocket secured to an interior portion of said container for carrying storing information relevant to shingles carried and stored in said container.

10. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1 further comprising: a cut in each opposed side panel proximate a midpoint thereof to facilitate folding and assembly of said container.

11. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 1 wherein said top end tabs are shaped to engage said bottom front panel edges when said container is assembled.

12. A shingle carry and storage container, comprising: a single piece of flexible continuous and contiguous planar substrate having a pair of opposed long sides and a pair of opposed short sides to form a generally rectangular shape; six spaced parallel longitudinal creases in said substrate that define a rear end panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a bottom front panel, and a top front panel; and two opposed parallel side creases in said substrate spaced from said short sides of said substrate normal to said longitudinal creases to define a pair of opposed side panels, each side panel having a top and bottom end tabs defined by side creases and a cut proximate a midpoint thereof; wherein said bottom front panel comprises two longitudinal creases dividing said bottom front panel into two front panel sections that are folded to overlap each other and engage said top front panel when said container is assembled.

13. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 12, wherein said substrate comprises at least one layer of corrugated paper.

14. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 12, wherein said substrate comprises a plurality of corrugated paper layers.

15. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 12 further comprising: a handle secured to said top front panel for carrying said container.

16. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 15 further comprising: a reinforcement tab having a spaced pair of apertures therein, said reinforcement tab secured to an interior portion of top front panel; a pair of handle tab apertures disposed in said top front panel that communicate with the apertures of said reinforcement tab; and wherein said handle includes a central member that terminates in either end at attachment tabs that are inserted through said reinforcement tab apertures and said handle tab apertures for securing said handle to said top front panel.

17. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 16 comprising: a handle slot disposed in each bottom front panel section arranged so that when said bottom front panel sections are folded the handle slots communicate; and wherein the central member of said handle is positioned through said handle slots when said bottom front panel and said bottom rear panel are placed in an overlapping position, thereby closing said container.

18. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 17 wherein said substrate is sized to form a constructed container that can enclose shingles between 12-18 inches in width and 26-40 inches in length.

19. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 12 further comprising: a pocket secured to an exterior portion of said container for carrying storing information relevant to shingles carried and stored in said container.

20. The shingle carry and storage container of claim 12 wherein said top end tabs are shaped to engage said bottom front panel edges when said container is assembled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is an perspective view of an assembled reusable knock-down carry and storage container in accordance with some embodiments;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle assembly for a reusable knock-down carry and storage container in accordance with some embodiments;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a dimensioned plan view of an unassembled reusable knock-down carry and storage container in accordance with some embodiments;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handle and reinforcement backing in cooperative engagement with a handle assembly in accordance with some embodiments;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a handle assembly of a partially assembled carry and storage container in accordance with some embodiments;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a carry and storage container showing the planar material having a handle opening folded and partially assembled in accordance with some embodiments;

[0033] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a carry and storage container showing the planar material having a handle opening folded double the aligned handle openings in accordance with some embodiments;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carry and storage container during assembly in accordance with some embodiments;

[0035] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a carry and storage container during assembly in accordance with some embodiments;

[0036] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of a carry and storage container during assembly in accordance with some embodiments; and

[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an assembled carry and storage container in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Referring now to the drawing Figures, and in particular FIGS. 1-5 a shingle carry and storage container 10 is formed from a single piece of flexible planar substrate 20 as a continuous and contiguous structure foldable into a reusable, knock-down box 10, that is easily and quickly assembled by a user 1. In some embodiments, the planar material substrate 20 is corrugated paper or cardboard having a plurality of creases (or seams and/or score lines) as detailed below.

[0039] More particularly, in accordance with some embodiments, a reusable collapsible carry and storage container 10 is constructed from a single piece of flexible continuous and contiguous planar substrate 20 comprising a corrugated or generally flat sheet of material 22. Material 22 may in some embodiments comprise at least one layer but may be a multi-layer sheet of material 22. In some exemplary but non-limiting embodiments, material 22 may comprise a corrugated and/or laminated cardboard sheet. It will be appreciated that a variety of materials 22 may be used as substrate 20 without departing from the scope of the preferred embodiments.

[0040] As best seen in FIG. 3, planar substrate 20 has a pair of opposed long sides 24 and a pair of opposed short sides 26 to form a generally rectangular shape. Substrate 20 is formed or manufactured having a plurality of spaced apart parallel longitudinal creases 28a-f (or seams or scores 28a-e). In exemplary embodiments, creases 28b, 28c define and form a rear end panel 40 disposed therebetween. A top panel 50 is disposed between creases 28a and 28b and one long side 24. An opposing bottom panel 60 is disposed between creases 28c and 28d, and one long side 24. In the exemplary embodiment of container 10 depicted in FIG. 3, six (6) longitudinal generally parallel creases 28a-f are provided to define and separate substrate 20 into rear end panel 40, top panel 50, bottom panel 60, bottom front panel 70, and top front panel 80.

[0041] Referring again to FIG. 3, in some aspects and embodiments, planar substrate 20 further includes a pair of opposed side panels 30 extending from short sides 26 of planar sheet 20 normal to longitudinal creases 28a-f and defined by side creases 32a, 32b provided in substrate 20. Additionally, side panels 30 may include a pair of top end tabs 34 proximate top panel 50 on either side thereof. Top end tabs 34 may be shaped such that a small void or separation 35 is provided between top end tabs 34 and top front panel 80 to facilitate construction of container 10 as side panels 30 are folded to permit top end tabs 34 to cooperatively engage top front panel 80 and bottom front panel 70 as will be discussed further herein below. Furthermore, a plurality of creases 36 a-d and cuts or perforations 38a, 38b, may be provided at various areas of substrate 20 to facilitate construction of container 10 as depicted. For example, cuts 38 a, 38b on side panels 30 enable a user 1 to fold portions of side panels 30 inwardly to engage bottom top panel 70 and top front panel 80 to assemble container 10 as detailed further below.

[0042] Still referring to FIG. 3, a bottom front panel 70 is provided and defined by a pair of longitudinal creases 28d, 28e, 28f, in substrate 20 proximate bottom panel 60 creates a bottom front panel 70 that includes two front sections 71, 72 which may be folded together at a 90 degree angle from bottom panel 60 and overlap each other. In some aspects and embodiments, bottom front panel 70 sections 71, 72 each includes a handle slot 74 therein such that when sections 71, 72 are folded together, overlap to form a single handle slot 74 with a double-thickness of substrate 20 formed by bottom front panel 70 sections 71, 72.

[0043] Furthermore, and in accordance with some aspects and embodiments, top front panel 80 may be provided with a pair of handle tab apertures 82 that act to accept and secure a collapsible carrying handle 100. As best depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, tab apertures 82 may be reinforced by a reinforcement tab 84 that includes a spaced pair of apertures 86 therethrough that correspond to and cooperate with handle tab apertures 82. Reinforcement tab 84 may be constructed of material 22 that is identical to or compatible with substrate 20, and further may be secured or affixed to the interior of top front panel 80 by a suitable adhesive.

[0044] Collapsible handle 100 may include a central member 102 shaped to provide a comfortable grip for a human hand that terminates in either end at attachment tabs 104. In some embodiments collapsible handle 100 may be constructed of a flexible high-strength plastic polymer or the like, although a wide variety of materials may be used for collapsible handle 100. Attachment tabs 104 may be turned and inserted through overlapping apertures 82, 86 such that tabs 104 catch or rest on reinforcement tab 84 thus securing handle 100 to container 10. When assembling container 10, handle 100 central member 102 can then be inserted from below upward through single handle slot 74 as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 9.

[0045] In accordance with some aspects and embodiments, substrate 20 is sized to form a container 10 that can accommodate conventional shingles sizes, with some exemplary substrate dimensions depicted in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, substrate 20 is sized to accommodate shingles that are in a range of 12 to 18 inches wide and 36 to 40 inches long and less than inch thick. For example, where a container 10 is sized for a bundle of 12 conventional shingles, the long opposed sides may be 47 inches in length while the short sides may be 41 9/16 inches in length. However, it will be appreciated that substrate 20 may be sized and shaped to provide a container 10 that is capable of storing larger or smaller contents without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.

[0046] As depicted in FIGS. 4-11 container 10 is readily and easily constructed by a user 1 by folding substrate 20 along all creases 28, and orienting rear end panel 40, bottom front panel 70 and top front panel 80 at 90 degree angles to both top panel 50 and bottom panel 60. Bottom front panel sections 71, 72 are overlapped such that handle slots 74 are aligned to provide a space for handle 100 central member 102. Handle 100 tabs 104 are inserted into top front panel 80 apertures 82 and reinforcement tab 84 apertures 86 to secure handle 100 to top front panel 80.

[0047] Side panels 30 are also folded at a 90 degree angle to top panel 50 and bottom panel 60, and top end tabs 34 are inserted into the slot created by bottom front panel sections 71, 72, as best seen in FIGS. 6, 10 and 11, thereby creating an assembled container 10. Container 10 may be opened and closed by simply inserting handle 100 through handle slot 74.

[0048] In a yet further embodiment as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 9, a plastic pocket 110 may be affixed on bottom front panel 70 on an exterior surface thereof that is shaped and sized to accommodate a business card, or a folded sheet of paper or the equivalent that provide a homeowner with contact information regarding their roofing professional and/or shingle manufacturer. Plastic pocket 110 may in some embodiments be a simple plastic sheet that is secured to bottom front panel 70 with an adhesive along three sides, or it may be a re-sealable flap-closure pocket or envelope affixed to bottom front panel 70. Additionally, a plastic pocket may in some embodiments be secured to an interior portion of said container 10. This feature of the invention provides the roofer or installer of the shingles a convenient place to provide contact information to a homeowner, thereby providing the homeowner or user 1 with the ability to quickly locate their roofer in the event they've lost a shingle, or to locate a manufacturer or sales representative in the event they require additional spare shingles.

[0049] While a variety of inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other methods, systems, and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results, and/or one or more of the advantages described herein are possible, and further understand that each of such variations and/or modifications is within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

[0050] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0051] The indefinite articles a and an, as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean at least one.

[0052] The phrase and/or, as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean either or both of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with and/or should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., one or more of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the and/or clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to A and/or B, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as comprising can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

[0053] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, or should be understood to have the same meaning as and/or as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, or or and/or shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as only one of or exactly one of, or, when used in the claims, consisting of, will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term or as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. one or the other but not both) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as either, one of, only one of, or exactly one of Consisting essentially of, when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

[0054] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase at least one, in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase at least one refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, at least one of A and B (or, equivalently, at least one of A or B, or, equivalently at least one of A and/or B) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

[0055] It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

[0056] In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as comprising, including, carrying, having, containing, involving, holding, composed of, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases consisting of and consisting essentially of shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

[0057] While the present invention has been shown and described herein in what are considered to be exemplary embodiments thereof, illustrating the results and advantages over the prior art obtained through the aspects disclosed, the apparatus is not limited to those specific embodiments. Thus, the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims appended hereto.