ALUMINUM TRIM COIL DISPENSING DEVICE

Abstract

An aluminum trim coil dispensing device that includes an oblong hollow container body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a side of the container body extend between the first and second ends. The first end has an opening configured for the insertion and removal of an aluminum trim coil. A slot extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container body. The slot is configured to allow a continuous feed through of the aluminum trim coil.

Claims

1. An aluminum trim coil dispensing device comprising: an oblong hollow container body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end and a side of the container body extend between the first and second ends, wherein the first end has an opening configured for the insertion and removal of an aluminum trim coil; a slot that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container body, the slot configured to allow a continuous feed through of the aluminum trim coil.

2. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to a side of the container body, the handle extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container body.

3. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a cover for the opening.

4. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the cover is threaded and configured to screw onto the opening.

5. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the cover is configured for a snap-on or interference fit with the opening.

6. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 3, further comprising a handle attached to the cover.

7. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising one or more non-skid strips attached to a side surface of the container body.

8. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the container body has a textured side surface configured to prevent sliding of the container body.

9. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, wherein a width of the slot ranges from one eighth of an inch to one half of an inch.

10. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 9, wherein the width of the slot is one quarter of an inch.

11. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, wherein a length of the slot ranges from 24 inches to 26 inches.

12. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 11, wherein the length of the slot is 24.5 inches.

13. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a felt or felt-like material attached to an interior surface of the container body.

14. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a felt or felt-like material attached to a perimeter of the slot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aluminum trim coil dispensing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan side view of the aluminum trim coil dispensing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is a is a plan end view of the aluminum trim coil dispensing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 has a hollow container body 102 shaped to hold a cylindrical aluminum trim coil, such as those used in residential and commercial construction. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 includes an oblong hollow container body 102 with a first end 103 and a second end 105 opposite the first end 103. A side 107, or multiple sides 107, of the container body 102 extend between the first end 103 and second end 105. The first end 103 has an opening 106 configured for the insertion and removal of the aluminum trim coil.

[0016] As mentioned above, these aluminum trim coils typically come in standard sizes, such as 24 inches in width and having an outer diameter of approximately 10 inches in order to provide the aforementioned 50-foot length. While embodiments of the invention are described in relation to its use with aluminum trim coils, it can be seen that the invention is not limited to use with aluminum trim coils, but could be used to store and dispense coiled products made from a variety of materials, other than aluminum. As such, the invention is not limited to use with aluminum trim coils, or coil mediums of a particular size.

[0017] In typical embodiments, the container body 102 is cylindrical or prism-shaped with a longitudinal axis 104. The container body 102 has an opening 106 at one end through which the aluminum trim coil is inserted or removed. In particular embodiments, the opening 106 is circular and threaded so that an opening cover 108, which is similarly threaded, can seal the opening 106. In other embodiments the opening cover 108 is configured to snap onto a lip of the opening 106 or to seal against the container body 102 via an interference or friction fit.

[0018] The container body 102 has a slot 110 that runs along the length of the body 102 parallel to the longitudinal axis 104. In a typical embodiment, the slot 110 is narrow and runs almost the entire length of the container body 102. When an aluminum trim coil is inserted into the container body 102, an end of the aluminum trim coil is fed through the slot 110 allowing the coil to continuously flow through from inside of the container body 102 to outside of the container body 102. This is done by rotating the aluminum trim coil inside the container body 102 until the end of the coil goes through the slot 110 outside of the container body 102.

[0019] From outside of the container body 102, a user can pull on the end of the aluminum trim coil until the proper length of aluminum trim coil is dispensed. When a needed amount of the trim coil is dispensed through the slot 110, the trim coil is cut and the unused portion of the trim coil remains safely stored in the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 until it is needed. While minimizing waste of trim coil material, the dispensing device 100 also provides greater protection, from water and other elements that might damage the trim coil, than the cardboard boxes in which the trim coils are usually packaged.

[0020] In particular embodiments of the invention, an exterior surface of the container body 102 includes one or more attached non-skid strips 112. These non-skid strips 112 are designed to prevent sliding or skidding movement of aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 when placed horizontally on a floor, ground, or table, for example. The one or more attached non-skid strips 112 may be attached to the exterior surface of the container body 102 using adhesive or other suitable mechanical means for attachment. In alternate embodiments, this non-skid effect may be achieved by a non-smooth texturing the surface of the container body 102.

[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 may optionally include a handle 114 that runs along a side of the container body 102 parallel to the longitudinal axis 104. As also shown in FIG. 2, other embodiments of the invention may optionally include a short handle 116 attached to the opening cover 108. Either or both handles 114, 116 may be included with the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 to facilitate handling of the device 100.

[0022] In certain embodiments of the invention, it is envisioned that interior surfaces of the container body 102 may include felt, or a similar soft material to both minimize damage to the aluminum trim coil and to facilitate dispensing of the coil by reducing friction between the coil and the interior surfaces of the container body 102. Accordingly, it is envisioned that the slot 110 may have this felt, or felt-like material placed around its entire perimeter, or around a portion thereof so that the trim coil only contacts the felt or felt-like material when dispensed through the slot 110.

[0023] In a typical embodiment, the container body 102 is made from plastic, though it is possible to construct the container body 102 from other materials including metal, wood, etc. The aforementioned felt, or felt-like material could be attached to the interior surface of the container body 102 using adhesive, or other suitable mechanical means of attachment.

[0024] To accommodate standard-size aluminum trim coils, such as described above, some embodiments of the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 are approximately 25 inches in length, and approximately 12 inches wide. The opening 106 may be about 10 inches, or slightly more than 10 inches wide or, if circular, the same in diameter. The slot 110 may be substantially rectangular measuring about 24.5 inches long and about one fourth of an inch wide. In some embodiments, the width of the slot 110 may range from one eight of an inch to half an inch or more, and the length of the slot could range from 24 inches to 26 inches. However, it is understood that alternate embodiments of the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 may be larger or smaller compared to the example described above.

[0025] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, when a prism-shaped aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 is arranged on the ground or floor in a horizontal position, the slot 110 may be located such that is one fourth of an inch to one inch above the ground or floor to maximize stability of the device 100 while the aluminum is being dispensed. It can also be seen that, in some embodiments, the size of the opening 106 may be less than the size of the container body 102. In a particular embodiment, a mouth of the opening 106 is located on the first end 103 of the container body 102 wherein the mouth has a cylindrical portion 118 that extends axially (i.e., parallel to longitudinal axis 104) outward from the first end 103. The mouth of opening 106 may have a threaded exterior surface for attachment of the cover 108. In alternate embodiments the exterior surface is not threaded but configured for a snap fit or interference fit with cover 108.

[0026] While FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show the aluminum trim coil dispensing device 100 as prism-shaped with four longitudinal sides of equal size, alternate embodiments of the device 100 may be cylindrical, or prism-shaped with greater or few than four longitudinal sides which may be of the same or different sizes.

[0027] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0028] The use of the terms a and an and the and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms comprising, having, including, and containing are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning including, but not limited to,) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0029] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.