Abstract
A stabilizer for a cylindrical shipping container comprises at least one flat portion to inhibit the cylindrical shipping container from rolling when set on a surface. The stabilizer may form an end cap configured to cover an open end of the cylindrical shipping container. The perimeter of the stabilizer may be square, triangular, or hexagonal.
Claims
1. A shipping container comprising: a cylindrical body comprising a first open end; a first end cap covering the first open end; wherein the first end cap has a first outer contour shape configured to inhibit the body from rolling when laid on its side on a surface.
2. The shipping container of claim 1, wherein the first outer contour shape comprises at least one flat portion.
3. The shipping container of claim 2, wherein the first outer contour shape comprises at least one right angle corner.
4. The shipping container of claim 2, wherein the first outer contour shape is square.
5. The shipping container of claim 2, wherein the first outer contour shape is triangular.
6. The shipping container of claim 2, wherein the first outer contour shape is hexagonal.
7. The shipping container of claim 1, comprising: a second open end of the cylindrical body; a second end cap covering the second open end; wherein the second end cap has a second outer contour shape configured to inhibit the body from rolling when laid on its side on a surface.
8. The shipping container of claim 7, wherein the second outer contour shape comprises at least one flat portion.
9. The shipping container of claim 7, wherein the second outer contour shape is the same as the first outer contour shape.
10. A stabilizer for a cylindrical shipping container, the stabilizer comprising: a shoulder configured to engage an open end of the cylindrical shipping container; and a perimeter extending at least partially outside the shoulder, wherein the perimeter comprises at least one flat portion.
11. The stabilizer of claim 10, wherein the stabilizer comprises an end cap configured to cover an open end of the cylindrical shipping container.
12. The stabilizer of claim 11, wherein the perimeter comprises at least one right angle corner.
13. The end cap of claim 11, wherein the perimeter is square.
14. The end cap of claim 11, wherein the perimeter is triangular.
15. The end cap of claim 11, wherein the perimeter is hexagonal.
16. A stabilizer for a cylindrical shipping container, the stabilizer comprising a body defining an inner hole sized to accept the cylindrical shipping container therethrough and an outer perimeter comprising at least one flat portion.
17. The stabilizer of claim 16, wherein the perimeter comprises at least one right angle corner.
18. The end cap of claim 16, wherein the perimeter is square.
19. The end cap of claim 16, wherein the perimeter is triangular.
20. The end cap of claim 16, wherein the perimeter is hexagonal.
21. A method of stabilizing a cylindrical shipping container comprising; coupling a body of the cylindrical shipping container to a stabilizer comprising at least one flat portion; and resting the cylindrical shipping container with the at least one flat portion against a surface adjacent to the body of the cylindrical shipping container such that the cylindrical body is inhibited from rolling along the surface.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling comprises installing an end cap comprising the at least one flat portion into an open end of the body.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the coupling comprises sliding the stabilizer comprising the at least one flat portion over and along the body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] The nature, objects, and advantages of the present technology will become more apparent after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.
[0009] FIG. 1A shows a conventional cylindrical shipping container as used in industry.
[0010] FIG. 1B shows a conventional end cap used to seal or otherwise cover an open end of the shipping container of FIG. 1A.
[0011] FIG. 2A shows a cylindrical shipping container with a body as in FIG. 1A but with a stabilizer forming an end cap at the bottom end opening of the tube to keep it from rolling.
[0012] FIG. 2B shows an exploded perspective view of the shipping container of FIG. 2A to illustrate how the stabilizer end cap attaches to the cylindrical body of the shipping container.
[0013] FIG. 3 shows the completed shipping container with the addition of a square perimeter end cap on the bottom end opening of the body used for stability features.
[0014] FIG. 4A shows a completed shipping container with square perimeter end caps at both ends.
[0015] FIG. 4B shows an exploded perspective view of the shipping container illustrating how both ends of the cylindrical body receive square end caps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The disclosed embodiments provide devices for shipping containers with advantageous features. Included are end caps with non-circular outer shapes. All these features allow a cylindrical shipping container to be kept in a stable position and prevent rolling on a given surface.
[0017] FIG. 1A illustrates an example of a shipping container tube made with a cylindrical body that can be constructed of various materials. The materials can consist of paper, plastic, or metal. Cylindrical tube bodies for these shipping containers have the advantage of providing a rugged container that can protect the goods inside against damage for shipping while at the same time allowing for extruded manufacturing processes which are very low in manufacturing costs. The figure shows at 101 the body of the cylindrical shipping container, this is the part that is generally manufactured in long tubes with a process that starts with a strip of material which is wound into a cylinder with a slight overlap for each turn and with application of adhesives. This is done at high speed thus yielding a low-cost process. Once the tubes are made, the long tubes are cut into shorter pieces to get them ready for use. In addition, for shipping the tube will have end caps or plugs at both ends at 102 and 103. The plugs can be made of plastic or other materials which allow the plug to seal or otherwise cover both ends of the tube. The end cap has a feature such as a shoulder that allows one side of it to be pressure fitted into and/or over the open end of the tube. Adhesive may also be used, and the end cap can also be made of other materials such as metal. When placed in use at a shipping location, one side (e.g. the bottom side or bottom end) of the cylindrical body 101 may have a fixed end cap secured with adhesive for example whereas the opposite side (e.g. the top side or top end) has a removable end cap. Prior to shipping, the user puts the goods to be shipped inside of the body of the shipping container and then places the removable end cap on the remaining open end of the cylindrical body 101. FIG. 1a illustrates how end cap 102 is placed over the cylindrical body 101 at 104.
[0018] FIG. 1B shows an exploded perspective view of shipping container 101 as it is typically used for shipments. The end cap 103 may have ridges or a shoulder 105 which help to secure the end cap when it is inserted into an open end of the cylindrical body 101, as shown by arrows 107. This is typically the bottom of the tube. The tube contains a removable cap at 102 that is placed on top of the tube to prepare for shipment once the items to be shipped are placed inside of the tube. In many cases, the end cap on the bottom has a shoulder that press fits to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 101, and the end cap on the top has a shoulder that press fits around the outer surface of the cylindrical body 101.
[0019] FIG. 2A illustrates a design of a stabilizer 201 for one end of the cylindrical body 101, in this case, the stabilizer 201 forms a bottom end cap that has an outer contour or perimeter with at least one flat portion. In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the stabilizer 201 has edge features that form a square. The end cap 201 in this case also may have ridges or a shoulder 202 to allow it to be press fit connected to the end opening of the cylindrical body 101 in a conventional manner. It will be appreciated however and when the stabilizer 201 is inserted into the bottom of cylindrical body 101 the shipping container will not be allowed to freely roll when placed on a supporting flat surface such as a floor of a warehouse or delivery vehicle. In this embodiment the stabilizer has a square outer shape and forms the bottom end cap construction. Other stabilizer outer contours, shapes, and perimeters are also possible with the feature of having at least one flat portion being common among them. For example triangular or hexagonal are also suitable options. The shape could also be circular over part or even most of the perimeter, as long as a flat portion is present somewhere on the perimeter. When the shipping container is placed on a supporting surface such as a floor of a warehouse or delivery vehicle with a flat portion of the stabilizer perimeter against the surface the shipping container is inhibited from rolling along the surface it is resting on.
[0020] FIG. 2B shows an exploded perspective view of cylindrical body 101 that illustrates how the stabilizer 201 is inserted into an end opening of the tube 101 where the arrows 203 show. Ridges/shoulder 202 can help provide press-fit friction when the end cap is coupled to the end opening of the cylindrical body 101. Arrows at 203 show the procedure for connecting square stabilizer end cap 201 in tube 101. Adhesives may be used to further secure the stabilizer end cap 201 in place in a known manner.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows the completed shipping container after the end cap 104 has been placed on the top of the tube and bottom cap 201 has been placed in the bottom part of the tube. This shows how the tube will not be able to rotate freely, which makes handling of the shipping container more convenient. The square perimeter of end cap 201 can also provide a better base for when the user wants to stack one shipping container on top of another.
[0022] FIG. 4A shows another embodiment where the end cap 401 for the top end opening of the tube 101 is also made to have a perimeter that is noncircular to prevent rolling of the tube.
[0023] FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the shipping container with this additional feature, where the top end cap 401 is placed around the top part of the cylindrical body 101 as shown by arrows at 402.
[0024] In another embodiment not shown in the figures, a stabilizer with an outer contour or perimeter with at least one flat portion can be placed over the cylindrical body and placed between the two ends of the cylindrical body, such as near the middle of the cylindrical body. In this embodiment, the stabilizer does not form an end cap for covering or sealing either end opening of the tube. Such an embodiment could be in some ways similar to the top stabilizer end cap 401 of FIGS. 4A and 4B but instead of a closed panel in the center there is an opening inside the shoulder allowing the stabilizer to slide with a friction fit over the cylindrical body like a ring which can be placed anywhere between the ends of the tube as desired by a user. Such a stabilizer ring, or two or more stabilizer rings, could be used by itself/themselves on a shipping container or one or more such stabilizer rings could be combined in one shipping container with stabilizer end caps having a flat portion on the perimeter as described above.
