초록 ▼

An anti-rolling device for cylindrical containers, such as mailing tubes, has a stabilizing member with an internal aperture for inserting over a portion of the container. The outer periphery of the device is irregular, e.g., having flats, such that resting on a flat lowers the container to a stable

An anti-rolling device for cylindrical containers, such as mailing tubes, has a stabilizing member with an internal aperture for inserting over a portion of the container. The outer periphery of the device is irregular, e.g., having flats, such that resting on a flat lowers the container to a stable position, and requires energy to rotate beyond the flat and consequently lift the container. The device may be slipped over a plug type cap or placed directly over the body of the container. In alternative embodiments, the device is provided in the form of a gasket, is made from a foam material, is split and resiliently grabs the container or has an elastic band holding it tightly to the container. The various embodiments may be used to retrofit an existing container. The stabilizer may be provided with one or more radial tabs, which may have burrs to grip the receptacle and/or feature a constraining ring to lock the cap into the receptacle. The stabilizer may be used to hold a container upright or constitute an indicia bearing surface.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container system having an elongated substantially cylindrical receptacle having an axis and bounding an interior receptacle space and at least one plug-type closure with an inserting portion having a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, said inserting portion inserted into an open end of th

1. A container system having an elongated substantially cylindrical receptacle having an axis and bounding an interior receptacle space and at least one plug-type closure with an inserting portion having a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, said inserting portion inserted into an open end of the receptacle and into the interior receptacle space with said bottom wall serving to close the open end of the receptacle, said closure having a peripheral lip extending from an upper end of the circumferential wall which prevents complete insertion of the closure into the open end of the receptacle, said container system comprising: a planar stabilizing member extending in a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction, said stabilizing member having an aperture therein bounded by an internal surface, said aperture extending through the thickness of the stabilizing member in a direction approximately perpendicularly to the lateral and longitudinal directions of extension of said stabilizing member, said inserting portion of the closure inserted within said aperture, said aperture corresponding to a size and a shape of said bottom wall of said closure, said stabilizing member is sandwiched between the lip of the closure and the open end of the receptacle, the stabilizing member contacting a support surface, said stabilizing member bearing against the receptacle when the closure is received in said aperture and thereby preventing the receptacle from rolling. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle has an open end and the closure is selectively attachable to and removable from the open end to provide controlled access to the interior of the receptacle and said stabilizing member is in contact with the closure. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the receptacle has an interior space, the closure is a plug-type closure with an inserting portion which slideably inserts into the open end of the receptacle into the interior space, and a peripheral lip which prevents complete insertion of the plug-type closure into the open end of the receptacle, said aperture of said stabilizing member receiving the inserting portion of the closure, said stabilizing member being captured between the lip and the open end of the receptacle when the inserting portion is inserted therein. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said stabilizing member frictionally engages the closure. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein said stabilizing member frictionally engages the receptacle. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the force exerted by the stabilizing member is a frictional force. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing member is made from a foamed polymer. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the force resisting the receptacle from rolling is conveyed through a mechanical engagement between the receptacle and said stabilizing member. 9. The system of claim 1, further including indicia on said stabilizing member to indicate directional orientation. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing member comprises an external surface, and said external peripheral surface of said stabilizing member has a recess therein to accommodate an adjacent receptacle therein. 11. A container system having an elongated substantially cylindrical receptacle having an axis and bounding an interior receptacle space and at least one plug-type closure with an inserting portion having a circumferential wall and a bottom wall, said inserting portion inserted into an open end of the receptacle and into the interior receptacle space with said bottom wall serving to close the open end of the receptacle, said closure having a peripheral lip extending from an upper end of the circumferential wall which prevents complete insertion of the closure into the open end of the receptacle, said container system comprising: a planar stabilizing member extending in a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction, said stabilizing member having an aperture therein bounded by an internal surface, said aperture extending through the thickness of the stabilizing member in a direction approximately perpendicularly to the lateral and longitudinal directions of extension of said stabilizing member, said inserting portion of the closure inserted within said aperture, said aperture corresponding to a size and a shape of said bottom wall of said closure, said stabilizing member is sandwiched between the lip of the closure and the open end of the receptacle, said stabilizing member is a base supporting the receptacle in an upright orientation with the axis of the receptacle at a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a supporting surface and with the stabilizing member contacting the supporting surface. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receptacle has an open end and the closure is selectively attachable to and removable from the open end to provide controlled access to the interior of the receptacle and said stabilizing member is in contact with the closure. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receptacle has an interior space, the closure is a plug-type closure with an inserting portion which slideably inserts into the open end of the receptacle into the interior space, and a peripheral lip which prevents complete insertion of the plug-type closure into the open end of the receptacle, said aperture of said stabilizing member receiving the inserting portion of the closure, said stabilizing member being captured between the lip and the open end of the receptacle when the inserting portion is inserted therein. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said stabilizing member frictionally engages the closure. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said stabilizing member frictionally engages the receptacle. 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the force exerted by the stabilizing member is a frictional force. 17. The system of claim 11, wherein said stabilizing member is made from a foamed polymer. 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the force resisting the receptacle from rolling is conveyed through a mechanical engagement between the receptacle and said stabilizing member. 19. The system of claim 11, further including indicia on said stabilizing member to indicate directional orientation. 20. The system of claim 11, wherein said stabilizing member comprises an external surface, and said external peripheral surface of said stabilizing member has a recess therein to accommodate an adjacent receptacle therein.