Box for tape reels

Claim 2

A box for at least two tape reels, each reel being of the type wherein a pair of coextensive circular flanges are connected by a central hub which supports the flanges in spaced parallel relation to define a uniform gap therebetween, the box comprising, a generally rectangular, hollow housing having opposed upper and lower walls spaced vertically by a distance sufficient to provide clearance for the outside diameters of the reel flanges and with an opening therebetween at one end of said housing communicating with the interior thereof, two parallel side walls extending vertically between said upper and lower walls along the opposite edges thereof for a depth sufficient to completely receive the reels, at least two rib pairs extending side-by-side from adjacent said opening into the interior of said housing in spaced parallel relation to said side walls, each said rib pair including, an upper rib connected with said upper wall extending downwardly therefrom, a lower rib spaced below and generally coextensive with said upper rib, said lower rib connected with said lower wall projecting upwardly therefrom; said ribs for a major portion of their length being of a width generally equal to the gap bEtween the flanges of each reel, said upper and lower ribs of each said rib pair entering and sliding between the flanges of a reel upon sliding thereof through said opening into said housing, adjacent said rib pairs being spaced laterally apart a sufficient distance to support adjacent flanges of adjacent reels out of touching contact with each other.

Claim 3

A box for at least two tape reels as defined in claim 1 wherein for each of said ribs in a region thereof adjacent the open end of said housing the associated side surfaces of said ribs coverge inwardly to define a tapered lead-in portion of said rib, said lead-in portion initially entering the gap between the flanges of the reel and assisting in guiding the reel onto said rib.

Claim 4

A box for at least two tape reels as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of at least partially transparent material, said housing further including guide means connected with said housing for holding a card bearing visible indicia within said housing generally flush against the interior of at least one of said side walls with the indica facing the wall, whereby the indicia can be read from the outside of the box.

Claim 5

A box as defined in claim 1 further including, a lid; and hinge means integral with said lid and said housing for hinging motion of said lid between an open position in which said opening is unobstructed and a closed position in which said lid completely closes said opening.

Claim 6

A box as defined in claim 4 further including, releasably engageable detent portions on said lid and said housing for resisting movement of said lid from the closed position thereof.

Claim 7

A box as defined in claim 4 wherein said lid is formed of at least partially transparent material, said lid further including card holding means for holding a printed card with a printed side against the interior surface of said lid, whereby the printing on the card can be read through the lid.

Claim 8

A box for at least two tape reels, each reel being of the type wherein a pair of coextensive circular flanges are connected by a central hub which supports the flanges in spaced parallel relation to define a uniform gap therebetween, the box comprising a generally rectangular housing having vertically spaced upper and lower walls, with an opening therebetween at one end of said housing communicating with the interior thereof, two spaced opposed housing side walls extending vertically between said upper and lower walls, at least two rib pairs adjacent said opening extending side-by-side into the interior of said housing in spaced parallel relation to said housing side walls, each said rib pair including, an upper rib connected with said upper wall extending downwardly therefrom, a lower rib spaced below and generally coextensive with said upper rib, said lower rib connected with said lower wall projecting upwardly therefrom; each one of said ribs including two spaced rib side walls extending from the respective upper or lower wall vertically into the interior of said housing, each side wall being substantially thinner than half the width of the rib, and a rib horizontal wall connecting the interior extremities of said rib side walls, the horizontal wall being substantially thinner than the depth of the rib, whereby said rib side and horizontal walls define an identation along the outside surface of the associated one of said upper and lower walls extending parallel to said side walls, side rib side walls of said rib pairs being so positioned in relation to each other and to said side walls of said housing as to position the flanges of reels out of touching contact with each other and out of contact with said side walls of said housing.

Claim 9

A box for at least two tape reels, each reel being of the type wherein a pair of coextensive circular flanges are connected by a central hub which supports the flanges in spaced parallel relation to define a uniform gap therebetween, the box comprising a generally rectangular housing having vertically spaced upper and lower walls, with an opening therebetween at one end of said housing communicating with the interior thereof, two spaced opposed housing side walls extending vertically between said upper and lower walls, at least two rib pairs adjacent said opening extending side-by-side into the interior of said housing in spaced parallel relation to said housing side walls, each said rib pair including, an upper rib connected with said upper wall extending downwardly therefrom, a lower rib spaced below and generally coextensive with said upper rib, said lower rib connected with said lower wall projecting upwardly therefrom; each one of said ribs including two spaced rib side walls extending from the respective upper or lower wall vertically into the interior of said housing, each side wall being substantially thinner than half the width of the rib, and a rib horizontal wall connecting the interior extremities of said rib side walls, the horizontal wall being substantially thinner than the depth of the rib, whereby said rib side and horizontal walls define an identation along the outside surface of the associated one of said upper and lower walls extending parallel to said side walls, side rib side walls of said rib pairs being so positioned in relation to each other and to said side walls of said housing as to position the flanges of reels out of touching contact with each other and out of contact with said side walls of said housing.

Claim 10

A box for at least two tape reels as defined in claim 7 wherein each reel has wound concentrically thereon a roll of tape-like material having a diameter less than the diameter of the flanges, the rib horizontal walls of each rib pair in the box inCluding: parallel, opposed, horizontal surfaces, said surfaces being spaced vertically by a distance greater than the diameter of the roll of tape-like material but less than the diameter of the flanges.

Claim 11

A box as defined in claim 7 wherein the surfaces of the side walls of each rib in the interior of the housing are spaced apart at a lateral distance approximately equal to the gap between the flanges of each reel, said upper and lower ribs of each said rib pair entering between the flanges of a reel upon sliding the reel through the opening into the housing.

Claim 12

A box as defined in claim 9 wherein each of the ribs extends to the end of the housing opposite the opening, whereby the indentation defined by said rib side and horizontal walls extends to said opposite end of the housing.

Claim 13

a box for at least two tape reels as defined in claim 7 wherein for each of said ribs in a region thereof adjacent the open end of said housing the associated side surfaces of said rib converge inwardly to define a tapered lead-in portion of said rib, said lead-in portion intially entering the gap between the flanges of the reel and assisting in guiding the reel onto said rib.

Claim 14

A box for at least two tape reels as defined in claim 7 wherein said housing is formed of at least partially transparent material, said housing further including guide means connected with said housing for holding a card bearing visible indicia within said housing generally flush against the interior of at least one of said side walls, with the indicia facing the wall, whereby the indicia can be read from the outside of the box.

Claim 15

A box as defined in claim 7 wherein the box is constructed of molded plastic and further comprises: an end wall for closing the end of the housing opposite the opening; a lid integrally molded with said housing; and hinge means integrally molded along one edge of the lid and a corresponding edge of the housing adjacent the opening for hinging motion of said lid between an open position in which said opening is unobstructed and a closed position in which said lid completely closes said opening.

Claim 16

A box as defined in claim 13 further comprising: releasably engageable detent portions on said lid and said housing for resisting movement of said lid from the closed position thereof.

Claim 17

A box as defined in claim 13 wherein the plastic is at least partially transparent, and the lid further comprises: card holding means for holding a card inscribed with visible indicia on at least one side with an inscribed side against the interior surface of said lid, whereby the indicia on the card can be read through the lid.