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US4356915A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Container for spherical objects

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-10-09
•
Granted: 1982-11-02
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Expires: 2001-10-09
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Abstract

Abstract A container for spherical objects such as game marbles comprising a hollow torus shaped housing in which objects are admitted to the hollow of the housing by means of an aperture in the housing which is covered or uncovered by a movable closure member. In a preferred embodiment the container includes a hub having an elastic concave receptacle for a shooter marble and the hub is supported within the torus shape of the housing by a plurality of spokes connected to the housing.

Inventors

  • 👤 William L. Phillips

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 13:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/58; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/822; Y10S224/00; Y10S224/919

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A container for storing spherical objects comprising: a. a hollow torus-shaped housing with the internal cross-sectional diameter thereof being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the spherical objects to be stored, and with at least one aperture in the surface of the housing, the aperture being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the objects; and b. a closure member constructed to fit over and cover the aperture to prevent the passage of spherical objects stored within the hollow of the housing to the outside, and movable to uncover the aperture for the admission and removal of the spherical objects to and from the interior of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A container for storing spherical objects comprising: a. a hollow torus-shaped housing with the internal cross-sectional diameter thereof being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the spherical objects to be stored, and with at least one aperture in the surface of the housing, the aperture being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the objects; and b. a closure member constructed to fit over and cover the aperture to prevent the passage of spherical objects stored within the hollow of the housing to the outside, and movable to uncover the aperture for the admission and removal of the spherical objects to and from the interior of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein a hub is supported by the housing, and the hub is provided with a concave internal form in which a spherical object may be impressed by elastic deformation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A container according to claim 2 wherein the container is constructed of molded, transparent plastic material for the display, sale and storage of game marbles and the hub is constructed to receive and hold a larger shooter marble.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A container according to claim 2 wherein the hub member is supported by a plurality of spokes between the hub and the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises two identical halves, with one oppositely turned with respect to the other and fastened together concentrically to form the hollow torus shape of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A container according to claim 1 constructed of molded, transparent material for the display, sale and storage of game marbles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 189 words
A container for game marbles comprising: a. a hollow torus-shaped housing with the internal cross-sectional diameter thereof being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the game marbles, and with at least one aperture in the surface of the housing, the aperture being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the game marbles; b. a closure member constructed to fit over and cover the aperture to prevent game marbles from passing from the interior of the housing to the outside, and with the closure member movable to uncover the aperture for the admission and removal of game marbles to and from the interior of the housing; c. a hub coaxially supported by the housing by a plurality of radial spoke means connected to the housing and to the hub, the hub having an internal concave form with a diameter and curvature slightly smaller than the external diameter of a game shooter marble, the hub being elastically deformable to admit the game shooter marble and to retain the game shooter marble therein; and d. the material of the housing, hub and spokes being a moldable transparent semi-rigid elastically deformable material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 189 words
A container for game marbles comprising: a. a hollow torus-shaped housing with the internal cross-sectional diameter thereof being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the game marbles, and with at least one aperture in the surface of the housing, the aperture being conveniently larger than the outside diameter of the game marbles; b. a closure member constructed to fit over and cover the aperture to prevent game marbles from passing from the interior of the housing to the outside, and with the closure member movable to uncover the aperture for the admission and removal of game marbles to and from the interior of the housing; c. a hub coaxially supported by the housing by a plurality of radial spoke means connected to the housing and to the hub, the hub having an internal concave form with a diameter and curvature slightly smaller than the external diameter of a game shooter marble, the hub being elastically deformable to admit the game shooter marble and to retain the game shooter marble therein; and d. the material of the housing, hub and spokes being a moldable transparent semi-rigid elastically deformable material.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1259889A Cited
US1817562A Cited
US1983499A Cited
US2221704A Cited
US2412332A Cited
US3908825A Cited
US4061256A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-11-01 1986-05-03 1986-11-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-11-01 1990-05-03 1990-11-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-11-01 1994-05-03 1994-11-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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