| Stackable dispenser for coiled materials -> Monitor Keywords |
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Stackable dispenser for coiled materialsRelated Patent Categories: Winding, Tensioning, Or Guiding, Coil Holder Or Support (e.g., Spindle, Dispenser, Or Spool), Spool Or Core, With CoverStackable dispenser for coiled materials description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060196989, Stackable dispenser for coiled materials. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to the field of storage containers. More particularly, the invention relates to a stackable dispenser for rolled or coiled materials. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Rolled or coiled materials such as rope, wire, cable, hose, tubing, string, twine, chain, or any other materials that are commonly stored, transported, sold, etc. in a roll or coil are commonly stored or packaged in a number of different manners. For example, wire, rope, tubing etc. is commonly sold and stored in coils bound together by tape, wire, plastic bands, etc. The material may or may not be wrapped or covered by plastic, paper, cardboard, etc. To use the material, the covering and/or binding, if any, are removed and the material unrolled. [0003] In other cases, the coiled material may be sold and/or stored in a package that also serves as a dispenser. For example, electrical wire such as Romex.RTM. is commonly sold in a cardboard box that includes a hole through which the wire may be drawn to dispense the wire. The user threads the wire through the hole. The end of the wire threaded through the hole can then be pulled to uncoil and dispense the material as needed. In other cases, coiled material may be stored and dispensed from containers made of various materials that my be securely stacked or bound together so that more than one type of material can be dispensed from a stack of containers. [0004] However, such containers do not allow multiple materials to be dispensed from a single, central location while the containers are stacked together. Some such containers dispense materials from the side of the individual containers. Such containers allow multiple materials to be dispensed while the containers are stacked together. However, since the materials are not dispensed from a single, central location, such containers are awkward, unwieldy, and inconvenient to use. Other containers dispense materials from the top or bottom of the container in a central location. However, these containers do not allow the material to be dispensed from more than one container while the containers are stacked or secured together. These containers require that the individual containers be unstacked to dispense material from any container other than the top container of the stack. [0005] Therefore, known containers or dispensers for rolled or coiled materials are inconvenient and inefficient to use since they do not allow multiple materials to be dispensed from a single, central location while the containers are stacked together. It is with respect to these considerations and others that the present invention has been made. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stackable dispenser for rolled or coiled materials according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional side view of the stackable dispenser for rolled of coiled materials according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 3 is a top view of a cover for the stackable dispenser for rolled or coiled materials according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a storage compartment of a cover for a stackable dispenser for rolled or coiled materials according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0010] A method and apparatus are described for a stackable dispenser for coiled material. The stackable dispenser as described herein is adapted to dispense multiple coiled materials from a single, central location from stacked containers without the need to unstack the containers. According to one embodiment, the stackable dispenser comprises a first container comprising a substantially circular base portion defining a central opening. An outer wall extends from an outer edge of the base portion, and an inner wall extends from an edge of the central opening in the same direction as the outer wall. The dispenser includes a cover comprising a substantially circular base portion defining a central opening wherein the base portion of the cover is mounted on an edge of the outer wall of the first container opposite the base portion of the first container, and wherein the central opening of the base portion of the cover is substantially aligned with the central opening of the base portion of the first container. [0011] As an initial matter, some terms used throughout this description are defined below. [0012] Terminology [0013] The term "or" as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning "either or both". [0014] References in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "a preferred embodiment", "an alternative embodiment", "one variation", "a variation" and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or variation is included in at least an embodiment or variation of the invention. The phrase "in one embodiment", "in one variation" or similar phrases as used in various places in the specification are not necessarily meant to refer to the same embodiment or the same variation. [0015] The term "couple" or "coupled" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact. [0016] The term "indicia" refers to any words, phrases, numbers, logos, pictures and/or symbols that are intended by an originator of the indicia to have meaning to a viewer thereof. [0017] Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting. [0018] The term "cutout" as used herein refers to a hole or space in the sheet material that is substantially surrounded by remaining sheet material excepting a slot, a slit or some similar feature extending from an outside edge to the cutout. In contrast, the term "cutaway" as used herein refers to an area wherein sheet material is removed (or could have been removed) and wherein at least one outside edge of the remaining sheet material directly abuts the cutaway. [0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stackable dispenser for rolled or coiled materials according to one embodiment of the present invention. This example shows a stackable dispenser 100 for coiled material comprising a first container 115, a second container 110, and a cover 105. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first container 115, second container 110, and cover 105 may each be constructed of any of a variety of plastics by injection molding or similar processes. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, other materials and other manufacturing processes can also be used. As will become apparent, embodiments of the present invention may include one container 110, or any number of containers stacked together. Regardless of the number of containers stacked together, the coiled materials stored in each can be dispensed from a single, central location without unstacking the containers. [0020] As shown here, the first container 110 comprises a substantially circular base portion 116 defining a central opening 122. Also as shown here, the base portion 116 of the first container 115 may be substantially flat. However, in other embodiments, the base portion 116 may have a different shape and profile. For example, the base portion 116 may be oval, square, rectangular, etc. in shape and/or be ridged, convex, concave, or otherwise configured as suitable to support and feed the material stored therein. Continue reading about Stackable dispenser for coiled materials... Full patent description for Stackable dispenser for coiled materials Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Stackable dispenser for coiled materials patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Stackable dispenser for coiled materials or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vertical cable reel carrier Next Patent Application: Paper roll core adapter Industry Class: Winding, tensioning, or guiding ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Stackable dispenser for coiled materials patent info. 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