Appeal No. 2003-1491 Page 6
Application No. 09/473,834
42. The material of the retaining device 40 forming the circular apertures 22 and 24
contacts the entire perimeter of the rolled portion 38 to maintain the rolled portion 38 in
a round configuration.
The removal of the device 40 from the collapsible tube 42 is quick and easy.
The gripping tab 36 extends from the elongated body and therefore does not mold to
the shape of the collapsible tube 42 as firmly as the rest of the retaining device 40.
Thus, the gripping tab 36 may be easily separated from the tube 42 and pulled to
remove the retaining device 40. The gripping tab 36 is formed at one location on the
retaining device 40 to prevent unnecessary waste of material. Additionally, having only
one gripping tab 36 limits the locations where the retaining device 40 is not firmly
molded to the rolled portion 38 to minimize potential interfere with the storage or use of
the collapsible tube 42.
The retaining device 40 works most effectively when its overall length, L, is
approximately equal to the width, W, of the bottom of the tube 42 to be retained. This
size relationship of the retaining device 40 to the tube 42 assures that when the
retaining device 40 is stretched for affixing on the tube 42, there are sufficient rebound
forces to hold the device 40 on the tube 42 without creating forces of such strength to
tear the retaining device 40.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007