Container with separable components

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a container for holding an object with separate components, each similar in construction. In some embodiments, the components of the container may be substantially identical with one another. A first component of the container may include a coupling region that is identical and complementary to the coupling region of a second component of the container. Coupling the components with one another (e.g., press fit) forms an enclosure for the object. In some embodiments, fastening members of a coupling region of a container component may extend along a distance smaller than a mating perimeter, defined by identical and complementary coupling regions, that extends along a transverse plane defining two halves of the container enclosure.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container for holding an object, comprising:
 a first component having a first coupling region and a shell defining a first half of an enclosure; and   a second component having a second coupling region substantially identical and complementary to the first coupling region and a shell defining a second half of the enclosure, wherein the first and second components are constructed and arranged to couple with one another along the identical and complementary first and second coupling regions to form the enclosure for the object, and wherein, when assembled, the first and second coupling regions extend perpendicular to a transverse plane defined between the first and second components.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component each have a substantially hemispherical shape such that, upon assembly of the first and second components together, the enclosure is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first component and the second component is circular or elliptical. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of the first component and the second component is polygonal. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein, upon coupling of the first and second components with one another, the identical and complementary first and second coupling regions define a mating perimeter that extends along a transverse plane that defines two halves of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the mating perimeter comprises a circumference. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second coupling regions include a first fastening member and a second fastening member, the first fastening member of the first coupling region constructed and arranged to engage with the second fastening member of the second coupling region, and the second fastening member of the first coupling region constructed and arranged to engage with the first fastening member of the second coupling region. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first fastening member of the first coupling region is constructed and arranged to form an interlocking configuration with the second fastening member of the second coupling region, and the second fastening member of the first coupling region is constructed and arranged to form an interlocking configuration with the first fastening member of the second coupling region. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second fastening members of each of the first and second coupling regions extend along a distance smaller than the mating perimeter defined by the first and second coupling regions. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first fastening member and the second fastening member of the first or second coupling region extends along an arcuate distance defined by an angle of less than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the angle defining the arcuate distance of the at least one of the first fastening member and the second fastening member of the first or second coupling region is between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first fastening member and the second fastening member of the first or second coupling region is offset from the transverse plane along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the first fastening member is offset in a first direction from the transverse plane along the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and the second fastening member is offset from the transverse plane of the container in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second coupling regions include a first transverse surface and a second transverse surface, and wherein at least one of the first transverse surface and the second transverse surface of the first or second coupling region is offset from a transverse plane defining two halves of the container along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first transverse surface is offset in a first direction from the transverse plane along the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and the second transverse surface is offset from the transverse plane of the container in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of at least one of the first and second transverse surfaces of the first or second coupling region is substantially parallel to the transverse plane of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein, upon coupling of the first and second components, a gap remains between the first transverse surface of the first coupling region and the second transverse surface of the second coupling region. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second coupling regions includes a first transition surface extending between the first transverse surface and the transverse plane of the container and a second transition surface extending between the second transverse surface and the transverse plane of the container, and wherein the radius of curvature of the first transition surface is smaller than a radius of curvature of the second transition surface. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the first transition surface and the second transition surface form a substantially S-shaped curvature. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein, upon coupling of the first and second components, a gap remains between the first transition surface of the first coupling region and the second transition surface of the second coupling region. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of a wall of the first component at the first coupling region is greater than a thickness of the wall of the first component away from the first coupling region, and a thickness of a wall of the second component at the second coupling region is greater than a thickness of the wall of the second component away from the second coupling region. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second components are substantially identical in structure. 
     
     
         23 . A container for holding an object, comprising:
 a first component having a first coupling region and a shell defining a first half of an enclosure, the first coupling region having a first fastening member and a second fastening member; and   a second component having a second coupling region substantially identical and complementary to the first coupling region and a shell defining a second half of the enclosure, the second coupling region having a third fastening member and a fourth fastening member, wherein the first fastening member is constructed and arranged to engage with the third fastening member and the second fastening member is constructed and arranged to engage with the fourth fastening member, to form the enclosure for the object, wherein the first and second fastening members extend along a distance smaller than a mating perimeter, defined by the first and second coupling regions, that extends along a transverse plane defining two halves of the container, and wherein, when assembled, the first, second, third and fourth fastening members extend perpendicular to the transverse plane.   
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second components are substantially identical in structure. 
     
     
         25 - 41 . (canceled)