Sealable container for transporting breakable items
Sealable containers for transporting breakable items are provided. Sealable containers for transporting breakable items include: a cylindrical body having a closed end, a threaded open end opposite the closed end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; at least one body of cushioning material; a closure configured to threadedly engage the threaded open end of the cylindrical body; at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface; at least one thermal blanket; at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end; at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body near the threaded open end; foam having partially pre-cut sections configured to be removable; a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end; at least one fitting on the outer surface of the cylindrical body; and at least one strap connected to the at least one fitting.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/874,050, filed on Dec. 11, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/966,927, filed on Aug. 30, 2007, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly to sealable containers for transporting breakable items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn view of recent rules promulgated by the United States Transportation Safety Administration requiring that containers of greater than three ounces containing liquids be transported only in checked luggage, many air travelers often find themselves in a predicament. Air travelers often desire to transport liquid-holding containers, such as wine or shampoo bottles, which may be breakable or ruptureable. However, stowing such containers in a traveler's personal luggage creates the danger of not only losing the value of the liquid item, but also of ruining other items in the same luggage, or even having such luggage confiscated by safety personnel.
Containers for transporting breakable items are known, but are typically configured to transport only a predetermined item having a particular size and shape. Also, known containers for transporting breakable items are typically not sealable such that they are liquid-tight, especially under the application of a force, such as when dropped.
Accordingly, a need exists for an inexpensive, light-weight, adjustable, reusable, sealable container for transporting breakable items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAspects of embodiments of the present invention are directed toward sealable containers for transporting breakable items. Embodiments of containers of the present invention are sealable to be liquid-tight, such that a liquid can neither enter nor escape from a sealed container. Another aspect of embodiments of the present invention is the protection provided by a container to a breakable item against impact or shock. Embodiments of the present invention additionally may provide thermal insulation to a breakable item. Still another aspect of containers of the present invention is light weight and ease of transporting, facilitated in some embodiments by a carrying strap. Yet another aspect of embodiments according to the present invention is that the containers are configurable to transport breakable items having a variety of sizes and shapes.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a sealable container for transporting breakable items that includes a cylindrical body including a closed end, a threaded open end opposite the closed end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; at least one body of cushioning material within the cylindrical body; and a closure having a flange, the closure being configured to threadedly engage the open end of the cylindrical body; wherein when the closure threadedly engages the open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a sealable container for transporting breakable items that includes a cylindrical body having a closed end, a threaded open end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; at least one body of cushioning material within the cylindrical body; a closure configured to threadedly engage the threaded open end of the cylindrical body; at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface of the cylindrical body; foam inside the cylindrical body, the foam having partially pre-cut sections configured to be removable; at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end; and a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body; wherein when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a system for transporting breakable items that includes a cylindrical body having a closed end, a threaded open end opposite the closed end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; a closure having a flange, the closure being configured to threadedly engage the threaded open end of the cylindrical body; at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end; at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body near the threaded open end; a plurality of interchangeable inserts, each positionable adjacent the inner surface to cushion and/or thermally insulate a breakable item, the plurality of interchangeable inserts including at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface of the cylindrical body and at least one thermal blanket configured to provide thermal insulation of a breakable item; and a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the features of the present invention.
As shown in
As shown in
The cylindrical body 110 of the present embodiment may be of any length and diameter suitable for receiving a particular breakable item. In one embodiment, the length of the cylindrical body 110 may be between approximately 6 inches (15.2 cm) and approximately 16 inches (40.6 cm). In another embodiment, the length of the cylindrical body 110 is approximately 14 inches (35.6 cm). The diameter of the cylindrical body may be between approximately 4 inches (10.2 cm) and approximately 5 inches (12.7 cm). The cylindrical body 110 may be formed by blow molding, injection molding or any other suitable process, and may be formed of polycarbonate, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, or any other suitable material or combination thereof having light weight and sufficient strength and impact resistance to withstand a drop or a reasonable blow to the container 100. Alternatively, the cylindrical body 110 may be formed of a suitable sheet metal, such as aluminum or thin gauge tin or steel.
With reference to
In the present embodiment, as shown in
With further reference to
With reference to
The container 100 may also include a lower foam disc 142. The lower foam disc 142 is adjacent the closed end 116 of the cylindrical body 110, as shown in
An embodiment of the container 100 may also include an upper foam disc 144. The upper foam disc 144 is adjacent the open end 118 of the cylindrical body 110 and abuts a bottom surface of the closure 130, as shown in
An embodiment of the container 100 may also include a receiving foam disc 146. The receiving foam disc 146 may be adjacent the open end 118 of the cylindrical body 110 and abutting a bottom surface of the closure 130, or may be used in combination with and abutting a lower surface of the upper foam disc 144, as shown in
As shown in
With reference to
The thermal blanket 650 also functions to cushion the breakable item 602 from impact or other mechanical forces and provides increased thermal insulation to the breakable item 602. The thermal blanket 650 may be a thermal blanket according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,333, Can. Patent No. 1,291,073, or any other suitable material having thermally insulative properties. The dimensions of the thermal blanket 650 should be such that when the thermal blanket 650 is given a cylindrical shape and inserted into the cylindrical body 110 adjacent the inner surface 112 or closed-cell foam sheet 640, the thermal blanket 650 covers the diameter of the inner surface 112 or closed-cell foam sheet 640, respectively.
With reference to
In utilizing a container according to one of the embodiments, a user may first open the container by removing the closure. A foam disc is placed inside the cylindrical body, resting on the closed end. A sheet of open-cell foam is then placed in a cylindrical shape adjacent the inner surface of the cylindrical body, after which the breakable item may be lowered into the container so that the breakable item rests on the foam disc and surrounded by the open-cell foam. Alternatively, the open-cell foam may be wrapped around the breakable item and the two may be placed inside the cylindrical body simultaneously, such that the open-cell foam is adjacent the inner surface of the cylindrical body and the breakable item rests on the foam disc. After the breakable item has been placed inside the container, one or more additional foam discs are placed on the breakable item to fill the space between the breakable item and a bottom surface of the closure. The container is then sealed by threading the closure tightly to the open end of the cylindrical body such that the flange of the closure is adjacent or “abuts” the inner surface of the cylindrical body. As depicted in
A container according to the embodiment of
In using a container according to the embodiment of
Although the drawings illustrate the invention as applied to a container used to transport a wine bottle and a container used to transport a camera, it will be apparent that the novel aspects of the container of the invention may also be utilized in transporting other types of fragile or breakable items.
The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A sealable container for transporting breakable items, the sealable container comprising:
- a cylindrical body comprising: a closed end; an open end opposite the closed end, the open end being threaded; an inner surface; and an outer surface;
- at least one body of cushioning material within the cylindrical body; and
- a closure having a flange, the closure being configured to threadedly engage the open end of the cylindrical body;
- wherein when the closure threadedly engages the open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
2. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein when the closure threadedly engages the open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure and the inner surface of the cylindrical body are spaced by a distance of less than approximately 0.10 inches (2.5 mm).
3. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
4. The sealable container according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sheet of foam is corrugated open-cell foam.
5. The sealable container according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sheet of foam is closed-cell foam.
6. The sealable container according to claim 5, further comprising at least one thermal blanket configured to provide thermal insulation of a breakable item.
7. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end.
8. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body near the open end.
9. The sealable container according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least one disc of foam has an aperture configured to receive a breakable item.
10. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising foam inside the cylindrical body, the foam having partially pre-cut sections configured to be removable.
11. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the open end of the cylindrical body.
12. The sealable container according to claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one fitting on the outer surface of the cylindrical body; and
- at least one strap connected to the at least one fitting.
13. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is made of a synthetic polymeric material formed by blow molding.
14. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is made of high-density polyethylene.
15. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is made of a synthetic polymeric material formed by injection molding.
16. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein the closure is made of a synthetic polymeric material formed by injection molding.
17. The sealable container according to claim 1, wherein the closure has at least one outwardly facing recessed pocket configured to facilitate threadedly engaging the open end of the cylindrical body.
18. A sealable container for transporting breakable items, the sealable container comprising:
- a cylindrical body having a closed end, a threaded open end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- at least one body of cushioning material within the cylindrical body;
- a closure having a flange, the closure configured to threadedly engage the threaded open end of the cylindrical body;
- at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface of the cylindrical body;
- foam inside the cylindrical body, the foam having partially pre-cut sections configured to be removable;
- at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end; and
- a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body;
- wherein when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
19. A system for transporting breakable items, the system comprising:
- a cylindrical body having a closed end, a threaded open end opposite the closed end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;
- a closure having a flange, the closure being configured to threadedly engage the threaded open end of the cylindrical body;
- at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body adjacent the closed end;
- at least one disc of foam inside the cylindrical body near the threaded open end;
- a plurality of interchangeable inserts, each positionable adjacent the inner surface to cushion and/or thermally insulate a breakable item, the plurality of interchangeable inserts comprising: at least one sheet of foam on the inner surface of the cylindrical body; at least one thermal blanket configured to provide thermal insulation of a breakable item; and
- a sealing ring configured to produce a liquid-tight seal when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body.
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein when the closure threadedly engages the threaded open end of the cylindrical body, the flange of the closure abuts the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008
Inventors: Peter Samuel Hill (Tujunga, CA), Brenda Lea Baye (Tujunga, CA), Doug Michael Dragomer (Burbank, CA), Cheyenne McManus Dragomer (Burbank, CA)
Application Number: 12/001,627
International Classification: B65D 85/30 (20060101); B65D 41/04 (20060101); B65D 81/38 (20060101);