TUB INSERT

Abstract

A tub insert for a tub or receptacle accommodating test objects or items, particularly for hand luggage, the tub insert has at least one indentation in the surface of the tub base and/or of the tub insert, particularly for accommodating receptacles containing liquids. The tub insert is part of the tub and/or can be retrofitted. The at least one base material of the tub insert is closed-porous and can be a foam, such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), but preferably a PE LD 29. An upper layer or protective layer on the base material protects the latter.

Description

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2013/054773, which was filed on Mar. 8, 2013, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 205 456.1, which was filed in Germany on Apr. 3, 2012, and which are both herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insert which is also retro-fittable for a tub or container which receives objects for checking or items and which, by means of a conveying unit, may be guided through a baggage-checking installation for hand luggage. The term tub insert comprises the tub base/container base per se or an insert for a tub/container.

2. Description of the Background Art

In order to check hand luggage and similar, items such as suitcases, coats, jackets, shoes, etc. are placed into a container or a tub which in turn are conveyed to the checking installation. For air travel, there are limits according to EU guidelines for carrying onboard liquids in hand luggage. In the case of liquids which air passengers personally carry onboard, the rule applies that said liquids must be filled into containers having a capacity of at most 100 milliliters (1 deciliter), and said containers in turn have to be placed into transparent, resealable plastic bags having a maximum capacity of 1 liter. These bags have to be separately presented when the hand luggage is checked.

DE 10 2006 056 771 A1 discloses a security container for air-travel luggage. Said security container is permeable to ionizing electromagnetic rays and impermeable to non-ionizing electromagnetic rays. In conjunction with a tamper-proof closure-and-opening mechanism, tampering with the items located in the closed security container is impossible. By way thereof it is the intention to achieve that also more than the permissible amount of liquids etc. may also be taken onboard as hand luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a possibility for abandoning the tough guidelines in the interest of the travelers.

In an embodiment, the invention is based on the concept of stating a possibility by way of which also liquids in comparatively large containers or receptacles may be checked in relation to their security-relevant contents. In order to achieve the object it is proposed, in an embodiment, that the tub is provided with an insert which is also retro-fittable and which can receive the receptacles, bottles, etc., wherein unintentional shifting of receptacles of this type is avoided. The term tub insert can mean, for example, the tub base/container base per se or an insert for a tub/container.

The insert or the tub base, respectively, in an embodiment, is distinguished by at least two layers, wherein the upper (protective) layer should be a textile which is composed of an extremely hard-wearing fabric or material, respectively, and the lower layer (basic material) is composed of a softer material, such as a foam material, for example, for a soft bearing of the receptacles on the tub base or in the tub base, respectively. The hard-wearing material is desirable in order for also the other pieces of luggage to be able to be conveyed with these tubs or with the retro-fitted tubs, respectively. If the employment only for receptacles having liquids is specifically intended, a protective layer of this type may potentially be dispensed with. It is a common feature of all employed materials that per se they display very low absorbency in relation to x-rays and per se thus only slightly absorb the latter.

In order for the receptacles for liquids to be able to be exactly checked, aside from a specific angular positioning within the baggage-checking apparatus, it is desirable to have secured positioning. To this end at least one, but preferably two to three indentations or recesses, respectively, is/are incorporated in the surface of the insert or of the tub base, respectively. On account thereof it is ensured that the receptacles lie in the tub in as horizontal a manner as possible. The indentations are preferably triangular, wherein at least a right angle or else a somewhat larger angle should be enclosed between the two sides of the recess. The indentation(s) may be equal-sided and/or unequal-sided, such that it/they display(s) one comparatively long and one comparatively short side. In particular in the case of an oval cross section of the containers (objects) to be checked, the latter, with their flat side, for example, would then bear in a defined position on the longer side of the indentation. The sides per se may be semi-round, straight or similar, for example fluted.

Foam materials made of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), here preferably PE LD 29, are possible as a basic material. The foam materials should in any case have closed pores, in order for example to not absorb water and to ensure washability (cleaning). PE and PP, which may have been processed as yarns to form a textile and applied onto the basic material, are likewise possible as a material for the upper protective layer.

A tub insert for a tub or container, in particular for hand luggage, for receiving objects for checking or items, which is distinguished in that it possesses at least one indentation in the surface of the tub base and/or the tub insert, in particular for receiving containers containing liquids, is thus proposed. The tub insert may be a component part of the tub and/or be retro-fittable. The at least one basic material of the tub insert can have closed pores. An upper layer or protective layer, on the basic material protects the basic material.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a tub, having a new tub base, for receiving luggage pieces,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of FIG. 1, in the section along A-A,

FIG. 3 shows an insert which is implemented so as to be retro-fittable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, a tub 1 is provided for receiving luggage pieces (not shown in more detail), in particular hand luggage, coats, etc. Incorporated in a tub base 2 (here) are two recesses (indentations) 3, 4 in a surface 5 of the tub base 2, in particular for receiving containers 6 containing liquids. The depth of the indentations or recesses 3, 4, respectively, can be about 20 mm.

FIG. 2, in a section illustrational, shows an exemplary shape of the recesses 3, 4. The recesses 3, 4 can be introduced in a triangular manner into the surface 5, wherein at least a right angle or a somewhat larger angle a should be incorporated between the two sides 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 of the recess 3, 4. The sides 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 per se may be implemented so as to be semi-round or straight.

An insert 10 which may be retro-fitted in a tub is illustrated in FIG. 3. The insert 10 can have the same component parts as the tub base 2. The advantage lies in that conventional tubs may be retro-fitted with this insert. The tub insert 10 may be adapted according to the predetermined interior dimensions of a tub and may measure 554 mm×354 mm. The insert 10 possesses indentations 3′, 4′ which are comparable with the indentations 3, 4. It is self-evident that the orientation of the indentations (longitudinal, transverse, etc. in relation to the tub) may be optional, wherein an orientation in the conveying direction is preferable.

A feature is that they comprise at least a basic material 7 and a protective layer 8.

The tubs (1), after checking in the baggage checking installation (not shown in more detail), optionally may be automatically conveyed back. In order to reliably identify that the tubs are empty and may be conveyed back, the surface structure and the surface color of the tub insert 2, 10, or of the protective layer 8, respectively, are chosen so as to be non-reflecting, such that a camera system (not illustrated in more detail) may also reliably assume this task instead of a person. There is a wide color chart available here to the person skilled in the art.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tub insert for a tub or container for hand luggage or objects for checking or items, comprising at least one indentation in a surface of a tub base or of a tub insert, the indentation being adapted to receive containers containing liquids.

2. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tub insert is a component part of the tub and/or is retro-fittable.

3. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tub insert comprises at least one basic material which has closed pores.

4. The tub insert as claimed in claim 3, wherein the basic material is a foam material, polypropylene, polyethylene, or PE LD 29.

5. The tub insert as claimed in claim 3, wherein an upper layer and/or a protective layer is incorporated on the basic material.

6. The tub insert as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper layer is a hard-wearing material.

7. The tub insert as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upper layer is PE and PP which have been processed as yarns to form a textile.

8. The tub insert as claimed in claim 3, wherein the employed materials for the basic material and the protective layer display very low absorbency with respect to x-rays.

9. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depth of the indentations is about 20 mm.

10. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentations are triangular, and wherein at least a right angle or else a somewhat larger angle is enclosed between the two sides of the recess.

11. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentation or indentations is/are equal-sided and/or unequal-sided, and wherein the sides are be semi-round or straight.

12. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein a surface structure and a surface color of the tub insert is non-reflecting.