Patent ID: 7757854
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B65D,Y02W

Abstract:
1. A unitary, reusable, deformable protective carrier comprising: a) a protective body defined by a generally normally flat, hollow peripherally sealed case defining two flat surfaces and formed from spaced-apart substantially inelastic, un-stretchable, airtight cover layers peripherally sealed at their edges defining an airtight unitary, un-divided cavity, the protective body being distortable to entirely surround an article and having: a generally rectangular central portion having one dimension greater than the other, a pair of generally opposed side portions formed integrally on opposite sides of the longer dimension of the central portion and generally equal in length to the longer dimension of the central portion and defining opposed side edges of the protective body, wherein the distance between the edge of each side portion and the central portion is generally the same as the shorter dimension of the central portion, a pair of end portions formed integrally on each of the sides of the shorter dimension of the central portion, the dimension of the end portions joining the central portion being generally equal to the shorter dimension of the central portion, b) a resilient, one-piece, self-supporting, open-celled, flat foam bat in the cavity having flat top and bottom faces and a continuous peripheral edge conforming to the-shape of the cavity, the edge of the bat being free from sealing to the case at its peripherally-sealed edges thereby defining continuous, uninterrupted, interior, means for air passage at the edge of the bat, the bat having: a normally uncompressed and unexpanded thickness between its top and bottom faces under atmospheric pressure and being compressible between its top and bottom faces under force external to the case and expandable between said top and bottom faces but peripherally non-expandable in response to varying gas pressure within and surrounding edges of the bat, shape memory to resiliently return to its normally uncompressed and unexpanded thickness when its internal gas pressure is substantially equal to the ambient atmospheric pressure on the outside of the case, c) means on the protective body for detachably securing portions thereof to each other when an article is contained therewithin, d) operative valve means connected between the said means for air passage and the exterior of the body for controllably increasing and decreasing air pressure inside of the cavity, wherein said operative valve means is positioned on one edge of one of the side portions intermediate one of the end portions and the central portion and communicating between the peripheral edge of the bat within the case and the exterior of the case.