Abstract:
A portable, elongated bag with two opposing ends closeable through the operation of at least one zipper extended from a first end to a second end includes a first padded insert and a second padded insert, each conformed to one of the two opposing ends and the first padded insert comprising a series of at least two concentric, affixed and removable padded portions such that removal of a first of the portions creates an opening of a first size and removal of the second portion enlarges the opening to a second size, both for protective storage of fragile apparatus within the portable, elongated bag.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This patent is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/628,089 filed Feb. 20, 2015 entitled SHIPMENT, STORAGE, AND TRANSPORT BAG FOR FRAGILE APPARATUS. 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Field 
         [0004]    This disclosure relates to shipment, storage, and transport of fragile apparatus. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Various bags and shipping containers have been devised for the shipment and/or storage of fragile apparatus. Examples of fragile apparatus include scientific apparatus (e.g. experimental apparatus, beakers, flasks, vials, glass pipes for use in chemistry, and the like), glassware, glass and porcelain tobacco smoking apparatus such as hookahs or water pipes, musical instruments, hunting equipment, and various other fragile apparatus. 
         [0007]    Most containers are designed for shipping and thereafter are thrown away. Some are designed for transport of a particular item and are, therefore, specifically crafted with the item in mind. That is, where protective elements are employed near the fragile apparatus, the protective material is pre-formed with the fragile apparatus in mind so as to carefully protect the apparatus when stored or being transported. Often these containers are formed of a so-called “hard-sided” material such as metal or plastic to resist shocks such as by dropping or being hit. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an overview of a bag. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of a bag. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an open view of a bag. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an overview of a corrugated box. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of a first padded insert and an associated fragile apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of a second padded insert and an associated fragile apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the first padded insert. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section of the second padded insert. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section of the first padded insert. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Description of Apparatus 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  an overview of a bag  100  is shown. The bag  100  includes a body  110 , a flap  112 , and dual zippers  114 . 
         [0019]    The body  110  may be made of cotton, linen, polyurethane, nylon, or other, similar material. The material used to make the body  110  may be substantially or wholly water proof in order to protect the contents from moisture during travel. The body  110  is elongated with two ends at the points furthest from the center of the bag  100 . 
         [0020]    The flap  112  may be opened for loading the bag  100  and may be closed to fully-enclose the bag. 
         [0021]    The dual zippers  114  serve to close the flap  112  so as to enclose the contents within the bag  100 . The dual zippers  114  zip closed (upper left) and a Velcro® patch within the bag  110  may hold the top portion of the flap  112  in place. The dual zippers  114  may zip open and a user may disengage the Velcro® in order to access the contents of the bag  100 . Although dual zippers  114  are shown, fewer or more zippers may be employed with a corresponding number of flaps or other openings. 
         [0022]    Although not shown, the body  110  may include at one or both ends an additional zipper completely around the circumference of the body  110  of the bag  100 . Unzipping this zipper may release additional bag  100  material that has been compressed so as to enable an extendible pocket to expand outward so that the bag  100  may accommodate longer fragile apparatus. Preferably, the extendable pocket should not extend past the body of any padded insert  140  or  150  (see  FIG. 3 ) so that ridged inserts, like insert  122  or insert  126  may still come in contact with the padded insert  140  or  150  (see  FIG. 3 ) so as to provide support (discussed more fully below). When smaller or shorter fragile apparatus are stored within the bag  100 , the end zipper or zippers may be zipped closed to collapse the ends of the body  110  and force the padded inserts  140  or  150  (see  FIG. 3 ) closer together within the bag. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the bag  100 . In cross-section, one may still see the body  110 , the flap  112 , and the dual zippers  114 . However, one may also see a series of side pouches, like pouch  120 , semi-rigid inserts, like insert  122 , a flap pouch  124 , a flap insert  126 , and an insert  140 . The padded insert  140  is shown not extending to the corners of the bag  100  for illustrative purposes only so that the inserts and pouches may be described. In reality, the padded insert  140  compresses slightly and the inserts  122  and  126  are much thinner so that the bag  100  interior fits snugly around the padded insert  140  (and padded insert  150 , shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0024]    The side and bottom pouches, like pouch  120 , are designed to accept the insertion of semi-rigid inserts, like insert  122 . As somewhat visible in  FIG. 2 , the semi-rigid inserts, like insert  122 , may extend from end-to-end of the bag  100  so as to overlap with an insert, like insert  140 . Overlapping enables the padded inserts, like padded insert  140 , to provide a base upon which the semi-rigidity of the insert  122  may act to provide more structure to the bag  100 . 
         [0025]    The inserts discussed herein are of a semi-rigid to rigid material that is light weight and capable of resisting moderate exterior shocks. The purpose of these inserts is twofold. First, they provide additional protection for the areas of the bag in between the two padded inserts ( 140  and  150 , shown in  FIG. 3 ) where there is no protective foam. Second, the inserts run end-to-end or substantially end-to-end so that they may provide crush resistance from pressure exerted on either end of the bag  100 . The inserts may be manufactured of a molded plastic, or may be of a reinforced foam material. Similarly, the inserts may be non-rigid, but have, at corners or in a pattern, a series of reinforcing metal, ridged plastic or other similar frame structure. Such an insert would use a non-ridged material to maintain a desired shape, while using the ridged material to provide rigidity in a manner similar to tent poles maintaining the shape of tent material once the tent is erected. 
         [0026]    The flap pouch  124  including insert  126  are substantially similar to the pouch  120  and insert  122 , but the flap pouch  124  may be less than the full width (and potentially length) of the pouch  120  because it is inset within the interior of the flap  112 . The flap pouch  124  and insert  126  extend such that the insert  126  extends over each of the padded inserts ( 140  and  150 , shown in  FIG. 3 ) when inserted into the flap pouch  124 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an open view of the bag  100 . in this view, the body  110 , flap  112  and dual zippers  114  are visible. However, because the interior of the bag  100  is visible, an interior flap  116 , a strip  118 , pouch  120 , pouch  124 , insert  126 , padded insert  140 , padded insert  150 , along with a fragile apparatus  160  and an associated fragile piece  162 . 
         [0028]    The interior flap  116  may be, for example, Velcro® and may attach, when the bag  100  is closed, to corresponding strip  118  which may also be Velcro®. Other attachment systems may also be used including clips, buttons, snaps, adhesive strips, and other, similar systems. The interior flap  116  and strip  118  serve to hold the flap  112  in place when the bag  100  is being closed or for zipping the dual zippers  114 . 
         [0029]    The pouch  120  can be seen on the sidewall of the interior of the bag  100 . Similar pouches, though not immediately visible, are disposed along each side of the interior of the bag  100 . Each houses a semi-rigid insert, like insert  122 , and each overlaps, at each end of the bag  100 , with padded insert  140  and padded insert  150  so that the inserts may provide support to aid the insert  122  in providing support to the bag  100 . 
         [0030]    The pouch  124  is shown with the insert  126  removed. Preferably, the inset  126  may be removed or inserted. Pouch  124  may include Velcro, snaps, or a zipper to retain the insert  126  within. The other pouches, like pouch  120 , may include similar retention mechanisms. However, these are optional. Preferably, the pouch  124 , like pouch  120 , is sewn into the interior of the flap  112  (or side or bottom of the bag  100 ) so that the bag  100  itself may provide a part of the form of the overall semi-rigidity provided by the flap  112  (or bag  100 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is an overview of a box  200 . The box  200  includes a body  210 , a flap  212 , a window  214 , and inserts  140  and  150 . The body  210  of the box  200  may be made of corrugated material, like cardboard, or may be plastic or coated in a plastic material to aid in avoiding damage from water. The flap  212  may include an insert  160  for insertion into the body  210  when closed so as to retain the padded inserts  140 ,  150  within the box  200 . The window  214  may enable the box  200  to be used for display on a shelf for sale. The exterior of the box  200  may include advertising or a logo of a seller of the fragile apparatus  160  within. 
         [0032]    The bag  100  and the box  200  and the fragile apparatus  160  may be provided as a set. When done, the box  200  may store a compressed bag  100  with the inserts  120 ,  126  placed in the back of the box  200  or along the sides. The compressed bag  100  may, for example, be stored behind the fragile apparatus  160  during transport and when displayed for sale. Once home, a user may discard the box  200 , if desired, and the same padded inserts  140 ,  150  that fit within the box  200  along with the inserts  120 ,  126  may be used in conjunction with the bag  100 , once decompressed. Thus, the bag  100 , box  200 , and fragile apparatus  160  may be provided as a unit together and the padded inserts  140 ,  150  may be useable with both. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a detail view of a first padded insert  140  and an associated fragile apparatus  160 . The padded insert  140  is designed in such a way, as will be seen in later figures, that it may be used in conjunction with a broad range of fragile apparatus  160  of various shapes and sizes. In this way, a single padded insert  140  may be used for most or all of the fragile apparatus sold by a company or owned by an individual. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of a second padded insert  150  and an associated fragile apparatus  160 . This is the same fragile apparatus  160  as shown in  FIG. 5 . However, this padded insert  150  is also flexible for use with a broad range of fragile apparatus. Also shown are a first accessory  162  and a second accessory  164 , inserted into other openings in the padded insert  150 . These openings will be discussed below. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the first padded insert  140 . The exploded view includes a base  141 , an opening  142 , several expansion cuts  143 , a sizing ring  144 , with a series of cuts  145 , and a central insert  146  including an insertion cut  147 . More or fewer cuts  145  may be used in the sizing ring  144 . 
         [0036]    Though the padded insert  140  (and  150 , below in  FIG. 8 ) are described as “foam,” it should be understood that the material used to make the padded insert  140  (and  150 ) may be any type of soft, resilient material suitable for use in cushioning, but providing support to a fragile apparatus. For example, polyurethane foams, soft exterior materials like fabrics sewn or formed into a suitable shape, with supportive padded material within, or inflatable air pouches or circular pads may also be used. 
         [0037]    The opening  142  in the base  141  is variably expandable by removal of the sizing ring  144  and/or the central insert  146 . In some cases, different shapes of the opening  142  (and associated sizing ring  144  and central insert  146  may be used. In this way, the opening  142  can accommodate fragile apparatus of various sizes. The base  141  further includes a series of expansion cuts  143  that enable the base  141  to accommodate even larger fragile apparatus, when needed. Further, these expansion cuts  143  enable an individual to insert a fragile apparatus of a larger base into the opening  142  and have the foam of the base  141  envelope the base of the fragile apparatus to hold it securely in place. 
         [0038]    Each piece of the sizing ring  144  is detachably disposed within the opening  142 . In some cases, the sizing ring  144  may be made of the same individual block of material as the rest of the padded insert  140  (or base  141 ). In such cases, sizing ring  144  may remain a part of the base  141  until forcibly detached by a user or when in the process of inserting a fragile apparatus. In this way, the sizing ring  144  may remain a physical part of the base  141  in situations in which the fragile apparatus that is to be inserted is smaller in diameter, but may be permanently or temporarily removed for those that are larger in diameter. 
         [0039]    The sizing ring  144  may include a series of cuts  145  in the sizing ring  144  may aid in removal of the sizing ring  144  and may be used to independently remove only part of the sizing ring  144  to better hold a fragile apparatus in place within the opening  142 . 
         [0040]    Finally, the central insert  146  with the insertion cut  147  is preferably detachably affixed within the opening  141  and further within the sizing ring  144 . In situations in which the fragile apparatus is particularly small, it may be inserted within the insertion cut  147  and held in place by the base  141 , sizing ring  144 , and central insert  146  that are formed of the same foam material from the same physical piece. In situations in which the fragile apparatus is slightly larger, the central insert  146  may be removed by physically detaching the partially pre-cut foam from the remainder of the padded insert  140 , while selectively, as desired, leaving the sizing ring  144  in place. 
         [0041]    As briefly described above, each of the base  141 , central insert  146  and sizing ring  144  may be formed from a single piece of material. The cuts in the material making up the central insert  146  and sizing ring  144  may be intentionally incomplete. In this way, the material making up the base  141 , central insert  146  and sizing ring  144  may remain a single piece until detached from one another. For example, some foam may remain in place and attached, but pre-cut, such that a user desiring to remove the central insert  146  will be required to further tear around the edges of the central insert  146  in order to remove it from the base  141 . 
         [0042]    In some cases, two pieces may make up the base  141 , one pre-cut completely through both the central insert  146  and sizing ring  144 . A second piece making up the bottom of the base may be glued to each of the base  141 , the central insert  146  and the sizing ring  144  on the bottom of each, thus causing each to be removeably attached to one another, but in a way that is relatively easily detachable. 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section of the second padded insert  150 . This padded insert  150  includes a first removable insert  153  in the middle of the insert  150 . Around the first removeable insert  153  are a series of cross cuts  154  so that, once removed, a fragile apparatus of a slightly-larger size may be accommodated. Further, the cross cuts  154  enable the insert  150  to hold a fragile apparatus in place snugly, by conforming around the fragile apparatus once inserted. 
         [0044]    A second removeable insert  151  may include a shape made of two concentric circles in order to accommodate fragile apparatus of a shape cross-sectionally similar to that shape. Further, an expansion cut  152  may also be included in the second padded insert  150  so as to accommodate and snugly hold fragile apparatus of slightly larger diameter. 
         [0045]    Finally, a cross cut  155  with an “X” cross-section may accommodate fragile apparatus accessories of a reasonable size. 
         [0046]    In each case, the pieces of the fragile apparatus and associated accessories may be held by the second padded insert  150 . As with the first padded insert  140 , only those portions that need be removed, may be. If not desired, neither the first nor the second removable insert  153 ,  151  need be removed at all so long as the fragile apparatus being protected by the second padded insert  150  is held in place. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section of the first padded insert  140 . This view shows the a base  141 , an opening  142 , several expansion cuts  143 , a sizing ring  144 , each with cuts  145  splitting the sizing ring  144  into quarters, and a central insert  146  including an insertion cut  147 . 
         [0048]    Closing Comments 
         [0049]    Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments. 
         [0050]    As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.