Patent Publication Number: US-6334537-B1

Title: Inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an inflatable container. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for item protection devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,250 to Rudy teaches devices for packaging and/or cushioning products and objects, the devices including permeable elastomeric sheets sealed together at predetermined locations to form separate and discrete chambers, or intercommunicating chambers, inflated initially with a gaseous medium comprising a gas other than air, oxygen or nitrogen which has a very low diffusion rate from each chamber through the elastomeric sheets, ambient air diffusing more readily through the sheets into each inflated chamber to provide a total pressure therein which is the sum of the partial pressure of the air in the chamber and the partial pressure of the gas in the chamber. Not only does the air diffusing into a chamber increase the total pressure therein above the initial inflation pressure of the gas, but the air in the chamber inhibits outward diffusion of the gas from the chamber or compensates for any loss of pressure caused by such outward diffusion of the gas. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,225 to Henkel teaches a guard and carrying system for compact discs. The system includes a collapsible enclosure having a mouth portion, extensible side portions, a V-shaped vertex portion, and a securable fold-over cover. Also included is an accordion-like integral series of V-shaped storage elements. These elements include an elongated, substantially rigid, yet foldable substrate. They further include an integral sleeve having a longitudinal axis and enveloping the substrate, trapping air in a planar geometry, and several outer sleeve segments disc-proportioned and disposed about the integral sleeve holding air between these segments and the integral sleeve. A plurality of linear heat seal are disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the integral sleeve. The heat seals bond the outer segments to the integral sleeve to define a pattern of pockets adapted for the holding of discs and disc-related documentation. The linear heat seals also act to define a plurality of planar air cushions between the integral sleeve and substrate, thereby creating a planar air cushion that will act to protect the discs from external pressures and impacts. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,835 to Pivert et al. teaches packaging of the type comprising an outer rectangular box of rigid cardboard or the like, and a flexible inflatable structure situated inside the box and comprising, overlying each of the inside face of the box, an inflatable cushion for coming into close contact with the article to be packaged. The box includes a bottom closure and a top closure each having self-locking flaps. The inflatable structure comprises two unit assemblies each comprising a central cushion overlying a respective one of the closures of the box, and two side cushions overlying respective side walls of the box, with each assembly further including means for simultaneously inflating its three cushions, with at least one of the assemblies being inflatable from outside the box. The bottom and top closures of the box are held in the locked position by the pressure exerted thereon by the respective central cushions of the two assemblies of the inflatable structure, once inflated. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,157 to Golenz et al. teaches a computer case that provides a main packing space for the microcomputer defined by a “C” shaped rigid frame and corresponding shock absorbing pad, the forth side of the packing space is selectively closed by a padded access door. The handle and/or shoulder strap is riveted to the upper side of this “C” shaped frame. The access door is integrally hinged to the lower side of the frame, and is secured to the case when closed by double slide fastener and hook and loop fasteners. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for item protection devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein that includes a shell, a plurality of air bladders, and an inflater. The shell is hollow and made of a flexible material so as to have both a collapsed mode when not in use and an inflated mode when in use. The plurality of air bladders line the shell entirely, are in fluid communication with each other, but independently movable relative to each other for conforming to the item. The inflator includes a flap valve that is disposed in a throughbore in the shell, and is in fluid communication with, and selectively allows inflation of, the plurality of air bladders, a nipple that replaceably extends through the flap valve, a manual valve that is attached to the nipple, a length of hose that is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the manual valve, and a manual accordion style bellows foot pump that is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the length of hose. When the nipple is extended through the flap valve, and the manual valve is opened, the manual accordion style bellows foot pump is repeatedly stepped on and inflates the plurality of air bladders. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention prior to use and in the collapsed mode; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in the inflated mode and ready for use; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in the inflated mode and in use; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by arrow  5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by arrow  6  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by arrow  7  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a second embodiment in the inflated mode and in use; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevational view taken generally in the direction of arrow  9  in FIG. 8; and 
     FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view taken on line  10 — 10  in FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
     First Embodiment 
       10  inflatable container of the present invention for protecting item  12  packaged therein 
       12  item 
       14  shell for holding item  12   
       16  plurality of air bladders for cushioning item  14   
       18  inflater 
       20  top wall of shell  14   
       22  bottom wall of shell  14   
       24  four side walls of shell  14   
       26  pair of halves of top wall  20  of shell  14   
       28  facing edges of pair of halves  26  of top wall  20  of shell  14   
       30  facing edges of split in each side wall of a pair of opposing side walls of four side walls  24  of shell  14   
       32  generally U-shaped opening in shell  14  for allowing access to item  12   
       34  zipper selectively maintaining generally U-shaped opening  32  in shell  16  selectively closed 
       36  pair of handles on top wall  20  of shell  14  for carrying inflatable container  10   
       38  throughbore of inflator  18  through one side wall  24  of four side walls  24  of shell  14   
       40  flap valve of inflator  18   
       42  nipple of inflator  18   
       44  manual valve of inflator  18   
       46  length of hose of inflator  18   
       48  manual accordion style bellows foot pump of inflator  18   
       50  cavern of inflator  18  in one side wall  24  of four side walls  24  of shell  14   
     Second Embodiment 
       110  inflatable container of the present invention for protecting surf board  112  packaged therein 
       112  surf board 
       113  fin of surf board  112   
       114  pair of shell halves 
       134  pair of zippers 
       136  shoulder strap for carrying inflatable container  110   
       152  pointed ends of each shell half of pair of shell halves  114   
       154  perimeter of each shell half of pair of shell halves  114   
       156  widest point of each shell half of pair of shell halves  114   
       158  protector for conforming to, and protecting, fin  113  of surf board  112   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a first embodiment of the inflatable container of the present invention is shown generally at  10  for protecting an item  12  packaged therein, prior to use and in an collapsed mode, in an inflated mode and ready for use, and in the inflated mode and in use, respectively. 
     The overall configuration of the inflatable container  10  can best be seen in FIGS. 1-3, and as such, will be discussed with, reference thereto. 
     The inflatable container  10  comprises a shell  14  for holding the item  12 , and a plurality of air bladders  16  that are disposed in the shell  14  for cushioning the item  14 . 
     The inflatable container  10  further comprises an inflater  18  that is in fluid communication with, and selectively inflates, the plurality of air bladders  16 . 
     The inflator container  10  further comprises a lining  19  that is soft foam and lines the shell and has the plurality of air bladders built therein. 
     The specific configuration of the shell  14  can best be seen in FIGS. 1-4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The shell  14  is, by definition, hollow, and is made of a flexible material so as to have both a collapsed mode when not in use and an inflated mode when in use. 
     The flexible material that the shell  14  is made of is heavy gauge, light weight, puncture resistant nylon. 
     The shell  14  is cubic-shaped, and by definition, has a top wall  20 , a bottom wall  22 , and four side walls  24 . 
     The top wall  20  of the shell  14  is split into a pair of halves  26  that have facing edges  28 . 
     Each side wall of a pair of opposing side walls  24  of the shell  14  is partially split, from the top wall  20  of the shell  14  to half-way down a respective side wall of the pair of opposing side walls  24  of the shell  14 , into a pair of facing edges  30 . 
     The pair of facing edges  30  of each side wall of the pair of opposing side walls  24  of the shell  14  are continuous with the facing edges  28  of the pair of halves  26  of the top wall  20  of the shell  14 , respectively, and together therewith, define a generally U-shaped opening  32  for allowing access to the item  12 . 
     The generally U-shaped opening  32  in the shell  16  is maintained selectively closed by a zipper  34  that extends along the pair of facing edges  30  of each side wall of the pair of opposing side walls  24  of the shell  14  and the facing edges  28  of the pair of halves  26  of the top wall  20  of the shell  14 . 
     The top wall  20  of the shell  14  has a pair of handles  36  that extend flexibly thereacross, perpendicularly from the facing edges  28  of the pair of halves  26  of the top wall  20  of the shell  14  to a respective side wall  24  of the shell  14  for carrying the inflatable container  10 . 
     The specific configuration of the plurality of air bladders  16  can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The plurality of air bladders  16  line the shell  14  entirely, are in fluid communication with each other, but independently movable relative to each other for conforming to the item  12 , and separate along the generally U-shaped opening  32  in the shell  14  for allowing access to the item  12 . 
     The specific configuration of the inflator  18  can best be seen in FIGS. 2-7, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The inflator  18  comprises one side wall  24  of the shell  14  having a throughbore  38  that is disposed in close proximity to an adjacent side wall  24  of the shell  14  and the bottom wall  22  of the shell  14 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises a flap valve  40  that is disposed in the throughbore  38  in the one side wall  24  of the shell  14 , and is in fluid communication with, and selectively allows inflation of, the plurality of air bladders  16 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises a nipple  42  that. replaceably extends through the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18 . 
     When the nipple  42  of the inflator  18  is extended through the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18 , the nipple  42  of the inflator  18  opens the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18  and the nipple  42  of the inflator  18  becomes fluidly communicating with the plurality of air bladders  16 . 
     When the nipple  42  of the inflator  18  is removed from the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18 , the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18  is closed, sealing the plurality of air bladders  16 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises a manual valve  44  that is attached to the nipple  42  of the inflator  18 . 
     When the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18  is opened, the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18  is in fluid communication with the nipple  42  of the inflator  18 . 
     When the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18  is closed, the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18  is not in fluid communication with the nipple  42  of the inflator  18 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises a length of hose  46  that: is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises a manual accordion style bellows foot pump  48  that is attached to, and is in fluid communication with, the length of hose  46  of the inflator  18 . 
     When the nipple  42  of the inflator  18  is extended through the flap valve  40  of the inflator  18 , and the manual valve  44  of the inflator  18  is opened, the manual accordion style bellows foot pump  48  of the inflator  18  in repeatedly stepped on and inflates the plurality of air bladders  16 . 
     The inflator  18  further comprises the one side wall of the shell  14  having a recess  50  therein, adjacent to the throughbore  38 , and which houses and stores the nipple  42 , the manual valve  44 , the length of hose  46 , and the manual accordion style bellows foot pump  48  of the inflator  18 , as a unit when removed from the flap valve  40 . 
     The configuration of a second embodiment of the inflatable container  110  of the present invention can best be seen in FIGS. 8-10, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     The inflatable container  110  is similar to the inflatable container  10 , except: 
     1) The item  12  is a surf board  112  with a fin  113 . 
     2) The shell  14  is formed of a pair of shell halves  114 . 
     3) Each shell half  114  is flat and substantially oval-shaped with pointed ends  152 , a perimeter  154 , and a widest point  156  for conforming to the surf board  112 . 
     4) The pair of shell halves  114  are foldably attached to each other at the widest point  156  of each shell half  114 . 
     3) The zipper  34  is replaced by a pair of zippers  134  that extend along the perimeter  154  of each shell half  114 . 
     4) One shell half  114  has, in close proximity to one pointed end  152  thereof, a protector  158  that depends therefrom for conforming to, and protecting, the fin  113  of the surf board  112 . 
     5) The protector  158  is made of hard plastic. 
     6) The pair of handles  36  are replaced by a shoulder strap  136  that extends from the perimeter  154  of one shell half  114 , in close proximity to the pointed ends  152  of the one shell half  114 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an inflatable container for protecting an item packaged therein, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.