Suspended load container
AssigneeMenasha Corporation
InventorsRandall J. Phelps, Thomas W. Thomsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container for packaging fragile articles such as vials in a suspended state between two flexible membranes. An absorbent material is placed in compartments for the vials and is in fluid communication with the vials in case of breakage and spillage of fluid therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent material extends upwardly along a compartment wall so as to be in close communication with one of the membranes. This affords a faster wicking action even if spillage should occur when the container is upside-down.
Claims12
A container for at least one fragile article comprising:
- a tray portion and a cover portion each including an outwardly extending and continuous peripheral wall encompassing cavity portions, said peripheral wall of said tray and cover portion constructed and arranged to present the cavity portions in a face-to-face relationship;
- partitions extending between opposing sides of said tray portion to define in part at least one open compartment;
- an absorbent material in said compartment;
- a first flexible membrane disposed between said partitions in a hammock like manner to support said fragile article;
- and
- a second flexible membrane disposed over said cavity portion in said cover portion;
- said flexible membranes providing a fluid dampening effect for said fragile article placed on said first flexible membrane disposed between said partitions when said tray portion and said cover portion are engaged, and said first flexible membrane spaced from said tray walls to provide a fluid passage to said absorbent material with a major portion of said absorbent material being disposed on a side of said first flexible membrane opposite said fragile article.
The container as defined in claim 6 further including temporary locking means operatively associated with said tray and cover portions.
A unitary container for containing at least one vial or the like comprising:
- a tray portion;
- a cover portion connected to said tray portion by a unitary hinge section, said tray and cover portions including cavity sections for positioning in a face-to-face relationship;
- at least two partition members extending between opposite walls of said tray portion;
- first and second continuous sheets of flexible plastic material extending over the cavity in said cover portion and over said partition members in a draped manner but spaced from a floor of said tray portion to support a vial or the like;
- said tray and cover portions constructed and arranged to provide engagement with each other;
- an absorbent material in said compartment;
- fluid passage means extending between said flexible sheets of material and said absorbent material;
- and
- flap members extending opposite said unitary hinge section and having interengagement means to provide a locking device.
A container for at least one fragile article comprising:
- a tray portion and a cover portion each including an outwardly extending and continuous peripheral wall encompassing cavity portions, said peripheral wall of said tray and cover portion constructed and arranged to present the cavity portions in a face-to-face relationship;
- partitions extending between opposing sides of said tray portion to define in part at least one open compartment;
- an absorbent material in said compartment;
- a first flexible membrane disposed between said partitions in a hammock like manner to support said fragile article;
- and
- a second flexible membrane disposed over said cavity portion and said peripheral wall in said cover portion;
- said flexible membranes providing a fluid dampening effect for said fragile article placed on said first flexible membrane disposed between said partitions when said tray portion and said cover portion are engaged, and said first flexible membrane spaced from said tray walls to provide a fluid passage to said absorbent material.
A container for at least one fragile article comprising:
- a tray portion and a cover portion each including an outwardly extending and continuous peripheral wall encompassing cavity portions, said peripheral wall of said tray and cover portion constructed and arranged to present the cavity portions in a face-to-face relationship;
- partitions extending between opposing sides of said tray portion to define in part at least one open compartment;
- an absorbent material in said compartment;
- a first flexible membrane disposed between said partitions in a hammock like manner to support said fragile article;
- and
- a second flexible membrane disposed over said cavity portion in said cover portion;
- said flexible membranes providing a fluid dampening effect for said fragile article placed on the said flexible membrane disposed between said partitions when said tray portion and said cover portion are engaged, and said first flexible membrane spaced from said tray walls to provide a fluid passage to said absorbent material, said absorbent material having end portions extending along said tray walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.