US 5,397,000 A · System for confining articles in a container

Abstract

A system for confining articles in a container includes a flexible air impermeable membrane that is adapted to overlie articles in the container and can be pneumatically and forcefully draped over the articles in the container to hold them in place. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the membrane is in the form of an enclosed bladder which can either be inflated against the articles in the container or drawn against the articles by a vacuum drawn around the bladder. Pour spouts and pressure dispensing spouts are also disclosed for use in certain embodiment of the invention whereby liquids can be confined in the bladder and dispensed at either ambient pressures or elevated pressures. The bladder further defines means by which a coolant can be placed in the container and retained in a segregated relationship relative to the other articles in the container.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A container for storing an article and restraining the same against movement, said container comprising:

a body defining an open-topped chamber and having a bottom wall upon which said article is positioned, a top for selectively covering the chamber, said top including a sealable opening extending therethrough;
an expandable membrane positionable in said chamber to overlie said article, said expandable membrane having a neck sealingly attached to said sealable opening for affixing said membrane to said top and for forming a passageway through said sealable opening into said membrane, said passageway permitting liquid and solid materials to be inserted into said membrane;
and
an air pump for generating an air pressure differential between said membrane and said chamber beyond said membrane to cause air pressures within said membrane to be greater than air pressures within said chamber beyond said membrane, thereby to expand said membrane in a form-fit engagement about said article to confine said article and restrain said article against movement.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for confining articles in a container

Life of this patent

System for confining articles in a container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14