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US 8,978,906 B2Granted
Impact-resistant casing for breakable containers
OwnerStacey Feeley, Giuliana Schwabinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The teachings provided herein are directed to an impact-resistant casing for breakable containers, and a system comprising the impact-resistant casing and a breakable container, such as a glass container. Very useful systems incorporating these components could include, of course, a glass baby bottle, a toddler sippy-cup, or an adult drinking glass, for example. These and other embodiments will be apparent to one of skill upon a review of the teachings provided herein.
Claims17
A drinking system with shock absorbers having stress distribution tapers, the system comprising:
- an impact resistant casing comprising
- an elastomeric structural material having an inner surface adapted to contact an outer surface of the drinking glass, wherein the structural material functions as an outer protective layer for the drinking glass, wherein the elastomeric structural material includes a base and a cylindrical side extending from the base;
- and,
- one or more shock absorbers positioned on an outer surface of the cylindrical side of the elastomeric structural material, wherein each shock absorber includes at least one ring and a concentric conical shape that protrudes outward from a surface of the cylindrical side, wherein the ring encircles the conical shape, wherein a height of the conical shape is greater than a height of the ring, wherein the one or more shock absorbers function to absorb an impact received by the drinking glass and resist breakage of the drinking glass upon receiving the impact;
- each of the rings having a hardness ranging from about 18 Shore A degrees to about 80 Shore A degrees,
- wherein,
- the shock absorber is configured to substantially reduce the frequency of breakage due to a force applied to the drinking glass at the site of the shock absorber when compared to the frequency of breakage due to the force applied to the drinking glass through a second casing consisting of the same structural material and not having a shock absorber at the site of the applied force;
- and,
- the structural material and the shock absorber comprise a silicone rubber independently selected from the group consisting of ASTM D-2000 type FC, FE, EG, and a combination thereof.
6 more elements
An impact-resistant casing for a breakable container comprising:
- an elastomeric structural material having an inner surface adapted to contact an outer surface of a breakable container, wherein the structural material functions as an outer protective layer for the breakable container, wherein the elastomeric structural material includes a base and a cylindrical side extending from the base;
- and,
- a plurality of shock absorbers positioned on an outer surface of the cylindrical side of the elastomeric structural material, wherein each shock absorber includes at least two concentric rings, wherein the shock absorbers function to absorb an impact and resist breakage of the breakable container upon receiving the impact;
- each of the rings extending normal to the base and having a hardness ranging from about 18 Shore A degrees to about 80 Shore A degrees
- wherein at least one shock absorber includes a conical shape encircled by the at least two concentric rings, wherein the conical shape protrudes outward from a surface of the cylindrical side with a taper, θ, of about 15° to about 85° to further distribute stresses upon an impact, wherein the taper is measured from an axis that is normal to the side of the elastomeric structural material, wherein a height of the conical shape is greater than a height the at least two concentric rings;
- wherein, the shock absorber is configured to substantially reduce the frequency of breakage due to a force applied to the container at the site of the shock absorber when compared to the frequency of breakage due to the force applied to the container through a second casing consisting of the same structural material and not having a shock absorber at the site of the applied force.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.