Patent Application
20100243662
The invention relates to systems and methods for storing hazardous substances to minimize exposure and access to the hazardous substance.
Potentially hazardous substances, such as frozen carbon dioxide (commonly referred to as dry ice), may need to be transported and require special handling. Containers for hazardous substances are generally known in the art. In particular, containers for hazardous substances are frequently designed to prevent the need for a person to come in direct contact with the substance.
While such containers, according to the prior art, provide a number of advantageous features, they nevertheless have certain limitations. The present invention is provided to overcome certain of these limitations and other drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide new features not heretofore available. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention and various features of it. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but it simply provides a general overview and context for the more detailed description that follows.
Aspects of this invention relate to a container for holding a hazardous substance, comprising two container members. A first container member defines a cavity and has a top including a vent and a clip, a first side including a first locking member, and a second side including a second locking member. A second container member defines a cavity and has a bottom including a vent and a clip, a first side including a third locking member, and a second side including a fourth locking member. Furthermore, the first locking member and the third locking member are configured to engage each other and the second locking member and the fourth locking member are configured to engage each other, thereby securing the first container member to the second container member.
Further aspects of the invention relate to the container members having a plurality of locking members on some or all of the sides of the two container members. Additional aspects relate to some or all of the sides of the two container members having ridges, which may provide grip. Other aspects of the invention relate to providing warnings on the container and providing a plurality of vents and/or clips on the surfaces of the container members. Aspects of the invention relate to the clips being configured to be received by complementary structure on a cooler or other device where the container member may be used. Certain aspects of the invention relate to the clips, or other protrusions, that may extend over the vent(s) configured to prevent a person from placing a finger inside the assembled container or removing the contents from the assembled container.
Additional aspects of the invention relate to a cooler configured to hold the container. Moreover, other aspects of the invention relate to a device for opening the container once the container is assembled and locked.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following detailed description in consideration with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In the following description of various example structures in accordance with the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, various example systems in accordance with aspects of the invention. Additionally, it is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts and structures may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “end,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
In general, as described above, aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods for containing and transporting potentially hazardous materials in a safe and efficient manner. Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below. The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the invention.
Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4-6 depict an assembled container for holding a potentially hazardous material (in one example, frozen carbon dioxide, commonly known as dry ice), generally designated by the reference numeral 1000. As shown in the figures, container 1000 generally has a first container member 1100 and a second container member 1200.
The two container members 1100 and 1200 may be made of a plastic material appropriate for storing the potentially hazardous material. In one embodiment, container members 1100 and 1200 may be composed of polyurethane. The use of polyurethane would be appropriate for an application such as the embodiment depicted here for holding and transporting frozen carbon dioxide. The ability to reach very cold temperatures without destroying the structural integrity of container 1000 is one benefit provided by polyurethane. Of course, other materials may be used depending on the desired function and properties of container 1000.
In one embodiment, as depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
One or both of sides 1120 and 1130 of first container member 1100 may include ridges 1128 and 1138 or other elements that may be useful in gripping first container member 1100, either for carrying first container member 1100 or for engaging or disengaging first container member 1100 with second container member 1200. First container member may also include protrusions 1180 extending from any of first side 1120, second side 1130, first end 1140, and second end 1150 beyond the plane of open bottom 1160.
Each of sides 1120 and 1130 also may include at least one locking member 1122 and 1132, respectively. In some embodiments, first side 1120 may have multiple locking members 1122 and second side 1130 may have multiple locking members 1132. In the embodiment depicted, first side 1120 has two locking members 1122 and second side 1130 has two locking members 1132. Locking members 1122 and 1132 may be any type of structure that may secure first container member 1100 with second container member 1200. In the embodiment depicted, locking members 1122 and 1132 may include tabs 1124 and 1134 that extend beyond the plane of open bottom 1160. In some embodiments, locking members 1122 and 1132 may include side wall extensions 1126 and 1136 that may extend outward from side walls 1120 and 1130. In some embodiments, side wall extensions 1126 and 1136 may be the portion of locking members 1122 and 1132 that is connected directly to side walls 1120 and 1130 and tabs 1124 and 1134 may extend from side wall extensions 1126 and 1136. Alternatively, side wall extensions 1126 and 1136 may provide additional structural support for tabs 1124 and 1134. In some embodiments, side wall extensions 1126 and 1136 may extend around a substantial portion of tabs 1124 and 1134, respectively.
Variations of these embodiments, such as variations with different elements included on different parts of first container member 1100 are of course contemplated. For example, any of ends 1140 and 1150 and sides 1120 and 1130 may include any number of vents and clips in addition to, or instead of, the vents 1112 and clips 1114 included as part of top 1110 of first container member 1100. In some embodiments, first container member 1100 may not include vents 1112 or clips 1114 at all.
Second container member, depicted in
In the embodiment depicted in
As with first container member, side 1220 and/or side 1230 of second container member 1200 may include ridges 1228 and 1238 or other elements that may be useful in gripping second container member 1200. Sides 1220 and 1230 also may include at least one locking member 1222 and 1232, respectively. In some embodiments, side 1220 may have multiple locking members 1222 and side 1230 may have multiple locking members 1232. In the embodiment depicted, side 1220 has two locking members 1222 and side 1230 has two locking members 1232. Locking members 1122 and 1132 may be any type of structure that may secure first container member 1100 with second container member 1200. In the embodiment depicted, locking members 1222 and 1232 may include slots 1224 and 1234 formed by side wall extensions 1226 and 1236.
As mentioned above, any combination of these features may be present in various embodiments, and embodiments with elements included on different parts of second container member 1200 are contemplated. For example, any of ends 1240 and 1250 and sides 1220 and 1230 may include any number of vents and clips in addition to, or instead of, the vents 1212 and clips 1214 included as part of bottom 1210 of second container member 1200. In some embodiments, second container member 1200 may not include vents 1212 or clips 1214 at all.
In various embodiments, the shape and size of first container member 1100 and second container member 1200 may vary according to the function and properties desired for assembled container 1000. For example, in some embodiments, each container member 1100 and 1200 may have a substantially hemispherical shape, a substantially pyramidal shape, or any other shape. Additionally, the two container members 1100 and 1200 may not have substantially the same shape as long as bottom 1160 of first container member 1100 is configured to align and mate with top 1260 of second container member 1200.
One aspect of the present invention allows a user to place a potentially hazardous substance into one or both of container members 1100 and 1200 and create an assembled container 1000 by utilizing cooperative locking members 1122, 1132, 1222 and 1232 of the first container member 1100 and the second container member 1200. For example,
In some embodiments, when locking members 1122 and 1222 and locking members 1132 and 1232 are engaged, the assembled container 1000 may be secured, such that disengaging first container member 1100 from second container member 1200 may require a special tool or device. Such a configuration may provide protection to a person who is transporting the hazardous substance. Additionally, such a configuration may prevent children or others from touching or removing the contents held by assembled container 1000. Ultimately, in embodiments where assembled container 1000 holds frozen carbon dioxide, assembled container 1000 may assist in the safe delivery of a frozen product.
Another aspect of the invention may require a special tool to unlock assembled container 1000 once locking members 1122 and 1132 are engaged with 1222 and 1232, respectively. In one embodiment, an aspect of the invention utilizes a modified arbor press for disengaging locking members 1122 and 1132 from locking members 1222 and 1232, respectively. In such an embodiment, the modified arbor press may function to disengage tabs 1124 and 1134 from slots 1224 and 1234. Such a tool may operate similar to a drill press in that assembled container 1000 may be placed on a surface allowing for the arbor press to come down and disengage locking members 1122 and 1222. Subsequently, assembled container may be realigned so that when the arbor press is lowered to assembled container, the arbor press may disengage locking members 1132 and 1232.
Recesses 1290 and protrusions 1180 and 1280 may provide a snug fit between first container member 1100 and second container member 1200. The embodiment depicted in
Vents 1112 and 1212 may allow gaseous carbon dioxide to dissipate when frozen carbon dioxide begins to evaporate. The number, sizes and shapes of vents 1112 and 1212 may be adjusted based on the amount of ventilation that is needed for the particular application, the amount of frozen carbon dioxide present, the desired time of evaporation, etc. Clips 1114 and 1214 may prevent a person from intentionally or accidentally placing a finger or other object through vents 1112 and 1212, preventing accidental burns or removal of portions of the frozen carbon dioxide. Moreover, in some embodiments, clips 1114 and 1214 may provide a method for attaching assembled container 1000 to a cooler or other apparatus that may have need for such a container.
Top 1110 of first container member 1100 may have a large flat surface 1118 and, similarly, bottom 1210 of second container member 1200 may have a large flat surface 1218. The flat surfaces 1118 and 1218 may provide space for putting information on assembled container 1000. Flat surfaces 1118 and 1218 may have information (such as messages or warnings) on them via molding a message into first container member 1100 and/or second container member 1200, via stickers placed on flat surface 1118 and/or 1218, or via any other means known for displaying warnings or other information.
Another feature that may be present in some embodiments is a handle. As described above, there are many ways that a handle may be included as part of assembled container 1000. In some embodiments, first container member 1100 may have a handle 1118 attached to top 1110. In other embodiments, second container member 1200 may have a handle 1218, instead of or in addition to handle 1118, attached to bottom 1210. In other embodiments, assembled container 1000 may have a handle or handles attached to any of the sides or ends of either or both of first container member 1100 and second container member 1200. An embodiment with handles attached to ends 1240 and 1250 is depicted in the embodiment shown in
The handle or handles of assembled container 1000 may be useful for carrying container 1000 or for attaching container 1000 to a cooler 2000, as depicted in
Assembled container may be made out of various plastics or other materials and may be manufactured by various means known in the art. In some embodiments, assembled container is molded out of polyurethane, which may maintain structural integrity when coming into repeated contact with extremely cold temperatures. Additionally, as previously mentioned, container 1000 may be of many different sizes and shapes. In one embodiment, assembled container may be sized to hold a standard size cut of frozen carbon dioxide. In embodiments where container 1000 may be used to transport and store ice cream for up to 8 hours, a standard cut of frozen carbon dioxide of approximately 10 inches by 3 inches by 3 inches may be used. In other embodiments, frozen carbon dioxide, or other substances to be held by container 1000 may be cut or formed to fit within container 1000. Obviously, when storing frozen carbon dioxide, container could be used in many different applications where items need to remain at a low temperature. For example, container 1000 may be useful for transportation or temporary storage in the medical field or for frozen meats or other foods.
Moreover, in addition to the possibility of having various sizes and shapes for container 1000, first container member 1100 and second container member 1200 may be of varying size and shape. Although first container member 1100 and second container member 1200 are depicted as being of approximately the same size and shape in
While the invention has been described in detail in terms of specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
