Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shipping and storage structures. More particularly the present invention relates to a vented end plug for a shipping or display tube.
Description of Related Art
Ventilated shipping containers are important in the shipping field for transportation of living creatures (among other things). However, such shipping containers can be quite expensive, and also are subject to structural failure, chew-out, and other weaknesses.
For example, one industry option for ventilated shipping is a small box having two die cuts in parallel sides. A wire mesh is connected to these cut outs by, for example, stitching, gluing, or stapling to the box. This solution results in a number of weaknesses. For example, production is labor and time intensive, equipment costs can be high, and the weaknesses in the corners of a box, as well as around the mesh provide opportunities for a breaking of the box or being chewed through by the creature being shipped.
Therefore, what is needed is a simple, effective and easy to use solution to provide ventilated shipping containers.
The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.
In one aspect, a ventilated plug for closing a tube is provided. The ventilated plug has a planar body with a cross sectional area approximately matching an inner or outer cross sectional area of the tube (depending on embodiment). The body has a top face and a bottom face, with at least one opening between the two faces to allow air flow through the body. A rim extends continuously about a perimeter of the body and extends away from the top face approximately (+/−15 degrees) perpendicularly. The plug is configured to fit within the tube to provide a ventilated closure in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the plug provides ventilated closure by frictionally connecting over an outside of the tube at the end of the tube to cover an open end of the tube.
In another aspect, a ventilated and closed shipping tube assembly is provided. The assembly is formed of a shipping tube with a ventilated plug positioned to cover at least one open end of the tube. The ventilated plug is constructed such that at least one small opening allows the passage of air while preventing an escape of contents within the tube. The ventilated plug has a planar body with a cross sectional area approximately matching an inner or outer cross sectional area of the tube. The body has a top face and a bottom face, with at least one opening between the two faces to allow air flow through the body. A rim extends continuously about a perimeter of the body and extends away from the top face approximately (+/−15 degrees) perpendicularly. A bead may protrude from an outer face of the rim to provide increased hold between the rim and the tube.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.
Generally, the present invention concerns a ventilated end plug for use in industry standard shipping tubes. The end plug may be used on one or both ends of the tubes, and provides a ventilation through one or a plurality of openings formed in the plug. This ventilated plug seals the tube by, for example, a frictional connection to an open end of the tube.
The opening or openings may be formed in any manner by a surface of the plug. For example, an opening or openings may be formed in the plug during manufacture. In another embodiment, a mesh or screen may be attached (either at manufacture or after) to larger openings in the plug. These openings are configured and sized to allow a passage of air through them. The size of the opening, or the size of the openings of the mesh screen, may vary in size and are not limited by size or other orientation. In most embodiments, the openings or mesh screen aperture size may be large enough to allow passage of air but small enough to prevent the escape of an organism intended to be contained in the tube or other contents of the tube. In a particular embodiment, an opening may be a 0.05″ square. In a further embodiment having a plurality of openings, each opening may be a 0.05″ square spaced in a grid having 0.06 spacings between each opening.
In a particular embodiment, the plug may be formed by a planar body having a shape selected to match a shape of the shipping tube to which it will connect. For example, the planar body may be a circular disk shape. About the perimeter of the body, a rim may extend away from a first face of the body. At the end of this rim opposite to the body, a flange may extend perpendicularly to the rim and radially outwardly, approximately parallel to the face. In a further embodiment, a bead may extend from either or both the inside or outside of the rim (facing, or facing away from the body, respectively) to facilitate the plug being held in place by the increased/diameter caused by the bead. Selection of the side of the rim that the bead may extend from may depend on if the rim is configured to fit within the tube (would have the bead on the outside) or over an outer diameter of the tube (having the bead on the inside).
While in most embodiments the plug will be pressure-fit to either an outer diameter of the tube or an inner diameter of the tube, it should be understood that any manner of connecting the plug to the tube may be used. For example, an adhesive may be used on a portion of the plug; a snap fitting may be used, a U-shaped flange may be used to wrap around both the inside and outside of the tube end; and the like. Further, in some embodiments, a quantity of tape or adhesive may be used to additionally secure a pressure fitted or frictionally fitted plug to the tube.
The plug may be formed of any material capable of being attached to the tube. Examples of which the plug may be made include, but are not limited to: plastics, particularly semi-rigid plastics, metals, composite materials, rigid or reinforced paper products, and the like.
The shipping tube may be formed of any material capable of being shipped and supporting its own weight. The shipping tube need not be solely for shipping, and the term “shipping tube” is used herein to refer to any elongate structure defining an interior region, and could be any tube used, for example, for display, storage, shipping, and the like. Typically the shipping tube may be made of a cardboard, plastics, or metal material. The tube may be in any elongate shape, such as, for example a tube having a circular, rectangular, triangular, or oval cross section.
The ventilated plug may be used in any shipping or other tube for the purpose of allowing ventilation to the tube. This may be particularly advantageous for the shipping and storage of small creatures such as worms, insects, and small vertebrates.
Turning now to
While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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