US3306513A

US3306513A - Test tube shipping container

Info

Publication number: US3306513A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1967-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-28

Description

United States Patent Ofiice 3,306,513- Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,306,513 TEST TUBE SHIPPING CONTAINER Sherman S. Fishrnan, PO. Box 321, San Francisco, Calif. 94101 Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,676 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to shipping containers, particularly to shipping containers that are suited for technical glassware such as test tubes. Frequently research activities require shipping test tubes great distances to obtain specimens of bacteria, viruses and the like. These materials are often pathogenic to man and animal. When these specimens are returned to the laboratory any breakage will result in a lost specimen and possibly a hazardous contamination. There is a need for a rugged shipping container, a package that is so versatile that it can contain a few or many test tubes without additional excelsior to fill any vacant space.

With the advent of honeycomb packaging materials it became apparent that such a compact shipping container was feasible. Accordingly, it is an objective of this invention to provide a test tube shipping container that will be rugged, compact, contain few or many tubes, be easily opened and closed and have slight risk of damage to its contents during shipment.

Additionally, it is a further objective of this invention to provide a shipping container wherein the honeycomb portion is removable and becomes a test tube holder which can be placed directly on the shelf of a freezer.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container and its interior.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the container taken generally along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2' but with the interior packing material expanded.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the expanded packaging material taken generally along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing in which like characters are like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective the container assembly which is composed of a bottom 17, side walls 12, 13, 14 and 16 and tops 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, which taken together constitute the carton 11, generally made of corrugated cardboard, styrenes and the like. The interior has a shock resistant false bottom 19 being made of a resilient material selected from rubberized felts, urethane foams, loose wads of pellon and the like. A section of honeycomb 20 to fit between the walls 13 and 14, and being fixedly attached on the surface 22 of the wall 12 and having a rigid outer wall 35; the honeycomb 20 has attached on its bottom fixed edge a pleated accordion-like bottom 21 which is made of an expandable material such as honeycomb cardboard, latex coated paper, and the like. An adhesive backed tab 21a is attached to the outer end of the honeycomb section 20; another adhesive strip tab 23 is attached along the vertical edge of the honeycomb 20 and adjacent to the side walls 13 and 14; the adhesive strip 23 has a wax paper 26 Which covers the adhesive surface and will be stripped away to expose the adhesive when the honeycomb is expanded, thereby when applied to the side walls 13 and 14 the tab 23 will serve to anchor the honeycomb to whatever extent it has been expanded. The amount of expansion will depend upon the number of test tubes to be inserted in it. The honeycomb 20 may be expanded to expose only a few cells or many. In FIG. 2 the attach ment site 21b of the pleated bottom 21 against the surface of the wall 12 is seen more clearly. The honeycomb 20 is shown in its contracted state with no test tubes stored in it and the tab 23 is unattached and its adhesive surface is protected by a wax paper 26. In FIG. 3 we see the honeycomb 20 partially expanded and storing test tubes 30, the tab 23 is afiixed to the wall 13, the bottom 21 has partially expanded with the honeycomb 20. In FIG. 4 we see the honeycomb 20 and its attachment 22 to the wall 12; several test tubes 30 are stored in the honeycomb cells; the tab 23 is attached to the wall 13 by the adhesive surface area 24.

This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed here but is intended to encompass other modifications apparent to those skilled in the art and in keeping within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A shipping container composed of a bottom, four upright walls, a top, a false bottom, a honeycomb section, a pleated 'bottom for the honeycomb with adhesive on each end, adhesive strips partially covered with wax paper; said bottom being attached to said upright walls, said upright walls having tops attached forming an enclosure; said false bottom loosely applied onto said enclosure bottom; said pleated bottom being attached at one end to an upright wall of said enclosure, its other end being attached to the outer bottom edge of said honeycomb; said honeycomb being attached to the same said upright wall; said adhesive strips being attached in part onto the outer surface of said honeycomb and adjacent to each upright wall which is in relation to the said wall to which aid honeycomb is attached; said bottom, walls and tops being made from a material selected from corrugated cardboard, styrenes and the like; said false 'bottom being made of a resilient material selected from rubberized felts, urethane foams, pellon and the like; said honeycomb being made of cardboard, chemically coated paper, metallic foils and the like; said pleated bottom being made from a selection of materials such as cardboard, latex coated paper and the like.

Feb. 28, 1967 s. s. FISHMAN TEST TUBE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 24, 1965 Z/ I/// A