AU3917999A - Storage capsule - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): ANTHONY ARTHUR RICHARDS Invention Title: STORAGE CAPSULE a The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: STORAGE CAPSULE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage capsule.

In one form the invention relates to an apparatus for use as a time capsule and will primarily be described with reference to this use. It should be remembered, however, that the invention can have broader use in storage applications, such as a secure container for valuables.

Background Art Time capsules are known in the art. Some capsules are available in the form of a metallic box (JP09160501) or other shaped metallic bodies (JP07298975). A plastic time capsule consisting of a hollow two-part cylinder is disclosed in US5312008 which involves a compressible rubber gasket positioned between two hollow cylindrical sections which are themselves inter-engaged by tapered threads. Other prior art involves more complex capsules fitted with timer locking mechanisms or air extraction means.

It would be advantageous if at least preferred embodiments of the invention provided an alternative to prior art storage capsule arrangements.

ooooo7 Summary of the Invention The present invention in a first aspect provides a storage capsule comprising: first and second hollow members each having an open ".end portion including a fastening means; and a ring connection element including coupling means located at opposing ends of the ring and adapted for being •coo 30 respectively releasably engaged with the fastening means of the first and second hollow members so as to form a sealed capsule.

Preferably the coupling means is located peripherally about and within each of the ring ends, and the fastening means and the coupling means are inaccessible from the exterior of the sealed capsule.

S: 34878 Preferably the fastening means is a plurality of bayonet tabs.

Preferably the coupling means is a plurality of respective bayonet sockets which are oriented to cooperatively secure the bayonet tabs upon rotation of the hollow elements relative to the ring connection element.

Preferably the exterior of the formed capsule is substantially smooth at the joins between each of the first and second hollow members with the ring.

Preferably the ring connection element is an openended cylinder.

Preferably the first and second hollow members contain one or more peripheral holes or slots.

Preferably the ring element contains one or more peripheral holes or slots positioned to align with respective peripheral holes or slots in the first and second hollow members such that into each aligned hole or slot arrangement a locking pin can be placed therethrough to interengage the hollow member and the ring element to provide a locking means for the assembled capsule which is "-inaccessible from the exterior.

~Preferably the exterior of the formed capsule forms a substantially watertight seal.

"Preferably the storage capsule is adapted such that 25 it can be used as a time capsule for long term future storage of any contents placed therein.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, a preferred form of 30 the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in 00 0 which: 600Figure 1 shows a side schematic view of one embodiment of a storage capsule apparatus in accordance with the invention; S: 34878 Figure 2 shows a side schematic view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an end schematic view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a side section schematic view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a side schematic view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows an end schematic view of the apparatus shown in Figure Figure 7 shows a side schematic view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure i.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a storage capsule 10 is shown which comprises a first hollow member 12, a second hollow member 14 and a ring connection element 16. The hollow members 12 and 14 each have an open end portion 18.

The ring connection element 16 includes coupling means comprising bayonet sockets 20 located at the periphery 22 of opposing ends of the ring 16. The hollow members 12 and 14 have fastening means which comprise a plurality of bayonet tabs 24 adapted for being releasably engaged with respective bayonet sockets 20 so as to form a sealed •capsule.

25 To form the capsule, the open end portion 18 of hollow members 12 and 14 is brought into close contact o •with the periphery 22 of ring connection element 16.

Bayonet sockets 20 are aligned with bayonet tabs 24 and a linkage occurs upon rotation of the hollow elements 12 and g 30 14 relative to the ring connection element 16. The exterior 26 of the capsule 10 so formed is smooth at the .joins 28 and 30 between each of the hollow members 12 and 14 with the ring connection element 16. Once formed, the capsule exterior surface 26 conceals the fastening and coupling means.

S: 34878 In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the hollow members 12 and 14 are shaped generally as halves of an egg and the ring connection element 16 is an open-ended cylinder. When sealed, the storage capsule 10 takes the form of an egg. A sizeable cavity is created within the capsule for the storage of articles.

The hollow members 12 and 14 contain one or more peripheral holes or slots 32 positioned at open end portion 18 to align with respective peripheral holes or slots 34 in the periphery 22 of ring connection element 16. Into each aligned hole or slot arrangement a locking pin 36 can be placed which engages the hollow member 12 or 14 and the ring element 16 to provide a mechanism for permanently locking the assembled capsule 10 together.

The locking pin 36 prevents relative rotation of ring connection element 16 and hollow members 12 and 14 which otherwise can allow decoupling of bayonet tabs 24 from bayonet sockets 20. Once in place, the pin 36 mechanism is inaccessible from the exterior surface 26 of the assembled capsule. This ensures that in order to open the capsule 10, the pin 36 must be forcibly broken, thus preventing the capsule from being repeatedly opened and closed at will. The capsule should therefore remain 9. sealed until being broken open at a designated time in the 25 future The exterior surface 26 of the formed capsule forms a •substantially watertight seal which ensures that the contents of the capsule 10 remain dry and undamaged after sealing occurs, should the capsule be buried in the ground 30 for example. To aid the long-term future storage of the capsule itself, the capsule can be made of a hard and resilient, inexpensive material such as plastic.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the fastening and coupling means comprise exterior and interior threading which threadingly engages to form a substantially watertight capsule.

S: 34878 In a further embodiment of the invention, the first and second hollow members are shaped as closed-end cylinders.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

In the claims that follow and in the summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. 2. A storage capsule as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling means is located peripherally about and within each of the ring ends, and wherein the fastening means and the coupling means are inaccessible from the exterior of the sealed capsule.
2. 3. A storage capsule as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the fastening means is a plurality of bayonet tabs.
3. 4. A storage capsule as claimed in claim 3 wherein the coupling means is a plurality of respective bayonet sockets which are oriented to cooperatively secure the bayonet tabs upon rotation of the hollow elements relative to the ring connection element.
4. 5. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the o• g 25 preceding claims wherein the exterior of the formed capsule is substantially smooth at the joins between each of the first and second hollow members with the ring connection element.
5. 6. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the 30 preceding claims wherein the ring connection element is an open-ended cylinder.
6. 7. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second hollow members contain one or more peripheral holes or slots.
7. 8. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ring element contains one or S: 34878 more peripheral holes or slots positioned to align with respective peripheral holes or slots in the first and second hollow members such that into each aligned hole or slot arrangement a locking pin can be placed therethrough to interengage the hollow member and the ring element to provide a locking means for the assembled capsule which is inaccessible from the exterior.
8. 9. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the exterior of the formed capsule forms a substantially watertight seal. A storage capsule as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that is adapted such that it can be used as a time capsule for long term future storage of any contents placed therein.
9. 11. A storage capsule substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 10th day of July 1999 ANTHONY ARTHUR RICHARDS By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK e *o S: 34878