GB2389096A

GB2389096A - Protective container, eg for surfboard

Info

Publication number: GB2389096A
Application number: GB0212679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alison Murchie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-31
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-31
Also published as: GB0212679D0; GB2389096B

Abstract

A protective container for an object which is vulnerable to impact damage, comprising an envelope shape to fit approximately the object to be protected and adapted to present an inner surface which can be inflated to bring it into intimate contact with the object to be protected. The object may be a surfboard, or more than one surfboard if the container is divided into more than one respective chamber by partitioning. Each wall of the container, and partition if provided, may comprise interdigitated independent cells 105, 106 with an inflation valve 108 for each.

Description

1 2389096

( PROTECTIVE CONTAINERS

The present invention relates to protective containers for objects which are susceptible to damage during transit or storage, and more specifically to s bags for the transport of objects with relatively fragile projections such as the fins of surf boards.

Protection for fragile objects in transit or storage often is provided by placing them in rigid containers and filling the interstices between the o objects and their containers with granules of a light-weight plastics material, shredded paper, straw, or similar materials. Other methods are to line the container with a plastics foam material, or the closed cell plastics material known as "Bubble-wrap".

Although these methods of protecting vulnerable objects in transit or storage all have their uses, they all have disadvantages. For example, the granules used in conjunction with rigid containers present disposal problems when the containers are emptied, as do shredded paper and such like. Foamed plastics material usually are at least semi-rigid and have to to be cut to fit the objects to be protected. Also heavy impacts can crush them.

"Bubble-wrap" is only practicable for the protection of objects with relatively flat surfaces.

Objects which present particular problems are surf boards, the noses and 25 tails of which are very susceptible to damage. It is known to provide travelling bags for surf boards with polyurethane foam linings, but these are not entirely satisfactory because not only is the protection provided limited by the lack of resilience of the polyurethane foam material but, as

surf boards differ in shape and size, the bags have to be made to lit surf boards individually.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved transit or storage container for objects which are vulnerable to impact damage, and in 5 particular to provide improved transit and storage bags for surf boards.

According to the present invention, there is provided a protective container for an object which is vulnerable to impact damage, comprising an envelope shape to fit approximately the object to be protected and adapted to present lo to the object an inner surface which can be inflated to bring it into intimate contact with the object to be protected.

Preferably, the envelope is shaped to conform at least approximately to the shape of the object to be protected and the inner surface is divided into a Is plurality of cells. The cells may be gathered into separate groups so that if one group of cells becomes deflated, then the other cells continue to provide protection for the object in the container.

In particular, the invention provides a bag for the protection of a surf, or to similar sports board, during transit or storage.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 25 Figure 1 is a plan view of a surf board travailing bag embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the invention.

( Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a travelling/storage bag for a surf board consists of an envelope 100 having the general shape of a surf board and made of any convenient material. The envelope 100 has upper and lower leaves 101, 102 which may be joined together around most of their s peripheries leaving an opening of one end which may be closed by a ziptype fastener 103, as shown, or they may be joined along the majority of one long edge only so that the envelope 100 opens out in the manner of a book.

Again, the envelope 100 can be closed by means of a zip-type fastener. The inner surfaces of the leaves 101, 102 of the envelope 100 have a lamina of lo elastic impervious material 104 attached to them which is formed into two sets 105, 106 of interdigitated independent cells. The two sets of cells 105, 106 are indicated by the dotted line 107. The patterns of the cells 105, 106 on each leaf of the envelope 100 need not be the same. The sets of cells 105, 106 are inflated or deflated by valves 108. The sets of cells 105, 106 are 5 made to be independent so that if one set of the cells 105, 106 is deflated for any reason, the other set of cells remains inflated so as to continue to provide protection for a surf board within the bag.

Figure 2 of the drawings shows a cross-section of a closed surf board bag 20 embodying the invention.

In use, a surf board is placed inside the bag and the cells 105, 106 are inflated by mouth, or by a pump, if so desired. By virtue of the elastic nature of the material from which the cells 105, 106 are made, they expand 25 to conform to the shape of the surf board within the bag, so holding the surf board centrally within the bag and absorbing any impacts to which the bag may be subjected in transit or storage. As pointed out above, the independence of the two sets of cells 105, 106 and their interdigitated form

( allows one set of the cells 105 or 106 to continue to provide protection against impact damage even though the other has become deflated.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of the invention which is s similar to the first embodiment, and corresponding features have the same reference numerals.

Referring to Figure 3, the envelope 100 of the surf board travelling bag has a membrane 301 dividing it into two compartments 302, 303 each of which lo has a plan shape of a surf board. The membrane 301 also is divided into two sets of independent inflatable cells 304, 305 so that the surf board bag can accommodate two surf boards, each of which is fully protected from impact damage.

5 If so desired, further membranes can be included so as to increase the number of surf board which can be accommodated in the bag.

Although the invention has been described in relation to the protection of surf boards, specifically, it is equally applicable to the protection of other 20 forms of sports board or of other vulnerable objects such as instruments or optical equipment.

Claims

1. A protective container for an object which is vulnerable to impact damage, comprising an envelope shape to fit approximately the object to be protected and adapted to present to the object an inner surface which can be inflated to bring it into intimate contact with the object to be protected.

2. A protective container for a surf or other sports board according to claim I wherein there is included a central longitudinally extending membrane adapted to divide the container into two chambers each capable of receiving a surf or other sports board, . the said membrane also including inflatable parts of which are interdigitated.

À 3 A protective container for a surf or other sports board substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings "

2. A protective container according to Claim wherein the inner

surface is formed into a plurality of interdigitated independent cells each of which is provided with a valve by means of which it can be inflated or deflated.

3. A protective container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there is included at least on longitudinally extending membrane dividing the container into two chambers, the said membrane also being inflatable so as to locate and isolate objects placed in the chambers. 4. A protective container according to Claim 3 wherein the membrane also is formed into a plurality of interdigitated independent cells each of which is provided with a valve by means of which it can be inflated or deflated.

6. A protective container according to any preceding Claim adapted to enclose a surf or other sports board.

b ( 6. A protective container for an object which is vulnerable to impact damage substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLARIS

1. A protective container for a surf or other sports board, comprising an envelope having two leaves shaped to fit a surf or other sports board and a closable opening through which a surf or other sports board can be inserted into or removed from the container, wherein the inner surface of each leaf is provided with an inflatable structure comprising two independent inflatable cell, parts of one cell being interdigitated with parts of the other cell.