US4938360A — Sealed cushioning package

Claim 1

Independent Claim 345 words

A container, comprising (a) a receptacle and a cover therefore, the receptacle having a bottom wall and the cover having a top wall, (b) fin means integral with at least one of said walls and projecting toward the other of said walls to engage an article placed within the container and between said walls when the cover is closed onto the receptacle, (c) said fin means being yieldably deflectable in response to squeezing of the article between said walls, (d) and fastener means associated with the receptacle and cover to hold the cover closed on the receptacle with said article squeezed and thereby positioned with said fin means in deflected state, (e) the receptacle and cover having interfitting peripheral edge structures that provide a fluid seal when the fastener means holds the cover closed on the receptacle and the article is squeezed by the fin means in deflected state, (f) the peripheral edge structure of one of the cover and receptacle typically forming a peripheral groove, and the peripheral edge structure of the other of the cover and receptacle forming a peripheral tongue that fits into said peripheral groove when the cover is closed on the receptacle, (g) the peripheral groove having inner and outer walls, and including a yieldably compressible seal received in the groove between said walls to be compressively engaged by the tongue when the cover is closed on the receptacle, (h) the cover and receptacle having interconnections at longitudinally spaced sides thereof, one interconnection comprising a molded hinge, and the other interconnection comprising interfitting locking tab and recess elements, one on the cover and the other on the receptacle, the groove being intercepted by one of the tab and recess elements, the tab and recess elements comprising a fastener means, (i) the outer wall interrupted by said recess element, the outer wall having a gap therein where it is interrupted by the recess element, and the tab element closing said gap when the tab is received in the recess, (j) the tab compressing the seal at the location of the gap.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 345 words

A container, comprising (a) a receptacle and a cover therefore, the receptacle having a bottom wall and the cover having a top wall, (b) fin means integral with at least one of said walls and projecting toward the other of said walls to engage an article placed within the container and between said walls when the cover is closed onto the receptacle, (c) said fin means being yieldably deflectable in response to squeezing of the article between said walls, (d) and fastener means associated with the receptacle and cover to hold the cover closed on the receptacle with said article squeezed and thereby positioned with said fin means in deflected state, (e) the receptacle and cover having interfitting peripheral edge structures that provide a fluid seal when the fastener means holds the cover closed on the receptacle and the article is squeezed by the fin means in deflected state, (f) the peripheral edge structure of one of the cover and receptacle typically forming a peripheral groove, and the peripheral edge structure of the other of the cover and receptacle forming a peripheral tongue that fits into said peripheral groove when the cover is closed on the receptacle, (g) the peripheral groove having inner and outer walls, and including a yieldably compressible seal received in the groove between said walls to be compressively engaged by the tongue when the cover is closed on the receptacle, (h) the cover and receptacle having interconnections at longitudinally spaced sides thereof, one interconnection comprising a molded hinge, and the other interconnection comprising interfitting locking tab and recess elements, one on the cover and the other on the receptacle, the groove being intercepted by one of the tab and recess elements, the tab and recess elements comprising a fastener means, (i) the outer wall interrupted by said recess element, the outer wall having a gap therein where it is interrupted by the recess element, and the tab element closing said gap when the tab is received in the recess, (j) the tab compressing the seal at the location of the gap.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The container of claim 1 wherein the peripheral tongue fits between said walls and provides means for exerting force acting to deflect one of said walls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The container of claim 2 wherein the peripheral groove inner and outer walls are closely spaced apart so that the tongue has wedge fit between said walls when the cover is closed on the receptacle.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The container of claim 1 wherein said seal comprises an elastomer O-ring, the groove having approximately rectangular outline.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The container of claim 1 wherein the outer wall is interrupted at two spaced locations by two of said recess elements.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 49 words

The container of claim 10 wherein said outer wall has two gaps therein where it is interrupted by the two recess elements, there being two of said tab elements closing said gaps when the tabs are received in the respective recesses, both tabs then acting to compress the seal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 84 words

The container of claim 1 including outwardly looping bracket means on the cover and receptacle proximate said peripheral edge structures, said bracket means forming strap receiving openings located to be brought into registration as the cover and receptacle are closed together, whereby the receptacle may be prevented from falling away from the cover to spill the article from the receptacle when a strap is retained about a user's neck and passes through the bracket openings for retention to the bracket means on the receptacle.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The container of claim 7 wherein the bracket means includes two pairs of brackets, one pair on the receptacle near corners thereof, and one pair on the cover near corners thereof.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The container of claim 8 wherein the receptacle and cover consists of molded plastic material, and said brackets are integrally molded to the receptacle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 100 words

The container of claim 8 wherein the peripheral edge structure of one of the cover and receptacle typically forms a peripheral groove, and the peripheral edge structure of the other of the cover and receptacle forms a peripheral tongue that fits into said peripheral groove when the cover is closed on the receptacle, and wherein the peripheral groove has inner and outer walls, and including a yieldably compressible seal received in the groove between said walls to be compressively engaged by the tongue when the cover is closed on the receptacle, the tab and recess elements located between the brackets.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 48 words

The container of claim 1 wherein said fin means comprise fins having terminal edges that define an article positioning plane relative to which said fin planes are out of perpendicularity, certain fins inclined toward one wall of the container,and other fins inclined toward another wall of the container.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The container of claim 11 wherein said fin means are spaced apart in series across major extent of said one wall.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The container of claim 11 wherein said fins extend in generally parallel relation, laterally, said cover having depth that gradually diminishes, relative to the fins, in one longitudinal direction, and said receptacle having depth that gradually increases relative to the fins in said one longitudinal direction.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 49 words

The container of claim 11 wherein said fin means include first fins integral with said one wall, and second fins integral with the other of said walls, there being article receiving space formed between said first fins, and said second fins, when said cover is closed toward said receptacle.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 49 words

The container of claim 14 wherein said first fins extend in generally parallel relation and are spaced apart in series across major extent of said one wall, and said second fins extend in generally parallel relation and are spaced apart in series across major extent of said other wall.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 60 words

The container of claim 14 wherein said first fins are generally parallel, laterally, and said second fins are generally parallel, laterally, said cover having depth that gradually diminishes, relative to the fins integral with the cover, in one longitudinal direction, and said receptacle having depth that gradually increases, relative to the fins carried by the receptacle, in said longitudinal direction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

The container of claim 14 wherein said first fins have terminal edges defining a first article positioning plane relative to which said first fins are out of perpendicularity, and said second fins have terminal edges defining a second article positioning plane relative to which said second fins are out of perpendicularity.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

The container of claim 17 wherein said first and second planes are substantially parallel.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The container of claim 17 wherein said first fins extend at angles between 75° and 88° relative to said first plane, and said second fins extend at angles between 75° and 88° relative to said second plane.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The container of claim 14 including said article having sides thereof compressively engaged by deflected fins.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 11 words

The container of claim 20 wherein said article comprise a camera.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The container of claim 1 wherein said receptacle and cover have hinge connection, the cover, receptacle and hinge connection being a one-piece, molded plastic unit.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The container of claim 1 including said article which comprises a camera having a side thereof compressively engaged by deflected edges defined by the fin means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The container of claim 11 wherein said tab and recess elements are defined by molded plastic material, and have interlocking wedge shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 96 words

A protector for an article defining at least one elongated edge and at least one corner, comprising, in combination with said article, (a) said protector having two walls adapted to overlap two sides defined by the article, (b) and fins integral with said two walls and projecting to have tips engageable with said two sides of the article, said fins angled to flex when pushed toward and against the article, (c) said protector being substantially smaller than the article and being entirely confined closely against one of the following: (i) said elongated edge (ii) said corner

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 96 words

A protector for an article defining at least one elongated edge and at least one corner, comprising, in combination with said article, (a) said protector having two walls adapted to overlap two sides defined by the article, (b) and fins integral with said two walls and projecting to have tips engageable with said two sides of the article, said fins angled to flex when pushed toward and against the article, (c) said protector being substantially smaller than the article and being entirely confined closely against one of the following: (i) said elongated edge (ii) said corner

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

The protector of claim 25 wherein said walls and fins define a single plastic unit.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The protector of claim 25 wherein said walls have ends that define diagonals extending toward a common corner.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-07-02	1994-01-01	1994-07-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-07-02	1998-01-01	1998-07-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-07-02	2002-01-01	2002-07-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sealed cushioning package

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