Patent US5515975A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5515975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Evacuated, encapsulating packaging
Assignee: Jarvis Packaging and Designs Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-19
•
Granted: 1996-05-14
•
Expires: 2014-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A sealed pliable bag, or pillow, containing loose particles is adapted for evacuation by means of a valve or by an air tube inserted through the bag which may be heat sealed upon subsequent withdrawal of the air tube. The particle filled bag is placed in contact with an article to be packaged so as to conform with the size and shape of at least a portion of the article and the bag is evacuated. One or more additional particle-filled bags are positioned over a remaining portion of the article and are similarly evacuated. Upon evacuation, the bags undergo a size reduction and become rigid, defining a hollow space conforming to the size and shape of the packaged article with the bags serving to protect the article when positioned in a closed container. In another embodiment, air may be introduced into the bags, each having a block-like shape, after the bags and the article are positioned in the closed container such as by puncturing or by means of a valve, allowing the bags to expand outwardly against the inner surface of the closed container and inwardly so as to securely engage the packaged article and provide secure, impact-resistant and shock-proof protection for the article within the container. Air-filled, compressible particles may be used in the bags permitting greater size reduction upon evacuation and increased expansion of the bag and particle combination upon inflation for more secure engagement of the article and the inner surface of the closed container.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Jarvis
- 👤 Judith A. Jarvis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/02; B65D81/05; B65D81/051; B65B; B65B55/00; B65B55/20; B65D81/052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
345 words
Apparatus disposed in a closed container and securely engaging an article in said container for protecting said article during storage and shipping, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of sealed, flexible envelopes, each of said envelopes having a respective outer surface for engaging a portion of the articles, wherein the size of each of said envelopes is determined by the size, shape and weight of the article and the dimensions of the closed container; indicia on each of said envelopes indicating the dimensions of the container and the size and shape of the article with which said envelopes are intended for use; a plurality loose particles disposed in each of said envelopes, wherein each envelope includes a fill line indicating the level to which each of said envelopes is to filled with said particles; evacuation means in each of said envelopes for forming at least a partial vacuum in said envelopes with each of said envelopes engaging a portion of the article, whereby the volume of said envelopes is reduced due to removal of air therefrom and each particle-filled envelope is converted from a loose, flexible structure to a compact, rigid structure for protecting the article within the closed container, and wherein each of said envelopes retains its shape when removed from the container with the article and when the article is removed from the envelope for reuse with similarly sized and shaped articles; wherein said particles are comprised of a porous, air-containing material, and wherein air is removed from said particles as well as from said envelopes when said at least a partial vacuum is formed in said envelopes to further reduce the volume of said envelopes and render each particle-filled envelope more rigid; and inflation means in each of said envelopes for releasing the vacuum in said envelopes when the article and said envelopes are placed in the closed container, whereupon said particles and envelopes expand inwardly to securely engage the article and outwardly to securely engage an inner surface of the closed container and provide protection for the article in the closed container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
345 words
Apparatus disposed in a closed container and securely engaging an article in said container for protecting said article during storage and shipping, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of sealed, flexible envelopes, each of said envelopes having a respective outer surface for engaging a portion of the articles, wherein the size of each of said envelopes is determined by the size, shape and weight of the article and the dimensions of the closed container; indicia on each of said envelopes indicating the dimensions of the container and the size and shape of the article with which said envelopes are intended for use; a plurality loose particles disposed in each of said envelopes, wherein each envelope includes a fill line indicating the level to which each of said envelopes is to filled with said particles; evacuation means in each of said envelopes for forming at least a partial vacuum in said envelopes with each of said envelopes engaging a portion of the article, whereby the volume of said envelopes is reduced due to removal of air therefrom and each particle-filled envelope is converted from a loose, flexible structure to a compact, rigid structure for protecting the article within the closed container, and wherein each of said envelopes retains its shape when removed from the container with the article and when the article is removed from the envelope for reuse with similarly sized and shaped articles; wherein said particles are comprised of a porous, air-containing material, and wherein air is removed from said particles as well as from said envelopes when said at least a partial vacuum is formed in said envelopes to further reduce the volume of said envelopes and render each particle-filled envelope more rigid; and inflation means in each of said envelopes for releasing the vacuum in said envelopes when the article and said envelopes are placed in the closed container, whereupon said particles and envelopes expand inwardly to securely engage the article and outwardly to securely engage an inner surface of the closed container and provide protection for the article in the closed container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said envelopes are comprised of flexible, thin plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flexible, thin plastic is polyethylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said envelopes are comprised of flexible, thin metal foil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number and size of said particles in each of said envelopes is determined by the size and shape of the article and the dimensions of the closed container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particles are comprised of expandable polystyrene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particles are comprised of polyurethane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said particles are comprised of a food product including corn or potato starch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said evacuation means and said inflation means are comprised of a single valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said evacuation means includes a valve and said inflation means includes a sharp pointed object for piercing said envelopes and allowing air to enter and expand each of said envelopes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2629698A
Cited
US2649958A
Cited
US2895603A
Cited
US3199689A
Cited
US3415364A
Cited
US3238599A
Cited
US3255871A
Cited
US3412521A
Cited
US3503177A
Cited
US3462027A
Cited
US3515267A
Cited
US3611455A
Cited
US3762404A
Cited
US4154344A
Cited
US4213213A
Cited
US4162729A
Cited
US4566831A
Cited
US5009318A
Cited
US4885811A
Cited
US4880119A
Cited
US5071009A
Cited
SU1606385A1
Cited
US4937131A
Cited
US5129519A
Cited
US5079787A
Cited
US5091229A
Cited
FR2659299A1
Cited
US5316149A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |