Granted Patent B2

US 12,287,172 · App. 18/112,325 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Inventors: Gideon P. Searle (Scottsdale, AZ); Theodore Bobrick Root, Jr. (Charlotte, NC)

Assignee: GSTC LLC

F41C33/06B65D81/052B65D81/1075

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. An article for packing an object, comprising:

a flexible bag, including an air intake valve;

wherein the flexible bag is operable to be positioned in a case;

wherein the flexible bag includes a sealed interior chamber containing a plurality of packaging materials;

wherein the flexible bag includes at least one bead refill opening, wherein the at least one bead refill opening extends through the case;

wherein the at least one bead refill opening allows beads to pass into and/or out of the flexible bag while the case is closed;

wherein the flexible bag is operable to be connected to a pump, wherein operation of the pump causes air to flow out of the flexible bag and causes the plurality of packaging materials to compact;

wherein the compactification of the plurality of packaging materials via operation of the pump causes the plurality of packaging materials to be displaced and condense around an object placed on top of the flexible bag; and

wherein the at least one bead refill opening includes an iris mechanism, and wherein the iris mechanism is able to close or open the at least one bead refill opening.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is removably attached to an interior surface of a bottom component of the case.

3. The article of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the air intake valve allows air to flow into the flexible bag or prevents air from flowing into the flexible bag.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to conform to the interior surface of a bottom component of the case.

5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of packaging materials includes materials made from polystyrene and/or polylactic acid.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to be connected to and inflated by the pump.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of packaging materials prevents movement of the object when the case is rotated.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag substantially covers the interior surface of the bottom component of the case.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein at least one pipe extends outwardly from an exterior surface of the flexible bag, wherein the at least one opening extends through the at least one pipe, and wherein case includes at least one cut-out through which the at least one pipe extends.

10. A system for packing an object, comprising:

a case having a top component and a bottom component;

a retaining element including a flexible bag, wherein the flexible bag includes an air intake valve;

a pump operable to remove air from the bag; and

at least one bead containment pod, wherein the at least one bead containment pod includes a hollow tube with an opening to one side;

wherein at least one pipe extends outwardly from an exterior surface of the flexible bag;

wherein at least one opening is defined through the at least one pipe, such that the opening connects an interior region of the flexible bag to a space outside the flexible bag;

wherein the at least one pipe is connected to at least one twist mechanism, wherein the rotation of the at least one twist mechanism is operable to open and/or close the at least one opening;

wherein the opening of the at least one bead containment pod is configured to rotationally couple with the at least one twist mechanism, such that rotation of the at least one bead containment pod causes rotation of the at least one twist mechanism;

wherein the flexible bag includes a sealed interior chamber containing a plurality of packaging materials;

wherein the removal of air from the flexible bag causes the plurality of packaging materials to become compact.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible bag is removably attached to an interior surface of the bottom component of the case.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein rotation of the air intake valve allows or prevents air from flowing into the flexible bag.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible bag conforms to the interior surface of the bottom component of the case.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible bag substantially covers the interior surface of the bottom component of the case.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein an end of the at least one bead replacement pod opposite that of the opening includes a removable cap, and wherein the removable cap, when attached, covers a second opening of the at least one bead replacement pod.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to be connected to and inflated by the pump.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one bead containment pod is attached to at least one secondary pump operable to pull beads from an interior section of the flexible bag into the at least one bead containment pod.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the top component of the case includes a foam layer attached to an interior surface of the top component.

19. A system for packing an object, comprising:

a case having a top component and a bottom component;

a retaining element including a flexible bag, wherein the flexible bag includes an air intake valve; and

a pump operable to remove air from the bag;

includes a hollow tube with an opening to one side;

wherein at least one pipe extends outwardly from an exterior surface of the flexible bag;

wherein at least one opening is defined through the at least one pipe, such that the opening connects an interior region of the flexible bag to a space outside the flexible bag;

wherein at least one cap is attached to the at least one pipe by at least one living hinge, and wherein the at least one cap is configured to close the at least one opening;

wherein the flexible bag includes a sealed interior chamber containing a plurality of packaging materials; and

wherein the removal of air from the flexible bag causes the plurality of packaging materials to become compact.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (57)