US2008203093A1PendingUtilityA1

Sea containers including at least one dissolvable and/or pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug and/or vent

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 13, 2007Filed: Feb 13, 2007Published: Aug 28, 2008
Est. expiryFeb 13, 2027(~0.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven Skulnick
B65D 90/34B65D 90/22
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PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to sea containers. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a sea container including an interior region suitable for storing one or more movable goods. At least one sacrificial plug is located in a first side of the container. At least one vent is located in a second side of the container. The at least one sacrificial plug and/or the at least one vent is/are suitable for allowing water to enter into and/or air to exit out of the sea container. The at least one sacrificial plug and/or vent may be a pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one sacrificial plug and/or vent may be dissolvable (e.g., dissolvable in water). Thus, when such sea containers fall off of a ship, they may provide a suitable window for recovery but also reduce the likelihood that damage will be done to other ships.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A sea container including an interior region suitable for storing material(s), the sea container comprising:
 at least one sacrificial plug located in at least a first side of the container; and   wherein the at least one sacrificial plug is designed to allow water to enter into the sea container so as to allow the sea container to sink when the sea container becomes at least partially submerged in ocean water.   
   
   
       2 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the sea container further includes at least one air vent located in a second side of the container that is different than the first side. 
   
   
       3 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial plug comprises one or both of: (a) a pressure-sensitive plug that opens to permit water to enter into the sea container when the plug reaches a predetermined pressure underwater, and/or (b) material that dissolves or otherwise disintegrates in salt water so as to permit water to enter into the sea container when the plug becomes located underwater in salt water. 
   
   
       4 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial plug comprises a pressure-sensitive plug that opens to permit water to enter into the sea container when the plug reaches a predetermined pressure underwater. 
   
   
       5 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial plug comprises material that dissolves or otherwise disintegrates in salt water so as to permit water to enter into the sea container when the plug becomes located underwater in salt water. 
   
   
       6 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises first and second of the sacrificial plugs. 
   
   
       7 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the sea container's exterior is ribbed. 
   
   
       8 . The sea container of  claim 7 , wherein the ribs are disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sea container. 
   
   
       9 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sacrificial plug is a pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug. 
   
   
       10 . The sea container of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug is configured to blow out under a predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       11 . The sea container of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug is configured to blow out at a predetermined depth. 
   
   
       12 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sacrificial plug is formed from a dissolvable material that is adapted to dissolve in at least salt water. 
   
   
       13 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sacrificial plug is dissolvable after a continuous period of contact with water. 
   
   
       14 . The sea container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sacrificial plug is located on at least a bottom side of the sea container. 
   
   
       15 . The sea container of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one vent is located on a front side and/or a back side of the sea container. 
   
   
       16 . A sacrificial plug for use in a sea container, the sacrificial plug comprising material and/or design suitable to cause water to enter into and/or air to exit from the sea container, thereby causing the sea container to sink when the container falls off a ship into salt water. 
   
   
       17 . The sacrificial plug of  claim 16 , wherein the sacrificial plug is a pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug. 
   
   
       18 . The sacrificial plug of  claim 16 , wherein the pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug is configured to blow out under a predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       19 . The sacrificial plug of  claim 16 , wherein the sacrificial plug is formed entirely or partially of a dissolvable material.

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