Cradle for transport and shipment without danger of breaking brittle and precious objects

Abstract

A device designed for transporting fragile and precious objects comprises a boxlike container, suspended inside which in a crossed configuration by means of their elastic extensions or stays ( 14, 14 a, 16, 16 a ) are a first, bottom, membrane ( 18 ), designed to receive the fragile object, and a second, top, membrane ( 20 ), which has the task of covering the object itself and of appropriately tensioning the first membrane so that the object is suspended elastically in a sort of cradle, formed by said two membranes, preferably equidistant from the walls of the container itself and hence protected from any impact.

1 . A device designed for transporting fragile and previous objects, comprises comprising a boxlike container, suspended inside which in a crossed configuration by means of their elastic extensions or stays are a first, bottom, membrane, designed to receive a fragile object, and a second, top, membrane, for covering the fragile object and tensioning the first membrane so that the fragile object is suspended elastically in a sort of cradle, formed by said two membranes, preferably equidistant from the walls of the container itself and hence protected from any impact. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the membranes are made of a soft elastic and resistant material and can adapt to any shape of object enveloping it perfectly. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each membrane has on opposite sides at least two elastic extensions or stays arranged symmetrically, and wherein said membranes are positioned in the container on top of one another so that the elastic stays of the second membrane are oriented in a direction perpendicular to that of the elastic stays of the first membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each pair of elastic stays of one membrane is equipped with means for engaging the other pair of stays of the same membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the free ends of the stays of on pair are equipped with male snap-action safety closing means to enable easy engagement thereof in a condition of tension on the lid of the container with the female closing means provided on the free ends of the stays of the other pair, after the pairs of stays of each membrane are passed from the inside of the container to the outside through corresponding slits made in the opposed walls of the container itself. 
     
     
         6 . The device as  claim 1 , wherein the elastic stays of the second membrane that is positioned on top of the first are longer than the stays of the first membrane, and the slits through which said elastic stays must pass to come out of the container are located, in the walls of the container, at a level lower than those for the stays of the first membrane, so that by adjusting the tensioning of the second membrane it is possible to adjust the tension of the first membrane. 
     
     
         7 . The device as of  claim 1 , wherein the first membrane, is equipped with a plurality of pockets or brackets so that a number of objects can be positioned in one and the same cradle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elastic stays can be adjusted according to the weight of the object. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the container and its lid are made of transparent material to enable visibility of the object or objects contained therein. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the extensions or the stays of the supporting membrane are directly constrained to the walls of the container by passing the ends thereof in holes or slits made in two of the walls of the container and knotting them to prevent them from coming out, whilst the second membrane can be replaced by an elastic strip of adequate width that after covering the object resting on the first membrane is tensioned by passing the opposite ends thereof through two slits made in the other two walls of the container at a level lower than the one at which the first membrane is located and pulling them together on the top lid so as to exert a thrust downwards on the first membrane exerting a tensioning thereon.