Reusable Protective Enclosure System For An Open-Ended Tubular Member

Abstract

An improved reusable protective enclosure system, comprising a protective housing ( 20 ) and cap member ( 12 ) for jars, bottles and similar receptacles of glass ( 50 ) or other fragile material. Its main object is the construction of a housing that renders a vial or jar contained therein resistant from breakage if the housing ( 20 ) is allowed to fall or suffers a sudden shock. Another object of the reusable protective enclosure system is the construction of an airtight enclosure ( 20 ), which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Other advantages of the invention are that the inner receptacle ( 50 ) be it made of glass or other fragile material, can be readily and repeatedly accessed, removed for sterilization or recycling and replaced for continued use.

1 . A protective enclosure system for an open ended tubular member, comprising:
 A) a tubular member including a cavity, said tubular member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end, and an opening disposed in said first end accessing said cavity;   B) a protective housing;   1) said protective housing including:   a) a bore in said protective housing of such diameter and depth as to accommodate insertion of said tubular member, said bore including a first axis;   b) a protective collar, said protective collar is incorporated into said protective housing at the opening of said bore in said protective housing;   c) a shock absorber inserted into the bottom of said bore; said shock absorber supporting said tubular member when inserted into said bore;   C) a cap member;   1) said cap member, including;   a) a bore of such diameter to completely accommodate insertion of said protective collar protruding from said protective housing, and also encompassing said first end of said tubular member, said bore including a second axis;   b) a gasket within said cap member;   c) a closure system coupling said cap member to said protective housing;   wherein, when said cap member is coaxially placed over said protective housing by aligning said second axis with said first axis, a predictable airtight seal is obtained between said cap member and said protective housing.   
     
     
         2 . A protective enclosure system for an open ended tubular member, comprising:
 A) a tubular member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end and including a perimeter wall defining a cavity between one or more lateral walls extending from said second end, said tubular member further including an opening disposed in said first end accessing said cavity, wherein said second end includes a bottom having a cross-section contour;   B) a protective housing including: a) a bore in said protective housing of such diameter and depth as to accommodate insertion of said tubular member, said bore including an opening, a bottom opposite of said opening, and a first axis; b) a protective collar, said protective collar incorporated into said protective housing at said opening of said bore in said protective housing with said protective collar including a protrusion extending away from said protective housing; c) a shock absorber coupled to said bottom of said bore; said shock absorber including a receiving portion complementary to said cross-section contour and a body portion coupled to said receiving portion, said shock absorber providing a protective cushion upon which said tubular member rests when said tubular member is inserted into said bore; and   C) a cap member, including; a) a bore of such diameter to completely accommodate insertion of said protective collar and said protrusion, and also encompassing said first end of said tubular member, said bore including a second axis; b) a top seal within said cap member; and c) a closure system securely coupling said cap member to said protective housing, said closure system including a first set of closure elements coupled to said cap member and a second set of closure elements coupled to said protective housing, said first set of closure elements complementary to said second set of closure elements with said closure elements repeatably and selectively engageable and disengageble securing said cap member to said protective housing; and   wherein, when said cap member is coaxially placed over said protective housing by aligning said second axis with said first axis and said first set of closure elements engages said second set of closure elements, said top seal produces a predictable airtight seal between said cap member and said protective housing.   
     
     
         3 . The protective enclosure system of  claim 2  further comprising a sidewall cushion disposed in said bore and contacting said tubular member when said tubular member is positioned within said bore. 
     
     
         4 . The protective enclosure system of  claim 2  wherein said first closure elements include continuous portions of a first thread structure disposed on an inside surface of said bore of said cap member, wherein said second closure elements include continuous portions of a second thread structure disposed on an outside surface of said protective housing, and wherein said thread structures are engaged when said top seal produces said predictable airtight seal. 
     
     
         5 . A method of protecting a tubular member, comprising:
 a) inserting said tubular member into a bore of a protective housing, said a tubular member having a first end, a second end opposite said first end and including a perimeter wall defining a cavity between one or more lateral walls extending from said second end, said tubular member further including an opening disposed in said first end accessing said cavity, wherein said second end includes a bottom having a cross-section contour and said protective housing including: a) said bore in said protective housing of such diameter and depth as to accommodate insertion of said tubular member, said bore including an opening, a bottom opposite of said opening, and a first axis; b) a protective collar, said protective collar incorporated into said protective housing at said opening of said bore in said protective housing with said protective collar including a protrusion extending away from said protective housing; and c) a shock absorber coupled to said bottom of said bore; said shock absorber including a receiving portion complementary to said cross-section contour and a body portion coupled to said receiving portion, said shock absorber providing a protective cushion upon which said tubular member rests when said tubular member is inserted into said bore; and   b) supporting said tubular member in said bore using said shock absorber; and   c) securing a cap member to said protective housing producing a predictable airtight seal between said cap member and said protective housing, said cap member including; a) a bore of such diameter to completely accommodate insertion of said protective collar and said protrusion, and also encompassing said first end of said tubular member, said bore including a second axis; b) a top seal within said cap member; and c) a closure system securely coupling said cap member to said protective housing, said closure system including a first set of closure elements coupled to said cap member and a second set of closure elements coupled to said protective housing, said first set of closure elements complementary to said second set of closure elements with said closure elements repeatably and selectively engageable and disengageble securing said cap member to said protective housing.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 d) adding a sidewall cusion into an inner surface of said bore before said step a); 
 wherein said inserting step a) contacts an outer surface of said tubular member with a portion of said sidewall cushion.