Container

Abstract

The decorative and protective display case, for a fragile or expensive good(s) for example, typically a bottled liquid such as wine or spirits that not only provides adequate protection, but also provides a way to showcase or display an item of value. The generally tubular display material is circular or polygonal and made from materials that can withstand high levels of shock. The ends are fitted with caps that serve not only for decorative purposes, but also contain a shock absorber system or material that further isolates the good from shock or impact that helps prevent and/or limits breakage of the good.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A fragile bottle display case, comprising:
 a display material having a generally tubular shape; wherein said tubular shaped display material comprises a tubular sidewall of substantially transparent material; said tubular sidewall having a first end and said second end;   a first shock absorber body in the form of an end cap; said first shock absorber end cap being releasably fit to said tubular sidewall first end;   wherein a cross-sectional diameter of said first shock absorber body is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of said display tubular sidewall and wherein said display tubular sidewall extends substantially coaxially to said first shock absorber;   wherein an outer region of said first shock absorber surrounds said tubular sidewall first end; said first shock absorber outer region and said tubular sidewall first end together forming a first circumferentially extending shoulder;   a second shock absorber body arranged at said tubular sidewall second end;   wherein a cross-sectional diameter of said second shock absorber body is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of said display tubular shape and wherein said tubular material tubular sidewall extends substantially coaxially to said second shock absorber;   wherein an outer region of said second shock absorber surrounds said tubular sidewall second end; said second shock absorber outer region and said tubular sidewall second end together forming a second circumferentially extending shoulder;   wherein said first and second shoulders together with said tubular sidewall extending therebetween form an open cavity or open space extending circumferentially around and along the length of the tubular wall between said first and second shock absorbers; and wherein   said first shock absorber and said second shock absorber are made from resilient elastic material and have a mass and cross-sectional diameter selected, such that, when said bottle display, loaded with said beverage bottle, is dropped repeatedly from about chest height of an adult, breakage of said loaded beverage bottle is prevented.   
     
     
         2 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein said first shock absorber has a circumferentially extending first slot or groove, said first slot being located substantially coaxially to said first shock absorber body and being sized to receive and releasably push fit said first end tubular sidewall substantially coaxially to said first shock absorber. 
     
     
         3 . The display case of  claim 2 , wherein said first shock absorber body is a one-piece unitary member. 
     
     
         4 . The display case of  claim 3 , wherein said first shock absorber material is made from natural rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The display case of  claim 3 , wherein said first shock absorber material is made from synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The display case of  claim 2 , where said second shock absorber is releasably fit to said tubular display second end. 
     
     
         7 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein said second shock absorber has a second circumferentially extending push fit slot or groove, said second slot being located coaxially to said second shock absorber body and being sized to receive and releasably fit said tubular sidewall second end substantially coaxially to said second shock absorber. 
     
     
         8 . The display case of  claim 7 , wherein said second shock absorber body is a one-piece unitary member. 
     
     
         9 . The display case of  claim 8 , wherein said second shock absorber material is made from natural rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The display case of  claim 9 , wherein said second shock absorber material is made from synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The display case of  claim 8 , wherein said first shock absorber has a first open ended cavity therein sized to receive a top narrow part of said bottle. 
     
     
         12 . The display case of  claim 11 , wherein said second shock absorber has a second open ended cavity therein sized to receive a bottom wide part of said bottle; and wherein the lengths of said first shock absorber cavity, said second shock absorber cavity and said tubular sidewall are selected such that, when said bottle is loaded into said display case, said bottle is secure in a fixed position by said display case. 
     
     
         13 . The display case of  claim 11 , wherein said first cavity has a spring element disposed coaxially therein at the base of said first open end cavity, and wherein a first buffer element is disposed between the spring element and the opening of said first cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The display case of  claim 12 , wherein said second cavity has a spring element disposed coaxially therein at the base of said second cavity, and wherein a second buffer element is disposed between the spring element and the opening of said second cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein at least said first shock absorber has a circumferentially extending thread/slot, said thread/slot being located substantially coaxially to said first shock absorber body and being arranged to threadable engage a corresponding slot/thread extending circumferentially on the first end tubular sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein at least said first shock absorber has at least partially circumferentially extending twist lock protrusion/slot, said twist lock protrusion/slot being located being arranged to engage a corresponding twist lock protrusion/slot on the first end tubular sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular sidewall has a side door or panel, said tubular sidewall panel being configured to be moveable between a first position in which the side panel seals or closes an interior of the tubular sidewall from the exterior and a second position which the side panel exposes or opens the tubular sidewall interior to the exterior. 
     
     
         18 . The display case of  claim 1 , wherein said bottle is a glass beverage bottle. 
     
     
         19 . A fragile good display case, comprising:
 a display material having a generally tubular shape; wherein said tubular shaped display material comprises a tubular sidewall of substantially transparent material; said tubular sidewall having a first end and said second end;   a first shock absorber body in the form of an end cap; said first shock absorber end cap being releasably fit to said tubular sidewall first end;   wherein a cross-sectional diameter of said first shock absorber body is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of said display tubular sidewall and wherein said display tubular sidewall extends substantially coaxially to said first shock absorber;   wherein an outer region of said first shock absorber surrounds said tubular sidewall first end; said first shock absorber outer region and said tubular sidewall first end together forming a first circumferentially extending shoulder;   a second shock absorber body arranged at said tubular sidewall second end;   wherein a cross-sectional diameter of said second shock absorber body is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of said display tubular shape and wherein said tubular material tubular sidewall extends substantially coaxially to said second shock absorber;   wherein an outer region of said second shock absorber surrounds said tubular sidewall second end; said second shock absorber outer region and said tubular sidewall second end together forming a second circumferentially extending shoulder;   wherein said first and second shoulders together with said tubular sidewall extending therebetween form an open cavity or open space extending circumferentially around and along the length of the tubular wall between said first and second shock absorbers; and wherein   said first shock absorber and said second shock absorber are made from resilient elastic material and have a mass and cross-sectional diameter selected, such that, when said good display case, loaded with said good, is dropped repeatedly from about chest height of an adult, breakage of said loaded good is prevented.   
     
     
         20 . The good display of  claim 18 , wherein said fragile good is a tableware glass cup.