U.S. patent application number 11/705605 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for sea containers including at least one dissolvable and/or pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug and/or vent.
Invention is credited to Steven L. Skulnick.
Application Number | 20080203093 11/705605 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714726 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080203093 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Skulnick; Steven L. |
August 28, 2008 |
Sea containers including at least one dissolvable and/or
pressure-sensitive sacrificial plug and/or vent
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.
Inventors: |
Skulnick; Steven L.; (Bat
Cave, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
39714726 |
Appl. No.: |
11/705605 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 90/22 20130101;
B65D 90/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/239 |
International
Class: |
B65D 59/02 20060101
B65D059/02 |
Claims
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.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to sea
containers. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this
invention relate to sea containers that include at least one plug
and/or vent suitable for causing the sea container to eventually
sink after its has fallen overboard from a ship or vessel.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Shipping creates, freight containers, and the like typically
are used to ship goods around the world. In particular, sea
containers often are loaded onto large ships or barges, and they
often are stacked one on top of another. Such sea containers have
been used to cheaply and efficiently send a wide variety of goods
among and between disparate locations. Various improvements have
been made to standard sea containers, sea container
storage/location techniques, and sea container securing mechanisms,
as set forth in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,884,794; 6,077,019;
6,089,802; 6,789,987; and 7,096,811, the entire contents of each of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0003] Unfortunately, sea containers have been known to fall off of
ships. This may happen when sea containers are not properly stowed,
through the negligence of personnel aboard the ship, because of
rough or stormy waters, etc. As a result, the goods in the sea
container may be damaged and/or forever lost.
[0004] Perhaps surprisingly, sea containers typically are at least
partially buoyant. Thus, once a sea container falls overboard, the
sea container may float at or somewhat below sea level, similar to
the way in which icebergs float at or somewhat below sea level.
Indeed, sea containers may travel many miles based on currents and
other salient conditions. This at least partial floatation
sometimes makes it somewhat easier to locate and/or recover lost
sea containers, insofar as it typically is easier to locate and/or
retrieve a sea container from at or near sea level than from the
ocean floor. It has been found that some sea containers after
falling off of a ship can float for as long as ten years or more,
depending on the cargo. However, this sort of floatation may be
hazardous to other ships. More particularly, in addition to the
damage and/or loss of goods caused by the sea container falling
overboard, sea containers in the water threaten the safety of other
ships navigating the same and/or other waters. Indeed, another ship
unaware of, or unable to avoid, the sea container may strike it,
thereby causing damage to and/or sinking the ship.
[0005] Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that there exists a need for sea containers that provide a suitable
window for recovery that also reduce the likelihood that damage
will be done to other ships.
[0006] In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is
provided 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. Note that the word "sink" as used herein
covers situations where the container is caused to move downward in
the water further away from the surface of the water, either to the
bottom or possibly not all the way to the bottom.
[0007] In certain example embodiments of this invention, 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.
[0008] In certain example embodiments of this invention, there is
provided a sea container including an interior region suitable for
storing one or more movable goods. At least one sacrificial plug
may be located in a first side of the container. At least one vent
may be located in a second side of the container. The at least one
sacrificial plug and/or the at least one vent may be suitable for
allowing water to enter into and/or air to exit out of the sea
container.
[0009] In certain other example embodiments of this invention,
there is provided a sacrificial plug for use in a sea container.
The sacrificial plug may be suitable to cause water to enter into
and/or air to exit from the sea container, thereby causing the sea
container to sink.
[0010] 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, salt water, etc.).
[0011] These aspects and embodiments may be used separately or
applied in various combinations in different embodiments of this
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features and advantages may be better and
more completely understood by reference to the following detailed
description of exemplary illustrative embodiments in conjunction
with the drawings, of which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional sea
container;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom of a sea container in
accordance with an example embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front and/or back view of a sea container in
accordance with an example embodiment; and,
[0016] FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate a scenario in which a sea container
including at least one sacrificial plug falls off a ship and
subsequently becomes submerged at least partially in water and
sinks, in accordance with an example embodiment of this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] As used herein, the term "sea container" is intended to
encompass various cargo and freight containers including, but not
limited to, sea containers often referred to as "Matson" and/or
"Sea Land" containers, as well as those sea containers covered by
relevant ISO standards. Indeed, over 90% of the world's shipping
occurs using containers sized in accordance with ISO/TC 104
standards. One standard container size that is used as a unit of
measure is the 20-foot length container and, thus, the 20-foot
equivalent unit (TEU) is the basic unit of measure, as set forth by
ISO/TC 104/SC 1 in, for example, ISO 668:1995 and its amendments
(e.g., ISO 668:1995/Amd 1:2005 and ISO 668:1995/Amd 2:2005). There
also are standardized containers with lengths of 10, 30, 40, and 45
feet. The containers also have been standardized to a width of 8
feet and a height of 8 or 8.5 feet. The contents of these standards
are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0018] Referring now more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a
partial perspective view of a conventional sea container 10. The
conventional sea container 10 includes two sidewalls 16, a top 14,
a bottom, and front 12, and a back. Together, these six faces
define an interior into which goods are loaded for transport.
Although not shown, the conventional sea container 10 may be ribbed
(e.g., along the top 14, the sidewalls 16, and/or the bottom), for
example, with the ribs running substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the sea container. The front 12 may be hinged
or otherwise openable and closeable. The conventional sea container
10 is substantially regularly prism shaped so as to have a highly
modular design, suitable for efficient loading, stacking, and
transport of the same.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom 20 of a sea container in
accordance with an example embodiment. The bottom 20 of the sea
container includes a sacrificial plug 22. In certain example
embodiments, if the sea container falls off of a vessel, the plug
22 may be sacrificed, thereby causing the sea container to fill
with water. In turn, this will cause the sea container to sink to a
depth where the risk it poses to the navigation of the waterway
will be reduced. As shown in FIG. 2, the plug 22 is located in the
lower part of the container under the fifth wheel plate, proximate
to the front-side 26 of the container and away from the doors
(e.g., the backside) 24 of the container. In FIG. 2, the container
is shown being ribbed, although the present invention need not be
ribbed in this way.
[0020] Another plug may serve as a "vent," thereby facilitating
water entering into enter and air exiting out of the container.
This vent may be located in a location different from the
sacrificial plug 22, such that water enters via one side of the
container and air exits via a different side. For example, FIG. 3
is a front and/or back view 30 of a sea container in accordance
with an example embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, vent 32 is located
proximate to the top edge 34 and away from the bottom edge 36 of
the container.
[0021] Although FIGS. 2 and 3 show one sacrificial plug 22 and one
corresponding vent 32, the present invention is not so limited. For
example, multiple sacrificial plugs and/or vents may be provided.
Moreover, such sacrificial plugs and/or vents need not be provided
on the same or opposing sides. For example, one or more sacrificial
plugs may be provided on the top, bottom, and/or sides of the sea
container, while one or more vents may be provided on the front
and/or back of the sea container. It will be appreciated that
various combinations of locations for one or more sacrificial plugs
and/or vents may be used in connection with certain example
embodiments.
[0022] The sacrificial plugs themselves may be formed from any
suitable material and may work in any suitable fashion. For
example, in certain example embodiments, the sacrificial plugs may
be formed from a dissolvable material. In particular, in certain
example embodiments, the sacrificial plugs may dissolve when they
come into contact with water over a period of time (e.g., one to
two days), thus allowing a chance to recover the errant container.
Accordingly, rain, incidental splashing, and the like may not cause
the sacrificial plugs to dissolve, or may not cause complete
dissolving (e.g., may cause only partial dissolving). By way of
example and without limitation, the sacrificial plugs may comprise
one or more of an unfired ceramic clay, heat-treated sodium
bichloride, solid sodium chloride, solid calcium chloride, soaps,
or any other material which will dissolve. These and/or other
materials may be appropriate for salt and/or fresh water
dissolving.
[0023] However, in certain example embodiments, the sacrificial
plugs may be formed from a material not readily dissolvable by
fresh water. Thus, rain and the like incidentally deposited on the
plugs may not affect them. Materials suitable for dissolving (e.g.,
corroding) in salt water and not (or to a lesser degree) in fresh
water include, for example, materials that tend to be more active
(e.g., anodic) and thus high on the Galvanic Table. Such materials
may include, for example, magnesium and magnesium alloys, zinc,
beryllium, aluminum and aluminum alloys, cadmium, and the like.
[0024] Certain other example embodiments may include
pressure-sensitive plugs in place of, or in addition to,
dissolvable plugs. For example, when the sea container enters the
water and/or begins to sink (e.g., to a depth of, for example, 8-12
feet), the water pressure may effectively blow out the plug,
causing water to enter the container and the container itself to
sink. Such pressure sensitive sacrificial plugs may be formed from
any suitable material, including lightweight materials such as PVC,
clays, etc.
[0025] FIGS. 4a-4d illustrate a scenario in which a sea container
including at least one sacrificial plug falls off a ship and
subsequently sinks, in accordance with an example embodiment. In
FIG. 4a, a ship 40 is loaded with multiple sea containers 42, each
including at least one sacrificial plug. In FIG. 4b, one sea
container 44 is separated from the palate of sea containers 42 on
the ship 40, and falls into the water 46. As noted above,
conventional sea containers will float at or somewhat below sea
level. This may be the case, at least temporarily, for the improved
sea containers of certain example embodiments. Indeed, as noted
above, the improved sea containers of certain example embodiments
may float for a period of time to allow for reasonable recovery
efforts. However, once the sacrificial plugs are sacrificed, the
containers will sink, thus helping to reduce the likelihood that
such sea containers will damage other ships. Thus, assuming that
the sea container is not recovered, FIG. 4c shows the sea container
44 having a blown-out sacrificial plug. As a result of the
sacrificial plug being sacrificed, in FIG. 4d, the sea container is
lost at sea 46.
[0026] Both the dissolvable plugs and the pressure-sensitive plugs
may be pre-formed and/or pressed into holes, which may be pre-cut
in the sea container. It will be appreciated that the sacrificial
plugs and the "vents" may be formed from the same material.
Alternatively or in addition, the vents may comprising one or more
openings, holes, or gaps in the sea container, with the same being
suitable for allowing water to enter into and/or air to exit out of
the sea container.
[0027] Note that the word "sink" as used herein covers situations
where the container is caused to move downward in the water further
away from the surface of the water, either to the bottom or
possibly not all the way to the bottom. Thus, when a container
sinks herein, it may or may not make its way to the bottom of the
ocean or the like, but in any event does make its way far enough
below the surface so that it is not a hazard to at least most ships
passing by. If a container is permitted to fill with water, it may
sink all the way to the bottom of the ocean or the like, or
alternatively may sink far enough below the surface of the ocean or
the like so that it is no longer a hazard to at least most ships
passing by.
[0028] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *