Transporter Case

Abstract

A security device has been provided for carrying papers of a confidential nature. There is a housing closed at one end for holding water soluble papers and a pouch for holding water therein. The water pouch fits into the housing and includes a tab member for tearing the pouch and releasing the water when pulled. Agitating means is provided comprising effervescent tablets for creating a turbulence in the water when the pouch is torn whereby the papers are destroyed a relatively short time after the tab is pulled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for securely transporting papers having means to destroy the papers when desired.

In order to prevent the unauthorized inspection of confidential material in transit, it may be necessary at certain times to permanently dispose of the papers so that it would be impossible to retrieve the information recorded. It may also be necessary to be secretive about the manner of disposal so that the destructive process can be completed. Tearing, burning or destruction of the papers by chemical means may be conspicuous and dangerous in certain cases.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means for carrying confidential papers and permanently disposing of them in an efficient manner which obviates some of the disadvantages and shortcomings of prior methods.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a safe and inconspicuous means of disposing of confidential documents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-hazardous and effective means of such transportation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There has been provided a security device for carrying papers of a confidential nature including a housing closed at one end for holding water soluble papers therein. There is also included a pouch adapted to fit into the housing for holding water which has a tab member for tearing the pouch and releasing the water when pulled. Agitating means is provided comprising effervescent tablets for creating a turbulence in the water when the pouch is torn, whereby the papers are destroyed a relatively short time after the string is pulled.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is directed to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, while its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side partially sectioned side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another side elevation shown in a different perspective, and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the cover portion of the apparatus shown in the previous figures;

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail of the cover portion shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus of the present invention 10 is generally described as a security device for carrying papers of a confidential nature. The apparatus includes a housing 11 having a closed bottom end and an open top and may be conveniently molded out of some plastic material although this is not essential to the operation of the present invention. The housing includes ribbed members 12 which are shown more clearly in FIG. 3 as corrugations 12 which extend axially with the side walls of the housing 11. Water soluble paper 14 is rolled or folded in such a manner so as to fit into the housing 11 and the corrugations 12 provide a spacing between the walls of the housing 11 at portion 12A of the corrugations which touch the paper 14. There are also included bosses 13 disposed in the bottom portion of the housing 11, which space the paper away from the bottom of the housing 11. The closed end of the housing 11 includes a receptacle section 15 for holding effervescent tablets 16 which when the housing 11 is carried lie securely therein. A flexible plastic bag 17 is provided which has a tab member 18, a heat sealed zipper portion 19 and a string member 20 attached securely to the tab 18. The string 20 may be a nylon cord which is provided for strength and which will not tend to break when pulled. The bag 17 has a collar 21 which fits securely to a cover member 24 about a sleeve 22. The top cover 24 also includes a filler tube 25 integrally joined with the cover 24. The cover 24 for the housing 11 is provided with a cap 19 having a rubber seal 27. There is also provided in the cover 24 a hole 28 wherein a grommet 26 is securely fastened. The grommet 26 has a hole 30 through which the string member 20 is passed and which itself is substantially watertight when the string is passed therethrough. It may be convenient not to put the hole 30 in the grommet 26 and merely pass the string through the grommet by use of a needle and thread arrangement.

The cap 24 may be secured by draw catches 31 which are mounted to the housing 11 integrally therewith. The draw catches 31 engage a lip members 32 which, when the cover 24 is secured to the housing 11, snap over the lips 32 and hold the cap 24 tightly in engagement with the housing 11. There is also provided another rubber seal 33 for assuring that this portion of the housing remains water tight.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention may be described as follows. The effervescent tablets 16 are placed in the receptacle area 15 and the papers 14 are placed within the housing. The string 20 attached to tab 18 is drawn through the grommet 26 which is fitted in hole 28 in cover 24. The pouch 17 is heat sealed at its bottom 29. A heat seal is also produced at its collar 21 to sleeve 22 before insertion into housing 11. The draw catches 31 engage with the lip portions 32 of the housing to seal the cover 24. The pouch 17 may now be filled with water through neck 25 and the filler cap 19 placed over neck 25. The apparatus is now secure and a pull ring 33 may be attached to the string 20 and fit or placed over the filler cap 27 for convenience.

If it becomes necessary to destroy the papers 14 within the housing 11, the courier merely pulls the ring 33 off the filler cap 26 and draws the string 20 out through the hole 30. The tab 18 engaged with the pouch 17 along heat sealed zipper 19 tears this zipper when the string 20 is pulled. The water flows from the pouch into the housing and activates the effervescent tablets 16 for agitating the mixture within the housing 11. Generally, it would not be necessary to provide the effervescent tablets if some other form of agitation were provided as, for example, merely manually shaking the device, but it is contemplated that the destruction of the papers be secretive and the effervescent tablets 16 provide the necessary agitation to destroy the papers 14 rather inconspicuously in about a minute.

The ribs or corrugations 12 and the bosses 13 provide an easy path for the water to dissipate about the outside portion of the papers 14 so that maximum surface area of the paper is effected with the turbulent effervescent water mixture within the shortest amount of time.

The flexible plastic bag 17 was chosen for the pouch because it colapses rather easily and permits the water to seek its own level within the housing 11 as fast as the water can flow out of the torn zipper 19.

An alternate form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-7. This form is a circular model not as streamlined as that shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Those portions of the device substantially the same and having the same functions as in the previously described embodiment are labelled with the same reference numerals. The apparatus 10' includes a cylindrical housing 11', ribs 12, and bosses 13. The papers 14 are fitted into the housing 11' and supported by bosses 13 at the bottom so that water can flow under about the papers 14. The area 15' for the tablets 16 is provided and functions as previously described.

The pouch 17 is sealed at its collar 21 to the sleeve 22' of the cover 24'. The cover 24' is secured to the housing 11' by threaded ring 34 which has a ledge 37 and which in cooperation with seal 33 provides a water tight fitting.

The basic difference in the embodiments, therefore, is cylindrical shape versus the flat case of FIGS. 1-4 and the manner in which the tops 24 and 24' are secured to the housing. It should be further pointed out that the tab 18 in FIG. 6 is shown outside the pouch 17 which in FIG. 1 is inside. This is due to the respective positioning of holes 28 in covers 24 and 24'. In the former case, the hole 28 is within the sleeve 22 and in the latter to the outside of sleeve 22'.

There has therefore been provided an apparatus for disposing of confidential material in a secretive way which is simple to execute and particularly efficient in its mode of operation. The apparatus is capable of being constructed of a lightweight plastic material which may sustain the pressure produced by the effervescent action of the water reacting with the tablets.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A security device for carrying papers of a confidential nature comprising, a housing including a tubular member closed at one end for holding water soluble papers therein, a pouch for holding water therein and including a tab member for tearing the pouch and releasing the water when pulled, and agitating means including effervescent tablets for creating a turbulence in the water when the pouch is torn whereby the papers are destroyed a relatively short time after the tab is pulled.

2. The security device of claim 1 wherein the housing includes: a plurality of corrugated protrusions disposed axially about the inner walls of the tubular member; and a plurality of boss members disposed at the bottom end of the tubular member for spacing the papers away from the bottom, said protrusions and bosses providing spacing for water to freely flow about the paper surfaces.

3. The security device of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is molded integrally.

4. The security device of claim 1 including: a cover member for sealing the top of the housing having a sleeve portion extending inwardly of the housing; and the pouch includes a collar engaging the open end of the pouch and for mounting within the tubular member, said collar having a hole therein for filling.

5. The security device of claim 1 wherein the pouch includes a heat sealed zipper attached to the tab member for tearing and releasing the water when the tab is pulled.

6. The security device of claim 1 further including: a string member attached to the tab for reaching past the open end of the housing, a cap member adapted securely over the opening in the housing having a filler hole and another hole for passing the string therethrough.

7. The security device of claim 6 further including a grommet member fitting sealably into the hole in the cap member, the string member passing through a hole in the grommet to provide a tight seal for the prevention of leakage.

8. The security device of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a snap fitting draw catch integral with the tubular member and the cap includes a lip portion for engaging the draw catches snuggly for securing the cap tightly to the housing.

9. The security device of claim 6 wherein the cap and the filler hole each have a sealing member adapted to provide a water seal when the housing and cap are closed.

10. The security device of claim 6 wherein the housing includes a ring member having a ledge for engaging the cap member and threading over the open end of the housing to close the apparatus.