Air sealable container with automatically actuable pressure equalizing valve

Abstract

An air sealable and preferably air and water sealable container having an automatically actuable pressure equalizing valve primarily adapted for operation upon opening and closing of the container. The pressure equalizing valve, which is in the nature of a pressure relief valve, is automatically actuable to allow air pressure in the container to equalize with an ambient pressure to enable easy opening of a lid of the container.

Description

[0001] This application extends from and assumes the filing date of the applicant's earlier filed provisional patent application Serial No. ______, filed ______, and entitled Air Sealable Container with Automatically Actuable Pressure Equalizing Valve.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in hand engageable carrying containers which are provided with an automatically actuable valve capable of equalizing pressure on the inside of the container with respect to an exterior ambient pressure upon opening a member forming part of the container.[0004] 2. Brief Description of Related Art[0005] Conventional carrying cases such as briefcases, satchels, purses and the like which are not fluid sealed have no need for any type of pressure relief valve or pressure equalizing valve. Generally, the interior of these types of containers will assume the same pressure which exists as the ambient exterior pressure.[0006] In many ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a carrying case with a valve that can be automatically actuated and a method of allowing for pressure equalization between the interior of the case and the external ambient atmosphere. The carrying case is designed to be air sealed and water sealed, and it includes a lid that can be opened and closed with a single motion. The valve is automatically actuated when the carrying case is moved, and it can be closed by simply shifting the lid or latch to a closed position. The carrying case is simple in construction, low in cost, and easy to operate. The invention solves the problem of manually actuated valves that may fail or cause damage to the contents of the case. The valve can be closed by the user or by the action of the carrying case, allowing for pressure equalization and the opening of the case."

Problems solved by technology

Thus, one who attempts to open the container may not be able to do so because of the force on the lid of the container created by the vacuum in that container.

While these conventional manually actuable valves may constitute an effective means to vent the interior of a carrying case to the external ambient atmosphere, they nevertheless require the manual intervention of the user.

One of the main problems which exists is that the user will frequently open the valve and forget to close the valve thereafter.

This introduction of water could seriously damage the contents carried on the interior of the container.

Another one of the drawbacks of these manually actuable valves is the fact that they are usually of a relatively simple and concomitantly low cost construction.

This is due to the fact that any expensive valve mechanism would materially add to the overall cost of the container and would not be commercially feasible.

Frequently, after a period of use, these valves will break or wear out with no convenient means of repairing same.

Thus, the entire carrying case, which can be a moderately expensive item, must then be discarded.

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