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.

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; 6,78...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

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.

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