Protective device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective device. The protective device includes a fluid sealable envelope of a non-porous material. The envelope has a plurality of resiliently deformable members and is designed to have a fluid evacuated state in which the plurality of resiliently deformable members forms into a rigid state within the envelope. The device includes sealing means to retain the envelope in the fluid evacuated state. The device also includes a porous inner lining designed to accommodate an object to be protected.

1 . A protective device comprising a fluid sealable envelope of a non-porous material, the said envelope having a plurality of resiliently deformable members located therein, the envelope being designed to have a fluid evacuated state in which the said plurality of resiliently deformable members is operable to form into an at least partially rigid state within the envelope and sealing means to retain the envelope in the said fluid evacuated state, the device including a porous inner lining designed to accommodate an object to be protected.  
     
     
         2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the porous inner lining is in the form of a bag.  
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lining comprises a porous inner envelope which is in fluid communication with the space surrounding said resiliently deformable members.  
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the porous inner lining in the form of a sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable members are sandwiched between the porous inner lining and the non-porous outer envelope.  
     
     
         6 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-porous fluid sealable envelope includes at least one access conduit providing fluid communication from the exterior environment to the envelope interior to thereby provide a means of fluid evacuation from the envelope.  
     
     
         7 . A protective sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means is a non-return valve associated with the access conduit to prevent return of envelope evacuated fluid therethrough.  
     
     
         8 . A protective sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein a vacuum pump is provided and associated with the sealing means.  
     
     
         9 . A protective device according to  claim 1 , in the form of a package and wherein the sealing is at least partially provided by a closure member at the opening to the inside of the package so that the package is retained in a fluid evacuated state until the package closure member is opened by the user at which point the envelopes will re-inflate with fluid from the surrounding environment.  
     
     
         10 . A protective device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the access conduit extends into the inner space defined by the inner lining to thereby provide means of priority evacuation of the said inner space.  
     
     
         11 . A method of protecting an object comprising 
 (i) locating an object to be protected in a protective device, the protective device comprising a fluid sealable envelope of a non-porous material, the said envelope having a plurality of resiliently deformable members located therein, the envelope being designed to have a fluid evacuated state in which the said plurality of resiliently deformable members is operable to form into an at least partially rigid state within the envelope and sealing means to retain the envelope in the said fluid evacuated state, the device including a porous inner lining;    (ii) evacuating fluid from the device to form an at least partially rigid barrier with the said members located around the said object;    (iii) retaining the device in the said fluid evacuated state to thereby maintain the object in a protected state.