Protective container and associated methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a container which has multiple protective characteristics integrated into the container. The protective container for containing a material and protecting against adverse exposure to the material includes a durable outer casing; an inner casing in direct contact with the material, which is less durable than the outer casing; and at lease one layer of a preventative agent disposed between the inner and outer casings for disabling the material upon failure of the inner casing. The protective container provides improved active control to prevent accidental adverse exposure to the container contents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A protective container for containing a material and protecting against adverse exposure to the material, comprising: 
 a) a durable outer casing;    b) an inner casing, which is less durable than the outer casing, in direct contact with the material; and    c) a layer of a preventative agent disposed between the inner and outer casings which is sufficient to disable at least a portion of the material upon failure of the inner casing.    
     
     
         2 . The protective container of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of preventative agent layers.  
     
     
         3 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is selected to disable a material selected from the group consisting of: flammable materials, colored materials, acidic materials, caustic materials, neutral materials, etiological materials, pharmacologically active materials, explosive materials, radioactive, combustible materials, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of the preventative agent includes a member selected from the group consisting of: adsorbents, chemical antidotes, fire retardants, polymerizing agents, foaming agents, gelling agents, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is an adsorbent and the material is a colored material.  
     
     
         6 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is an adsorbent and the material is an etiological material.  
     
     
         7 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is an adsorbent and the material is a radioactive material.  
     
     
         8 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a fire retardant and the material is a flammable material.  
     
     
         9 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a chemical antidote and the material is an acidic material.  
     
     
         10 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a chemical antidote and the material is a caustic material.  
     
     
         11 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a chemical antidote and the material is an explosive material.  
     
     
         12 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a polymerizing agent and the material is a colored material.  
     
     
         13 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a polymerizing agent and the material is an acidic material.  
     
     
         14 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent is a polymerizing agent and the material is a neutral material.  
     
     
         15 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a gelling agent and the material is a pharmaceutical agent.  
     
     
         16 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is a foaming agent and the material is a flammable material.  
     
     
         17 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the material remains functional after a portion thereof has been disabled by the preventative agent.  
     
     
         18 . The protective container of  claim 1 , wherein the preventative agent remains in a position capable of disabling the material during use of the material.  
     
     
         19 . A protective container for containing a flammable material and protecting against adverse exposure to the material, comprising: 
 a) a durable outer casing;    b) an inner casing, which is less durable than the outer casing in direct contact with the material; and    c) a layer of a preventative agent disposed between the inner and outer casings which is sufficient to disable at least a portion of the material upon failure of the inner casing, wherein the preventative agent is a member of the group consisting of: adsorbents, fire retardants, and gelling agents, chemical antidotes, polymerizing agents, foaming agents, and mixtures thereof,    wherein said layer of preventative agent remains in a position capable of disabling the material during use of the material, and wherein a portion of the material remains functional after a portion thereof has been disabled by the preventative agent.    
     
     
         20 . A method for protecting against adverse exposure of a material in a container comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing the material in a container having a durable outer casing, an inner casing in direct contact with the contained material and less durable than the outer casing, and a layer of a preventative agent disposed between the inner and outer casings which is sufficient to disable at least a portion of the contained material upon failure of the inner casing.