Transport unit

Abstract

A rollingly conveyable transport unit (1) comprises a container shell (10) and an internal space (28), provided within the container shell, for accommodating a product (90) to be packaged. The container shell comprises two or more shell parts (11, 12) that are reversibly connected to one another in a force-fit manner by a closing element.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A rollingly conveyable transport unit ( 1 ,  101 ,  201 ,  301 ,  401 ,  501 ) comprising: a container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ) and an internal space, provided within the container shell, the internal space for accommodating a product ( 90 ) to be packaged, wherein the container shell comprises two or more shell parts ( 11 ,  12 ,  111 ,  112 ,  211 ,  212 ,  311 ,  312 ,  411 ,  412 ,  511 ,  512 ) that are reversibly connected to one another in a force-fit manner by a closing element. 
     
     
         2 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element is situated within the container shell. 
     
     
         3 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the shell parts ( 11 ,  12 ,  111 ,  112 ,  211 ,  212 ,  311 ,  312 ) are mutually connectable to form a volume ( 29 ,  129 ,  229 ,  329 ) inside the transport unit that is pressure-tightly sealed; and wherein at least one valve element ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315 ) is provided, with which said pressure-tightly sealed volume is reversibly fluidically connectable to an external space ( 27 ). 
     
     
         4 . The transport unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one valve element ( 15 ,  115 ,  215 ,  315 ) is situated on a shell part ( 11 ,  12 ,  111 ,  112 ,  211 ,  212 ,  311 ,  312 ). 
     
     
         5 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ) comprises two shell parts ( 11 ,  12 ,  111 ,  112 ,  211 ,  212 ,  311 ,  312 ) that are connected by a sealing element ( 17 ,  117 ,  217 ,  317   a ,  317   b ) in a fluid-tight manner and that form a volume ( 29 ,  129 ,  229 ,  329 ) that is pressure-tightly sealed. 
     
     
         6 . The transport unit according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one additional internal space is present that is not pressure-tightly sealed with respect to the outside atmosphere. 
     
     
         7 . The transport unit according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one additional internal space is present that is fluidically connected to the first internal space. 
     
     
         8 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element includes magnetic elements ( 350   a ,  350   b ,  450   a ,  450   b ,  551   a ,  551   b ) that reversibly connect the at least two shell parts ( 311 ,  312 ,  411 ,  412 ,  511 ,  512 ) to one another in a force-fit manner. 
     
     
         9 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a hollow cylinder is situated on the inner wall of two or more shell elements. 
     
     
         10 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter device with which the product ( 90 ) is fixable within the container shell in a form-fit and/or force-fit manner. 
     
     
         11 . The transport unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the adapter device includes a film wrapping ( 140 ) around the product ( 90 ). 
     
     
         12 . The transport unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the adapter device includes two hollow cylinders, each situated at the inner wall of a shell element, and two flexible and/or elastic layers that each cover an opening of a hollow cylinder. 
     
     
         13 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ) has the shape of a rollable body. 
     
     
         14 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ) has a spherical, cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or double cone-shaped external shape. 
     
     
         15 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the shell elements of the transport unit are identical to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , with a product ( 90 ) that is fixed in a form-fit manner and/or in a force-fit manner and/or with frictional engagement in the internal space of the container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ). 
     
     
         17 . The transport unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the product ( 90 ) is fixed in the container shell ( 10 ,  110 ,  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  510 ) by means of an adapter device. 
     
     
         18 . The transport unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the container shell is closed so that the transport unit is floatable, in particular in water. 
     
     
         19 . A kit including at least one rollingly conveyable transport unit according to  claim 1  and at least one adapter device for fixing a product ( 90 ) in the internal space of a rollingly conveyable transport unit. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for producing a rollingly conveyable transport unit according to  claim 1 , comprising two or more shell parts that are reversibly connectable to one another in a force-fit manner by a closing element to form a container shell. 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing a rollingly conveyable transport unit with a product packaged therein, comprising the steps:
 providing a rollingly conveyable transport unit according to  claim 1 , having two or more shell parts;   providing a product to be packaged in the transport unit;   introducing the product to be packaged into an inner space of the transport unit; and   connecting the shell parts in a force-fit manner to form a container shell.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 ,
 wherein the transport unit is a rollingly conveyable transport unit with reference to  claim 3 ;   the shell parts are joined to form a container shell, forming a volume that is sealed pressure-tight in the inner space of the transport unit; and   a pressure difference is created between the pressure-tightly sealed volume and the external space.