Container for Shipping Hazardous Materials

Abstract

A hazardous material shipping container comprises a shell having a first threaded portion at a first end thereof, a closed second end opposite the first end, inwardly extending ribs, and outwardly extending flutes, wherein the ribs and flutes are disposed between the first end and the second end. A cushioning material is inside the shell, and a cap has a second threaded portion adapted to mate with the first threaded portion and a recess on a lower surface wherein the recess is adapted to receive an upper portion of a material container.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hazardous material shipping container, comprising:
 a shell having a first threaded portion at a first end thereof, a closed second end opposite the first end, inwardly extending ribs, and outwardly extending flutes, wherein the ribs and flutes are disposed between the first end and the second end;   a cushioning material inside the shell;   a cap having a second threaded portion adapted to mate with the first threaded portion and a recess on a lower surface wherein the recess is adapted to receive an upper portion of a material container.   
     
     
         2 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further has a upwardly extending member disposed on an upper surface. 
     
     
         3 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further has a upwardly extending hexagonal projection disposed on an upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , in combination with a material container disposed inside the cushioning material inside the shell wherein the container and the fabric bag are captured snugly within the shell. 
     
     
         5 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning material comprises a fabric bag. 
     
     
         6 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring disposed between the shell and the cap. 
     
     
         7 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring disposed between a curved recess in the cap and a curved upper circumferential end surface of the shell when the cap is disposed on the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly extending ribs comprise first ribs and the cap includes second ribs on an upper surface. 
     
     
         9 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly extending ribs comprise first ribs and wherein the cap includes radial gussets defining second ribs on an upper surface. 
     
     
         10 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly extending ribs comprise first ribs and wherein the cap includes radially extending second ribs of constant height on an upper surface. 
     
     
         11 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly extending ribs are substantially identical to one another and equally spaced about an inner surface of the shell and the outwardly extending flutes are substantially identical to one another and equally spaced about an outer surface of the shell and each first rib is equally spaced between adjacent flutes. 
     
     
         12 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes serrations disposed on an outer surface. 
     
     
         13 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further has a upwardly extending member disposed on an upper surface, wherein the inwardly extending ribs comprise first ribs, wherein the cap includes second ribs on an upper surface, wherein the cushioning material comprises a fabric bag, and wherein the inwardly extending ribs are substantially identical to one another and substantially equally spaced about an inner surface of the shell and the outwardly extending flutes are substantially identical to one another and equally spaced about an outer surface of the shell and each first rib is equally spaced between adjacent flutes, and further including a an O-ring disposed between a circumferential curved recess in the cap and a curved upper circumferential end surface of the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 13 , wherein the cap includes serrations disposed on an outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . The hazardous material shipping container of  claim 13 , in combination with a material container disposed inside the fabric bag and wherein the fabric bag is disposed inside the shell wherein the container and the fabric bag are captured snugly within the shell.