Vacuum retention system container having vertical walls with solid welds

Abstract

A protective container is disclosed, wherein the protective carrying case includes a bag including one or more retaining elements, wherein the retaining elements include a plurality of microbeads and at least one vacuum port. A vacuum pump is able to withdraw air from within the retaining elements to compress the microbeads around an object within the container, creating a conforming and protective fit around the object.

What it claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article for packing an object, comprising:
 a flexible bag, including an air valve;   wherein the flexible bag includes a plurality of sections including internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the plurality of sections are connectable via one or more zippers;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include a plurality of microbeads;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include one or more welds limiting the gravitational flow of the plurality of microbeads within the internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the air valve is operable to release air from within the flexible bag;   wherein the release of the air from within the flexible bag causes the plurality of microbeads to be displaced and compact around an object placed on top of the flexible bag; and   wherein the flexible bag retains the impression of the object after the object is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is attached to an interior surface of a bottom component of a case. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the air valve allows air to flow into the flexible bag or prevents air from flowing into the flexible bag. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to conform to the interior surface of a bottom component of a case. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microbeads are formed of polystyrene and/or polylactic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to be connected to and inflated by a pump. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more welds are circular. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bag includes at least one heat shield layer and/or at least one Faraday-shielding layer. 
     
     
         9 . A system for packing an object, comprising:
 a case; and   a flexible bag including an air valve;   wherein the flexible bag includes a plurality of sections including internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include a plurality of microbeads;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include one or more welds limiting the gravitational flow of the plurality of microbeads within the internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the air valve is operable to release air from within the flexible bag;   wherein the plurality of microbeads are operable to rearrange around an object placed on top of the flexible bag, creating an impression in the shape of the object to form on a top surface of the flexible bag.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible bag is attached to an interior surface of a bottom component of the case. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein rotation of the air valve allows air to flow into the flexible bag or prevents air from flowing into the flexible bag. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to conform to the interior surface of a bottom component of the case. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of microbeads are formed of polystyrene and/or polylactic acid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible bag is operable to be connected to and inflated by a pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more welds are hexagonal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible bag includes at least one heat shield layer and/or at least one Faraday-shielding layer. 
     
     
         17 . An article for packing an object, comprising:
 a retaining element, including an air valve; and   wherein the retaining element includes a plurality of sections including internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include a plurality of microbeads;   wherein the internally separated interior chambers include one or more welds limiting the gravitational flow of the plurality of microbeads within the internally separated interior chambers;   wherein the air valve is operable to release air from within the retaining element.   
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of microbeads are formed of polystyrene and/or polylactic acid. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more welds are circular, hexagonal, and/or diamond-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the retaining element includes at least one heat shield layer and/or at least one Faraday-shielding layer.