HUMIDIFYING STORAGE TUBE FOR STORING BADMINTON SHUTTLECOCKS

Abstract

A plurality of nested shuttlecocks are stored inside a storage tube that has removable (e.g., screwable) caps covering both ends of the tube. There are two removable caps, one at each end of the tube. One cap is long enough to hold a perforated container (i.e., puck) that contains a humidifying material (e.g., water-containing Propylene glycol, or water-containing Polymer); while the other (opposing) cap is long-enough to contain a battery-powered, electronic hygrometer

Claims

1. A humidified storage tube system, comprising: a storage tube; a front end cap, configured for sealing off a proximal end of the storage tube; and a rear end cap, configured for sealing off a distal end of the storage tube; wherein the storage tube system is sealed air-tight after being assembled.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidity sensor puck disposed inside of the rear end cap.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a humidifier puck disposed inside of the front end cap.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the humidifier puck comprises humidifying material selected from the group consisting of Propylene glycol and a water-absorbing Polymer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the humidity sensor puck is a battery-powered, electronic humidity sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable strap attached to the storage tube for carrying the tube.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shuttlecocks disposed inside of the storage tube.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the shuttlecocks are feathered with goose or duck feathers.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the humidifier puck is perforated on at least one side.

10. The system of claim 3, wherein the humidifier puck is perforated on a front face.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the storage tube has a relative humidity ranging from 50% to 85%.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more O-ring seals disposed on each end of the storage tube.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more O-ring seals disposed on an inside surface of the front and rear end caps.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein the humidifying material comprises a form selected from the group consisting of powder, spheres, gel balls, or porous material, and combinations thereof.

15. A humidified shuttlecock storage tube system, comprising: a storage tube; a front end cap, configured for sealing off a proximal end of the storage tube; and a rear end cap, configured for sealing off a distal end of the storage tube; a humidity sensor puck disposed inside of the rear end cap; a humidifier puck disposed inside of the front end cap; wherein the humidifier puck is perforated on at least one side; wherein the humidifier puck comprises humidifying material selected from the group consisting of Propylene glycol and a water-absorbing Polymer; wherein the storage tube system is sealed air-tight after being assembled; and wherein the humidity sensor puck is a battery-powered, electronic humidity sensor.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of shuttlecocks disposed inside of the storage tube.

17. A humidified shuttlecock storage tube system, comprising: a storage tube; a front end cap, configured for sealing off a proximal end of the storage tube; and a rear end cap, configured for sealing off a distal end of the storage tube; a humidity sensor puck disposed inside of the rear end cap; a humidifier puck disposed inside of the front end cap; wherein the humidifier puck is perforated on at least one side; wherein the humidifier puck comprises humidifying material selected from the group consisting of Propylene glycol and a water-absorbing Polymer; wherein the storage tube system is sealed air-tight after being assembled; and wherein the humidity sensor puck is a battery-powered, electronic humidity sensor; further comprising a plurality of shuttlecocks disposed inside of the storage tube wherein the shuttlecocks are feathered with goose or duck feathers further comprising an adjustable strap attached to the storage tube for carrying the tube; and wherein the humidifier puck is perforated on a front face.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A more complete understanding of the embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by references to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a shuttlecock storage tube with a pair of front and rear end caps, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section schematic view of a shuttlecock storage tube with a pair of front and rear end caps, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a storage tube front end cap with a humidifier puck, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a storage tube rear end cap with a humidity sensor puck, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a storage tube front end cap 12 with a humidifier puck 20 according to some embodiments of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set for in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom.

[0018] Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components related to the system. Accordingly, the device components have been represented where appropriate by convention symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a shuttlecock storage tube 10 with a pair of front and rear end caps 12 and 14, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Tube 10 holds one or more shuttlecocks 16. Strap 30 allows the storage tube 10 to be easily carried, including over the shoulder (not shown). The front and rear end caps 12 and 14, respectively, can be screwed on to their respective ends of storage tube 10, which can have complementary coupling mechanisms. One or more O-ring seals (not shown) can be optionally used to provide an air-tight seal of the end caps 12 and 14 to storage tube 10. The O-ring seals can be placed on the proximal and distal ends of the storage tube 10. Alternatively, the O-ring seals can be placed inside of the front and rear end caps, 12 and 14. In operation, one of the two end caps can be detached, removed, or otherwise uncoupled from tube 10 (e.g., unscrewed from storage tube 10), and a plurality of shuttlecocks 16 can be inserted into a hollow interior space of tube 10. Then, the removed end cap can be re-attached to tube 10. The humidifying material in humidifier puck 20 will then add water (humidity) via evaporation and diffusion within the interior or lumen of tube 10, where it is absorbed by the nested shuttlecocks 16. The amount of humidifying material in humidifier puck 20 can be adjusted by trial and error, using the humidity sensor 18 as a guide, until an optimum amount of humidity has been achieved. Alternatively, recommended or preset amounts of humidifying material can be introduced to puck 20 in accordance with specific goals and/or humidifying programs.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section schematic view (Section A-A) of a shuttlecock storage tube 10 with a pair of front and rear end caps 12 and 14, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Rear end cap 14 contains a relative humidity sensor 18 and a hollow interior section of front end cap 12 defined by an end piece and a wall can contain a humidifier puck 20.

[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a storage tube front end cap 12 with a humidifier puck 20 according to some embodiments of the present invention. Humidifier puck 20 comprises a plurality of small apertures 22 that provide air access to the humidifying material (not shown) disposed inside of humidifier puck 20. Humidifier puck 20 can contain at least one type of humidifying material (e.g., water-containing propylene glycol, or water-containing salts, in the form of powder, spheres, gel balls, or porous material stored in the puck or making up the puck). Humidifier puck 20 can be removed from front end cap 12 in order to replace the humidifying material, if needed. The humidifying material used to humidify the inside of storage tube 10 can be edible grade to prevent accidental poisoning if ingested and does not cause mold to develop or act as a mold growing platform.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a rear storage tube end cap 14 with a battery-powered electronic humidity sensor puck 18 and sensor display 26, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective schematic view of a storage tube front end cap 12 with a humidifier puck 20 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, a thin, flat disc 24 is mounted inside of the front end cap 12 (with a double-sided sticky tape, for example). The humidifier puck 20 can have a circular recess (not shown) that fits over the disc 24, and holds onto the disc 24 (e.g., via friction). Alternatively, the disc 24 can be threaded with screw threads (not shown), and correspondingly, the humidifier puck 20 can have matching internal threads (not shown) to permit attachment to the front end cap 12. Alternatively, the flat disc can be made of a magnetic material that clamps to a magnetic base that is attached with double-sticky tape on humidifier puck 20.