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A carrier apparatus is provided for transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system. The carrier apparatus comprises a housing contoured with forward and aft portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween. The housing includes at least first and second separable sections encl

A carrier apparatus is provided for transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system. The carrier apparatus comprises a housing contoured with forward and aft portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween. The housing includes at least first and second separable sections enclosing a carrying compartment. At least a pair of retaining assemblies are detachably coupled to the housing, with each retaining assembly encircling the housing's body portion to couple the first and second housing sections for angular displacement one relative to the other between open and closed configurations. Each of the retaining assemblies includes a glide band portion disposed to protrude radially from the housing in the closed configuration for slidably engaging an inner wall surface of a pneumatic delivery tube. At least one latch assembly is coupled to releasably lock the housing sections in the closed configuration.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A carrier apparatus for transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system comprising: a housing contoured with forward and aft portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween, said housing including at least first and second separable sections enclosing a carrying compartment

1. A carrier apparatus for transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system comprising: a housing contoured with forward and aft portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween, said housing including at least first and second separable sections enclosing a carrying compartment;at least a pair of retaining assemblies detachably coupled to said housing, each said retaining assembly encircling said body portion of said housing to couple said first and second housing sections for angular displacement one relative to the other between open and closed configurations, each of said retaining assemblies including a glide band portion disposed to protrude radially from said housing in said closed configuration for slidably engaging an inner wall surface of a pneumatic delivery tube; and,at least one latch assembly coupled to releasably lock said housing sections in said closed configuration wherein each said retaining assembly includes at least first and second collar segments respectively coupled to said first and section housing sections, said first and second collar segments being connected by a hinged joint. 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing defines symmetric forward and aft portions, each of said forward and aft portions being contoured to form a freestanding base. 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said forward and aft portions of said housing is connected to said body portion by a radially constricted neck portion to define a grasping handle. 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second housing sections are joined in sealed manner about said carrying compartment when in said closed configuration. 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second housing sections is formed of a translucent material to maintain at least partial visibility into said carrying compartment therethrough. 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of selectable end caps each detachably coupled to one of said front and aft portions of said housing, said end caps being configured to protect said front and aft portions against impact and to variously impart selectable indicia thereto. 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said end caps is formed of a material greater in resilience than said end portion of said housing. 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising identifying indicia applied to said housing, at least one of said end caps defining a window providing visibility of said identifying indicia therethrough. 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said body portion of said housing extends axially to define an intermediately tapered profile between said glide band portions. 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein: said latch assembly includes a rotary latch member coupled to said first housing section in angularly displaceable manner for displacement between a fully unlatched position and a range of progressive latching positions extending angularly therefrom;said rotary latch member in each of said progressive latching positions retentively engages said second housing section for securement to said first housing section; and,said rotary latch member is stopped against retentive engagement of said second housing section upon misalignment between said first and second housing sections. 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said rotary latch assembly includes visual indicia variably corresponding to said fully unlatched and progressive latching positions of said rotary latch member. 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said rotary latch member is positioned in angular alignment with an axis of said housing upon ranging fully through said progressive latching positions to fully engage said second housing section. 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said glide band portion is formed of a fibrous material. 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said glide band portion includes a wing extension configured to wrap around and extend underneath at least one of said first and second collar segments for secure attachment thereto. 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a second latch assembly, wherein: said second latch assembly includes a second rotary latch member coupled to said second housing section in angularly displaceable manner for displacement between a fully unlatched position and a range of progressive latching positions extending angularly therefrom;said second rotary latch member in each of said progressive latching positions retentively engages said first housing section for securement to said second housing section; and,said rotary latch member is stopped against retentive engagement of said first housing section upon misalignment between said first and second housing sections. 16. A carrier apparatus for bidirectional transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system comprising: a housing contoured with a pair of opposing end portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween, said housing including at least first and second separable housing sections enclosing a carrying compartment;at least a pair of collar assemblies detachably coupled to said housing, each said collar assembly encircling said body portion of said housing to couple said first and second housing sections for pivotal displacement one relative to the other between open and closed configurations, each said collar assembly including at least first and second collar segments connected by a hinged joint and respectively coupled to said first and second housing sections;a plurality of glide bands each fastened to one said collar assembly to protrude radially from said housing for slidably engaging an inner wall surface of a pneumatic delivery tube; and,at least one rotary latch member pivotally coupled to one of said housing sections to releasably lock the other of said housing sections thereto in said closed configuration. 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein: each of said end portions of said housing is connected to said body portion by a radially constricted neck portion to define a grasping handle;said body portion of said housing extends axially to define an intermediately tapered profile between said glide bands; and,at least one of said first and second housing sections is formed of a translucent material to maintain at least partial visibility into said carrying compartment therethrough. 18. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, further comprising a plurality of selectable end caps each detachably coupled to one of said front and aft portions of said housing, said end caps being formed of a material greater in resilience than said end portion of said housing to protect said front and aft portions against impact, said end caps being configured to variously impart selectable indicia thereto. 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein: said rotary latch member is coupled to one of said housing sections in angularly displaceable manner for displacement between a fully unlatched position and a range of progressive latching positions extending angularly therefrom;said rotary latch member in each of said progressive latching positions retentively engages the other of said housing section for securement to the one said housing section; and,said rotary latch member is stopped against retentive engagement of the other said housing section upon misalignment between said housing sections. 20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said rotary latch assembly includes visual indicia variably corresponding to said fully unlatched and progressive latching positions of said rotary latch member; and, said rotary latch member is positioned in angular alignment with an axis of said housing upon ranging fully through said progressive latching positions to fully engage the other said housing section. 21. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said first and second housing sections are joined in sealed manner about said carrying compartment when in said closed configuration. 22. A carrier apparatus for bidirectional transport through a pneumatic tube delivery system comprising: a housing contoured with a pair of opposing end portions and an axially extended body portion disposed therebetween, each of said end portions being connected to said body portion by a radially constricted neck portion for defining a grasping handle and contoured to form a freestanding base, said housing including first and second axially separable sections enclosing a carrying compartment;at least a pair of collar assemblies detachably coupled to said housing, each said collar assembly encircling said body portion of said housing to couple said first and second housing sections for pivotal displacement one relative to the other between open and closed configurations, each said collar assembly including at least first and second collar segments connected by a hinged joint and respectively coupled to said first and second housing sections;a plurality of glide bands each fastened to one said collar assembly to protrude radially from said housing for slidably engaging an inner wall surface of a pneumatic delivery tube;at least one rotary latch member pivotally coupled to one of said housing sections for releasably sealing the other of said housing sections thereto in said closed configuration; and,a plurality of protective end caps each detachably coupled to one of said end portions of said housing, said protective end caps being formed of a material greater in resilience than said housing end portions. 23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, comprising a plurality of said rotary latch members respectively coupled to said first and second housing sections, wherein: each said rotary latch member is angularly displaceable between a fully unlatched position and a range of progressive latching positions extending angularly therefrom;each said rotary latch member in said progressive latching positions retentively engages the other of said housing sections; and,each said rotary latch member is stopped against retentively engaging the other of said housing sections upon misalignment between said housing sections. 24. The apparatus as recited in claim 23, wherein each said rotary latch member includes visual indicia variably corresponding to said fully unlatched and progressive latching positions thereof; each said rotary latch member being positioned in angular alignment with an axis of said housing upon ranging fully through said progressive latching positions to fully engage the other of said housing sections. 25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein: said body portion of said housing extends axially to define a generally concave outer surface profile intermediately between said glide bands; and,at least one of said first and second housing sections is formed of a translucent material to maintain at least partial visibility into said carrying compartment therethrough.