Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
`~ 1 1 337~8~
SPECIFICATION
Technical Field
This invention relates to packaging, more specifically to
packing and package inserts for retA;n;ng and suspension of
variously shaped items. It deals with a new and improved
construction of pAck;ng and retA;ners within external packages for
protecting items exposed to shipping and handling loads.
Cross-reference to Related Parent Application
Thi~ application, being a divisional of parent CAnA~;an
application serial n~mher 599,694 filed May 12, 1989, discloses
subject matter claimed in the parent application as well as in this
application.
Backqround Art
Although a retail package can be decorative and encourage
purchase of the enclosed article, the primary purpose of any
packaging is to protect the article from shipping and handling
damage. Auxiliary packing forms and materials within the package
also may have other functions, but again, the primary function is
to protect the article from shipping and handling damage.
Packing materials and forms can be separated into 2
categories; 1) interface materials which directly contact the
article being protected, and 2) structural materials which support
and/or reinforce package and interface materials.
-2- I 33748~
Interface and structural packing mateeials and
forms should be small, light weight, pleasing in
appearance and low in cost. However, at the same
time, the packing must be able to withstan(~
sllipping and handling loads transmitted by the
external package or container without transmitting
excessive amounts of these loads to the article
beinq protected. Interface and structural packing
must also be able to perform it's functions within
the limitations of a difficult environment,
including extremes of temperature, altitude
(pressure), shock, vibration, and stacking of
containers and or articles within containers.
INTEREACE MATERIALS AND EORMS
A variety of approaches to packing articles
within shipping containers are currently available.
One approach uses interface and structural fill
materials within a container, possibly the package
itself. The fill material may be foam, wood chips,
tissue (paper), excelsior, gray chip dunnage,
dimpled kraft, foam sheeting, nèwspaper or
elastomeric materials.
A modification of this combined fill or
interface and structural material approach uses
-
_3_ 1 337489
inflatable pillows or expanding materials such as
foam in place compounds withln a container.
Example of a pillow type of packing is found in
United States Patent Number 3,521,743. The pillow
5 distributes the shipl~ing and handling loads to the
many contact points with the article being shipped.
A second related approach is to provide a specially
shaped restraint within the container. The special
shape again distributes shipping and handling loads
to the article, but does not require a complete
fill within the container. The special shape may
be obtained by molding or pre-forming the restraint
to intimately surround the article. This can be
accomplished by die cut material stand-offs, built-
lS pads, end caps and spacers gerlerally made from
corrugated or solid foam materials. Except for the
deformation of the material, the full shipping and
handling loads are transmitted to the fragile
article.
In another approach, the article is suspended
around a structure by attaching elastic cords or
other deformable t~nsion type devices acting
against gravity and anticipated shipping and
handling loads. The sructure may be separate from
or combined into the external container. Tllis
_4_ 1 337489
approach is especially useful in withstanding large
shipping and handling shock loads with minimum
transfer of the load to the article being shipped.
Another approach cradles and suspends the
article within a recess in a sheet or film, instead
of cords or individual tension devices. Sheets may
be include deformable wrapping films, liners, pads,
sacks, or other materials. These cradles suspend
the article primarily aga-inst gravity, allowing
limited swing movement in other directions within
the container (not a complete fill of the
container). These flexible cradles may be
suspended and/or further restrained by other rigid
materials within the external container, or the
external container itself. Examples of internal
rigid support materials include struts and stays,
cardboard or stiff paper frames.
In a modification to the cradle/hammock
approach, 2 or more films are used to obtain
suspension type of support and immobilize or
encapsulate the aeticle. Heat shrinkable films are
a common method of achieving encapsulation. Two
sheets or films are held together, encapsulating
and/or shrunk around the article and supported from
a rigid member. Examples of encapsulated hammock or
_5_ 1 337489
cradle suspension type of packing are shown in
United States Patent Numbers 4,606,460; 4,606,459;
3,853,220; and 2,501,570. Because of the
encapsulated approach, swing type of movements are
essentially eliminated and except for the
deformation of the shrink wrap sheets, the full
shipping and handling loads are transmitted to the
wrapped, posslbly fragile article.
This encapsulated approach has also been used
for external packaging, as well as packing within a
shipping or handling package. A pre-formed rigid
frame, container or package is used to anchor the
encapsulated article. The container and article
withstand the full shipping and handling loads.
Examples include blister packs and rolled drawirlg
containers. These rigid or semi-rigid containers
can also be attached to a card to provide a means
for rack or hook display. In a modification of this
approach, the rigid container is also transparent
allowing the customer to fully view the article.
In a further modification, package is not
preformed, but is shrunk fit or formed around the
article while the packaging material is flexible
(for example using vacuum to draw a thermosetting
plastic film around the article), then setting
-6- ~ 33748~
(e.g., thermo-setting material) the previously
flexible material to form a rigid container. This
approach immobilizes the article and completely
encapsulates it.
In still another approach, the membranes
encapsulating the article are also used to form a
pillow type of support, as previo~sly described. At
least one of the membranes is extended to enclose a
volume or sealed to another air tight structure to
enclose a volume and form an inflatable pillow-like
chamber. The pillow may be air tight, or orificed
to act as a fluid damped shock absorbing mechanism.
An Example of an encapsulated and pillow like
support is shown in United States Patent Number
4,491,225.
STRUCTURAL MATERIALS AND EORMS
Nearly all of the interface packing materials,
especially sheet type of packing approaches,
require rigid support. Support may be by direct
attachment to the external package, but is commonly
an internal separator or rigid packing insert.
Planar reinforcing structural material are
common. A typical internal separator or insert 5
composed of folded or cross-locking cardboard
7_ 1 33748~
sheets. ~olds or cross-locking provide structural
integrity in several directions. Eolds or cross-
locking orientation must be retained in position in
order to obtain this structural integrity.
Interface material support frames are provided in a
variety of situations. Interface materials may be
attached or blocked by packing support frames.
Corner structural packing forms are also
common. Corner forms center and protect the
article, especially i~ the external package is
insufficient to protect the article from shocks and
loads emanating from the corner (e. g., dropping
package on corner). These corner packings may be
made from cross-braced cardboard-like material or
solid inserts placed at the corners.
All the above described approaches rely UpOIl
one or more of the following techniques:
1) the article is encapsulated or
otherwise attached to a rigid, structural
packing or package member by means of a
deformable interface packing member, and/or
2) the a~ticle is unattached, but
suspended or cushioned by loosely fitting
wrap, inflated, filled or crushable interface
packing materials, or
-8- I 33748q
3) the aeticle is attached and
supported by rigid, but deformable or
crushable packing or package material.
~- Special problems occur when shock and shipmerlt
protection of a large flat and fragile object, such
as framed lithogeaphic prints and glass art panels,
is desired. The container for these large flat
objects is also typically a larger flat container.
If the container is dropped and one corner hits the
ground first, the impact force is translnitted to
only a corner of the fragile object, possibly
twisting or breaking it. Common packirlg inserts
(foam, pillows, etc.) may reduce and distribute the
impact force, but all of the peior aet transmit the
shock force without limits. These torslonal loads
of large flat objects, further compounds problems
and the chance of breakage.
- Another problem with protecting long flat
objects is flexion. When a long glass panel is
2~ supported only along one or more edges, the object
weight and shipping loads tends cause flexlon of
the object, such as a glass panel. Additional
packing lnserts may be required to support the
glass at multiple interior points.
9 1 337489
Dlsclosure of Invention
The principal and secondary objects of the
invention are:
to provide a packing which suspends a
fragile article in a frame without attachment
to or encapsulation of the article;
to provide a packing which provides an
elastic, floating support, but strictly limit
the unacceptable shipping and handling loads
transmitted to the fragile article in specific
directions to a specific upper limit;
to provide a packing which does not
always require pre-formed and separate rigid
material separators or inserts within the
container;
to provide protection from dust and other
contaminants;
-to provide a packing which provides a
stand off within the package, but can be
stored flat;
to provide a packing which allows the
articlé to be visually inspected without
disassembly;
to provide a packing which reduces
f ill ing times; and .
1 337489
--10--
to provide a low cost/weight packing
which does not require special post-packing
treatment.
-~ These and other objects are achieved by
frictional contact sandwichlng the article between
two pliable and flexible membranes, which are each
attached to a separate supporting frame. The
frames have a central opening over which the
pliable material is attached. Attachment of the
pliable material may also be used to secure loose
folds, flaps, and separators to the frame, creating
a rigid structural packing form. The frames are
normally separated, but may be attached to each
other or may be biased towards each other by
initially loose fitting inserts or flaps to
maintain a high friction contact between the
pliable membranes and the article to be shipped.
- The friction contact limits handling and shipping
shock loads that can be transmitted to the
protected item.
Multiple items and loose fitting separators
may also be frictionally held between the pliable
materials as long as space is available within the
frame opening. The technlque does not require
attachment of the article or spacers since the
1 33748q
pression of two pliable membranes against the
article and separators is sufficient to immobilize
., it against forces up to a frictional limit. The
pliable membrane may even be punctured
(accidentally or otherwise) by sharp points on the
article without compromising structural integrity
and further limiting loads on the sharp protrusion.
Even if not punctured, sharp points on the article
cause the membrane to deform at these points, which
further distributes the shipping and handling
loads. The fragile protruding article may also be
protected against dust and other contaminants by
the pliable membranes, even if punctured as the
membrane remains tight around the protrusion.
lS Exceptionally heavy articles may be partially
supported by the pliable membrane frictional
- contact.
Large transient drop and/or shock loads to the
fragile article ar limited by the trampoline like
action of the membrane in one dieection and
friction resistance/deformation and ultimate
movement of the article between the membranes in
other directions, at least until the article moves
to contact an adjacent article oe edge to the
frames. Because the pliable materials are flexible
-12- I 337489
and are not vacuum shrunk around or otherwise
tightly wrapped around the article, the shocks,
shipping and handling loads (up to the frictional
limit just described) are elastically distributed
along the contacting surface o~ the frac3ile. If
the sheets of pliable material are transparent,
inspections of the artlcle are simplified, and
aesthetic appeal to the customer can be maintained.
In another embodiment, the frames and stretched
1() pliable membranes are combined with covers to form
a single piece shipper.
In still another embodiment a packing spacer
is formed supporting an object within its shippin(3
container in a friction and floating arrangement
that absorbs flexion and torsion of the container.
The spacer is a box-like structure with at least
one open face covered with a flexible membrane.
The object rests against the membrane. The contour
of the other faces of the structure are shaped and
dimensioned to match the internal geometry of the
container. Typically the box-like structure is a
wedge that fits in one corner of the container.
Four such wedges are used to support the object.
- 1 1 33748~
3--
~rief Descriptlon of Drawings
Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of
a sheet packing of a glass goblet within a box
container;
Figure 2 shows a side cross sectional view of
the sheet packing suspending the glass goblet
article;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an
alternate configuration mailer about to suspend a
breakable wall plaque;
Figure 4 shows a sheet packing suspending
multiple small items;
Figure S sho~ls a shipping container with
multiple sheet packings;
Figure 6 shows a packing corner form prior to
assembly;
Figure 7 shows an assembled packing corner
form;
- Figure 8 shows an assembled packing corner
forms installed within a package;
Flgure 9 shows an exploded view of multiple
article packing;
Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a
membrane packing for exceptionally heavy articles;
2~ .
-- -14- 1 337489
Eigure 11 shows a cross sectional view taken
along llne 11-11 of ~igure 10;
Eigure 12 shows a perspective view of a boot;
~ Eigure 13 shows an exploded view of au
S alternate multl-artlcle packing;
Eigure 14 shows a front view of the alternate
multi-article packing;
Eigure 15 shows a perspective view of assem~led
floatlny packing inserts;
1() Eigure 16 shows a perspective view of a corner
insert;
Eigu~e 17 shows a pers~ectlve view of a side
insert; and
Figure 18 shows arl alternate corner insert.
Best Mode of Carr~lng Out tbe Inventlon
Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective
view of a sheet packing of a glass goblet within a
box container. The rigld or semi-riyid shipping
box 2 can be made from cardboard, plastic oe otller
appropriate materials, providing the structural
integrity to wlthstand the shippillg and handlirlg
loads. A first frame 3 fits within tlle slllpping
-15- 1 33748~
container or box 2, resting the first frame's rear
face 4 against the rear face 5 of box 2. The first
frame 3 may be made from a flat panel, blank or
- strip of cardboard or other rigid or semi-rigid
material, but does not have to be continuous. The
frame can be composed of four or more separate
strips of rigid planar material or one diecut
planar section having flaps which are foldably
attached. A space or opening large enough to pass
the article 6 is provided in frame 3. The frame
mounts a first sheet of pliable material 7 which is
transparènt in this embodiment, but could as well
be opaque. The pliable film in this preferred
embodiment is also self-adhesive, providing a means
lS for attaching the separated panels or flaps
together as well as securing the pliable film or
membrane over the front face 8 of the frame. The
- self-adhesive properties may be obtained by using
the clinging properties of some types of film or
membrane materials (e.g., vinyl), or applying a
coating of tacky material and/or adhesive to the
membrane or film.
The sheet 7 may be made from a resilient
laminate, woven fabric, netting, vinyl,
polyethylene or puncturable elastomeric film. A
-16- 1 33748q
puncturable film would allow sharp protrusions of
article 6 to puncture the film, but not fully tear
the material under severe loads. The sheet of
pliable and/or stretchable material 7 is attached
over the front face 8 of first frame 3 around the
edges. Attachment does not have to extend to all
contacting portions of the pliable material to the
frame. Attachment may be by means of glue or other
adhesive or can rely on the pliable material's
contact properties grabbing the edges of first
frame 3. The article or solid object 6 being
shipped in this embodiment is a fragile glass
goblet. An alternate embodiment could have pliable
sheet 7 cover only a portion of the front face 8.
A second frame 9 also provides an opening
large enough to pass article 6, and is similar in
shape and construction to the first frame 3. The
peripheral flaps are folded and held in position by
inserting into the box or external package 2. The
depth 10 of second frame 9 can be altered by moving
the folding lines of the frame flaps. When the
flaps are not folded! the frame can be stored flat
prior to use. The second frame depth 10 is
selected to resiliently fill shipping box 2 in
conjunction with the first frame 3 and the article
-17- 1 3 37 48q
6, between rear face 5 and the four top face cover-
flaps 11 of box 2, when the shipping box is closed.
A second pliable sheet 12 is stretched over the
face of second frame 9 and attached to its
periphery. When the second frame 9 is held against
article 6 and first frame 3, the pliable materials
deform around article 6 which is now located within
the central openings of both frames. The pliable
material is not shrunk or vacuum sealed against
1~ article 6, but the flexibility of sheets 7 and 12
spreads the contact area over a significant portion
of article 6, and suspend the article by friction
between the pliable sheets.
Figure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of
the sheet packing suspending the glass goblet
article. The shipping box 2 encloses the packing
and article; The shipping and handling loads are
transferred from the the box 2 to the frames 3 and
9 which are lmmobilized in the box 2. The goblet 6
is suspended by friction between the pliable sheets
7 and 12 pressed against the article 6 by the
frames 3 and 9 held in place by the rear face 5 and
the front flaps 11 of box 2. The article 6 can
translate between the pliable sheets 7 and 12 if
loads in thls direction exceed the frictional
-18- t 33748q
force limits. Loads in this direction below the
frictional limit and loads in other directions are
absorbed by the pliable/flexible nature of the
-- membrane, acting as a spring to absorb the shocks
resulting from shipping and handling.
~igure 3 shows a perspective view of an
alternate configuration mailer about to suspend a
breakable wall plaque 14. The mailer first frame
13 has a first pliable material 7 stretched over
one face and over an opening large enough to pass
the shipping object 14. A mailer second frame lS
is similar in construction, having a second pliable
sheet 12 stretched over the face and opening
adjoining the first pliable material 7. Two mailer
flaps 16 may be an integral part of the frame
construction or may be attached to the mailer
frames which are also bonded together by an
- adhesive 22 to form a single piece construction
mailer. The thlckness or depth of the mailer
frames need not fully enclose the article 14 being
shipped, as the flaps 16 can be formed to provide
additional thickness and protection. The material
of the mailer frames and flaps can be cardboaLd,
foam core material or other treated paper product.
Additional protection can be provided by making the
-19- 1 337489
flap out of a crushable material.
Figure 4 shows a sheet packing capable of
suspending multiple small items to be shipped. A
first frame 17 contains multiple openings which can
pass the multiple articles, such as sensitive
electronic chips, to be shipped (the articles not shown
for clarity in this figure). The first sheet of
pliable material 7 does not have to be shrinkable
or stretched over one face of the first frame 17,
but is attached to the first frame 17 without
significant tensile forces stretching or otherwise
applled to the pliable material. A second frame 18
is of similar construction, having a second sheet
of pliable material 12 attached, but not stretched
over a face of the second frame 18. With the frame
18 in a horizontal position, articles placed in the
openings will tend to self center and stretching of
the pliable material will suspend the center of the
article below the plane of the frame. The two
symmetrical frames can then be brought and held
together in a face-to-face alignment which captures
and immobilizes the articles sandwiched
therebetween. The frames 17 and 18 normally would
be attached, diecut and scored to fold together.
Figure 5 shows an alternate shipping container
-
-20- 1 337489
~lith multiple sheet packings. If the articles are
thinner than the walls of the frames, there is no
need for the spacers or slots. If the article's
size exceeds the frame thickness, the multiple
shipping container 19 can be slotted on the inside
to retain the several individual sheet packings 20.
The sheet packings are similar to the mailing
frames shown in Figure 3, with or without the flap
covers 16, enclosing small articles to be shipped
21, such as an electronic chip. Slots in the
container 19 can hold frames of sheet packings
against each other, or the ~rames may be adhesively
attached to each other without the slots in
container 19 to form the sheet packing prior to
inserting into the multiple shipping container 19.
The devices and techniques described above can
be adapted to accommodate a great variety of
articles and container configurations. For
example, the thickness or depth of the sheet-
2n supporting frame, the spacing between frames and
the contour of the frame can be infinitely varied.
The frame may be angular or arcuate, closed or
open-ended and held together by the outer frames as
il]ustrated in Figure 1, or by the spacer bracket
or bonding material as described in connection with
-21- 1 337489
the embodiment of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a planar structural packing member
embodiment prior to assembly. A cardboard-like
planar packing material 23 is composed of a central
section 24 having a central opening 25 covered by a
transparent film 26, and foldably attached
triangular-shaped flaps 27, 28 and 29 extending
from each of the triangular edges of the central
section 24. The transparent film 26 covers the
back portions (in this view) of the central section
24 and flaps 27, 28 and 29, and extends beyond the
edges of one of the flaps 27. The transparent film
in this embodiment has self-adhesive surface
tension properties.
Figure 7 shows the planar cardboard-like
packing member folded into a pyramidal corner form.
All three flaps (two of three not visible in this
view) are folded towards each other and extended
portions of the pliable membrane 26 self-adhere to
adjoining section (flap 28 shown) and retain the
adjoining sections into a three dimensional corner
form. The central opening 25 continues to be
covered by the film 26, and can support and protect
a corner of an article (not shown for clarity)
similar to the support and protection shown in
-22- 1 33748~
Figures 1 and 2. -
Figure 8 shows several assembled packing
corner forms, made from a planar cardboard 23,
within a package 30 (shown dotted for clarity).
The film 26 interfaces with a corner of the article
being protected (not shown for clarity) and holds
the three dimensional form of the previously planar
cardboard section without any other means of
attachment. A minimum of two co~ner forms could be
used to protect the article or solid object at
opposite corners, but a corner protection at more
than two corners is the preferred embodiment. In
this embodiment, the external package 30 provides
the means for holding the corner form frames apart
and against the object to be protected from the
shipping and handling loads.
Figure 9 shows an exploded view of an
alternate multiple article embodiment of the
invention. Two separators 31 composed of two
cross-linked planar cardboard segments are inserted
within frames 32 and 36 and against their
respective membranes 33. The separators are held
in place by the walls of the packing container --
(not shown). The width 34 of the separators is
slightly greater than depth 35 of the frame, which
t 33748q
-23-
force~ the cross-linked separator 34 into membrane
33. The articles 37, glasses ln this embodiment,
are positioned in line with the space between
cross-linked members of the separators 31 between
the first and second membranes 33. When the
symmetrical frame and separator assembly are
brought together, the glasses are grabbed by ttle
membranes which are stretched forming a series of
cocoon-like cells w~thin said spaces.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a membeane
packing of two exceptionally heavy (thick) panes of
glass 38. The transparent membrane 39 is stretched
across a folded cardboard insert 40. The folding
outboard flaps (41, 42 and others not visible in
lS this view) of the cardboard insert 40 are held in
place by the attached membrane 39 to form a duct-
like structure. The interior flaps 43 are folded
against the exterior package (not shown for
clarity) near the bottom center of the duct-like
insert 40 structure. The interior flaps 43 serve
as an additional weight carrying structure to carry
the heavy glass panes 38. The pliable membrane 39
partially supports the glass panes 38 along the
bottom 44, but the corners of the bottom (though
the pliable membrane also rest against the interior
-24- I 337489
flaps 43). A similar packlng duct-like structuee
is applied to the top edges 45 of the glass
articles 38. The interior flaps may or may not
- support the article in this upper position, but
allow the external container to be inverted without
damage to the articles.
The other glass pane 38 is protected with a
boot 46 covering the bottom 44 of the glass pane
38. The boot interfaces with the membrane 39,
minimizing the possibility of sharp edges of the
glass pane 38 puncturing the membrane 39. The boot
helps distribute the weight of the glass pane 38.
The boot also changes the frictional resistance and
potential for relative movement between the article
being shipped 38 and the membrane 39 when shock and
vibration forces are applied to the
package/packing. If the article is to be nearly
immobilized, a high static coefficient of friction
can be achieved by adding a wrap interface to the
boot 46 wlth a second membrane 99 to interface with
the first membrane 39. With the boot, alternate
interface wrap materials 49 can be selected to
precisely adjust frictional resistance to limit the
loads which may be applied prior to relative motion
between the booted article 38 and the membrane 39.
-25- 1 337489
Alternate boot configurations could also include
cutouts to achieve different frictional resistances
at different posltions (loads) or an alternate
method o~ adjusting overall frictional resistance.
Cutouts could also provide relief to article
protrusions at the interface.
Figure 11 is the cross-sectional view of the
membrane support for the glass panes 38. Pliable
membrane 39 is stretched across the central opening
of both the upper and lower packing duct-like
frames 40. Elaps 43 do not contact the membrane 39
on the upper packing, nor do they partially support
the glass panes 38 at the upper edge 45. Only the
membrane 39 supports the upper edge ~5 (see Figure
10) of the article 38. However, the weight of the
glass panes 38 force the bottom edge 44 and
membrane 39 into the internal flaps 43 of the lower
packing. The internal flap~ 43 are supported by
the remainder of the duct-like structure of the
2U packing and the external package (not shown for
clarity, similar to the container shown in Figure
1). It should be noted that additional glass panes
could be packaged between the two shown on the
drawing.
26 t 33748q
Figure 12 shows a shlpping boot 46. The boot
ls composed of a card-like material 47 having a
cutout 48. The cutout 48 is partially covered by
.~ second membrane 49. The first membrane 39 (see
Figure 10) mostly contacts the second membrane 49
at the interface, with the cutout 48 primarily
provided for ease of assembly and ease of removal.
However, other cutout geometries can accommodate
shipment of odd-shaped articles (see ~igure 10),
and provide greater contact at the interface
between the cardboard boot component 47 and the
first membrane, or partial contact between the
article to be shipped and the first membrane 39.
Resistance to movement of the article 38 (see
Figure 10) being shipped would be dependent upon
the frictional coefficients of friction of the
first membrane 39 against the second membrane 49!
- the element 47, and the article 38. Further
resistance to motion can be incorporated into the
flaps 93.
Alternate boot configurations could
incorporate multiple openings, similar to the
opening 48 shown, at the first membrane interface.
Thus combinations of the frame 40, membranes 39,
boots 46 and supporting flaps 43 can be varied to
-27- 1337489
offer a wide range of protection for different
types of articles.
Figure 13 shows an exploded view of an
- alternate multi-articIe embodiment (articles being
shipped not shown for clarity). A first frame
packing 50 ~similar to frame 3) as shown in Figure
1) and membrane 51 is oppositely placed from second
frame packing 52 and its membrane 51. A multi-
article separator 53 is placed parallel to the
opposing faces of the first and second frames 50
and 52. The separator 53 contains cutouts 5~
shaped to conform to the articles being shipped
(see Figure 14). The multi-article separator
positions articles held by the membranes 51 when
the frames are biased towards each other by the
external box 55 ends and flaps 56. The multi-
article separator does not need to restraln the
movement of articles under shock loads, but it may
assist the membranes in holding the articles.
Figure 14 is a front view of an open package
as shown in Figure 13. The flaps 56 are opened to
expose the first frame 50 and the attached
transparent membrane 51. The multi-ar~ticle
separator 53 is visible through the transparent
membrane 51, as are the cutouts 54 and the multiple
1 337489
28-
glass articles being shipped S7. The cutouts 54
may snugly fit the articles 57 or may only loosely
position the articles 57. The packaging, when
opened presents an attractive display of the
articles, as well as providing protection and being
useable for other articles. A new multi-article
separator having different cutouts is all that is
needed to allow the packaging to ship several
other articles or unusually shaped objects. In an
alternate embodiment, the cutouts 59 in the multi-
article separator are more generally shaped, only
loosely positionlng (and separating) the articles
being shipped. In this embodiment, the package may
be used to ship other articles with no change in
multi-article separator 53.
~igure lS shows the preferred embodiment of an
assembled shock-absorbent packing insert assembly
protecting a long flat fragile article 58. Typical
articles of this type include glass panels,
illuminated signs, art panels, and framed
paintings. The long thin external package 59
encloses the article 58, and the package 59 (just
prior to closing with flaps open) is shown in
phantom for clarity. The external package S9 may
he used for storage, display or other purposes
-29- 1 33 7 4 8q
where handling loads are foreseen. Eour corner
spacers or inserts 60 are a box-like frame
cardboard construction, having two outer ~aces 61
in intimate contact with the inner surface of the
external container or package 59. The multi-faced
frame 60 is hollow, but may also be fluid filled if
fully enclosed. On a surface 62 not in intimate
contact with the interior surfaces of the container
59, an opening or port 63 Is covered by a
transparent membrane 64, such as a plastic film.
The film 64 is stretched over at least part of the
opening 63 and attached to the box-like corner
frame insert 60.
Attachment of the membrane 64 to the frame can
be by means of a separate adhesive, an adhesive
coated plastic membrane or the tactile/self
adhesive properties of the membrane 64. The corner
inserts 60 having the membrane 64 in contact with
shipping object or fragile item 58 acts as both an
anchor and a corner suspension of the item 58.
Sliding against the membrane allows the assembly to
accept forces or shock loàds tending to distort the
object 58. This limits forces on the article to
those resulting from the membrane to article
frictional coefficient and normal loads between the
. ~
_30_ 1 337489
corner of the article 58 and membrane 64. Loads in
excess of these limits result in translational or
slidlng movement of the box-like corner insert 60
with respect to the object or article 58. As long
as the translational motion does not bring the box-
like insert 60 frame structure (one of the edges of
the opening 63 most likelyj into contact with the
article 58, torsional loads are limited. The
frictional force limit can be controlled (selection
of normal force and membrane material's coefficient
of friction, or additional material between the
membrane and the article) so that the maximum force
is within safe limits (causing no distortion or
breakage).
In the preferred embodiment, the interior
inserts 65 are also provided for still further
shock absorblng protection of the article 58. The
interlor inserts again consist of a multi-faced
frame, each having at least sides 66 in intimate
contact with the interior surfaces 67 of the
container 59. The interior inserts are placed to
support the fragile article 58 when the package 59
is placed on one of its larger sides, placing one
of the larger sides 68 parallel to the ground, or
when shock loads from a direction perpendicular to
-31- 1 33748~
side 6~ must be provided for.
The interior insert frame 69 also
includes an opening 70, partially covered by a
membrane 64. The membrane 64 is spread over the
opening 70 and contacts the article 58. Lateral
forces not perpendicular to the article face 68 are
again limited by the frictional contact between ttle
membrane 64 and article 58. Frictional forces
again can be controlled to prevent excessive forces
being applied to the article. Supporting forces,
even when the insert is displaced in response to
shock or other loads are still evenly distributed
along the long fragile face 68 of the article 58.
Interior supports do not have to be directly
opposing, but an opposing bias or other means must
be provided to resist the forces normal to the
longest face 68 generated by the anchored (in the
package) interior insert 65 in contact with the
object 58.
Figure 16 shows one of the corner inserts
60. Four of the outer surfaces 61 are in intimate
contact with the package or container 59 (see
Figure 15), which serves to anchor the insert in
one corner of the package. The membrane 64 is
spread over port or opening 63 on a surface 62 not
-32- 1 337489
in intimate contact with the shipping container 59
(see Figure 15). Two of the lower corner inserts
may be placed in the shipping container 59 (see
Figure 15), followed by the article 58 and the two
upper corner inserts 60. The spacing of the ported
face 62 from the corners of container 59 the
dimension between corners of container 59, and the
length of the edges of article face 68 (see Figure
15) determine the extent of penetration of article
58 corner into port 63 of ported face 62. In the
configuration shown, the membrane 69 is self
adhesive, and is used to cover the outer congruent
surfaces (hidden in Figure 16) to hold and retain
the box-like structure into the desirod corner
shape.
Figure 17 shows an interior insert 65.
Three outer surfaces 66 of the interior insert 65
are in intimate contact with the inner surfaces 67
of the container 59 (see Figure 15) . Only one
portion of the opening 70 is covered by the
membrane 64, which is stretched over and attached
to the portéd face as well as a portion of the
outer faces 66. Extending of the membrane 64 to
the outer faces 66, which is placed in intimate
contact with the interior surfaces of the container
` _33_ 1 33 7 4 8 q
59 (see Figure 15) provides an additional
structural (frictional forces and self adhesive
membrane holding of box-like insert cardboard flaps
~~ in place).
Figure 18 shows an alternate shock
absorbing package insert assembly. Alternate
inserts 69 are similar to extended coener inserts
60 as shown in Figure 16. These alternate inserts
69 can be used to support one larger fragile
article 70 within a larger outer container 71
(shown in phantom with flaps closed for clarity),
or a series of smaller articles, similar in shape
to the article 58 shown in Figure 15. The
alternate insert 69 has outer faces in intimate
contact with the container 71 and a larger ported
face 72, over which the membrane 64 is spre~d and
attached. The extended corner type Oe membrane 64
suspension of the larger article 70 (or multiple
smaller artic.les) again allows the container to
flex, twist, or otherwise deform without applying
these excessive deforming loads to the article(s).
Normal supporting loads are again distributed along
the edges of the article 70 to avoid stress
concentrations within the article.
_34_ 1 3 3 7 48 q
In the preferred embodiment, the materials of
construction of the shock-absorbing spacer are a
sturdy grade of cardboard for the box-like frame,
- having foldable flaps to create the box like shape.
The membrane 64 is preferably made from an extruded
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) film having a thickness
between 2 and 10 mils. Other transparent
thermoplastic films and surface finishes can also
be selected if a different coefficient of friction
is desired. The thickness can be varied for
- various load carrying support and resilience
properties. However, the extruded PVC membrane has
been found to exhibit good frictional properties,
superior resistance to puncturing or ripping loads
and excellent memory, that is the membrane after
being stretched returns quickly to its initial
formation.
While the preferred and alternate embodiments
of the invention have been shown and described,
changes and modifications may be made therein
within the scope of the appended claims without
departing from the spirit and scope of this
invention.
