Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
1 32~85~
SPECIFICATION
TechI_ic l Eield
This invention relates to packaging, more
specifically to packlng and package Inserts for
retaining and suspensioo of variously shaped
items. It deals with a new and improved
construction of packing and retainers within
external packages for protecting items exposed to
shipping and handling loads.
Back~_ound 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. -~
;~ 15 ~uxiliary 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 whicl
directly contact the article being protected, and
2) structural materials which support and/or
reinforce package and interface materials. ~ ~;
1 328854
Interface and structural packlng materials and
forms should be small, light weight, pleasing irl
appearance and low in cost. ~lowever, at the salne
time, the packing must be able to withstan(3
shipping and handling loads transmitte~ by the
external package or container without transmitting
excessive amounts of these loads to the article
being protected. Interface and structural packing
must also be able to perform it's functiolls withir
1() the limitations of a difficult environment,
including extremes of temperature, altitude
(~ressure), shock, vibration, and stackin~ of
containers and or articles within containers.
INTERFACE MATERIALS ANI) FORMS
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
2() itself. The Eill materlal may be foam, wood chips,
tissue (paper), excelsior, gray chip dunnage,
dimpled kraft, foam sheeting, newspaper or
elastomeric materials.
A modification of this combined fill or
~ .
interface and structur-l material approach oses
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1 328854
i flatable plllows or expanding materlals such as
foam in place compounds within a container.
Example of a pillow type of packing is found in
United States Patent Number 3 521 793. The pillo~
distributes the shipuing and handling loads to tle
many contact points with the article being shipped.
~ second related approach ls 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 withln the container. The speclal shape may
be obtained by molding or pre-forming the restrainL
to intimately surround the article. This can be
accomplished by die cut material stand-offs built-
~; 15 pads end caps and spacers generally 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.
2() In another approach the article is suspende(1
around a structure by attaching elastic cords or
other deformable tension type devices acting
against gravity and anticipated shipping and
handling loads. The structure may ~e separate from
~ . . .
or combined into the external container. This
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1 328~54
approach ls especlally useful ln withstandil)g larqe
shipping and handling shock loads with minimum
transfer of the load to the article being shipped.
Another approach cradles and suspends the
article wlthin a recess in a sheet or film, instead
of cords or individual tenslon devices. Sheets may
be include deformable wrapping films, liners, pads,
sacks, or other materials. These cradles suspen~
the article prlmarily against gravity, allowing
~0 limited swing movement in other di~ections witllil) - -
the container (not a complete fill of the
contalner). 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
2() suspension type of support and immobilize or
encapsulate the article. Heat shrinkable films are
a common method of achieving encapsulation. Two
~; sheets or films are held together, encapsiulatinq
and/or shrunk around the article and supported from
a rigid member. Examples of encapsulated hammock or
.
.
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1 328~54
cradle suspenslon type of packing are shown in
United States Patent Numbers 4,606,460; 4,606,459;
3,853,220; and 2,501,570. ~ecause of the
encapsulated approach, swing type of movements are
essentlally eliminated and except for the
deformation of the sheink wrap sheets, the full
shipplng and handllng loads are transmitted to the
wrapped, possibly fragile article.
This encapsulated appro0ch has also been used
1(1 for external packaging, as well as packing witllin a
shipping or handling package. A pre-formed rigid
frame, container or package is used to anchor tt~e
encapsulated article. The contailler and article
withstand the full stlipping and handling loads.
]5 Examples include blister packs and rolled drawing
containers. These rigid or semi-rigid container~
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 ls also transparent
2() allowing the customer to fully view the article.
In a further modification, package is not
~ preformed, but i5 shrunk fit or formed around the
-~ article while the packaglng material is flexible
(for example using vacuum to draw a thermosetting
plastlc film around the article), then setting
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(e.g., thermo-setting material) the previously
flexible material to form a rigid container. ~his
approach immobilizes the article and completely
encapsulates it.
In still another approach, the membranes
encapsulating .he article are also used to form a
pillow type of support, as previo~sly described. At
least one of the membranes is extended to eilclose a
volume or sealed to another air ti911t structure to
enclo9e a volume and ~orm 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 i9 shown in United States Patent Number
~ 15 4,491,225.
;~ S RUCTURAL MATERIALS AND FORMS
:~ .
~` Nearly all of the interface packing materials,especially sheet type of packlng approaches,
requlre rigid support. Support may be by direct
attachment to the external package, but is commonly
an internal separator or rigid packing insert.
Planar reinforcing structoral material are
common. A typical internal separator or insert 5
~5 composed of folded or cross-locking cardboard
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sheets. Folds or cross-locking provide structural
inteyrlty in several directions. Eolds or cross-
locking orientation must be retained in position in
order to obtaln this structural integrity.
Interface material support frames are provided in a
variety of sltuations. 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 if the external package is
insufficient to protect the article from shocks and
loads emanating from the corner (e. 9., dropping
package on corner). These cornee packings may be
made from cross-braced cardboard-like material or
solid inserts placed at the corners.
All the above described approaches rely upo
one or more of the following techniques:
1) the article is encapsulated or
2~) otherwise attached to a rigid, structural
packing or package member by means of a
deformable interface packing member, and/or
2) the article is unattached, but
susyended or cushioned by loosely fitting
~ 25 wrap, inflated, fllled or crushable interface
;~ packing materials, or
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~ 328~54
3) the artlcle ls attached and
supported by rigid, but deformable or
crushable packing or package mateeial.
-- Special problems occur whell shock and shipment
protection of a large flat and fragile object, such
as Eramed lithogeaphic prints and glass art panels,
i3 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 fraglle object, possibly
twisting or breaking it. Common packing lnseLts
(foam, pillows, etc.) may reduce and distribute the
impact force, but all of the prior art transmit the
shock force without limlts. These torsional loads
of large flat objects, further compounds problems
and the chance of breakage.
Another problem wlth protecting long flat
objects i8 flexion. I~hen a long glass panel is
2(~ supported only along one or more edges, the object
weight and shipping loads terlds cause flexlon of
the object, such as a glass panel. Additional
packing inserts may be requlred to support the
; 25 glass at multiple interior points.
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1 32885~
g
_scl sure of_ln ention
The principal and secondary objects of the
invention are:
~ to provide a packing which suspends a
fraglle article in a frame without attachmellt
to or encapsulation of the article;
to provide a packing which provldes ar~
elastic, floating support, but strictly limit
the unacceptable shipping and handling loads
l~ transmitted to the fragile article in specific
directions to a specific upper limit;
to provide a packing which does not
always requlre 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 withln the package, but can be
~;
stored flat;
to provide a packing which allows the
articl~e to be ~isually inspected without
dlsassembly;
- 25 to provide a packing which reduces
filllng tlmes; and
1 328854
--10--
to provide a low cost/weight packing
whlch does not require special post-packing
treatment.
These and other ob~ects are ac~ieved by
frictlonal contact sandwichlng the article between
two pliable and flexible membranes, which are each
attached to a separate supportlng frame. The
frames have a central opening over which the
pliable materlal ls attached. Attachment of the
pliable materlal may also be used to secure loose
folds, flaps, and separators to the ~rame, 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 fittlng inserts or flaps to
maintain a high friction contact between the
'~
pliable membranes and the article to be shipped.
The frictlon contact limits handling and shipping
~`~ shock loads that can be transmitted to the
2() protected item.
~-; Multiple items and loose fitting separators
may also be ~rictionally held between the pliable
materials as long as space is available within the
.
frame opening. The technique does not require
~- 25 attachment of the article or spacers since the
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pression of two pliable membranes against the
article and separators is sufficient to immobilize
it agalnst forces up to a frictlonal limit. T~
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 artic]e
cause the membrane to deform at tllese points, whic
furtber distributes the shipping and handlin-J
loads. The fragile protruding article may also be
protected against dust and other contaminants by
the pliable membranes, even if punctured as the
membrane remalns tight around the protrusion.
Exceptionally heavy artlcles may be partial]y
supported by the pliable membrane frictional
contact.
,~
Large transient drop and/or sllock loads to tlle
fragile article ar limited by the trampoline like
n action of the~ membrane ln one dlrectlon and
friction resistance~d~eformatloll and ultimate
movement of the article between the membranes in
other directions, at least untll the article moves
to contact an adjacent article or edge to the
frames. ~ecause the pliable materials are flexible
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1 328~54
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and ~re not vacuum shrunk around or otherwise
tightly wrapped around the article, tlIe shocks,
shipping and handling loads (up to the frictional
limit just described) are elastically distributed
along the contacting surface of the fra~ile. If
the sheets of pliable material are transparent,
inspections of the article are simplified, an(l
aesthetic appeal to the customer can be maintaine(3.
In another embodiment, the frames and stretctle~3
pliable membranes are combined with covers to Eorm
a single piece shipper.
ln still another embodiment a packing spacer
is formed supporting an object within its shlppillg
container in a friction and Eloating arrangemelIt
that absorbs flexion and torsion oE the container.
~: :
The spacer is a box-like structure with at least
one open face covered with a Elexible membrane.
~; l'he 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 suppo~t the object.
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-13-
~rief Descrl tion of Urawin~s
__ ___ __~ _____ _ _ ___
Flgure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of
a sheet packing of a glass goblet within a box
container;
Fi~ure 2 shows a slde cross sectional view of
the sheet packing suspendIng the glass goblet
article; .
Fi~ure 3 shows a perspective view of an
_ _ _ _ _
aIternate conflguration mailer about to suspend a
breakable wall plaque;
Fi~ure 9 shows a sheet packing suspending
multiple small items;
Eiqure 5 sh~ws a shipping contalner with
multiple sheet packings;
Fi~ure 6 shows a packing corner for~ prlor to
asse~bly; . :
Fi~ur ¦ shows an assembled packing corner
form;
F~ ure 8 shows an assembled packing corner
form9 installed wlthin d package; : ~
~: Fl~ure 9 shows an exploded view of multiple .
artiele packing;
Figure 10 shows a perspeetive view of a ~ -~
membrane packing for exceptionally heavy artlcles; ~ :
; 25
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1 328854
-14-
Ei~ure_ll StloWS a cross sectlollal view l:ake
along llne 11-11 of Eigure 10;
_tgure 12 shows a perspective view of a l~oot;
Fl~ule 13 3hows an explo~ed view of a~
alternate multl-artlcle packlng;
_gure 14 shows a front vlew of the alternate
multi-artlcle packirlg;
~l~ure 15 shows a perspective view of assemt)le
_ _ _ _ _ _
floatlng packing Inselts;
1() Fi~_re 16 shows a perspectlve vlew oE a corner
inse~t;
Elgure 11 shows a perspectlve view oE a Si(le
lllsert; and
Ei~ure 18 St~ow5 an alternate corner insert.
. ,
~est Mode of Carrying Out the Inventlon
Figure 1 show~ an exploded perspective
2() vlew of a sheet packlng of a glass goblet within i3
box contalnel. The rigld or seml-rigid shi~ lg
~ box 2 can be made from cardboard, plastic or othee
;~ appropriate materlals, provldlng tlle structural
Integrlty to wlthstand the shlppll)g and handlillg
?) loads. A first frame 3 fits wlthin the shil)pi~lg ~-
~'' ~'.''
? 328854
-15-
container or box 2, resting the first frame's rear
face g agalnst the rear face 5 of box 2. The f irst
frame 3 may be made from a flat panel, blaok 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 separatc
strips of rigid planar materlal or one diecut
planar section havlng flaps which are foldal)ly
attached. A space or opening large enough to pass
1() thc article 6 is provlded ln frame 3. The frame
mounts a first sheet of pllable material 7 which iS
transparent in this embodiment, but could as wel I
~; be opaque . The pl iable f i lm in thi s prefer red
embodiment is also self-adhesive, providi~g a means
for attaching the separated panels or flaps
together as well as secu~ring the pliable film or
membrane over the front face 8 of the frame. rhe
~; self-adhesive propertles may be obtained by using
- the clinging propertles of some types of film or
2() membrane materials (e.g., vinyl), or applying a
coating of tacky material and/or adhesive to the
membrane or f ilm.
The sheet 7 may be made from a resilient
,
laminate, woven fabric, netting, vinyl,
polyethylene or puncturable elastomeric film. A
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t 328854
-16-
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 mateeial 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 solld object 6 being
shipped in thls embodiment is a fragile glass
goblet. An alternate embodiment could have pliable
sheet 7 cover only a portion of the front face 8.
]5 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
:
lnserting into the box or external package 2. The
2() 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 wlth the first frame 3 and the article ~ -
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1 328854
-17-
6, between rear face 5 and the ~our top ace c~ver-
flaps 11 of box 2, when the shipping box is closed.
A second pliable sheet 12 is stretched oVeL the
face of second f~ame 9 and attached to its
S 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 openlrlgs of both frames. The pliable
material is not shrunk or vacuum sealed against -
I() article 6, but the ~lexibility oE sheets 7 and 12
spreads the contact area over a significallt portion
of article 6, and suspend the article by friction
between the pliable sheets.
~ Eigure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of¦~ 15 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 immobilized in the box 2. The goblet 6
: 20 i9 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 S and
the front flaps 11 of box 2. The article 6 can
translate between the pliable sheets 7 and 12 ii
~,~ 25 loads ln this direct10n exceed the frictional
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t ~28~54
-18-
force limits. Loads in thls direction below the
frictlonal llmit and loads in other directions lre
absorbed by the pliable/flexible nature of the
membrane, acting as a spring to absorb the s~ocks
S resulting from shipping and handling.
~igure 3 shows a perspective view of an
alternate configuration mailer about to suspen(3 a
breakable wall plaque 14. The mailer first frame
13 has a flrst pliable material 7 stretched over
.1.0 one face and over an opening large enough to pass
the shipping object 14. ~ mailer second frame 1~
is slmilar in constructlon, having a second pllable
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
constructlon or may be attached to the mailer
frames which are also bonded together by a
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 irames and flaps can be cardboard,
foam core material or other treated paper product.
~;~ Addltlonal protection can be provided by making the
' ' ,'''"'' ''
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-19--
flap out of a crushable material.
Figure 4 shows a sheet packing capable o~
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 S~IOWU
for clarity io 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
signlflcant tensile forces stretching or otherwise
applied to the pliable material. A second frame 18
is of similar construction, having a second sheet
of pllable 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 immobillzes 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
~ 328854
-20-
with multiple sheet packings. If the articles are
thinner tl)an the walls of the frames, there is no
need for the spacers OL slots. 1~ the article's
size exceeds the fra~e thickness, the multiple
shipping contalner l9 can be slotted on t~e inside
to retain the several Individual sheet packlngs 20.
Ihe sheet packings are simllar to the mailin~
frames shown in Figure 3, with oe without the flaE
covers 16, enclosing small articles to be shipped
]() 21, such as an electronic Cllip. Slots in t~e
container l9 can hold frames o~ sheet packing.s
against each other, or the ~rames may be adhesively
: - -
attached to each other without the slots in ~
container l9 to form the sheet packing prior to ~ -
inserting into the multiple shipping container l9. 1 -
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- -
1 2n supporting frame, the spaclng between frames and
the contour of the frame can be infinitely varied. -~
The frame may be angular or arcuate, closed or -
l~ open-ended and held together by the outer frames as
¦~ illustrated in Fi~are l, or by the spacer bracket -
or bonding material as described in connection with
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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 ~28854
. .
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 corner 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
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1 328854
-23-
force~ the cross-linked separator 34 into membrane
33. The articles 37, glasses In 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 the
membranes whlch are stretched forming a series o~
cocoon-l~ke cells within said spaces.
Figure 10 ls a perspective view of a membrane
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 141, 42 and others not visible in
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 interlor flaps 43 serve
as an additional weight carrying structure to carry
the heavy glass panes 38. The pliable membrane 39
partlally ~upports the glass panes 38 along the
bottom 44, but the corners of the bottom (though
the pliable membrane also rest against the lnterior
854 ~
-24-
~laps 43). A similar packlng duct-like ~tructure
is applied to the top edges 45 of tie glass
artlcles 38. The interior fl~ps 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 WitlI a
boot 46 covering the bottom 49 of the glass pane
38. The boot Interfaces with the membrane 39
1() minimlzing the possiblllty of shar~ edges of the
glass pane 38 puncturing tlIe membrane 39. The boot
helps distrlbute the welght 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/packlng. If the artlcle is to be nearly
lmmobllized a high statlc coefficient of friction
; can be achieved by adding a wrap interface to t~e
2() boot 96 with a secood membrane 49 to interface with
the first membrane 39. With the boot alternate
~ lnterface wrap materials 49 can be selected to
-~ preclsely adjust frictional resistance to limlt tlIe
loads which may be applied prior to relative motion
between the booted article 38 and the melnbrane 39.
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1 ~8854
-2s-
Alternate boot configurations could also include
cutouts to achieve different frictional resistances
at different positions ~loads) or an alternate
~- method of adjusting overall frictional ~esistance.
Cutouts could also provide rellef to article
protrusions at the interface.
Figure 11 ls the cross-sectlonal view of the
membrane support for the glass panes 38. Pliable
membeane 39 is stretched across the central opening
of both the upper and lower packing duct-like
frames 40. f~laps 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 supportsf t'he upper edge 4f5 (see Figure
-
~ 15 10~f of the article 38. I~owever, the weight of the¦ glass panes 38 force the bottom edge 44 alld
l-~ membrane 39 into the internal flaps 43 of 'che lower
packing. The internal flapa 43 are supported by
the remainder of the duct-like structure of the
` 2() packlng and the external package (not shown for -~
clarlty, simllar to t'he container shown in ~igure
l). It should be noted that additional glass panes
1~ could be packaged between the two shown on the
¦~ drawlng.
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Eigure 12 shows a shipping boot 46. The boot
is composed of a card-like material 97 having a
cutout 48. The cutout 48 is partially covered by
second membrane 49. The first membrane 39 (see
Eigure 10) mostly contacts the second membrane 49
at the lnterface, with the cutout 48 primarily
provided for ease of assembly and ease of removal.
Ilowever, other cutout geometries can accommodate
sllipment of odd-shaped articles (see Figure 10),
1() and provide greater contact at the interface
between the cardboard boot component 47 and the
first membrane, or partlal contact between tll(-
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 frictlonal coefficients of friction of the
first membrane 39 against the second membrane 4~,
the element 97, and the article 38. Further
resistance to motion can be incorporated into the
flaps 43.
Alternate boot configurations could
~ inaorporate multiple openings, similar to the
- opening 40 shown, at the first membrane interface.
Thus combinations of the frame 40, membranes 39,
boots 46 and supporting ilaps ~3 can be varled to
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offer a wide rar;ge of protection for differel~t
types of articles.
Figure 13 shows an exploded view of an
alternate multi-article embod~ent (articles being
... .
S shipped not shown for clarity). A first Eram~
packing 50 (similar to frame 3) as shown in Figure
1) and membrane Sl is opposltely placed from second
frame packing 52 and its membrane 51. ~ multi-
article separator 53 is placed parallel to the
opposlng faces of the first and second frames 50
and 52. The separator 53 contains cutouts 54
shaped to conform to the artlcles being shipped
(see ~igure 19). The multi-artlcle separator
positlons articles held by the membranes 51 wher
the frames are blased towards each other by the
external box 55 ends and flaps 56. The multi-
.- .
article separator does not need to restrain the
movement of asticles under shock loads, but it may
assist the membranes in holding the articles.
Figure 14 is a front vlew of an open package
as shown in Figure 13. The flaps 56 are opened to
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expose the first frame 50 and the attached
transparent membrane 51. The multi-article
separator 53 is visible through the transparent ;~
membrane 51, as are the cutouts 59 and the multiple
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~ 328854
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glass articles being shipped 57. The cutouts 54
may sn~gly fit the a~ticles 57 or may only loosely
position the articles 57. The packaging, when
opened presents an attractive display of the
articles, as well as providing peotection and being
useable for other articles. A new multi-article
separator having dlfferent cutouts is all that is
needed to allow the packaging to ship several
other articles or unusually shaped objects. ln an
1() alternate embodiment, the cutouts 54 in the multi-
article separator are more generally shaped, only
loosely positioning (and separating) the articles
being shipped. In thls embodiment, the package may
be used to ship other articles with no change in
, ~
multi-article separator 53.
Figure 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,
2() illuminated signs, art panels, and framed
~ paintings. The long thin external package 59 j~ encloses the artlcle 58, and the package 59 ~just
¦~ prior to closing with flaps open) is shown in
phantom for clarity. The external package 59 may
be used for storage, display or other purposes
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1 3.~8854
-29-
where handling loads are foreseen. Four corner
spacers or lnserts 60 are a box-like frame
cardboard constructlon, havlng two outer Eaces 6]
.~ in intimate contact wlth 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
]n transparent membrane 64, such as a plastic fiIm.
~rhe fllm 64 i5 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 adheslve, an adhesive
coated plastic membrane or the tactile/self
adheslve properties of the membrane 64. The corner
inse~ts 60 having the membrane 64 in contact with
shipping object or fragile ltem 58 acts as both an
anchor and a corner suspension of the itam 58.
Sliding agalnst the membrane allows the assembly to
accept forces or shock loads tendlng to distort the
object 58. This limits forces on the article to
those resulting from the membrane to article
frictional coefficlent and normal loads between the
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1 328~54
-30-
corner of the article 58 and membrane 64. Loads in
excess of these limits result in translational or
sliding movement of the box-like corner insert 6
with respect to the object or article 58. As long
as the translatlonal motlon does not bring the box-
like insert 60 frame structure (one of the edges of
the opening 63 most likely) lnto contact with tlle
article 58, torsional loads are limited. lhe
frictlonal force limit can be controlled ~selection
of normal force and membrane material's coefficient
of friction, or additional materiaI between the
membrane and the article) 60 that the maximum force
is within safe limits (causlng no distortion or
breakage).
~ 15 In the preferred embodiment, the interior
¦~ inserts 65 are also provided for still further
shock absorbing protection of the article 58. The
interior lnserts again consist of a multi-faced
frame, each having at least sides 66 in intimate
contact with the interior surfaces 61 of the
container 59.~ The interlor inserts are placed to
support the fragile article SH 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 laad~ from:a direction perpendicular to
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1 32885~ ~
side 69 must be provided for.
The lnterior 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 ~ace 68 are
again limited by the frictional contact between tlle
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 sa.
~-~ Interior supports do not have to be directly
opposing, but an opposing blas or other means must
-~ be provlded to reslst the forces normal to thelongest face 68 generated by the anchored (in the
package) lnterior inseet 65 in contact with the
object 58.
Figure 16 shows one of the corner inserts
60. Four of tùe 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
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in intimate contact with the shipplng container 59
(see Figure 15~. Two of the lower coener inserts
may be placed in the shipplng container 59 (see
Figure 15), followed by the article 58 and the two
upper corner inserts 60. The spacing of the porte~
face 62 from the corners of container 59 tI)e
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 artic]e
58 corner into port 63 of ported face 62. In tne
configuration shown, the membrane 64 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 desi~Qd 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 lS). Only one
portion of the opening 70 is covered by the
membrane 6q, 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 piaced in intimate
contact with the interior surfaces of the container
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1 32885~
-33-
59 (see Figure lS) provides an additional
structural ~frictional forces and self adhesive
membrane holding of box-like insert cardboard flaps
in place).
~igure 18 show~ an alternate shock
absorbing package insert assembly. Al ternate
inserts 69 are similar to extended corner inserts
60 as shown in ~igure 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 artlcle 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 spread aod
¦ attached. The extended corner type of membrane 64
! ~ suspension of the larger article 70 ~or multiple
smaller articles) again allows the container to
flexl twist, or otherwise deform without applying
these excessive deforming loads to the article(s).
~ Normal supporting loads are again distributed along
s~ the edges of the article 70 to avoid stress
concentrations within the article.
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-34-
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) illm having a thickness
between 2 and 10 mlls. Other transparent
thermoplastic films and surface finishes can also
be selected lf a different coefficient of friction
ls de~lred. The thlckness can be varied for
various load carrying support and resilience
properties. However, the extruded PVC membrane has
been found to exhlblt good frlctlonal properties,
superior resistance to puncturing or ripping loads
~- 15 and excellent memory, that is the membrane afterbeing stretched returns quickly to its initial
formatlon.
While the preferred and alternate embodiments
of the invention have been shown and described,
2r) changes and modifications may be made therein
within the scope of the appended claims without
departing from the spirit and scope of this
invention.
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