PACKING SUPPORTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening. In one aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel and an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel has a width defined between respective outermost lateral edges, and the under-collar support extends substantially parallel to the width of the panel and has a width no more than 20% greater than the width of the support panel. In another aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use, and a collar support member configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel and the collar support member are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support. The support panel is cut from a corrugated fibreboard sheet material, and the collar support member is cut from a transparent plastics sheet material. The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to shirt packaging of the prior art, and particularly to have less wastage of typically fibreboard sheet material from which the support panel is cut.

Claims

1. A packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening, the packing support comprising: a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use; and an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use; wherein the support panel has a width defined between respective outermost lateral edges, and wherein the under-collar support extends substantially parallel to the width of the panel and has a width no more than 20% greater than the width of the support panel.

2. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the width of the under-collar support is no more than 15% greater than the width of the support panel.

3. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the width of the under-collar support is no more than 10% greater than the width of the support panel.

4. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the width of the under-collar support is substantially equal to the width of the support panel.

5. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the packing support is a single, integrally formed component.

6. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the packing support is formed from a sheet material.

7. The packing support of claim 6, wherein the sheet material is corrugated fibreboard.

8. The packing support of claim 1, wherein the support panel and the under-collar support are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support, wherein the support panel is formed from a first sheet material, and wherein the under-collar support is formed from a second sheet material, different to the first.

9. The packing support of claim 8, wherein first sheet material comprises corrugated fibreboard and the second sheet material comprises a transparent plastics sheet material.

10. The packing support of claim 8, wherein one of the under-collar support and the support panel has defined therein at least a connecting slot, and the other of the under-collar support and the support panel has extending therefrom at least a complimentary connecting tab, arranged to connect the under-collar support to the support panel by engagement of the connecting tab in the connecting slot.

11. A packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening, the packing support comprising: a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use; and a collar support member configured for supporting the folded collar, in use; wherein the support panel and the collar support member are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support, wherein the support panel is formed from a first sheet material, and wherein the collar support member is formed from a second sheet material, different to the first.

12. The packing support of claim 11, wherein first sheet material comprises corrugated fibreboard and the second sheet material comprises a transparent plastics sheet material.

13. The packing support of claim 12, wherein the transparent plastics sheet material comprises polypropylene.

14. The packing support of claim 11, wherein one of the collar support member and the support panel has defined therein at least a connecting slot, and the other of the collar support member and the support panel has extending therefrom at least a complimentary connecting tab, arranged to connect the collar support member to the support panel by engagement of the connecting tab in the connecting slot.

15. The packing support of claim 11, wherein the collar support member comprises: a connection portion including said at least a connecting slot or at least a complimentary connecting tab; an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use; and an inner collar support configured for forming, in use, a ring within the collar opening.

16. The packing support of claim 15, wherein the collar support member further comprises a connecting member connecting the connection portion to the inner collar support by extending from an end of the connection portion to the inner collar support wherein the connecting member is dimensioned to connect the inner collar support to the connection portion while the inner collar support is positioned within the collar opening of the shirt.

17. The packing support of claim 16, wherein the length of the connecting member between the connection portion and the inner collar support is at least the depth of the inner collar support.

18. The packing support of claim 15, wherein the under-collar support is connected to the connection portion between the inner collar support and the connection portion.

19. The packing support of claim 11, wherein the shirt has a series of front buttons and is folded when packed with a lower portion of the front of the shirt behind an upper portion of the front of the shirt, the packing support further comprising a button tab configured to secure one of the front buttons of the lower portion of the packed shirt to the packing support to retain the packed shirt in a folded configuration, wherein the button tab has at least one hole defined therein for engagement with one of the front buttons.

20. The packing support of claim 19, wherein the button tab is defined by at least one cut through the material of the packing support.

21. The packing support of claim 11, wherein the packing support further comprises a hanging tab for connection to a hanger.

22. The packing support of claim 21, wherein the hanging tab extends from the support panel.

23. The packing support of claim 21, wherein the hanging tab comprises at least one creased line provided between the hanging tab and the support panel.

24. The packing support of claim 11, wherein the support panel comprises a central portion that is foldable along a fold line to bring a free end thereof downward to a position beyond a lower edge of the support panel prior to said fold, thereby extending the effective height of the support panel.

25. The packing support of claim 11, wherein the support panel defines, in use, a portion of the front of the packed shirt behind which the remainder of the front of the shirt is folded.

26. The packing support of claim 11 in combination with a shirt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary prior art packing support;

[0046] FIGS. 2-11 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support of FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 12 illustrates a shirt packed using the packing support of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 13 illustrates a second exemplary prior art packing support;

[0049] FIG. 14 illustrates the packing support of FIG. 13 together with a plastic clip accessory;

[0050] FIGS. 15-19 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support of the kind shown in FIG. 13;

[0051] FIG. 20 illustrates a third exemplary prior art packing support;

[0052] FIG. 21 illustrates a step required for packing a set of shirts using the packing support according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 20;

[0053] FIG. 22 illustrates a plurality of shirts packaged using the packing supports according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 20;

[0054] FIG. 23 illustrates a packing support according to a first aspect of the invention;

[0055] FIG. 24 illustrates a variant of the packing support of FIG. 23;

[0056] FIG. 25 is a photograph illustrating a rear side of a packing support according to a second aspect of the invention, comprising interconnected support panel and collar support members;

[0057] FIG. 26 is a photograph showing a close-up detail of the interconnection of FIG. 25;

[0058] FIG. 27 illustrates a collar support member of the packing support of the second aspect;

[0059] FIG. 28 illustrates an associated support panel of the packing support of the second aspect;

[0060] FIGS. 29 and 30 are photographs showing front and rear views respectively of shirts packaged using packing supports according to the second aspect of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 31 illustrates another variant of the packing support of FIG. 23, having a fold-out central portion; and

[0062] FIG. 32 illustrates the variant of FIG. 32, with the central portion folded out to extend an effective height of the packing support.

[0063] While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] A packing support 100 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 23 and with further reference to relevant aspects of the prior art as disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 22 and as discussed above. The packing support 100 is formed from a corrugated fibreboard material, as described above. The packing support 100 may be formed from cuts through a sheet of corrugated fibreboard.

[0065] The packing support 100 comprises a symmetrical, substantially rectangular support panel 102 for providing support to a main body of a packed shirt. As viewed in FIG. 13, the support panel 102 has left and right edges 120, 122 extending between a bottom edge 124 and a top end 126 of the support panel. The top end 126 of the support panel 102 is connected to an under-collar support 151 across a crease line 164. The crease line 164 allows the under-collar support 151 to bend along the crease line 164 relative to the support panel 102. The support panel 102 is also provided with a notch 112 in the centre of the bottom edge 124 and softly serrated edges 115 on at least top and bottom ends of the left and right sides 120, 122, both substantially as described in relation to the example illustrated in FIG. 1. The softly serrated edges 115 of the support panel 102 provide a textured edge, offering increased grip against the surface of the shirt without damaging the material. The direction of the grain of the corrugated fibreboard is across the support panel. In this way, the softly serrated edges 115 cross several flutes of the corrugated fibreboard, whereas the fold crease line 164 is substantially along a single flute of the corrugated fibreboard. In certain embodiments, the support panel 102 may have a waisted shape, including cut out portions 69, 70 as illustrated and described with reference to the example of FIG. 13. In certain embodiments, the support panel 102 may include crease lines 71, as also illustrated and described with reference to the example of FIG. 13.

[0066] The left and right edges 120, 122 comprise outermost lateral edges of the support panel 102, thereby defining a maximum width W.sub.s of the support panel 102 between them. In one exemplary embodiment, the width W.sub.s is 9 (229 mm). The distance between the bottom edge 124 and the top of the support panel 102, i.e. the crease line 164 where the under-collar support 151 is joined to the support panel 102, is 14 (357 mm). In that same example, the maximum width W.sub.u of the under-collar support 151 is 259 mm and the total distance from the bottom edge 124 to the top of the under-collar support 151 is 400 mm. In other words, the under-collar support 151 extends beyond the width W.sub.s of the support panel by 30 mm, or 15 mm on each side, due to the symmetry. This equates to the under-collar support 151 having a width W.sub.u that is approximately 13% more than the width W.sub.s of the support panel 102. More generally, the ratio of the width of the support panel to that of the under-collar support should be in the range of 1:1 to 1:1.2, preferably 1:1 to 1:1.15 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.1.

[0067] The width of the under-collar support 151 is thus less than in the prior art (such as that of FIG. 13). Because the under-collar support 151 does not extend significantly beyond the outermost width of the support panel 102, a more efficient use of material can be made, and more packing supports 100 can be cut from the raw sheet material, with reduced material wastage.

[0068] The under-collar support 151 is provided with crease lines 152 arranged vertically along the under-collar support 151 to allow the under-collar support 151 to bend around a collar. The number and positions of the crease lines 152 can be varied depending on a number of factors, including the size of the collar of the shirt to be packed and the desired shape of the packed collar.

[0069] The support panel 102 in FIG. 23 comprises a button tab 106 cut out from the support panel 102, save for a connection across a crease line 137. Crease line 137 is provided to allow the button tab 106 to bend out of the plane of the support panel 102 when a shirt is being packed using the packing support 100. In some examples, the cut out may be a perforated cut, such that at least some parts of an outline of the button tab 106 away from the crease line 137 are frangibly attached to the support panel 102 until the button tab 106 is popped out for use. The button tab 106 has defined therein holes 107. The support panel 102 has defined therein a finger hole 143, provided between the button tab 106 and the support panel 102. The finger hole 143 allows a packager to easily extract the tab from the support panel.

[0070] The button tab 106 is a pop-out tab configured to pop-out from the support panel 102. The button tab 106 has defined therein three holes 107. Each hole 107 is substantially T shaped, as described with reference to the example disclosed in FIG. 13.

[0071] The support panel 102 may include a central cut-out portion 130. By cutting out a central portion 130 in this manner, the packing support 100 can be made lighter and use less material without significantly compromising on structural rigidity.

[0072] In another embodiment, as shown with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, instead of a central portion being completely cut-out, a support panel 402 of a packing support 400 includes a central portion 430 that is cut along three sides, but remains attached at a lower edge 432. Accordingly, the central portion 430 can be folded downwardly along the fold line formed at the non-cut lower edge 432 to bring the free edge 434 of the central portion 430 down to a position that extends the effective height of the support panel 402 by a distance M, as shown in FIG. 32. A notch 412b is located in the middle of the free edge 434 so that when the central portion 430 is folded downwardly, the notch 412b can be used as a reference for centring a shirt on the packing support 400. Another notch 412a may be provided in the bottom centre of the support panel 402 to gives a simple indication of the centreline of the support panel 402 prior to folding out the central portion 430. In some embodiments, an additional collar support piece 440 configured to stiffen a portion of a collar of a packed shirt may be provided. The collar support piece 440 is frangibly attached to the central portion 430 of the support panel 402. Specifically, the collar support piece 440 is provided between the free edge 434 of the central portion 430 and a top cut line 442 through the support panel 402. The collar support piece 440 may be substantially as described in WO 2015/177535.

[0073] The steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support 100 as shown in FIG. 23 or the packing support 400 as shown in FIG. 32 substantially mirror those of the packing support 1 of FIG. 13 and as described above with reference to FIGS. 14-20. The resulting packed shirt will also appear similar to that shown in FIG. 19. As illustrated, there is no sleeve tab in the embodiments of FIG. 23 or 32, and accordingly the sleeve would not be tucked around the sleeve tab as shown in FIG. 16, but rather would simply be folded back on itself in line with the left edge 120. It will be appreciated that a sleeve tab could be provided in certain embodiments. Moreover, in certain embodiments a portion of a sleeve, such as the cuff, may be folded to be visible from the front face of the packed shirt, as shown in FIG. 19, whereas in other embodiments the whole sleeve may be folded behind the front face, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0074] FIG. 24 illustrates a packing support piece in the form of an uppermost packing support 190, having a support panel 102 and an under-collar support 151. A crease line 164 is provided between the support panel 102 and the under-collar support 151 to allow the under-collar support 151 to bend up relative to the support panel 102. The support panel 102 and under-collar support 151 are substantially as described with reference to FIG. 23, but the packing support 190 has a height which is shorter than some other packing supports described herein. In this particular example, the height of the uppermost packing support 190 is 265 millimetres. One or more button holes (not shown) may be provided, as shown and described with reference to the example of FIGS. 20 to 22, but this is not essential. The central portion 130 may, in an alternative embodiment, be akin to that described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, so be foldable downwardly to extend the effective height of the packing support.

[0075] Thus, for a given height of a resulting packed shirt, the support panel 402 can be shorter, in its unfolded condition, so a significant material saving (equivalent to the distance M) can be made.

[0076] Another type of packing support 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 30. The packing support 200 comprises two separate components: a support panel 202; and a collar support member 280, which are connected to one another to form the packing support 200. The support panel 202 is formed, for example cut, from a corrugated fibreboard sheet material, and the collar support member 280 is formed, for example cut, from a transparent plastics sheet material, such as polypropylene. The support panel 202 may take substantially the same form as the support panel 2 described by reference to FIG. 13, including waisted regions 269 and 270, as illustrated, or the support panel 102 of FIG. 23. However, provision is made to connect with the associated collar support member 280. In the illustrated embodiment, the support panel 202 includes, centrally in an upper region, four connecting slots 300.

[0077] The collar support member 280 comprises a connection portion 302 that includes a pair of connecting tabs 304 that can be engaged in the corresponding complimentary connecting slots 300 of the support panel 202 as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 in particular. Each connecting tab 304 is provided with two securing tabs 306, with two crease lines 305 provided between the securing tabs 306 and the connecting tab 304.

[0078] Extending from the upper edge of the connection portion 302, and correspondingly from the upper edge 226 of the support panel 202 when the collar support member 280 is connected thereto, is an under-collar support 203. The under-collar support 203 consists of two pieces in this embodiment, where both are arranged, in combination, to form a partial loop within the fold of the collar of the shirt, extending towards the front of the collar. The under-collar support may take the form illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 30 or may be more akin to the under-collar support 3 shown in the example of FIG. 1. Also extending from the upper edge of the connection portion 302 is a connecting member 204, which connects the connection portion 302 to an inner collar support 205. The connecting member 204 extends from the upper edge of the connection portion 302 a distance at least equal to the height of the collar of the shirt when the collar is folded down over the under-collar support 203. The inner collar support 205 is as otherwise described with reference to the inner collar support of FIG. 1, with like parts referenced by the same reference numerals but with 200 added (e.g. the tab 11 of FIG. 1 corresponds to the tab 211 of this embodiment, etc.). There is a pair of fold lines 264 across the boundary between the connection portion 302 and the two parts of the under-collar support 203. A further fold line 219 extends between the connection portion 302 and the connecting member 204. A hanging tab 213 extends from the boundary between the connection portion 302 and the fold line 219 as a cut-out in the connecting member 204. A hanger locating hole 214 is defined within the hanging tab 213 to fasten a hanging member, such as a hook.

[0079] To connect the collar support member 280 with the support panel 202, the two securing tabs 306 of each connecting tab 304 are bent over along the fold lines 305, such that the width of each connecting tab 304 and folded securing tabs 306 is narrow enough to fit through the slots 300. In the illustrated example, as perhaps best seen in FIG. 26 (which shows a detail of the rear side of the support panel 202), the free end of each connecting tab 304 is first inserted through an upper slot 300a from a front side of the support panel 202 and then back through a lower slot 300b from the rear side of the support panel 202. Once the securing tabs 306 have cleared the lower connecting slot 300b, the securing tabs are folded back out flat to secure the collar support member 280 to the support panel 202. Some flex of the connecting tabs 304 may occur to assist in insertion through the slots 300.

[0080] It will be appreciated that these interconnecting slots and tabs may be reversed, with the slots on the collar support member and the tabs on the support panel. Moreover, rather than a pair of slots 300a, 300b for each connecting tab 304, just a single slot 300 for each connecting tab 304 may be provided, albeit perhaps providing a less secure connection. Likewise, just a single tab 304 may be provided, for insertion into a corresponding single slot or into a corresponding pair of slots, in which case the single tab and associated slot or slots may be located centrally.

[0081] The shirt can then be packed, substantially as described previously with respect to the example of FIG. 1, by inserting the under-collar support 203 into the fold of a folded collar, folding the inner collar support 205 over to be placed within the collar opening. The tab 211 and slots 210 are used to adjust the size of the loop formed by the inner collar support 205 such that it engages substantially the entire inner surface of the collar opening of the shirt. The end result is a packaged shirt as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Advantageously, by having the different component parts of the packing support 200 formed, for example cut, from different sheet materials, the respective component parts can have material properties particularly suited to their purpose; in this case the support panel 202 being cut from fibreboard provides a stiff yet lightweight material that has good printing properties, whilst the collar support member 280 being cut from polypropylene sheet provides a reasonably stiff yet flexible member that is able to be formed into curved shapes or loops to perform the collar support function, whilst also being transparent to provide a visually attractive packing support in which the collar details remain visible in use. It will be appreciated that other combinations of different sheet materials may be used as appropriate for their intended purpose.

[0082] The corrugated fibreboard in the present embodiment is E-flute, having dimensions of approximately 295 flutes per metre and a flute thickness of 1.6mm, though other sizes of corrugated fibreboard can be used. In some embodiments, different sections of the packing support may be formed from different specifications of corrugated fibreboard. Corrugated fibreboard is typically stiffer than polypropylene, so additional crease lines may required, particularly in areas of the packing support 100, 200 where the direction of bend will be across the grain.

[0083] Although embodiments of the packing supports have used certain shapes for connecting button holes 91, it will be appreciated that different shapes could equally be used. For example, all holes configured to be secured to a button could be cross-shaped, T-shaped, inverse-T-shaped, or any other suitable shape. In some embodiments, a mixture of button hole shapes can be used, both between multiple packing supports and within a single packing support.

[0084] Although embodiments of the packing supports are described as having the support panel being formed from a sheet of corrugated fibreboard, it will be appreciated that other materials could be used, such as cardboard or plastics.

[0085] In summary, the present invention relates to a packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening. In one aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel and an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel has a width defined between respective outermost lateral edges, and the under-collar support extends substantially parallel to the width of the panel and has a width no more than 20% greater than the width of the support panel. In another aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use, and a collar support member configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel and the collar support member are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support. The support panel is cut from a corrugated fibreboard sheet material, and the collar support member is cut from a transparent plastics sheet material. The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to shirt packaging of the prior art, and particularly to have less wastage of typically fibreboard sheet material from which the support panel is cut. More support panels can be cut from the card stock than in the prior art packing supports with longer (i.e. wider) collar support members, especially under-collar supports.

[0086] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words comprise and contain and variations of them mean including but not limited to, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0087] Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0088] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0089] Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

[0090] Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

[0091] Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

[0092] Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

[0093] For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms means for or step for are recited in a claim.