Protective packaging with mounting and removal function

Abstract

A protective packaging for sharp-edged objects is disclosed. The protective packaging generally has two shell parts connected pivotally on one side in the area of a pivot axis. At least one of the shell parts forms a first receiving space that is configured to receive an object and provide a free space between for the shell parts and the object, and a second receiving area configured to hold the object in a form-fitting manner. A third receiving space adjacent the second receiving area provides sufficient space for connection of a tool carrier to the object. The protective packaging is therefore designed as a mounting and removal tool rotatable around its longitudinal axis, and the object contained in the protective packaging can be mounted on and removed from any tool holder together with the protective packaging without contact with the hand.

Claims

1. A protective packaging for securing an object used in connection with a holder, the protective packaging configured to maintain the object in a secure position therein, the protective packaging comprising: first and second shell parts each having a respective face wall, wherein the face walls of the first and second shell parts are pivotally connected to each other with a connection aligned along a pivot axis so that the first and second shell parts can be folded together, and wherein each of the first and second shell parts have respective second ends located opposite from the face walls, the second end of each of the shell parts cooperating to define a collar area at times when the first and second shell parts are folded together; a first receiving space defined by an inside surface of at least one of the first and second shell parts, the first receiving space adjacent the connection and configured to receive a portion of the object at times when the object is received in the first receiving space; a second receiving area defined by the at least one shell part, the second receiving area adjacent the first receiving space, wherein the second receiving area defines bearing surfaces configured to engage the object at times when the object is received in the second receiving area; a third receiving space adjacent the second receiving area and defined by the inside surface of the at least one shell part, the third receiving space configured to receive a portion of the object at times when the object is held in the at least one shell part; and a sealing cap positionable over the collar area and configured to cover a portion of the object at times when the object is received in the first and second shell parts, wherein the protective packaging defines a longitudinal axis and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis.

2. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein the connection comprises a film hinge, the film hinge aligned along the pivot axis that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protective packaging.

3. The protective packaging according to claim 2, wherein the film hinge defines two film hinge pivot axes that are parallel to each other and to the pivot axis, and are a constant distance apart.

4. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein an end region of the first and second shell parts adjacent the face walls defines a rear part of the protective packaging, wherein the rear part is configured so that the sealing cap can be placed over the rear part to reinforce a torque strength of the protective packaging.

5. The protective packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a spring clip that, at times when the two shell parts are folded together, stretches partially around the circumference of the two shell parts to spring load the two shell parts against each other to reinforce a torque strength of the protective packaging.

6. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving area is arranged in only one shell part.

7. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein the two shell parts are lockable to each other.

8. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shell parts have respective centering recesses and centering projections positioned proximal to the second ends thereof, wherein the centering projections are located oppositely from the centering recesses at times when the protective packaging is in a folded position such that the centering recesses and the centering projections mesh with each other to mutually center the first and second shell parts.

9. The protective packaging according to claim 1, wherein one of the first shell part and the second shell part has a receiving slot on a side wall and, at times when the protective packaging is in a folded position, the receiving slot is oriented opposite from a centering surface on the side wall of the other of the first shell part and the second shell part, and wherein the receiving slot and the centering surface cooperate to cause mutual centering of the two shell parts when the first and second shell parts are in the folded position.

10. A protective packaging for securing an object therein, the protective packaging comprising: first and second shell parts each having a respective face wall, wherein the face walls are pivotally connected to each other with a connection aligned along a pivot axis that is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the protective packaging so that the first and second shell parts can be folded together, and wherein each of the first and second shell parts have respective second ends located opposite from the face walls, the second end of each of the shell parts cooperating to define a collar area at times when the first and second shell parts are folded together; and a sealing cap positionable over the collar area and configured to cover a portion of the object at times when the object is received in the first and second shell parts, wherein the collar area includes an outer stop ridge that limits a longitudinal position of the sealing cap, wherein an inside surface of at least one of the first and second shell parts defines a space for receiving the object therein, the space including a first receiving space positioned adjacent the face wall and having a first diameter, a third receiving space positioned adjacent the second end, and a second receiving area positioned therebetween, wherein the second receiving area includes seat contours that extend inward from the inside surface and reduce a diameter thereof to less than the first diameter so that the second receiving area is configured to engage the object at times when the object is received in the protective packaging.

11. The protective packaging according to claim 10, wherein the connection comprises a film hinge.

12. The protective packaging according to claim 11, wherein the film hinge defines two film hinge pivot axes that are parallel to each other and to the pivot axis, and are a constant distance apart.

13. The protective packaging according to claim 10, wherein the second receiving area is arranged in only one shell part.

14. The protective packaging according to claim 10, wherein the two shell parts are lockable to each other.

15. The protective packaging according to claim 10, wherein one of the first shell part and the second shell part has a receiving slot on a side wall and, at times when the protective packaging is in a folded position, the receiving slot is oriented opposite from a centering surface on the side wall of the other of the first shell part and the second shell part, and wherein the receiving slot and the centering surface cooperate to cause mutual centering of the two shell parts when the first and second shell parts are in the folded position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: perspective view of an unfolded protective packaging in a first embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2: sealing cap in perspective interior view for sealing a protective packaging according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3: front view of the sealing cap according to FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4: profile through a closed protective packaging according to FIG. 1 in the straight area.

(5) FIG. 5: profile through the protective packaging according to FIG. 1 shortly before the sealing of the two shell parts.

(6) FIG. 6: closed protective packaging according to FIG. 4 with sealing cap placed on.

(7) FIG. 7: sealing cap in profile.

(8) FIG. 8: protective packaging in the folded state with an object contained in it with removed sealing cap.

(9) FIG. 9: protective packaging according to FIGS. 7 and 8 with sealing cap placed on in profile.

(10) FIG. 10: an embodiment modified relative to FIG. 1 of an unfolded protective packaging in perspective presentation.

(11) FIG. 11: a profile through the locking level of the protective packaging according to FIG. 10 in the closed state.

(12) FIGS. 12 to 14: consecutive presentation of the placement of a protected object into a protective packaging according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 10.

(13) FIGS. 15 to 19: consecutive presentation of the placement of a tool into a protective packaging on an opposite tool holder.

(14) FIG. 20: simplified presentation of the reattachment of the protective packaging with a tool mounted in a work piece adapter.

(15) FIGS. 21 to 23: simplified presentation for torque reinforcement of the protective packaging by putting on the sealing cap on the face side.

(16) FIGS. 24 to 28: simplified presentation of use of a spring clip for torque reinforcement of the protective packaging.

(17) FIG. 29: an embodiment changed relative to the above embodiments of a protective package with a U-profile body of a protective package and a slide cover that can be slid onto it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(18) The protective packaging 1 according to FIG. 1 essentially consists of two shell parts 2, 3 pivotally connected with each other that in the area of two pivot axes 5a, 5b parallel to each other and spaced opposite to each other are connected with each other pivotally by a film hinge 4. The pivoting occurs by a side of a film hinge 4 joining at the edge the opposite face walls 6, 7 of the two shell parts 2, 3 (at the first ends 60, 61 of the shell parts 2, 3), so that a total of two pivot axes 5a, 5b are formed parallel to each other and at a mutual distance from each other.

(19) In this way, a certain axial movement play is assigned to the two shells parts 2, 3 during the folding movement (see FIG. 18 and FIG. 20 in arrow direction 44), so that during the folding process a particularly easy centering of the two shell parts 2, 3 is enabled.

(20) Each of the two shell parts 2, 3 forms a first receiving space (8 and/or 9), whereby in the embodiment shown according to FIG. 1 the two shell parts 2, 3 are preferably designed mirror-symmetric to each other so that each receiving space 8, 9 has a roughly equal volume.

(21) However, this is only one embodiment and the invention is not limited to this. It can be provided that the two shell parts 2, 3 are not mirror-symmetric to each other but asymmetrical. The receiving space 8 in the one shell part 2 then has a different volume than the comparative receiving space 9 in the opposite shell part 3.

(22) To enable a centered assembly of the two shell parts 2, 3, it is shown in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 that the longer side walls of the shell part 3 lying opposite each other each forms a receiving slot 11, in which the opposite edge of the shell part 2 designed as centering surface 12 can be introduced in order to center the two shell parts 2, 3 to each other in the folded state.

(23) However, the invention can also provide other centering means, as explained later based on FIG. 10.

(24) Centering means can also be dispensed with generally, because the actual centering of the two shell parts 2, 3 in the closed state occurs by a sealing cap 25 that is put on the collar area (collar halves 13, 14).

(25) In the embodiment shown, a key part 15 connects in the axial direction to the receiving space 8 in a shell part 2 that consists of two key ribs 16 lying opposite each other that form bearing surfaces (15) that contact form-fitting the assigned key widths 31 of an object 17 to be held there.

(26) In the embodiment shown, the key part 15 is accordingly formed only in the one shell part 2, while such a key part 15 is missing in the other shell part 3. However, as indicated in the general description, key parts 15 or other suitable bearing surfaces lying opposite each other and complementing each other can also be arranged in the two shell parts.

(27) FIG. 1 shows as another centering means that centering projections 54 are present on the one shell part 2 over the surrounding outer circumference that engage associated centering recesses 18 on the shell part 3, so that the two shell parts 2, 3 are oriented in correct position to each other when folded together.

(28) It is emphasized that only a single centering means present is also possible, or multiple centering means can also be present next to each other and having the same function. The centering means can also be dispensed with.

(29) The face-side boundary of the given receiving space 8, 9 is formed by stop surfaces 19, 20 arranged on the inside, which form outer stop ribs 22, 23 outward that form the mounted stop for the surrounding face sides of the sealing cap 25 to be put on there.

(30) Accordingly, the sealing cap 25 with its inner circumference is put on over the two collar halves 13, 14 form-fitting, expands to elastically cover the plastic material, and centers itself with centering ribs 27 associated with each other in the clearance of the two collar halves 13, 14 when the two shell parts 2, 3 are folded together.

(31) According to FIGS. 2 and 7, on the inner surface of the sealing cap 25 there are also locking nubs 28 lying opposite each other that interact with associated locking recesses not shown in the drawings in the area of the two collar halves 13, 14 of the shell parts 2, 3.

(32) For better fixing of an object 17 to be inserted into the receiving space 8, 9 of the shell parts 2, 3 and protected, on the face-side border of the receiving spaces 8, 9 on the inside there are also seat contours 21 that lie along the outer circumference of the object 17 to be held and protected, as can be best seen from FIG. 4 and FIG. 6.

(33) The sealing cap 25 accordingly forms a mounting reception opening 26, which is placed on the two collars 13, 14 and thus holds the two shell parts 2, 3 securely and protects them against unintended unfolding.

(34) The two shell parts 2, 3 are therefore pressed against each other with a strong locking pressure by the sealing cap 25 and held securely together.

(35) When the two shell parts 2, 3 are folded, there is also a sliding along the two interlocking parts in the area of the collar halves 13, 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

(36) FIGS. 4 and 5 show there are stop surfaces 29 on the one shell part 3 that in the folded state overlap the opposing stop surfaces 30 of the shell part 2 to enable a secure connection between the two shell parts 2, 3 in the folded state.

(37) FIG. 6 further shows how the shell parts 2, 3 secured against shifting are overlapped form-fitting by the sealing cap 25 and thus held together.

(38) FIG. 8 shows a protected object 17 that has a radial key width 31 on the outer circumference that is designed, for example, as a hexagon. Also shown is the third receiving area 57 formed in the space provided by the collar halves (13 or 14).

(39) Any mounting tool, such as a wrench, can engage this hexagon.

(40) Instead of a separate assembly tool for mounting an object, the invention's protective packaging 1 is itself designed as an assembly tool.

(41) For this purpose, the protective packaging according to FIG. 1 has key parts 15 adjoining form-fitting the mounting area of the object 17 being assembled. These key parts 15 are bearing surfaces on the package side that interact with associated stop surfaces on the object 17. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the bearing surfaces of the key part 15 are designed as key ribs 16, which adjoin the associated bearing surfaces situated opposite them of the object 17 to be held. These bearing surfaces are labeled as key part 15 in the embodiment.

(42) According to FIG. 8, the protective packaging 1 can be rotated together with the object 17 contained there in any manner around its longitudinal axis in order to take the object 17 held form-fitting in the second receiving space (56) in the protective packaging and rotate it in any way if the sealing cap 25 is removed. With this rotation, the tool holder 38 arranged on the object is, for example, screwed into the tool carrier 41 shown in FIGS. 16 to 20.

(43) This special mounting and removal function is addressed further later on based on the other drawings according to FIGS. 15-20.

(44) FIG. 9 shows the finished protective packaging 1 with sealing cap 25 placed on it and containing the object 17 to be protected.

(45) In FIG. 10, a different centering of the two shell parts 2, 3 is shown compared with FIG. 1. It is shown there that beyond the key part 15 there are two opposite, outward-directed centering projections 34 on the one shell part 2 that engage the associated centering mount (recess) 35 molded on the other shell part 3 when the two shell parts 2, 3 are connected with each other.

(46) In addition, inward-directed locking projections 33 can be additionally provided on a shell part 2 that interact with associated locking nubs 32 on the opposite shell part 3.

(47) This way, the two shell parts 2, 3 can be connected with each other locking and mutually centering.

(48) FIG. 11 shows the intermeshing locking projections 34, 35 and the locking nub 32 on the one part so it can be seen that there is a centric connection of the two shell parts 2, 3 folded against each other.

(49) FIGS. 12 to 14 show the mounting process of an object 17 to be held and contained in the protective packaging 1 that is designed by way of example as tool 37 in the embodiment shown.

(50) The tool 37 consists of a cutting part 39 lying above that is touch-sensitive, and contact with which should be avoided. Unintended touching could represent a risk of injury or contamination.

(51) On the lower part of the tool 37 there is a tool holder 38, designed, for example, as a screw thread, plug cone, or lock or clamp projection or the like.

(52) To place such a tool 37 in the protective packaging 1 according to FIGS. 12 to 14, the protected tool 37 is inserted into the protective packaging, as can be seen in the transition from FIG. 12 to FIG. 13, and the key width 31, designed on the tool 37 as, for example, a hexagon, is surrounded by the opposite key parts 15 in a shell part 2 and grasped friction-locking.

(53) The process is shown once again in FIGS. 15 to 19. Connecting with FIG. 14, FIG. 15 shows that the protective packaging 1 is fully closed by the shell part 3 being folded on the other shell part 2 and the sealing cap 25 then mounted.

(54) FIGS. 16 to 19 show the mounting of a tool 37 fully contained in and protected by the protective packaging on a tool spindle 40 on which a tool carrier 41 is arranged.

(55) First of all, according to FIG. 16 the sealing cap 25 is removed upward in the direction of arrow 24, as a result of which the upper part of the tool 37, namely the tool holder 38, becomes free when the shell parts 2, 3 are closed. In this position, the protective packaging 1 with the tool 37 lying in it is screwed into the receiving thread 42 on tool carrier 41 through a screw-in motion 43 according to FIG. 17. This thus shows that the protective packaging 1 in the situation according to FIG. 17 simultaneously serves as holder and mounting tool for the tool 37 being screwed in, and at the same time provides the contact protection for this tool 37.

(56) After the tool 37 has been screwed into the receiving thread 42 on the tool carrier 41, the shell part 3 is unfolded downward in arrow direction 44, which frees the one side of the tool 37. The upper shell part 2 can now be removed from tool 37 in arrow direction 46 in a radial direction so that the situation according to FIG. 19 results.

(57) With the protective packaging now removed, tool 37 can be fully screwed into receiving thread 42 on tool carrier 41 with a suitable torque wrench 45.

(58) To remove tool 37 according to FIG. 20, the upper shell part 2 is first mounted onto tool 37 so that key part 15 again is against key width 31 of tool 37 friction-locking. The mounting motion occurs in arrow direction 46.

(59) After that, the unfolded shell part 3 can be pivoted upward in arrow direction 44 to connect the two shell parts 2, 3 with each other.

(60) With the protective packaging now closed with the two shell parts 2, 3 connected with each other, the tool 37 can now be unscrewed from the receiving thread 42 on the tool carrier 41.

(61) To strengthen the torque necessary for the unscrewing motion that can be exerted through the protective packaging on a tool 37 contained in it or generally on an object contained in it, FIGS. 21 to 23 provide that the sealing cap 25 can be removed and placed in arrow direction 47 on the rear part (62) of the shell parts 2, 3.

(62) This improves and increases the pivot cohesion of the two shell parts 2, 3. In this way, a higher torque can be applied. Accordingly, the mounting occurs by grasping the protective packaging with the hand and screwing the tool 37 with its tool holder 38 into receiving thread 42 on tool carrier 41.

(63) To limit the torque exerted by the sealing cap 25 during mounting on the protective packaging 1 in arrow direction 24, a surrounding stop 48 can be provided on the upper end of protective packaging 1 that the front face side of the sealing cap 25 abuts. That is an axial mounting restriction for the sealing cap 25.

(64) The FIGS. 24 to 28 show another embodiment of the torque reinforcement.

(65) Rather than placing the sealing cap 25 on the rear pivoting end of the two shell parts 2, 3, a spring clip 49 is used instead. The spring clip 49 is almost completely closed on the circumference, and has only a continuous axial spring gap 50 on the sides that spring-loads against each other the separated halves of spring clip 49.

(66) According to FIG. 25, the spring clip 49 is stretched around the outer circumference of the shell parts 2, 3 folded together according to FIG. 25, so that it assumes the shape shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.

(67) In this mounting position, the object 17 arranged in the protective packaging 1 with the spring clip 49 mounted on it can be screwed in or out of the receiving thread 42 and the tool carrier 41 with high torque.

(68) If the insertion or removal torque is exceeded, the key width 31 of the tool 37 attempts to open the pivot connection between the two shell parts 2, 3, but this is prevented by the spring clip 49. However, if the torque becomes too large the key width 31 of tool 37 loosens from the key part 15 of the two shell parts 2, 3. This slippage is perceived acoustically as a grating noise caused by exceeding the insertion or removal torque.

(69) FIG. 28 shows the fully mounted protective packaging.

(70) FIG. 29 shows an embodiment of a protective packaging modified relative to the previous designs that essentially consists of a U-profile of a plastic body closed on at least one front side, thus freeing on the other front side a tool 37 or object 17 being held. The U-profile is closed by a slide cover 53.

(71) The object 17 or tool 37 being held can only be taken out when the slide cover 53 is removed. So long as the slide cover 53 is slid open, it actsas in the previous embodimentslike key part 15, which lies form-fitting and friction-locking along the key width 31 of the object held 17, 37 so that this protective packaging 51 can also be used for mounting and removal of an object 17, 37 contained there.

DRAWING LEGEND

(72) 1 Protective packaging 2 Shell part 3 Shell part 4 Film hinge 5 Pivot axis 5a, 5b 6 Face wall (of 2) 7 Face wall (of 3) 8 Receiving space (of 2) 9 Receiving space 10 Shoulder 11 Receiving slot (in 3) 12 Centering surface (in 2) 13 Collar half (of 2) 14 Collar half (of 3) 15 Key part 16 Key rib 17 Object 18 Centering recess 19 Stop surface (in 3) 20 Stop surface (in 2) 21 Seat contour 22 Outer stop rib (in 2) 23 Outer stop rib (in 3) 24 Arrow direction 24 25 Sealing cap 26 Mounting reception opening 27 Centering rib 28 Locking nub 29 Stop surface (of 14) 30 Stop surface (of 13) 31 Key width (of 17) 32 Locking nub (in 3) 33 Locking projection (in 2) 34 Centering projection 35 Centering mount 36 Free space 37 Tool 38 Tool holder (of 37) 39 Cutting part 40 Tool spindle 41 Tool carrier 42 Receiving thread 43 Screw-in motion 44 Arrow direction 44 45 Torque wrench 46 Arrow direction 46 47 Arrow direction 48 Stop 49 Spring clip 50 Spring gap 51 Protective packaging 52 U-profile 53 Slide cover 54 Centering projection 55 Longitudinal axis 56 Second receiving area 57 Third receiving space 58 Second end (2) 59 Second end (3) 60 First end (2) 61 First end (3) 62 Rear part of 2,3 63 Side wall