PACKAGING TOOL AND PACKAGING BOX

Abstract

A packaging tool includes: a mounting part including a rectangular mounting surface for mounting an object to be packaged thereon; a pair of one and another pressing pieces provided to be able to bend and stand upward via another pair of bend lines, on another pair of opposed sides of the mounting surface respectively; and a pair of one and another coupling pieces which couple opposed side ends of the one and another pressing pieces to keep a standing state of the one and another standing pieces, and is configured to be able to be housed in a packaging box with the pressing pieces standing and coupled by the pair of coupling pieces. A pair of standing pieces capable of bending and standing upward may be provided on one pair of opposed sides of the mounting part. Since the mounting part is surrounded by the pressing pieces and the coupling pieces, it is possible to effectively prevent rolling of the object to be packaged mounted on the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A packaging tool comprising: a mounting part comprising a rectangular mounting surface having one pair of opposed sides and another pair of opposed sides, for mounting an object to be packaged thereon; a pair of one and another pressing pieces provided to be able to bend and stand upward via another pair of bend lines, on the another pair of opposed sides of the mounting surface respectively; and a pair of one and another coupling pieces which couple opposed side ends of the one and another pressing pieces to keep a standing state of the one and another standing pieces, and configured to be able to be housed in a packaging box with the pressing pieces standing and coupled by the pair of coupling pieces.

2. The packaging tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a pair of one and another standing pieces provided to be able to bend and stand upward via one pair of bend lines, on the one pair of opposed sides of the mounting part respectively.

3. A packaging tool comprising: a mounting part comprising a rectangular mounting surface having one pair of opposed sides and another pair of opposed sides, for mounting an object to be packaged thereon; and a pair of one and another standing pieces provided to be able to bend and stand upward via one pair of bend lines, on the one pair of opposed sides of the mounting part respectively, and configured to be able to be housed in a packaging box with the standing pieces bending and standing upward, further comprising: a pair of one and another pressing pieces provided to be able to bend and stand upward via another pair of bend lines, on the another pair of opposed sides of the mounting surface respectively; and a pair of one and another coupling pieces which couple opposed side ends of the one and another pressing pieces to keep a standing state of the one and another standing pieces.

4. The packaging tool according to claim 1, wherein: one trapezoidal part is provided continuously at an upper end of the one pressing piece, the one trapezoidal part having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end of the one pressing piece and tapering upward; and another trapezoidal part is provided continuously at an upper end of the another pressing piece, the another trapezoidal part having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end of the another pressing piece and tapering upward.

5. The packaging tool according to claim 4, wherein the one coupling piece comprises one and another coupling small pieces configured to be able to bend in opposed directions via bend lines from the one pressing piece and the another pressing piece respectively; and the another coupling piece comprises one and another coupling small pieces configured to be able to bend in opposed directions via bend lines from the one pressing piece and the another pressing piece respectively, and the packaging tool further comprising: one detachable coupling structure between the one coupling small piece and the another coupling small piece opposed thereto; and another detachable coupling structure between the one coupling small piece and the another coupling small piece opposed thereto.

6. The packaging tool according to claim 5, wherein: an upper end of the one coupling piece when coupled by the one coupling structure is formed almost parallel to the mounting surface, and one pair of trapezoidal parts having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end and tapering upward are provided continuously at the upper end; an upper end of the another coupling piece when coupled by the another coupling structure is formed almost parallel to the mounting surface, and another pair of trapezoidal parts having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end of the another coupling piece and tapering upward are provided continuously at the upper end; the one coupling structure is formed across the one coupling piece and the one pair of trapezoidal parts; and the another coupling structure is formed across the another coupling piece and the another pair of trapezoidal parts.

7. The packaging tool according to claim 2, further comprising: a cylindrical heat-shrinkable film penetrating in a direction of the pair of pressing pieces, wherein the heat-shrinkable film is capable of covering by heat shrinkage a part or whole of the packaging tool except the pair of standing pieces, together with the object to be packaged mounted on the mounting surface.

8. A packaging box for housing the packaging tool according to claim 2 and having an upper part being openable and closable, formed in dimensions capable of restricting movements in horizontal and vertical directions of the packaging tool when the packaging tool is housed therein with the standing pieces standing and the upper part is closed.

9. The packaging tool according to claim 1, further comprising: a cylindrical heat-shrinkable film penetrating in a direction of the pair of pressing pieces, wherein the heat-shrinkable film is capable of covering by heat shrinkage a part or whole of the packaging tool, together with the object to be packaged mounted on the mounting surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging tool and a packaging box in the present embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view of the packaging tool in the present embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled packaging tool in the present embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a packaging tool and a packaging box in the present modified example.

[0032] FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view of the packaging tool in the present modified example.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled packaging tool in the present modified example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

(Packaging Tool and Packaging Box)

[0034] An embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as the present embodiment) will be described based on the drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a packaging tool 1 of the present embodiment preferably includes a plate-shaped member 3 created, for example, by stamping it out from a sheet of corrugated cardboard, and a heat-shrinkable film (thin film member) 5 covering an object to be packaged as needed. The packaging tool 1 is for holding an object to be packaged G between a part of the plate-shaped member 3 and the heat-shrinkable film 5 and housing the object to be packaged G into a packaging box 9. The packaging box 9 is configured such that upper covers 9a to 9d thereof can be opened/closed, and may be used as a packaging box as it is or may be housed in a larger packaging box in a manner that two or more boxes are placed side by side or stacked one on the other though not illustrated.

(Schematic Configuration of Plate-Shaped Member)

[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the plate-shaped member 3 is schematically composed of a mounting part 11, a pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b, a pair of pressing pieces 15a, 15b, and a pair of coupling pieces 17a, 17b which form a pair after assembly.

[0036] The mounting part 11 includes a mounting surface 11a which is an upper surface when placed on a table or the like, for mounting the object to be packaged G thereon. The mounting surface 11a is rectangular and various in size depending on the size, the shape and the number of the objects to be packaged. For example, to package, in a stacked state, a cylindrical container made of a synthetic resin containing a hair treatment therein and two flexible containers containing refill liquid for the hair treatment therein, namely, three containers in total as the object to be packaged group G, for example, a mounting surface having dimensions such as a long side of 25 cm and a short side of 18 cm can be preferably used (hereinafter, a packaging tool having the dimensions and dimensions described below is called a sample packaging tool).

(Structure of Standing Piece)

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2, at four sides surrounding the mounting part (mounting surface 11a), bend lines 11k, 11k are formed at one pair of opposed sides and bend lines 11m, 11m are formed at another pair of opposed sides. Here, a pair of one and another standing pieces 13a, 13b are formed via the bend lines 11k, 11k. The standing pieces 13a, 13b are rectangular pieces which can bend and stand upward (to this side of a paper surface on FIG. 2) via the bend lines 11k, 11k respectively. A height dimension of the standing piece in the sample packaging tool viewed from the mounting surface 11a is generally about 12 cm. As will be described later, preferable standing pieces 13a, 13b have at least a function of allowing fingers to grasp them at the time of inserting the object to be packaged G (FIG. 1) into the packaging box 9 when housing it or at the time of conversely taking it out, and a function of restricting mainly a vertical movement in the packaging box 9.

(Structure of Pressing Piece)

[0038] At the bend lines 11m, 11m, a pair of pressing pieces 15a, 15b are formed. The pressing pieces 15a, 15b are rectangular pieces which can bend and stand upward via the bend lines 11m, 11m. Preferably, at upper ends of the one and another pressing pieces 15a, 15b, one and another trapezoidal parts 15ad, 15bd having lower bottoms of the same lengths as those of the pressing pieces 15a, 15b and tapering upward are continuously provided.

(Structure of Coupling Piece)

[0039] On both sides of the pressing piece 15a, one coupling small piece 17ap and one coupling small piece 17bp are configured to be able to bend, via bend lines 15s, 15s, in directions of both sides of the opposed pressing piece 15b. On the other hand, on both sides of the pressing piece 15b, another coupling small piece 17ap and another coupling small piece 17bp are configured to be able to bend, via bend lines 15s, 15s, in directions of both sides of the opposed pressing piece 15a.

(Configuration of Coupling Structure)

[0040] At the end on the side of the coupling small piece 17ap opposite to the bend line 15s, a mountain part 19an is formed, and a narrow valley part 19as is formed on the bend line 15s side of the mountain part 19an. The valley part 19as is open at the upper end and formed to be almost parallel to the bend line 15s. On the other hand, at the end on the side of the coupling small piece 17ap opposite to the bend line 15s, an inverted mountain part 19an is formed, and a narrow inverted valley part 19as is formed on the bend line 15s side of the inverted mountain part 19an. The valley part 19as is open at the lower end and formed to be almost parallel to the bend line 15s. Here, the coupling small piece 17ap and the coupling small piece 17ap are bent at the bend line 15s, 15s respectively toward the coupling small pieces opposed to each other. At this time, additionally, the mountain part 19an is inserted into the inverted valley part 19as and the inverted mountain part 19an is inserted into the valley part 19as, whereby both the coupling small pieces 17ap, 17ap are detachably coupled together in an almost linear state. The mountain part 19an, the valley part 19as, the inverted mountain part 19an, and the inverted valley part 19as constitute one coupling structure 19a of the present embodiment.

[0041] Next, another coupling structure 19b will be described. The coupling structure 19b has the same structure as that of the one coupling structure 19a. More specifically, at the end on the side of the coupling small piece 17bp opposite to the bend line 15s, a mountain part 19bn is formed, and a narrow valley part 19bs is formed on the bend line 15s side of the mountain part 19bn. The valley part 19bs is open at the upper end and formed to be almost parallel to the bend line 15s. On the other hand, at the end on the side of the coupling small piece 17bp opposite to the bend line 15s, an inverted mountain part 19bn is formed, and a narrow inverted valley part 19bs is formed on the bend line 15s side of the inverted mountain part 19bn. The valley part 19bs is open at the lower end and formed to be almost parallel to the bend line 15s. Here, the coupling small piece 17bp and the coupling small piece 17bp are bent at the bend line 15s, 15s respectively toward the coupling small pieces opposed to each other. At this time, additionally the mountain part 19bn is inserted into the inverted valley part 19bs and the inverted mountain part 19bn is inserted into the valley part 19bs, whereby both the coupling small pieces 17bp, 17bp are detachably coupled together in an almost linear state. The mountain part 19bn, the valley part 19bs, the inverted mountain part 19bn, and the inverted valley part 19bs constitute the other coupling structure 19b of the present embodiment.

[0042] To couple the coupling structure 19a and the coupling structure 19b, first, the pressing piece 15a and the pressing piece 15b need to be made to stand. This is because by bending the coupling small pieces 17ap, 17ap, 17bp, 17bp in a state where the pressing pieces 15a, 15b are made to stand, the coupling structure 19a and the coupling structure 19b can be made to function. Coupling of the coupling structure 19a and the coupling structure 19b causes the coupling small pieces 17ap, 17ap, 17bp, 17bp to stand and surround, in conjunction with the pressing pieces 15a, 15b, the object to be packaged G mounted on the mounting surface 11a. The surrounding prevents the object to be packaged G from rolling down or collapsing from the top of the mounting surface 11a.

[0043] A virtual upper end of the coupling piece 17a (not distinctively indicated in FIG. 2 and so on) when coupled by the one coupling structure 19a is formed to be almost parallel to the mounting surface 11a, and at the upper end, trapezoidal parts 17ad having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end and tapering upward are continuously provided. Further, an upper end of the coupling piece 17b (not distinctively indicated in FIG. 2 and so on) when coupled by the coupling structure 19b is formed to be almost parallel to the mounting surface 11a, and at the upper end, trapezoidal parts 17bd having a lower bottom of the same length as a length of the upper end of the coupling piece 17b and tapering upward are continuously provided. Here, the coupling structure 19a is formed across the coupling piece 17a and the trapezoidal parts 17ad, and the coupling structure 19b is formed across the coupling piece 17b and the trapezoidal parts 17bd.

(Heat-Shrinkable Film)

[0044] The heat-shrinkable film 5 is preferably made by heat shrinkage into a size capable of covering a part or whole of the packaging tool 1 expect the pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b, together with the object to be packaged G mounted on the mounting surface 11a. It is desirable to select a heat-shrinkable film having a material, size and heat shrinkage percentage so that the trapezoidal parts 15ad, 15bd, 17ad, 17bd are curved by heat shrinkage through the covering to cover over the object to be packaged G. This is to prevent rolling and collapse during transport by firmly holding the object to be packaged G.

(Packaging Procedure)

[0045] Next, the procedure of packaging the object to be packaged G using the packaging tool 1 will be described referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.

[0046] First, the pressing pieces 15a, 15b are bent up along the bend lines 11m, 11m in the state illustrated in FIG. 2. Next, the coupling small pieces 17ap, 17ap, 17bp, 17bp are bent along the bend lines 15s, 15s, 15s, 15s and coupled by the coupling structures 19a, 19b to complete the coupling pieces 17a, 17b. In this event, the pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b are not bent up but are left as they are. At this time, the mounting surface 11a is in a state where lateral four sides are surrounded by the pressing pieces 15a, 15b and the coupling pieces 17a, 17b.

[0047] Here, the object to be packaged G is mounted on the mounting surface 11a and a portion except the pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b is covered by the heat-shrinkable film 5. In this state, the object to be packaged G is substantially enclosed by the mounting part 11 at the lower side, by the pressing pieces 15a, 15b and the coupling pieces 17a, 17b at the lateral four sides, and by the trapezoidal parts 15ad, 15bd, 17ad, 17bd at the upper side, and the heat-shrinkable film further covers the outside of them. Accordingly, the object to be packaged G is integrated with the packaging tool 1, and therefore prevented from displacement, rolling and collapse. As repeatedly mentioned, the pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b are not covered but are in a free state.

[0048] Here, the pair of standing pieces 13a, 13b are made to stand, the packaging tool 1 and the object to be packaged (G is housed, while grasping the standing pieces 13a, 13b, into the packaging box 9 with the upper covers 9a to 9d thereabove opened, and the upper covers 9a to 9d are closed and sealed with an adhesive tape (not illustrated), with which the packaging work is completed. The inner dimensions of the packaging box 9 are made to almost coincide with the maximum dimensions of the mounting part 11 and the standing pieces 13a, 13b, so that the movement of the packaging tool 1 and the object to be packaged G is restricted in the packaging box 9. Thus, it does need to bond the packaging tool 1 to the packaging box using an adhesive or the like.

[0049] For taking-out of the object to be packaged G, it is only necessary to open the upper covers 9a to 9d and grasp and pull up the standing pieces 13a, 13b. Then, by breaking the heat-shrinkable film 5, the object to be packaged G can be taken. The packaging tool 1 after removing the heat-shrinkable film is returned into a sheet of corrugated cardboard by releasing the coupling structures 19a, 19b and returning the bent portions into original states. Reuse and discard can be very easily performed.

Modified Example of the Present Embodiment

[0050] A modified example of the present modified example (hereinafter, referred to as the present modified example) will be described referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. The point of the present modified example different from the present embodiment is that the present embodiment includes the pair of standing pieces which are omitted in the present modified example. Therefore, the signs used in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are used as they are in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. However, the packaging tool 1 in the present embodiment is represented as a packaging tool 1A in the present modified example.

(Packaging Tool and Packaging Box)

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the packaging tool 1A of the present modified example is common with the packaging tool 1 in basic configuration and action including the point that the packaging tool 1A preferably includes the plate-shaped member 3, for example, by stamping it out from a sheet of corrugated cardboard and the heat-shrinkable film (thin film member) 5 covering an object to be packaged as needed. Hereinafter, different portions will be mainly described, and the description of common portions will be omitted within a possible range so as to avoid overlapping.

[0052] As repeatedly mentioned, the pair of standing pieces are omitted in the present modified example. Therefore, four sides surrounding the mounting part 11 (mounting surface 11a) are composed of stamped-out ends 12k 12k at one pair of opposed sides and bend lines 11m, 11m at another pair of opposed sides.

[0053] The preferable standing pieces 13a, 13b in the present embodiment have a function of restricting mainly a vertical movement in the packaging box 9, but the function is not obtained in the present modified example. Hence, though absolutely arbitrary, it is preferable to form an adhesive layer by an adhesive B or its alternative between the bottom surface of the packaging box 9 and the lower surface (rear surface) of the mounting part 11 as illustrated in FIG. 4. This is to prevent displacement and rolling around of the housed packaging tool 1A and object to be packaged G during transport.

(Packaging Procedure)

[0054] Next, the procedure of packaging the object to be packaged G using the packaging tool 1A will be described referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.

[0055] First, the pressing pieces 15a, 15b are bent up along the bend lines 11m, 11m in the state illustrated in FIG. 5. Next, the coupling small pieces 17ap, 17ap, 17bp, 17bp are bent along the bend lines 15s, 15s, 15s, 15s and coupled by the coupling structures 19a, 19b to complete the coupling pieces 17a, 17b. At this time, the mounting surface 11a is in a state where the lateral four sides are surrounded by the pressing pieces 15a, 15b and the coupling pieces 17a, 17b.

[0056] Here, the object to be packaged G is mounted on the mounting surface 11a and a possible range of the whole is covered by the heat-shrinkable film 5. In this state, the object to be packaged G is substantially enclosed by the mounting part 11 at the lower side, by the pressing pieces 15a, 15b and the coupling pieces 17a, 17b at the lateral four sides, and by the trapezoidal parts 15ad, 15bd, 17ad, 17bd at the upper side, and the heat-shrinkable film further covers the outside of them. Accordingly, the object to be packaged G is integrated with the packaging tool 1A, and therefore prevented from displacement, rolling and collapse.

[0057] Here, the packaging tool 1A is held and housed into the packaging box 9 with the upper covers 9a to 9d thereabove opened, and the upper covers 9a to 9d are closed and sealed with an adhesive tape (not illustrated), with which the packaging work is completed. Onto the bottom surface of the packaging box 9, the adhesive B is dripped in advance (see FIG. 4). The inner dimensions of the bottom surface of the packaging box 9 are preferably made to almost coincide with the maximum dimensions of the mounting part 11, so that the movements in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the packaging tool 1A and the object to be packaged G in the packaging box 9 are restricted in cooperation with the action of the adhesive B. Even in the case where the maximum dimensions of the mounting part 11 are smaller than the inner dimensions of the bottom surface of the packaging box 9, only dripping the adhesive B can prevent the movements in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Note that the adhesive B illustrated in FIG. 4 may be configured to automatically drip by a dispenser device or the like (not illustrated).

[0058] Taking-out of the object to be packaged G is performed by opening the upper covers 9a to 9d and pulling it up while peeling the adhesive (adhesive layer) B. By breaking the heat-shrinkable film 5, the object to be packaged G can be taken. The packaging tool 1A after removing the heat-shrinkable film 5 is returned into a sheet of corrugated cardboard by releasing the coupling structures 19a, 19b and returning the bent portions into original states. Reuse and discard can be very easily performed.