Packaging article and method
09932162 ยท 2018-04-03
Inventors
Cpc classification
B65D5/5016
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D65/24
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D81/075
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/5021
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D65/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D75/14
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B65D65/24
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D5/50
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D81/07
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B65D65/40
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
An article of packaging, assembly and a method of manufacturing packaging for holding an object securely by a web or extensible portion formed in a single piece foldable member adapted to insert into a container or formed as an overlap panel to the container contiguous pattern. The foldable member has a planar structure with an upper surface and a lower surface. The pattern includes a platform portion, one or more side panel (s), and a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern. The web section is either integral to the pattern, or a separate web section. The web section is aligned to overlie the planar surface and is attached by an attachment portion to secure the web section to said side panels. In operation, the object is held securely in three-dimensions between the web section and the upper surface of the platform portion when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web section thereby tightening the web section against the object between the web section and the platform portion.
Claims
1. An article of packaging for holding an object securely, the packaging article comprising: a foldable member, comprising: a planar structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, a contiguous predefined pattern comprising: a platform portion, one or more side panels contiguous to said platform portion, said one or more side panels having lines of articulation adapted to fold said one or more side panels to form sides of a platform of the article for packaging, and a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern, said web section adapted to fold a line of articulation between said web section and said platform portion to secure the object placed between said web section and said platform portion, said web section having an attachment portion adapted to secure said web section to at least one of said one or more side panels so as to hold the object placed between said platform portion and said web section, whereby the object is held securely between the web section and the upper surface of the platform portion when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web section along said lines of articulation forming the sides of the platform thereby tightening the web section to deform and generally conform to the shape of the portion of the article contracting the web section against the object between the web section and the platform portion, wherein said web section is either in an overlap panel having a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern, said overlap panel being formed in said planar surface and said overlap panel having an attachment portion adapted to fold over said upper surface of said platform portion and to join said attachment portion to said panel opposite by folding said overlap portion; or aligned to overlie said planar surface.
2. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said platform portion is configured with a predefined tessellation pattern so as to hold the object when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion.
3. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said platform portion is configured with a predefined extensible pattern so as to be extended by the object when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion.
4. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said web section is configured with a predefined extensible pattern so as to be extended by the object when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion.
5. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said planar structure is corrugated board with said web portion being formed from corrugated board.
6. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said planar structure is corrugated plastic, card board, twin-wall plastic, extruded twin-wall plastic-sheet products make-up to corrugated fiberboard with said web portion being formed from said corrugated plastic or any suitable semi rigid planar board material.
7. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said overlap panel comprising a film membrane having a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern.
8. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said film membrane is dense paper, semi rigid plastics, non-corrugate plastic, biodegradable paper, biodegradable plastics or suitable flexible film material.
9. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined flap pattern defining at least one side retention flap contiguous with said platform portion.
10. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined end brace pattern defining at least one end brace flap contiguous with said platform portion.
11. An article of packaging of claim 10, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined end spacer pattern said at least one end spacing flap contiguous with said platform portion and said end brace flap.
12. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined line of articulation pattern to permit said one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position.
13. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member has a predefined crease pattern thereby creating compound joints and permitting said one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position.
14. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member is a tensioning packaging article.
15. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a container, box or enclosure.
16. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a clam-shell insert for a container, box or enclosure.
17. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is clam-shell insert formed contiguous with a container, box or enclosure.
18. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a hammock container, box or enclosure.
19. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is an insert packaging article.
20. An article of packaging of claim 19, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is an insert packaging article whereby multiple insert packaging articles can be disposed in a container.
21. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said planar structure is adapted with a friction coating laminate, application, or treatment functioning to improve friction and prevent slipping of the object.
22. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least two nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern comprising: a. a first node | 1 | having an approximate length dimension of 3 a slit width, b. a node width (NW) having an approximate dimension of 2 a slit width, c. a slit cross-leg length of approximately dimension of 2 plus (+) said slit width, d. a slit intermediary length of approximately dimension of 1 e. and a second node | 2 | in a pattern repeating.
23. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least three nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern.
24. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least four nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern.
25. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said construction is in one or more sub-pieces.
26. An article of packaging for holding an object securely, the packaging article comprising: a foldable member, comprising: a planar structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, a platform portion, one or more side panels contiguous to said platform portion, said one or more side panels having lines of articulation adapted to fold said one or more side panels to form sides of a platform of the article for packaging, and a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern, said web section adapted to fold a line of articulation between said web section and said platform portion to secure the object placed between said web section and said platform portion, said web section aligned to overlie said planar structure, said web section having an attachment portion adapted to secure said web section to at least one of said one or more side panels so as to hold the object placed between said platform portion and said web section, whereby the object is held securely in three-dimensions between said web section and said upper surface of said platform portion when said side portions are folded in a direction away from said web section along said lines of articulation forming the sides of the platform thereby tightening said web section to deform and generally conform to the shape of the portion of the article contracting the web section against the object between said web section and said platform portion; whereby the object is held securely between the web section and the upper surface of the platform portion when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web section along said lines of articulation forming the sides of said platform thereby tightening the web section to deform and generally conform to the shape of the portion of the article contracting the web section against the object between the web section and the platform portion.
27. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said web section is corrugate board or suitable semi rigid planar board material or in combination of suitable semi rigid planar board material.
28. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said web section is corrugate plastic.
29. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said web section is a film membrane.
30. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said platform portion is configured with a predefined tessellation pattern so as to hold the object when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion.
31. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said platform portion is configured with a predefined extensible pattern so as to be extended by the object when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion.
32. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said web section is configured in an overlap panel having a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern, said overlap panel being formed in said planar surface and said overlap panel having an attachment portion adapted to fold over said upper surface of said platform portion and to join said attachment portion to said panel opposite by folding said overlap portion or aligned to overlie said planar surface.
33. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least two nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern comprising: a. a first Node | 1 | having an approximate length dimension of 3 a slit width, b. a node width (NW) having an approximate dimension of 2 a slit width, c. a slit cross-leg length of approximately dimension of 2 plus (+) said slit width, d. a slit intermediary length of approximately dimension of 1, and e. a second node | 2 | in a pattern repeating.
34. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least three nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern.
35. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND formula of at least four nodes and a plurality of slits in a repeating pattern.
36. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said planar structure is corrugated board with said web portion being formed from corrugated board.
37. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said planar structure is corrugated plastic, corriboard, twin-wall plastic or other extruded twin-wall plastic-sheet products make-up to corrugated fiberboard with said web portion being formed from said corrugated plastic.
38. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said overlap panel comprising a film membrane having a web section in a predefined tessellation pattern.
39. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said film membrane is dense paper, semi rigid plastics, non-corrugate plastic, biodegradable paper, biodegradable plastics or any suitable semi flexible planar material.
40. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined flap pattern defining at least one side retention flap contiguous with said platform portion.
41. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined end brace pattern defining at least one end brace flap contiguous with said platform portion.
42. An article of packaging of claim 41, wherein said one or more side panels have a predefined end spacer pattern said at least one end spacing flap contiguous with said platform portion and said end brace flap.
43. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said one or more side panel(s) have a predefined line of articulation pattern to permit said one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position.
44. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member has a predefined line(s) of articulation pattern thereby creating compound joints and permitting said one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position.
45. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member is a tensioning packaging article.
46. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a container, box or enclosure.
47. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a clam-shell insert for a container, box or enclosure.
48. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is clam-shell insert formed contiguous with a container, box or enclosure.
49. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is a hammock container, box or enclosure.
50. An article of packaging of claim 26, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is an insert packaging article.
51. An article of packaging of claim 45, wherein said contiguous predefined pattern of said foldable member pattern is an insert packaging article whereby multiple insert packaging articles can be disposed in a container.
52. An article of packaging of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said planar structure is adapted with a friction coating laminate, application, or treatment functioning to improve friction and prevent slipping of the object.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified.
(2) For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will be made to the following Description of the Embodiments, which is to be read in association with the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations, wherein:
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DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(81) Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings
(82) The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
(83) Reference throughout this document to some embodiments, one embodiment, certain embodiments, and an embodiment or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
(84) The term or as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, A, B or C means any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
(85) The drawings featured in the figures are provided for the purposes of illustrating some embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term means preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or articles for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term means is not intended to be limiting.
(86) In the following detailed description, terms of orientation such as upper, lower, longitudinal, horizontal, vertical, lateral, midpoint and end are used herein to simplify the description in the context of the illustrated embodiments. Because other orientations are possible, however, the present invention should not be limited to the illustrated orientations. Additionally, the term suspension is not intended to require that anything, such as an article to be packaged, is suspended above anything. Rather, the term suspended as used herein, is only intended to reflect that such an article is held in a position spaced from another member, such as at least one of the walls of a container or box. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other orientations of various components described herein are possible.
(87) As used herein the term corrugated refers to a series of parallel ridges and furrows that can be incorporated into a material such as paper to manufacture corrugated board and containers therefrom. As used herein the term corrugated box is a container manufactured from the corrugated material. Paper-based corrugated materials consist essentially of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards as is widely used in the manufacture of corrugated boxes and shipping containers using flute lamination machines as well as double wall corrugated fiberboard as is advantageous in certain applications.
(88) In certain applications, corrugated plastic is desired, for example, performance under adverse weather conditions, where a product component can be exposed to harsh chemicals, where bacteria or other pathogens are a concern for medical applications, or where designs require that oils, solvents and water have no effect at regular temperatures. In these applications, corrugated plastic material is extruded in a twin-wall-plastic-sheet with a similar make-up to corrugated fiberboard can be used to form the container.
(89) For the purpose of the present invention, the term container and the term box are used interchangeably, and are inclusive of other materials that can be sourced to make the structure referred container individually or incorporated in the disclosed inventions design as a structure constituting at least six side walls that effectively encompasses object(s) secured within and packaging structures within said walls from the outside world.
(90) For the purpose of the present invention, the terms assemble and assembled are used interchangeably and mean a fully constructed packaging structure that has been manipulated to its final form from its starting form present to the user after constructed in the manufacturing process.
(91) For the purpose of the present invention, the term user refers to the person directly or indirectly through fixtures of mechanisms manipulates the portions and features of a packaging structure to secure an object within said packaging structure for shipment from its presented state prior to assembly to completely assemble.
(92) For the purpose of the present invention, the term constructed refers to the complete manufactured state of a packaging structure as it would be presented to a user and prior to be assembled.
(93) For the purpose of the present invention, the term retention style packaging structure refers to a form of the present invention that retains an object against a semi-rigid planar surface with an expandable web mesh of the same or similar material.
(94) For the purpose of the present invention, the term integrated container style packaging structure refers to a version of the disclosed novel technology that incorporates the a container into the disclosed features where the packaging structure is composed and constructed of one or more components all constituting the embodiment of the disclosed technology wholly referred to as Packaging Structure(s).
(95) For the purpose of the present invention, the term double sided suspension style packaging structure or suspension style is used interchangeably to describe the method and designs of the disclosed Packaging Structure technology of encapsulating one or more objects between one or more webs so as to effectively suspend in a void of space. For the purpose of the present invention, the term web refers to any arrangement of slits and patterns of slits made in a semi rigid planar structure in such a way that allows the semi rigid planar material to expand, travel or stretch in one or more directions.
(96) For the purpose of the present invention, the term tessellation or tessellation pattern is used interchangeably to describe the method and designs of the disclosed Packaging Structure technology of tiling in the plane of the slits, cuts, perforations, scores, creases and folds of the web section using one or more geometric shapes, called tiles, with no overlaps and no gaps. Such tessellation pattern allows of the web section of corrugate board, plastic or plastic film to expand in three-dimensions when encapsulating and holding one or more objects. The object is held securely in three-dimensions between the web section and the upper surface of the platform portion when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web section thereby tightening the web section against the object between the web section and the platform portion.
(97) For the purpose of the present invention, the term Rose Line refers to a score line or predefined fold line feature that allows a portion of the packaging structure underneath to articulate in such a way as to create a temporary cavity to insert and place an object within the packaging structure to be secured. As is defined for purposes of the present invention, line of articulation or lines of articulation are fold lines, scores, perforations, removal of material that may be formed as a line to fold, bend, crease or articulate upon. For example, predefined score line may be formed by small-cuts, scores, or perforations in the planar structure of the foldable member forming the material of the corrugated board. A predefined crease line may be formed by crushing portions of the material forming the planar structure of the foldable member, for example, crushing the material of the corrugated board along a line for folding. Designing fold lines, of course, are chosen depending on the material used to construct the foldable member, appropriateness to the mechanical connection, allowing folding portions to be folded, rotated or to form compound joints permitting one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position. Moreover, according to the concepts of the present invention, predefined scoring pattern on a side panel adjacent the platform portion one or more side panels to be moved relative to the platform portion from an unfolded position to a folded position. Specifically, after joining an attachment portion of the overlap panel to the side panel opposite, the side panels cooperate to tension a web section of the overlap panel by folding the side panels along the fold lines. In this manner, the object is held securely between the web section and the upper surface of the platform portion when the side portions are folded in a direction away from the web portion thereby tightening the web portion against the object between the web section and the platform portion. The line of articulation can be incorporated as a slits or cut outs to secure objects. These concepts and considerations apply to lines of articulation, score, crease or fold lines throughout this description.
(98) Referring to
(99) Generally the article has a predefined pattern 104, whether a box or an insert with slots and lines of articulation. The insert 101 of
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(101) The web 120 also includes a support frame 121 which can be used when affixing or securing, for example, by adhesives to the side retention flap 114 or other panel 113. An attachment portion 122, as is shown in
(102) The pattern of lines of articulation 130 can be designed in patterns to create folds, compound joints and other features using creases 131, scores 132, perforations, cut outs 133, whenever a flap or panel 113 is needed to articulate on two planes. A predetermined pattern of lines of articulation 130 allow for a multitude of designs for the article 100 of the present invention.
(103) According to the present invention, insert packaging 101, made from either a single contiguous planar member or from sub-parts, can be formed according to the present invention, as is illustrated in
(104) Similarly, boxes and container packaging 102 made from either a single contiguous planar member in a predefined pattern 104 of a box shape 105 can be formed according to the present invention as is shown in
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Example: 1
(107) A predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND two-node format, as follows:
(108) ##STR00001##
Where the cross leg length C=2.75 inches; the leg thickness D=0.25; the node length NL=0.75 and the node width NL=0.50, and repeats by arranging Node 1 and Node 2 in a staggered offset.
Example 2
(109) A predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND three-node format, as follows:
(110) ##STR00002##
Where the cross leg length C=3.0 inches; the leg thickness D=0.25; the node length NL=0.75 and the node width NL=0.50, and repeats by arranging Node 1, Node 2 and Node 3 are in a staggered offset.
Example 3
(111) A predefined tessellation pattern of said web portion has HEXPAND four-node format, as follows:
(112) ##STR00003##
Where the cross leg length C=3.0 inches; the leg thickness D=0.25; the node length NL=0.75 and the node width NL=0.50, and repeats by arranging Node 1, Node 2, Node 3 and Node 4 are in a staggered offset.
(113) The packaging article 100 can be manufactured by die-cutting or other methods of manufacturing corrugate board inserts and boxes to form either an insert 101 or container 102. The method of manufacturing comprising the steps of cutting semi rigid planar material to an outline of the box or container, herein a predefined insert shape to adapted to be received into a container or predefine container pattern. Manufacturing by die-cutting can cut, slot and form lines of articulation in the semi rigid planar material during the stamping process. A predefined slot design provides flaps to retain the object at an intermediate position within said container. The die can create predefined lines of articulation in the semi rigid planar material to provide control bending of said semi rigid material. And the die can cut a predefined web pattern, herein a tessellation pattern or Hexpand into the predefined insert shape, the platform or in the overlap portion of the container containing the predefined web pattern. Slits and or removing material create the predefined tessellation pattern on at least one surface of corrugate board. In another step, adhesives or other securing of the attachment portion 122 to the side retention flap 114 for example can be performed. The previous step of forming a predefined line of articulation to arrange said predefined web pattern allows the overlap to be folded over, which can be scoring, slotting, flattening, perforating and cutting steps and can be accomplished substantially simultaneously. In the manufacturing process, the web 120 can be flattened by the pressed and die-cutting, which advantageously provides release to the predefined web pattern for expansion. The predefined lines of articulation can be made by die-cutting as well as also offset cam rolling, continuous and or progressive stamping.
(114) While certain configurations of structures have been illustrated for the purposes of presenting the basic structures of the present invention, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other variations are possible which would still fall within the scope of the appended claims. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.