PACKAGING CUSHION MATERIAL, PACKAGING MATERIAL, AND PACKAGED ARTICLE

Abstract

A packaging cushion material, to be housed in a box body together with an article, includes a holder portion adapted to accommodate the article, a holder support portion adapted to support the holder portion, and a hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other. The holder portion, the holder support portion, and the hinge portion are integrally molded as one component. When the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion supports the holder portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween such that the holder portion is displaceable.

Claims

1. A packaging cushion material to be housed in a box body together with an article, the packaging cushion material comprising: a holder portion adapted to accommodate the article; a holder support portion adapted to support the holder portion; and a hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other, wherein the holder portion, the holder support portion, and the hinge portion are integrally molded as one component, and when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion supports the holder portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween such that the holder portion is displaceable.

2. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder is supported by the holder support portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween so as to be displaceable in a first direction, and when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion faces the holder portion at a portion of the holder support portion in one side in the first direction and is in contact with the box body at a portion of the holder support portion in the other side in the first direction.

3. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein the holder portion includes a cylindrical portion opened in the first direction and adapted to accommodate the article, and a flange portion extending outward from an opening end of the cylindrical portion, and the hinge portion connects the flange portion of the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other.

4. The packaging cushion material according to claim 3, wherein the holder support portion includes a first facing surface adapted to face a bottom portion and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the holder portion, when the hinge portion is folded.

5. The packaging cushion material according to claim 3, wherein the holder support portion includes a second facing surface adapted to face the flange portion of the holder portion when the hinge portion is folded, and one of the flange portion and the second facing surface is provided with a protruding portion protruding toward the other.

6. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is foldable by 90 degrees.

7. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion has a band shape having a C-shaped cross section.

8. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein the holder support portion includes a first holder support portion and a second holder support portion, the hinge portion includes a first hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the first holder support portion to each other, and a second hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the second holder support portion to each other, and the first holder support portion and the second holder support portion face each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction, when viewed in the first direction.

9. The packaging cushion material according to claim 1, wherein the packaging cushion material comprises a pulp molded body.

10. A packaging material comprising: a box body; and the packaging cushion material according to claim 1.

11. A packaged article comprising: an article; the packaging cushion material according to claim 1; and a box body adapted to house the article and the packaging cushion material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaged article including a packaging cushion material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 2A is an upper perspective view of the packaging cushion material in a housed state;

[0021] FIG. 2B is an upper perspective view of the packaging cushion material in a developed state;

[0022] FIG. 3A is a lower perspective view of the packaging cushion material in the housed state;

[0023] FIG. 3B is a lower perspective view of the packaging cushion material in the developed state;

[0024] FIG. 4A is a front view of the packaging cushion material in the housed state;

[0025] FIG. 4B is a front view of the packaging cushion material in the developed state;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of the packaging cushion material;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the packaging cushion material;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging cushion material in a state of being housed in a box body together with an article;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining a hinge portion functioning as a damper;

[0030] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging cushion material according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0031] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging cushion material according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, unnecessarily detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters and redundant descriptions of substantially the same structures may be omitted. This is for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary redundancy of the following description for enabling those skilled in the art to easily understand the following description.

[0033] Note that the inventor(s) provides the accompanying drawings and the following description in order for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and does not intend to limit the subject matter described in the claims by the accompanying drawings and the following description.

[0034] Hereinafter, a packaging cushion material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaged article including a packaging cushion material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that there is illustrated an X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system in the drawings, for facilitating understanding of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and not for limiting the embodiment of the present disclosure. The X-axis direction is a depth-wise direction of the packaging cushion material, the Y-axis direction is a width-wise direction thereof, and the Z-axis direction is a height-wise direction thereof.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a packaged article 10 according to the present embodiment includes an article 20, and a box body 30 that houses the article 20. In the present embodiment, the article 20 is an article with a substantially cylindrical shape, such as a lens of a camera, for example. The box body 30 is made of, for example, a paper material, and is a rectangular-parallelepiped box body having a size capable of housing the entire article 20.

[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in order to suppress displacement of the article 20 in the box body 30, and in order to suppress propagation of an impact to the article 20 in the event of application of an impact of dropping or the like to the box body 30, a packaging cushion material 40 is housed in the box body 30. Namely, the box body 30 and the packaging cushion material 40 form packaging materials for packaging the article 20.

[0038] FIGS. 2A and 2B are upper perspective views of the packaging cushion material in a housed state and a developed state, respectively. FIGS. 3A and 3B are lower perspective views of the packaging cushion material in the housed state and the developed state, respectively. Further, FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of the packaging cushion material in the housed state and the developed state, respectively. Furthermore, FIGS. 5 to 6 are a top view and a bottom view of the packaging cushion material, respectively. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging cushion material in a state of being housed in the box body together with the article, illustrating a cross section taken along a line A-A illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 3B, the packaging cushion material 40 is deformable into the housed state illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A, and the developed state illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3B. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the housed state is a state where the packaging cushion material 40 is housed in the box body 30. The developed state is a state where the packaging cushion material 40 is outside the box body 30.

[0040] The packaging cushion material 40 is made of a deformable material, in order to be deformed into the housed or developed state. In the present embodiment, the packaging cushion material 40 is a molded pulp body. The pulp molded body is a molded body formed by dissolving waste paper in water to prepare a pulp material, dehydrating the pulp material while molding the pulp material with a mold, and drying the molded pulp material. Since the pulp molded body is formed from waste paper and water and does not contain an adhesive agent or the like, the pulp molded body generates no toxic gas during incineration, thereby inducing less environmental loads.

[0041] The packaging cushion material 40 includes a holder portion 42 for accommodating the article 20, holder support portions 44 and 46 for supporting the holder portion 42, and hinge portions 48 and 50 connecting the holder portion 42 and the holder support portions 44 and 46 to each other. In the present embodiment, since the packaging cushion material 40 is a pulp molded body, the holder portion 42, the holder support portions 44 and 46, and the hinge portions 48 and 50 are integrally molded as one component.

[0042] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, the holder portion 42 in the packaging cushion material 40 is configured to accommodate the article 20. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the holder portion 42 includes a bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a opened in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction) and adapted to accommodate and hold a portion of the article 20, and a flange portion 42b extending outward from an opening end of the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a. The bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a may be provided with an opening in its bottom portion 42c, provided that the article 20 can not pass therethrough.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a in the holder portion 42 holds the article 20 in the depth-wise direction (X-axis direction) and the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction), while supporting one end of the article 20 in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). Namely, the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a has such a shape as to allow the article 20 to be detachably fitted therein in the height-wise direction. In the present embodiment, the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a also has a substantially cylindrical shape, in order to conform to the article 20 having a cylindrical shape.

[0044] The flange portion 42b in the holder portion 42 extends in the depth-wise direction (X-axis direction) and in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction) from an opening end of the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the flange portion 42b has a substantially square shape when viewed in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). The hinge portions 48 and 50 are connected, at their one ends, to the respective both ends of the flange portion 42b in the width-wise direction.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the holder support portions 44 and 46 in the packaging cushion material 40 support the holder portion 42 with the hinge portions 48 and 50 interposed therebetween. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the holder support portions 44, 46 each have a substantially L shape when viewed in the depth-wise direction (X-axis direction). The holder support portions 44 and 46 are connected to the other ends of the hinge portions 48 and 50, respectively.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the holder support portions 44 and 46 face each other in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction), when viewed in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction).

[0047] The hinge portions 48, 50 connect the holder portion 42 and the holder support portions 44, 46 to each other, as illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3B, and 4B. The hinge portion 48 connects the holder portion 42 and the holder support portion 44 to each other, such that the holder support portion 44 can be changed in position and posture with respect to the holder portion 42. Further, the hinge portion 50 connects the holder portion 42 and the holder support portion 46 to each other, such that the holder support portion 46 can be changed in position and posture with respect to the holder portion 42. Namely, the hinge portions 48 and 50 are reversibly foldable and deformable portions in the packaging cushion material 40.

[0048] These hinge portions 48, 50 allow the packaging cushion material 40 to be in the housed state illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 4A, and the developed state illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3B, and 4B. Specifically, when the hinge portions 48 and 50 are folded, the packaging cushion material 40 is in the housed state where the holder support portions 44 and 46 face the holder portion 42 in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). When the hinge portions 48 and 50 are developed, the packaging cushion material 40 is in the developed state where the holder support portions 44 and 46 face the holder portion 42 in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction).

[0049] In the present embodiment, the hinge portions 48 and 50 have a band shape extending in the depth-wise direction (X-axis direction) and having a C-shaped cross section, as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 3B. With this shape, the hinge portions 48 and 50 are folded along a straight line extending in the depth-wise direction. In the present embodiment, the hinge portions 48 and 50 are folded by about 90 degrees, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0050] When the packaging cushion material 40 is housed in the box body 30 with the hinge portions 48 and 50 folded, the holder support portions 44 and 46 are disposed at such positions as to face the holder portion 42 in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction), as illustrated in FIG. 7. Specifically, the holder support portions 44 and 46 support the holder portion 42 with the hinge portions 48 and 50 interposed therebetween so as to allow the holder portion 42 to displace in the height-wise direction, while facing the holder portion 42, at their portions in one side in the height-wise direction. At the same time, the holder support portions 44 and 46 are in contact with the box body 30 at their portions in the other side in the height-wise direction. In the present embodiment, the holder support portions 44 and 46 are disposed under the holder portion 42, are seated on a bottom portion 30a of the box body 30, and are in contact with an inner wall portion 30b of the box body 30.

[0051] In the present embodiment, when the packaging cushion material 40 is in the housed state and, also, the article 20 is not accommodated in the holder portion 42 (or the article 20 has a light weight), the holder support portions 44 and 46 are not in direct contact with the holder portion 42. In FIG. 4A, the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a in the holder portion 42 partially overlaps with the holder support portions 44 and 46. However, in actual, the portion of the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a which overlaps therewith is not in contact with the holder support portions 44 and 46 due to escape portions 44a and 46a provided in the holder support portions 44 and 46, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

[0052] On the other hand, when the article 20 has a heavy weight, the holder portion 42 warps and comes into contact with the holder support portions 44 and 46. Namely, the holder support portions 44 and 46 come into direct contact with the holder portion 42 accommodating the article 20 with the heavy weight to support the holder portion 42. This suppresses excessive displacement of the holder portion 42 accommodating the article 20 with the heavy weight, thereby suppressing breakage of the holder portion 42.

[0053] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the holder support portions 44 and 46 include first facing surfaces 44b and 46b that face the bottom portion 42c and an outer peripheral surface 42d of the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a in the holder portion 42 when the hinge portions 48 and 50 are folded. The first facing surfaces 44b and 46b include a portion that faces the bottom portion 42c in the height direction (Z-axis direction), and a portion that faces the outer peripheral surface 42d in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the holder support portions 44, 46 include second facing surfaces 44c, 46c that face the flange portion 42b of holder portion 42 in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0055] Further, the flange portion 42b in the holder portion 42 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions 42e protruding toward the holder support portions 44 and 46, in its portions that face the second facing surfaces 44c and 46c in the holder support portions 44 and 46, when the hinge portions 48 and 50 are folded. As illustrated in FIG. 6, four protruding portions 42e are provided on the flange portion 42b so as to surround the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a when viewed in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction).

[0056] If the holder portion 42 warps since the article 20 has a heavy weight, the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a in the holder portion 42 comes into contact with the first facing surfaces 44b and 46b of the holder support portions 44 and 46 to be supported thereby. Further, if the holder portion 42 warps, the plurality of protruding portions 42e provided on the flange portion 42b in the holder portion 42 comes into contact with the second facing surfaces 44c and 46c in the holder support portions 44 and 46. This suppresses excessive displacement of the holder portion 42, thereby suppressing the occurrence of breakage of the holder portion 42, such as tear at the portion of connection between the bottom-closed cylindrical portion 42a and the flange portion 42b, for example.

[0057] When there is a small distance between the flange portion 42b of the holder portion 42 and the second facing surfaces 44c and 46c of the holder support portions 44 and 46, the plurality of protruding portions 42e can be omitted. In this case, the flange portion 42b comes into direct contact with the second facing surfaces 44c and 46c, thereby suppressing excessive displacement of the holder portion 42. Also, a plurality of protruding portions may be provided on the second facing surfaces 44c and 46c of the holder support portions 44 and 46, instead of on the flange portion 42b, so as to protrude toward the flange portion 42b.

[0058] This packaging cushion material 40 inhibits an impact applied to the box body 30 substantially in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction) (an impact having a component in the height-wise direction) from propagating to the article 20 accommodated in the holder portion 42.

[0059] Specifically, an impact in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction) propagates from the box body 30 to the holder support portions 44 and 46 in the packaging cushion material 40, which are in contact with the box body 30. The impact is inhibited from directly propagating from the box body 30 to the holder portion 42, since the holder support portions 44 and 46 exist between the box body 30 and the holder portion 42, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0060] Further, the hinge portions 48 and 50 inhibit vibrations from propagating from the holder support portions 44 and 46 to the holder portion 42. Specifically, the holder portion 42 and the holder support portions 44 and 46 are not directly secured to each other. Namely, the holder portion 42 is connected to the holder support portions 44 and 46 with the hinge portions 48 and 50 interposed therebetween so as to be displaceable in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). Therefore, since the holder portion 42 is displaced in the height-wise direction with respect to the holder support portions 44 and 46, vibrations propagating from the holder support portion 44 and 46 to the holder portion 42 can be absorbed thereby. This can attenuate an impact propagating to the article 20 accommodated in the holder portion 42.

[0061] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the hinge portions 48 and 50 function as dampers for attenuating vibrations propagating from the holder support portions 44 and 46 to the holder portion 42.

[0062] FIG. 8 is a schematic view for explaining the hinge portions that function as dampers. Incidentally, since the hinge portions 48 and 50 are substantially the same, there will be described the reason why the hinge portion 48 functions as a damper.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 8, if an impact Fz propagates to the hinge portion 48 in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction) through the holder support portion 44 (namely, if the holder support portion 44 is displaced in the height-wise direction) when the hinge portion 48 is folded, the hinge portion 48 itself is compressed and deformed in the height-wise direction. Accordingly, at least a portion of the impact energy is used for the deformation of the hinge portion 48. This results in suppression of propagation of the impact from the holder support portion 44 to the holder portion 42.

[0064] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the hinge portion 48 can also function as a damper for absorbing an impact in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction), in addition to functioning as a damper for absorbing an impact in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). If an impact Fy is applied to the box body 30 in the width-wise direction, the holder support portion 44 being in contact with the box body 30 is displaced in the width-wise direction. This causes the hinge portion 48 to be compressed and deformed in the width-wise direction, thereby suppressing propagation of the impact from the holder support portion 44 to the holder portion 42.

[0065] Namely, in the present embodiment, the article 20 being held by the packaging cushion material 40 is in a state of being supported by the box body 30 with the dampers interposed therebetween in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction) and in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction).

[0066] Further, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in addition to the packaging cushion material 40 for accommodating and holding one end of the article 20 in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction), the packaged article 10 includes a packaging cushion material 60 for accommodating and holding the other end of the article 20 in the height-wise direction. The packaging cushion material 60 may be the same as the packaging cushion material 40. Further, unlike the packaging cushion material 40, the packaging cushion material 60 may be a component for holding the article 20 such that the article 20 is undisplaceable, such as a cap made of a cardboard sheet, for example.

[0067] According to the present embodiment described above, when the article 20 and the packaging cushion material 40 are housed in the box body 30, it is possible to suppress impacts transmitted to the article 20.

[0068] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the aforementioned embodiment, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0069] For example, in the case of the packaging cushion material 40 according to the aforementioned embodiment, the two holder support portions 44 and 46 are connected to the holder portion 42 with the hinge portions 48 and 50 interposed therebetween. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0070] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging cushion material according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging cushion material according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a packaging cushion material 140 according to another embodiment includes one holder support portion 144 with a substantially L shape, which is connected to a flange portion 142b of a holder portion 142 for accommodating an article 20, with a hinge portion 148 interposed therebetween. The holder support portion 144 supports a bottom-closed cylindrical portion 142a of the holder portion 142 accommodating the article 20.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 10, a packaging cushion material 240 according to still another embodiment includes four holder support portions 244, 246, 252, and 254 with a substantially L shape, which are connected to a rectangular-shaped flange portion 242b of a holder portion 242 for accommodating an article 20, with respective hinge portions 248, 250, 256, and 258 interposed therebetween. The holder support portions 244 and 246 face each other in the width-wise direction (Y-axis direction), and the holder support portions 252 and 254 face each other in the depth-wise direction (X-axis direction). The four holder support portions 244, 246, 252, and 254 support a bottom-closed cylindrical portion 242a of the holder portion 242 accommodating the article 20.

[0073] In the aforementioned embodiments, the packaging cushion material 40 is a pulp molded body. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. The packaging cushion member is required only to be made of a deformable material in order to constitute the hinge portions. For example, the packaging cushion material may be made of a plastic material.

[0074] Furthermore, in the aforementioned embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 4A, the hinge portions 48 and 50 have a band shape having a C-shaped cross section. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the hinge portions may be thin portions constituted by grooves formed in the surface of a portion of a plate-shaped packaging cushion material.

[0075] Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the packaging cushion material 40 is disposed under the article 20 extending in the height-wise direction (Z-axis direction). However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, when the article is housed in a state of being horizontally laid in the box body, the packaging cushion material may be housed in the box body so as to be aligned with the component in the horizontal direction.

[0076] Namely, a packaging cushion material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a packaging cushion material to be housed in a box body together with an article, in a broad sense, in which the packaging cushion material includes: a holder portion for accommodating the article; a holder support portion for supporting the holder portion; and a hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other, the holder portion, the holder support portion, and the hinge portion are integrally molded as one component, and when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion supports the holder portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween such that the holder portion is displaceable.

[0077] Further, a packaging material according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes, in a broad sense, a box body and a packaging cushion material housed in the box body together with an article, in which the packaging cushion material includes: a holder portion for accommodating the article; a holder support portion for supporting the holder portion; and a hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other, the holder portion, the holder support portion, and the hinge portion are integrally molded as one component, and when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion supports the holder portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween such that the holder portion is displaceable.

[0078] Furthermore, a packaged article according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure includes, in a broad sense, an article, a packaging cushion material for holding the article, and a box body for housing the article and the packaging cushion material, in which the packaging cushion material includes: a holder portion for accommodating the article; a holder support portion for supporting the holder portion; and a hinge portion connecting the holder portion and the holder support portion to each other, the holder portion, the holder support portion, and the hinge portion are integrally molded as one component, and when the packaging cushion material is housed in the box body in a state where the hinge portion is folded, the holder support portion supports the holder portion with the hinge portion interposed therebetween such that the holder portion is displaceable.

[0079] As described above, the aforementioned embodiments have been described as examples of the techniques according to the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions have been provided therefor. Therefore, the constituents described in the drawings and the detailed descriptions may include not only essential constituents for solving the problem but also constituents unessential for solving the problem, for the purpose of illustration of the aforementioned techniques. Thus, such unessential constituents should not be immediately recognized as being essential on the ground that those unessential constituents are described in the drawings or in the detailed descriptions.

[0080] Furthermore, since the aforementioned embodiments are intended to illustrate the techniques according to the present disclosure, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like can be made thereto within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereto.

[0081] The present disclosure is applicable to housing a packaging cushion material in a box body together with an article.