Abstract
A cushioning material includes: a flat surface section flatly placed on the product; a side surface section provided on a side surface of the flat surface section; and a connecting section that connects the flat surface section and the side surface section in a separated state.
Claims
1. A cushioning material to be placed on a top surface or a bottom surface of a product to protect the product, the cushioning material comprising: a flat surface section flatly placed on the product; a side surface section provided on a side surface of the flat surface section; and a connecting section that connects the flat surface section and the side surface section in a separated state.
2. The cushioning material according to claim 1, wherein the connecting section has a U shape with right-angled corners having an open top.
3. The cushioning material according to claim 1, wherein the connecting section includes an overlapping section that is folded into at least two along a surface direction of the flat surface section.
4. The cushioning material according to claim 1, wherein the connecting section includes a mat board that rises in a vertical direction.
5. A cushioning material to be placed on a top surface or a bottom surface of a product to protect the product, the cushioning material comprising: a flat surface section flatly placed on the product; and a side surface section provided on a side surface of the flat surface section, wherein a gluing section at a boundary between the flat surface section and the side surface section is located at a position shifted from a contact portion with which an edge of the product comes in contact.
6. The cushioning material according to claim 5, wherein the flat surface section and the side surface section are glued in such a manner that the edge comes into contact with the side surface section.
7. The cushioning material according to claim 5, wherein the side surface section has a hollow section, and the flat surface section and the side surface section are glued in such a manner that the edge comes into contact with the hollow section.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The advantages and features provided by one or more embodiments of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the appended drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a state in which a cushioning material according to an embodiment of the present invention protects a product;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a back perspective view illustrating a state in which the cushioning material according to the embodiment of the present invention protects the product;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a state in which a cushioning material according to a comparative example of a first embodiment protects a product;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which a force is applied to the cushioning material according to the comparative example when the product inclines during transportation;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to the first embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material according to the first embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a first modification example of the first embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material according to the first modification example of the first embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a second modification example of the first embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material according to the second modification example of the first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a comparative example of the first embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a second embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a part A in FIG. 12;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material according to the second embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a comparative example of the second embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view illustrating a part A in FIG. 15;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating a cushioning material according to a comparative example of the second embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a first modification example of the second embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a front perspective view illustrating a cushioning material according to a comparative example of the first modification example of the second embodiment; and
[0037] FIG. 20 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material according to the comparative example of the first modification example of the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
First Embodiment
[0038] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to FIG. 6. Note that in the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference signs, and redundant descriptions are omitted. The dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description and may be different from actual ratios.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a state in which a cushioning material 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention protects a product 90. FIG. 2 is a back perspective view illustrating a state in which the cushioning material 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention protects the product. FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a state in which a cushioning material 910 according to a comparative example protects the product 90. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a state in which a force is applied to the cushioning material 910 according to the comparative example when the product inclines during transportation. FIG. 5 is a front perspective view illustrating the cushioning material 10 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the cushioning material 10 according to the first embodiment.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cushioning material 10 according to the first embodiment is to be placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 to protect the product 90. As described later, a cushioning material 20 according to a second embodiment is to be placed on the top surface of the product 90 to protect the product 90. The product 90 protected by the cushioning materials 10 and 20 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a printing machine.
[0041] In the following description, when the product 90 is viewed from front (the state illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and the like), the horizontal direction is referred to as a X direction, the depth direction is referred to as a Y direction, and the height direction is referred to as a Z direction.
[0042] The configuration of the cushioning material 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the cushioning material 10 is placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 to protect the product 90.
[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cushioning material 10 includes a flat surface section 11 flatly placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 (XY plane), a side surface section 12 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 11 along the Z direction, and a connecting section 13 that connects the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 in a separated state.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the flat surface section 11 has a layered configuration in the X direction when viewed from front. Note that the configuration of the flat surface section 11 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the side surface section 12 has a layered configuration in the X direction when viewed from front. Note that the configuration of the side surface section 12 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
[0046] In the first embodiment, the connecting section 13 has a U shape with right-angled corners with its top open as illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Note that the connecting section 13 may have a U shape.
[0047] Here, the configuration of a cushioning material 910 according to a comparative example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 11. Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 11, a mechanism will be described of causing peeling at the boundary between a flat surface section 11 and a side surface section 12 of the cushioning material 910 according to the comparative example due to a force applied to the cushioning material 910 when the product 90 inclines with an impact applied to the side surface of the product 90 during transportation.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 11, the cushioning material 910 according to the comparative example includes a flat surface section 11 flatly placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 (XY plane), and a side surface section 12 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 11 along the Z direction. In the cushioning material 910 according to the comparative example, the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 are fixed to each other by gluing so as to be adjacent to each other without being separated from each other as illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0049] When the product 90 is inclined as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4 with respect to the cushioning material 910 configured as described above, peeling occurs at the boundary between the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12.
[0050] In contrast, the cushioning material 10 according to the first embodiment is configured such that the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 are connected in a U shape with right-angled corners with a space therebetween. Therefore, when the product 90 inclines (see an arrow in FIG. 6), the side surface section 12 inclines and the space at the connecting section 13 functions as a clearance, which can prevent an occurrence of peeling at the boundary between the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12.
Cushioning Material 110 According to First Modification Example of First Embodiment
[0051] Next, the configuration of a cushioning material 110 according to a first modification example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the cushioning material 110 is placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 to protect the product 90.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the cushioning material 110 includes a flat surface section 11 flatly placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 (XY plane), a side surface section 12 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 11 along the Z direction, and a connecting section 113 that connects the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 in a separated state. The flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 have the same configuration as the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 of the cushioning material 10 according to the above-described first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
[0053] In the first modification example of the first embodiment, the connecting section 113 includes an overlapping section 114 that is folded into two along the surface direction of the flat surface section 11 (horizontal direction in FIG. 8) as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The right end face of the overlapping section 114 is glued and fixed to the left end face of the flat surface section 11, and the left end face of the overlapping section 114 is glued and fixed to the right end face of the side surface section 12. Due to the configuration in which the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 are connected with a space therebetween with the overlapping section 114, when the product 90 inclines (see an arrow in FIG. 8), the side surface section 12 inclines and the overlapping section 114 functions as a clearance, whereby peeling between the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 can be prevented.
Cushioning Material 210 According to Second Modification Example of First Embodiment
[0054] Next, the configuration of a cushioning material 210 according to a second modification example of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. As illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the cushioning material 210 is placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 to protect the product 90.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the cushioning material 210 includes a flat surface section 11 flatly placed on the bottom surface of the product 90 (XY plane), a side surface section 12 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 11 along the Z direction, and a connecting section 213 that connects the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 in a separated state. The flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 have the same configuration as the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 of the cushioning material 10 according to the above-described first embodiment, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.
[0056] In the second modification example of the first embodiment, the connecting section 213 includes a first extending section 214 and a second extending section 215 which are configured in an L shape when viewed in the Z direction, and a mat board 216 which is fixed to the first extending section 214 and rises in the Z direction, as illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. According to this configuration, the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 are separated from each other by using the first extending section 214 and the mat board 216, and thus an allowance for twisting of the mat board 216 is created, with the result that peeling at the boundary between the flat surface section 11 and the side surface section 12 can be prevented.
Cushioning Material 20 According to Second Embodiment
[0057] Next, the configuration of a cushioning material 20 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, FIG. 2, and FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14, the cushioning material 20 according to the second embodiment is placed on the top surface of a product 90 to protect the product 90.
[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14, the cushioning material 20 includes a flat surface section 21 flatly placed on the top surface of the product 90 (XY plane), and a side surface section 22 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 21 along the Z direction.
[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14, the flat surface section 21 has a layered configuration in the Z direction when viewed from front. Note that the configuration of the flat surface section 21 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
[0060] As illustrated in FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14, the side surface section 22 has a layered configuration in the X direction when viewed from front. Note that the configuration of the side surface section 22 is not limited to the above-described configuration.
[0061] In the cushioning material 20 according to the second embodiment, a gluing section 23 at the boundary between the flat surface section 21 and the side surface section 22 is formed at a position shifted in the Z direction (more specifically, a position shifted upward in the Z direction) from a contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact as illustrated in FIGS. 12 to FIG. 14.
[0062] Here, the configuration of a cushioning material 920 according to a comparative example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 15 to FIG. 17. In addition, with reference to FIGS. 3, FIG. 4, and FIGS. 15 to 17, a mechanism will be described of causing peeling at a boundary 923 between a flat surface section 921 and a side surface section 922 of the cushioning material 920 according to the comparative example due to a force applied to the cushioning material 920 when the product 90 inclines with an impact applied to the side surface of the product 90 during transportation.
[0063] As illustrated in FIGS. 15 to FIG. 17, the cushioning material 920 according to the comparative example of the second embodiment includes the flat surface section 921 flatly placed on the top surface of the product 90 (XY plane), and the side surface section 922 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 921 along the Z direction. In the cushioning material 920 according to the comparative example, the boundary 923 between the flat surface section 921 and the side surface section 922 is located at a position substantially coinciding with the contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact as illustrated in FIGS. 15 to FIG. 17. Therefore, the contact portion P comes into contact with the boundary 923, and the flat surface section 921 and the side surface section 922 may be peeled off due to pressure. Further, the side surface section 922 may shrink as a whole to increase the gap between the product 90 and the side surface section 922 as illustrated in FIG. 17.
[0064] In contrast, in the cushioning material 20 according to the second embodiment, the gluing section 23 at the boundary between the flat surface section 21 and the side surface section 22 is formed at a position shifted in the Z direction (more specifically, a position shifted upward in the Z direction) from the contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact. Therefore, when the product 90 inclines (see an arrow in FIG. 14), the contact portion P of the product 90 contacts the side surface section 22 of the cushioning material 20. For this reason, peeling between the flat surface section 21 and the side surface section 22 can be prevented. In addition, since an amount of the gluing section increases, it is possible to increase resistance to peeling. As described above, the gap between the product 90 and the side surface section 22 after the impact can be kept small, and the orientation of the product 90 can be held.
Cushioning Material 120 According to First Modification Example of Second Embodiment
[0065] Next, the configuration of a cushioning material 120 according to a first modification example of the second embodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the cushioning material 120 according to the first modification example of the second embodiment includes a flat surface section 121 flatly placed on the top surface of the product 90 (XY plane), and a side surface section 122 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 121 along the Z direction. The flat surface section 121 has a layered configuration in the Z direction when viewed from front. The side surface section 122 has a cylindrical shape.
[0066] A gluing section 123 at the boundary between the flat surface section 121 and the side surface section 122 is formed at a position shifted in the Z direction (more specifically, a position shifted upward in the Z direction) from a contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact as illustrated in FIG. 18.
[0067] Here, the configuration of a cushioning material 820 according to a comparative example of the first modification example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20.
[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the cushioning material 820 according to the comparative example of the first modification example of the second embodiment includes a flat surface section 821 flatly placed on the top surface of the product 90 (XY plane), and a side surface section 822 provided on a side surface of the flat surface section 821 along the Z direction. The flat surface section 821 has a layered configuration in the Z direction when viewed from front. The side surface section 822 has a cylindrical shape. In the cushioning material 820 according to the comparative example, a boundary 823 between the flat surface section 821 and the side surface section 822 is located at a position substantially coinciding with the contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact as illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20. Therefore, the contact portion P comes into contact with the boundary 823, and thus, the flat surface section 821 and the side surface section 822 may be peeled off due to pressure. When the flat surface section 821 and the side surface section 822 are peeled off, the side surface section 822 is deformed into a diamond shape as illustrated in FIG. 20, so that the cushioning property is lowered.
[0069] In contrast, in the cushioning material 120 according to the first modification example of the second embodiment, the gluing section 123 at the boundary between the flat surface section 121 and the side surface section 122 is formed at a position shifted in the Z direction (more specifically, a position shifted upward in the Z direction) from the contact portion P with which the edge of the product 90 comes into contact. Therefore, when the product 90 inclines, the contact portion P of the product 90 contacts the side surface section 122 of the cushioning material 120. As a result, the center of the side surface section 122 is deformed, and the gluing section is hardly deformed. Accordingly, peeling between the flat surface section 121 and the side surface section 122 can be prevented.
[0070] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
[0071] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the disclosed embodiments are made for purposes of illustration and example only and not limitation. The scope of the present invention should be interpreted by terms of the appended claims.
