PACKAGING MEMBER

Abstract

A packaging member includes a first packaging sub-member and a second packaging sub-member. The first packaging sub-member is formed in a tube shape extending in a first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing an article to be packaged. The second packaging sub-member is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing the first packaging sub-member. The second packaging sub-member includes a pair of side wall portions that is arranged to be opposed to each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and a concavity that is formed at an upper edge of each of the pair of side wall portions and is recessed downward. The first packaging sub-member includes a convexity that is arranged to be opposed to the concavity and is inserted into the concavity.

Claims

1. A packaging member, comprising: a first packaging sub-member that is formed in a tube shape extending in a first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing an article to be packaged; and a second packaging sub-member that is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing the first packaging sub-member, wherein the second packaging sub-member includes: a pair of side wall portions that is arranged to be opposed to each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a concavity that is formed at an upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions and is recessed downward, and the first packaging sub-member includes a convexity that is arranged to be opposed to the concavity and is inserted into the concavity.

2. The packaging member according to claim 1, wherein the second packaging sub-member includes a plurality of the concavities formed in the pair of side wall portions, the first packaging sub-member includes a plurality of the convexities that are equal in number to the plurality of the concavities and are inserted into the plurality of the concavities, and each of the plurality of the concavities is paired with a corresponding one of the plurality of the convexities, and pairs of the pluralities of the concavities and the convexities are different in length in the first direction.

3. The packaging member according to claim 1, wherein the second packaging sub-member includes a plurality of the concavities formed in the pair of side wall portions, the first packaging sub-member includes a plurality of the convexities that are equal in number to the plurality of the concavities and are inserted into the plurality of the concavities, and each of the plurality of the concavities is paired with a corresponding one of the plurality of the convexities, and pairs of the pluralities of the concavities and the convexities are different in position in the first direction.

4. The packaging member according to claim 2, wherein respective lengths or positions of the pairs of the pluralities of the concavities and the convexities in the first direction vary depending on a type of the article to be packaged.

5. The packaging member according to claim 1, wherein the first packaging sub-member is formed by bending a single sheet material, the first packaging sub-member includes: a tongue piece that protrudes outward from a circumferential edge of the sheet material and is bent at a crease line positioned at the circumferential edge; and a hole into which the tongue piece in a bent state is inserted when the first packaging sub-member is formed into the tube shape, and the convexity is arranged on an inner side of the tongue piece in the first direction and protrudes outward from the crease line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first packaging sub-member of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first packaging sub-member in FIG. 2 (in a developed state).

[0008] FIG. 4 is a developed view of the first packaging sub-member in FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a packaging member according to a modification example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] With reference to the appended drawings, the following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to what is described below. The following description refers to, in the drawings, a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow D1 as a first direction (a longitudinal direction of a packaging member 1) and a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow D2 as a second direction (a transverse direction of the packaging member 1). The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are orthogonal to each other.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging member 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first packaging sub-member 10 of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first packaging sub-member 10 in FIG. 2 (in a developed state). FIG. 4 is a developed view of the first packaging sub-member 10 in FIG. 2.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging member 1 has substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape in outline and extends to be elongated along the first direction D1. The packaging member 1 includes a first packaging sub-member 10 and a second packaging sub-member 20.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the first packaging sub-member 10 is formed in a tube shape extending in the first direction D1. In other words, the first packaging sub-member 10 is formed in a squarely cylindrical shape extending in the first direction D1. The first packaging sub-member 10 internally includes a housing region S1 for housing an article P to be packaged.

[0015] When developed, the first packaging sub-member 10 is brought to a state shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The first packaging sub-member 10 is formed by using a single sheet material (blank) that is substantially rectangular in outline when developed into a flat state and is formed of, for example, corrugated cardboard or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. That is, the first packaging sub-member 10 is formed by bending the single sheet material.

[0016] The first packaging sub-member 10 includes a bottom portion 11, a top portion 12, and a pair of side wall portions 13.

[0017] In the first packaging sub-member 10 in a flat sheet material state, the bottom portion 11 is arranged at substantially a middle thereof in a short-side direction (an up-down direction in FIG. 4). When viewed from an up-down direction, the bottom portion 11 has, in a planar view, a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D1 (a left-right lateral direction in FIG. 4). In the first packaging sub-member 10 in an assembled state shown in FIG. 2, the bottom portion 11 is arranged at a lower end thereof so as to be opposed to the top portion 12 via the housing region S1 in the up-down direction. In the first direction D1, the bottom portion 11 is divided into two parts across a gap 11a provided at an intermediate part of the bottom portion 11 in the first direction D1.

[0018] In the first packaging sub-member 10 in the flat sheet material state, the top portion 12 is arranged at each of upper and lower ends thereof in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 4). When viewed from the up-down direction, the top portion 12 has, in the planar view, a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D1 (the left-right lateral direction in FIG. 4). In the first packaging sub-member 10 in the assembled state shown in FIG. 2, the top portion 12 is arranged at an upper end thereof so as to be opposed to the bottom portion 11 via the housing region S1 in the up-down direction. In the assembled state shown in FIG. 2, rectangular parts of the sheet material in the planar view, each corresponding to the top portion 12, are overlaid on each other in the up-down direction.

[0019] In the first packaging sub-member 10 in the flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portions 13 is arranged on both outer sides of the bottom portion 11 in the short-side direction (the up-down direction FIG. 4). The pair of side wall portions 13 is formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion 11 (crease lines 11f). To be more specific, in the first packaging sub-member 10 in the flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portions 13 is formed by being bent upward along two crease lines 11f extending in the first direction D1 at a distance from each other via the bottom portion 11 in the short-side direction.

[0020] In other words, the pair of side wall portions 13 is formed by being bent from both ends of the bottom portion 11 in the second direction D2. The pair of side wall portions 13 is arranged to be opposed to each other in the second direction D2. Furthermore, in the first packaging sub-member 10 in the assembled state shown in FIG. 2, each of the pair of side wall portions 13 extends in the first direction D1 and in the up-down direction.

[0021] An upper end of each of the pair of side wall portions 13 is connected to the top portion 12. The top portion 12 is formed by being bent vertically to a lateral side along a crease line 13f that is positioned at a boundary between the top portion 12 and a neighboring one of the side wall portions 13 and extends in the first direction D1. The top portion 12 is formed in a flat plate shape extending in the first direction D1 and in the second direction D2. To be more specific, at the upper end of the first packaging sub-member 10, a flat plate-shaped part (the top portion 12) that is rectangular in the planar view and is connected to one of the pair of side wall portions 13 and another flat plate-shaped part (another top portion 12) that is rectangular in the planar view and is connected to the other of the pair of side wall portions 13 are overlaid on each other in the up-down direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the second packaging sub-member 20 is formed in substantially a U-shape when viewed from the first direction D1. The second packaging sub-member 20 internally includes a housing region S2 for housing the first packaging sub-member 10.

[0023] Though not shown, when developed, the second packaging sub-member 20 is formed of a single sheet material. The second packaging sub-member 20 is formed by using a single sheet material (blank) that is substantially rectangular in outline when developed into a flat state and is formed of, for example, corrugated cardboard. That is, the second packaging sub-member 20 is formed by bending the single sheet material.

[0024] The second packaging sub-member 20 includes a bottom portion 21, a pair of sidewall portions 22, and a pair of buffer portions 23.

[0025] When viewed from the up-down direction, the bottom portion 21 has, in the planar view, a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction D1. The pair of side wall portions 22 is connected to both ends of the bottom portion 21 in the second direction D2.

[0026] The pair of side wall portions 22 is arranged at both ends of the second packaging sub-member 20 in the second direction D2 so as to be opposed to each other via the housing region S2. Each of the pair of side wall portions 22 has, when viewed from a direction in which they are opposed to each other (the second direction D2), a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction D1. The pair of side wall portions 22 is formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion 21 (both ends thereof in the second direction D2). To be more specific, in the second packaging sub-member 20 in a flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portions 22 is formed by being bent upward along two crease lines extending in the first direction D1 at a distance from each other via the bottom portion 21 in the second direction D2.

[0027] The pair of buffer portions 23 is arranged at both ends of the second packaging sub-member 20 in the first direction D1 so as to be opposed to each other via the housing region S2. In the second packaging sub-member 20 in the flat sheet material state, the pair of buffer portions 23 is formed by bending both end parts of the second packaging sub-member 20 in the first direction D1.

[0028] Next, with reference to FIG. 5 in addition to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a description is given of a detailed configuration of the packaging member 1. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of a middle part of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1 in the first direction D1.

[0029] The second packaging sub-member 20 includes concavities 24 and 25. At a middle of the second packaging sub-member 20 in the first direction D1, the concavities 24 and 25 are arranged at upper edges of the pair of side wall portions 22. The concavities 24 and 25 are recessed downward from the upper edges of the side wall portions 22. The concavities 24 and 25 each have a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D1 when viewed from the second direction D2 and penetrate through the side wall portions 22 in the second direction D2.

[0030] The first packaging sub-member 10 includes convexities 14 and 15. In the packaging member 1 in an assembled state shown in FIG. 5, the convexities 14 and 15 are arranged to be opposed respectively to the concavities 24 and 25 of the second packaging sub-member 20. That is, at a middle of the first packaging sub-member 10 in the first direction D1, the convexities 14 and 15 are arranged at upper edges of the pair of side wall portions 13. The number of the convexities 14 and 15 is equal to the number of the concavities 24 and 25. The convexities 14 and 15 each have a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D1 when viewed from the up-down direction and protrude toward outer sides of the pair of side wall portions 13 (outer sides thereof in the second direction D2). The convexity 14 is inserted into the concavity 24, and the convexity 15 is inserted into the concavity 25.

[0031] According to the above-described configuration, the convexities 14 and 15 of the first packaging sub-member 10 are inserted into the concavities 24 and 25 of the second packaging sub-member 20, respectively, and thus it is possible to suppress movement, within the second packaging sub-member 20, of the first packaging sub-member 10 housing the article P to be packaged therein. That is, it is possible to suppress positional shifting between two packaging sub-members (the first packaging sub-member 10, the second packaging sub-member 20). Accordingly, the packaging member 1 is configured to suppress positional shifting between the two packaging sub-members and thus can provide a favorable buffer effect.

[0032] Furthermore, the convexities 14 and 15 are arranged at upper edges of the first packaging sub-member 10, while the concavities 24 and 25 are arranged at upper edges of the second packaging sub-member 20, and thus it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-member 10 with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20 in the up-down direction.

[0033] Furthermore, the first packaging sub-member 10 includes a tongue piece 16 and a hole 17 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0034] In the first packaging sub-member 10 in the flat sheet material state, the tongue piece 16 protrudes outward from a circumferential edge of the sheet material. To be more specific, the tongue piece 16 protrudes upward (outward) beyond the top portion 12 arranged at the upper end of the first packaging sub-member 10 as the sheet material in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 4). The tongue piece 16 is arranged at the middle of the first packaging sub-member 10 in the first direction D1. The tongue piece 16 is positioned at a circumferential edge of the top portion 12 and is bent in the second direction D2 at a crease line 12f extending in the first direction D1.

[0035] The hole 17 is arranged along the crease line 13f positioned at the boundary between the top portion 12 arranged at the lower end of the first packaging sub-member 10 as the sheet material in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 4) and a neighboring one of the side wall portions 13, and extends in the first direction D1. The hole 17 is arranged at the middle of the first packaging sub-member 10 in the first direction D1 and penetrates through the sheet material in a thickness direction thereof. When the first packaging sub-member 10 is formed into a tube shape, i.e., brought to an assembled state, the hole 17 overlaps with the tongue piece 16, which then is inserted, in a bent state, into the hole 17. This makes it possible for the first packaging sub-member 10 to retain the tube shape (a squarely cylindrical shape), which is a three-dimensional shape.

[0036] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the convexity 14 is arranged on an inner side of the tongue piece 16 in the first direction D1. To be more specific, the convexity 14 is arranged at a middle of the tongue piece 16 in the first direction D1. The convexity 14 protrudes outward from the crease line 12f (upward in the up-down direction in FIG. 4). In other words, the convexity 14 protrudes outward from the crease line 12f in the second direction D2.

[0037] According to the above-described configuration, in the first packaging sub-member 10 as the sheet material, the convexity 14 can be arranged inside the tongue piece 16. The tongue piece 16 is a part indispensable for retaining the first packaging sub-member 10 in the tube shape (the squarely cylindrical shape) and includes the convexity 14 therein, and thus there is no need to newly provide a part protruding outward as the convexity 14. That is, the convexity 14 is provided without causing a change in area of the first packaging sub-member 10 in the, and this makes it possible to suppress an increase in amount of materials used.

[0038] Furthermore, the convexity 14 protrudes outward in the second direction D2 so as to be parallel to the top portion 12. That is, when the tongue piece 16 is bent at the crease line 12f, the convexity 14 is kept from being bent. This leads to a reduction in region to be bent of the tongue piece 16 in the first direction D1, thus making it possible to easily bend the tongue piece 16.

[0039] It is only required that the packaging member 1 be provided with at least one of a pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 and a pair of the concavity 25 and the convexity 15. In other words, it is only required that, at the upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions 22, one of the concavities 24 and 25 be formed. Further, it is only required that, at the upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions 13, one of the convexities 14 and 15 be formed.

[0040] Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the packaging member 1, the pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 and the pair of the concavity 25 and the convexity 15 are different in length in the first direction D1. To be more specific, in the first direction D1, a length L1 of the pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 is shorter than a length L2 of the pair of the concavity 25 and the convexity 15.

[0041] According to the above-described configuration, the convexity 15 could not be inserted into the concavity 24. That is, it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-member 10 with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20 in the second direction D2. In other words, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, when viewed from the second direction D2, the first packaging sub-member 10 is erroneously arranged in terms of its front and back sides with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20. Accordingly, it is possible to properly arrange, in the packaging member 1, the first packaging sub-member 10 with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20 and thus to provide a favorable buffer effect.

[0042] Furthermore, in the packaging member 1, respective lengths of the pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 and the pair of the concavity 25 and the convexity 15 in the first direction D1 vary depending on a type of the article P to be packaged. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, for the article P to be packaged, instead of the appropriate packaging member 1 corresponding to the type thereof, some other inappropriate packaging member is erroneously used. That is, the appropriate packaging member 1 corresponding to the type of the article P to be packaged is used, and this makes it possible to provide a favorable buffer effect.

[0043] Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a description is given of a configuration of a modification example of the packaging member 1. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a packaging member 1 according to the modification example.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 6, the packaging member 1 according to the modification example includes concavities 24 and 28 and convexities 14 and 18. To be more specific, a second packaging sub-member 20 includes the concavities 24 and 28. A first packaging sub-member 10 includes the convexities 14 and 18. The convexity 14 is inserted into the concavity 24, and the convexity 18 is inserted into the concavity 28.

[0045] Further, in the packaging member 1, a pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 and a pair of the concavity 28 and the convexity 18 are different in position in a first direction D1. To be more specific, in the first direction D1, the pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 is arranged at a middle of the packaging member 1, and the pair of the concavity 28 and the convexity 18 is arranged on an outer side of the middle of the packaging member 1.

[0046] According to the above-described configuration, the convexity 18 could not be inserted into the concavity 24. Also, the convexity 14 could not be inserted into the concavity 28. That is, it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-member 10 with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20 in a second direction D2. In other words, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, when viewed from the second direction D2, the first packaging sub-member 10 is erroneously arranged in terms of its front and back sides with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20. Accordingly, it is possible to properly arrange, in the packaging member 1, the first packaging sub-member 10 with respect to the second packaging sub-member 20 and thus to provide a favorable buffer effect.

[0047] Furthermore, in the packaging member 1, respective positions of the pair of the concavity 24 and the convexity 14 and the pair of the concavity 28 and the convexity 18 in the first direction D1 vary depending on a type of an article P to be packaged. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, for the article P to be packaged, instead of the appropriate packaging member 1 corresponding to the type thereof, some other inappropriate packaging member is erroneously used. That is, the appropriate packaging member 1 corresponding to the type of the article P to be packaged is used, and this makes it possible to provide a favorable buffer effect.

[0048] While the foregoing has described the embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited in scope thereto and can be implemented in variously modified forms without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.