SHEET PACKAGING

Abstract

Sheet packaging has a corrugated ply bonded to a backing ply. The corrugated ply forms parallel flutes. The packaging comprises voids through both the corrugated ply and the backing ply at intervals along the flutes, thereby forming a plurality of insular portions interconnected by flexures. Each insular portion has a flute portion and a backing portion between adjacent voids and bonded together at respective edges and each flexure comprises bonded-together portions of the corrugated ply and the backing ply. The flexures confer hyper flexibility to the packaging wherein each flexure possesses an independent bend axis across which the flexure can both be twisted and bent.

Claims

1. A packaging comprising a corrugated ply adhered to a backing ply, the corrugated ply defining a plurality of parallel flutes and being bonded to the backing ply along apexes of an undersurface of the corrugated ply, wherein both the corrugated ply and the backing ply define a plurality of voids extending therethrough at intervals along the flutes so as to form a plurality of insular portions interconnected by a plurality of flexures, each flexure comprising bonded together portions of the corrugated ply and the backing ply, each insular portion comprising a flute portion and a backing portion bonded together at respective edges along one of the flutes, wherein the plurality of flexures permit bending and twisting of the packaging between adjacent insular portions.

2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the corrugated ply and the backing ply each comprise biodegradable material.

3. The packaging of claim 1, wherein each void is generally rectangular and comprises straight edges aligned along flute axes and straight edges orthogonal to the flute axes.

4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein each void widens at opposite edges thereof along the flute axes to increase cushioning and flexibility.

5. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the voids of adjacent flutes are alternately aligned along the flute axes so that each insular portion is diagonally interconnected to adjacent insular portions.

6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the insular portions of adjacent flutes overlap along the flute axes to increase stiffness along the flute axes.

7. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the voids of adjacent flutes do not overlap across the flute axes to reduce stiffness across the flute axes.

8. The packaging of claim 1, wherein edges of the insular portions of adjacent flutes are aligned along the flute axes to reduce stiffness along the flute axes and form discrete fold lines across the flute axes.

9. The packaging of claim 1, wherein each void is wider than the respective insular portion along the flute axes to increase flexibility of the packaging.

10. The packaging of claim 9, wherein the voids of adjacent flutes overlap along the flute axes to form flexures extending longitudinally along the flute axes.

11. The packaging of claim 1, wherein each void is narrower than the respective insular portion along the flute axes to increase stiffness of the packaging.

12. The packaging of claim 11, wherein edges of the voids along the flute axes of adjacent flutes overlap to form flexures extending longitudinally across the flute axes.

13. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the voids of parallel flutes are alternately arranged overlapping and non-overlapping along the flute axes to create shorter flexures and longer flexures, thereby providing non-uniform flexing properties along the flute axes.

14. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the voids are aligned across the flute axes so that first flexures are formed between adjacent insular portions and second flexures are formed between adjacent voids.

15. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the corrugated ply has a wavelike profile and is bonded to the backing ply at the apexes of the undersurface of the corrugated ply.

16. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the corrugated ply has a flat-topped trapezoidal cross-sectional profile.

17. The packaging of claim 1, wherein each flexure permits at least one of bending, twisting, or combined bending and twisting between adjacent insular portions.

18. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging is foldable against either the corrugated ply or the backing ply.

19. The packaging of claim 1, wherein at least one of a shape, a size, or a spacing of the voids is selected to control cushioning and flexibility of the packaging.

20. A method of manufacturing the packaging of claim 1, the method comprising adhering the corrugated ply to the backing ply and subsequently forming the plurality of voids through both the corrugated ply and the backing ply to define the plurality of insular portions interconnected by the plurality of flexures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of sheet packaging in accordance with an embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates bending of a flexure between insular portions of the packaging;

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates twisting of a flexure between insular portions of the packaging;

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates both bending and twisting between insular portions of the packaging;

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a quadrant of insular portions interconnected by respective flexures around a void when laid flat;

[0022] FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 6 when the packaging is twisted and bent;

[0023] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the packaging illustrating the way in which the packaging can be arbitrarily twisted and bent;

[0024] FIG. 9 shows packaging in accordance with an embodiment bent against the corrugated ply;

[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates packaging in accordance with an embodiment bent against the backing ply;

[0026] FIG. 11 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 11;

[0028] FIG. 13 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 13;

[0030] FIG. 15 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 15;

[0032] FIG. 17 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0033] FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 17;

[0034] FIG. 19 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0035] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 19;

[0036] FIG. 21 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 21;

[0038] FIG. 23 shows a top plan view of the packaging in accordance with a further embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 24 shows a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 23.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIGS. 1 and 2 shows packaging 100 comprising a corrugated ply 101 adhered to a backing ply 102. The corrugated ply 101 and the backing ply 102 are preferably cardboard. Furthermore, the packaging 100 preferably comprises biodegradable and/or compostable material.

[0041] The corrugated ply 101 forms parallel flutes 103. The corrugated ply 101 forms a generally wavelike pattern and may be generally sinusoidal and bonded to the backing ply 102 using adhesive or the like along apexes of an undersurface of the corrugated ply 101. Other corrugated ply 101 shapes are envisaged, including the corrugated ply 101 being flat topped trapezoidal in cross sectional shape.

[0042] The packaging 100 comprises voids 104 through both the corrugated ply 101 and the backing ply 102 at intervals along the flutes 103, thereby forming a plurality of insular portions 105 interconnected by flexures 106 generally shown in FIG. 1.

[0043] With reference to FIG. 2, each insular portion 105 comprises a flute portion 107 and a backing portion 108 bonded at respective edges along the respective flute 103.

[0044] Furthermore, each flexure 106 comprises bonded together portions of the corrugated ply 101 and the backing ply 102.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a flexure 106 bending between adjacent insular portions 105, FIG. 4 shows a flexure 106 twisting between insular portions 105 and FIG. 5 shows a flexure 106 both bending and twisting between insular portions 105.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a quadrant of insular portions 105 interconnected around a void 104 by respective flexures 106 when the packaging 100 is laid flat and

[0047] FIG. 7 shows the packaging of FIG. 6 being twisted and bent, illustrating the hyper flexibility conferred by each flexure 106 having an independent bend axis.

[0048] FIG. 8 further illustrates how an elongate flexure 106A can itself bend under compression whilst in opposing flexure 106B can be under tension allowing the packaging 100 to be twisted and bent.

[0049] FIG. 9 illustrates the packaging 100 in accordance with an embodiment hyper flexibly folded against the corrugated ply 101 whereas FIG. 10 illustrates the packaging 100 in accordance with a further embodiment hyper flexibly folded against the backing ply 102.

[0050] According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the voids 104 may be generally rectangular wherein each void 104 comprises straight edges 109 aligned along flute axes 110 and straight edges 111 orthogonally with respect to the flute axes 110.

[0051] FIGS. 21 and 22 show wherein the voids 104 are non-rectangular. In accordance with the embodiment shown, each void 104 may yet comprise straight edges 109 along the flute axis 110 but wherein the voids 104 widen at opposite edges thereof along the flute axis 110 to increase the effective central cushioning width of the insular portion 105 along the flute axis 110 yet decrease the width of the flexures 106 along the flute axis 110 for increased flexibility. In this way, the horizontal cross section of the shapes of the voids 104 and/or the insular portions 105 may be adjusted to control the flexibility and/or the cushioning of the packaging 100.

[0052] In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the voids 104 of adjacent flutes 103 are alternately aligned along flute axes 110 so that each insular portion 105 is diagonally interconnected to a quadrant of adjacent insular portions 105.

[0053] According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the insular portions 105 of adjacent flutes 103 overlap along flute axes 110 thereby increasing stiffness along flute axes 110. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the voids 104 of adjacent flutes 103 do not overlap across the flute axes 110, reducing stiffness across the flute axes 110.

[0054] According to the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, edges of insular portions 105 of adjacent flutes 103 are aligned along flute axes 110, thereby reducing stiffness along the flute axes 110 and forming discrete fold lines across the flute axes 110 as compared to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0055] According to the embodiment of FIG. 13, the voids 104 are wider as compared to the insular portions 105 along flute axes thereby increasing flexibility.

[0056] Furthermore, voids 104 of adjacent flutes 103 overlap along flute axes 110, thereby forming flexures 106 which have longitude along flute axes 110, thereby increasing flexibility thereof.

[0057] FIG. 15 shows an embodiment wherein the voids 104 are narrower than the insular portions 105 along flute axes 110, thereby increasing stiffness along the flute axes 110. This is compared to the embodiment of FIG. 13 which shows the voids 104 being wider than the insular portions 105 along the flute axis 110, thereby reducing stiffness along the flute axes 110.

[0058] Furthermore, FIG. 15 shows wherein edges of the voids 104 along flute axes 110 of adjacent flutes 104 overlap, thereby conferring flexure 106 longitude across flute axes 110 have an increased flexibility across flute axes 110.

[0059] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment wherein the voids 104 of parallel flutes 103 are alternately arranged overlapping and nonoverlapping along flute axes 110 thereby creating a pattern of shorter flexures 106C and longer flexures 106D along flute axes 110 thereby conferring nonuniform flexing properties to the packaging 100 along flute axes 110.

[0060] According to the embodiment of FIG. 19, the voids 104 are aligned across the flute axes 110 so that flexures 106E are formed between adjacent insular portions 105 and flexures 106F are formed between adjacent voids 104.

[0061] FIGS. 23 and 24 show a similar embodiment but wherein the voids 104 are much narrower.

[0062] Manufacture of the packaging 100 may comprise adhering the corrugated ply 101 to the backing ply 102 and subsequently punching, forming or cutting the voids 104 through both layers.

[0063] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.