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WO1992007774A1 - Emballage gonflable de support de produits - Google Patents

Emballage gonflable de support de produits Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992007774A1
WO1992007774A1 PCT/US1991/007974 US9107974W WO9207774A1 WO 1992007774 A1 WO1992007774 A1 WO 1992007774A1 US 9107974 W US9107974 W US 9107974W WO 9207774 A1 WO9207774 A1 WO 9207774A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
air
hadder
supporting structure
interior
product
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1991/007974
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael D. Clee
Robert G. Dickie
Original Assignee
Intepac Technologies Incorporated
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intepac Technologies Incorporated filed Critical Intepac Technologies Incorporated
Publication of WO1992007774A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992007774A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
    • B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
    • B65D81/051—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric
    • B65D81/052—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
    • B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
    • B65D81/107—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using blocks of shock-absorbing material
    • B65D81/113—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using blocks of shock-absorbing material of a shape specially adapted to accommodate contents

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to product support packaging inserts and more particularly to ecologically advantageous packing inserts for supporting products within outer shipping cartons and protecting the supported products against external shock.
  • the present invention generally takes the form of a supporting structure for positioning and cushioning a product within an outer packing container.
  • that structure uses air as its main supporting element and comprises a product specific air bladder with an external cavity on one side shaped to fit external dimensions of the product and with its exterior on the other side shaped to fit internal dimensions of the packing container or shipping carton.
  • the air bladder may be either a vertical or a horizontal positioning element and, typically, is used in pairs within a single outer packing container.
  • the air bladder provides both product support and impact protection during storage and shipping and can be easily collapsed after use. Collapsed, the air bladder is compact and can be discarded with minimal environmental impact.
  • air bladder materials require relatively little storage space and even formed air bladders can themselves be stored either wholly or partially deflated to save space.
  • the air Hadder is composed of a plastic resin material such as polyethylene and is produced by blow molding.
  • Blow molding involves extruding a semi-solid tube of the plastic material into a mold having the product's outer wall shape. After the mold is closed, a jet of air from a nozzle forces the plastic material to expand and contact the metal walls of the mold. The plastic resin is cooled and hardened almost instantly as the mold is kept cool by circulating water through built-in internal cavities.
  • Blow molding is well known and is already the process of choice in the manufacture of many commercial products such as large soft drink bottles, gas cans, and even garbage cans.
  • blow molded plastic material is particularly advantageous environmentally with respect to the present invention in that the materials it makes use of may be recycled with a minimum of cost or inconvenience. There are, furthermore, no environmentally hazardous substances or expansion agents which are used in the manufacturing process. Moreover, the material of the air Hadder itself can be made with up to ninety percent of recyclaHe material.
  • the air Hadder may contain a plurality of interior chambers or compartments.
  • Such interior chambers when present, provide location controllable damping by way of separate air shock absorbers in areas such as corners subject to potentially higher impacts.
  • the size of the passage is controlled by baffling and has a direct influence on the rapidity with which those chambers will deflate under load. A high degree of controllaHe damping is thus provided.
  • multiple air Hadder chambers may be entirely sealed from one another in order to provide maximum isolation if needed to meet directional load requirements. When air Hadder chambers are sealed from one another in this manner, the blow molding process makes use of a separate inflation nozzle for each chamber.
  • This aspect of the invention adds yet another controllable design element to protective packaging technology, allowing smaller and more effective protective packing containers or shipping cartons.
  • the air bladder need be fully inflated only after assembly of the product and the air Hadder within the packing container.
  • the air bladder may thus, when required, be only partially inflated at the time of manufacture, making final assemHy of the product and one or more air bladders within the container easier to accomplish.
  • inflation needles can be forced through the outer container at one or more predetermined inflation points, where they penetrate the designated air bladder chambers and inflate them to designated pressure levels.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a product supporting vertical end cap air Hadder embodying various aspects of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view showing details of the end cap air Hadder illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are cross-sectional views of the end cap air
  • FIG. 2D is a side view of the end cap air Hadder shown in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates product supporting horizontal tray air bladders embodying various aspects of the invention
  • FIG. 4 shows an inflation gun suitable for post molding inflation of air bladders embodying various aspects of the invention.
  • FIG. 4A illustrates tip details of the inflation gun shown in FIG. 4. Detailed Description
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a typical application of the invention.
  • vertical packaging elements are usually referred to as "end caps", while horizontal packaging elements are usually referred to as "trays”.
  • FIG. 1 shows one of a pair of "end caps” which may, for example, be used in the packaging of personal computers.
  • an air Hadder 11 forming the end cap is shown with a product receiving cavity 13 facing the viewer. Air Hadder 11 is product specific in the sense that, once formed, a specific end cap will receive only a product with external dimensions matching the internal dimensions of cavity 13 and will only fit within shipping cartons matching its own external dimensions.
  • the sides of a personal computer may fit into the cavities 13 of a pair of air Hadder end caps and the entire assemHy may be placed in a snug fitting corrugated cardboard box (not shown) which serves as an outer shipping container.
  • a snug fitting corrugated cardboard box (not shown) which serves as an outer shipping container.
  • the internal dimensions of cavity 13 may be made to match the external dimensions of that inner container.
  • Such an alternative may be desirable when multiple products are to be packed within a single inner container, which is then given protective support within the outer shipping container. In a broad sense, the filled inner container then becomes the product to be stored or shipped.
  • Air Hadder 11 in FIG. 1 is, in accordance with an important aspect of the invention, composed of a suitaHe plastic resin material, such as polyethylene, and is produced by a How molding process to form the illustrated end cap.
  • a semi-solid tube of the plastic resin material is extruded into a mold that has the shape of the product's outer wall.
  • the shape is that of the outer wall of a personal computer.
  • a blast of high pressure air through one or more holes in the wall of the mold forces the plastic tube to expand and contact the metal walls of the mold.
  • the plastic resin then cools and hardens as the mold is cooled by circulating water through internal cavities in the mold.
  • air Hadder end cap 11 is inflated during the How molding process to a pressure of about 3 to 5 pounds per square inch.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of end cap air Hadder 11 of FIG. 1, with the side of air Hadder 11 forming cavity 13 shown facing the viewer.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates several details not shown in FIG. 1, one being the division of air Hadder 11 into two separately sealed main chambers 27 and 29, bounded by the exterior dimensions of the air bladder and by side walls 31 and 33, which indicated by respective dashed lines. Chambers 27 and 29 are thus separated from one another in the vertical plane because of the vertical orientation of .air bladder 11. Without the separation, the weight of the product (a computer in this instance) would compress the air in lower chamber 29 into upper chamber 27, resulting in a partial collapse of lower side wall 25 and lower comer elements 17 and 21.
  • main chambers 27 and 29 within air bladder 11 in FIG. .2 are sealed from one another, the invention makes it possible to provide sub- chambers within main chambers. Such sub-chambers are partially segregated from other chambers in order to provide a controllaHe shock damping effect. Examples of such sub-chambers are comer elements 15, 17, 19, and 21 in FIG. 2.
  • Comer element 15 is molded to be a corner baffling sub-chamber, defined by the outer walls of air bladder 11 and by fingers or protrusions 35 and 37 extending from the outside of air bladder 11 into the interior until they nearly contact one another.
  • the gap 39 left between protrusions 35 and 37 permits the passage of air between the comer baffling chamber and main chamber 27 but only at a relatively slow rate.
  • the degree of isolation of the sub-chamber forming comer element 15 is controlled by the size of gap 39.
  • FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of air Hadder 11 in FIG. 2, taken along the line A- A, which is broken at the center in order to show details of both exterior and interior construction.
  • Recess 41 in FIG. 2A marks the end of side walls 31 and 33 separating upper and lower chambers 27 and 29.
  • the matching recesses 37 mark the ends of the similarly numbered protrusions into those chambers to provide restricted air flow between upper and lower chambers 27 and 29 and their respective ones of comer sub-chamber elements 19 and 21.
  • FIG. 2B is another cross-sectional view of air Hadder 11 in FIG.
  • FIG. 2C is yet another cross-sectional view of air Hadder 11, this time taken along the line C-C. Here the ends of protrusions 35 and 37 into the interior of air Hadder 11 are shown, along with gap 39 which is provided between them to provide for the restricted flow of air needed for comer damping.
  • FIG. 2D is a side view of air bladder 11, with side wall 25 and comer elements 17 and 21 facing the viewer.
  • Dashed line 43 marks the bottom and ends of product supporting cavity 13 of air Hadder 11.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates another typical application of the invention, this time providing horizontal trays for packaging a product such as a television set.
  • a first air Hadder 51 forms an upper tray and a second air Hadder 53 a lower tray.
  • the two air Hadder trays provide respective top and bottom support for a product 55 (shown by dashed lines) within a corrugated cardboard outer shipping container 57 (also shown by dashed lines).
  • Air Hadder trays 51 and 53 are shown as mirror images of one another in this particular example for purposes clarity but need not be identical as a general proposition.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates another typical application of the invention, this time providing horizontal trays for packaging a product such as a television set.
  • a first air Hadder 51 forms an upper tray and a second air Hadder 53 a lower tray.
  • the two air Hadder trays provide respective top and bottom support for a product 55 (shown by dashed lines) within a corrugated cardboard outer shipping container 57 (also shown by dashed lines).
  • holes 59 and 61 are an example of a number of holes extending entirely through respective air Hadder trays 51 and 53 to constrict the passage of air between various sections of their single main interior chambers by forming sub- hambers.
  • Protrusions 63 and 65 similarly, are examples of protrusions extending partially into respective air Hadder trays 51 and 53 both from the exterior of the air bladders and from the product supporting cavities to perform a similar purpose.
  • a product supporting cavity 67 in lower air Hadder tray 53 faces up, while a similar product supporting cavity (not seen) in upper air bladder tray 51 faces downward.
  • a horizontal application of the invention such as that shown in
  • FIG. 3 it is sometimes advantageous to manufacture respective air bladder trays 51 and 53 initially slightly deflated. Such slight deflation simplifies the packing process in that the deflated and hence slightly undersized air Hadders will more easily fit into corrugated cardboard outer container 57.
  • air bladder trays 51 and 53 may be further inflated directly through corrugated cardboard container 57 with an inflation gun, an example of which is shown in FIG. 4.
  • an inflation gun 71 is essentially an air valve connected to a hollow needle upon which there is a small heater element installed within a gun tip 73.
  • Inflation gun 71 is connected to a regulated air supply (not shown) through an air line 75 and to a variaHe power source (not shown) through a power line 77 to control the needle temperature.
  • a trigger mechanism 79 on the handle of gun 71 provides the user with on-off control and a heat adjust knob 81 (also on the handle) permits accurate control of the heater element within gun tip 73.
  • An air pressure gauge 83 and a heat gauge 85 complete the combination.
  • FIG. 4A Details of inflation gun tip 73 in FIG. 4 are shown in FIG. 4A.
  • Gun tip 73 is composed of a neoprene bellows 87 which surrounds a hollow air and heater needle 89 and a heater coil 91.
  • Heater coil 91 encircles the base of needle 89 and bellows 87 compresses upon itself to expose needle 89 when the user presses the gun against an intended target such as outer container 57 in FIG. 3.
  • Outer packing container 57 in FIG. 3 may have pre-printed inflation point instructions and markings of locations where the needle is to be forced through corrugated cardboard container 57 and into the air Hadder.
  • the areas where the extruded plastic tube is pinched off and sealed, the air Hadder walls are often three to four times thicker than the walls of the rest of the Hadder. Such areas, generally, are good post- assembly inflation points. Pressing trigger 79 in FIG. 4, will inflate the Hadder to the preset pressure level.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)

Abstract

Une structure de support (53) qui sert à positionner un produit (55) dans un conteneur extérieur d'expédition (57) se présente sous la forme d'une vessie en plastique remplie d'air dont un côté est façonné de manière à former une cavité (67) dont les dimensions internes correspondent aux dimensions externes du produit et dont l'autre côté est façonné de manière à présenter des dimensions externes correspondantes aux dimensions internes du conteneur d'expédition. La vessie remplie d'air peut être un élément de positionnement vertical ou horizontal et typiquement des paires en sont utilisées dans un seul conteneur. La vessie remplie d'air est compacte et peut être rejetée après son utilisation avec un impact minimum sur l'environnement. Dans les exemples illustrés, la vessie remplie d'air est produite par soufflage sur matrice en une matière plastique telle que du polyéthylène, ce qui permet de la recycler après son utilisation, réduisant davantage son impact potentiel sur l'environnement.
PCT/US1991/007974 1990-11-05 1991-10-28 Emballage gonflable de support de produits WO1992007774A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US61223990A 1990-11-05 1990-11-05
US612,239 1990-11-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992007774A1 true WO1992007774A1 (fr) 1992-05-14

Family

ID=24452336

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1991/007974 WO1992007774A1 (fr) 1990-11-05 1991-10-28 Emballage gonflable de support de produits

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AU (1) AU9040091A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992007774A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993018986A1 (fr) * 1992-03-16 1993-09-30 Intepac Technologies Inc. Structure contenant du gaz utilisee pour supporter des produits
WO1994000365A1 (fr) * 1992-06-20 1994-01-06 David Granville Stevenson Elements d'emballage gonflables
WO1995001923A1 (fr) * 1993-07-08 1995-01-19 Alan Nigel Burns Emballage gonflable
US5570780A (en) * 1995-04-17 1996-11-05 Codi, Inc. Portable computer carrying case
DE20108327U1 (de) 2001-05-17 2001-10-11 Kunad, Thomas, 08209 Rebesgrün Luftpolsterformverpackung
EP1163994A1 (fr) * 1994-07-18 2001-12-19 DRANGER, Jan Procédé pour fabriquer des éléments d'un conteneur
DE102017209263A1 (de) * 2017-06-01 2018-12-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Mobiles Transportbehältnis für ein Fahrzeug zur Ladungssicherung eines Transportguts, Verfahren zur Ladungssicherung eines Transportguts sowie System

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5184727A (en) * 1991-12-02 1993-02-09 Intepac Technoligies Inc. Modular inflated supporting structure

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3889743A (en) * 1971-03-16 1975-06-17 Michael C Presnick Inflatable insulation for packaging
US4551379A (en) * 1983-08-31 1985-11-05 Kerr Stanley R Inflatable packaging material
US4793123A (en) * 1987-11-16 1988-12-27 Pharo Daniel A Rolled-up packaging system and method
US4801213A (en) * 1987-10-19 1989-01-31 Airelle Industries, Inc. Inflatable insert for luggage
US4905835A (en) * 1987-12-24 1990-03-06 Apple Computer France, Sarl Inflatable cushion packaging
EP0398345A1 (fr) * 1989-05-19 1990-11-22 Hannelore Loidold-Ellesser Flan pour caisse d'emballage
US5030501A (en) * 1989-05-31 1991-07-09 Raven Marketing, Inc. Cushioning structure

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3889743A (en) * 1971-03-16 1975-06-17 Michael C Presnick Inflatable insulation for packaging
US4551379A (en) * 1983-08-31 1985-11-05 Kerr Stanley R Inflatable packaging material
US4801213A (en) * 1987-10-19 1989-01-31 Airelle Industries, Inc. Inflatable insert for luggage
US4793123A (en) * 1987-11-16 1988-12-27 Pharo Daniel A Rolled-up packaging system and method
US4905835A (en) * 1987-12-24 1990-03-06 Apple Computer France, Sarl Inflatable cushion packaging
EP0398345A1 (fr) * 1989-05-19 1990-11-22 Hannelore Loidold-Ellesser Flan pour caisse d'emballage
US5030501A (en) * 1989-05-31 1991-07-09 Raven Marketing, Inc. Cushioning structure

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993018986A1 (fr) * 1992-03-16 1993-09-30 Intepac Technologies Inc. Structure contenant du gaz utilisee pour supporter des produits
AU676155B2 (en) * 1992-03-16 1997-03-06 Intepac Technologies Inc. Gas-containing product supporting structure
WO1994000365A1 (fr) * 1992-06-20 1994-01-06 David Granville Stevenson Elements d'emballage gonflables
WO1995001923A1 (fr) * 1993-07-08 1995-01-19 Alan Nigel Burns Emballage gonflable
GB2285799A (en) * 1993-07-08 1995-07-26 Alan Nigel Burns Inflatable package
EP1163994A1 (fr) * 1994-07-18 2001-12-19 DRANGER, Jan Procédé pour fabriquer des éléments d'un conteneur
US5570780A (en) * 1995-04-17 1996-11-05 Codi, Inc. Portable computer carrying case
DE20108327U1 (de) 2001-05-17 2001-10-11 Kunad, Thomas, 08209 Rebesgrün Luftpolsterformverpackung
DE102017209263A1 (de) * 2017-06-01 2018-12-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Mobiles Transportbehältnis für ein Fahrzeug zur Ladungssicherung eines Transportguts, Verfahren zur Ladungssicherung eines Transportguts sowie System

Also Published As

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