AU624126B2 - Membrane packing - Google Patents

Description

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j: -lrrar~s~ I'_ Fr OPI DATE 22/09/89 APPLN. ID 31945 89 PCWORLE AOJP DATE 19/10/89 PCT NUMBER PCT/US89/00675 INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUB EJNR T4E PEN, OPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 85/30, 81/10 (11) International Publication Number: WO 89/08064 Al (43) International Publication Date: 8 September 1989 (C .09.89) 'i I (21) International Application Number: PCT/US89/00675 (22) International Filing Date: 21 February 1989 (21.02.89) (31) Priority Application Numbers: 162,215 285,449 293,059 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), CH (European patent), DE (European patent), FR (European patent), GB (European patent), IT (European patent), JP, KR, LU (European patent), NL (European patent), SE (European patent).

Published With international search report.

With amended claims.

(32) Priority Dates: (33) Priority Country: 29 February 1988 (29.02.88) 16 December 1988 (16.12.88) 3 January 1989 (03.01.89)

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'1 (71X72) Applicant and Inventor: RIDGEWAY, Louis, Herbert [US/US]; 3428 Pickwick Stet, San Dieg, S921 O(US). aePj. 13-9-, tIo.,r i, CA qZXoL A.

(74) Agent: JACOBSON, William, Charmasson Holz, 4550 Kearny Villa Road, Suite 202, San Diego, CA 92123-1569 (US).

(54) Title: MEMBRANE PACKING o 7 12 (57) Abstract An improved packing device which holds an article being shipped between membranes. The membranes provide shock adsorption through their own resiliency and by allowing motion when forces in excess of the frictional limit are applied. A pair of rigid frames and having central openings covered by an attached pliable material form spacers which are forced in intimate contact with a fragile article within its shipping container to absorb shocks, flexion and torsion of the container due to shipping and handling loads. The spacers can be a box-like structure with at least one open face covered with a flexible membrane. The contour of the other faces of the structure are shaped and dimensioned to match the internal geometry of the container. In some applications, the spacer structure is a wedge that fits in one corner of the container. Two to four such wedges are typically used to support the object. The framed membranes offer a versatile substitute for a variety of common packing inserts.

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L WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -1- MEMBRANE PACKING

SPECIFICATION

Technical Field This invention r-elates to packaging, more specifically to packing and package inserts for retaining and suspension of variously shaped items. It deals with a new and improved construction of packing and retainers within external packages for protecting items exposed to shipping and handling loads.

Background Art Although a retail package can be decorative and encourage purchase of the enclosed arti the primary purpose of any packaging is to p:otect the article from shipping and handling damage.

Auxiliary packing forms and materials within the package also may have other functions, but again, the primary function is to protect the article from shipping and handling damage.

Packing materials and forms can be separated into 2 categories; 1) interface materials which directly contact the article being protected, and 2) structural materials which support and/or reinforce package and interface materials. i 1 WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/006t5 -2- Interface and structural packing materials and forms should be small, light weight, pleasing in appearance and low in cost. However, at the same time, the packing must be able to withs and shipping and handling loads transmitted by the external package or container without transmitting excessive amounts of these loads to the article being protected. Interface and structural packing must also be able to perform it's functions within the limitations of a difficult environment, including extremes of temperature, altitude (pressure), shock, vibration, and stacking of containers and or articles within containers.

INTERFACE MATERIALS AND FORMS A variety of approaches to packing articles within shipping containers are currently available.

One approach uses interface and structural fill materials within a container, possibly the package itself. The fill material may be foam, wood chips, tissue (paper), excelsior, gray chip dunnage, dimpled kraft, foam sheeting, newspaper or elastomeric materials.

A modification of this combined fill or interface and structural material approach uses i t 1 I. WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -3inflatable pillows or expanding materials such as foam in place compounds within a container.

Example of a pillow type of packing is found in United States Patent Number 3,521,743. The pillow distributes the shipping and handling loads to the many contact points with the article being shipped.

A second related approach is to provide a specially shaped restraint within the container. The special shape again distributes shipping and handling loads to the article, but does not require a complete fill within the container. The special shape may be obtained by molding or pre-forming the restraint to intimately surround the article. This can be accomplished by die cut material stand-offs, builtpads, end caps and spacers generally made from corrugated or solid foam materials. Except for the deformation of the material, the full shipping and handling loads are transmitted to the fragile article.

In another approach, the article is suspended around a structure by attaching elastic cords or other deformable tension type devices acting i against gravity and anticipated shipping and i handling loads. The structure may be separate from or combined into the external container. This -d 1 1 WO 891/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -4approach is especially useful in withstanding large shipping and handling shock loads with minimum transfer of the load to the article being shipped.

Another approach cradles and suspends the article within a recess in a sheet or film, instead of cords or individual tension devices. Sheets may be include deformable wrapping films, liners, pads, sacks, or other materials. These cradles suspend the article primarily against gravity, allowing limited swing movement in other directions within the container (not a complete fill of the container). These flexible cradles may be suspended and/or further restrained by other rigid materials within the external container, or the external container itself. Examples of internal rigid support materials include struts and stays, cardboard or stiff paper frames.

In a modification to the cradle/hammock approach, 2 or more films are used to obtain suspension type of support and immobilize or encapsulate the article. Heat shrinkable films are a common method of achieving encapsulation. Two sheets or films are held together, encapsulating and/or shrunk around the article and supported from a rigid member. Examples of encapsulated hammock or i Ip p. 1 1 il 1 WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 cradle suspension type of packing are shown in United States Patent Numbers 4,606,460; 4,606,459; 3,853,220; and 2,501,570. Because of the encapsulated approach, swing type of movements are essentially eliminated and except for the deformation of the shrink wrap sheets, the full shipping and handling loads are transmitted to the wrapped, possibly fragile article.

This encapsulated approach has also been used for external packaging, as well as packing within a shipping or handling package. A pre-formed rigid frame, container or package is used to anchor the encapsulated article. The container and article withstand the full shipping and handling loads.

Examples include blister packs and rolled drawing containers. These rigid or semi-rigid containers can also be attached to a card to provide a means for rack or hook display. In a modification of this approach, the rigid container is also transparent allowing the customer to fully view the article.

In a further modification, package is not preformed, but is shrunk fit or formed around the article while the packaging material is flexible (for example using vacuum to draw a thermosetting plastic film around the article) r then setting WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/006 1 -6thermo-setting material) the previously flexible material to form a rigid container. This approach immobilizes the article and completely encapsulates it.

In still another approach, the membranes encapsulating the article are also used to form a pillow type of support, as previously described. At least one of the membranes is extended to enclose a volume or sealed to another air tight structure to enclose a volume and form an inflatable pillow-like chamber. The pillow may be air tight, or orificed to act as a fluid damped shock absorbing mechanism.

An Example of an encapsulated and pillow like support is shown in United States Patent Number 4,491,225.

STRUCTURAL MATERIALS AND FORMS Nearly all of the interface packing materials, especially sheet type of packing approaches, require rigid support. Support may be by direct attachment to the external package, but is commonly an internal separator or rigid packing insert.

Planar reinforcing structural material are common. A typical internal separator or insert composed of folded or cross-locking cardboard 1 1 1 1 I 1' Wo 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -7sheets. Folds or cross-locking provide structural integrity in several directions. Folds or crosslocking orientation must be retained in position in order to obtain this structural integrity.

Interface material support frames are provided in a variety of situations. Interface materials may be attached or blocked by packing support frames.

Corner structural packing forms are also common. Corner forms center and protect the article, especially if the external package is insufficient to protect the article from shocks and loads emanating from the corner dropping package on corner). These corner packings may be made from cross-braced cardboard-like material or solid inserts placed at the corners.

All the above described approaches rely upon one or more of the following techniques: 1) the article is encapsulated or otherwise attached to a rigid, structural packing or package member by means of a deformable interface packing member, and/or 2) the article is unattached, but suspended or cushioned by loosely fitting wrap, inflated, filled or crushable interface packing materials, or E 1 WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -8- 3) the article is attached and supported by rigid, but deformable or crushable packing or package material.

Special problems occur when shock and shipment protection of a large flat and fragile object, such as framed lithographic prints and glass art panels, is desired. The container for these large flat objects is also typically a larger flat container.

If the container is dropped and one corner hits the ground first, the impact force is transmitted to only a corner of the fragile object, possibly twisting or breaking it. Common packing inserts (foam, pillows, etc.) may reduce and distribute the impact force, but all of the prior art transmit the shock force without limits. These torsional loads of large flat objects, further compounds problems and the chance of breakage.

Another problem with protecting long flat objects is flexion. When a long glass panel is supported only along one or more edges, the object weight and shipping loads tends cause flexion of the object, such as a glass panel. Additional packing inserts may be required to support the glass at multiple interior points.

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WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -9- Disclosure of Invention Embodiments of the present invention may: provide a packing which suspends a fragile article in a frame without attachment to or encapsulation of the article; provide a packing which provides an elastic, floating support, but strictly limit S: the unacceptable shipping and handling loads transmitted to the fragile article in specific directions to a specific upper limit; 0 provide a packing which does not always require pre-formed and separate rigid material separators or inserts within the *00VO S o0 15 container; 00 provide protection from dust and other contaminants; provide a packing which provides a stand off within the package, but can be stored flat; provide a packing which allows the article to be visually inspected without disassembly; provide a packing which reduces filling times; and 4, f :I I I 10 may provide a low cost/weight packing which does not require special post-packing treatment.

Therefore, in a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for packaging an object which comprises: at least two spacing elements, each comprising a frame defining a central opening and a sheet of pliable material stretched over the opening and attached to the frame; means for holding the spacing elements in symmetrical alignment and for placing the sheet of pliable material against opposite sides of the object sandwiched therebetween and with sufficient pressure to hold the object and limit its movement in relation to the 000 15 device when the device is subject to impacts from various directions; wherein the means for holding comprise a rigid shipping container or the like enclosing the 4: S-each of the spacing elements comprising a generally planar frame, the frame being shaped and dimensioned to o4 contact inner walls of the container; and 0 "0 wherein each of the spacing elements has a plurality .00.

0: of foldable flaps, with at least one flap having an edge 0.00 foldingly attached to the frame and an opposite edge 25 resting against an interior surface of the container; *00 0.00 the flaps being shaped and dimensioned to space the frame apart from an interior surface of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an article is held in frictional contact by sandwiching the article between two pliable and flexible membranes, which are each attached to a separate supporting frame.

The frames have a central opening over which the pliable material is attached. Attachment of the pliable material may also be used to secure loose folds, flaps, and separators to the frame, creating a rigid structural packing form. The frames are normally separated, but may 22066-A42611 7.02.92 2206-A/426/1 7.02.92 -~i I I i I I 10a be attached to each other or may be biased towards each other by initially loose fitting inserts or flaps to maintain a high friction contact between the pliable membranes and the article to be shipped. The friction contact limits handling and shipping shock loads that caD be transmitted to the protected item.

Multiple items and loose fittings separators may also be frictionally held between the pliable materials as long as space is available within the frame opening.

The technique does not require attachment of the article or spacers since the 0 0 a

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55505 22066-A/426/17.02.92 i WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -11pression of two pliable membranes against the article and separators is sufficient to immobilize it against forces up to a frictional limit. The pliable membrane may even be punctured (accidentally or otherwise) by sharp points on the article without compromisin structural integrity and further limiting loads on the sharp protrusion.

Even if not punctured, sharp points on the article cause the membrane to deform at these points, which further distributes the shipping and handling loads. The fragile protruding article may also be protected against dust and other contaminants by the pliable membranes, even if punctured as the membrane remains tight around the protrusion.

Exceptionally heavy articles may be partially supported by the pliable membrane frictional contact.

Large transient drop and/or shock loads to the fragile article ar limited by the trampoline like action of the membrane in one direction and friction resistance/defornation and ultimate movement of the article between the membranes in other directions, at least until the article moves to contact an adjacent article or edge to the frames. Because the pliable materials are flexible WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -12and are not vacuum shrunk around or otherwise tightly wrapped around the article, the shocks, shipping and handling loads (up to the frictional limit just described) are elastically distributed along the contacting surface of the fragile. If the sheets of pliable material are transparent, inspections of the article are simplified, and aesthetic appeal to the customer can be maintained.

In another embodiment, the frames and stretched pliable membranes are combined with covers to form a single piece shipper.

In still another embodiment a packing spacer is formed supporting an object within its shipping container in a friction and floating arrangement that absorbs flexion and torsion of the container.

The spacer is a box-like structure with at least one open face covered with a flexible membrane.

The object rests against the membrane. The contour of the other faces of the structure are shaped and dimensioned to match the internal geometry of the container. Typically the box-like structure is a wedge that fits in one corner of the container.

Four such wedges are used to support the object.

WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -13- Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a sheet packing of a glass goblet within a box container; Figure 2 shows a side cross sectional view of the sheet packing suspending the glass goblet article; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an alternate configuration mailer about to suspend a breakable wall plaque; Figure 4 shows a sheet packing suspending multiple small items; Figure shows a shipping container with multiple sheet packings; Figure 6 shows a packing corner form prior to assembly; Figure 7 shows an assembled packing corner form; Figure 8 shows an assembled packing corner forms installed within a package; Figure 9 shows an exploded view of multiple article packing; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a membrane packing for exceptionally heavy articles; t :2 1 19 1 WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -14- Figure 11 shows a cross sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Figure Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a boot; Figure 13 shows an exploded view of an alternate multi-article pa'xing; Figure 14 shows a front view of the alternate multi-article packing; Figure 15 shows a perspective view of assembled floating packing inserts; Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a corner insert; Figure 17 shows a perspective view of a side insert; and Figure 18 shows an alternate corner insert.

Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a sheet packing of a glass goblet within a box container. The rigid or semi-rigid shipping box 2 can be made from cardboard, plastic or other appropriate materials, providing the structural integrity to withstand the shipping and handling loads. A first frame 3 fits within the shipping

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oo8064 critS89o8s container or box 2, resting the first frame's rear face 4 against the rear face 5 of box 2. The first frame 3 may be made from a flat panel, blank or strip of cardboard or other rigid or semi-rigid material, but does not have to be continuous. The frame can be composed of four or more separate strips of rigid planar material or one diecut planar section having flaps which are foldably attached. A space or opening large enough to pass the article 6 is provided in frame 3. The frame mounts a first sheet of pliable material 7 which is transparent in this embodiment, but could as well be opaque. The pliable film in this preferred embodiment is also self-adhesive, providing a means for attaching the separated panels or flaps together as well as securing the pliable film or membrane over the front face 8 of the frame. The self-adhesive properties may be obtained by using the clinging properties of some types of film or membrane materials vinyl), or applying a coating of tacky material and/or adhesive to the membrane or film.

The sheet 7 may be made from a resilient laminate, woven, fabric, netting, vinyl, polyethylene or puncturable elastomeric film. A 1 1 1 r i ~I ~r i~ ii i WO 891080664 PCT/US89/006'5 -16puncturable film would allow sharp protrusions of article 6 to puncture the film, but not fully tear the material under severe loads. The sheet of pliable and/or stretchable material 7 is attached over the front face 8 of first frame 3 around the edges. Attachment does not have to extend to all contacting portions of the pliable material to the frame. Attachment may be by means of glue or other adhesive or can rely on the pliable material's contact properties grabbing the edges of first frame 3. The article or solid object 6 being shipped in this embodiment is a fragile glass goblet. An alternate embodiment could have pliable sheet 7 cover only a portion of the front face 8.

A second frame 9 also provides an opening large enough to pass article 6, and is similai in shape and construction to the first frame 3. The peripheral flaps are folded and held in position by inserting into the box or external package 2. The depth 10 of second frame 9 can be altered by moving the folding lines of the frame flaps. When the flaps are not folded, the frame can be stored flat prior to use. The second frame depth 10 is selected to resiliently fili shipping box 2 in conjunction with the first frame 3 and the article ii :1 i:i i' ii

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i WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -17- 6, between rear face 5 and the four top face coverflaps 11 of box 2, when the shipping box is closed.

A second pliable sheet 12 is stretched over the face of second frame 9 and attached to its periphery. When the second frame 9 is held against article 6 and first frame 3, the pliable materials deform around article 6 which is now located within the central openings of both frames. The pliable material is not shrunk or vacuum sealed against article 6, but the flexibility of sheets 7 and 12 spreads the contact area over a significant portion of article 6, and suspend the article by friction between the pliable sheets.

Figure 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of the sheet packing suspending the glass goblet article. The shipping box 2 encloses the packing and article. The shipping and handling loads are transferred from the the box 2 to the frames 3 and 9 which are immobilized in the box 2. The goblet 6 is suspended by friction between the pliable sheets C 7 and 12 pressed against the article 6 by the frames 3 and 9 held in place by the rear face 5 and the front flaps 11 of box 2. The article 6 can translate between the pliable sheets 7 and 12 if i loads in this direction exceed the frictional r WO 89/08064 PCT/US89!00675 -18force limits. Loads in this direction below the frictional limit and loads in other directions are absorbed by the pliable/flexible nature of the membrane, acting as a spring to absorb the shocks resulting from shipping and handling.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an alternate configuration mailer about to suspend a breakable wall plaque 14. The mailer first frame 13 has a first pliable material 7 stretched over one face and over an opening large enough to pass the shipping object 14. A mailer second frame is similar in construction, having a second pliable sheet 12 stretched over the face and opening adjoining the first pliable material 7. Two mailer flaps 16 may be an integral part of the frame construction or may be attached to the mailer frames which are also bonded together by an adhesive 22 to form a single piece construction mailer. The thickness or depth of the mailer frames need not fully enclose the article 14 being Sshipped, as the flaps 16 can be formed to provide additional thickness and protection. The material of the mailer frames and flaps can be cardboard, foam core material or other treated paper product.

Additional protection can be provided by making the t 'WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -19flap out of a crushable material.

Figure 4 shows a sheet packing capable of suspending multiple small items to be shipped. A first frame 17 contains multiple openings which can pass the multiple articles, such as sensitive electronic chips, to be shipped (the articles not shown for clarity in this figure). The first sheet of pliable material 7 does not have to be shrinkable or stretched over one face of the first frame 17, but is attached to the first frame 17 without significant tensile forces stretching or otherwise applied to the pliable material. A second frame 18 is of similar construction, having a second sheet of pliable material 12 attached, but not stretched over a face of the second frame 18. With the frame 18 in a horizontal position, articles placed in the openings will tend to self center and stretching of the pliable material will suspend the center of the article below the plane of the frame. The two symmetrical frames can then be brought and held together in a face-to-face alignment which captures and immobilizes the articles sandwiched therebetween. The frames 17 and 18 normally would be attached, diecut and scored to fold together..

Figure 5 shows an alternate shipping container 1 B i i 1 1 1 11 l n 1 1 1 11 1 l S WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 with multiple sheet packings. If the articles are thinner than the walls of the frames, there is no need for the spacers or slots. If the article's size exceeds the frame thickness, the multiple shipping container 19 can be slotted on the inside to retain the several individual sheet packings The sheet packings are similar to the mailing frames shown in Figure 3, with or without the flap covers 16, enclosing small articles to be shipped 21, such as an electronic chip. Slots in the container 19 can hold frames of sheet packings against each other, or the frames may be adhesively attached to each other without the slots in container 19 to form the sheet packing prior to inserting into the multiple shipping container 19.

The devices and techniques described above can be adapted to accommodate a great variety of articles and container configurations. For example, the thickness or depth of the sheetsupporting frame, the spacing between frames and the contour of the frame can be infinitely varied.

The frame may be angular or arcuate, closed or open-ended and held together by the outer frames as illustrated in Figure 1, or by the spacer bracket i or bonding material as described in connection with vWO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -21the embodiment of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a planar structural packing member embodiment prior to assembly. A cardboard-like planar packing material 23 is composed of a central section 24 having a central opening 25 covered by a transparent film 26, and foldably attached triangular-shaped flaps 27, 28 and 29 extending from each of the triangular edges of the central section 24. The transparent film 26 covers the back portions (in this view) of the central section 24 and flaps 27, 28 and 29, and extends beyond the edges of one of the flaps 27. The transparent film in this embodiment has self-adhesive surface tension properties.

Figure 7 shows the planar cardboard-like packing member folded into a pyramidal corner form.

All three flaps (two of three not visible in this view) are folded towards each other and extended portions of the pliable membrane 26 self-adhere to adjoining section (flap 28 shown) and retain the adjoining sections into a three dimensional corner form. The central opening 25 continues to be covered by the film 26, and can support and protect I a corner of an article (not shown for clarity) similar to the support and protection shown in Ij 1 1 i: WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -22- Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 8 shows several assembled packing corner forms, made from a planar cardboard 23, within a package 30 (shown dotted for clarity).

The film 26 interfaces with a corner of the article being protected (not shown for clarity) and holds the three dimensional form of the previously planar cardboard section without any other means of attachment. A minimum of two corner forms could be used to protect the article or solid object at opposite corners, but a corner protection at more than two corners is the preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the external package 30 provides the means for holding the corner form frames apart and against the object to be protected from the shipping and handling loads.

Figure 9 shows an exploded view of an alternate multiple article embodiment of the invention. Two separators 31 composed of two cross-linked planar cardboard segments are inserted 9. within frames 32 and 36 and against their respective membranes 33. The separators are held in place by the walls of the packing container (not shown) The width 34 of the separators is slightly greater than depth 35 of the frame, which

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SWO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -23forces the cross-linked separator 34 into membrane 33. The articles 37, glasses in this embodiment, are positioned in line with the space between cross-linked members of the separators 31 between the first and second membranes 33. When the symmetrical frame and separator assembly are brought together, the glasses are grabbed by the membranes which are stretched forming a series of cocoon-like cells within said spaces.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a membrane packing of two exceptionally heavy (thick) panes of glass 38. The transparent membrane 39 is stretched across a folded cardboard insert 40. The folding outboard flaps (41, 42 and others not visible in this view) of the cardboard insert 40 are held in place by the attached membrane 39 to form a ductlike structure. The inherior flaps 43 are folded against the exterior package (not shown for clarity) near the bottom center of the duct-like insert 40 structure. The interior flaps 43 serve as an additional weight carrying structure to carry the heavy glass panes 38. The pliable membrane 39 partially supports the glass panes 38 along the bottom 44, but the corners of the bottom (though the pliable membrane also rest against the interior v WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -24flaps 43). A similar packing duct-like structure is applied to the top edges 45 of the glass articles 38. The interior flaps may or may not support the article in this upper position, but allow the external container to be inverted without damage to the articles.

The other glass pane 38 is protected with a boot 46 covering the bottom 44 of the glass pane 38. The boot interfaces with the membrane 39, minimizing the possibility of sharp edges of the glass pane 38 puncturing the membrane 39. The boot helps distribute the weight of the glass pane 38.

The boot also changes the frictional resistance and potential for relative movement between the article being shipped 38 and the membrane 39 when shock and vibration forces are applied to the package/packing. If the article is to be nearly immobilized, a high static coefficient of friction can be achieved by adding a wrap interface to the boot 46 with a second membrane 49 to interface with the first membrane 39. With the boot, alternate interface wrap materials 49 can be selected to precisely adjust frictional resistance to limit the loads which may be applied prior to relative motion between the booted article 38 and the membrane 39.

WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 Alternate boot configurations could also include cutouts to achieve different frictional resistances at different positions (loads) or an alternate method of adjusting overall frictional resistance.

Cutouts could also provide relief to article protrusions at the interface.

Figure 11 is the cross-sectional view of the membrane support for the glass panes 38. Pliable membrane 39 is stretched across the central opening of both the upper and lower packing duct-like frames 40. Flaps 43 do not contact the membrane 39 on the upper packing, nor do they partially support the glass panes 38 at the upper edge 45. Only the membrane 39 supports the upper edge 45 (see Figure 10) of the article 38. However, the weight of the glass panes 38 force the bottom edge 44 and membrane 39 into the internal flaps 43 of the lower packing. The internal flaps 43 are supported by the remainder of the duct-like structure of the packing and tho external package (not shown for 'ji clarity, similar to the container shown in Figure It should be noted that additional glass panes could be packaged between the two shown on the i drawing.

r WO 89/08064 PCT/US89006'15 -26- Figure 12 shows a shipping boot 46. The boot is composed of a card-like material 47 having a cutout 48. The cutout 48 is partially covered by second membrane 49. The first membrane 39 (see Figure 10) mostly contacts the second membrane 49 at the interface, with the cutout 48 primarily provided for ease of assembly and ease of removal.

However, other cutout geometries can accommodate shipment of odd-shaped articles (see Figure 10) and provide greater contact at the interface between the cardboard boot component 47 and the first membrane, or partial contact between the article to be shipped and the first membrane 39.

Resistance to movement of the article 38 (see Figure 10) being shipped would be dependent upon the frictional coefficients of friction of the first membrane 39 against the second membrane 49, the element 47, and the article 38. Further resistance to motion can be incorporated into the flaps 43.

Alternate boot configurations could incorporate multiple openings, similar to the opening 48 shown, at the first membrane interface.

Thus ;-ombinations of the frame 40, membranes 39, boots 46 and supporting flaps 43 can be varied to 1; .1 P US39/ 675 WO 89/08064 pCTUS8900675 -27- Si offer a wide range of protection for different types of articles.

Figure 13 shows an exploded view of an alternate multi-article embodiment (articles being shipped not shown for clarity). A first frame packing 50 (similar to frame 3) as shown in Figure 1) and membrane 51 is oppositely placed from second frame packing 52 and its membrane 51. A multiarticle separator 53 is placed parallel to the opposing faces of the first and second frames and 52. The separator 53 contains cutouts 54 shaped to conform to the articles being shipped (see Figure 14). The multi-article separator positions articles held by the membranes 51 when the frames are biased towards each other by the external box 55 ends and flaps 56. The multiarticle separator does not need to restrain the movement of articles under shock loads, but it may assist the membranes in holding the articles.

Figure 14 is a front view of an open package as shown in Figure 13. The flaps 56 are opened to expose the first frame 50 and the attached i transparent membrane 51. The multi-article separator 53 is visible through the transparent membrane 51, as are the cutouts 54 and the multiple p PCT/US89/00615 WO 89/08064 -28glass articles being shipped 57. The cutouts 54 may snugly fit the articles 57 or may only loosely position the articles 57. The packaging, when opened presents an attractive display of the articles, as well as providing protection and being useable for other articles. A new multi-article separator having different cutouts is all that is needed to allow the packaging to ship several other articles or unusually shaped objects. In an alternate embodiment, the cutouts 54 in the multiarticle separator are more generally shaped, only loosely positioning (and separating) the articles being shipped. In this embodiment, the package may be used to ship other articles with no change in multi-article separator 53.

Figure 15 shows the preferred embodiment of an assembled shock-absorbent packing insert assembly protecting a long flat fragile article 58. Typical articles of this type include glass panels, illuminated signs, art panels, and framed paintings. The long thin external package 59 encloses the article 58, and the package 59 (just prior to closing with flaps open) is shown in phantom for clarity. The external package 59 may be used for storage, display or other purposes jj i:i is

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r, i i 'WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -29where handling loads are foreseen. Four corner spacers or inserts 60 are a box-like frame cardboard construction, having two outer faces 61 in intimate contact with the inner surface of the external container or package 59. The multi-faced frame 60 is hollow, but may also be fluid filled if fully enclosed. On a surface 62 not in intimate contact with the interior surfaces of the container 59, an opening or port 63 is covered by a transparent membrane 64, such as a plastic film.

The film '54 is stretched over at least part of the opening 63 and attached to the box-like corner frame insert Attachment of the membrane 64 to the frame can be by means of a separate adhesive, an adhesive coated plastic membrane or the tactile/self adhesive properties of the membrane 64. The corner inserts 60 having the membrane 64 in contact with shipping object or fragile item 58 acts as both an anchor and a corner suspension of the item 58.

Sliding against the membrane allows the assembly to accept forces or shock loads tending to distort the object 58. This limits forces on the article to those resulting from the membrane to article frictional coefficient and normal loads between the WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 corner of the article 58 and membrane 64. Loads in excess of these limits result in translational or sliding movement of the box-like corner insert with respect to the object or article 58. As long as the translational motion does not bring the boxlike insert 60 frame structure (one of the edges of the opening 63 most likely) into contact with the article 58, torsional loads are limited. The frictional force limit can be controlled (selection of normal force and membrane material's coefficient of friction, or additional material between the membrane and the article) so that the maximum force is within safe limits (causing no distortion or breakage).

In the preferred embodiment, the interior inserts 65 are also provided for still further shock absorbing protection of the article 58. The interior inserts again consist of a multi-faced frame, each having at least sides 66 in intimate contact with the interior surfaces 67 of the container 59. The interior inserts are placed to support the fragile article 58 when the package 59 is placed on one of its larger sides, placing one of the larger sides 68 parallel to the ground, or when shock loads from a direction perpendicular to WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -31side 68 must be provided for.

The interior insert frame 69 also includes an opening 70, partially covered by a membrane 64. The membrane 64 is spread over the opening 70 and contacts the article 58. Lateral forces not perpendicular to the article face 68 are again limited by the frictional contact between the membrane 64 and article 58. Frictional forces again can be controlled to prevent excessive forces being applied to the article. Supporting forces, even when the insert is displaced in response to shock or other loads are still evenly distributed along the long fragile face 68 of the article 58.

Interior supports do not have to be directly opposing, but an opposing bias or other means must be provided to resist the forces normal to the longest face 68 generated by the anchored (in the package) interior insert 65 in contact with the object 58.

Figure 16 shows one of the corner inserts Four of the outer surfaces 61 are in intimate contact wi-th the package or container 59 (see Figure 15) which serves to anchor the insert in one corner of the package. The membrane 64 is spread over port or opening 63 on a surface 62 not WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00615 -32in intimate contact with the shipping container 59 (see Figure 15). Two of the lower corner inserts may be placed in the shipping container 59 (see Figure 15), followed by the article 58 and the two upper corner inserts 60. The spacing of the ported face 62 from the corners of container 59 the dimension between corners of container 59, and the length of the edges of article face 68 (see Figure determine the extent of penetration of article 58 corner into port 63 of ported face 62. In the configuration shown, the membrane 64 is self adhesive, and is used to cover the outer congruent surfaces (hidden in Figure 16) to hold and retain the box-like structure into the desired corner shape.

Figure 17 shows an interior insert Three outer surfaces 66 of the interior insert are in intimate contact with the inner surfaces 67 of the container 59 (see Figure 15). Only one portion of the opening 70 is covered by the membrane 64, which is stretched over and attached to the ported face as well as a portion of the f outer faces 66. Extending of the membrane 64 to the outer faces 66, which is placed in intimate S contact with the interior surfaces of the container i i v l K WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00675 -33- i 59 (see Figure 15) provides an additional structural (frictional forces and self adhesive membrane holding of box-like insert cardboard flaps in place).

Figure 18 shows an alternate shock absorbing package insert assembly. Alternate inserts 69 are similar to extended corner inserts as shown in Figure 16. These alternate inserts 69 can be used to support one larger fragile article 70 within a larger outer container 71 (shown in phantom with flaps closed for clarity), or a series of smaller articles, similar in shape to the article 58 shown in Figure 15. The alternate insert 69 has outer faces in intimate contact with the container 71 and a larger ported face 72, over which the membrane 64 is spread and attached. The extended corner type of membrane 64 suspension of the larger article 70 (or multiple smaller articles) again allows the container to flex, twist, or otherwise deform without applying these excessive deforming loads to the article(s).

Normal supporting loads are again distributed along the edges of the article 70 to avoid stress ii concentrations within the article.

i i L~ i_ WO 89/08064 PCT/US89/00615 -34- In the preferred embodiment, the materials of construction of the shock-absorbing spacer are a sturdy grade of cardboard for the box-like frame, having foldable flaps to create the box like shape.

The membrane 64 is preferably made from an extruded PVC (polyvinyl chloride) film having a thickness between 2 and 10 mils. Other transparent thermoplastic films and surface finishes can also be selected if a different coefficient of friction is desired. The thickness can be varied for various load carrying support and resilience properties. However, the extruded PVC membrane has been found to exhibit good frictional properties, superior resistance to puncturing or ripping loads and excellent memory, that is the membrane after being stretched returns quickly to its initial formation.

While the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

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Claims (6)

1. A device for packaging an object which comprises: at least two spacing elements, each comprising a frame defining a central opening and a sheet of pliable material stretched over said opening and attached to said frame; means for holding saj spacing elements in symmetrical alignment and for placing said sheet of pliable material against opposite sides of said object sandwiched therebetween and with sufficient pressure to hold the object and limit its movement in relation to said device when said device is subject to impacts from various directions; wherein said means for holding comprise a rigid shipping container or the like enclosing 15 said elements; each of said spacing elements comprising a generally planar frame, said frame being shaped and dimensioned to contact inner walls of said container; and wherein each of said spacing elements has a S. 20 plurality of foldable flaps, with at least one flap having an edge foldingly attached to said frame and an opposite edge resting against an interior surface of said container; .said flaps being shaped and dimensioned to space 25 said frame apart from an interior surface of said container.

2. The device of claim 1 which also comprises means for keeping said foldable flaps in a fixed position.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said means for keeping said foldable flaps in a fixed position comprises a sheet of self-adhesive film.

4. The device of claim 1, shaped and dimensioned to sandwich more than one said object between said spacing K\ elements.

36-A/426/17.02.92 -L i, 36 The device of claim 4, wherein each said spacing element has a plurality of openings, each of said opening large enough to pass said object. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said container is shaped and dimensioned to hold a plurality of pairs of said spacing elements. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said sheet of pliable material is attached to said frame by the surface contact resistance and stretchable properties of said sheet of pliable material. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said spacing frictional contact with one of said sheets of pliable oo* C material, said boot comprising material selected to S"increase friction of said object against one of said sheets of pliable material. 9. The device of claim 1 which also comprises a multiple object separator. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said separator is placed parallel to said spacing elements, said separator comprising a generally planar structure having a plurality of openings, each opening large enough to pass a portion of one of said multiple objects. 11. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said spacing elements comprises a hollow, polyhedral box made of cardboard and having at least four planar faces, two of said faces being contiguous and being shaped and oriented to intimately nest into an inside corner of said container.

22066-A/426/17.02.92 i 37 12. The device of claim 11, wherein each of said boxes comprises: an elongated, rectangular polyhedron defining four rectangular, contiguous, long sides capped at opposite ends by top and bottom panels, said box having an opening extending generally over the entire length of a first one of said long sides, and partially over the length of at least one of said long sides adjacent to said first long side; and wherein said contiguous faces comprise a side opposite said first long side, and one of said top and bottom panels. 13. The device of claim 1, wherein said sheet of pliable material consists of an extended sheet of PVC having a 15 thickness ranging from 0.05 to 0.25 millimetres. o 14. A device for packaging a solid object substantially S: as herein described with reference to the accompanying figures. DATED this 18th day of February 1992 S 20 LOUIS HERBERT RIDGEWAY S. By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO 66-A/42 17.02.92 ii 1 II