GB1573939A - Protective packaging member - Google Patents

Description

(54) PROTECTIVE PACKAGING MEMBER (71) We, DUFFIN CONTAINERS LIMITED, a British Company, of Globe Paperboard Mill, Grays, Essex RM176SU, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a protective packaging member of shock-absorbent material which is to be applied to a corner or edge of an article to protect it against possible impact shock during transit or storage.

The invention is used to protect the corners or edges of articles such as furniture or picture frames for example.

One object of the invention is to increase the capability of the protective packaging member to absorb impact shocks.

According to the invention, a protective packaging member for a corner or edge of an article comprises a block of shockabsorbent material shaped to form two arms at right angles to one another, wherein a folded strip of corrugated board or solid board extends across two meeting surfaces of the two arms and is secured only at longitudinally-spaced portions to the block.

The block may be a foamed plastics material, e.g. expanded polystyrene or a heavy density chipfoam or similar product.

By way of example the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which, Figure 1 is a side view of a block for an Lshape protective member, Figure 2 shows a flat foldable blank of corrugated board, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the block provided with the folded blank, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a block for a second protective member, Figure 5 shows a second flat foldable blank of corrugated board, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second protective member.

Referring to Figure 1, a protective corner member of shock-absorbent material provided by a block of expanded polystyrene consist of two arms 10, 11 which define an L-shape and are formed with two narrow recesses 12 extending across the end surfaces of the arms. Between the recesses 12 lie two surfaces 13 of the arms which meet one another at 90" along a corner of the block. The block which may be shaped in a mould or by a cutting wire is intended for the protection of a right angle corner of an article.

Referring to Figure 2, an oblong blank 15 for forming a shock-absorbent strip is diecut from a matrix sheet of corrugated board and divided by parallel transverse fold lines (shown in chain line) into attachment panels 16, minor panels 17 and major panels 18.

The fold lines 19 are reverse creases.

The blank 15 is folded about its substantially central fold line 20 to form a double thickness and is then applied to the block where it is folded about its other fold lines so that the major panels 18 follow and extend across the surfaces 13, the minor panels 17 extend partly across the end surfaces of the arms 10, 11 and the attachment panels 16 enter the recesses 12 in which they make a snug fit. The resulting resilient folded strip is thus secured to the block by the frictional engagement of its end portions in the recesses 12. The protective member comprising the block and the strip (see Figure 3) is now ready for use.

During packaging of an article having right-angled corners the strip-provided block is fitted to a corner of the article to protect it during transit or storage, the strip being adjacent the article. The packaging is then completed so as to hold the block in position, similar strip-provided blocks being also fitted to other corners of the article as appropriate. Should an impact be applied to an outer surface of a block opposite one of the inner surfaces 13, shock is absorbed not only by the block of expanded polystyrene but also by the double thickness folded strip of corrugated board. Although the resiliency of the strip is small it has been found that the provision of the strip considerably increases the total absorption of shock by the protective member.

Referring to the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 46, a protective corner member of shockabsorbent material provided by a recessed block of expanded polystyrene is formed with two narrow recesses 24 extending across the end surfaces of two sides 25, 26.

Between the recesses 24 lie two surfaces 27, 28 of the block which meet one another at 90". A third surface 29 extends at 90" to the surfaces 27, 28. The recessed block which may be shaped in a mould or by a cutting wire is intended for the protection of a right angle corner of an article.

Referring to Figure 5, a blank for forming a shock-absorbent strip is die-cut from a matrix sheet of corrugated board and divided by parallel transverse fold lines (shown in chain line) into attachment panels 30, minor panels 31 and major panels 32.

The fold lines 33 are reverse creases. The major panels 32 hingedly support tapered side panels 34.

The blank is folded about its substantially central fold line 34 to form a double thickness, the side panels 34 are folded through 90 , and then the blank is applied to the block where it is folded about its other fold lines so that the major panels 32 follow and extend across the surfaces 27, 28, the minor panels 31 extend partly across the end surfaces of the sides 25, 26, the attachment panels 30 enter the recesses 24 in which they make a snug fit and the side panels 34 overlap the block surface 29. The resulting resilient folded strip is thus secured to the block by the frictional engagement of its end portions in the recesses 12. The protective member comprising the block and the strip (see Figure 6) is now ready for use.

During packaging of an article such as a framed picture having right-angled corners the strip-provided block is fitted to a corner of the article to protect it during transit or storage, the strip being adjacent the article with the abutting side panels 34 underneath it. The packaging is then completed so as to hold the block in position, similar stripprovided blocks being also fitted to the other three corners of the article. Should an impact be applied to an outer surface of a block opposite one of the inner surfaces 27, 28, 29, shock is absorbed not only by the block of expanded polystyrene but also by the double thickness folded strip of corrugated board.

In any embodiment of the invention the folded strip may be applied to outer surfaces of the block instead of to the inner surfaces.

Furthermore, an alternative method of securing the folded strip to the block is by non-continuous adhesive bonding, e.g. end portions only of the folded strip are bonded to the block.

The folded strip is preferably folded to double thickness but alternatively may be used in single thickness form.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A protective packaging member for a corner or edge of an article and comprising a block of shock-absorbent material shaped to form two arms at right angles to one another, wherein a folded strip of corrugated board or solid board extends across two meeting surfaces of the two arms and is secured only at longitudinally-spaced portions to the block.

2. A packaging member according to claim 1, wherein the block is provided with recesses and the strip is secured to the block by engagement of its end portions in the recesses.

3. A packaging member according to claim 2, wherein the recesses are formed in two other surfaces of the block, the strip being folded about at least five parallel fold lines.

4. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strip is folded double before being secured to the block.

5. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is shaped to form a third arm at right angles to the other two arms and wherein the strip includes laterally projecting panels which together extend substantially across a surface of the third arm.

6. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is of foamed plastics material or a heavy density chipform.

7. A packaging member according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the block is of expanded polystyrene and the strip is of corrugated board.

8. A packaging member including a strip of corrugated board substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1--3, or Figures 46, of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. found that the provision of the strip considerably increases the total absorption of shock by the protective member. Referring to the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 46, a protective corner member of shockabsorbent material provided by a recessed block of expanded polystyrene is formed with two narrow recesses 24 extending across the end surfaces of two sides 25, 26. Between the recesses 24 lie two surfaces 27, 28 of the block which meet one another at 90". A third surface 29 extends at 90" to the surfaces 27, 28. The recessed block which may be shaped in a mould or by a cutting wire is intended for the protection of a right angle corner of an article. Referring to Figure 5, a blank for forming a shock-absorbent strip is die-cut from a matrix sheet of corrugated board and divided by parallel transverse fold lines (shown in chain line) into attachment panels 30, minor panels 31 and major panels 32. The fold lines 33 are reverse creases. The major panels 32 hingedly support tapered side panels 34. The blank is folded about its substantially central fold line 34 to form a double thickness, the side panels 34 are folded through 90 , and then the blank is applied to the block where it is folded about its other fold lines so that the major panels 32 follow and extend across the surfaces 27, 28, the minor panels 31 extend partly across the end surfaces of the sides 25, 26, the attachment panels 30 enter the recesses 24 in which they make a snug fit and the side panels 34 overlap the block surface 29. The resulting resilient folded strip is thus secured to the block by the frictional engagement of its end portions in the recesses 12. The protective member comprising the block and the strip (see Figure 6) is now ready for use. During packaging of an article such as a framed picture having right-angled corners the strip-provided block is fitted to a corner of the article to protect it during transit or storage, the strip being adjacent the article with the abutting side panels 34 underneath it. The packaging is then completed so as to hold the block in position, similar stripprovided blocks being also fitted to the other three corners of the article. Should an impact be applied to an outer surface of a block opposite one of the inner surfaces 27, 28, 29, shock is absorbed not only by the block of expanded polystyrene but also by the double thickness folded strip of corrugated board. In any embodiment of the invention the folded strip may be applied to outer surfaces of the block instead of to the inner surfaces. Furthermore, an alternative method of securing the folded strip to the block is by non-continuous adhesive bonding, e.g. end portions only of the folded strip are bonded to the block. The folded strip is preferably folded to double thickness but alternatively may be used in single thickness form. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A protective packaging member for a corner or edge of an article and comprising a block of shock-absorbent material shaped to form two arms at right angles to one another, wherein a folded strip of corrugated board or solid board extends across two meeting surfaces of the two arms and is secured only at longitudinally-spaced portions to the block.

2. A packaging member according to claim 1, wherein the block is provided with recesses and the strip is secured to the block by engagement of its end portions in the recesses.

3. A packaging member according to claim 2, wherein the recesses are formed in two other surfaces of the block, the strip being folded about at least five parallel fold lines.

4. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the strip is folded double before being secured to the block.

5. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is shaped to form a third arm at right angles to the other two arms and wherein the strip includes laterally projecting panels which together extend substantially across a surface of the third arm.

6. A packaging member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the block is of foamed plastics material or a heavy density chipform.

7. A packaging member according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the block is of expanded polystyrene and the strip is of corrugated board.

8. A packaging member including a strip of corrugated board substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1--3, or Figures 46, of the accompanying drawings.