GB2041870A

GB2041870A - Protective Sleeves

Info

Publication number: GB2041870A
Application number: GB8001267A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-16
Filing date: 1980-01-15
Publication date: 1980-09-17
Also published as: IT1133212B; FR2446713A1; DE3001326A1; IT8003313A0; BR7900281A

Abstract

A protective sleeve comprises an extruded polypropylene or polyethylene tube which has longitudinal cuts extending through 50% of its thickness to facilitate collapsing, the cuts at first 2, 3 and second 4, 5 pairs of opposed edges being formed in the outer and inner surfaces of the tube respectively. The cuts are formed by knives after extrusion. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process for Producing Packaging for Fragile Products and Packaging Thus Produced The present invention relates to a process for producing a wrapping for packaging fragile products, such as lamps, bottles and the like, as well as the wrapping produced by the process as to allow its production in one piece, not being subordinated to the use of conventional cardboard, and enables this wrapping to advantageously supersede traditional materials and as will be understood through the description of the invention.

The most commonly known wrapping, all over the world for the protective packaging of fragile products such as a lamp, is wavy or corrugated cardboard wherein one of the bands is parted producing walls that are foided for the transportation and open in the shape of a rectangular prism-it being necessary for that purpose, to join its two ends by means of a belt, preferably made of paper and glue. This system, according to what has already been said, is of universal use because this wrapping has its functional aspect, though it is toilful considering the requirement for manual work.On the other hand, other materials envisaged to substitute for the conventional paper or cardboard have not been successful since, on the one hand, any other more flexible material would not ave the desired result so as to serve as a shock absorbing means for fragile products such as lamps, during their transportation, and, on the other hand, a harder material would not have the characteristics of allowing the folding for its transportation and supply to the plant.

The aspects, in order to obtain a new wrapping for fragile products that would result in a highly advantageous product without the inconveniences presented up to this moment, have been studied since then, but no ideal product had yet been attained due to the difficulty both in the use of a product that would maintain the same qualities as or even ones superior to already known cardboard, and also concerning the process of making the package.

However, after considerable studies, researches and experiment involving both the process for production and the actual wrapping, the applicant believes the collimated aims have been attained as is the object of the present patent.

According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing a package or wrapping for fragile products which is characterized by including the stages of extruding the polypropylene, polyethylene or equivalent material from an extruding machine so as to produce an extruded body in expanded material in the shape of a square, rectangle or of other shaped tube or sleeve, said body having reduced wall thicknesses produced by an operation of cutting, kneading, refining or lowering or other reduction operation in its four corners, wherein two facing corners receive these reductions in the external surfaces of their vertices while the other two corners receive the reductions in their inward surfaces of their vertices; said reductions comprising approximately 50% (fifty per cent) of the wall thickness so as to make said corners malleable and flexible.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extruded body of polypropylene, polyethylene or other material with similar or identical characteristics and produced by an extruding machine and already expanded; Fig. 2 is an end or plan view of the extruded body, already with horizontal and cross-sections indicated on the corresponding sides; Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2, but wherein the closing together of parts of the wrapping has already been started for storage or transportation purposes; Fig. 4 is the final end or plan view of the wrapping, ready for transportation, before receiving a product; Fig. 5 is a perspective schematic illustration of the wrapping containing, by way of example, a lamp; and Fig. 6 is a combined elevation and plan illustrating wrapping positioned around a bottle.

In the drawings it is to be understood that the same reference numbers are applied to identical parts, various possibilities exist as to the shape of the final body produced, dependant according to the intended use.

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a wrapping for a fragile product which is obtained by a process that can produce a single and even body which is seamless, does not require manual work except where strictly necessary, which represents great economy, besides obtaining a number of wrappings in series, while on the other hand it is an aim to also provide a wrapping with fully satisfactorily expanded material which provides excellent conditions of use for the protection of a fragile product.

The invention comprises a process of producing a wrapping for protecting a fragile product, this process being characterised in extruding polypropylene, polyethylene or other material with identical characteristics from an extrusion machine in the form of a rectangular or square extruded and expanded body 1, such body being cut by guillotine or by a right sized and previously adjusted saw. The body 1 is provided with two cuttings or lowerings or reductions in the facing corners 2, 3 by means of conveniently placed heavy knives (not shown) the reductions being such as to reach a reference of approximately 50% (fifty per cent) of the thickness.The body 1 also receives two further cuts or reductions on the two other corresponding corners, such cuttings being on the inner sides of their respective corners 4, 5 and being provided to permit the pressing of sides A and B of the mentioned body against the sides C and D, promoted by the positioning of the vertices 4 and 5 of the corners for its folding. These cuttings or reductions, as one may see in Figs. 3 and 4, that follow Fig. 2, are possible only because they are provided in two opposite corners 2, 3, are diametrically opposed in the respective vertices and provide inner safety layers 2', 3', while in the other two corners 4, 5 the reductions or cuttings are provided in the inner parts, so as to establish outer safety layers 4', 5'. When the wrapping is not being used, or for its transportation up to the final insertion of a lamp, the vertices 4', 5' are pressed together for its junction, which is possible, because the reductions are in the inner or inside region, there are no disturbing inconveniences; similar considerations apply in relation to the vertices of the facing corners 2 and 3, which, thanks to the outward reductions, the sides automatically collapse under such pressing or folding. As we may easily conclude, the arrangements obtained can foresee both the cutting and the lowering consisting of either the kneading or the refining of the thickness of the aforesaid corners, so as to make them more malleable and flexible, allowing them to work as hinges and facilitating the folding of the package.

Claims

1. A process for producing a package or wrapping for fragile products which is characterised by including the stages of extruding the polypropylene, polyethylene or equivalent material from an extruding machine so as to produce an extruded body in expanded material in the shape of a square, rectangle or of other shaped tube or sleeve; said body having reduced wall thicknesses produced by an operation of cutting, kneading, refining or lowering or other reduction operation in its four corners, wherein two facing corners receive these reductions in the external surfaces of their vertices, while the other two corners receive the reductions in their inward surfaces of their vertices; said reductions comprising approximately 50% (fifty per cent) of the wall thickness so as to make said corners malleable and flexible.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which the above mentioned reductions (such as cuttings or lowerings) are such as to allow the dislocation or displacement of the vertices with inside cuttings, by pressing the same, such pressing establishing the formation of a flat piece through the articulation of the equivalent sides (A, C, B, D).

3. A package for fragile products, comprising an extruded sleeve or tube-like body in expanded material such body presenting corresponding cuttings or reductions in diametrically opposite corners, in the vertices of which layers are formed with the reductions in one diametrically opposite pair of vertices facing outwardly and of the other pair of vertices facing inwardly: said body being subjectable to a pressure on two of its vertices to permit folding into a folded piece when not in use for transportation.

4. A package as claimed in claim 3, in which the body is tubular or sleeve like of square, rectangular or other desired cross-sectional shape.

5. A process substantially as herein described and illustrated.

6. A package substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. A package whenever produced in accordance with claims 1 or 2.