GB2213457A

GB2213457A - Packaging containers for fragile components

Info

Publication number: GB2213457A
Application number: GB8728764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Dudley Keating
Original assignee: OTFORD GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: OTFORD GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1987-12-09
Filing date: 1987-12-09
Publication date: 1989-08-16
Also published as: GB8728764D0

Abstract

A transportation package comprises innner and outer containers 2, 3 spaced apart by a shock absorbing material 4 e.g. foam pads. The containers are preferably tubular e.g. of spiral wound board and may incorporate shielding or fluid resistant layers. A chemical e.g. dessicants, absorbant materials or E.M.I./R.F.I. shielding may be incorporated in the space between the containers. The end caps 6, 7 may be of metal with inner foam discs 5. More than two concentric containers may be provided when packaging particularly delicate components. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to packaging containers.

When it is required to transport, or in some instances to store, fragile components they are often placed in cartons and the free space filled with expanded polystyrene chips, or the component may be wrapped in a foam sheet or packaging material. With polystyrene chips as packaqinq it is found that the component tends to move within the carton, .especialiv under vibratory conditions encountered in transportation, hecause the chips are free to flow around the component. The chips can also cause a time wastage if they are spilled, and repackaging usually entails removal of some of the chiDs from the carton and replacement around the component which can also be time consuming and has the tendancy to leave residual untidyness.On the other hand if the component is wrapped in packaging material such as foam this is inconvenient where large articles are concerned and can lead to handling difficulties or even hazards: for example while unwrapping the packaging from a component it may be dropped because the component itself cannot be gripped directly, the component may inadvertently be handled through the packaging in a delicate location or with large components slippage between the packaging and component may occur as it is removed from the carton. With both of these types of packaging it is only the outer carton that is resistant to penetration.

The present invention is directed towards providing a container that provides shock resistance, improved resistance to penetration, enables positive handling of a component during insertion and removal and is tidy and easily reusable.

Accordingly the invention provides a packaqinq container comprising an inner container layer located within an outer container laver, the walls of the inner container being maintained spaced apart from the outer container by shock absorbing material.

The invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanyinq drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a longitudinal cross section through a preferred embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 schematically illustrates a transverse cross section through the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, container 1 comprises an outer tube 2 and a substantially cylindrical inner tube 3. The tubes are both preferably formed from spiral wound board such as Kraft/Polyethylene/k'raft Laminate. The inner tube 3 is spaced from the outer tube 2 by shock absorbing spacer pads 4 which may be foam pads or any other suitable material. In the drawings the spacer pads 4 are shown as annular pads but longitudinal strips or arrays of small pads or other configurations may be used. The softness of foam and number and configuration of the pads may be varied depending on the level of resilience required between the inner and outer tubes. At the ends of the tubes discs 5 of foam provide a resilient spacer for the ends of the inner tube 3 from an end cap 6 and end plate 7 at opposite ends of the tube.The outer tube 2 is preferably slightly longer than the inner tube 3 and the discs 5 are laterally retained by the outer tube, although it is possible for the outer tube to be of the same length as the inner tube and for the end cap or plates to incorporate a retaining flange. It will be realised that by virtue of the spacer pads 4 and discs 5 the inner tube is effectively floating within the outer container defined by the outer tube, end cap and end plate. Although the embodiment described has spiral wound card tubes different configurations, structures and materials may be used. For example the walls may consist of or comprise a metallic or waterproof material and the walls may have configurations other than tubular. The space between the walls may be used to incorporate chemicals, such as dessicants, absorbant materials or EMI/RFI shielding and more than two concentric walls may be provided for containers for particularly delicate components.

The end cap and end plate may comprise metal discs in particular the end plate may conveniently be a spun-on metal disc. In the embodiment described the ends of the container have only a single layer of penetration restisting material whereas the concentric tubes present a double layer of penetration resisting material. If the container ends are vulnerable to penetration an additional disc of penetration resisting material may be located on the inside of the foam discs, or the inner tube may be provided with end caps.

Claims

1. A packaging container comprising an inner container layer located within an outer container layer, the walls of the inner container being maintained spaced apart from the outer container by shock absorbing material.

2. A packaging container according to claim 1 in which the inner container and outer container each comprise tubes.

3. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the shock absorbing material comprises bands of said material disposed around the inner container.

4. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the shock absorbing material comprises strips of said material.

5. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the shock absorbing material comprises a plurality of pads of said material.

6. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the inner and outer containers are concentric.

7. A packaging container according to any preceding claim comprising at least one further container layer, the walls of said further container being spaced apart from the walls of adjacent container layers.

8. A packaging container according to claim 7 in which the walls of said further container layer are spaced apart by a shock absorbing material.

9. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the shock absorbing material comprises a resilient material.

10. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the shock absorbing material comprises foam rubber.

11. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which fluid resistant material is incorporated into at least one layer.

.

12. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which a chemical is incorporated into the space between two adjacent layers.

13. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which an absorbant material is incorporated into the space between two adjacent layers.

14. A packaging container according to any preceding claim in which the layers incorporate EMI/RFI shielding.

15. A packaging container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.