GB2398066A - A packing container having packing members - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for valuable objects, such as works of art, is lined with sub-assemblies 30, 40 of resilient material. Side members 32 provide projections 36 and channel recesses 38. The lid sub-assembly 40 has members 46 which provide projections 36 and recesses 38. The recesses and projections allow for engagement with complementary formations on packing members in order to secure the packing members in position within the container. Packing members are chosen according to the size of the article to be packed, in order to ensure the article is adequately secure within the container, once closed.

Description

A Packing Container The present invention concerns packing containers, and

particularly but not exclusively packing containers for valuable objects, such as works of art.

Conventionally, valuable objects such as paintings and other works of art are transported in a purpose built packing container which is constructed to suit the dimensions of the work of art. A protective clearance must be maintained between the work of art and the packing container, and this clearance is achieved by using packing pieces such as polyurethane pushed into the gaps.

Such a method of packing is laborious and unreliable. Even if the packing container and the packing pieces are kept for re-use, it can often be difficult to pack the object in exactly the same way each time, and packing pieces tend to be mislaid or damaged. Moreover, since the containers are built for individual works of art, they are often stored but never re-used. However, this creates a storage problem.

The present invention provides a packing container arrangement for valuable objects, the arrangement comprising a container and a plurality of packing members for placing within the container to hold an object securely in position, wherein releasable engagement means are provided to allow a selected packing member or members to be secured in position within the container, to hold the said object.

Preferably the releasable engagement means comprise interlocking formations provided on the packing members and within the container. The interlocking formations may be in the form of interlocking projections and recesses. The interlocking projections and recesses may provide dovetail engagement.

The packing members are preferably of resilient material. The container is preferably lined with resilient material for protection of the article. The lining material may be formed to provide at least part of the engagement means. The lining material and packing members may be formed to provide channels on one for receiving dovetail formations on the other, the channels having a section which is complementary to the dovetails, for retaining the dovetails in the channels. Engagement means may be provided on more than one wall of the container.

Preferably the plurality of packing members includes members of different sizes, whereby different sizes of valuable article are accommodated by selecting appropriate packing members and securing the selected members within the container.

The invention also provides a method of packing a valuable article, in which a packing container arrangement of the type described above is provided, the size of the valuable object is identified, one or more packing members are identified for securing within the container to provide an internal space for receiving and holding the article, and the selected packing member or members are secured within the container by means of the engagement means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1a and 1b show a packing container according to the invention from the front and side respectively; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a body insert sub assembly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lid insert sub assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the open container; Figures 5a and 5b are perspective and side views respectively of a packing member; and Figures 6a and 6b are perspective and side views respectively of another packing member.

Figures 1a and 1 b show a packing container 10 comprising a body 12 and a lid 14. The lid 14 is hingedly connected to the body 12. A plurality of handles 16 are provided on the external surfaces of the body, and one or more catches 18 secure the lid to the body when the lid is closed against the body (as shown in Figure 1 b). The container is provided with feet 20 for support.

The container is manufactured from a sheet material such as plywood, plastic, steel, aluminium or similar, and provided with metal reinforced edges 22 and corners 24.

Figure 2 shows a body insert sub assembly 30 comprising four side members 32 assembled to form a rectangular frame and sized to fit closely with the interior surfaces of the container body 12, to line the body 12. The sub assembly 30 also includes a substantially planar base member 34 which forms a base to the frame. The side members 32 are provided with engaging formations in the form of projections 36 and of channel recesses 38. The projections 36 diverge outwardly from the side members, and the recesses diverge inwardly away from the side members. Thus, the section of the projections 36 and recesses 38 is that of one component of a dovetail arrangement.

The side members 32 are provided in strips, which may be cut to length to suit the container. The side members 32 can be stacked side by side as shown in Fig. 2 to achieve the necessary depth of insert required for a particular container.

Fig. 3 shows a lid insert sub assembly 40 comprising four edge members 44 assembled to form a rectangular frame, supported on a substantially planar base member 42. The base member 42 also supports three parallel, spaced apart lid members 46 which are provided with engaging formations in the form of projections 36 and recesses 38. These have a repeating section identical to that of the base insert side members 32.

The body and lid insert sub assemblies 30, 40 are made of resilient material such as polyethylene (plastozote) or polyurethane.

Figure 4 shows the sub assemblies of Figures 2 and 3 inserted into the container 10, the body insert sub assembly 30 being inserted into the body 12 of the container, and the lid insert sub assembly 40 being inserted into the lid 14 of the container. The insert sub assemblies 30, 40 are sized to fit snugly into the body 12 and lid 14. It will be seen that the interior surfaces of the container 10 are now completely faced with resilient material. The body insert sub assembly is sized so that the side members 32 project a small distance (such as 1- 2mm) above the body 12, so that when the lid is closed, the side members are compressed to achieve a watertight seal. The inserts 30, 40 are secured in position in the container.

Once the sub assemblies have been installed, the projections and recesses of the sub assemblies are exposed, as can be seen in Fig. 4. The longitudinal axes of the projections and recesses of the side members 32 are aligned perpendicularly to the open side of the container.

Figures 5a and 5b show a packing member 50 provided with engaging formations which are in the form of projections 52 and recesses 54. The projections 54 diverge outwardly from the packing member 50 and the recesses 54 diverge inwardly towards the packing member 50. These are complementary in form to the projections and recesses of the body sub assembly 30 so that the member 50 may be engaged with the sub assembly 30 by sliding the projections 52 along the recesses 38, and receiving the projections 36 in the recesses 54, to provide a dovetail interconnection. Fig. 5b indicates (by broken line 30) the outline of the sub assembly 30 after the sub assembly and packing member have been mated.

Figures 6a and 6b show a second packing member 60 of different length and thickness to the first packing member 50, provided with projections 52 and recesses 54 of the same form as those of the first packing member. These are complementary with the projections and recesses of the lid sub assembly 40, so that the member 60 can be slid into engagement, in dovetail fashion, with the sub assembly 40.

The sub assemblies 30, 40 and the packing members 50 and 60 are manufactured from a resilient material such as polyethylene (plastozote) or polyurethane.

In use, a container is selected which is larger than the object to be packed. The object, may be, for instance, a painting. The size of the painting is then identified, for example by placing it in the interior of the body 12 of the container so that the painting abuts the resilient lining of two adjacent side walls of the body 12. The resilience of the body insert 30 provides protection for the frame of the painting along those two sides. The painting is also bedded against the base member 34 of the body insert 30. Packing members 50 are then selected to pack the gap between the frame and the other two side members 32 of the body insert 30. Alternatively, packing could be provided around all four sides. The projections 52 and the recesses 54 of the packing members 50 correspond with the projections 36 and the recesses 38 of the side members 32 of the body insert 30, allowing the members 50 to slide into engagement with the side members 32, in dovetail fashion, and to pack the gap between the painting and the members 32. In similar fashion, the packing members 60 are selected and engaged with the lid members 46 of the lid insert 40, in dovetail fashion, to provide packing between the object and the base member 34 when the lid 14 is closed.

It is evident from the above description that the modular nature of the packing container arrangement allows a wide range of article sizes to be accommodated securely by using a common set of components of various sizes.

Different sizes of container can be used. The size of the sub assemblies can be adjusted to fit, for example by using additional side members 32 to provide additional depth for the lid sub assembly. Maintaining the same dovetail section for the engagement arrangements allows appropriate packing members to be selected from a range of different sizes of packing members kept in stock or manufactured as required, which can be interchangeably dovetailed with the same formation of the sub assembly. Several side members 32 can be used together, in the event that the depth of side members 32 is greater than the thickness of the side members.

Similarly, members 60 are interchangeable within the lid assembly, and appropriate members can be selected from those available, and brought into dovetail engagement with the lid sub assembly.

Members 50, 60 may be cut to size, if necessary, but it is preferred to maintain a range of different sizes in stock, and to select appropriate sizes from stock, whenever possible.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Alternative engaging means may be employed to hold the packing members in position. Different shapes of container may be provided to those shown. The number and location of the engagement formations may be varied.

A number of containers of varying sizes to suit different sized objects may be provided, and a range of sizes of packing members may be provided.

There is thus disclosed a packing container for a valuable object that allows the rapid packing of the object into the container. With the provision of a range of container sizes, purpose built containers for each object are not necessary, saving the labour and cost of construction of the packing container and subsequent storage of that container. The same container can be used for a number of differently sized objects by selecting a different combination of packing members. Once fitted, packing members can remain in position after the article is removed, if a return trip is envisaged. Adequate protection is assured when the article is replaced for the return trip.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (13)

1. A packing container arrangement for valuable objects, the arrangement comprising a container and a plurality of packing members for placing within the container to hold an object securely in position, wherein releasable engagement means are provided to allow a selected packing member or members to be secured in position within the container, to hold the said object.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the releasable engagement means comprise interlocking formations provided on the packing members and within the container.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking formations are in the form of interlocking projections and recesses.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the interlocking projections and recesses provide dovetail engagement.

5. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the packing members are of resilient material.

6. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is lined with resilient material for protection of the article.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the lining material is formed to provide at least part of the engagement means.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the lining material and packing members are fommed to provide channels on one for receiving dovetail formations on the other, the channels having a section which is complementary to the dovetails, for retaining the dovetails in the channels.

9. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein engagement means are provided on more than one wall of the container.

10. An arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of packing members includes members of different sizes, whereby different sizes of valuable article are accommodated by selecting appropriate packing l O members and securing the selected members within the container.

11. A packing container arrangement, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of packing a valuable article, in which a packing container arrangement as defined in any preceding claim is provided, the size of the valuable object is identified, one or more packing members are identified for securing within the container to provide an internal space for receiving and holding the article, and the selected packing member or members are secured within the container by means of the engagement means.

13. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.