JP2002302159A - Cushioning pad - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cushioning pad that is used for packaging an item, is an unsolid body, can be stacked one on the other in order to save storage space, exhibits sufficient cushioning performance in use, can be returned in stack after use, can be repeatedly used, and is easy to dispose. SOLUTION: The cushioning pad is a formation (1) which is obtained by vacuum-forming a plastic sheet and which has a nearly-trapezoidal cross-section. Cushioning capability is imparted to the cushioning pad by forming bellows-like turnups (2) on side walls of the pad. A recess (3) is provided in the top in order to support an article to be packaged. A basal portion (4) has a proper width. The article to be packaged is supported with the cushioning pad and put into the packaging box in this condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cushioning pad for supporting an article to be packaged in a packaging container and absorbing impact.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when packing and transporting home electric appliances and various industrial parts in a cardboard box, a cushioning material to be put in the box to protect the packaged object from impacts is still used as a styrofoam molded product. There are many things. Regarding the treatment after use, for example, a technique of dissolving in a solvent to reduce the volume has been developed and practically used to some extent, but it requires special equipment and chemicals and cannot be carried out anywhere. Some of them are blow-molded with plastic and the mouth is closed, but there is a drawback that it is bulky during storage.

In order to solve the problem that the cushioning material is bulky if it is manufactured in advance, there is a countermeasure that a bag is made of a plastic film and air is injected at a packaging site to prepare the cushioning material. However, it is not implemented very often because it requires equipment for it and takes time. As an improved technique, an air valve is attached to a bag so that air can be easily injected. However, the cost increases and the airtightness is uneasy.

In the case of a cushioning material in which air is sealed in a bag made of a film, a film having low gas permeability must be used as a material because it is not desirable that air be released during use and the buffering capacity be reduced. In order to achieve both bag-making workability and gas barrier properties, it is necessary to use a laminate of different types of plastic films. Even if the high cost of the material can be tolerated, the poor recyclability of the laminated material is contrary to today's social demands.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problems in cushioning packaging, which is not solid and therefore takes up little space for storage and has sufficient cushioning performance when used. The object of the present invention is to provide a buffer pad which can be used repeatedly by stacking and returning it after use, has no problem in disposal, and effectively uses resources and reduces the burden on the environment.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a cushioning pad comprising:
A cushioning pad for supporting an article to be packaged in a packaging box and absorbing an impact, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an example, a sheet-like molded article (1) having a substantially trapezoidal cross section. A plurality of bellows-like folds (2) are provided on the side wall to provide a buffering capacity.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various modifications can be made to the shape of the cushioning pad of the present invention. First, in the illustrated example, a recess (3) is provided at the top for receiving the end of the article to be packaged, so that the article to be packaged and the buffer pad do not shift within the packaging box. The external shape of the buffer pad is arbitrary, such as a triangular, square or polygonal truncated pyramid, a truncated cone, or a truncated cone. The recess on the top surface also has edges on all four sides in the example shown, but according to the relationship with the packaged item,
One could be missing, two missing, or even three missing.

In principle, the more bellows-like folds are provided, the higher the buffering performance. There is also a relationship with the thickness of the material or sheet, but in general, a steep slope at the turn-up shows a hard response, that is, a shock-absorbing behavior that does not change with a slight impact, and a gentle slope reduces the impact with a small impact. It also exhibits a cushioning behavior that responds flexibly.

A typical use of the cushioning pad of the present invention is as follows:
FIG. 3 shows the example shown. Buffer pads are applied to both ends of the packaged object (5) having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and the three are put together in a packaging box (6) to form a package. By performing such packaging, the article to be packaged is held at a fixed position in the packaging box, and is protected from vertical and horizontal vibrations and impacts.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral (4) indicates the base of the buffer pad. The base (4) is a surface that contacts the inner wall of the packaging box, but is not an essential part as far as the cushioning performance is concerned. On the other hand, as can be understood from the packaging method shown in FIG. 3, the size of the base may be appropriately enlarged if necessary or useful in determining the position of the buffer pad in the packaging box.

The material of the buffer pad is not limited as long as it is a sheet-like material which can be expected to have a certain strength. A typical example is various plastic sheets, and a buffer pad can be manufactured by vacuum molding or blow molding. For vacuum forming, of course, pneumatic forming, vacuum pneumatic forming,
Modifications such as skin pack molding are included.

Another type of material is cellulosic, which can be formed into a buffer pad by pulp molding. As can be seen from this fact, the "sheet-like material" in the present invention does not need to be a sheet at the time of molding, but also includes a sheet-like material as a result of molding.

Regardless of whether a plastic or a cellulosic material is used as the material of the buffer pad,
Natural or synthetic fibers can be used as reinforcement for the sheet. The use of a reinforcing material is particularly useful when using a cellulosic material. Natural fibers include
There are hemp, cotton, wool and the like, and there are many kinds of synthetic fibers such as polyolefin, polyester and nylon. When the material of the sheet is plastic, as the reinforcing material, a material that does not lose its form as a fiber at the time of sheet formation, for example, a method of mixing nylon fiber that does not melt at the extrusion temperature with polyethylene is appropriate. .

[0014]

The cushioning pad of the present invention is a sheet-like molded product, and the same type can be stacked and stored, so that it is not bulky unlike a solid body such as styrene foam. It goes without saying that it is lightweight, and the weight is not inferior to that of the conventional cushioning material. The ability to be stacked allows it to be returned together after use and re-used for packaging.

When it is difficult to return the product or when it is damaged and cannot be reused, it is unavoidable to dispose of it. However, since it can be crushed and reduced in volume, disposal is easy. Since the material is single and has recyclability unlike a gas-barrier laminated sheet, it can be formed again as long as it is not soiled, and this advantage is obtained even when a reinforcing material is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a buffer pad of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the buffer pad of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the package showing a state where the buffer package is performed using the buffer pad of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sheet-like molded product 2 bellows-like folded back 3 recess at top 4 base 5 packaged item 6 packaging box

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3E066 AA44 BA01 CA01 CA08 FA06

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cushioning pad for supporting an article to be packaged in a packaging box and absorbing an impact, which is a sheet-like molded article having a substantially trapezoidal cross section and having a plurality of steps on its side wall. A buffer pad characterized by providing a bellows-like fold to provide a buffering capacity. 2. The cushioning pad according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning pad has a recess on the top surface for supporting an article to be packaged. 3. The cushioning pad according to claim 1, wherein the material is a sheet of plastic and manufactured by vacuum molding or blow molding. 4. The cushioning pad according to claim 1, wherein the material is cellulosic and manufactured by a pulp molding method. 5. The cushioning pad according to claim 3, wherein a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber is added as a reinforcing material.