KR20070007362A - Method of packaging a falt display device and package for use in such a method - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of packaging flat display products is described. The method comprises the steps of positioning at least one such product (10), e.g. an LCD device, between a first and a second thin-walled container part (2, 3) and connecting these container parts to each other so as to form a substantially closed container surrounding the product. The thin-walled container parts are preferably molded from plastic, wherein fastening means and product information can be integrally molded. Moreover, the container parts are preferably at least partly manufactured from a transparent material, allowing the product to be viewed in its packaged state. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007

Description

METHOOD OF PACKAGING A FALT DISPLAY DEVICE AND PACKAGE FOR USE IN SUCH A METHOD}

The present invention relates to a method of packaging a panel type display device, ie a flat display device such as an LCD device or a plasma device. The invention also relates to a package as defined in claims 9 and 10 and to a package as defined in claim 11.

Typically, an LCD product is packaged in a cardboard box and inserted between two cushioning portions, eg made of polystyrene foam. This cushion portion protects the fragile product from impact during storage, shipping, and further operations. The cardboard box serves to secure the cushioning portions together and protect it from such as sharp objects. In addition, the cardboard improves the rigidity and stackability of the package. The box may be sealed by tape, adhesive, or staples, and product information may be printed or otherwise provided.

Conventional packaging methods have several drawbacks. First, prior art methods use a significant amount of packaging material resulting in a significant amount of waste material. Secondly, the cushions are large in volume, taking up valuable space during storage and delivery. In addition, the conventional method is labor intensive, since the product first needs to be wrapped between the two cushion parts, and then surrounded by an outer box which is finally sealed. In addition, once packaged, LCD products cannot be easily inspected, so defects that occur during shipping and operation are usually found at very late stages, ie when the product is unwound by a retailer or customer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of packaging a flat display device that retains its advantages while at least eliminating at least a number of disadvantages of conventional packaging methods. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging method which can be achieved in fewer manufacturing steps and which is more cost effective.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packaging method in which the flat display device can be compactly packaged so that the amount of packaging material used is reduced compared to conventional packaging methods.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide an environmentally friendly packaging method.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packaging method in which defects in a packaged product can be found at an early stage, i.e. as soon as they are found.

These and other objects are at least partly achieved by the packaging method according to the invention as defined in claim 1.

A panel display between two thin-walled box-shaped container parts, such as a display device, ie an LCD product, which has a flat package with good strength and loadability as well as sufficient protection from such shocks provided by a combination of outer box and cushion parts It has been surprisingly found that by wrapping these thin-walled container parts towards each other and connecting the container parts together to form a substantially closed container. In addition, the reduced number of packaging materials can simplify logistics and assembly, resulting in lower costs. In addition, the thin-walled structure of the container portion requires significantly less amount of packaging material compared to conventional packaging methods, resulting in less waste material after use, as well as smaller packages to be shipped and less volume and weight. Resulting in lower transportation and operating costs.

In this document, the term "display device" is to be interpreted to include all flat displays that include at least one display screen as the main part. Such products may further include other additional components such as electronics, containers and the like to support the function of the display screen. The product may be commercially available in the form of elements of other devices such as television sets, monitors or notebooks. It is understood that the term "thin wall" relates to a wall having a relatively small thickness compared to other dimensions. For example, the wall thickness can vary from tens of millimeters to several millimeters depending on the overall size of the display device to be packaged.

In a preferred embodiment, the packaging method according to the invention is defined by the features of claim 2. By using transparent or translucent packaging material for at least a portion of the package, the product can be seen in a packaged state, thus finding defects at an early stage, i.e. without having to open the package before delivery to the customer. Thus, quality can be monitored and guaranteed, and costs for maintenance and unnecessary shipping costs of pre-damaged products can be saved. In addition, the fact that at least the package is partially transparent makes the package suitable as a display package for showing the product to the customer. As a result, after reaching the point of sale, the product does not need to be unpacked or repackaged, saving a lot of work and material.

As a further explanation, the method according to the invention may use recyclable materials for producing thin wall container parts. This makes the packaging method more environmentally friendly.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is defined by the features of claim 4. On the one hand, the support means protruding inward can improve the strength of the container portion of the thin wall, and on the other hand, the display device can be spaced apart from the container wall to dampen or completely absorb the shock to protect the display device from external shock. It can act as a support means.

The container portion of the thin wall is preferably made of a synthetic material, as defined by the features of claim 5. Synthetic materials or plastics are relatively light and inexpensive, are widely available in many varieties and colors, can be recycled and are not permeable to gases and / or liquids. In addition, plastics can be easily produced, mainly by moulding or injection molding, providing a great deal of freedom in design. In addition, in this manufacturing technique, the above-mentioned support means and / or product information portion may be integrally molded in the container portion. Such information can be molded with relief or in-mould labeling, thus eliminating the need for separate printing and labeling steps, contributing to a packaging method that can be further optimized.

In a very preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is defined by the features of claim 7. The shock absorbing properties of the package may be further improved by manufacturing, or at least a portion of, a thin wall container of a material having a high damping coefficient, such as natural or synthetic rubber. Such damping material is preferably used for at least this part of the container in direct contact with the display device, such as the support means.

For example, the first and second container portions can be connected to each other by, for example, tape, adhesive, or (heat) sealing techniques. In a preferred embodiment, however, as defined by the content of claim 8, the container portion of the thin wall is preferably provided with fastening means, which are made integral with the container. The securing means may be known in the art. This integral fastening means can further facilitate the assembly of the package, since the container parts can simply connect each other by engaging the fastening means with each other. This can be done without special equipment, techniques or the supply of additional fastening materials, such as adhesives, tapes, or staples described above, which in practice tend to complicate logistics and pose a risk of contamination or breakage of the product.

The invention also includes a package for a flat display device, comprising two thin walled plastic box-shaped container portions that together form a substantially closed container for enclosing at least one such device. The invention further relates to a method of using such a package for the delivery, storage, and / or display of flat display device products and also to the packages provided in such products.

In addition, advantageous embodiments of the packaging method, the package and the method of using the package according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described with reference to a single drawing which shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the package of the invention.

1 is an exploded view illustrating an embodiment of a package of the present invention.

The package 1 according to the embodiment shown is formed from a lower part 4, surrounded by an outer wall 5, from a first container part 2 with an open upper side 6 and from an upper part 8. And a thin-walled second container part 3 which is formed and surrounded by an outer wall 7 and has an open lower side 9. Thus, both container parts are box shaped and have one open side. The container parts 2, 3 may for example be injection molded from a synthetic material or plastic. In the embodiment shown, the second container part 3 is provided with a product information part 12 which can be molded integrally with relief or with in-mould labeling. At least one of the parts 2, 3 is preferably made of transparent plastic so that once surrounded by the container parts 2, 3 a display device 10 in the form of a panel, now also referred to as a product 10, is visible from the outside or Can be checked. The flat product 10 can be any display device with display cells, such as LCD devices, foil displays, plasma displays, and the like.

The open top 6 and open bottom 9 of each of the first and second container parts 2, 3 have an interlocking form, such that the container part 3 comprises the first and second container parts 2, 3. The container part 3 can be mounted on top of the first container part 2 to form a closed container or housing in which the outer edges of 3) contact or slightly cover each other. In order to keep the parts 2, 3 closed, these parts 2, 3 may be provided with fastening means near their respective outer edges. Such fastening means can comprise, for example, conventional elastic click fingers or conventional grooves and ridges, which can be molded integrally with the container parts 2, 3. In the embodiment shown, tab holes 17b are provided which engage the tabs 17a as fastening means. Of course, other or additional fastening means such as tape, adhesives, staples, or sealing techniques can be used.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second container parts 2, 3 have an outer shape substantially coincident with the outline of the product 10 to be packaged. As a result, the packaged product will occupy only slightly more space than the unpackaged product 10. Alternatively, the container parts 2, 3 can have any other shape, for example a rectangular outer shape, to make the package easier and / or harder.

The inner side of the container walls 4, 5, 7 and 8 is provided with protrusions 15 extending inwardly such as ribs. This is schematically shown in dotted lines on the wall 5 of the first container part 2. Such protrusions 15 may be formed integrally with the container parts 2, 3, and the thin walls 4, 5, 7, 8 of the container parts 2, 3 to enhance the strength of the package 1. It can be designed to enhance. In addition, some or all of these protrusions 15 can act as a support means for the product 10, and in certain predetermined positions to secure the product 10 to the package 1 at a sufficient distance from the inner container wall. To the product 10. The support means are preferably designed to absorb or at least attenuate external impacts to prevent the product 10 from being exposed to harmful vibrations. In order to improve shock absorption, the protrusions 15 may be made of a material having high damping properties such as natural or synthetic rubber. Additionally or alternatively, the shape of the protrusions 15 can be adapted to have the desired dynamic strength, which influences the frequency and magnitude of vibrations transmitted to the product 10 in response to external impacts. In addition, the protrusions 15 can be configured to form compartments for receiving a series of products 10.

The package 1 described above can be used as follows. The lower part of the product 10 can be inserted into the first container part 2, while the protrusion 15 can guide the product 10 to ensure its correct position. In turn, the opposing upper end of the product 10 is covered with a second container part 3, which is connected with the first container part 4 by means of an integral fastening means, to complete the closed housing for the product 10. Package 1 is now ready for delivery. Thanks to at least one transparency of the container parts 2, 3, the product 10 can be monitored throughout the entire delivery process. If a defect is found, the package 1 can be selected from the rest, so that undesired shipping costs are eliminated and the product is not delivered to the customer. When the product 10 arrives at the distribution or sales point, the product 10 can be displayed in the package 1 on the display shelf without tearing.

Note that the package described above is only one example of a package according to the present invention. Many other variations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the first and second container portions can be connected by hinges and / or integrally injection molded. The container part can also be made of other material, for example, laminated cardboard, preferably provided in one or more transparent windows. It will be apparent that the package can be manufactured in different colors to give a more attractive appearance. It is to be understood that these and other comparable variations are within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Utilizing the present invention, packaging of primarily flat display devices is possible, which can reduce packaging materials, improve convenience and economics in transportation and storage, and reduce the delivery of broken products to consumers.

Claims (11)

A method for packaging a panel type display device, the method comprising: Positioning at least such a device 10 between first and second thin-walled box-shaped container portions 2, 3, Connecting the container portions (2, 3) to each other to form a substantially closed container surrounding the at least one device (10). The panel type display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one part of at least one container part of the container parts (2, 3) is made of a transparent or translucent material so that the packaged device (10) is visible from the outside. Method for packaging. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container part (2, 3) of the thin wall is made of a renewable material. 4. The support according to claim 1, wherein the container parts 2, 3 of the thin wall project inwardly to support and fix the display device 10 in the containers 2, 3. A method for packaging a paneled display device manufactured with the means (15). The panel display device according to claim 1, wherein the container parts 2, 3 of the thin wall are made of synthetic material or plastic, for example by casting or injection molding. Way. A method according to claim 5, wherein the product-related information portion (12) is molded integrally in or in each of the container portions (2, 3) of the thin wall. The panel-type display device according to claim 1, wherein at least one part of the container parts 2, 3 of the thin wall is made from a material having good shock absorbing properties, ie high damping coefficient. Method for packaging. 8. The container parts 2, 3 of the first and second thin walls are connected to one another via fastening means integrally formed in the respective container parts 2, 3. The method for packaging a panel type display device. As a package 1 for a flat display device 10, A package for flat display devices comprising thin walled box-shaped container portions (2, 3) of at least two plastics which together form a substantially closed container for enclosing the flat display device (10). 10. The package of claim 9, wherein at least one flat display device (10) is provided. A method of using a thin-walled plastic container for packaging at least one flat display device 10, wherein the thin-walled plastic container can contain, ship, and / or display a display device 10 in the container. How to use.

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