US2984345A

US2984345A - Packing for fragile articles

Info

Publication number: US2984345A
Application number: US675849A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard L Emery
Original assignee: Keyes Fibre Corp
Current assignee: Keyes Fibre Corp
Priority date: 1957-08-02
Filing date: 1957-08-02
Publication date: 1961-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1978-05-16
Also published as: CH365993A

Description

May 16, 1961 R. L. EMERY PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES INVENTOR Richard LEmefy ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Aug. 2, 1957 y 1961 R. L. EMERY 2,984,345

PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed Aug. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RwhardLEmqy T'roRNEYs United States Patent i PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Richard L. Emery, Fairfield, Maine, assignor to Keyes Fibre Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation of Mame Filed Aug. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 675,849

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-.-65)

This invention relates to molded pulp packing material for elongated fragile articles such as fluorescent light tubes or the like, and is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Serial No. 505,201, filed May 2, 1955, now US. Patent No. 2,838,173.

As fully explained in the aforementioned co-pending application, fluorescent tubes are generally packed in superimposed layers within a packing case. When packed in this manner, provision must be made for cushioning each tube against contact with one another as well as against direct contact with the walls of the packing case itself since the fragile nature of the tubes would cause an inordinate amount of breakage if such cushioning were not provided.

The cushioning material generally takes the form of a series of spaced molded pulp packing sheets situated between each layer of tubes; each series comprising a packing sheet at each end of the layer of tubes and a packing sheet in the center. Each of these packing sheets is provided with a series of pockets, each pocket being constructed to embrace a portion of a tube.

Since fluorescent tubes have a pair of contact pins extending out from each end, and since these contact pins must be protected from damage, the end packing sheets are additionally provided with elevated end recesses in alignment with the pockets; these recesses circumferentially surrounding the pins and having their outer edges contacting the side walls of the packing case.

The above type of packing sheets, as more specifically described in the aforementioned co-pending application, are, however, subject to certain inherent disadvantages as the result of being made of molded pulp. This is due to the fact that molded pulp articles are made by immersing a die into an aqueous slurry of paper pulp fibers, then removing the die from the slurry, expressing the water to permit the fibers to run together and interfelt, and then, generally, compressing and/or heating the article to fix it in shape. Since the forming takes place on a die against which the article shrinks as it dries, and since the fibers tend to cling rather tenaciously to the die surface, in order to remove the formed article, it is necessary to make the side wall areas of the die at least somewhat inwardly inclined so that the formed article can be removed without tearing the relatively fragile molded pulp material.

In the present type of packing sheet, between each pocket and its aligned recess there is provided an end wall against which the end of the tube abuts. These end walls, since they follow the contour of the forming die, must be somewhat upwardly and outwardly inclined for the aforementioned reasons. Consequently when the tube is inserted in the pocket with its end against the end wall, only the lower peripheral portion of the tube end contacts the end wall while the upper portion is spaced from the upper portion of the end wall and is, therefore, unsupported. Upon exertion of a force longitudinally of the tube, the tube end easily causes failure of the end wall at the small area of contact. Continued or repeated exertion of force causes the failure thus started to progress 2,984,345 Patented May 16 hi to complete rupture as the area of contact follows the straight incline.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a packing sheet for fluorescent tubes and the like of the above type wherein the end walls are adapted to firmly support the ends of the tubes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packing sheet of the above type wherein the end walls are not easily torn or distorted.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of a packing case, partially cut away, wherein packing sheets embodying the Present invention are shown in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the packing sheets arranged in a modified manner.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the packing sheet illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and showing the tuba in dotted outline, a second packing sheet, as in Fig. 1, also being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, detailed, sectional view of an end portion of the packing sheet showing the end of a tube positioned therein.

Referring now in greater detail to the figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown, in Fig. 1, a packing case 10 within which are positioned a plurality of superimposed layers of tubes 12. Each layer of tubes is provided with cushioning trays or packing sheets (not shown) at the central portion, in the manner illustrated in the aforementioned co-pending application, and at each end, the layers are positioned between packing sheets 14. As illustrated in Fig. l, a packing sheet 14 is positioned both above and below each layer of tubes to completely encase the ends of the tubes. The upper sheet of each lower layer abuts the lower sheet of each next higher layer.

In Fig. 2, the same general arrangement is used as in Fig. 1 except that only a single packing sheet 14 is used for each layer. The layers are so arranged that a sheet 14 is positioned below each layer and rests on top of the tubes of the next lower layer.

The specific configuration of the packing sheets 14 themselves are best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. As illustrated, the packing sheet 14 comprises a series of elongated pockets 16 separated by hollow, generally V-shaped elongated ribs 18. Both the pockets 16 and the ribs 18 terminate, at one end, along the inner edge of a rim 20. This rim 20 is slightly elevated relative to the bottoms of the pockets and is integral with a series of slightly elevated fiat-topped ridges 22, one such ridge extending into each pocket. The ridge 22 in each pocket is longitudinally spaced, as at 24, from a similar ridge 26. Spaced from the opposite end of each ridge 26 is a short end ridge 28 of similar cross-section to

ridges

22 and 26; the

ridges

26 and 28 being spaced from each other by spaces 30.

The ribs 18 are each provided with notches 32 and 34 laterally aligned with

spaces

24 and 30 respectively. The ribs themselves are parallel with

side walls

36 and 38; each side wall having an outwardly-extending upper flange as at 40 and 42 respectively. A series of notches, as at 44 and 46 respectively, are provided in each flange 4t and 42 in offset relationship to the notches in the ribs.

At the end of the sheet opposite the rim 20, there is provided an end wall 48 having an outwardly-extending flange 50 at its upper end. This flange 50 is positioned in a plane which is above the height of rim 20 but below the height of the ribs 18 and

side walls

36 and 38. Similarly to the ribs 18 and the

side walls

36 and 38, the end wall 48 is somewhat upwardly and outwardly inclined. However, those portions of the end wall which form the ends of the individual pockets are slightly curved in the horizontal plane, as best shown at 52 in Figs. 3 and 5. The horizontal curvature is such as to follow the rounded contour of the end portion of a tube 54 and to slightly embrace this end portion at either side. Since the pockets are so dimensioned as to snugly hold the tube therein under slight resilient pressure, this resilient pressure, in conjunction with the slight embracing action, results in a secure supporting action for the tube end.

In order to accommodate the pins 56 of the tubes, an arcuate recess 58 is formed in the flange 50 in alignment with each pocket 16. Each arcuate recess is defined by an upwardly extending pair of ribs 60 which extend to approximately the same height as the ribs 18. In the center of each recess 58 is another rib 62 which is substantially lower than ribs 60. The

ribs

60 and 62 not only define the pin-holding recesses but act to considerably strengthen and rigidify these recesses against longitudinal and later stresses. This is especially necessary in view of the curved end wall portions which must firmly support the tube ends.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A package comprising a packing case, a plurality of superimposed layers of elongated tubular articles in said packing case, each layer being cushioned from the other by a plurality of molded pulp packing sheets arranged at either end and in the center, the packing sheets arranged at either end each having a series of parallel pockets to individually receive the end portions of the articles in the corresponding layer, the end of each of said pockets being defined by an end wall which is upwardly and outwardly inclined in the vertical plane and arcuate in cross section in the horizontal plane to at least partially embrace the end of the article held in the corresponding pocket and a later flange upon which is provided a recess extending outwardly from each said end wall, each said recess being defined .by a corrugated wall area extending above the horizontal plane of the flange.

2. A molded pulp packing sheet having a series of parallel pockets, one end of each of said pockets being defined by an end wall which is upwardly and outwardly inclined in the vertical plane and arcuate in cross section in the horizontal plane and a lateral flange upon which is provided a recess extending outwardly from each said end wall, each said recess being defined by a corrugated wall area extending above the"lrorizon'tal plane of the flange.

3. A molded pulp packing sheet comprising a bottom surface, a plurality of parallel, spaced, elongated ribs extending up from said bottom surface to form a series of spaced, elongated, parallel pockets, each pocket having an end wall at one end, said end wall of each pocket being upwardly and outwardly inclined in the vertical plane and arcuate in cross section in the horizontal plane, and a lateral flange upon which is provided a recess extending outwardly from each end wall, each said recess being defined by a corrugated wall area extending above the horizontal plane of the flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 86,062 Shepard Ian. 19, 1932 1,626,870 Oxhandler May 3, 1927 2,109,955 Carson Mar. 1, 1938 2,125,793 Linderman Aug. 2, 1938 2,692,077 Kuhlman Oct. 19, 1954 2,838,173 Emery June 10, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 722,423 Great Britain I an. 26, 1955