US3082896A - Shipping pad - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1963 J. R. MOSHER SHIPPING PAD Filed Aug. 1, 1960 ATTORNEY R u R.

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Flavag JAMES Ross M FIG. 39

United States Patent 3,082,896 SHIPPING PAD James Ross Mosher, Saratoga, Calif, assignor t0 Bean Rubber Manufacturing Co.,. San Jose, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,703 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-53) This invention relates to protective packaging pads which are attachable to generally bulky, movable articles during the shipping and storage thereof. More particularly, it relates to an improved protective pad for articles having surfaces of relatively large radii or irregular exterior contours.

The problem of packaging articles in large numbers for shipment or storage has long been a serious one, especially with regard to protecting such articles both from surface damage and internal damage due to shock or vibration. A highly effective solution to this problem was described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 819,- 585. This invention comprised a one-piece protective rubber pad in combination with magnets embedded therein, which was thus easily attachable to and removable from an article being shipped, and provided protection against surface contact, sudden shock, and vibration of the article.

As my original aforementioned magnetic shipping pad came into greater use, certain problems arose in connection with the packaging and storage of articles having corners and sides of greater radii than those which normally occur in the vast majority of articles being shipped. The larger radii created a problem because during packaging, it was often desirable to employ metal strapping, well known in the packing field, in conjunction with the shipping blocks and, in the case of articles having corners with large radii the one-piece pads failed to conform to the proper corner shape, the straps touched and damaged the unprotected surface of the article.

It is, therefore, one important object of this invention to provide a new, improved shipping pad which will provide protection for articles having sides and corners with large radii.

Another problem which arose was to find a means to accommodate the various sizes and shapes of the many different articles which required the highly advantageous protective features of my shipping pad. This requirement presented a problem of devising a means to provide shipping pads in various sizes and yet to utilize the surface contacting pads of a single, standardized form.

Therefore, another important object of the invention is to provide an improved shipping pad which utilizes en larged end pad members in combination with interchangeable connectable means to vary the length between the end contact members, so that the complete assembled protective device can be used to accommodate articles and surfaces of various sizes and shapes.

Another object is to provide a composite protective shipping pad that is easily attachable to and removable from the outer surface of the shipped article including corners thereof without requiring an attaching means on the article.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved, lightweight protective shipping device, with enlarged end-pads having embedded magnets therein, in combination with a lockable, removable, interconnecting band.

Another object is to provide a flexible connecting band which can be interlocked at each end to a shock absorbing pad and which can be deformed to be disconnected from said pads.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a flexible connecting band between two shock absorbing 3,082,896 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 contact pads, adaptable for the easy placement on the corners of large or small curvature on an article, said band having a bottom surface flush with said pads and providing a seat for a metal shipping strap or other types of strapping material adapted to pass over said pads.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be observed from the following description, and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing an article being prepared for shipment, utilizing shipping pads embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing two articles with corners having large and small radii and equipped with shipping pads of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing the shipping pad of the present invention with a connecting band detached: FIG. 3a showing one end-block from the top side; FIG. 3b showing a second end-block from the under side; and FIG. 3c showing the connecting band in the bent position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in .cross section of a portion of a shipping pad embodying the principles of the present invention, taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in cross section showing one end of'a shipping pad of the present invention, taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

In broad terms, my improved shipping pad packaging protective device 10 is comprised of two similarly shaped end blocks 11, 12 made from solid but yieldable material and connectable by a removable strap or band 13 which may be made from the same yieldable material. The blocks 11, 12 are so shaped, and the band 13-is interlocked therewith in such a manner that the pad 10 will provide effective protection for articles of widely varying sizes and shapes. In use, the blocks are placed on any substantially flat area, such as the adjacent sides of an article 14, while the interconnecting band 13 is extended around the obtuse or rounded corner of the article, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Embedded within each yieldable block or pad 11, 12 are mamgnets 15, having slightly recessed end-sections 16 along a plane side 17 of each block, so that the pad 10 will attach itself to the metal-sided article 14 with a force sufiicient to maintain its position to protect the article from sudden shocking impacts, vibrations, and surface contacts during the shipping operation.

Referring now to the structural features of my improved shipping pad 10, FIG. 3 shows a composite view thereof including details of both the end blocks 11, 12 and the band 13. Each end block 11, 12 is formed from a soft, fairly flexible, shock-absorbent material such as rubber. Among the usable natural and synthetic elastomers, butyl-rubber has unique properties which provide both prerssure and contact protection of articles, as well as vibration damping. Therefore, butyl-rubber is the preferred elastomer used to form my novel shipping pad.

, In addition, the relatively soft but solid. rubber material will flow readily during the forming process when subjected to moderate amounts of heat and pressure, to lock in the magnet members 15 to provide, in the finished form, an effective cushioning device. It is obvious, of course, that other materials could be used where less effective cushioning is satisfactory. For example, spongerubber or neoprene-rubber could be used, but they give less damping, less protective strength, and less flexibility.

Any convenient plan, form, shape of the blocks 11, 12 could be made, although I prefer a generally rectangular configuration having two relatively thick parallel side portions 18 joined by a thinner center section 19, a slot 20 being formed between said side portions 18. Through the thin center section '19 on each block is an opening 3 21 which provides a means to removably connect each block with one end of the band 13.

As shown in FIG. 3a, on the upper surface of each center section 19 there is a rectangular cutout portion 22 which has a depth of approximately one half the thickness ;of the band 13 and the center section 19 of the block. The cutout portion 22 on each block 11, 12 extends inwardly from one end surface 23 and parallel to the side portions 18 to an inner edge surface 24, approximately at the midpoint of each. -The rectangular cutout portion 22 is approximately equal to or slightly larger in width than the band 13. On the lower plane side -17, of each block 11, 12 is a rectangular cutout portion 25 (FIG. 3b) which also extends to a depth equal to one half the thickness of the center section 19 of the band '13. The lower cutout portion 25 has its longest dimension, which is longer than the width of the upper cutout portion 22, oriented at 90 to the longest dimension of the upper cutout portion 22. Thus, the lower cutout portion 25 overlaps the upper cutout portion 22 to form the rectangular opening21 completely through the center section 19. An abridging portion 26 is formed between the opening 21 and the end surface 23. The lower cutout portion 25 extends beyond the end edge 24 of the lower cutout portion 22, to form -a bearing surface 27 surrounding three sides of the opening 21, which serves to retain the end of the removable band 13 in its connected, locked position.

The flexible connecting band 13 (FIG. 30) is an important feature of my improved shipping pad 110 and can be removably fixed to-the blocks 11, -12 at each end thereof, so that the'assembled pad can .be placed in an effective protective position on articles having either sharply obtuse or generously rounded corners as illustrated in FIG. 2. One principal advantage of the flexible band 13 is that it can be removed readily when necessary, so that the blocks 11, 12 can be used separately or a band ,of different length can be replaced, to accommodate an upper side of the band 13, I prefer to cut a V-shaped groove 28. The groove 28 is cut inwardly at approximately 45 from the top of the band 13, making a total included-groove angle 90. This permits the band 13 to bend sharply for the obtuse corner section, and yet the band 13 is flexible so that it will readily conformto corners of large curvature, where necessary. FIG. 2 shows the band 13 employed under both of the aforementioned conditions on articles placed next to each other, ready for shipment. The depth of shape of the groove 28 in'the band 13 can be varied as desired, depending on the use to which the band is to be put and, in some instances, a mere slit may sufiice. However, the groove 28 must leave a band thickness sufiicient to support the tightening pressures of a metal strap 29 or other suitable tying material which may be used in some instances in packaging articles and it also must be sufficiently thick to absorb the shock of an impact on the corner of the article.

The band 13 may be formed most conveniently by joining together two strips of the aforementioned rubber material, of uniform and equal thickness, one on top of the other, the upper strip or half having end portions 3% extending a predetermined distance beyond the end surface 31 of the lower half of the band. The width of the band 13 as'mentioned previously, is slightly less than the ,portion 25 on the blocks 11, 12. The thickness of each rectangular member "32 is equal to the depth of each vThe pad 10 then acts as one continuous integral unit, the

lower cutout portion 25 and the lower surface 33 of each rectangular section 32 is in the same plane as the lower surface 34 of the band 13. Each rectangular end member 32 extends beyond the end surface 31 of the lower half of the band 13 to form a slot 35 between said rectangular member 32 and said surface 31, and the member 32 also extends beyond the end of the end portion 30 of the upper half of the band 13 so that the upper surface of each rectangular member 32 provides a bearing-surface 36 on each end ofthe band 13 to engage the bearing-surface 27 on an end block 11 or 12.

With the above described structure, the band 13 can be readily attached to or disconnected from an end block v.11 or 12 by simply deforming the rectangular member 32 so that it will pass through the opening 21. When the band 13 is locked in an end block 11, the rectangular member 32 is seated in the lower cutout 25 of each. block with the lower surface 33 of the rectangular member 32 flush with the plane side 17 of the end block 11 or 12 and the bearing surfaces 27 and 36 adjacent each other.

bottom surface 34 of the band 13 being flush with the plane surfaces 17 of both blocks 11 and 12. The band 13 can be of any length required and provides a continuous protective surface to follow any external contour on the article being shipped.

The magnets 15 provide an important feature of my improved shipping pad 10 since, in some cases, they eliminate completely the need for any external attachment means on or around the article 14; and in other cases they .simplify the packing procedures by eliminating the need to hold a pad 10 in position by some external means such as a metal strap 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, the magnets *15 are embedded in the thick side portions 18 of each end block '11, 12 with their exposed end sections 16 not quite flush with the plane contact surfaces 17 of each block 11, 12. I prefer to recess the magnet end sections 16 for not more than ,4 of an inch, to prevent any contact therewith on the surface of the article. No contact between the magnets 15 and the article is necessary or desirable. Only the soft rubber surf-ace makes contact with the article, while magnetic force holds the pad 10 in place without the magnet 15 touching the surface of the article physically; which article may be porcelain or other easily scratched material. I have found that horseshoe-shaped permanent magnets, having the exposed end sections 16, are well adapted for use with my shipping pad .10, 'since the deformable rubber material will flow around the magnets -15 and hold them firmly in place during the life of the shipping pad '10. The magnets 15 may be obtained commercially, and I have found that the grain-oriented Alnico V-type performs satisfactorily, although any magnet of sufficient strength may be used. Magnets of-the nickel-steel type having a breaking force of approximately 8 lbs. will perform satisfactorily even when inset within the plane contact surface 21 of the shipping pad. Other shapes of magnet, such as the well known multiple-pull magnet, also may be utilized within the scope of this invention.

The cross sectional view of FIG. 5 shows a slightly modified form of the present invention, wherein the inset magnets 15 are covered completely by a thin film '37 of rubber which is allowed to flow over the normally exposed end portions 16 of the magnet 15. Where extreme care must be exercised to insure freedom from surface scratches on the article being protected, this embodiment of my invention positively prevents any metal-to-metal contact between the magnet 15 and the article being protected. Again, the thickness of the rubber film 37 of up to ,4 of an inch, will be sufficient to provide a protective layer without reducing appreciably the force of the magnet 15 to hold the shipping pad 10 in position.

In operation, my improved shipping pad 10 can be used on a wide variety of articles having irregular shapes,

including obtuse corners and corners with large radii (FIG. 2). The versatility and protective effectiveness of the present invention removes the necessity for expensive packing and crating of articles for shipment or storage.

In a typical application of the invention, appliances would roll off the assembly line mounted on a standard base member '38 (FIG. 1) and the shipping pads 16 can be placed quickly on the article 14 by a single operator at the vital points requiring protection, such as the corners, or around door handles and on flat panel sections.

As shown in FIG. 1, my shipping pad may be used either with or without a metal strap member 29. When the metal strap member 29 is used, the operator merely positions a shipping pad 10 on the corner of the article 14 and the strap member 29 is applied around the article within the slot 20 of the blocks 11, 12 and lying along the band 13. If the packing operation does not require the use of the metal band, the shipping pads are merely attached to the metal appliance by engaging the pad to the side or the corner thereof, the force of the magnets holding the pad in position until it is forcibly removed. The entire packaging process takes only a matter of minutes, when using the shipping pads in this manner. This is in sharp contrast to the complicated time-consuming task of assembling and installing a typical crate-type protective cover.

During the moving and storing of the articles equipped with the shipping pads of the present invention, the articles may be packed closely one to another, as shown in FIG. 2. The shipping pads 10 placed on the outer surfaces of the appliances fully protect the vital points such as corners and edges and also provide effective protection against shock or vibration, to protect any delicate internal parts of the article.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will sug gest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A shock absorbing device for protecting articles arranged in closely spaced relation for shipping and storage, comprising: a pair of block members formed from yieldable, elastomeric material, each said block member having a substmtially uniform plane surface on its bottom side for engaging an article requiring protection; a magnet embedded in each said block member, said magnets having end sections located near the surface of said bottom side and substantially flush therewith; a flexible band member of elastomeric material connecting said block members; and means for removably attaching each end of said flexible band member to a said block member, said means comprising an opening through each said block member and a recessed portion around said opening on the bottom side of said block member, and a yield able locking member on each end of said band member, larger than said openings and adapted to fit within said recessed portion around said opening on each said block member; whereby said blocks may be retained on merging surfaces forming a corner edge of said article while said band member provides a connecting protective link between said blocks adapted to fit close against the merging surfaces around the corner edge.

2. A shock absorbing device for protecting articles arranged in closely spaced relation for shipping and storage, comprising: a pair of block members formed from yieldable, elastomeric material, each said block member having a substantially uniform plane surface on its bottom side for engaging an article requiring protection; a flexible band member of elastomeric material connecting said block members; and means for removably attaching each end of said flexible band member to a said block member, said means comprising an opening through each said block member and a recessed portion around said opening on the bottom side of said block member, and a yieldable locking member on each end of said band member, larger than said openings and adapted to fit within said recessed portion around said opening on each said block member; whereby said blocks may be retained on merging surfaces forming a corner edge of said article while said band member provides a connecting protective link between said blocks adapted to fit close against the merging surfaces around the corner edge.

3. A shock absorbing device for protecting articles arranged in closely spaced relation for shipping and storage, cornprising: a pair of block members formed from yieldable, elastomeric material, each said block member having a substantially uniform plane surface on its bottom side for engaging an article requiring protection; an elongated flexible band member of elastomeric material connecting said block members; and means for removably attaching each end of said flexible band member to a said block member, said means comprising an opening through each said block member, and yielda le locking members of substantially uniform thickness fixed to each end of said band member, said locking members being larger in area said openings but being adapted, when deformed, to pass through said opening and thereafter to lie parallel to the said bottom side on each said block member over said openings; whereby said blocks may be placed on mer ing surfaces forming a corner edge of said article while said band member provides a connecting protective link between said blocks adapted to fit close against the merging surfaces around the corner edge.

4. A shock absorbing device for protecting articles arranged in closely spaced relation for shipping and storage, comprising: a pair of block members formed from yieldable, elastomeric material, each said block member having a substantially uniform plane surface on its bottom side for engaging an article requiring protection; an elongated flexible band member of elastomeric material connecting said block members; and means for removably attaching each end of said flexible band member to a said block member, said means comprising an opening through each said block member and a recessed portion around said opening on the bottom side of said block member, and a yieldable locking member on each end of said band member, larger than said openings and adapted to fit within said recessed portion around said opening on each said block member, said flexible band having a notched out portion between its ends; whereby said blocks may be retained on merging surfaces forming a corner edge of said article while said band member bends sharply around the corner edge and provides a connecting protective link between said blocks that fits close against the merging surfaces around the corner edge.

References (Iited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,515,356 Moon Nov. 11, 19 24 2,471,635 Mark et al May 31, 1949 2,474,036 Curley June 21, 1949 2,641,793 Wilm June 16, 1953 2,674,433 Mautner Apr. 6, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 332,101 Great Britain Apr. 6, 1960

Claims (1)

1. A SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR PROTECTING ARTICLES ARRANGED IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION FOR SHIPPING AND STORAGE, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF BLOCK MEMBERS FORMED FROM YIELDABLE, ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, EACH SAID BLOCK MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM PLANE SURFACE ON ITS BOTTOM SIDE FOR ENGAGING AN ARTICLE REQUIRING PROTECTION; A MAGNET EMBEDDED IN EACH SAID BLOCK MEMBER, SAID MAGNETS HAVING END SECTIONS LOCATED NEAR THE SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM SIDE AND SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH THEREWITH; A FLEXIBLE BAND MEMBER OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL CONNECTING SAID BLOCK MEMBERS; AND MEANS FOR REMOVABLY ATTACHING EACH END OF SAID FLEXIBLE BAND MEMBER TO A SAID BLOCK MEMBER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN OPENING THROUGH EACH SAID BLOCK MEMBER AND A RECESSED PORTION AROUND SAID OPEN-

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