US3536190A - Protective package and method of making same - Google Patents

Protective package and method of making same Download PDF

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Publication number
US3536190A
US3536190A US751431A US3536190DA US3536190A US 3536190 A US3536190 A US 3536190A US 751431 A US751431 A US 751431A US 3536190D A US3536190D A US 3536190DA US 3536190 A US3536190 A US 3536190A
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United States
Prior art keywords
container
article
beads
particles
package
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US751431A
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English (en)
Inventor
Stanley Hirsch
Jordan M Koster
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WILLCOX AND GIBBS Inc
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WILLCOX AND GIBBS Inc
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Publication of US3536190A publication Critical patent/US3536190A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
    • B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
    • B65D81/09—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using flowable discrete elements of shock-absorbing material, e.g. pellets or popcorn
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/20—Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material

Definitions

  • expandable resin beads While expandable resin beads are known, they have heretofore required the use of steam to expand and fuse the beads and this, of course, would be impractical in a container which is made of fibrous material such as paper or other materials which would be damaged by the steam or the means for supplying the steam. Also, many articles which might be positioned in the container could be damaged by the steam.
  • the present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a simplified package and method of producing the same whereby articles are adequately protected.
  • the novel method is efficient, quickly and easily performed without damage to the container and/or the article and is effective to provide stable, lightweight, compact cushions for articles in a container, which cushions may have various densities as required.
  • the present invention provides a package for an article, which package includes a cushion of fused expandable resin particles or beads which form a stable, lightweight, compact cushioning unit for protecting the article.
  • a container of any suitable material used for shipping cartons preferably a fibrous material such as cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board or laminated sheet material, having an article therein, sometimes supported on a resilient base member, is filled to the desired amount, sometimes less than full, with particles or beads of expandable resins which have been wet with water and a wetting agent.
  • the container is closed and located between suitable electrodes and subjected to RF energy which causes the water to heat quickly. This quickly heats the particles or beads and causes the expandable resin to expand and fill the container.
  • the sides of the container can be confined and supported against the expanding action of the particles while the RF energy is applied.
  • the heating of the resin by the hot water also causes the surface of the particles or beads to fuse together to produce in the package a stable, lightweight, compact cushioning means for the articles. As soonas the RF energy is turned off, the fused mass of particles cools quickly and a highly desired protective cushioned package is produced.
  • the particles or beads of expandable resin are preferably partially expanded and the container partially filled to the required extent so that when the heating effect takes place, the space within the container will be filled and the desired density of the cushioning material can be obtained, thus permitting a wide variation in the nature of the cushioning as required by the article.
  • the article where necessary, can be provided with a protective wrap which will protect the article from damage by the RF energy. Also, it can be provided with a protective wrap to prevent the particles from interlocking with or adhering to the surface of the article, particularly where the article is one of irregular shape.
  • a further feature of the invention resides in the fact that separator means can be inserted into the container prior to the forming of the cushion so as to provide a means whereby the article can be readily removed from the container and the cushioning means when desired.
  • FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view of one package of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I before closing the container.
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another form of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a package showing another form of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a horizontal section of a machine for carrying out the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
  • an article 10, herein illustrated as a vase or the like is disposed in a container 11.
  • This container has sides 11a, bottom 11b and top 110 and maybe of any suitable package-forming material, preferably a fibrous material such as cardboard, paperboard, corrugated board or laminated sheet material.
  • the outer case can also be a plastic such as polystyrene, polyethylene or the like.
  • the vase is preferably positioned on a resilient block 12 located on the bottom 11b of the container.
  • the vase is surrounded by a stable, lightweight, resilient protective cushioning means 13 made up of fused expandable resin particles or beads 14 which have the surfaces thereof fused together to form the cushioning means. While theparticles or beads may be polyethylene, ABS, polypropylene or the like resins, it is preferred to use expandable polystyrene beads because of the highly efficient cushioning and insulating properties of this material.
  • Applicants novel method comprises positioning the vase in the container and then inserting into the container around the article a plurality of particles or beads of expandable resin which have been mixed with water and a wetting agent so that the beads partially fill the container as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the flaps 16 forming top He of the container are closed andthe container is then subjected to RF energy which penetrates the package and causes the water surrounding the beads throughout the package to heat very rapidly.
  • the heat is transferred to the beads causing them to expand and fill up the container.
  • the heat is sufficient to soften the surface of the beads to fuse them together into a stable, compact, lightweight cushioning means surrounding the article.
  • the container is substantially filled with beads and the heat quickly fuses the surface of the beads to form a stable cushioning means for the article.
  • the density of the cushion can be readily controlled to accommodate the needs of the articles to be packaged.
  • the beads are partially expanded, they need only be heated for a short period of time to complete the expansion so as to fill the container.
  • the cushioning material quickly cools and solidifies into a highly efiicient cushioning means which is stable and does not shift, is lightweight, vermin-proof and safe as far as health is concerned.
  • expandable polystyrene beads having a density of 38 pounds/cu. ft.
  • the resultant cushioning means had a density of about 1.0 pound/cu. ft.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein it will be noted that a machine having a frame 18 is provided with a containerreceiving without others.
  • a chamber 19 composed. of opposite side plates 20, 21, rear side i plate 22 and front side plate 23, top plate 24 and bottom plate 25. Plates 20, 23 and 24 are fixed to the frame against inward movement; howeverplate 23 is laterally movable on tracks 26,
  • a :roller conveyor 18a carried by frame is disposed adjacent the door toMpermit the container'to be moved to and from the chamber 19. a V
  • Plates 21, 22 and 2 are connected to the frame by 'mounting posts 27 whichare slidablein the frame 18 and normally urged to a retracted position by springs 28. These plates are moved into engagement with the sides of the container by meansof inflatable bags 29 when theyare inflated by suitable means (not shown) after the container'isiplaced inthe chamber. This action will cause the plates to closely confine and :to support all of the sides during the cushion-forming and subjecting the closed container to RF energyto dielectrically heat the moisture around the particles and provide heat throughout the package, to expand said particles and to also cause the contacting surfaces of said particles to fuse into a V lightweight, compact, cushioning means.
  • the method of packaging and protecting acticles in fibrous containers comprising the steps ofsupporting an article in a container, wetting and inserting partially expanded polystyrene beads into the container to surround the article and fill the container to the'desired amount, closing the container, confining all sides thereof-against outward movement, subjecting the confinedcontziinerto RF energy to dielectri- I cally heat the moisture surroundingthe-wet beads and quickly operation.
  • the opposedside plates 20, 21 which carry the/RF electrodes provide the RF energy for heating the moisture surrounding the beads, which energy is supplied from a suitable RF generator (notshown).
  • a a v lt is at present preferred to provide the articles being packaged in the container with a protective wrap 30, shown in FIG.
  • This wrap can be a, plastic bag or a strip wrapped around the. article, said material being, for example, polyethylene,polyvinylchloride or the like material which will prevent'adhesion of the expandable beads thereto.
  • the wrap will also prevent the beads from entering the irregularities in the articleso as to become interlocked therewith.
  • the article or a part thereof might be of a materialwhich would be. damaged .by RF'energy' and in these .cases the article is
  • va'riousmeans may be employed. ln the form of the invention shown inFlG. 2, a tearstring 31 or suitable filament is positioned around the article with its ends'extending to the top where they can be engaged by the hand or suitable gripping means. Upon moving the endsof the strings laterally, the
  • cushioning means will be severed or otherwise separated to thus free the article to be readily removed therefrom.
  • the invention as defincd in claim 1 including the step' of confiningthe sides of the container to prevent deformation thereof during the subsequent expansion of the particles during the heating thereof.
  • the separator comprises a sheet 32 of: material to which 1,
  • the beads will not adhere. It can be a sheet of polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, corrugated board, cardboard or similar materials and extends across the container and engages the are beads or particles in each of the units may contact one another ticle to divide the cushioningmeans into readily separable units. It is presently preferred to provide a limited numberof.
  • the bag or wrap 30*for the article can be made integral with the separator 32 as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the method of packaging articles comprising the steps of placing an article in a container, inserting moist expandable,
  • a package comprising a container having an article therein and a protective cushioning means surrounding said article, said cushioning means comprising'a plurality ,of expandable resin particles, said particles beingexpanded to fill the container and .having their surfaces fused together.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Buffer Packaging (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
US751431A 1968-08-09 1968-08-09 Protective package and method of making same Expired - Lifetime US3536190A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75143168A 1968-08-09 1968-08-09

Publications (1)

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US3536190A true US3536190A (en) 1970-10-27

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US751431A Expired - Lifetime US3536190A (en) 1968-08-09 1968-08-09 Protective package and method of making same

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US (1) US3536190A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4812278B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1940600A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1226073A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3870741A (en) * 1970-04-20 1975-03-11 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Method of making a foam package
US4002289A (en) * 1974-05-28 1977-01-11 Moore Thomas B Static-type mixer and receptacle
US4267927A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-05-19 English Jr Edgar Article of manufacture comprising protective packaging for packageable objects of a fragile or perishable nature
US4492663A (en) * 1982-01-11 1985-01-08 Reinfeld Nyles V Method and adjustable length mold for manufacturing a foamed packaging assembly
US5699645A (en) * 1996-11-13 1997-12-23 Norel Molded biodegradable packaging
US20080289302A1 (en) * 2007-05-22 2008-11-27 Brian Vulpitta Packaging compression wrap
US20100126119A1 (en) * 2008-11-25 2010-05-27 Dave Ours Heat activated support system

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4053691A (en) * 1976-10-01 1977-10-11 P. R. Mallory & Co., Inc. Porous light weight battery filler
DE3444264A1 (de) * 1984-12-05 1986-06-05 Helmut 4600 Dortmund Koepchen Verpackungsmaterial und verfahren zu dessen herstellung
DE4020356A1 (de) * 1990-06-27 1992-01-09 Pi Patente Gmbh Recyclingbarer behaelter, dessen inhalt die steifigkeit des behaelters unterstuetzt, sowie recycling-verfahren fuer den behaelter

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3870741A (en) * 1970-04-20 1975-03-11 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Method of making a foam package
US4002289A (en) * 1974-05-28 1977-01-11 Moore Thomas B Static-type mixer and receptacle
US4267927A (en) * 1979-10-22 1981-05-19 English Jr Edgar Article of manufacture comprising protective packaging for packageable objects of a fragile or perishable nature
US4492663A (en) * 1982-01-11 1985-01-08 Reinfeld Nyles V Method and adjustable length mold for manufacturing a foamed packaging assembly
US5699645A (en) * 1996-11-13 1997-12-23 Norel Molded biodegradable packaging
US20080289302A1 (en) * 2007-05-22 2008-11-27 Brian Vulpitta Packaging compression wrap
US8146748B2 (en) 2008-05-19 2012-04-03 Shurtech Brands, Llc Packaging compression wrap
US20100126119A1 (en) * 2008-11-25 2010-05-27 Dave Ours Heat activated support system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1226073A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-03-24
JPS4812278B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-04-19
DE1940600A1 (de) 1970-02-19

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