FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a vibration-absorbing sheath, and more particularly
to a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Traditionally, a method for buffering a packaged article generally comprises the
steps of: providing a plastic packing sheet provided with a plurality of small air
bubbles projected therefrom; and packaging an article in the plastic packing sheet,
so as to absorb external vibrations by the plastic packing sheet. However, the small
air bubbles of the plastic packing sheet only can absorb limited vibrations, but can
not provide an enough buffering effect when a greater vibration or impact load is
exerted. To solve the foregoing problem, an air packing bag is developed to be used
as a buffering material for packaging.
[0003] The air packing bag uses air as a buffering medium of an article, so as to provide
a buffering effect for protecting the article. However, there may be some shake or
impact during transportation the article, such that the air packing bag made of polyethylene
(PE) may be easily punctured by a sharp corner or a metal joint of the article. Once
there is a punctured hole on the air packing bag, the air in the air packing bag may
be leaked out, so that the packaged article is easily damaged or scratched. Such air
packing bag and the equivalents thereof are disclosed in
US Patent No. 4850912, entitled "Container for sealingly containing a fluid";
US Patent No. 5261466, entitled "Process for continuously filling fluid into a plurality of closed bags";
and Japanese Utility Model Publication Patent No.
5-95851, entitled "Sealing bag for containing a fluid".
[0004] As described above, it is important for the inventor of the present invention and
related manufacturers to think how to improve the structure of the air packing bag
for solving the problem of reducing the buffering protection due to leaking air in
the air packing bag, in order to provide the better vibration-absorbing buffering
effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath, which is used to package an article for providing a buffering protection
for the article. The vibration-absorbing air sheath comprises: a first buffering wall
having at least one first heat-sealed edge, wherein the first buffering wall is partitioned
into a plurality of air columns by a plurality of air column lines which are vertical
to the first heat-sealed edge and formed by heat sealing means; a second buffering
wall having at least one second heat-sealed edge connected to the first heat-sealed
edge by heat sealing means, wherein the second buffering wall is partitioned into
a plurality of air columns by a plurality of air column lines which are vertical to
the second heat-sealed edge and formed by heat sealing means; at least one first node
formed on the first buffering wall so that the first buttering wall can be bent along
the first node; at least one second node formed on the second buffering wall so that
the second buffering wall can be bent along the second node; a third buffering wall
connected between the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall by bending
the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall; a receiving space formed between
the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall by bending the first buffering
wall and the second buffering wall; and a buffering sheet having a first side edge
connected to the first buffering wall via the first heat-sealed edge by heat sealing
means and a second side edge connected to the second buffering wall via the second
heat-sealed edge by heat sealing means. Furthermore, the buffering sheet having the
two heat-sealed side edges is partially heat-sealed along the air column lines of
the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall by heat sealing means, while
the buffering sheet is not heat-sealed along a middle portion of the air column lines,
so that a bottom portion of the buffering sheet is suspended. As a result, the buffering
sheet is suspended within the receiving space for receiving the article, in order
to absorb a vibration of the article and protect the article with a buffering of the
first buffering wall, the second buffering wall, and the third buffering wall.
[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it can provide a buffering
protection for the article when the vibration-absorbing air sheath is used to package
the article. If the article is shook during transportation, the buffering sheet of
the vibration-absorbing air sheath can be used to absorb the vibration of the article,
while the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall can be used to protect
the article, so as to provide dual vibration-absorbing buffering effects. Furthermore,
the structure of the vibration-absorbing air sheath can prevent the article from being
in direct contact with the first buffering wall, the second buffering wall, and the
third buffering wall, so as to keep the buffering protection from being impaired by
the article's puncturing the first, second and third buffering wall, which leads to
air leak.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve
the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a plane view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath before air
inflation according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
after air inflation according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath after
air inflation according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 4A is a first cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same receiving an article according to the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 4B is a second cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same receiving the article according to the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 4C is a third cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same receiving the article according to the first preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
showing the same receiving an article according to a second preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
Fig. 6 is another cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same receiving the article according to the second preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a plane view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath before air
inflation according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
showing the same receiving an article according to the third preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a plane view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath before air
inflation according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath after
air inflation according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 11 is a side view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath after air
inflation according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is a first cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same before receiving an article according to the fourth preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a second cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air
sheath showing the same receiving an article according to the fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 14 is a side view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath after air
inflation according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
showing the same receiving an article according to the fifth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4A, a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated,
wherein Fig. 1 is a plane view before air (or a suitable gas) inflation, Fig. 2 is
a cross-sectional view after air inflation, Fig. 3 is a perspective view after air
inflation, and Fig. 4A is a first cross-sectional view when receiving an article.
[0009] As shown, the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath comprises an air-column
sheet 2 and a buffering sheet 5. The air-column sheet 2 is constructed with a plurality
of air columns 20. The air columns 20 are formed with a plurality of bending points
20a, and the air columns 20 can be bent along the bending points 20a to define a first
buffering wall 21 and a second buffering wall 22, wherein the first buffering wall
21 and the second buffering wall 22 are in communication with each other. The first
buffering wall 21 is provided with a first heat-sealed edge 21a on a side edge thereof,
and a plurality of first nodes 21b. The second buffering wall 22 is provided with
a second heat-sealed edge 22a on a side edge thereof, and a plurality of second nodes
22b. The first buffering wall 21 can be bent along the first nodes 21b, and the second
buffering wall 22 can be bent along the second nodes 22b. Then, the first heat-sealed
edge 21a and the second heat-sealed edge 22a can be connected to each other by heat
sealing means, so as to define a receiving space 6 between the first buffering wall
21 and the second buffering wall 22. The receiving space 6 is substantially quadrilateral,
and the shape thereof can be slightly varied with the locations and numbers of the
first nodes 21b and the second nodes 22b, or with bending angles of the first buffering
wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22. For example, the shape of the receiving
space 6 can be varied with the extent to which the first buffering wall 21 is bent
along the first nodes 21 b, or with the extent to which the second buffering wall
22 is bent along the second nodes 22b.
[0010] The air-column sheet 2 is formed by two outer films 2a, 2b connected to each other
by heat sealing means. The two outer films 2a, 2b can be preferably made of polyethylene
(PE).
[0011] The buffering sheet 5 is made of flexible material, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC),
polypropylene (PP), expanded polyethylene (EPE), expanded polypropylene (EPP), fabric,
foam material, polyethylene (PE) sheet provided with small air bubbles projected therefrom,
corrugated paper, paper, or paper-like material. The buffering sheet 5 has a first
side edge formed with a plurality of heat-sealed points 5a by heat sealing means for
mounting on the first buffering wall 21, and a second side edge formed with a plurality
of heat-sealed points 5b by heat sealing means for mounting on the second buffering
wall 22. Thus, the buffering sheet 5 can be suspended within the receiving space 6
and substantially similar to a hammock structure. Meanwhile, the buffering sheet 5
has a central portion defining an accommodating space 50 for accommodating an article
100, wherein the accommodating space 50 is formed between two folded halves of the
buffering sheet 5.
[0012] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hammock-type
vibration-absorbing air sheath further comprises an air-filling channel 9, wherein
the two outer films 2a, 2b are connected to each other by heat sealing means, so as
to define an air flowing space therebetween, i.e. the air-filling channel 9. The air-filling
channel 9 is formed on the side edge of the first buffering wall 21, and used to fill
air into the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22. In this manner,
the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 will be filled with air
and inflated, in order to provide a vibration-absorbing buffering effect.
[0013] Furthermore, according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath further comprises at least one serial
check valve system 4 which is constructed by connecting two inner films 1a, 1b to
each other by heat sealing means. The serial check valve system 4 is used to communicate
the air-filling channel 9 with the first buffering wall 21. The air in the air-filling
channel 9 is flowed into the first buffering wall 21 through the serial check valve
system 4. Then, the serial check valve system 4 can seal the first buffering wall
21, so as to prevent the air in the first buffering wall 21 from leaking out. Moreover,
a heatproof material 1c is applied between the two inner films 1a, 1b, and a plurality
of air inlets 2e are formed between the two inner films 1a, 1b where the two inner
films 1a, 1b are not connected to each other by heat sealing means. Each of the air
inlets 2e is corresponding to each of the air columns 20, and communicated with one
air channel 14. The air channel 14 is sandwiched between the two inner films 1a, 1b,
wherein at least one of the two inner films 1a, 1b is coated with the heatproof material
1c between the two inner films 1a, 1b, and the two inner films 1a, 1b are connected
to each other by heat sealing means. After the air flows through an air-filling opening
9a and finishes inflating the air-filling channel 9, the two outer films 2a, 2b must
be pulled outward and away from each other, in order to open the air inlets 2e. In
this manner, the air will be filled into the air columns 20 along the air channel
14, so as to inflate the air columns 20. After the air columns 20 are inflated, the
inner air pressure of the air columns 20 presses the two inner films 1a, 1b, so that
the two inner films 1a, 1b will be tightly attached to the two outer films 2a, 2b.
(Alternatively, according to another different structure, the two inner films 1a,
1b can only be suspended within the air columns 20 instead of being tightly attached
to the two outer films 2a, 2b.) Finally, the air channel 14 will be closed, and the
air columns 20 will be sealed, so that the air in the air columns 20 can be prevented
from leaking out, in order to ensure the air sealing effect.
[0014] According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first buffering
wall 21 further comprises a first connection edge 21c substantially vertical to the
first heat-sealed edge 21a, and the second buffering wall 22 further comprises a second
connection edge 22c substantially vertical to the second heat-sealed edge 22a. The
first side edge and the second side edge of the buffering sheet 5 are attached to
the first connection edge 21c and the second connection edge 22c by heat sealing means,
respectively. Furthermore, the first buffering wall 21 further comprises a first bottom
edge 21d substantially vertical to the first heat-sealed edge 21 a, and the second
buffering wall 22 further comprises a second bottom edge 22d substantially vertical
to the second heat-sealed edge 22a. The first bottom edge 21 d and the second bottom
edge 22d can be connected to each other by heat sealing means, so as to seal the receiving
space 6. Especially, an interval is defined between the buffering sheet 5 and a heat-sealed
connection portion of the first bottom edge 21 d and the second bottom edge 22d. The
interval can be used to prevent the buffering sheet 5 from being in direct contact
with the air columns 20 close to the first bottom edge 21d and the second bottom edge
22d.
[0015] Referring now to Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C, a first, a second, and a third cross-sectional
views of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath showing the air sheath receiving
the article according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention are
provided.
[0016] As shown, when the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of the present invention
is used to package the article 100, it can provide a buffering protection for the
article 100. Even though the buffering sheet 5 is shifted downward due to the press
of the article 100, the interval still can keep the buffering sheet 5 away from the
air columns 20 close to the first bottom edge 21d and the second bottom edge 22d.
When the article 100 is shook during transportation, the buffering sheet 5 can be
used to absorb the vibration of the article 100, while the first buffering wall 21
and the second buffering wall 22 located on two sides of the article 100 can be used
to protect the article 100, so as to provide a buffering protection for the article
100. If the article 100 is violently shook to generate a force biasing downward against
the buffering sheet 5, the air columns 20 on the bottom of the first buffering wall
21 and the second buffering wall 22 can be used to absorb the vibration of the article
100, so as to provide dual vibration-absorbing buffering effects. Furthermore, the
vibration-absorbing air sheath of the present invention can prevent the article 100
from directly contacting with the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering
wall 22, so as to avoid reducing the buffering protection caused by that the article
100 punctures the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 to leak
the air out.
[0017] Referring now to Fig. 5, a cross-sectional view of a hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath showing the same receiving an article according to a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention is illustrated.
[0018] As shown, in the second preferred embodiment, the first bottom edge 21 d of the first
buffering wall 21 and the second bottom edge 22d of the second buffering wall 22 can
be separated from each other instead of being connected to each other by heat sealing
means. Thus, the receiving space 6 will be an open space. When the buffering sheet
5 receives the article 100, a force may be generated to bias downward against the
buffering sheet 5, and the air columns 20 still can absorb the vibration of the article
100, so as to provide the buffering protection for the article 100.
[0019] Referring now to Fig. 6, another cross-sectional view of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath showing the same receiving the article according to the second preferred
embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.
[0020] As shown, the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of the present invention
further comprises two connection portions 51 formed on two ends of the buffering sheet
5, wherein the two connection portions 51 are two folded connection portions of the
buffering sheet 5. When the article 100 is shook to cause the buffering sheet 5 to
shift leftward and rightward, the buffering sheet 5 is firstly used to buffer and
absorb the vibrations of the article 100, and then the first buffering wall 21 and
the second buffering wall 22 are used to protect the article 100. Thus, the present
invention can provide dual buffering effects of absorbing vibrations for the article
100. Furthermore, the buffering sheet 5 of the present invention can prevent the article
100 from directly contacting with the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering
wall 22, so as to avoid reducing the buffering protection caused by that the article
100 punctures the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 to leak
the air out.
[0021] Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath according
to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated; wherein Fig.
7 is a plane view before air inflation, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing
the same receiving an article.
[0022] As shown, the first buffering wall 21 is provided with a plurality of first nodes
21b, and the second buffering wall 22 is provided with a plurality of second nodes
22b. The first buffering wall 21 can be bent along the first nodes 21b, and the second
buffering wall 22 can be bent along the second nodes 22b. A receiving space 6 is defined
between the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 (as shown in
Fig. 4A). The receiving space 6 is substantially hexagonal, and the shape thereof
can be slightly varied according to the positions and the amounts of the first nodes
21b and the second nodes 22b, or according to the bending angles of the first buffering
wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22.
[0023] According to the structure of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath in
the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the buffering sheet 5 is connected
to and mounted on the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 by
heat sealing means. Alternatively, the buffering sheet 5 may be selected from an extension
sheet extended from at least one side edge of the first buffering wall 21 and the
second buffering wall 22. According to the present invention, it is to be noted that
the buffering sheet 5 may also be selected from other equivalent structural improvement
or variation, without limitation.
[0024] According to the structure of the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath in
the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first buffering wall 21 and
the second buffering wall 22 are formed and exemplified by bending the common air-column
sheet 2, without limitation. Alternatively, the first buffering wall 21 and the second
buffering wall 22 also can be selected from two separate air-column sheets 2, each
of which is provided with an air-filling channel 9 and a plurality of serial check
valves system 4.
[0025] Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, a hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated; wherein Fig. 9 is a plane view before inflation with air (or a suitable
gas), Fig. 10 is a perspective view after air inflation, Fig. 11 is a side view after
air inflation, Fig. 12 is a first cross-sectional view before receiving an article,
and Fig. 13 is a second cross-sectional view when receiving the article.
[0026] As shown, the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath comprises an air-column
sheet 2 which is constructed with a plurality of air columns 20. The air columns 20
are formed with a plurality of first nodes 21b and a plurality of second nodes 22b.
The air columns 20 can be bent along the first nodes 21b and the second nodes 22b
to define a first buffering wall 21, a second buffering wall 22, and a third buffering
wall 23, wherein the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 are
in communication with each other via the third buffering wall 23. The first buffering
wall 21 is provided with a first heat-sealed edge 21a on a side edge thereof. The
second buffering wall 22 is provided with a second heat-sealed edge 22a on a side
edge thereof. The first buffering wall 21 can be bent along the first nodes 21b, and
the second buffering wall 22 can be bent along the second nodes 22b. Then, the first
heat-sealed edge 21 a and the second heat-sealed edge 22a can be connected to each
other by heat sealing means, so as to define a receiving space 6 between the first
buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22. The receiving space 6 is substantially
quadrilateral, and the shape thereof can be slightly varied with the locations and
numbers of the first nodes 21b and the second nodes 22b, or with bending angles of
the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22. For example, the shape
of the receiving space 6 can be varied with the extent to which the first buffering
wall 21 is bent along the first nodes 21 b, or with the extent to which the second
buffering wall 22 is bent along the second nodes 22b. In the fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the buffering sheet 5 has a first side edge connected to
the first buffering wall 21 via the first heat-sealed edge 21a by heat sealing means,
and a second side edge connected to the second buffering wall 22 via the second heat-sealed
edge 22a by heat sealing means. Furthermore, the buffering sheet 5 having the two
heat-sealed side edges is partially heat-sealed along a plurality of air column lines
20b of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 by heat sealing
means. Thus, the buffering sheet 5 is suspended within the receiving space 6 and substantially
similar to a hammock structure. Meanwhile, the buffering sheet 5 has a central portion
defining an accommodating space 50 for accommodating an article 100, which can be
protected with a buffering of the first buffering wall 21, the second buffering wall
22, and the third buffering wall 23.
[0027] Referring now to Figs. 14 and 15, a hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath according
to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Fig. 14 is
a side view after air inflation, wherein a buffering sheet 5 is bent inward; and Fig.
15 is a cross-sectional view when receiving an article.
[0028] As shown, the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath comprises an air-column
sheet 2 and the buffering sheet 5.
[0029] The buffering sheet 5 has a first side edge connected to a first bottom edge 21d
by heat sealing means, and a second side edge connected to a second bottom edge 22d
by heat sealing means, so that a bottom portion of the buffering sheet 5 is suspended.
[0030] In other words, when the article 100 is protected by the hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath, the periphery of the article 100 is doubly protected by the air columns
20 of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22 and the accommodating
space 50. Meanwhile, a bottom of the article 100 is protected by the air columns 20
of the third buffering wall 23. The buffering sheet 5 can hold the article 100 to
prevent it from escaping from between the air columns 20 of the third buffering wall
23.
[0031] The fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is different from the fourth
preferred embodiment in two ways: the buffering sheet 5 in the fifth embodiment is
smaller in size and is heat-sealed at a lower position. The smaller buffering sheet
5 is effective in reducing material cost, while a change in the heat-sealed position
can still provide a hammock structure with a suspended bottom.
[0032] In the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention, the periphery and the
bottom of the article 100 are in contact with the buffering sheet 5. In the fifth
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the periphery of the article 100 is
in contact with the air columns 20 of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering
wall 22, while the bottom of the article 100 is in contact with the buffering sheet
5.
[0033] The air-column sheet 2 in formed by two outer films 2a, 2b connected to each other
by heat sealing means, as described in the first preferred embodiment. The two outer
films 2a, 2b can be preferably made of polyethylene (PE).
[0034] The buffering sheet 5 is made of a flexible material, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC),
polypropylene (PP), expanded polyethylene (EPE), expanded polypropylene (EPP), fabric,
foam material, polyethylene (PE) sheet provided with small air bubbles projecting
therefrom, corrugated paper, paper, or paper-like material.
[0035] According to the present invention, the hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath
further comprises an air-filling channel 9, wherein the two outer films 2a, 2b are
connected to each other by heat sealing means, as described in the first preferred
embodiment, so as to define an air flowing space therebetween, i.e., the air-filling
channel 9. The air-filling channel 9 is formed on the side edge of the first buffering
wall 21. After the air flows through an air-filling opening 9a and finishes inflating
the air-filling channel 9, the two outer films 2a, 2b must be pulled outward and away
from each other, so that the air will be filled into the air columns 20 along the
air channel 14 for inflating the air columns 20. Thus, the air will be filled into
and thereby inflate the first buffering wall 21, the second buffering wall 22, and
the third buffering wall 23, so as to provide the vibration-absorbing buffering effect.
[0036] According to the structure described in the fourth preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the buffering sheet 5 having the two heat-sealed side edges is partially
connected to the air column lines 20b by heat sealing means, while the buffering sheet
5 is not heat-sealed along a middle portion of the air column lines 20b, so that a
bottom portion of the buffering sheet 5 is suspended. Furthermore, the buffering sheet
5 and the third buffering wall 23 are spaced by an interval defined by the receiving
space 6 formed therebetween, so as to prevent the buffering sheet 5 from being directly
in contact with the air columns 20 close to the third buffering wall 23. Because the
buffering sheet 5 is partially connected to the air column lines 20b of the first
buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22, air pressure resulting from air
inflation presses side surfaces of the buffering sheet 5 tightly against the air columns
20 of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22. As a result, the
accommodating space 50 formed by the buffering sheet 5 can provide a better packaging
effect.
[0037] In other words, when the article 100 is protected by the hammock-type vibration-absorbing
air sheath, the periphery of the article 100 is doubly protected on both sides by
the air columns 20 of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering wall 22
and the accommodating space 50. Meanwhile, the bottom of the article 100 is doubly
protected by the receiving space 6 and the air columns 20 of the third buffering wall
23. When the article 100 is accommodated into the accommodating space 50 of the buffering
sheet 5, an upper portion of the first buffering wall 21 and the second buffering
wall 22 will be drawn by the buffering sheet 5 being compressed, and therefore incline
inward, so as to clamp and hold the article 100 more securely is place.
[0038] The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and
it is understood that many changes and modifications to the described embodiment can
be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that
is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
1. A hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath for packaging an article to provide
a buffering protection, comprising:
a first buffering wall having at least one first heat-sealed edge, wherein the first
buffering wall is partitioned into a plurality of air columns by a plurality of air
column lines which are vertical to the first heat-sealed edge and formed by heat sealing
means;
a second buffering wall having at least one second heat-sealed edge connected to the
at least one first heat-sealed edge by heat sealing means, wherein the second buffering
wall is partitioned into a plurality of air columns by a plurality of air column lines
which are vertical to the second heat-sealed edge and formed by heat sealing means;
at least one first node formed on the first buffering wall such that the first buffering
wall can be bent along the first node;
at least one second node formed on the second buffering wall such that the second
buffering wall can be bent along the second node;
a third buffering wall connected between the first buffering wall and the second buffering
wall and formed by bending the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall;
a receiving space formed between the first buffering wall and the second buffering
wall by bending the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall; and
a buffering sheet having a first side edge connected to the first buffering wall via
the first heat-sealed edge by heat sealing means, and a second side edge connected
to the second buffering wall via the second heat-sealed edge by heat sealing means,
wherein the buffering sheet having the two heat-sealed side edges is partially heat-sealed
along the air column lines of the first buffering wall and the second buffering wall
by heat sealing means, so that the buffering sheet is suspended within the receiving
space for receiving the article, wherein the buffering sheet is used to absorb vibrations
of the article, while the first buffering wall, the second buffering wall, and the
third buffering wall are used to protect the article with a buffering effect.
2. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein the buffering
sheet is not heat-sealed along a middle portion of the air column lines, so that a
bottom portion of the buffering sheet is suspended.
3. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein the buffering
sheet includes a plurality of air columns, and the air sheath further comprises an
air-filling channel formed on a side edge of the first buffering wall for filling
air into the air columns of the first buffering wall, wherein the air-filling channel
is in communication with the second and third buffering walls through the nodes on
the air columns.
4. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 3, further comprising a serial
check valve system used to communicate the air-filling channel with the first, second
and third buffering walls, which are connected via the first and second nodes, wherein
air in the air-filling channel is flowed into the air columns of the first buffering
wall through the serial check valve system, and the serial check valve system can
seal an air inlet, so as to prevent the air in the air columns of the first, second
and third buffering walls, which are connected via the first and second nodes, from
leaking out.
5. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, further comprising an
accommodating space formed by folding the buffering sheet in half.
6. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, further comprising two
connection portions formed on two ends of the buffering sheet by bending the buffering
sheet in half and connecting folded halves of the two ends, respectively.
7. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein the first buffering
wall further comprises a first bottom edge substantially vertical to the first heat-sealed
edge, and the second buffering wall further comprises a second bottom edge substantially
vertical to the second heat-sealed edge, wherein the first bottom edge and the second
bottom edge are connected to each other by heat sealing means, so as to seal the receiving
space.
8. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 7, wherein an interval is
defined between the buffering sheet and a heat-sealed connection portion between the
first bottom edge and the second bottom edge.
9. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein the first buffering
wall further comprises a first connection edge substantially vertical to the first
heat-sealed edge, and the second buffering wall further comprises a second connection
edge substantially vertical to the second heat-sealed edge, and wherein two side edges
of the buffering sheet are attached to the first connection edge and the second connection
edge, respectively.
10. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein a shape of the
receiving space changes with positions of the buffering walls attached by heat sealing
means.
11. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein a side edge of
the first buffering wall is partially extended through heat-sealed nodes and bent
toward a bottom thereof for connecting to the buffering sheet by heat sealing means,
so as to form an assembly wherein the first buffering wall is at an upper portion
and the buffering sheet is at a lower portion.
12. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein a side edge of
the second buffering wall is partially extended through heat-sealed nodes and bent
toward a bottom thereof for connecting to the buffering sheet by heat sealing means,
so as to form an assembly wherein the second buffering wall is at an upper portion
and the buffering sheet is at a lower portion.
13. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 12, wherein the buffering
sheet is a polyethylene (PE) sheet, a polyethylene (PE) composite sheet, or a plastic
sheet.
14. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 1, wherein each of the buffering
walls comprises a plurality of buffering air columns each having a serial check valve
system, and the buffering air columns can have different shapes and sizes, wherein
the shapes of the buffering air columns can be linear or non-linear.
15. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 7, wherein the first side
edge of the buffering sheet is connected to the first bottom edge by heat sealing
means.
16. The hammock-type vibration-absorbing air sheath of claim 7, wherein the second side
edge of the buffering sheet is connected to the second bottom edge by heat sealing
means.