A packing unit for shock-resistant packaging of a product

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a packing unit for shock-resistant packaging of a product of irregular form, comprising a single plane cardboard blank having a single base portion of substantially rectangular form, which on all sides are connected by folding lines with side and end wall and lid forming elements, said cardboard blank being erectable from its plane supply condition by folding about said folding lines into an essentially complete box-shaped cardboard packing with said single base portion forming a bottom wall of the packing.

[0002] As such, packing units of this kind are generally well-known and may be supplied as ready to use packing units for a variety of packing purposes, e.g. by post offices or other parcel service enterprises.

[0003] For a number of different products, which during transport and handling should be protected against mechanical damage in the form of impact loads, it is equally known to provide a shock-resistant packaging in a box-shaped cardboard packing permitting a piled and organized transport and storage, also for products, which per se have a somewhat irregular form.

[0004] In conventional packaging of this kind, an inner packing usually corresponding to the inner shape of the cardboard packing is used in the form of shells or blocks from a workable material, in particular foamed plastics such as polystyrene, because such shells and blocks can be shaped to fit the outer contour of the packed product. The product is thus situated securely in the cardboard packing, and a good mechanical protection is hereby obtained. However, this form of packaging has the inconvenience that due to the use of particularly shaped inner packing elements, it is relatively expensive and, at the same time, rather time-consuming as both packaging and unpacking of the product must as a rule be carried out manually. The storage of the inner packing implies a larger need for storage yard, and the disposal of the inner packing after use entails expenses and an increased environmental impact.

[0005] From US-A-3,891,090 it is known to pack various form of products, especially those of a minor size in a box-shaped cardboard packing, in which a tubular inner packing element of heat-shrinkable plastic film is adhesively affixed to a base surface. Upon arrangement of the product in this inner packing element, the heat shrinkable tube is upon application of heat made to tightly encompass the product. However, the need for heat application results in an additional process in the packaging.

[0006] A similar packaging method is disclosed in US-A-4,757,900, where the heat-shrinkable inner packing element is fastened to the outer surfaces of the cardboard packing.

[0007] In EP-A1-0 686 577 and US-A-5,240,109 box-shaped cartons designed specifically for packing of a plurality of floral groupings each including a container such as a vase are disclosed, where an inner bottom surface is provided with bonding means in the form of a pattern of adhesive material, which due to the adhesive surface character thereby afforded to the bottom surface is applied immediately prior to use of the container for packing purposes, e.g. by use of an adhesive applicator disclosed in US-A-5,111,637.

[0008] For organized packing of a number of identical articles such as pharmaceutical ampoules in a dense side by side relationship in two overlying rows a packing unit is known from FR-A-2 496 202, which com-prises a single plane cardboard blank having two sin-gle base portions of identical rectangular form and size and with parallel adhesive bands applied to both of said base portions for positioning of the articles of each row, the two base portions being connected by folding lines with side and end wall forming elements for erection of the cardboard blank from its plane supply condition by folding about said folding lines into an essentially complete box-shaped cardboard packing with the two base portions forming bottom and top walls of the packing. To allow selective activa-tion of the adhesive bands immediately prior to positioning of the articles each of the adhesive bands may be covered by a releasable protective layer.

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a packing unit offering improved shock absorption com-pared to the prior art packing methods and materials mentioned above as wells as substantial simplification and cost reduction in connection with the pack-ing of single individual product items of irregular shape.

[0010] To achieve this object the packing unit according to the invention is characterized in that a shock-absorbing layer comprising a foam material or a gel-like material is applied to the surface of said single base surface portion and that an adhesive layer adapted for selective activation is applied to said shock-absorbing layer for positioning said product on said adhesive layer after said selective activation with a surrounding air-buffer zone between the product and the side and end walls and lid of the box-shaped packing formed by folding of said side and end wall and lid forming elements about said folding lines.

[0011] By an adhesive layer to be activated selectively is here meant any adhesive layer applied to the cardboard blank in its plane unfolded condition, but the adhesive properties of which are not activated until actual use of the packing unit for pack-ing purposes.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the packing unit the applied adhesive layer may comprise at least one adhesive tape having an outward adhesive surface covered by a removable protection layer as disclosed in FR-A-2 496 202.

[0013] The invention thereby offers the possibility of producing plane cardboard blanks as separate packing units for use both in connection with industrial packaging and in private households.

[0014] By use of the packing unit according to the invention the need for production of a special inner packing adapted to the product is avoided, and the number of work operations both in packaging and unpacking are minimized.

[0015] By allowing a product to be packed to be positioned directly on the plane cardboard blank prior to its folding-up the packing unit according to the invention the packing unit according to the unit is well suited, in particular, for shock-resistant pack-ing of products on an industrial scale as ready-to-use packing units may for instance be conveyed automatically on a belt conveyor, which at a packing station receives the products piece by piece.

[0016] Due to the inherent stiffness of a box-shaped cardboard packing obtained by means of the packing unit, both the protection of the packed products against mechanical impact and the possibility of a piled and organized arrangement of packed products during storage and transport are essentially equal to what can be obtained by known packing methods, the retaining of the packed product to the adhesive layer on the base portion of the cardboard packing resulting per se in a secure localization of the product in the cardboard packing.

[0017] Moreover, by the folding-up of the parts of the cardboard blank surrounding the base surface, on which the product is positioned, a surrounding air buffer zone is provided between the product and the walls of the finished box-shaped packing.

[0018] In the following, the invention will be explained more in detail with reference to the schematic drawing, where

[0019] Figs. 1 and 2 are a plane view and a side view, respectively, of an embodiment of a packing unit according to the invention as used for positioning a product to be packed prior to folding-up of the packing unit, and

[0020] Figs. 3 and 4 are plane views of alternative preferred embodiments of the packing unit.

[0021] Figs. 1 and 2 show a packing unit in the form of a plane cardboard blank 1 having a base portion 2 intended to form a bottom in a box-shaped cardboard packing provided by folding-up of the blank.

[0022] The base portion or bottom wall 2 is connected via folding lines with further elements of the plane cardboard blank 1 comprising side walls 3 and 4 and end walls 5 and 6 of which the latter are provided with projecting adhesive flaps 7.

[0023] The side walls 3 and 4 and the end walls 5 and 6 is further connected with elements 8, 9, 10 and 11, respectively, which together are intended to form a lid in the finished cardboard packing.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, two tape-shaped adhesive layers 35 are applied to a shock-absorbing layer 33, e.g. of foam or gel-like material, provided on the surface 34 of the single base portion 2 intended to form the bottom wall of the packing unit.

[0025] By way of example, the product 14 to be packed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be an accessory part for a roof window in the form of a roller shutter. This is of course in no way limiting, however, as the packing unit according to the invention may be used for packing of an infinitude of various products.

[0026] The plane views in Figs. 3 and 4 show alternative preferred embodiments of the packing unit according to the invention.

[0027] In the embodiment in fig. 3 three adhesive layers 23, 24 and 25 have been applied to the base portion 22 of the plane cardboard blank 21 in the form of double-sided adhesive tapes having an outward adhesive face covered by a removable protection layer, e.g. in the form of release paper ribbons 26-28.

[0028] Where a number of distinct product items are to be placed on the same packing unit, it may be desirable, as shown in Fig. 4, to have a larger part of the base portion 30 of the plane cardboard blank 29 covered with adhesive layers in the form of adhesive tapes 31. e.g. as shown in a window pane pattern covering the entire area of the base portion 29. Thereby, the adhesive tapes 31 can appropriately be covered by a common protective sheet 32.

Claims

1. A packing unit for shock-resistant packaging of a product of irregular form, comprising a single plane cardboard blank (1) having a single base portion (2) of substantially rectangular form, which on all sides are connected by folding lines with side and end wall and lid forming elements (3-11), said cardboard blank being erectable from its plane supply condition by folding about said folding lines into an essentially complete box-shaped cardboard packing with said single base portion (2) forming a bottom wall of the packing, characterized in that a shock-absorbing layer (33) comprising a foam material or a gel-like material is applied to the surface (34) of said single base surface portion (2) and that an adhesive layer (35) adapted for selective activation is applied to said shock-absorbing layer (33) for positioning said product on said adhesive layer after said selective activation with a surrounding air-buffer zone between the product and the side and end walls and lid of the box-shaped packing formed by folding of said side and end wall and lid forming elements (3-11) about said folding lines.

2. A packing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said adhesive layer comprises at least one adhesive tape (23-25, 31) with an outward adhesive surface covered by a re-movable protective layer (26-28, 32).

3. Use of a packing unit according to any of claims 1 to 4 for shock-resistant packaging of a product, characterized in that in the plane supply condition of the packing unit the product is placed on the base surface portion (2) after selective activation of the adhesive layer (12,13) applied to said base surface portion (2).

Ansprüche

1. Verpackungseinheit zum stoßfesten Verpacken eines Produktes einer unregelmäßigen Form, umfassend einen einzelnen, ebenen Kartongegenstand (1) mit einem einzelnen Basisabschnitt (2) einer im Wesentlichen rechteckigen Form, welcher an allen Seiten durch Faltlinien mit Seiten- und Endwände und Deckel bildenden Elementen (3-11) verbunden ist, wobei der Kartongegenstand aus seinem ebenen Lieferzustand durch Falten um die genannten Faltlinien herum in eine im Wesentlichen komplette, kistenförmige Kartonverpackung aufrichtbar ist, wobei der genannte Basisflächenabschnitt (2) eine Bodenwand der Verpackung bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine ein aufgeschäumtes oder gelartiges Material aufweisende stoßabsorbierende Schicht (33) auf die Oberfläche (34) des genannten einzelnen Basisflächenabschnitts (2) aufgetragen wird, und dass eine zur wahlweisen Aktivierung ausgebildete Klebeschicht (35) auf die genannte stoßabsorbierende Schicht (33) aufgetragen wird, um nach der genannten wahlweisen Aktivierung das genannte Produkt auf die genannte Klebeschicht mit einem umgebenden Luftpufferbereich zwischen dem Produkt und den Seiten- und Endwänden und dem Deckel der kistenförmigen Verpackung, welche durch Falten der genannten Seiten- und Endwände und Deckel bildenden Elemente (3-11) um die genannten Faltlinien herum gebildet werden, zu positionieren.

2. Verpackungseinheit nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die genannte Klebeschicht mindestens einen Klebestreifen (23-25, 31) mit einer nach außen gewandten klebenden Oberfläche umfasst, die von einer abnehmbaren Schutzschicht (26-28, 32) überdeckt ist.

3. Verwendung einer Verpackungseinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4 zum stoßfesten Verpacken eines Produktes, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass im ebenen Lieferzustand der Verpackungseinheit nach der wahlweisen Aktivierung der auf den genannten Basisflächenabschnitt (2) aufgetragenen Klebeschicht (12, 13) das Produkt auf den Basisflächenabschnitt (2) platziert wird.

Revendications

1. Unité d'emballage pour conditionnement antichoc d'un produit d'une forme irrégulière, comprenant une seule pièce plane de carton (1) présentant une seule portion de base (2) d'une forme essentiellement rectangulaire qui, sur tous les côtés, est reliée par des lignes de pliage à des éléments latéraux, à des éléments de paroi de fond et à des éléments formant un couvercle (3-11), pièce de carton qui peut être érigée à partir de sa condition plane de livraison par repliement autour desdites lignes de pliage en un emballage de carton essentiellement complet en forme de boîte avec ladite seule portion de base (2) formant une paroi inférieure de l'emballage, caractérisée en ce qu'une couche amortisseuse (33) comprenant un matériau de mousse ou un matériau rassemblant à du gel est appliquée à la surface (34) de ladite seule portion de base (2), et en ce qu'une couche adhésive (35) adaptée pour activation sélective est appliquée à ladite couche amortisseuse (33) pour positionnement dudit produit sur ladite couche adhésive après ladite activation sélective avec une zone buffer d'air entourante entre le produit et les parois latérales et les parois de fond et le couvercle de l'emballage en forme de boîte formé par repliement des éléments latéraux, des éléments de paroi de fond et des éléments formant un couvercle (3-11) autour desdites lignes de pliage.

2. Unité d'emballage selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite couche adhésive comprend au moins une bande adhésive (23-25, 31) avec une surface extérieure adhésive et couverte par une couche de protection détachable (26-28, 32).

3. Usage d'une unité d'emballage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-2 pour conditionnement antichoc d'un produit, caractérisé en ce que dans la condition plane de livraison de l'unité d'emballage, le produit est arrangé sur la surface de la portion de base (2) après l'activation sélective de la couche adhésive (12, 13) appliquée à la surface de la portion de base (2).

Drawing