U.S. patent application number 11/447133 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for inflatable space filler structure for container.
Invention is credited to Hideo Igarashi.
Application Number | 20070012591 11/447133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19126060 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070012591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Igarashi; Hideo |
January 18, 2007 |
Inflatable space filler structure for container
Abstract
Disclosed is an inflatable space filler structure comprising a
cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in a
container for protecting the object from any shock action. The
cushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resin film
or sheet, which are laid on each other and thermowelded in
air-tight condition along their sides and in their confronting
major planes in the form of partition lines arranged in parallel
and reaching short of the opposite lateral sides of the rectangular
pieces of resin film or sheet, thus defining divisional air-tight
sections. Also, the cushioning member includes an air inlet
equipped with a check valve for inflating the divisional air-tight
sections with air, thereby applying the expanded divisional
air-tight sections to the front, rear, upper and lower surfaces of
the object.
Inventors: |
Igarashi; Hideo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
19126060 |
Appl. No.: |
11/447133 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10260295 |
Oct 1, 2002 |
|
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|
11447133 |
Jun 6, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/522 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/052
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/522 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/02 20060101
B65D081/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2001 |
JP |
2001-306419 |
Claims
1. An inflatable space filler structure comprising a cushioning
member to encircle a shock-brittle object in a container for
protecting the object from any shock action, wherein said
cushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resin film
or sheet superposed on each other and with air-tight thermowelds
along their sides and in their confronting major planes in the form
of parallel partition lines, said parallel partition lines reaching
short of opposite lateral sides of the rectangular pieces of resin
film or sheet, thus defining divisional air-tight sections;
sacrificial lines formed alternately with said partition lines on
their major planes by airtightly connecting their confronting major
planes in the form of parallel lines, the sacrificial lines having
a lower strength than a strength of said partition lines so that
such sacrificial lines may be broken prior to breaking of any of
the partition lines in response to incidental application of
excessive pressure to the inflatable space filler; and an air
inlet, equipped with a check valve, for inflating the divisional
air-tight sections with air, to enable the divisional air-tight
sections to be expanded and applied to the front, rear, upper and
lower surfaces of the object; wherein extra buffers are integrally
connected to said opposite lateral edges of said rectangular pieces
of resin film or sheet to protect corresponding opposite sides of
the object from any shock action.
2. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 1,
wherein said sacrifical lines constitute weak air-tight thermowelds
in the confronting major planes.
3. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 1,
further comprising an air-release hole, and a seal piece releasably
covering said air-release hole in an air-tight fashion, said seal
piece being capable of being peeled off and attached
repeatedly.
4. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 1,
wherein said cushioning member is configured for use in encircling
the object in a cardboard box with a packing assistant.
5. An inflatable space filler structure comprising a cushioning
member to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in a container
for preventing the object from any shock action, characterized in
that the cushioning member comprises: outside and inside closed
bags of resin film or sheet of different depths, the inside bag
being fitted in the outside bag, their bottoms and opposite lateral
and longitudinal sides being thermowelded and connected together to
stagger their upper closed edges while the outside and inside bags
communicate at their bottoms, making the inside bag form a pocket
fastened onto the outside bag, the confronting planes of the
outside and inside bags being thermowelded in the form of partition
lines, which are predetermined distances apart from the
longitudinal opposite sides of the outside-and-inside bag
combination, and an air inlet equipped with a check valve for
inflating the outside and inside bags, thereby applying the
expanded outside and inside bags to the shock-brittle object in the
pocket.
6. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 5,
wherein the outside-and-inside bag combination has sacrificial
seals formed between each partition line and one or the other
longitudinal side of the outside-and-inside bag combination.
7. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 6,
wherein it further comprises an air-hole made for uncorking, the
air-hole has a seal piece to cover the air-hole in air-tight
fashion, the seal piece being capable of being peeled off and
attached repeatedly for use.
8. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 5,
wherein the container is a cardboard box with a packing
assistant.
9. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 1,
wherein said sacrificial lines are formed by adhering the
confronting major planes with an adhesive agent interposed between
the confronting major planes.
10. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 9,
wherein said adhesive agent is a thermoplastic adhesive.
11. An inflatable space filler structure according to claim 10,
wherein said thermoplastic adhesive comprises a hot-melt adhesive.
Description
[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of
application Ser. No. 10/260,295, filed Oct. 1, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a space filler structure
comprising a cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object
such as a personal computer, an electronics part of complicated
shape or a glass article for preventing the object from any shock
action when it is contained in a container.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] As is well known, space fillers are made of foam polystyrene
to fit the shape of goods to be contained in boxes. Specifically
when a shock-brittle object is contained in a container, such a
foam polystyrene cushion is used to fill the remaining space of the
container in which the shock-brittle object is put. Such space
filler is often larger than the object to be protected against a
shock.
[0006] Accordingly the container such as a cardboard box is
necessitated to be large enough to contain such a large cushion.
Advantageously the foam polystyrene cushion can restore to its
original shape and size even upon being shocked repeatedly, thus
enabling the object to be kept in a safe condition.
[0007] Although the foam polystyrene cushion is satisfactory in
protecting a shock-brittle object against a recurrent shock action,
it needs to be shaped and sized to fit the object, and the so
shaped and sized cushion is apt to become large in volume. Bulky
cushions are difficult to be thrown away.
[0008] Recently the disposal of foam polystyrene poses a problem
from the point of view of the public nuisance. Therefore, there has
been an ever-increasing demand for shock-absorbing cushions as a
substitute for foam polystyrene cushions.
[0009] In the hope of meeting such demand, there has been proposed
an inflatable cushion or a pulp-molding cushion.
[0010] Japan Patents 10-114366(A) and 2001-199476(A) show
inflatable cushions. Specifically Japan Patent 10-114366(A) shows a
"container equipped with inflatable cushion", which container is
equipped with an inflatable cushion with an air-valve. The
inflatable cushion is fastened to the inside of the container, and
the inflatable cushion can hold an object firmly. The object is so
firmly held by the cushion when inflated with air that the object
cannot be taken out of the container without difficulty. Also,
disadvantageously the inflatable cushion cannot be separated from
the container without difficulty when the cushion is removed and
thrown away.
[0011] Japan Patent 2001-199476(A) shows a "packing member and
method of using the same". The packing member comprises a tube-like
bag, which can be used repeatedly. It can contain a small-sized
cylindrical article such as a toner cartridge for a printer. When
the tube-like bag is inflated with air for expansion, it cannot be
yieldingly bent to be put in a square box. Another tube-like
packing member comprises a lamination of inflatable tube-like
sections each equipped with an air inlet for inflation. In use, the
inflatable tube-like sections need to be inflated one by one. The
tube-like bag has a lid to cover its opening when a toner cartridge
is contained.
[0012] Different from a foam polystyrene cushion, a pulp-molding
cushion cannot restore to its original shape when it is shocked, so
that it may be partly deformed. Therefore, it cannot be used
repeatedly. Also, disadvantageously the pulp-molding cushion needs
to be shaped in conformity with an object to which the pulp-molding
cushion is to be applied.
[0013] When an inflatable cushion is used, it is put at the center
of a container to be inflated with air. The inflated cushion is
sensitive to the surrounding temperature. Specifically its volume
is liable to change with the surrounding temperature, increasing
with the rise of the surrounding temperature, and decreasing with
the descent of the surrounding temperature. The inflatable cushion,
therefore, needs to be inflated with a controlled amount of air in
consideration of the presumable change of the surrounding
temperature.
[0014] Assuming that the package is being transported in tropical
zones, the inflatable cushion is apt to be expanded, and the so
expanded cushion when shocked, can be easily broken to be
collapsed, losing its shock-absorbing capability.
[0015] One object of the present invention is to provide an
inflatable space filler structure which permits an object to be
taken out of the container with ease; permits the object to be
wrapped no matter what size and shape the object may have; and
prevents the breaking and collapsing of the expanded bag when being
handled roughly even excessively inflated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] To attain this object an inflatable space filler structure
comprising a cushioning member to encircle a shock-brittle object
contained in a container for preventing the object from any shock
action, is improved according to the present invention in that the
cushioning member comprises: two rectangular pieces of resin film
or sheet, which are laid on each other and thermowelded in
air-tight condition along their sides and in their confronting
major planes in the form of parallel partition lines reaching short
of the opposite lateral sides of the rectangular pieces of resin
film or sheet, thus defining divisional air-tight sections; and an
air inlet equipped with a check valve for inflating the divisional
air-tight sections with air, thereby applying the expanded
divisional air-tight sections to the front, rear, upper and lower
surfaces of the object. The word, "film" is used in describing a
relatively thin sheet of resin material whereas the word, "sheet"
is used in describing a relatively thick sheet of resin
material.
[0017] With this arrangement the cushioning member need not be
shaped to fit the object, assuring that a shock-absorbing effect be
caused no matter what size and shape the object may have. The
inflatable space filler can be put in condition for use simply by
blowing air from the single air inlet into the cushioning member.
The cushioning member thus inflated with air is adequate to prevent
the whole of the object against a shock action.
[0018] Preferably extra buffers may be integrally connected to the
opposite lateral edges of the rectangular pieces of resin film or
sheet to protect the corresponding opposite sides of the object
from any shock action.
[0019] The rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet may have
stripes formed alternately with the partition lines on their major
planes, which alternate stripes are formed by weakly thermowelding
selected stripes in air-tight condition in the confronting major
planes, so that such stripes may be broken prior to any of the
partition lines in response to incidental application of excessive
pressure to the inflatable space filler.
[0020] An inflatable space filler structure comprising a cushioning
member to encircle a shock-brittle object contained in a container
for preventing the object from any shock action, is improved
according to the present invention in that the cushioning member
comprises: outside and inside closed bags of resin film or sheet of
different depths, the inside bag being fitted in the outside bag,
their bottoms and opposite lateral and longitudinal sides being
thermowelded and connected together to stagger their upper closed
edges while the outside and inside bags communicate at their
bottoms, making the inside bag form a pocket fastened onto the
outside bag, the confronting planes of the outside and inside bags
being thermowelded in the form of partition lines, which are
predetermined distances apart from the longitudinal opposite sides
of the outside-and-inside bag combination, and an air inlet
equipped with a check valve for inflating the outside and inside
bags, thereby applying the expanded outside and inside bags to the
shock-brittle object in the pocket.
[0021] With this arrangement, a small-sized cylindrical object such
as a fragile glass article can be enclosed easily by the cushioning
member to be protected against any shock action in the
container.
[0022] The outside-and-inside bag combination has sacrificial seals
formed between each partition line and one or the other
longitudinal side of the outside-and-inside bag combination.
[0023] An inflatable space filler structure as described above may
further comprise an air-release hole made for uncorking, the
air-hole has a seal piece to cover the air-hole in air-tight
fashion, the seal piece being capable of being peeled off and
attached repeatedly for use.
[0024] The container may be a cardboard box with a packing
assistant, which facilitates the configuring and fitting of the
cushion to the object when put in the container.
[0025] The inflatable space filler structure as described above
provides the advantages of:
[0026] facilitating the taking-out of an object from the
container;
[0027] facilitating removal of the cushion from the container for
disposal because the cushion is not fixed to the container;
[0028] permitting the wrapping of any object no matter what size
and shape it may have;
[0029] permitting the cushion to be put in condition for use simply
by blowing air into the bag-like cushion from the single air
inlet;
[0030] facilitating transportation or storage of cushions by
removing air to collapse; and
[0031] permitting reuse of the cushion.
[0032] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be understood from the following description of preferred
embodiments of the present invention, which are shown in
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0033] FIG. 1 is a plan view of space filler according to a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an uncorking seal member
applied to the cushioning member of the space filler of FIG. 1;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view, but showing the
uncorking seal member peeled off halfway towards complete
removal;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inverted "V"-shaped extra
buffer integrally connected to either lateral edge of the space
filler of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 5 illustrates the space filler of FIG. 1 with an object
put on its center;
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates how the object is put in a container
along with the space filler of FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a cross section showing that the object is put in
the container with the space filler of FIG. 1 occupying the
remaining space in the container;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a similar cross section, but showing that the
object is completely enclosed with the space filler of FIG. 1, and
is contained in the container;
[0041] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross section of the
object-and-container taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;
[0042] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a modification of the space filler
of FIG. 1 having sacrificial lines alternating with the partition
lines;
[0043] FIG. 11 illustrates, in cross section, the space filler of
FIG. 10 inflated with air, one sacrificial line being broken,
making two adjacent sections communicate with each other;
[0044] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a space filler according to a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0045] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the space filler of
FIG. 12 taken along the line 13-13 in FIG. 12;
[0046] FIG. 14 is a cross section of the space filler of FIG. 12
inflated with air, enwrapping a cylindrical object;
[0047] FIG. 15 is a plan view of space filler according to a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0048] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the space filler of FIG. 15
inflated with air;
[0049] FIG. 17 is a plan view of space filler according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross section of the space filler of
FIG. 17 taken along the line 18-18;
[0051] FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross section of the space filler of
FIG. 17 inflated with air, enwrapping a cylindrical object, taken
along the line 19-19 in FIG. 17;
[0052] FIG. 20 is an enlarged partial cross section of a
modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 10 inflated with
air, having partition lines and sacrificial lines, both formed by
thermowelding; and
[0053] FIG. 21 is an enlarged partial cross section of a fifth
embodiment of the space filler of FIG. 10 inflated with air, having
partition lines formed by thermowelding and sacrificial lines
formed by adhering with use of an adhesive agent 15 interposed
between resin sheets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] FIGS. 1 to 9 show a space filler according to a first
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the space
filler comprises a cushioning member 1 to encircle a shock-brittle
object contained in a container for preventing the object from any
shock action. The cushioning member 1 is like an air bag,
comprising two rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, which are
laid on each other and thermo welded on their four sides 2 in
airtight condition.
[0055] For the purpose of facilitating the thermowelding of the
confronting two rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet, one
extra piece of "thermowelding easy" resin film or sheet (such as
polyethylene) of the same size and shape as the confronting pieces
of resin film or sheet may be sandwiched therebetween, and then,
the composite lamination of resin film or sheet is heated along its
four sides and at selected areas to be sealed together. Otherwise,
extra pieces of "thermowelding easy" resin film or sheet may be
arranged at the four sides and some selected areas to be
thermowelded when the composite lamination of resin film or sheet
is heated.
[0056] The major planes of the confronting resin film or sheet are
thermo welded in the form of partition lines 3, which are arranged
in parallel and so as to reach short of the opposite lateral edges
of the rectangular shape, thus defining divisional air-tight
sections 4 between adjacent partition lines 3. These divisional
air-tight sections 4 communicate with each other by the opposite
lateral margins, and are named upper, front, rear and lower
pneumatic cells 4a, 4e, 4b, 4d and 4c for which part of an object
the divisional air-tight sections 4 are applied to.
[0057] Extra buffers 6 are formed along the opposite lateral edges
of the rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet to protect the
corresponding opposite sides of the object from any shock action.
Each extra buffer 6 is composed of two semi-buffers 6a and 6b
connected in the form of an inverted "V"-shape, communicating with
the divisional airtight sections 4 via marginal channels 5a and 5b
(see FIG. 4).
[0058] An air inlet 7 is provided at one sealed side 2 of the
cushioning member 1, which is communicated with the marginal
channels 5a and 5b. The air inlet 7 is equipped with a check valve
8. The divisional air-tight sections 4 and the extra buffers 6 can
be inflated with air by blowing air from the air inlet 7 into the
air bag 1, preventing the air from leaking to the surrounding
atmosphere by the check valve 8. When the air bag is inflated with
air to enwrap an object, the expanded divisional air-tight sections
4 and the extra buffers 6 are applied to the front, rear, upper,
lower sides and the opposite sides of the object to protect the
object against any shock action in all directions.
[0059] The cushioning member 1 has a semicircular uncorking hole
(air-release hole) 10 made therein, and a sticky seal 9 closes the
uncorking hole 10 in air-tight fashion, as seen from FIG. 2. The
sticky seal 9 can be removed partly to allow the air to flow out
from the air bag 1, as seen from FIG. 3. The sticky seal 9 may have
non-sticky margin 9a to facilitate the peeling-off of the sticky
seal 9.
[0060] When removing the air from the air bag 1, it is collapsed to
be flat, and then, it can be folded to reduce its size for the sake
of convenience of transportation and storage.
[0061] As the sticky seal 9 is made with a seal member which has
the ability of peeling off and re-sticking, the air bag 1 can be
used repeatedly by: inflating the air bag 1 with air; closing the
uncorking hole 10 with the sticky seal 9; peeling the sticky seal 9
partly off to remove the air from the air bag 1; and repeating the
sequence as many times as required.
[0062] Preferably the lower portion of the sticky seal 9 is
fastened firmly to the air bag 1 to allow the upper part of the
sticky seal 9 to be removably attached to the air bag 1, thereby
permitting the upper part to close the semicircular uncorking hole
10. This assures that the sticky seal 9 is not lost when it is
peeled off for uncorking; otherwise, if the sticky seal 9 were
peeled off completely, there would be a fear of losing the
same.
[0063] The semicircular shape of the uncorking hole 10 is
convenient to the peeling-off of the sticky seal 9 to a half-way
point of the complete removal. The uncorking hole should not be
understood to be limited to the semicircular shape, but it may be
circular, elliptical or polygonal in shape.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 4, the rectangular pieces of resin film or
sheet have extra buffers 6 formed along their opposite lateral
edges to protect the corresponding opposite sides of the object
from any shock action. Each buffer section 6 can be formed by:
making the partition lines 3 reach short of the opposite lateral
edges of rectangular pieces of resin film or sheet; folding the
lateral side inward to form an inverted "V"-shaped lateral edge;
and applying on heat all sides of the laminated resin films or
sheets, that is, the front film or sheet 11b of relatively strong
resin material such as vinyl film, the intermediate film or sheet
11a of "thermowelding easy" resin material such as polyethylene and
the rear film or sheet 11b of relatively strong resin material.
Simultaneously the partition lines 3 can be formed by thermowelding
the major planes of the confronting resin film or sheets at
selected areas.
[0065] Simultaneous thermowelding of the composite resin lamination
may be followed by cutting into rectangular shapes for making space
fillers. The process of making space fillers is advantageous to
improvement of the manufacturing efficiency.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 5, the inflatable space filler 1 is laid
flat on the floor without being inflated with air, and an object 12
is put on the bottom section 4c. The partition lines 3 are so
formed that they may define divisional sections, which will become
the pneumatic cells to fit all sides of the object 12 when the
space filler 1 is inflated with air.
[0067] Specifically when the space filler 1 is inflated with air,
the bottom, front, rear and upper divisional sections 4c, 4b, 4d
and 4a, 4e of the space filler 1 are changed to the bottom, front,
rear and upper pneumatic cells to be applied to the bottom, front,
rear and upper sides of the object 12. If the space filler 1 had no
partition lines formed in its major plane, it could not bend
accurately to fit the object 12.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 6, after the space filler 1 is laid flat
on the floor with the object 12 put on the bottom section 4c, the
front-and-upper semi-section and the rear-and-upper semi-section
are raised to sandwich the object 12. As seen from the drawing, a
packaging assistant 13b is used in putting in a container 13a the
object 12, which is enwrapped with the space filler 1. The
packaging assistant 13b is composed of bottom, front and rear
sections and upper semi-sections corresponding to those of the
space filler 1 respectively, and the opposite upper semi-sections
have elongated holes 14 made therein for inserting the four fingers
of both hands to grip the upper semi-sections by using the thumbs
of both hands, thereby facilitating the lifting and inserting (or
taking-out) of the object-and-space filler in (or from) the
container 13a.
[0069] Referring to FIG. 7, after the object-and-space filler is
put in the container 13a, the space filler 1 is inflated with air.
The post-inflation of the space filler facilitates the putting-in
of the object-and-space filler.
[0070] The bottom pneumatic cell 4c is collapsed, bearing the
weight of the object 12d, as shown in FIG. 7 (solid lines). When
the opposite upper semi-sections of the packaging assistant 13b are
folded toward the top 12a of the object 12, the opposite upper
semi-pneumatic cells 4a and 4e are folded to the top 12a of the
object 12 so that air may be driven forcedly into the bottom
pneumatic cell 4c, thereby expanding the bottom pneumatic cell 4c.
Thus, the object is completely enclosed with the inflated air bag,
as seen from FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows how the air bag enwraps the
object 12 as viewed from the arrows on the line 9-9 in FIG. 8.
Thus, the object 12 can be completely protected from any shock
action. Specifically the bottom, front, rear and upper pneumatic
cells 4c, 4b, 4d and 4a,e and the opposite extra buffers 6a and 6b
of the inflated space filler 1 will protect the bottom, front, rear
and upper sides, and opposite sides 12a and 12b of the object
12.
[0071] The extra buffer 6 may have any shape other than the
inverted "V"-shape (FIG. 4). Extra buffers may be provided simply
by making the partition lines 3 reach short of the opposite lateral
edges of the rectangular resin films or sheets, leaving marginal
channels 5a, 5b on the opposite lateral edges.
[0072] When taking out the object 12 from the container 13a, the
packaging assistant 13b is caught by the elongated holes 14 to pull
up the packaging assistant-and-object from the container 13a.
Removal of the packaging assistant 13b from the container 13a is
easy because the packaging assistant 13b is not fixed to the
container 13a.
[0073] As may be understood from the above, a single shock
absorbing space filler 1 can be used to enwrap an object 12
completely by inflating the space filler with air. The space filler
can be inflated simply by blowing air from the single air inlet 7
into the space filler. Use of the packaging assistant 13b
facilitates the inputting of the object into the container 13a. The
space filler 1 can be used repeatedly.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 10, a space filler has four partition
lines 3 and three sacrificial lines 3a alternating with the
partition lines 3. Such sacrificial lines 3a can be formed by
weakly thermowelding selected lines 3a between adjacent partition
lines 3, thus dividing each of the front, bottom and rear sections
4b, 4c and 4d into semi-divisional sections.
[0075] The strength of each weak thermowelded lines 3a is fifty to
sixty percent of the strength of the partition line, and
accordingly each sacrificial line 3a allows the lying resin films
or sheets to separate easily therealong compared with the partition
line 3.
[0076] Assuming that a container falls inadvertently on the floor,
a strong pressure is applied to the space filler instantly so that
one or more selected sacrificial lines 3a may be broken, thereby
making the volume of the bottom pneumatic cell 4c expand
accordingly and absorb the pressure applied to the bottom pneumatic
cell (see FIG. 11). Thus, the space filler can be self-protected
against rupture, keeping the article in safe condition.
[0077] Even if all sacrificial lines 3a of the inflated cushion 1
are broken, all of the front, bottom and rear pneumatic cells 4b,
4c and 4d are allowed to expand without being ruptured, and
therefore, the object remains enwrapped by the space filler as it
was.
[0078] Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, a tubular space filler 21
according to the second embodiment is described below. The space
filler 21 is composed of two rectangular pieces of resin film or
sheet and a piece of "thermowelding easy" resin film or sheet
sandwiched therebetween as is the case with the space filler
according to the first embodiment.
[0079] The rectangular lamination is thermowelded along its four
sides 22 as seen from the side and sectional views (FIGS. 12 and
13), and partition lines 23 are formed by thermowelding its major
plane in parallel-stripe pattern, reaching short of the opposite
lateral sides to leave lateral, marginal channels 25a and 25b,
which communicate with the divisional sections defined between
adjacent partition lines 23.
[0080] The space filler 21 has an air inlet 27 to open and
communicate with the lateral, marginal channels 25a and 25b. The
air inlet 27 is equipped with a check valve 28. In use the space
filler 21 can be inflated like a balloon by blowing air from the
air inlet 27 with an uncorking hole 30 closed with an associated
sticky seal 29. When it is carried or stored, it can be flattened
by unsealing the corking hole 30 and removing the air from the
uncorking hole 30. Thus, the space filler 21 can be used
repeatedly.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 14, the space filler 21 is inflated with
air to enwrap a cylindrical article 32, protecting the outer
surface of the cylindrical article 32 by the absorbing pneumatic
cell 24, and the opposite ends of the cylindrical article 32 by the
pneumatic cells provided by the opposite marginal channels 25a and
25b, which function in the same way as extra buffers 6 in the space
filler according to the first embodiment.
[0082] An elongated object 32 other than the cylindrical one can be
enwrapped, provided that the partition lines 23 are as long as the
elongated object 32.
[0083] The space filler according to the second embodiment can have
sacrificial lines alternating with the partition lines 23, thereby
preventing rupture of the air bag 21 when an increased pressure is
applied thereto, assuring that the article is kept in a safe
condition.
[0084] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a space filler 41 according to
the third embodiment of the present invention is similar basically
to the second embodiment. The number and arrangement of partition
lines are so determined that the space filler when inflated with
air may fit an article to be enwrapped.
[0085] As seen from the drawings, the space filler 41 is
rectangular in shape, the four sides of which rectangular shape are
thermowelded. Four partition lines 43 are formed by thermowelding
parallel-strip pattern in the major plane, thus defining five
adjacent divisional sections 44 and opposite lateral, marginal
channels 45a and 45b, which communicate with the divisional
sections 44.
[0086] An air inlet 47 is formed to open and communicate with the
lateral, marginal channels 45a and 45b. The air inlet 47 is
equipped with a check valve 48. An uncorking hole 50 is made, and
an associated sticky seal 49 is applied to close the uncorking hole
50. With this arrangement, the space filler 41 can be inflated to
enwrap an article, thus protecting the article against any shock
action. When the air is removed by peeling off the sticky seal 49
from the uncorking hole 50, the space filler 47 is flattened to
facilitate its transportation or storage. The space filler 41 can
be used repeatedly by inflating and uncorking the air bag.
[0087] The pneumatic cells 44 and 45a and 45b are applied closely
to all sides of the article for protection. The partition lines 43
are as long as the length of the article to be enwrapped. The
square rod-like air bag can be snugly put in a similar rectangular
cardboard box.
[0088] The air inlet 47 can appear on the top side of the air bag
41 when put in the cardboard box, provided that the four partition
lines 43 and the thermowelded margins 42 are formed as seen from
FIG. 16, thus facilitating that the space filler 41 is inflated
after it is put in the cardboard box.
[0089] The air bag 41 may have sacrificial lines alternating with
the partition lines as is the case with the first embodiment.
[0090] Referring to FIGS. 17 to 19, a space filler 51 according to
the fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises a
cushioning member in the form of a dual air bag. Specifically the
cushioning member comprises outside and inside closed bags 52 and
53 of resin films or sheets of different depths. The inside bag 53
is inserted in the outside bag 52, and their bottoms and opposite
lateral and longitudinal sides 56, 57 and 58 are thermowelded and
connected together to stagger their upper closed edges while the
outside and inside bags 52 and 53 communicate at their bottoms, as
best seen from FIG. 18. A lateral space 52a is left between the
bottom of the inside bag 53 and that of the outside bag 52. Thus,
the inside bag 53 forms a pocket fastened onto the outside bag 52
for containing an object.
[0091] The confronting planes of the outside and inside bags 52 and
53 are thermowelded so as to provide partition lines 59 and 60,
which are predetermined distances apart from the longitudinal
opposite sides of the outside-and-inside bag combination.
Sacrificial lines 61 and 62 are formed so as to extend from the
lower ends of the partition lines 59 and 60 to the opposite
thermowelded longitudinal sides 56 and 57. It should be noted that
the sacrificial lines 61 and 62 run parallel to the themowelded
bottom 58, a short distance apart therefrom, and that the
longitudinal partition lines 59 and 60 extend from the lateral
sacrificial lines 61 and 62 toward the open side of the dual bag
somewhat beyond the intermediate or center line of the dual bag. A
shock-brittle object can be contained in the space defined by the
longitudinal partition lines 59 and 60 and an imaginary line 53a
extending from one to the other sacrificial line, thus holding the
object in the lower half part of the dual bag.
[0092] The dual bag is provided with an air inlet 63 with a check
valve, which are attached at the time of thermowelding the upper
edge 54 of the dual bag. The outside and inside bags can be
inflated with air by blowing air from the air inlet, so that the
expanded outside and inside bags may be applied to the
shock-brittle object in the pocket. An uncorking hole 10 has an
associated sticky seal 9. The sticky seal 9 can be peeled off and
applied to the corking hole 10 repeatedly.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 19, a shock-brittle object such as a glass
article 64 is put in the inside bag 53, and then the dual bag 51 is
put in a cardboard box 65. The dual bag 51 is inflated with air by
blowing air from the air inlet, thereby making the outside and
inside bags 52 and 53 fill with air until the partition line-free
part of the outside bag 52 has occupied the whole space of the
cardboard box 65 as shown in phantom lines. The object 64 is
enwrapped with the "inter-partition line" part of the inside bag 53
to be supported and suspended by the partition line-free part of
the outside bag 52, which is fully expanded in the cardboard
box.
[0094] When the cardboard box falls on the floor inadvertently, the
sacrificial lines 61, 62 are broken to prevent the rupture of the
air bag, thereby assuring that the object be protected against any
shock action.
[0095] A plan view of a fifth embodiment can be seen in FIG. 10,
which is also a plan view showing the modification of the first
embodiment of the space filler of FIG. 1 as stated above. In the
fifth embodiment having partition lines 3 and sacrificial lines 3a,
the sacrificial lines 3a are formed by adhering the major planes of
the confronting resin film with an adhesive agent 15 interposed
between the major planes while the partition lines 3 are formed
with air-tight thermowelds, as shown in FIG. 21, while the first
modification shown in FIG. 10 having weak thermowelded sacrificial
lines is shown in FIG. 20. The adhesive agent 15 may be any kind of
adhesives, and is preferably a thermoplastic adhesive, such as a
hot-melt adhesive or the like. The adhesive agent 15 can be applied
on the major plane of the confronting resin film in any manner, and
is preferably applied by printing the adhesive agent on the major
plane. The strength of each sacrificial line 3a formed by adhering
with the adhesive 15 should be lower than the strength of the
sacrificial line formed by weak thermowelds in the modification of
the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 21, i.e. much lower than
the strength of the partition line 3. Accordingly, each sacrificial
line 3a in the fifth embodiment allows the lying resin films or
sheets to separate easily therealong compared with the partition
line 3 and with the weak thermowelded sacrificial lines.
* * * * *