U.S. patent application number 11/729330 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for package for apparatus set.
This patent application is currently assigned to Funai Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Shinichi Saito.
Application Number | 20070227935 11/729330 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557236 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227935 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saito; Shinichi |
October 4, 2007 |
Package for apparatus set
Abstract
A rectangular parallelepiped apparatus set is stored in a hollow
rectangular parallelepiped outer casing and is held so as not to be
in contact with the outer casing via cushioning body disposed at
each of the four corners of the apparatus set. An instruction
manual is accommodated in a clearance space between the apparatus
set and the outer casing by the cushioning body. The cushioning
body is divided into two pairs of cushioning body elements arranged
in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the
apparatus set. At least one of the cushioning body elements is
formed with a concave portion by extending a distance of the
cushioning body elements from the apparatus set in the first
direction at both ends of the cushioning body elements in a second
direction perpendicular to the first direction so as to accommodate
the instruction manual therein.
Inventors: |
Saito; Shinichi; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSHA LIANG L.L.P.
1221 MCKINNEY STREET, SUITE 2800
HOUSTON
TX
77010
US
|
Assignee: |
Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
Daito-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
38557236 |
Appl. No.: |
11/729330 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/586 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/057 20130101;
B65D 2585/6835 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/586 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/02 20060101
B65D081/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2006 |
JP |
2006-089158 |
Claims
1. A package for an apparatus set in which the rectangular
parallelepiped apparatus set is stored in a hollow rectangular
parallelepiped outer casing and is held so as not to be in contact
with the outer casing via cushioning body disposed at each of the
four corners of the apparatus set and in which an instruction
manual is accommodated in a clearance space between the apparatus
set and the outer casing by the cushioning body, wherein: the
cushioning body is divided into two pairs of cushioning body
elements arranged in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal
direction of the apparatus set; each of the cushioning body
elements is formed with a concave portion by extending a distance
of the cushioning body elements from the apparatus set in the first
direction at both ends of the cushioning body elements in a second
direction perpendicular to the first direction so as to accommodate
the instruction manual therein; each of the cushioning body
elements is divided into a front side element and back side element
which are arranged at a front corner and a back corner of the
apparatus set respectively and disposed at a distance from each
other in the second direction; and each of the front side element
and back side element is formed with the concave portion by
retracting a distance of the front side element and back side
element from the apparatus set in the first direction and a
distance of the back side element at a position excluding the both
ends of the cushioning body elements in the second direction.
2. A package for an apparatus set in which the rectangular
parallelepiped apparatus set is stored in a hollow rectangular
parallelepiped outer casing and is held so as not to be in contact
with the outer casing via cushioning body disposed at each of the
four corners of the apparatus set and in which an instruction
manual is accommodated in a clearance space between the apparatus
set and the outer casing by the cushioning body, wherein; the
cushioning body is divided into two pairs of cushioning body
elements arranged in a first direction parallel to a longitudinal
direction of the apparatus set; and at least one of the cushioning
body elements is formed with a concave portion by extending a
distance of the cushioning body elements from the apparatus set in
the first direction at both ends of the cushioning body elements in
a second direction perpendicular to the first direction so as to
accommodate the instruction manual therein.
3. The package as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the
cushioning body elements is formed with the concave portion.
4. The package as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of the
cushioning body elements is divided into a front side element and
back side element which are arranged at a front corner and a back
corner of the apparatus set respectively and disposed at a distance
from each other in the second direction.
Description
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2006-089158 filed Mar. 28, 2006 including specification, drawings
and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a package for an apparatus
set such as a DVD recorder or a projector, and more particularly to
a package for an apparatus set in which an instruction manual is
accommodated together with the apparatus set in an outer
casing.
[0003] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a package for an
apparatus set. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of the package.
[0004] The package as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a comparative
example, in which an apparatus set 100 such as a DVD recorder in
the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped is stored in an
outer casing 1 made from corrugated board or box board in the shape
of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, and the apparatus set 100
is held within the outer casing 1 via a cushioning body 2 disposed
at each of four corners C1, C2, C3 and C4 of the apparatus set 100
so as not to be in contact with the outer casing 1. In the package
as shown in the figures, the cushioning body 2 is divided into four
separate elements 25, 26, 27 and 28 interposed between the four
corners, a front right corner C1, a back right corner C2, a front
left corner C3 and a back left corner C4, of the apparatus set 100
and the outer casing 100. And the upper and lower clearances S1 and
S2 are formed between the apparatus set 100 and the outer casing 1,
and the clearances S3, S4, S5 and S6 are formed also on the left,
right, front and back sides. Accordingly, the upper and lower
clearances S1 and S2 have the vertical width equivalent to the
upper and lower distances H of the elements 25 to 28 from the
apparatus set 100 in a vertical direction of the apparatus set 100
as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Also, the left and right clearances S3
and S4 have the transverse width equivalent to the transverse
distances W of the elements 25 to 28 from the apparatus set 100 in
a longitudinal direction A of the apparatus set 100 as shown in
FIG. 6.
[0005] In this package, for the four divided elements 25 to 28
composing the cushioning body 2, the distances W in the
longitudinal direction A and the distances H in the vertical
direction from the apparatus set 100 are set as small as possible
within the limits where the elements 25 to 28 can absorb a drop
impact and protect the apparatus set 100 from the drop impact.
Thus, the entire package can be made as compact as possible to
suppress the stacking and transportation costs on the
container.
[0006] By the way, in a case where an instruction manual is
accommodated together with the apparatus set 100 in the outer
casing 1, the upper and lower clearances S1 and S2 of the apparatus
set 100 are used as an accommodating space for the instruction
manual. However, since the apparatus sets 100 may be supplied to
many places of destination having different languages, the
instruction manual is thickened or the volumes of the instruction
manual are increased. Then, the upper and lower clearances S1 and
S2 of the apparatus set 100 are so narrow that it is difficult to
use them as the accommodating space.
[0007] In this situation, the distances H of the elements 25 to 28
of the cushioning body 2 from the apparatus set 100 is extended to
enlarge the clearances S1 and S2 so that the clearances S1 and S2
can be effectively utilized as the accommodating space of the
instruction manual.
[0008] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a package. FIG. 9 is
a schematic front view of the package. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
the distances W1 of the elements 25 to 28 in the longitudinal
direction A from the apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. 8 is kept equal
(W1=W) to the distances W as shown in FIG. 6. On the other hand,
the upper or lower distances H1 of the elements 25 to 28 from the
apparatus set 100 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is larger than the
distances H as shown in FIG. 7 (H1>H). With this constitution,
the upper and lower clearances S1 and S2 of the apparatus set 100
are enlarged as compared with those as shown in FIG. 7, and can be
used as the accommodating space for the instruction manuals 200.
Therefore, the instruction manuals can be accommodated in the
clearances S1 and S2 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0009] In addition, in the package for a plasma display apparatus,
the cushioning material is interposed at two upper and lower
positions between a package box and the plasma display apparatus
stored in the package box, and the accommodating space for the
instruction manual is formed on the cushioning material interposed
on the lower side (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Publication No.
2003-72845A). In addition, a space formed between a lower
cushioning body arranged on a lower side of a product and an upper
cushioning body arranged on an upper side of the product is used as
the accommodating space for the instruction manual, and the
instruction manual is accommodated in the accommodating space
(e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-128146A).
[0010] However, in the package as shown in FIG. 8 or 9, when the
distances W1 of the four elements 25 to 28 in the longitudinal
direction A from the apparatus set 100 is kept equal to the
distances W as shown in FIG. 6 and the upper or lower distances H1
of the four elements 25 to 28 from the apparatus set 100 is
extended, the upper and lower clearances S1 and S2 are enlarged to
pack the instruction manuals 200 in the clearances S1 and S2,
whereby the height of the package is increased by an extension size
of the upper or lower distances H1 of the four elements 25 to 28
from the apparatus set 100. Therefore, in a case where many
packages are staked and transported on the container, the number of
stacks on the container with limited stack height must be reduced.
Therefore, there is a problem that the total number of packages
loaded on one container is smaller, and the transportation cost per
unit package is increased.
[0011] Also, in the package as shown in FIG. 8 or 9, since the
upper and lower clearances S1 and S2 of the apparatus set 100 are
used as the accommodating space for the instruction manuals, there
may be problems that the instruction manuals is not fully held
within the package, because the instruction manuals are likely to
move in the vertical direction (height direction) or transverse
direction within the clearances S1 and S2, and when the package is
subjected to a drop impact, the instruction manual vigorously
collides against a top case (housing) of the apparatus set, causing
a flaw on the top case, and in some cases an impact of collision is
passed to a wiring board stored within the top case, possibly
causing a crack such as a fissure or fracture on the wiring
board.
SUMMARY
[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
package for an apparatus set in which the instruction manual is
fully held inside the package so as not to move within the outer
casing as much as possible without adding any new components and
impairing the protection effect for the apparatus set with the
cushioning body, so that the instruction manual does not collide
against the top case of the apparatus set due to a drop impact to
cause a flaw or damage on the wiring board.
[0013] It is also an object of the invention to provide a package
for an apparatus set in which the constitution of the package as
described with reference to the FIG. 6 or 7 is not greatly changed
to accomplish the above object.
[0014] It is also an object of the invention to provide a package
for an apparatus set in which the number of stacks inside the
container with limited stack height can be kept equivalently to the
package as described in the package as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0015] In order to achieve the above described objects, according
to the invention, there is also provided a package for an apparatus
set in which the rectangular parallelepiped apparatus set is stored
in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped outer casing and is held so
as not to be in contact with the outer casing via cushioning body
disposed at each of the four corners of the apparatus set and in
which an instruction manual is accommodated in a clearance space
between the apparatus set and the outer casing by the cushioning
body, wherein;
[0016] the cushioning body is divided into two pairs of cushioning
body elements arranged in a first direction parallel to a
longitudinal direction of the apparatus set; and
[0017] at least one of the cushioning body elements is formed with
a concave portion by extending a distance of the cushioning body
elements from the apparatus set in the first direction at both ends
of the cushioning body elements in a second direction perpendicular
to the first direction so as to accommodate the instruction manual
therein.
[0018] With this constitution, the cushioning effect exhibited by
the cushioning body divided into two pairs of cushioning body
elements is not lower than the package as described with reference
to FIGS. 6 and 7, and rather its cushioning effect is improved over
the package as shown in FIGS. 6, and 7. Also, since the distance of
the cushioning body elements from the apparatus set is extended at
both ends in the second direction of the apparatus set to form a
concave portion to accommodate the instruction manual therein, the
accommodating space for the instruction manual is shifted sideways
of the apparatus set from the upper and lower clearance spaces (S1
and S2 of FIG. 9) of the apparatus set, whereby the instruction
manual is fully held inside the package and does not collide
against the top case of the apparatus set to cause a flaw or damage
on the wiring board. Moreover, depth of the concave portion for use
as the accommodating space for the instruction manual can be
adjusted to be commensurate in size with the thickness or the
volumes of the instruction manual by increasing or decreasing the
distance. With such an adjustment, it is possible to prevent the
situation where the instruction manual is not fully held inside the
package. In addition, according to this invention, it is possible
to increase the yield of the corrugated board or box board required
to form the outer casing. This yield improvement effect will be
further described below with reference to the following
embodiments.
[0019] Each of the cushioning body elements may be formed with the
concave portion.
[0020] With this constitution, the instruction manuals can be
accommodated in installments on both sides of the apparatus
set.
[0021] Each of the cushioning body elements may be divided into a
front side element and back side element which are arranged at a
front corner and a back corner of the apparatus set respectively
and disposed at a distance from each other in the second
direction.
[0022] With this constitution it is not required to greatly change
the constitution of the package as described with reference to
FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0023] According to the invention, there is also provided a package
for an apparatus set in which the rectangular parallelepiped
apparatus set is stored in a hollow rectangular parallelepiped
outer casing and is held so as not to be in contact with the outer
casing via cushioning body disposed at each of the four corners of
the apparatus set and in which an instruction manual is
accommodated in a clearance space between the apparatus set and the
outer casing by the cushioning body, wherein:
[0024] the cushioning body is divided into two pairs of cushioning
body elements arranged in a first direction parallel to a
longitudinal direction of the apparatus set;
[0025] each of the cushioning body elements is formed with a
concave portion by extending a distance of the cushioning body
elements from the apparatus set in the first direction at both ends
of the cushioning body elements in a second direction perpendicular
to the first direction so as to accommodate the instruction manual
therein; and
[0026] each of the cushioning body elements is divided into a front
side element and back side element which are arranged at a front
corner and a back corner of the apparatus set respectively and
disposed at a distance from each other in the second direction;
and
[0027] each of the front side element and back side element is
formed with the concave portion by retracting a distance of the
front side element and back side element from the apparatus set in
the first direction and a distance of the back side element at a
position excluding the both ends of the cushioning body elements in
the second direction.
[0028] As described above, in the package for the apparatus set
according to the invention, the instruction manual is accommodated
in the clearance space formed sideways of the apparatus set within
the outer casing, whereby the instruction manual does not collide
against the top case of the apparatus set due to a drop impact to
cause a flaw or damage on the wiring board. Accordingly, there is
the advantageous effect of preventing the apparatus set from flaw
on the top case or damage on the wiring board. Also, there is the
advantageous effect that it is possible to easily handle the
increased required volumes or increased thickness of the
instruction manual without adding any new components and impairing
the protection effect for the apparatus set with the cushioning
body.
[0029] Further, since it is possible to easily handle the increased
required volumes or increased thickness of the instruction manual
without making the height of the package larger, there is the
advantageous effect that the number of stacks on the container with
limited stack height can be kept equivalently to the comparative
example, and the greater transportation cost per unit package is
suppressed.
[0030] In addition, since it is not required that the arrangement
or number of the cushioning bodies is changed, there is no fear
that the packaging operation efficiency is lower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred
exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a package for an
apparatus set according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the package;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the
package;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a developed view showing a shape of a corrugated
board used for an outer casing according to the embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a back side
element forming a cushioning body element according to the
embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a package for an
apparatus set;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic front view showing the package shown
in FIG. 6;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view showing a package for an
apparatus set; and
[0040] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing the package shown
in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0041] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a package for an apparatus set
according to the invention will be discussed with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0042] In the following explanation, the members or parts
corresponding to the members or parts as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are
designated by the same numerals.
[0043] The outer casing 1 is formed in the shape of flat hollow
rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. 3. This outer casing 1
is assembled of two corrugated boards 10 having the shape as shown
in FIG. 4. That is, one corrugated board 10 comprises two
rectangular plate parts 11 partitioned by a folding line 11a formed
on an intermediate part in the longitudinal direction, the bottom
plate flaps 12, 13 and the upper lid flaps 14, 15 linked via the
folding lines 12a, 13a, 14a and 15a on both sides for each
partition of the rectangular plate parts 11, and a connection piece
16, as shown in FIG. 4. And two corrugated boards 10 having this
constitution are combined into a box shape, and connected using the
connection piece 16 to make the outer casing 1 in the shape of
flat, hollow rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. 3.
[0044] As will be apparent from FIG. 3, the shape of the apparatus
set 100 stored in the outer casing 1 is rectangular parallelepiped.
Such apparatus set 100 may be a disk unit for a DVD player or DVD
recorder, an optical projection apparatus such as a projector, or a
magnetic tape unit such as VCR.
[0045] In this embodiment, a cushioning body 2 is divided into two
pairs of cushioning body elements 20 and 21 arranged in the
transverse width direction of the apparatus set 100, and each pair
of cushioning body elements 20 and 21 is further divided into a
front side element 25, 27 and a back side element 26, 28. The front
side elements 25, 27 and the back side elements 26, 28 comprise the
recessed portions 25a, 26a, 27a and 28a into the corner. And the
elements 25 to 28 on the front side and the back side are
accommodated with the apparatus set 100 in the outer casing 1 in a
state where the recessed portions 25a to 28a are fitted into the
four left, right, front and back corners of the apparatus set 100.
In this manner, the front side or back side elements 25 to 28
interposed between the outer casing 1 and the apparatus set 100 at
the four corners of the outer casing 1 immovably holds the
apparatus set 100 inside the outer casing 1 so as not to be in
contact with the outer casing 1 and protects the apparatus set 100
against a drop impact by absorbing it in a state where the
apparatus set 100 is stored together with the cushioning body 2 in
the outer casing 1. Each of the elements 25 to 28 is formed of a
compact of foam resin, for example. In FIG. 5, the back side
element 28 formed of the compact of foam resin is exemplified in
three dimensions. Also, the apparatus set 100 is stored along with
the cushioning body 2 in the outer casing 1, so that the upper and
lower clearances S1 and S2 and the left, right, front and back
clearance S3 to S6 are formed between the outer casing 1 and the
apparatus set 100, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. Among others, the back
side clearance S6 is used to store an electric code (not shown)
pulled out of the apparatus set 100 and the front side clearance S5
functions as a protection space for the control switches exposed on
the front face of the apparatus set 100.
[0046] The left and right pairs of the cushioning elements 20 and
21 comprise the extended portions 31, 32, 33 and 34 jutting out in
the longitudinal direction A at the front end part and the back end
part in the depth direction D of the apparatus set 100
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A, as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, whereby each of the cushioning body elements 20 and 21 is
formed with the concave portion 35, 36 with stage. In other words,
the concave portions 35 and 36 are formed by extending the
distances W2 of each pair of cushioning body elements 20 and 21 in
the longitudinal direction from the apparatus set 100 at both ends
of the apparatus set 100 in the depth direction D. In this
embodiment, the left and right pairs of cushioning body elements 20
and 21 are divided into the front side elements 25, 27 and the back
side elements 26, 28, whereby the extended portions 31 to 34 are
provided for the elements 25 to 28 on the front side and the back
side, in which the concave portions 35 on one side (right side) are
formed by the extended portions 31 and 32 of the front and back
elements 25 and 26 on one side (right side) that are arranged at
the front corner and the back corner of the apparatus set 100 and
disposed at a distance from each other, and the concave portions 35
on the other side (left side) are formed by the extended portions
33 and 34 of the front and back elements 27 and 28 on the other
side (left side).
[0047] And the instruction manuals 200, 200 are accommodated within
the left and right concave portions 35 and 36, whereby the concave
portions 35 and 36 are utilized as the accommodating space for the
instruction manuals.
[0048] In the package with the above constitution, the instruction
manuals 200 are accommodated in the left and right clearances S3
and S4 of the apparatus set 100, but not in the upper and lower
clearances S1 and S2, whereby even if the package is subjected to a
drop impact, the instruction manuals 200 are only moved within the
left and right clearances S3 and S4 of the apparatus set 100.
Therefore, there is no risk that the instruction manuals 200
collide against the top case or bottom case of the apparatus set
100, leaving a flaw, or the instruction manuals 200 collide against
the top case or bottom case of the apparatus set 200 to damage the
wiring board inside.
[0049] The operation of the package in this embodiment will be
described below in contrast with the operation of the package
(comparison example) as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and
7.
[0050] In FIG. 1, the distances of the extended portion 32 for the
front side and back side elements 25 to 28 of the pair of
cushioning body elements 20, 21 on one side in the longitudinal
direction A from the apparatus set 100 is indicated by sign W2, and
the distances of the portion (non-extended portion) excluding the
extended portion 32 from the apparatus set 100 in the longitudinal
direction A is indicated by sign W3. Also, in FIG. 2, the upper and
lower distances of the front side and back side elements 25 to 28
of the cushioning body elements 20 and 21 from the apparatus set
100 is indicated by sign H2. The distances W2 and W3 for the
extended portion 32 and the non-extended portion are the same size
for the front side and back side elements 25 to 28 of the
cushioning body elements 20 and 21. Similarly, the upper and lower
distances H2 is the same size for the front side and back side
elements 25 to 28 of the cushioning body elements 20 and 21.
[0051] Under the above presupposition, for each of the elements 25
to 28, the distances W3 of the non-extended portion is defined to
be equal to the distances W as shown in FIG. 6, and the upper and
lower distances H2 is defined to be equal to the distances H as
shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, the cushioning effect against drop
impact exhibited by the elements 25 to 28 is not lower than in the
comparative example as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and rather is
improved over the comparative example because the extended portions
31 to 34 exist. Also, since the height of the package is maintained
equivalently to the comparative example as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
the number of stacks within the container for use in transportation
is kept equivalently to the comparative example.
[0052] A yield of the corrugated board 10 required to form the
outer casing 1 of the embodiment on the basis of the necessary area
of the corrugated board required to form the outer casing of the
comparative example as described in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described
below in contrast to the example as described with reference to
FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0053] In making the outer casing 1 by combining two corrugated
boards 10 as shown in FIG. 4, if the longitudinal length of a
rectangular plate part 11 in the corrugated board 10 is increased,
the height of the outer casing 1 becomes larger, whereby if the
longitudinal length of the rectangular plate part 11 is increased,
the overall longitudinal length Y of the corrugated board 10
becomes larger. On the contrary, if the transverse length of one
side partition (partition corresponding to the front plate part or
the back plate part of the outer casing 1) Q partitioned by the
folding line 11a on the intermediate part of the rectangular plate
part 11 is increased, the transverse width of the outer casing 1
becomes longer, whereby if the transverse length of the one side
partition Q is increased, the overall transverse length X of the
corrugated board 10 is increased.
[0054] Accordingly, the distances W1 of the elements 25 to 28 in
the longitudinal direction A from the apparatus set 100 as in the
example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is maintained equal (W1=W) to the
distances W in the longitudinal direction A in the comparative
example as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the upper or lower distances
H1 of the elements 25 to 28 from the apparatus set 100 in the
example is extended over the distances in the comparative example
(H1>H), so that the thick instruction manual 200 can be
accommodated in the upper or lower clearances S1, S2, for which it
is required that the overall longitudinal length Y of the
corrugated board 10 of FIG. 4 is increased by AY. In such a case,
the overall area Z1 of the corrugated board 10 is represented by
the following expression (1). It is assumed that the size of the
connection piece 16 is ignored.
Z1=X(Y+.DELTA.Y) (1)
On the contrary, the upper or lower distances H2 of the elements 25
to 28 from the apparatus set 100 in the vertical direction
orthogonal to the longitudinal direction A and depth direction D in
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is maintained equal to the
upper or lower width H (H1=H) in the comparative example as shown
in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the distances W2 of the elements 25 to 28 in
the longitudinal direction A from the apparatus set 100 in the
embodiment is extended over the distances W in the comparative
example (W2>W), so that the thick instruction manual 200 can be
accommodated in the left or right clearance S3, S4, for which it is
required that the overall transverse length X of the corrugated
board 10 of FIG. 4 is increased by .DELTA.X. And in this case, the
overall area Z2 of the corrugated board 10 is represented by the
following expression (2). It is assumed that the size of the
connection piece 16 is ignored.
Z2=(X+.DELTA.X)Y (2)
Herein, if the same instruction manual is packed in the example and
the embodiment, .DELTA.X can be set equal to .DELTA.Y in the
expressions (1) and (2). In a case where the apparatus set 100 is
the typical rectangular parallelepiped set such as a disk unit or a
magnetic tape unit, there is a relationship of X>Y.
[0055] Accordingly, comparing the sizes of Z1 and Z2 from the
expressions (1) and (2), Z1 is greater than Z2, whereby the area Z2
of the corrugated board 10 in this embodiment is smaller than the
area Z1 of the corrugated board 10 in the example, so that the
yield of the corrugated board 10 in the embodiment is increased
correspondingly.
[0056] In the above embodiment, the cushioning body 2 is divided
into two pairs of cushioning body elements 20 and 21, each pair of
cushioning body elements 20 and 21 are formed with the concave
portions 35, 35 with stage in which the instruction manuals 200,
200 are packed within the concave portions 35. However, the concave
portion 35 may be formed on only one side of the two pairs of
cushioning body elements 20 and 21 depending on the volumes of the
instruction manual.
[0057] Also, in the embodiment, the two pairs of cushioning body
elements 20 and 21 are further divided into the front side elements
25, 27 and the back side elements 26, 28. In this regard, the front
side elements and the back side elements may be integrally molded
so that the distances of the cushioning body elements 20 and 21 in
the transverse direction may be extended at both ends of the
apparatus set in the depth direction to form the concave portion
and pack the instruction manual in the concave portion as the
clearance space.
[0058] By the way, since the front side elements 25 and 27 have the
extended portions 31 and 33, and the back side elements 26 and 28
have the extended portions 32 and 34, even if the distance of the
non-extended portion in the longitudinal direction A is reduced, it
can be said that the cushioning effect of the cushioning body 2 is
not too lower. Therefore, if the distance of the non-extended
portion for the front side elements 25, 27 and the back side
elements 26, 28 in the longitudinal direction A is reduced below
the comparative example as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is the
advantage that the transverse width of the outer casing 1 is
suppressed as much as possible to make the package compact without
degrading the cushioning action with the cushioning body 2 and
decreasing the depth of the concave portion 35 and 36.
* * * * *