U.S. patent application number 11/999166 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for packing case with buffers for holding multi-size substrates of display device.
This patent application is currently assigned to INNOLUX DISPLAY CORP.. Invention is credited to Cheng-Doul Chuang, Wen-Kai Chung, Feng-Ju Kao, Yao-Tung Tsai, Hung-Wen Yang.
Application Number | 20080128310 11/999166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39474467 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080128310 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kao; Feng-Ju ; et
al. |
June 5, 2008 |
Packing case with buffers for holding multi-size substrates of
display device
Abstract
An exemplary packing case (10) for substrates includes a main
body (12), at least one buffer (14) and a cover (11). The cover is
configured for attaching onto the main body. The main body includes
a bottom plate (121) and a plurality of side walls (122)
substantially perpendicularly extending from the bottom plate. The
bottom plate and the side walls form an accommodating space. An
inner surface of at least one of the side walls includes a
plurality of first latching members. The at least one first buffer
includes a plurality of second latching members. The second
latching members and the first latching members of the at least one
side wall have complementary shapes such that the at least one
first buffer is detachably engagable with the at least one side
wall thereby adjusting a capacity of the accommodating space.
Inventors: |
Kao; Feng-Ju; (Miao-Li,
TW) ; Tsai; Yao-Tung; (Miao-Li, TW) ; Chuang;
Cheng-Doul; (Miao-Li, TW) ; Chung; Wen-Kai;
(Miao-Li, TW) ; Yang; Hung-Wen; (Miao-Li,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEI TE CHUNG;FOXCONN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1650 MEMOREX DRIVE
SANTA CLARA
CA
95050
US
|
Assignee: |
INNOLUX DISPLAY CORP.
|
Family ID: |
39474467 |
Appl. No.: |
11/999166 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/521 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/107
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/521 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/02 20060101
B65D081/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 1, 2006 |
TW |
95144732 |
Claims
1. A packing case for substrates, the packing case comprising: a
main body comprising a bottom plate, and a plurality of side walls
substantially perpendicularly extending from the bottom plate, the
bottom plate and the side walls cooperatively forming an
accommodating space, an inner side of at least one of the side
walls comprising a plurality of first latching members, at least
one first buffer comprising a plurality of second latching members,
the second latching members and the first latching members of the
at least one side wall having complementary shapes such that the at
least one first buffer is detachably engagable with the at least
one side wall thereby adjusting a capacity of the accommodating
space, and a cover configured for attaching onto the main body.
2. The packing case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one
first buffer comprises a first surface, and the second latching
members are a plurality of first protrusions extending from the
first surface.
3. The packing case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first
latching members of the at least one side wall of the main body
defines a plurality of first gaps therebetween.
4. The packing case as claimed in claim 3, wherein a shape and size
of each of the first protrusions is substantially the same as a
shape and size of each of the first gaps.
5. The packing case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first
protrusions are isosceles trapezoid-shaped.
6. The packing case as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the
first protrusions comprises two side surfaces obliquely connected
with the first surface.
7. The packing case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one
first buffer comprises a second surface, the first and second
surfaces are at opposite sides of the at least one first buffer, at
plurality of second protrusions extends from the second surface,
and the second protrusions define a plurality of second gaps
therebetween.
8. The packing case as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at
least one second buffer, the at least one second buffer comprising
a plurality of second protrusions corresponding to the second gaps
of the at least one first buffer.
9. The packing case as claimed in claim 8, wherein shape and size
of each second protrusions is substantially the same as a shape and
size of each second gaps.
10. The packing case as claimed in claim 7, wherein transverse
sectional shapes of the second gaps of the at least one first
buffer are identical to the first protrusions of the first
surface.
11. The packing case as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least
one side wall comprises at least two of the side walls, and the at
least one first buffer comprises at least two first buffers
detachably engaged with the at least two side walls,
respectively.
12. The packing case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least
one first buffer comprises a first surface, the first surface
defining a plurality of first gaps as the second latching
members.
13. The packing case as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first gaps
are trapezoid-shaped.
14. A packing case for holding substrates, the packing case
comprising: a main body comprising a bottom plate, and a plurality
of side walls substantially perpendicularly extending from the
bottom plate, the bottom plate and the side walls cooperatively
forming an accommodating space, and at least one buffer detachably
engaged with at least one of the side walls of the main body
thereby reducing a capacity of the accommodating space, and a cover
configured for attaching onto the main body.
15. The packing case as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least
one side wall of the main body comprises a plurality of gaps, and
the at least one buffer comprises a plurality of protrusions
fittingly received in the gaps thereby detachably engaging the at
least one buffer with the main body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to packing cases for
containing frangible substrates, and more particularly to a packing
case having buffers for holding glass substrates of display devices
such as liquid crystal panels.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
[0002] The liquid crystal display (LCD) has been widely used in
various electronic equipment. Glass substrates are very important
components of LCDs. The two main glass substrates of a typical LCD
are a color filter substrate and a thin film transistor substrate.
Once the separate glass substrates have been fabricated in mass
production of LCDs, the glass substrates must be properly protected
during transportation to the next manufacturing stage. Therefore
special packing cases with low compression deformation, high impact
resistance, and high dimensional stability are needed.
[0003] FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of a typical packing
case for containing glass substrates of liquid crystal displays.
The packing case 40 is made from polyolefin foam. The packing case
40 includes a cover 41 and a main body 42. The cover 41 and the
main body 42 cooperatively form a space to accommodate glass
substrates 431. The main body 42 includes a bottom plate 421, and
four first side walls 422 perpendicularly extending from four side
edges of the bottom plate 421. The first side walls 422 are
connected end to end. Top ends of the first side walls 422
cooperatively define a peripheral first step structure 423.
[0004] The cover 41 includes a top plate 411, and four second side
walls 412 perpendicularly extending from the top plate 411. The
second side walls 412 are connected end to end. Bottom ends of the
second side walls 412 cooperatively define a peripheral second step
structure (not labeled) corresponding to the first step structure
423.
[0005] The glass substrates 431 are arranged one on top of the
other, and every two adjacent glass substrates 431 are spaced by a
spacing sheet 432. The glass substrates 431 and the spacing sheets
432 form a stack 43. When loading the glass substrates 431 into the
packing case 40, the stack 43 is arranged on the bottom plate 421
of the main body 42, and peripheral edges of the stack 43 abut
inner surfaces of the first side walls 422 and the second side
walls 412. The cover 41 is attached on the main body 42. The cover
41 is fixed to the main body 42 by the fitting engagement of the
first step structure 423 with the second step structure. Thus, the
glass substrates 431 are loaded into the packing case 40.
[0006] However, the packing case 40 is only suitable for
transporting glass substrates 431 having a certain size. Different
packing cases are needed to transport glass substrates having other
sizes. Thus, the cost of transporting differently sized glass
substrates is correspondingly increased.
[0007] What is needed, therefore, is a packing case that can
overcome the above-described deficiencies.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one preferred embodiment, a packing case for substrates
includes a main body, at least one buffer and a cover. The cover is
configured for attaching onto the main body. The main body includes
a bottom plate and a plurality of side walls substantially
perpendicularly extending from the bottom plate. The bottom plate
and the side walls form an accommodating space. An inner surface of
at least one of the side walls includes a plurality of first
latching members. The at least one first buffer includes a
plurality of second latching members. The second latching members
and the first latching members of the at least one side wall have
complementary shapes such that the at least one first buffer is
detachably engagable with the at least one side wall thereby
adjusting a capacity of the accommodating space.
[0009] Other novel features, advantages and aspects will become
more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a packing case
according to a first embodiment of the present invention, also
showing two glass substrates and a spacing sheet.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the packing case of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of a packing case
according to a second embodiment of the present invention, also
showing two glass substrates and a spacing sheet.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional
packing case, also showing two glass substrates and a spacing
sheet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the
preferred embodiments in detail.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a packing case 10 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention is shown. The packing case 10
includes a cover 11, a main body 12, and two buffers 14. The main
body 12 and the cover 11 corperatively form a space to accommodate
glass substrates 131. The buffers 14 are used to adjust a capacity
of the packing case 10.
[0016] The main body 12 includes a bottom plate 121, and four first
side walls 122 perpendicularly extending from four side edges of
the bottom plate 121. The four first side walls 122 are connected
end to end. Top ends of the first side walls 122 cooperatively
define a peripheral first step structure 124.
[0017] An inner side of each of the first side walls 122 includes a
plurality of first protrusions 123 extending therefrom. Each first
protrusion 123 is isosceles trapezoid-shaped, and includes a first
surface 1231 and two opposite second surfaces 1232. The second
surfaces 1232 are equal to each other in size, and are obliquely
connected to the first surface 1231. Every two adjacent first
protrusions 123 define a first gap 126 therebetween. The first gap
126 is accordingly isosceles trapezoid-shaped.
[0018] Each buffer 14 has a first side surface 141, and a second
side surface 142 opposite to the first side surface 141. The first
surface 141 is flat. The second side surface 142 includes a
plurality of second protrusions 143 extending therefrom. Each of
the second protrusions 143 is isosceles trapezoid-shaped, and has
substantially the same shape and size as each first gap 126 of the
main body 12. Every two adjacent second protrusions 143 define a
second gap 146 therebetween. The second gap 146 is accordingly
isosceles trapezoid-shaped. A shape and size of each second gap 146
is substantially the same as a shape and size of each first
protrusion 123 of the main body 12.
[0019] The packing case 10 is made from a foam resin having a
foaming ratio of 3-30, such as an olefinic resin foam. The olefinic
resin foam can be an ethylene series polymer foam such as low
density polyethylene foam, high density polyethylene foam,
ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam, ionomer foam, olefinic
polymer blend foam, polypropylene foam, and so on.
[0020] The cover 11 includes a top plate 111 and four second side
walls 112 perpendicularly extending from side edges of the top
plate 111. The second side walls 112 are connected end to end.
Bottom ends of the second side walls 112 cooperatively define a
peripheral second step structure (not labeled), corresponding to
the first step structure 124 of the main body 12. The cover 11 is
fixed to the main body 12 by fitting engagement of the first step
structure 124 with the second step structure.
[0021] The glass substrates 131 are stacked one on top of the
other. Every two adjacent glass substrates 131 are spaced by a
spacing sheet 132. Thus, the glass substrates 131 and the spacing
sheets 132 form a stack 130. When loading the glass substrates 131,
the stack 130 is arranged on the bottom plate 121 of the main body
12. Peripheral edges of the stack 130 abut the inner sides of the
first side walls 122, thus the glass substrates 131 are prevented
from sliding. Then, the cover 11 is attached on the main body 12.
Thus, the glass substrates 131 are loaded into the packing case
10.
[0022] Referring also to FIG. 2, when loading another set of glass
substrates (not shown) having a smaller size, the glass substrates
and spacing sheets (not shown) are stacked to form a new smaller
stack (not shown). For example, the smaller stack may be shorter in
length than the stack 130, but have the same width as the stack
130. The two buffers 14 shown are disposed in the main body 12,
with the second protrusions 143 of the buffers 14 being inserted
into and engaged in the first gaps 126 of the two short first side
walls 122 respectively. Thereby, the first protrusions 123 of the
short first side walls 122 are simultaneously inserted into and
engaged in the second gaps 146 of the buffers 14. Thus, the buffers
14 are securely fixed to the main body 12, and a capacity of the
main body 12 is reduced to fit the size of the smaller stack. The
smaller stack is arranged on the bottom plate 121 of the main body
12. Peripheral edges of the smaller stack abut the inner sides of
the two long first side walls 122 and the first surfaces 141 of the
buffers 14. Thus the glass substrates are prevented from sliding.
The cover 11 is attached on the main body 12. Thus, the glass
substrates are loaded into the packing case 10.
[0023] In another example, the packing case 10 can include two more
buffers 14. The two additional buffers 14 can be fixed to the two
long first side walls 122 of the main body 12, according to the
size of an even smaller stack (not shown) of glass substrates. In
still another example, the packing case 10 can include a total of
three buffers 14.
[0024] Unlike conventional packing cases, the packing case 10
includes the main body 12 with the first side walls 122. The inner
sides of the first side walls 122 include a plurality of first
latching members in the form of the first protrusions 123. The
buffers 14 have a plurality of second latching members in the form
of the second protrusions 143. The buffers 14 can be selectively
and detachably engaged with the main body 12, by the engagement of
the first latching members with the second latching members. Thus,
a capacity of the packing case 10 is adjustable. Glass substrates
having different sizes can be packed in the packing case 10. The
peripheral edges of a stack of the glass substrates abut selected
of the inner sides of the first side walls 122 of the main body 12
and/or selected of the buffers 14. Thus, the glass substrates are
packed properly and tightly. No other different packing cases are
needed. Therefore, the cost of transporting differently sized glass
substrates is reduced.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a packing case 20 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention is similar to the packing case
10. However, the packing case 20 includes two first buffers 25 and
two second buffers 26. The second buffers 26 are substantially the
same as the buffers 14 of the packing case 10. Each second buffer
26 includes a first surface 261 and a second surface 262 at
opposite sides thereof. The first surface 261 has a plurality of
first gaps 266 defined thereat, and the second surface 262 is
smooth.
[0026] The first buffers 25 are similar to the buffers 14 of the
packing case 10. Each first buffer 25 includes a third surface 251
and a fourth surface 252. The third surface 251 has a plurality of
second gaps 256 defined thereat. A shape and size of each second
gap 256 is substantially the same as a shape and size of each of
first protrusions 223 of a main body 22.
[0027] The fourth surface 252 has a plurality of second protrusions
253 extending therefrom. A shape and size of each second protrusion
253 is substantially the same as a shape and size of each first gap
266.
[0028] When loading glass substrates (not labeled) having a smaller
size, the glass substrates and spacing sheets (not labeled) are
arranged to form a stack 23. For example, the stack 23 may be
shorter in length than a corresponding length of the main body 22.
The first protrusions 223 of the main body 22 are received in the
second gaps 256 of the two first buffers 25 shown. Thus, the first
buffers 25 are fixed to the main body 22. The second protrusions
253 of the first buffers 25 are received in the first gaps 266 of
the two second buffers 26 shown. Thus, the second buffers 26 are
fixed to the first buffers 25. Accordingly, a capacity of the
packing case 20 is reduced to fit the size of the stack 23. The
stack 23 is arranged on a bottom plate (not labeled) of the main
body 22. Peripheral edges of the stack 23 abut inner sides of long
side walls of the main body 22 and the second surfaces 262 of the
second buffers 26.
[0029] In another example, the packing case 20 can include two more
first buffers 25 to further reduce the capacity thereof. The
additional first buffers 25 are fixed to the long side walls of the
main body 22, according to the size of an even smaller stack (not
shown) of glass substrates. In still another example, the packing
case 20 can include two more second buffers 26 to even further
reduce the capacity thereof. The additional second buffers 26 are
fixed to the two first buffers 25 at the two long side walls of the
main body 22.
[0030] It is to be further understood that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of various embodiments have been set
out in the foregoing description, together with details of the
structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *