U.S. patent application number 12/034294 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for packing box.
This patent application is currently assigned to Delta Electronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Chun-Chen Chen, Ming-Tang Yang.
Application Number | 20090101538 12/034294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40562378 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090101538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chun-Chen ; et
al. |
April 23, 2009 |
PACKING BOX
Abstract
A packing box includes a plurality of cushioning members, a
plurality of carrier members and a cover member. Each of the
cushioning members includes multiple length-wise retaining plates
and multiple width-wise retaining plates arranged in a staggered
form to define a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the
articles therein. The carrier members are arranged in a stack form
and having respective confining spaces for confining the cushioning
members in position. The cover member shelters the cushioning
members, the carrier members and the articles.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chun-Chen; (Taoyuan,
TW) ; Yang; Ming-Tang; (Taoyuan, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AUSTIN RAPP & HARDMAN
170 South Main Street, Suite 735
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84101
US
|
Assignee: |
Delta Electronics, Inc.
Taoyuan
TW
|
Family ID: |
40562378 |
Appl. No.: |
12/034294 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/722 ;
206/386; 206/585 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/48026 20130101;
B65D 5/5035 20130101; B65D 85/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/722 ;
206/585; 206/386 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/86 20060101
B65D085/86; B65D 85/30 20060101 B65D085/30; B65D 19/00 20060101
B65D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 19, 2007 |
TW |
096139340 |
Claims
1. A packing box for encasing a plurality of articles, said packing
box comprising: a plurality of cushioning members, wherein each of
said cushioning members includes multiple length-wise retaining
plates and multiple width-wise retaining plates arranged in a
staggered form to define a plurality of receiving portions for
receiving said articles therein; a plurality of carrier members
arranged in a stack form and having respective confining spaces for
confining said cushioning members in position; and a cover member
for sheltering said cushioning members, said carrier members and
said articles.
2. The packing box according to claim 1 further comprising a base
for supporting said stacked carrier members and said cushioning
members.
3. The packing box according to claim 2 wherein said packing box is
further supported on a pallet, wherein the area of said base is
substantially identical to that of said pallet.
4. The packing box according to claim 2 further comprising an outer
frame, which is arranged between said upper cover and said base for
enclosing and protecting said carrier members and said cushioning
members.
5. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said
carrier members further includes a carrier body, wherein the height
of said carrier body is substantially identical to that of a
corresponding cushioning member.
6. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said
carrier members further includes a bottom plate, wherein the area
of said bottom plate is substantially identical to that of a
corresponding cushioning member.
7. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein each of said
carrier members further includes two complimentary coupling
structures at opposite surfaces thereof for facilitating coupling
said carrier member with an adjacent carrier member.
8. The packing box according to claim 7 wherein said two
complimentary coupling structures include a protrusion structure
and a notch structure.
9. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member
is an upper cover disposed on the top of said stacked carrier
members.
10. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member
is a plastic film.
11. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said cover member
further includes one or more first recesses.
12. The packing box according to claim 11 wherein said base further
includes one or more second recesses corresponding to said first
recesses.
13. The packing box according to claim 12 wherein one or more
fixing elements are wrapped around said packing box through said
first recesses of said cover member and said second recesses of
said base.
14. The packing box according to claim 13 wherein said fixing
elements are ropes or tapes.
15. The packing box according to claim 1 wherein said articles are
electronic apparatuses or electronic components.
16. A packing box for encasing a plurality of articles, said
packing box comprising: a cushioning member including multiple
length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining
plates, which are arranged in a staggered form to define a
plurality of receiving portions for receiving said articles
therein; a carrier member having a confining space for confining
said cushioning member in position; and a cover member for
sheltering said cushioning member, said carrier member and said
articles.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a packing box, and more
particularly to a packing box for encasing a great number of
electronic components or electronic apparatuses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With increasing development of global marketing, many
commodity products are exported all over the world. For
transportation by ships for example, the commodity products are
encased in packing boxes. During transportation, the packing boxes
are frequently loaded and uploaded by forklifts and/or cranes and
thus the commodity products are readily suffered from impact or
shock. For protecting the commodity products from being damaged by
impact or shock, the packing boxes are often equipped with a
cushioning space.
[0003] Especially when electronic apparatuses and electronic
components are transported, the structure of the packing box is
more critical because they are sensitive to impact or shock.
[0004] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic exploded view illustrating a
packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic
components according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1(a), the
packing box 10 includes an upper cover 102, a plurality of
cushioning members 103, at least one partition plate 104 and a
cover body 105. Each of these cushioning members 103 includes
multiple length-wise retaining plates 103a and multiple width-wise
retaining plates 103b, which are arranged in a staggered form.
Consequently, a plurality of receiving portions 103c are defined by
the length-wise retaining plates 103a and the width-wise retaining
plates 103b for receiving electronic apparatuses or electronic
components 101 therein. Every two cushioning members 103 are
separated by one partition plate 104. In the embodiment of FIG.
1(a), for each cushioning member 103, three length-wise retaining
plates 103a and three width-wise retaining plates 103b
cooperatively define four receiving portions 103c. Since there are
two cushioning members 103, the packing box 10 has eight receiving
portions 103c for encasing eight electronic apparatuses or
electronic components 101 therein.
[0005] For packing the electronic apparatuses or electronic
components 101, the lower cushioning member 103 is firstly placed
in the cover body 105 and then four electronic apparatuses or
electronic components 101 are contained in the receiving portions
103c of the lower cushioning member 103. Subsequently, the
partition plate 104 is placed on the lower cushioning member 103
and the upper cushioning member 103 is placed on the partition
plate 104. Next, the other four electronic apparatuses or
electronic components 101 are encased in the receiving portions
103c of the upper cushioning member 103. Afterwards, the upper
cover 102 is placed on the upper cushioning member 103 and the
resulting structure is wrapped. In a case that some electronic
components 101 are erroneously encased by the packing box 10, the
cushioning members 103 and the partition plates 104 overlying the
erroneously encased electronic components 101 should be removed
from the packing box 10. After the erroneously encased electronic
components 101 are replaced, the overlying cushioning members 103
and partition plates 104 are placed on the original places again.
Therefore, the process of replacing the erroneously encased
electronic components is very inconvenient.
[0006] Please refer to FIG. 1(a) again. The cover body 105 has a
thickness d0. For preventing from impact or shock in the
length-wise direction, each of the two outermost length-wise
retaining plates 103a is separated from the inner wall of the cover
body 105 by a first redundant distance d1, and thus two cushioning
spaces D1 are defined between the outermost length-wise retaining
plates 103a and the inner wall of the cover body 105. For
preventing from impact or shock in the width-wise direction, each
of the two outermost width-wise retaining plates 103b is separated
from the inner wall of the cover body 105 by a second redundant
distance d2, and thus two cushioning spaces D2 are defined between
the outermost width-wise retaining plates 103b and the inner wall
of the cover body 105. For preventing from impact or shock in the
vertical direction, the receiving portion 103c is higher than the
electronic component 101. For example, if there is a height
difference d3 between the electronic component 101 and the upper
edge of the receiving portion 103c, an additional cushioning space
D3 is defined between the electronic component 101 and the upper
edge of the receiving portion 103c. Unfortunately, these cushioning
spaces D1, D2 and D3 fail to receive electronic apparatuses or
electronic components 101 therein.
[0007] For transporting a great amount of electronic apparatuses or
electronic components 101, multiple packing boxes 10 are stacked in
both of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. These
stacked packing boxes 10 are then placed on a pallet 11.
Conventionally, since the pallet 11 is determined according to the
capacity of forklifts or pallet truck, the area of the pallet 11 is
constant. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the packing boxes 10 are stacked
as two layers in the vertical direction and each layer includes
eight packing boxes 10, thereby resulting in a transportation unit
1. As a consequence, a total of sixteen packing boxes 10 are
supported on the pallet 11. Provided that each packing box 10
contains eight electronic apparatuses or electronic components 101,
a total of 128 electronic components 101 are supported on the
pallet 11. These sixteen packing boxes 10 are then wrapped by tapes
(or plastic film 13) and/or fixed by ropes 12 in order to prevent
from detachment during transportation.
[0008] In the X-direction of the transportation unit 1, the
redundant length is substantially equal to the sum of eight first
redundant distances d1 and eight thicknesses d0 (i.e. 8d1+8d0). In
the Y-direction of the transportation unit 1, the redundant width
is substantially equal to the sum of four second redundant
distances d2 and four thicknesses d0 (i.e. 4d2+4d0). In the
Z-direction of the transportation unit 1, the redundant height is
substantially equal to the sum of four height differences d3 and
four thicknesses d0 (i.e. 4d3+4d0). That is, the unavailable volume
of the transportation unit 1 is equal to
(8d1+8d0).times.(4d2+4d0).times.(4d3+4d0). The unavailable volume
means resource waste and is detrimental to the packing process.
[0009] In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from
the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to
develop an improved packing box for encasing a great number of
electronic apparatuses or electronic components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
packing box of the present invention encasing a greater amount of
electronic components by reducing the unavailable volume. As a
consequence, the packing box of the present invention may be
produced in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly
manner.
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a packing box for encasing a plurality of articles. The
packing box includes a plurality of cushioning members, a plurality
of carrier members and a cover member. Each of the cushioning
members includes multiple length-wise retaining plates and multiple
width-wise retaining plates arranged in a staggered form to define
a plurality of receiving portions for receiving the articles
therein. The carrier members are arranged in a stack form and have
respective confining spaces for confining the cushioning members in
position. The cover member shelters the cushioning members, the
carrier members and the articles.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a packing box for encasing a plurality of
articles. The packing box includes a cushioning member, a carrier
member and a cover member. The cushioning member includes multiple
length-wise retaining plates and multiple width-wise retaining
plates, which are arranged in a staggered form to define a
plurality of receiving portions for receiving the articles therein.
The carrier member has a confining space for confining the
cushioning member in position. The cover member shelters the
cushioning member, the carrier member and the articles.
[0013] The above contents of the present invention will become more
readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after
reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying
drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1(a) is a schematic exploded view illustrating a
packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic
components according to the prior art;
[0015] FIG. 1(b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating
several packing boxes of FIG. 1(a) supported on a pallet;
[0016] FIG. 2(a) is a schematic exploded view of a packing box for
encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic components according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2(b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating the
packing box of FIG. 2(a) supported on a pallet;
[0018] FIG. 3(a) is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
variation of the carrier member; and
[0019] FIG. 3(b) is a schematic perspective view illustrating
several carrier members of FIG. 3(a) arranged in a stack form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] The present invention will now be described more
specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to
be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments
of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration
and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be
limited to the precise form disclosed.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2(a), a schematic exploded view of a
packing box for encasing electronic apparatuses or electronic
components according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the packing box 20
includes an outer frame 201, an upper cover 202, at least one
cushioning member 203, at least one carrier member 204 and a base
205.
[0022] Depending on the practical applications, the upper cover 202
is made of rigid or flexible material.
[0023] In some embodiment, the packing box 20 includes a plurality
of cushioning members 203. Each of these cushioning members 203
includes multiple length-wise retaining plates 203a and multiple
width-wise retaining plates 203b, which are arranged in a staggered
form. As a consequence, a plurality of receiving portions 203c are
defined by the length-wise retaining plates 203a and the width-wise
retaining plates 203b for receiving electronic apparatuses or
electronic components (not shown) therein.
[0024] The carrier members 204 are used to confining and supporting
respective cushioning members 203 in positions. Each of the carrier
members 204 includes a carrier body 204a and a bottom plate 204b. A
confining space 204c is defined by the carrier body 204a and the
bottom plate 204b. The height of the carrier body 204a is
substantially identical to that of the cushioning member 203. The
area of the bottom plate 204b is substantially identical to that of
the cushioning member 203. When the cushioning member 203 is
received in the confining space 204c of a corresponding carrier
member 204, the cushioning member 203 is tight-fitted to sidewalls
of the confining space 204c. As a consequence, the cushioning
member 203 and the electronic apparatuses or electronic components
contained therein will not move with respect to the carrier member
204 during transportation.
[0025] Moreover, the number, the relative distance between any two
length-wise retaining plates 203a and the relative distance between
any two width-wise retaining plates 203b are variable. As a
consequence, the dimensions of these receiving portions 203c are
adjustable according to the sizes of the electronic apparatuses or
electronic components to be encased therein. In other words,
different carrier members 204 of the same dimension may be used to
encase electronic apparatuses or electronic components of different
sizes. Since the dimensions of all carrier members 204 are
identical, these carrier members 204 may be orderly arranged in a
stack form. In a case that some electronic components are
erroneously encased by the packing box 20, only the carrier members
204 which support the erroneously encased electronic components
need to be replaced. Therefore, the process of replacing the
erroneously encased electronic components is very convenient.
[0026] Please refer to FIG. 2(a) again. The outer frame 201 is
arranged between the upper cover 202 and the base 205 for enclosing
and protecting the plurality of carrier members 204. The cushioning
members 203, the carrier members 204 and the electronic components
are supported by the base 205. The peripheries of the upper cover
202 and the base 205 have recesses 202a and 205a, respectively.
After the packing box 20 is assembled, a fixing element 22 such as
a rope or a tape is wrapped around the packing box 20 through the
recesses 202a and 205a, thereby preventing detachment of the
packing box 20.
[0027] Hereinafter, a process of assembling the packing box 20 will
be illustrated as follows with reference to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).
First of all, the cushioning members 203 are mounted on respective
carrier members 204. Then, the electronic components to be
transported are placed in the receiving portions 203c of the
cushioning members 203. Next, the carrier members 204 are placed on
the base 205 and stacked in a vertical direction. Subsequently, the
stacked carrier members 204 are enclosed by the outer frame 201 and
the upper cover 22 is placed on the resulting structure. After the
packing box 20 is assembled, a fixing element 22 such as a rope or
a tape is wrapped around the packing box 20 through the recesses
202a and 205a to fix the packing box 20. Afterwards, the packing
box 20 is placed on the pallet 11. Optionally, the packing box 20
and the pallet 11 are cooperatively encapsulated by a plastic film
23 to further facilitate fixing the packing box 20. Alternatively,
the packing box 20 is encapsulated by a plastic film 23 and then
the packing box 20 and the pallet 11 are cooperatively wrapped by
the fixing element 22. It is preferred that the area of the base
205 is substantially identical to that of the pallet 11.
[0028] Please refer to FIG. 2(a) again. The carrier member 204 has
a thickness d0', the outer frame 201 has a thickness d4' and the
base 205 has a thickness d5'. For preventing from impact or shock
in the length-wise direction, each of the two outermost length-wise
retaining plates 203a is separated from the inner wall of the outer
frame 201 by a first redundant distance d1', and thus two
cushioning spaces D1' are defined between the outermost length-wise
retaining plates 203a and the inner wall of the outer frame 201.
For preventing from impact or shock in the width-wise direction,
each of the two outermost width-wise retaining plates 203b is
separated from the inner wall of the outer frame 201 by a second
redundant distance d2, and thus two cushioning spaces D2' are
defined between the outermost width-wise retaining plates 203b and
the inner wall of the outer frame 201. Since the dimensions of
these receiving portions 203c are adjustable according to the sizes
of the electronic apparatuses or electronic components to be
encased therein, the cushioning spaces D1' and D2' are largely
reduced. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the assembled packing box 20 is
placed on a pallet 11, which has the same area as the assembled
packing box 20. In the X-direction of the packing box 20, the
redundant length is substantially equal to the sum of two first
redundant distances d1', two thicknesses d0' of the carrier member
204, two thicknesses d4' of the outer frame 201 and two thicknesses
d4' of the base 205 (i.e. 2d1'+2d0'+2d4'+2d5'). Because the
magnitudes d0', d4' and d5' are much smaller than the magnitude
d1', the redundant length of the packing box 20 is substantially
equal to 2d1'. Likewise, in the Y-direction, the redundant width of
the packing box 20 is substantially equal to 2d2'. In the
Z-direction, the redundant height is substantially equal to the
total height differences between the electronic component and the
upper edge of the receiving portion 203c. In comparison with the
prior art, the unavailable volume is largely reduced. In other
words, the packing box 20 of the present invention may encase more
electronic component than the conventional packing boxes 10 if the
area of the pallet 11 and the overall volume are identical. For
example, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the packing box 20 has five
cushioning members 203 and each cushioning member 203 has forty
receiving portions 203c. That is, a total of 200 electronic
components may be encased in the packing box 20. As a result, the
packing box 20 is very suitable for encasing a greater amount of
electronic components in a cost-effective and
environmentally-friendly manner.
[0029] It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will
readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations may be
made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example,
each carrier member 204 further includes two complimentary coupling
structures at opposite surfaces thereof for facilitating fixing the
carrier member 204. As shown in FIG. 3(a), there are a protrusion
structure 204d and a notch structure 204e on a side of the carrier
body 204a of the carrier member 204. The protrusion structure 204d
of one carrier member 204 is engaged with the notch structure 204e
of the adjacent carrier member 204 such that these carrier members
204 are orderly arranged in a stack form, as can be seen in FIG.
3(b). Since the protrusion structures 204d are engaged with the
adjacent notch structures 204e, the possibility of sliding or
falling down the carrier members 204 are minimized.
[0030] From the above description, the packing box of the present
invention is suitable for encasing a greater amount of electronic
components because the unavailable volume is largely reduced. As a
consequence, the packing box of the present invention may be
produced in a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly
manner.
[0031] While the invention has been described in terms of what is
presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be
limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which
are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to
encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
* * * * *