U.S. patent number 3,927,767 [Application Number 05/365,238] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-23 for packaging unit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yoshinori Kamata, Masatoshi Sato, Katuo Umemura.
United States Patent |
3,927,767 |
Sato , et al. |
December 23, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Packaging unit
Abstract
A packaging unit consisting of a plate member folded in zigzag
fashion to form a plurality of superposed leaves which, except for
the top and bottom leaves, are perforated with vertically
penetrating holes collectively defining a deep bore used as a
receptacle of an article. The inner portion of each leaf is
additionally provided with inwardly extending projections for
contacting the article disposed within the receptacle.
Inventors: |
Sato; Masatoshi (Yokohama,
JA), Umemura; Katuo (Yokohama, JA), Kamata;
Yoshinori (Yokohama, JA) |
Assignee: |
Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co.,
Ltd. (Kawasaki, JA)
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Family
ID: |
26395273 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/365,238 |
Filed: |
May 30, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 1, 1972 [JA] |
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47-54522 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/589; 206/305;
206/486; 206/223; 206/214 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
81/022 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
81/02 (20060101); B65D 081/16 (); B65D
085/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/329,334,424,485,486,490,491,456,521,75,72,523,524 ;229/14C
;281/19R,34 ;283/24 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1,088,422 |
|
Sep 1960 |
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DT |
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733,695 |
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Jul 1955 |
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UK |
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576,470 |
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Mar 1958 |
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IT |
|
Primary Examiner: Price; William I.
Assistant Examiner: Bernstein; Bruce H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland
& Maier
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A packaging unit for wrapping an article comprising:
a single plate folded in zigzag fashion so as to form a plurality
of superposed leaves;
said leaves being connected with each other along said folded
edges;
the intermediate leaves being perforated with first vertically
penetrating apertures so as to collectively form a single
continuous bore for receiving said article;
the inner wall portion of each leaf defining said apertures being
provided with inwardly extending projections spaced from each other
for protecting said article from external shocks; and
the outer wall portion of each leaf being notched so as to form
outwardly extending projections spaced from each other for
additionally protecting said article from external shocks.
2. A packaging unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outwardly
extending projections of a given pair of leaves are vertically
displaced from those of an adjacent pair of leaves.
3. A packaging unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of
said outwardly extending projections of at least one of said leaves
has indexing means disposed upon the upper surface thereof.
4. A packaging unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of
said intermediate leaves is perforated with a second vertically
penetrating hole for receiving an attachment to said article.
5. A packaging unit for wrapping an article comprising:
a single plate folded in zigzag fashion so as to form a plurality
of superposed leaves;
said leaves being connected with each other along said folded
edges;
the intermediate leaves being perforated with first vertically
penetrating apertures so as to collectively form a single
continuous bore for receiving said article; and
the inner wall portion of each intermediate leaf defining said
aperture being provided with inwardly extending projections
laterally spaced from each other for protecting said article from
external shocks, only the inner edges of said projections
contacting said article.
6. The packaging unit according to claim 5 wherein the top and
bottom leaves of the folded packaging unit serve as lids to close
the upper and lower openings of the deep bore collectively defined
by said first vertically penetrating holes.
7. The packaging unit according to claim 6 wherein the packaging
unit is further provided with a cover extending over a group of
folded edges disposed on one side of the packaging unit and fixed
to said top and bottom leaves, thereby wrapping the whole packaging
unit in the form of a book.
8. The packaging unit according to claim 7 wherein the packaging
unit further has a detachable fastening band wound about the
packaging unit to keep it closed.
9. The packaging unit according to claim 5 wherein at least one of
the intermediate leaves is perforated with a second vertically
penetrating hole for receiving an attachment to the article.
10. The packaging unit according to claim 5 wherein information on
the article is given on the upper surface of at least one of the
intermediate leaves.
11. The packaging unit according to claim 5 wherein the plate
member consists of a corrugated paper board.
12. The packaging unit according to claim 11 wherein notches are
cut out alternately in the upper and lower walls of the corrugated
paper board to leave uncut portions on the respective opposite
walls, and the corrugated paper board is folded at the notches in
the opposite directions.
13. The packaging unit according to claim 5 wherein the plate
member has an elongate rectangular form with the folded edges
disposed at right angles to the lengthwise axis of the plate
member.
14. A packaging unit for wrapping an article comprising:
an article adapted to be disposed within said packaging unit;
a single plate folded in zigzag fashion so as to form a plurality
of superposed leaves;
said leaves being connected with each other along said folded
edges;
the intermediate leaves being perforated with first vertically
penetrating apertures so as to collectively form a single
continuous bore receiving said article; and
each of said intermediate leaves having at least one outwardly
extending projection formed upon the outer edges of said leaf which
are not interconnected with other ones of said intermediate leaves
along said folded edges,
whereby said projections disposed upon said leaves protect said
article from external shocks.
15. A packaging unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one
of said outwardly extending projections of at least one of said
leaves has indexing means disposed upon the upper surface
thereof.
16. A packaging unit as set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one
of said intermediate leaves is perforated with a second penetrating
hole for receiving an attachment to said article.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a packaging unit for receiving a
relatively small article, for example, an electronic desktop
calculator which is readily affected by vibrations or shocks.
Articles such as electronic desk-top calculators, small electronic
apparatuses or electric appliances are generally received in a case
lined with a buffer material generally made of polystyrene foam so
as to be protected from vibrations or shocks to which they may be
subjected during transportation. Since, in this case, the case and
buffer material constitute separate members, the wrapping of the
above-mentioned articles consumes considerable time and labor and
their removal from the packaging unit and their storage therein
after use are also accompanied with troublesome work. One of the
shortcomings of the prior art package is that its dismemberment
results in a large amount of waste material. Further where the
buffer material of the package consists of polystyrene foam,
combustion of said package after thrown away causes the polystyrene
foam to give forth sufficiently high heat to damage a burning
furnace and also a great deal of cinder and harmful gases to be
produced. Particularly the latter event poses an important problem
from the standpoint of eliminating public nuisances resulting from
waste material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly the object of this invention to provide a
packaging unit of simple construction which facilitates packaging
work and presents a prominent buffering action.
The packaging unit of this invention is formed of a single plate
member folded in zigzag fashion to form a plurality of superposed
leaves which are perforated with vertically penetrating holes
collectively defining a deep bore used as a receptacle of an
article. The top and/or bottom leaves are free from a hole so as to
be used as the lids of the packaging unit.
The packaging unit of this invention which is formed of a single
plate member attains a simpler and more efficient packaging work
than the prior art package which is built of a case and buffer
material used separately. Further, the present packaging unit
itself not only acts as a case but also as a buffer material.
On one of the intermediate leaves may be indicated an explanatory
note on the article received in the packaging unit, thereby
eliminating the necessity of placing a pamphlet giving such
explanation therein. Further, depending on the number and volume of
attachments to the main article, the intermediate leaves may be
perforated with another group of vertically penetrating holes for
reception of the attachments.
Moreover, a plate member consisting of a corrugated paper board can
eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks accompanying the prior art
package using polystyrene foam as a buffer material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention can be more fully understood from the following
detailed description when taken in connection with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging unit according to an
embodiment of this invention with the cover opened;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same when it is closed;
FIG. 3 is an expansion view of a plate member constituting the
packaging unit of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the plate member folded in zigzag
fashion;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are fractional plan views of the particular leaves of
the packaging unit where their outer surfaces are exposed; and
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 to 6 collectively present a packaging unit 10 for receiving
an electronic desk-top calculator 11 and attachments thereto. The
packaging unit 10 consists of a single corrugated paper board 12
(FIGS. 3 and 4) folded in zigzag fashion to form a plurality of
superposed leaves 13a to 13h bearing substantially the same shape.
These leaves are connected to each other by the folded edges 14a to
14g as later described. The leaves, except for the top and bottom
ones 13a and 13h, are bored with vertically penetrating holes 15a
to 15f so as to collectively define a hollow space matching the
outline of a calculator being received therein. The plate member 12
may be made of a card board or polystyrene board in place of a
corrugated paper board.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, before a plate member 12 is folded in
zigzag fashion, notches 16 are cut out in the edges 14a to 14g
alternately on the upper wall 17a and lower wall 17b of the plate
member 12, such that an uncut portion is left on the respective
opposite walls of said plate member 12. The leaves 13a to 13h are
connected by the uncut portions, and the direction in which the
plate member 12 is folded to form the leaves 13a to 13h is defined
by those sides of the plate member 12 in which the notches 16 are
cut out. The vertically penetrating holes 15a to 15f bored in the
respective intermediate leaves 13b to 13g bear a symmetrical
relationship with respect to the linear notches 16 intervening
between the bored leaves, so that when all the bored leaves are
superposed on each other, the penetrating holes 15a to 15f are
aligned in the direction of the height of a deep bore defined
jointly by said holes 15a to 15f.
The intermediate leaves 13b to 13g of the plate member 12
respectively bored with the vertically penetrating holes 15a to 15f
collectively act as a support member for keeping, for example, a
calculator 11 safely in place. The nonbored top and bottom leaves
13a and 13h serve as lids to close the upper and lower openings of
the deep bore. The top and bottom leaves 13a and 13h acting as lids
are enclosed in a single cover 18 made of, for example tough paper.
The cover 18 is provided at both ends with a bag portion 19, which
receives the free end of each of said top and bottom lids 13a and
13h. The intermediate portion of the cover 18 extends over one
group of folded edges 14a, 14c, 14e and 14g disposed on one side of
the packaging unit 10 so as to wrap the outer wall of the lids 13a
and 13h, as well as one of the side walls of the packaging unit 10.
Just like a book, the leaves 13a to 13h are fastened together on
one side of the packaging unit 10, and every two adjacent leaves
connected by the uncut portion therebetween are free to be opened
or closed on the opposite side of the packaging unit 10 (FIG. 4).
Where the calculator 11 received in the packaging unit 10 is not
used, the unit 10 is closed with the calculator stored therein and
wound with a detachable fastening band 20 (FIG. 2).
The prescribed intermediate leaves are bored with holes to receive
attachments to the calculator 11. For example, the intermediate
leaf 13b is perforated with a hole 22 to receive a pencil 21, the
intermediate leaves 13d to 13f with holes 24a to 24c to hold can
eraser 23, the intermediate leaves 13d to 13g with holes 27a to 27d
to hold a charger 25 and cord 26, and the intermediate leaf 13c
with an escapement hole 28 for the cord 26. When the intermediate
leaves are superposed, the above-mentioned holes define hollow
spaces to receive the corresponding attachments.
Each of the penetrating holes 15 has a plurality of projections 29
parallel with the folded edge 14 which extend toward the center of
the hole 15 from the inner walls of both lengthwise sides of the
hole 15. These projections 29 are intended to reduce external
shocks and vibrations and keep the calculator safely in place.
The outer walls of both crosswise sides of the intermediate leaves
13 perpendicular to the folded edges 14 are partly notched to form
other projections 30 perpendicular to the aforesaid projections 29.
These other projections 30 act to absorb external shocks and
vibrations as do the aforesaid projections 29. Of the latter
projections, those formed on the intermediate leaves 13b and 13c,
those on the intermediate leaves 13d and 13e and those on the
intermediate leaves 13f and 13g are aligned in pairs in the
direction of the height of the packaging unit 10, whereas the
projections 30 formed on the intermediate leaves 13c - 13d and 13e
- 13f are displaced from the other projections when the leaves are
superposed, so that the user can easily touch the displaced
projections with his fingers in opening the packaging unit 10.
The exposed surfaces of the projections 30 on the intermediate
leaves 13b, 13d and 13f bear numerical indices 31 denoting the
order in which the leaves are turned over. This arrangement enables
the user to open the paired intermediate leaves in the order of the
numerical indices by gripping the projections 30 while looking at
the indices.
A free space on the upper surface of the prescribed intermediate
leaves 13 is printed, for example, with the specification and
explanatory note regarding the electronic calculator. Or a sheet of
paper giving the particulars of the calculator is pasted to said
free space. On the upper surface of the intermediate leaf 13b is
described the specification 32 of the calculator 11 including, for
example, the type of the machine, the number of digits handled
thereby, the type of arithmetic operation carried out thereon and
power consumption (FIG. 5). Referring to FIG. 6, explanatory notes
33 including, for example, the procedure of arithmetic operation
and directions for handling are set forth on the upper surface of
the intermediate leaf 13d. Accordingly, required information can be
obtained from the leaves as they are turned over, eliminating the
necessity of inserting separate pamphlets as has been the case with
the prior art package. Since the printing of required information
or the pasting of a sheet of paper giving such information can be
effected during manufacture of the package unit 10, the wrapping
of, for example, a calculator is simplified. Though not shown, the
aforesaid fastening band 20 may also be printed with the commercial
name and type of a machine received in the package unit 10.
Where the electronic desk-top calculator 11 and attachments thereto
are stored in the packaging unit 10, the intermediate leaf 13e is
first opened. Then the calculator 11 is put in the hole 15e, the
eraser 23 in the hole 24c, and the charger 25 and cord 26 in the
hole 27c. Later when the package unit 10 is closed up to the leaf
13b, the calculator 11 is securely set in place by being pressed by
the projections 29, and the eraser 23, charger 25 and cord 26 are
covered with the intermediate leaf 13b. After the pencil 21 is
placed in the hole 22, the upper lid 13a is closed and the
fastening band 20 is thrown about the packaging unit 10 to keep it
closed. Accordingly, the packaging unit 10 appears like a book and
can be placed on a book shelf in storage, and also carried by
itself. Should the packaging unit 10 be subject to any external
stress in transit, the calculator 11 received therein will be fully
protected from any harmful effect by the shock-absorbing action of
the packaging unit 10 as a whole and the similar action of the
projections 29 and 30.
Where the packaging unit 10 is opened to use the calculator 11 or
for any other purpose, the fastening band 20 is first taken off as
shown in FIG. 1. The top leaf or lid 13a is turned over to make the
pencil 21 ready to be taken out and expose the upper surface of the
calculator 11. Since, at this time, the calculator 11 is still
placed deep in the holes 15, it can not be removed. When the
intermediate leaves 13b and 13c are turned over, substantially half
the body of the calculator 11 comes out and the charger 25 and cord
26 are exposed ready to be removed. Where, under this condition,
the packaging unit 10 is set, for example, on a desk together with
the calculator, then the packaging unit 10 will serve as a firm
rest for the calculator, making it possible to use the calculator
11 without taking the whole of it out of the hole 15. At this time,
the explanatory notes 33 given on the upper surface of the
intermediate leaf 13d are brought to view, enabling arithmetic
operation to be effected by reference thereto. Where the
intermediate leaves 13d and 13e are turned over, the terminal
section (not shown) of the calculator 11 is exposed to permit
charging therethrough. Obviously, the calculator 11, charger 25 and
cord 26 can be easily lifted from the packaging unit 10.
In the foregoing embodiment the holes 15, 22, 24, 27 and 28 were so
shaped as to receive the calculator 11, pencil 21, eraser 23,
charger 25 and cord 26 respectively. Of course, the leaves of the
packaging unit 10 may be bored with various forms of holes
depending on the type, shape and number of articles being received
in the packaging unit 10. Where a number of electronic tubes or
lamps readily affected by shocks or vibrations are to be
transported repeatedly, the packaging unit 10 of this invention can
be used as a service box of transport of these articles by having
the leaves bored with many holes for their reception.
* * * * *