1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to protective cushioning devices for use in transport and storage of shock sensitive products. In particular, the present invention relates to cushions that are made from molded polymeric materials, and which are particularly intended for use with shock sensitive products such as computer components such as optical drives.
2. Description of the Related Art
Product cushioning devices utilized for protecting shock sensitive products have been developed to address ever changing transport and storage requirements. A number of different techniques for cushioning products have been developed over the years, each having its own particular advantages and/or disadvantages. For example, it has been known for many years to cushion shock sensitive devices or merchandise using flexible, shock absorbent materials such as loosely packed paper, bubble wrap, polystyrene pellets (“peanuts”), gas-filled bladders, etc., to provide “filler” cushioning within a product container.
The market introduction of complex and expensive electronics devices together with the continual quest for greater packaging and shipment efficiency has prompted more stringent packaging and cushioning design. More precise standards and testing procedures have been developed for assuring that cushioning devices adequately protect shock sensitive products from shock accelerations greater than the product's fragility level while minimizing the form factor of packaging containers.
The need for more product-specific cushioning and reduced packaging form factor has given rise to using packaging and cushioning devices that provide combined bracing/cushioning properties. Such products include honeycomb cardboard, and various foamed polymers—polystyrene, polyurethane, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Such bracing/cushioning devices are deployed as corner pieces or edge pieces and enhance product protection by restricting shifting of the product within the container such that the cushioning effect of the overall packaging apparatus can be more reliably established. The more rigid of such cushioning materials, such as foamed polystyrene products, are often utilized as corner pieces or end caps. Such end caps are often product specific, having a particularly contoured mold conforming to the contour of a particular product.
A problem with conventional blow molded cushioning is the reliance on material properties and static structural properties, such as bearing area, to provide the required cushioning. Given the aforementioned need to balance specific cushioning requirements with shipping density requirements, substantial cost and time must be invested to design and produce specialized cushions for each new product development or modification.
Another problem is that polymer foam-type cushioning devices have limited reusability. For some such devices, such as foamed polystyrene, this is due in part, to the relative bulk and unwieldiness of such foam cushioning devices, which are usually discarded with the packaging container in which the product was shipped. Furthermore, many such foamed cushioning devices are highly frangible once they have been removed from the packaging container in which the product was shipped. Another significant factor limiting reusability is the material fatigue resulting from reliance on the material properties and static structural properties (e.g. bearing area). The deformation and other material affects of repeated use in cushioning render the cushioning performance unpredictable.
It can be appreciated that a need exists for an improved cushioning end cap design that addresses the foregoing problems. The cushion end cap addresses the foregoing problems as well as others not addresses by the prior art.
A cushion apparatus is disclosed herein that may be advantageously utilized as an end cap for packaging shock sensitive products is disclosed herein. The cushion apparatus includes a base member having one or more side walls having inner product bearing surfaces defining a product receiving cavity. The product receiving cavity has an open bottom end through which the product is received and an opposing top end. An axial deflection member is disposed over the top end of the receiving cavity. The axial deflection member is an arc-shaped elastic material member arching over the top end of the product receiving cavity. In one embodiment, the cushion apparatus further includes multiple radial deflection members extending radially from the base member to define a multi-sided bearing support perimeter having multiple corners.
The above as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is generally directed to a cushion end cap for protecting shock sensitive products during transport and storage. Manufacturers and distributors of shock sensitive electronic components, such as magnetic and optical disk drives, often package such components individually within packaging containers. The present invention is directed to an end cap cushion apparatus that provides requisite shock absorption and attenuation properties while minimizing the amount and size of cushion materials required thereby reducing overall form factor of the packaged product. In one embodiment, the present invention is embodied as an end cap disposable at two or more ends of shock sensitive products. The dimensions of the end cap cushion, and particularly the relative disposition and dimensions of multiple radial deflection members, are such that the cushion fits securely in substantially exact conformity with the inner compartment dimensions of a packaging container. The cushion further includes a recess or cavity in which an end of a shock sensitive product may be received.
In one embodiment, the end cap cushion is designed for use in a rectilinear outer packaging container. The end cap cushion generally comprises a base member having a product receiving cavity formed therein and having side walls providing product bearing surfaces in the interior of the support cavity. The product bearing surfaces form the product receiving cavity having an open end though which the product is received. Multiple radial deflection members extend outwardly from the base member to form a substantially rectangular bearing support perimeter that substantially conforms to the inner dimensions of a packaging container. The ends of the radial deflection members extend diagonally to the corners of the rectangular bearing support perimeter. The cushion end cap further includes an arc-shaped axial deflection member disposed over an opposing end of the cavity opposing the product receiving open end.
With reference now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout, there are illustrated various views of a cushion apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Referring specifically to
As further shown in
In the depicted embodiment, axial deflection member 8 comprises is an elastic member that preferably derives its elasticity from its arc contour as well as its constituent material. To this end, and in one embodiment, axial deflection member 8, base member 14, and radial deflection members 16a-16d are constructed of one or more materials included in the group comprising polyethylene and polypropylene, or other suitable material that results in compressive elasticity of the depicted curvilinear counter of axial deflection member 8.
In the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures, axial deflection member 8 is attached in a leaf spring like manner at each of two opposing sides of the top end of the product receiving cavity 6. Specifically, axial deflection member 8 has a substantially curvilinear lengthwise counter which, depending on the application, may be circular, elliptical, or parabolic. Axial deflection member 8 preferably has a substantially rectangular cross-section, and as illustrated in the perspective views of
As further depicted in the exemplary embodiment, product receiving cavity 6 has a horizontal planar (relative to the depiction in
As illustrated in particular with reference to
As illustrated in
While the depicted embodiment is designed to accommodate a packaging container having a rectangular inner containment cross-section, the principle of design may be applied to containers having different cross-section shapes. More generally stated, the end cap cushion of the present invention comprises a plurality of radial deflection members that define a multi-sided bearing support perimeter having multiple corners, wherein the radial deflection members extend diagonally to the corners of the bearing support perimeter to provide the dual container bracing and shock absorption enhancing performance described above with reference to
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.