Frequently, heavy but somewhat fragile objects are packaged for storage and transport. Such objects include, for example, auto parts such as alternators or similar parts that may have considerable mass, but also include protruding portions that can easily be damaged. In addition to problems caused by damage to peripheral components, these objects are also difficult to store and ship because movement of such a heavy object held loosely in a cardboard box tends to cause the object to engage the box under inertia, eventually causing damage to the box walls, or causing the box to fail entirely.
One method of avoiding damage during storage and shipping is to provide a filler, which is typically a foam or similar particulate matter filled around the item to be shipped. An ongoing problem with using filler is the difficulty of removing the product from the box without spilling the filler and creating a mess. Attendant issues with fillers can include materials that are not biodegradable or recyclable, and the fact that once discarded, the filler takes up a large amount of room in disposal.
Another type of packaging buffer is a formed insert. Formed inserts are typically made from a vibration dampening material such as styrene, and are usually placed around the exterior edges of a product in a package. Like fillers, inserts effectively shield both the product and the box from damage, but inserts have drawbacks as well. Like fillers, inserts are usually non-biodegradable and non-recyclable, being made of polystyrene. Also, while inserts are tailored to the particular shape of a product, and thus allow space in a box for relatively easy removal of the product from the box, they tend to be large and must be broken up to fit in a disposal container. Furthermore, when broken up, inserts tend to shed small particulates, thus creating a mess as well.
For these reasons, there remains a need for a shipping box that does not require additional packaging components, yet holds the automobile part in place to prevent movement and damage during shipping, is recyclable, and which is comprised of a single biodegradable material.
An apparatus that satisfies the need for a shipping box is made from a single biodegradable material and holding a heavy object in place during shipment without the need for additional components or filling. The apparatus is a flat pattern blank preferably made from cardboard or paperboard and includes a top panel and a bottom panel, and four side panels extending longitudinally therebetween. All the panels are foldable to each other to form the box for enclosing the heavy object. The single-piece flat pattern blank also includes a single integral holding panel to support the heavy object, foldably connected to the box and folding within the interior of the box upon assembly of the apparatus.
The single integral holding panel includes a plurality of spaced apart cut-outs sized to receive applicable protruding or peripheral components of the heavy object, holding the object in place within the single integral holding panel. The cut-outs may include a foldably connected tab for further supporting the heavy object inside the box. The single integral holding panel further includes a plurality of spaced apart tabs foldable against the side panels of the box to support the position of the single integral holding panel between the side panels when folded inside the box. The single integral holding panel may foldably connect to a side panel of the box and/or includes opposing generally triangular-shaped holding panels foldably connected to each other. The single integral holding panel may further include an inner panel between one of the side panels of the box and the generally triangular-shaped holding panels, serving as an extension of the single integral holding panel into the box.
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First integral holding panel 46 is preferably triangular in shape having first integral holding panel first edge 48, first integral holding panel second edge 60, and first integral holding panel third edge 68. Alternatively, first integral holding panel 46 may be square, rectangular, semi-circular or other shapes. The first integral holding panel 46 includes a first cutout 52 defined about first cut line 54. A first integral holding panel flap 56 is foldably connected to first cutout 52 along first integral holding panel flap fold line 58. Third inner tab 62 is foldably connected to first integral holding panel 46 along third inner tab fold line 64. Second integral holding panel 66 is foldably connected to first integral holding panel 46 along second integral holding panel fold line 70 and is a preferably triangularly shaped. Second integral holding panel 66 is defined by first integral holding panel third edge 68, second integral holding panel second edge 79, and second integral holding panel third edge 83.
The second integral holding panel 66 includes a second cutout 72 defined about second cut line 74. Second cutout 72 includes second integral holding panel flap 76 foldably connected to second integral holding panel 66 along second integral holding panel flap fold line 78. Fourth inner tab 80 is foldably connected to second integral holding panel 66 by fourth inner tab fold line 82 and fifth inner tab 84 is foldably connected to second integral holding panel 66 along fifth inner tab fold line 86. A second integral holding panel interior fold line 88 runs alongside the fifth inner tab fold line 86 and perpendicular to a segment of the fourth inner tab fold line 82, preferably forming an isosceles triangle between the three fold lines.
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Third panel 24 is connected to fourth panel 26 along a third fold line 116. Third panel 24 includes third bottom tab 118 connected along third bottom tab fold line 120 and top flap 122 connected along top flap fold line 124. The fourth panel 26 includes fourth bottom tab 126 connected along fourth bottom tab fold line 128, second lid 130 connected along the second lid fold line 132 and second inner tab 28 connected along second inner tab fold line 138. The second lid 130 includes sixth inner tab 134 connected along sixth inner tab fold line 136. The second inner tab 28 includes second inner tab first cut out 140 and second inner tab second cut out 142 both defined by second inner tab cut line 144. Second inner tab second cut out 142 forms a catch such that the locking notch 30 from first inner tab 18 remains in place and exterior to the box 12 after the first inner tab 18 is inserted into the second inner tab first cut out 140.
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The top of the box 12 is preferably assembled by first folding top flap 122 inward. Sixth inner tab 112 of first lid 96 is folded substantially at a right angle such that when first lid 96 is folded inward, sixth inner tab 112 slides behind second inner tab 28 and rests adjacent fourth panel 26. The closure tab 100 is folded away from the box 20. Second lid flap 134 is folded substantially at a right angle from second lid 30 so that second lid flap 134 may insert into the box 12 at the third cut line 101. Upon insertion of the second lid flap 134, the closure tab second fold line 110 is folded substantially at a right angle such that a segment of the closure tab 100 rests atop the second lid, securing the box 12 in a closed position.
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While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except by the appended claims.
Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the single claim below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.
This application claims priority to provisional application No. 62/540,507 filed Aug. 2, 2017 entitled “Folding Box With Integral Product Holder.”
Number | Date | Country | |
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62540507 | Aug 2017 | US |