Claims
- 1. A package, comprising:a container; an article positioned in the container; and a plurality of cushioning members positioned in the container so as to substantially surround the article and resiliently support and cushion the article, each of the cushioning members formed of a flexible sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material, the sheet of material crumpled into a globular configuration such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids, the sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of-the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds and such that the cushioning members are bondingly connected to the adjacently disposed cushioning members to form a unitary cushioning unit.
- 2. The package of claim 1 wherein the unitary cushioning unit is bondingly connected to the article.
- 3. The package of claim 1 wherein the unitary cushioning unit is bondingly connected to the container.
- 4. The package of claim 1 wherein the unitary cushioning unit is bondingly connected to the article and to the container.
- 5. The package of claim 1 wherein the bonding material is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet of material in the form of a plurality of spaced apart strips, and wherein the bonding material is disposed on the lower surface of the sheet of material in the form of a plurality of spaced apart strips which are in staggered, parallel relationship relative to the strips of bonding material on the upper surface of the sheet of material.
- 6. The package of claim 1 wherein the bonding material is disposed on substantially the entire upper surface of the sheet of material, and wherein the bonding material is disposed on substantially the entire lower surface of the sheet of material.
- 7. The package of claim 1 wherein the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
- 8. The package of claim 1 wherein the bonding material is a cohesive.
- 9. The package of claim 1 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 10. The package of claim 1 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 11. The package of claim 1 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 12. The package of claim 1 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 13. The package of claim 1 wherein the shape of the slits in the sheet of material is further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 14. A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the article in a container; (b) providing a flexible sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and having a bonding material disposed on at least one surface thereof; (c) crumpling the sheet of material into a globular configuration such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids and such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds; (d) disposing the crumpled sheet of material into the container about the article; and (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) until the article is substantially surrounded by the crumpled sheets of material and each crumpled sheet of material is bondingly connected to the adjacently disposed crumpled sheets of material to provide a unitary cushioning unit about the article, and the crumpled sheets of material in direct contact with the article are caused to be bondably connected to the article.
- 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:causing the unitary cushioning unit to bondingly connect to the article.
- 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:causing the unitary cushioning unit to bondingly connect to the container.
- 17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:causing the unitary cushioning unit to bondingly connect to the article and the container.
- 18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 21. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 22. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the shape of the slits in the sheet of material is further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 23. A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and a bonding material disposed on at least one surface thereof; (b) crumpling the sheet of material into a globular configuration such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids and such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds; (c) bondably connecting the crumpled sheet of material to the exterior surface of the article prior to disposing the article into the container; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) until the article is substantially surrounded by the crumpled sheets of material; and (e) disposing the article into the container.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 25. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 26. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 27. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 28. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the shape of the slits in the sheet of material is further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 29. A package, comprising:a container; an article positioned in the container; and a plurality of cushioning members positioned in the container so as to support and cushion the article, each of the cushioning members formed of a flexible sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material, the sheet of material being crumpled into a globular configuration such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids, the sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
- 30. The package of claim 29 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 31. The package of claim 29 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 32. The package of claim 29 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 33. The package of claim 29 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 34. The package of claim 29 wherein the shape of the slits in the sheet of material is further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 35. A package, comprising:a container; an article positioned in the container; and a plurality of cushioning members positioned in the container so as to support and cushion the article, each of the cushioning members formed of a flexible sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material crumpled such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids, the sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface having a bonding material disposed thereon such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds.
- 36. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet of material in the form of a plurality of spaced apart strips.
- 37. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is disposed on the upper surface of the sheet of material in the form of a plurality of spaced apart strips, and wherein the bonding material is disposed on the lower surface of the sheet of material in the form of a plurality of spaced apart strips which are in staggered, parallel relationship relative to the strips of bonding material on the upper surface of the sheet of material.
- 38. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is disposed on substantially the entire upper surface of the sheet of material.
- 39. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is disposed on substantially the entire upper surface of the sheet of material, and wherein the bonding material is disposed on substantially the entire lower surface of the sheet of material.
- 40. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
- 41. The package of claim 35 wherein the bonding material is a cohesive.
- 42. The package of claim 35 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 43. The package of claim 35 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 44. The package of claim 35 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 45. The package of claim 35 wherein the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 46. The package of claim 35 wherein the shape of the slits in the sheet of material is further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 47. A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the article in a container; (b) providing a sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and having a bonding material disposed on at least one surface thereof; (c) crumpling the sheet of material into a substantially globular configuration such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids and such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds; (d) disposing the crumpled sheet of material into the container about the article; and (e) repeat steps (b)-(d) until the article is substantially surrounded by the crumpled sheets of material to provide a protective cushion about the article.
- 48. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 49. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 50. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 51. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 52. The method of claim 47 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the shape of the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 53. A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the article in a container; (b) removing a sheet of material from a pad of a plurality of sheets of material, each sheet of material of the pad of sheets of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and having a bonding material disposed on at least one surface thereof; (c) crumpling the removed sheet of material into a substantially globular configuration such that the removed sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids and such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds; (d) disposing the crumpled sheet of material into the container about the article; and (e) repeat steps (b)-(d) until the article is substantially surrounded by the crumpled sheets of material to provide a protective cushion about the article.
- 54. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 55. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 56. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 57. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 58. The method of claim 53 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the shape of the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
- 59. A method of packaging an article, comprising the steps of:(a) positioning the article in a container; (b) providing a sheet of material having a plurality of slits extending through the sheet of material and having a bonding material disposed on at least one surface thereof; (c) crumpling the sheet of material such that the sheet of material has a plurality of random folds, a plurality of random engaged portions, and a plurality of voids and such that at least a portion of the engaged portions are bondably connected thereby increasing the resiliency of the folds; (d) disposing the crumpled sheet of material into the container about the article; and (e) repeat steps (b)-(d) until the article is substantially surrounded by the crumpled sheets of material to provide a protective cushion about the article.
- 60. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as uniform and parallel.
- 61. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-uniform and random.
- 62. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as non-intersecting.
- 63. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as intersecting.
- 64. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of providing the sheet of material the shape of the slits in the sheet of material are further defined as being chosen from a group of shapes consisting of circles, hexagons, ovals, ellipses, squares, rectangles, stars, fanciful, decorative, linear, non-linear or curved.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/723,933, filed Nov. 28, 2000; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/289,506, filed Apr. 9, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,297; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/899,249 filed Jul. 23, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,089.
US Referenced Citations (27)
Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09/289506 |
Apr 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/723933 |
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US |
Parent |
08/899249 |
Jul 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/289506 |
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US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09/723933 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/837475 |
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US |