A variety of devices and techniques have been employed to secure packaged items. For example, packaged items may be secured by molded foam or inflated cushions, but are often secured to a backing sheet with one or more securing devices. Previous examples of such securing devices include the reinforcing band strip of U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,565 to Tancredi (1974), and the secure packaging system of U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,302 to Robley, Jr. (2003), both of which are incorporated by reference. Holding members for securing items to walls and other hard surfaces have been described in European patent application no. 0115692 by Delahunty (1987), also incorporated by reference.
Previous securing devices have often included coated flexible wires, or ‘twist-ties’. For example, in the case of packaged toy 10 of
The packaged items including at least one tie-down of the present disclosure may be inexpensively produced, may be quickly and easily applied during packaging, and can be removed easily, even by children.
The present invention provides embodiments of a packaged item including one or more packaging tie-downs configured to secure objects to packaging materials in combination with a retention strap. An exemplary packaging tie-down 20 is shown in
The exemplary tie-down 20 also includes an aperture in base 22. As shown in
The packaging tie-downs of the present disclosure are typically configured to be used in conjunction with one or more pieces of packaging material, in order to secure a packaged item. As used herein, “packaging material” is meant to include any material to which an item is to be secured using a tie-down of the present disclosure. Although not required, the packaging material generally includes a surface or portion of a surface that is substantially planar. The packaging material can be used in packaging an item for storage, shipping, or display. The packaging material can be the surface of a box, a backing sheet, an internal partition, or another sufficiently sturdy piece of material.
The exemplary tie-down 20 is shown in combination with a portion of planar packaging material 30 in
Once retention strap 32 is threaded through both the packaging material and through slit 34 of the tie-down, the tie-down may be placed against the packaging material, as shown in
By folding the retention strap and inserting it into the engaging structure 24, the retention strap may be securely engaged by the tie-down. The retention strap is optionally tensioned before it is engage by the engaging structure. Tensioning the retention strap includes eliminating slack in the retention strap, and drawing the strap taut to enhance the interaction of the retention strap with the tie-down. The retention strap may be tensioned either by pulling on the free end of the retention strap, by urging the tie-down against the packaging material, or by a combination thereof. The retention strap may be tensioned before it is folded and/or engaged by the engaging structure. Once retention strap 32 is engaged and tensioned, excess retention strap 32 can be removed by trimming, although a sufficient length of retention strap extending from the tie-down may be preserved to facilitate removal of the tie-down. Although the retention strap is shown in
The disclosed tie-down may be used to securely fasten one end of a retention strap that is passed through a piece of packaging material. By securing a retention strap in this manner, a variety of items may be secured within and/or against selected packaging materials. For example, the disclosed tie-down may be used in pairs, one tie-down securing each end of a single selected retention strap, as shown in
Item 36 is representative of any of a variety of items or objects that may be secured using the disclosed tie-downs. Modern packaging often includes blister packs or transparent windows, where it is preferred that the packaged item be retained in an appropriate position and/or orientation for display. Alternatively, or in addition, proper packaging may help prevent damage to the item during shipping. The disclosed tie-downs are useful for securing a variety of objects and items, and either the tie-down, the retention strap, or both, may be scaled up or down in size as appropriate for the item or object to be secured. In particular, the disclosed tie-down is of particular utility when used in conjunction with any of a variety of packaged toys, including for example action figures, figurines, dolls, vehicles, and other toys.
During use, the underside of the tie-down is typically pressed firmly against the selected packaging material. The underside of exemplary tie-down 20 is shown in
Slit 34, through which retention strap 32 is threaded, typically is a narrow slit through base 22 of tie-down 20. Slit 34 is generally configured so that the retention strap may be readily inserted and threaded through the slit. Slit 34 may be rectangular in shape, with square ends, or the ends of the slit may be more or less rounded. The side walls that define the slit may be straight and parallel, or the slit opening may be chamfered (beveled) on one or both sides to improve the ease of threading a retention strap through the slit, or to achieve a desired retention strength on a threaded retention strap. Depictions of slits in the tie-downs of the specification should be understood to include apertures of other shapes and sizes, that may include features for facilitating threading, enhancing retention, or both.
Additionally, or in the alternative, one end of the slit of the tie-down can be extended to the edge of the tie-down, thereby forming an open slot. Such a configuration may include one or more structures to help retain a retention strap, as discussed below with respect to engaging structures. An open configuration may improve the ease of threading a retention strap through the slit.
As discussed above, the interaction between the retention strap and the engaging structure secures the retention strap to the tie-down. The engaging structure can include one or more features to assist in engaging and retaining the retention strap. Typically, the engaging structure is selected so that the retention strap can be easily engaged by the engaging structure. Also preferably, the engaging structure is selected so that the retention strap can be readily disengaged from the tie-down. Typically, the engaging structure includes an open slot, such as slot 26.
As shown in
The interaction between retention strap 22 and tongue 28 can be further enhanced by the presence of a groove 44 on the underside of tongue 28, defined by groove edges 46 and 48, as shown in
Alternatively, or in addition, the configuration of the open slot of the engaging structure may be modified to improve the security of the retention strap. For example, as shown in
Typically, the disclosed packaging tie-down is readily removable. By grasping the free end of retention strap 32 and slipping it out of open slot 26, and concomitantly out from under tongue 28, the tie-down is freed, and can then be slipped off of retention strap 32 and removed. Unpacking a secured item can therefore be performed quickly and easily, and requires no special tools. However where secure fastening of an item is desired but ease of removal is not a priority, for example where an item is intended to be permanently mounted or displayed, the engaging structure can be configured to resist removal of the retention strap. For example, the entrance of the open slot of the engaging structure can optionally incorporate a ‘one-way’ mechanism, for example by incorporated a detent, an elastic latch, or inwardly projecting barbs, among other mechanisms.
Retention strap 32 can be configured to have a variety of widths and thicknesses, provided that the strap remains substantially flexible, and the tie-down is configured to receive and retain the selected retention strap. Typically, the retention strap is manufactured from a flexible plastic, which may be opaque or transparent.
As an alternative to securing each end of a retention strap with a packaging tie-down, the tie-downs of the present disclosure may be used in combination with a retaining plate 70, which incorporates both a substantially planar base 72 and a retention strap 74 that is attached to base 72 as shown in
For example, as shown in
As an alternative, or in addition, to using a packaging tie-down of the disclosure, a tie-down having two slits and no engaging structure may be utilized to secure a retention strap. For example, as shown in
Although the above discussion referred to an exemplary packaging tie-down that is roughly square in outline, and including a single slit, single open slot, and single tongue, a variety of alternative and exemplary packaging tie-downs that utilize the same operating principle can be envisioned.
The disclosed tie-down need not be approximately square, but could be triangular, rectangular, circular, oval, or any other shape permitting a retention strap to be secured. Alternatively, or in addition, the disclosed tie-down is not limited to a single slit and engaging structure.
An exemplary tie-down 87, shown in
Alternatively, the disclosed tie-down can include four slits and four engaging structures. For example the tie-down can include slits and engaging structures oriented in opposing pairs, as shown for exemplary tie-down 89 in
The packaging tie-down disclosed herein may be fabricated from any suitable material, or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, wood, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, or the like. A suitable material may be selected to provide a desirable combination of weight, strength, durability, cost, manufacturability, appearance, safety, and the like. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene, or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, or the like. Typically, the packaging tie-down itself is fabricated from ABS, copolymers of polypropylene-copolymer (PP-co), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), or phosphorylcholine (PC) polymers. Preferably, the tie-down is fabricated from ABS.
Although the retention strap is typically pliant and resilient, if the material of the retention strap is too soft or metamorphous, performance of the tie-down may be compromised. Typically, the retention strap is fabricated from polypropylene-copolymer (PP-co), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or mylar, among others. Preferably the retention strap is fabricated from PVC.
Any suitable molding or manufacturing process may be used to prepare the disclosed packaging tie-downs. In particular, the disclosed packaging tie-downs may be manufactured by a molding process, for example injection molding. As shown in
The size of the disclosed packaging tie-downs typically depends on the scale of the item to be secured, and the size of the packaging materials employed. For smaller items, such as toys, the packaging tie-downs may be about 10-20 mm in width, about 10-about 20 mm in length, and about 1-3 mm in thickness, with a retention strap that is about 5-7 mm in width. For securing larger and/or heavier items, the packaging tie-downs may be larger, perhaps on the order of several centimeters, or larger. Typically, the packaging tie-downs disclosed herein are about 14.5 mm wide, about 15 mm long, the tie-down body is about 1.5 mm thick, and the retention strap is about 6 mm wide.
The packaging tie-downs of the disclosure lend themselves to a method 100 of securing a retention strap with a packaging tie-down, as shown in
The packaging tie-downs described herein may be used in conjunction with automated or semi-automated methods. For example, multiple tie-downs may be manufactured in a clip that is configured to be loaded into, and dispensed by, automated or semi-automated assembly equipment. The assembly equipment could separate an individual tie-down from a clip and thread the first end of a retention strap through the aperture of a first packaging tie-down. An operator could then thread the second end of the retention strap through the slot of a second packaging tie-down. Alternatively, the assembly equipment could thread the second end of the retention strap through the slot of a second packaging tie-down. Typically, an operator would tension the retention strap, and fold and secure the retention strap under the tongue of the tie-down.
The above method of assembly could optionally incorporate the use of a retention plate, in place of the combination of the first tie-down and retention strap. In this aspect, an operator or the assembly equipment could thread the retention strap of a retention plate through the packaging material, thread the second end of the retention strap through the packaging material and through the slot of a packaging tie-down. Securing the free end of the retention strap in the tie-down could then secure an object against the packaging material.
The method of securing a retention strap may be used, in turn, to secure an item to packaging material, as shown by method 120 of
The tie-down is typically readily removed, thereby lending itself to a method 140 of removing a packaging tie-down, as shown in
The presently disclosed tie-downs are useful for securing a variety of objects and items, including oddly-shaped, or cumbersome objects. In particular, the disclosed tie-downs are particularly well-suited to the packaging of toys, such as packaged toy 150 of
Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances, including all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/484,525, filed Jul. 10, 2006 and entitled “PACKAGING TIE-DOWNS”, which claims the benefit of the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of prior Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/741,196, titled PACKAGING TIE-DOWNS, filed Nov. 30, 2005; prior Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/741,786, titled PACKAGING TIE-DOWNS, filed Dec. 1, 2005; prior Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/742,807, titled PACKAGING TIE-DOWNS, filed Dec. 5, 2005; and prior Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/758,115, titled PACKAGING TIE-DOWNS, filed Jan. 10, 2006; each of which are being incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11484525 | Jul 2006 | US |
Child | 13113916 | US |