PACKING BRACE

Abstract

A packing brace for a bubble-packaged product attached to a placard. The packing brace is made from a single elongated sheet of corrugated board having a front paper sheet and a rear paper sheet with corrugated paper in between. The rear paper sheet is used as a transverse hinge for folding the sheet in half. The front paper sheet and corrugations of the corrugated board are cut to define protective flaps for protecting the bubble package. The rear paper sheet and corrugations are cut to make flexible flap hinges for the protective flaps. In use, the placard is placed between the front and rear folded halves with the bubble package positioned within an opening in the front fold half engaging the protective flaps.

Description

FIELD OF ART

The present invention relates to packing for shipping. The present invention more particularly relates to a packing brace for use with product-enclosing plastic bubbles attached to large placards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Small toys, such as toy cars, can be both expensive and easy to steal. It has been found advantages to package such products in large packaging. For example, a large placard with a transparent plastic bubble fixed thereto and with the product inside the plastic bubble may be used to reduce thefts. Such packaging presents challenges for shipping the products, as keeping the placard, often carrying attractive advertising, from being blemished; and for keeping the plastic bubble free of blemishes as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a packing brace made from a single sheet of cardboard or other corrugated material. The sheet is cut partially through to make flexible hinges and entirely through to make flaps for surrounding and protecting a product in a plastic bubble on a placard.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and the hundred(s) digits in reference numerals are the figure number in which the element is first identified, and

FIG. 1 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a packing brace, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a photographic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1 with product and packaging, in an intermediate stage of use, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front photographic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1 installed on a product package, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a photo-orthogonal front view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a photo-orthogonal rear view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a photo-orthogonal top view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an exemplary packing brace 100, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Packing brace 100 is preferably made of corrugated paper board (hereinafter “cardboard”) and has a front panel 102 and a rear panel 104. Rear panel paper surface sheet 110 extends continuously to the rear surface of front panel 102 via flexible hinge 106 (see FIG. 5). Front panel 102 has a front panel paper surface sheet 108 that is severed from rear panel rear surface sheet 902 (see FIG. 9) during construction. Front panel 102 has an opening 120 created by the formation of four flaps 112, 114, 116, and 118 cut and folded from front panel 102, as will be discussed further below. Flap 118 shows transverse corrugations 122. Transverse corrugations 122 are also visible in flap 114 on the edges of front panel 102 and rear panel 104. Preferably, corrugations 122 are initially transverse to the long axis of front panel 102. Flap 112 shows a longitudinal portion 124 of corrugations 122, as does flap 116. While transverse corrugations are generally preferable, in a particular embodiment, corrugations 122 are preferably initially longitudinal, parallel to the long axis, of front panel 102. In a particular embodiment, materials other than corrugated paper may be used. For example, corrugated plastic may be suitable for some applications.

FIG. 2 is a photographic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1 with package 200, in an intermediate stage of use, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Package 200 includes product 206 and packaging 202 and 204. Plastic bubble 204 encloses product 206 and is fixed to placard 202. By folding front panel 102 and rear panel 104 together using flexible hinge 106, placard 202 will be protected and all four sides of the plastic bubble 204 will be protected and stabilized by the four flaps 112, 114, 116, and 118.

FIG. 3 is a front photographic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1 installed on a product package 200, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The top of plastic bubble 204 is not covered, enabling identification of the product during shipping. Flaps 114 and 118 extend above the plastic bubble 204 to protect the plastic bubble 204 during stacking.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Packing brace 100 begins as a single sheet of cardboard 400. Cut 402 penetrates the top surface 108 and corrugations, but not the rear panel paper surface sheet 110. Cuts 406 (one of seven labeled) penetrate entirely through cardboard sheet 400. Flexible hinges 404 (one of four labeled) are not cut from the front side.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Cuts 502 (one of four labeled) penetrate the rear panel paper surface sheet 110 and corrugations but not the front panel paper surface sheet 108. Flexible hinge 106 is formed of rear panel paper surface sheet 110. Both the front panel paper surface sheet 108 and the rear panel paper surface sheet 110 need to be both strong and flexile to be suitable for use in this invention.

FIG. 6 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Cardboard sheet 400 has had all cuts 402, 406, and 502 made, but no folding has occurred.

FIG. 7 is a photo-orthogonal view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Flexible hinge 106 has been used to fold the rear panel 104 under the front panel 102. The illustrated configuration is for shipping by the manufacturer of the packing brace 100 to a company that has toys to ship. Flexible hinges 404 are typically first used by the company that has toys to ship.

FIG. 8 is a photo-orthogonal front view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The front of the packing brace 100 is shown with fold lines 404 and cut lines 402 and 406.

FIG. 9 is a photo-orthogonal rear view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The rear of the packing brace 100 is shown with rear surface 902 being a severed portion of front panel paper surface sheet 108 from cardboard sheet 400.

FIG. 10 is a photo-orthogonal top view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the exemplary packing brace 100 of FIG. 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The view is from the end having the flexible hinge 106, which is a portion of rear panel paper surface sheet 110. Longitudinal portions 1002 and 1004 of corrugations 122 are visible in front panel 102 and rear panel 104, respectively.

The particular advantages of the present invention include that it is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, meets a specialized need, and is light weight.

Claims

1. A packaging brace for a bubble packaging product on a placard, the packaging brace comprising: a. a single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper having a front sheet, a rear sheet, and corrugations between said front sheet and said rear sheet;b. a transverse cut through said top sheet and said corrugations configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet;c. a first plurality of transverse and longitudinal cuts through said front sheet, said corrugations, and said rear sheet creating first, second, and third sides of each of four rectangular flaps and defining an opening through which said bubble packaging may be received; andd. a second plurality of transverse and longitudinal cuts through said rear sheet and said corrugations configuring flexible hinges on fourth sides of each of said four flaps.

2. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of cuts comprise seven cuts.

3. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said second plurality of cuts comprises four cuts.

4. The packaging brace of claim 1, comprising transverse corrugations.

5. The packaging brace of claim 1, comprising longitudinal corrugations.

6. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said transverse cut configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet enables folding said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper in half.

7. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard.

8. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard.

9. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a length greater than a twice a length of said placard.

10. The packaging brace of claim 1, wherein said rear sheet is non-abrasive to the surface of the placard.

11. A packaging brace for a bubble packaging product on a placard, the packaging brace comprising: a. a single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper having a front sheet, a rear sheet, and corrugations between said front sheet and said rear sheet;b. a transverse cut through said top sheet and said corrugations configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet;c. seven transverse and longitudinal cuts through said front sheet, said corrugations, and said rear sheet creating first, second, and third sides of each of four rectangular flaps and defining an opening through which said bubble packaging may be received;d. four transverse and longitudinal cuts through said rear sheet and said corrugations configuring flexible hinges on fourth sides of each of said four flaps;e. one of: i. transverse corrugations; andii. longitudinal corrugations.

12. The packaging brace of claim 11, wherein said transverse cut configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet enables folding said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper in half.

13. The packaging brace of claim 11, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard.

14. The packaging brace of claim 11, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard.

15. The packaging brace of claim 11, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a length greater than a twice a length of said placard.

16. The packaging brace of claim 11, wherein said rear sheet is non-abrasive to the surface of the placard.

17. A packaging brace for a bubble packaging product on a placard, the packaging brace comprising: a. a single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper having a front sheet, a rear sheet, and corrugations between said front sheet and said rear sheet;b. a transverse cut through said top sheet and said corrugations configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet;c. seven transverse and longitudinal cuts through said front sheet, said corrugations, and said rear sheet creating first, second, and third sides of each of four rectangular flaps and defining an opening through which said bubble packaging may be received;d. four transverse and longitudinal cuts through said rear sheet and said corrugations configuring flexible hinges on fourth sides of each of said four flaps;e. one of: i. transverse corrugations; andii. longitudinal corrugations; andf. wherein said transverse cut configured to create a flexible hinge across said rear sheet enables folding said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper in half.

18. The packaging brace of claim 18, wherein: a. said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard; andb. said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a width greater than a width of said placard.

19. The packaging brace of claim 18, wherein said single elongated rectangular sheet of corrugated paper has a length greater than a twice a length of said placard.

20. The packaging brace of claim 18, wherein said rear sheet is non-abrasive to the surface of the placard.