PACKING SUPPORTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a packing support for a shirt.

BACKGROUND

Effective shirt packaging is important to ensure a shirt can be transported easily and efficiently from the point of manufacture to the shop where it will be displayed and sold. The packaging should allow the shirt to be efficiently stored, whilst also remaining presentable and suitable for display on the shelf in a shop.

One common approach for packaging shirts uses a support panel which stiffens the shirt, and around which the shirt is folded. In the case of a shirt with a folded collar, the backing panel may have a tab which slots under the collar, helping to locate the shirt against the backing panel. The shirt is folded around this panel such that the collar and a portion of the front of the shirt is displayed. Much of the rest of the shirt is neatly folded away behind the backing panel. According to packaging methods of the prior art, the shirt is held in this position using a number of separate clips and fasteners. It is common to use a separate packaging piece placed within the opening formed by the collar to stiffen the collar. In the case of a folding collar, another supporting packaging piece can be placed under the collar. In some cases, this will be secured around the top button of the shirt. Such an arrangement utilises multiple packaging parts which are manufactured separately and may be complicated to assemble.

When a customer unpacks a shirt, they may misplace part of the packaging. If the customer subsequently wishes to return the shirt if it is an incorrect size, or an unwanted gift, then spare parts must be used to re-pack the shirt before it can be re-displayed on the shelf. This adds extra cost and effort for the retailer.

WO 2015/177535 discloses various examples of packing supports for shirts. FIG. 1 shows an exemplary packing support 1 as described in WO 2015/177535. The packing support 1 is formed from a single piece of flexible material, such as polypropylene, designed to provide stiffening support to a shirt, both during and after packing. The packing support 1 comprises a support panel 2 which provides the primary support to the packed shirt. Extending from the upper edge of the support panel 2 is an under-collar support 3. The under-collar support 3 consists of two pieces, where both are arranged, in combination, to form a loop within the fold of the collar of the shirt. Locating holes 9 are defined within one of the pieces of the under-collar support 3 for fixing to the top button (collar button) of the shirt. Also extending from the upper edge of the support panel 2 is a connecting member 4, which connects the support panel 2 to an inner collar support 5. The connecting member 4 extends from the upper edge of the support panel 2 a distance at least equal to the height of the collar of the shirt when the collar is folded down over the under-collar support 3. The inner collar support 5 is provided with a tab 11 and locating slots 10 to ensure the inner collar support 5 can form an adjustable loop of maximum perimeter within the collar opening of the shirt. The inner collar support 5 and under-collar support 3 both contribute to a stiffened, supported collar. The upper part of the connecting member 4 is provided with two fold lines 17, 18 so that room remains for the thickness of the fold at the top of the collar when the inner collar support 5 is located within the collar. There is an additional fold line 19 across the boundary between the support panel 2 and the under-collar support 3, also extending between the two parts of the under-collar support 3 along the boundary between the support panel 2 and the connecting member 4. The hanging tab 13 extends from the boundary between the support panel 2 and the fold line 19 as a cut-out in the connecting member 4. A hanger locating hole 14 is defined within the hanging tab 13 to fasten a hanging member, such as a hook. The support panel 2 also comprises a button tab 6 which folds or bends out from the support panel 2. There are two holes 7 defined in the button tab 6 to allow a button from the line of buttons running down the front of the shirt to be attached to the packing support using either one of the holes 7. A notch 12 is provided in the bottom centre of the support panel 2 and gives a simple indication of the centreline of the support panel 2. The softly serrated edges 15 of the support panel 2 provide a textured edge, offering increased grip against the surface of the shirt without damaging the material.

FIGS. 2-11 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the known packing support shown in FIG. 1. In this particular case, the shirt has a foldable collar with button fastenings up the front of the shirt. However, a number of different shirt styles can be used for different embodiments of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shirt packing support 1 is first placed on a flat surface, and the collared shirt 17 is placed flat on top with the buttons and collar visible, and the collar unfolded in the upright position. All of the buttons fastening the front of the shirt together are done up. The part of the shirt where the collar meets the centre of the back of the shirt is positioned at the boundary between the support panel 2 and the under-collar support 3. Alternatively, the relevant boundary can be thought of as the boundary between the support panel 2 and the connecting member 4.

The part of the under-collar support 3 within which there are defined a series of linked locating holes 9 is now folded up from the support panel 2 and bent around the outside of the unfolded collar as in FIG. 3. The top button is then secured to an appropriate locating hole 9 to ensure this part of the under-collar support 3 is held close against the collar. The other part of the under-collar support is also folded up from the support panel 2 and bent around the collar. The collar is then folded down with both parts of the under-collar support 3 remaining underneath the fold in the collar. Whilst this example uses locating holes to secure one part of the under-collar support 3, the two parts of the under-collar support 3 may be capable of attaching to one another with a variable overlap to accommodate differently sized collars. Alternatively, the two parts may not be fixed, but will be held in place against the collar when the collar is folded down around them. In a further variation, the under-collar support 3 may be a single part which is long enough to negate the need for a further part of the under-collar support 3, with or without being attached to the top button of the shirt.

Once the collar is folded down, as in FIG. 4, the connecting member 4 is now folded up to position the boundary between the connecting member 4 and the inner collar support 5 over the fold at the back of the collar. The inner collar support 5 is then folded over along two spaced fold lines to be placed within the collar opening. The tab 11 and slots 10 are used to adjust the size of the loop formed by the inner collar support 5 such that it engages substantially the entire inner surface of the collar opening of the shirt. As with the under-collar support 3, alternative fixing means and positions of the fixing relative to the connecting member 4 are possible. It is also possible that the inner collar support 5 may not form a complete loop. The inner collar support 5 could be a stiffening member which does not form a complete loop within the collar opening.

The shirt and shirt packing combination are now placed front down on the flat surface as in FIG. 6 to enable easy access to the back of the shirt for the next stages in the packing process. The centreline of the back of the shirt runs substantially through the notch 12 in the bottom of the support panel 2. This ensures that the subsequent packing steps result in a neatly packed shirt.

In FIG. 7, one side of the shirt has been folded around an edge 15 of the support panel 2, such that the support panel forms one edge of a lateral footprint of the packed shirt. The sleeve (and any overhanging parts from this side of the shirt) is then folded to remain within the lateral footprint defined by the two long edges of the support panel 2.

The remaining side of the shirt is folded around the edge of the support panel 2 such that the shoulder on the remaining side of the shirt crosses over the first side of the shirt. FIG. 9 shows the bend-out clip 16 holding both sides of the shirt against each other, and clipping them to the back of the support panel 2. As before, the sleeve (and any overhanging parts from the remaining side of the shirt) is folded to remain within the lateral footprint defined by the two sides of the shirt folded around the two long edges of the support panel 2. In an alternative presentation, a portion of a sleeve, such as a cuff or the end of a short sleeve, can be folded to be visible on the front face of the packed shirt, as for example shown in the embodiment of FIG. 19.

As shown in FIG. 10, the bottom edge of the shirt is next folded up to a point where there is a similar length of shirt below the folded up bottom edge of the shirt as above it. An alternative way to describe this is the bottom third of the length of the shirt is folded up. The shirt is then folded up again as in FIG. 11 such that a button fastening the front of the shirt lines up with one of the holes 7 in the button tab 6. The button tab 6 is bent up so that the shirt sits beneath it, and the button is fastened to one of the holes 7. The two holes ensure that a range of shirt sizes can be easily accounted for, and reduces the need for re-folding if the button does not line up with one hole.

In the case that the shirt will be hung up, the hanging tab 13 is provided. The hanging tab is provided as a fold-out tab in the connecting member 4, though it may alternatively be provided in the support panel 2. There is a hole 14 defined within the hanging tab 13, to which a small plastics hook is attached as in FIG. 12, making the packed shirt suitable for hanging. The distance between the fold line 17 at one end of the connecting member, and the fold line 19 at the other ensures that the inner collar support 5 can be located within the opening formed by the collar, whilst remaining attached to at least some of the other components of the rest of the packing support 1, such as the support panel 2 and the connecting member 4.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary packing support 1 from WO 2015/177535. The packing support 1 is formed from a corrugated fibreboard material. Corrugated fibreboard is a stiff material, well-suited for use in packing supports for shirts. Corrugated fibreboard is formed from one or two flat linerboards, with a fluted corrugated sheet provided adjacent to one linerboard, or between two linerboards. The direction of the grain of the corrugated fibreboard is across the support panel. In this way, the softly serrated edges 15 cross several flutes of the corrugated fibreboard, whereas the fold crease line 17 is substantially along a single flute of the corrugated fibreboard.

The packing support 1 comprises a support panel 2 for providing support to a main body of a packed shirt. A top end of the support panel 2 is connected to an under-collar support 51 across a crease line 64. The crease line 64 allows the under-collar support 51 to bend along the crease line 64 relative to the support panel 2.

The under-collar support 51 is provided with crease lines 52 arranged vertically along the under-collar support 51 to allow the under-collar support 51 to bend around a collar and perforated lines 53 which can also facilitate bending. The perforated lines 53 define sections of the under-collar support 51 which can be removed to shorten the under-collar support 51 as required to pack shirts with different collar sizes. The number and positions of the crease lines 52 and perforated lines 53 can be varied depending on a number of factors, including the size of the collar of the shirt to be packed and the desired shape of the packed collar. Tearing notches 63 are provided at each end of the perforated lines 53 to enable easy tearing along the perforated line 53. A variable length section of the under-collar support 51 can be removed by tearing along any of the perforated lines 53. Advantageously, this ensures none of the under-collar support obscures the top button of the packed shirt. The packing support 1 may be formed from cuts through a sheet of corrugated fibreboard.

The support panel 2 in FIG. 13 comprises a button tab 6 cut out from the support panel 2, save for a connection across a crease line 37. Crease line 37 is provided to allow the button tab 6 to bend out of the plane of the support panel 2 when a shirt is being packed using the packing support 1. In some examples, the cut out may be a perforated cut, such that at least some parts of an outline of the button tab 6 away from the crease line 37 are frangibly attached to the support panel 2 until the button tab 6 is popped out for use. The button tab 6 has defined therein holes 7. The support panel 2 has defined therein a finger hole 43, provided between the button tab 6 and the support panel 2. The finger hole 43 allows a packager to easily extract the tab from the support panel. The support panel 2 is also provided with a notch 12 and softly serrated edges 15, both substantially as described in relation to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1.

The support panel 2 is provided with flexible crease lines 71. Each flexible crease line 71 is configured to allow the support panel 2 to flex across the flexible crease lines 71. The support panel 2 has defined at a boundary a left cut-out portion 69 and a right cut-out portion 70, each configured to contribute to providing a narrowed portion of the support panel 2 in a region encompassing each end of the support panel flexible crease lines 71. In this way, a minimum width of the narrowed ‘waisted’ portion of the support panel 2 is less than a maximum width of the portions above and below the narrowed portion of the support panel 2. In this particular example, the minimum width of the narrowed portion is less than half of the maximum width of the portions above and below the narrowed portion.

The button tab 6 is a pop-out tab configured to pop-out from the support panel 2. The button tab 6 has defined therein three holes 7. Compared with the example of FIG. 1, an alternative shape for the holes 7 is provided. Each hole 7 is substantially “T” shaped, wherein a width of the top bar of the “T”-shaped hole is just greater than a typical diameter of a front button of a shirt. A height of the top bar of the “T”-shaped hole is substantially equal to a typical radius of the front button of the shirt. The vertical portion of the “T”-shaped hole has a width of typically 2-4 mm for accommodating the connecting threads of the front button of the shirt. The height of the vertical portion of the “T”-shaped hole is typically 2-4 mm for accommodating the connecting threads of the front button of the shirt. This shape allows the button to slot through the hole 7 without requiring significant deformation of the fibreboard forming the boundary of the hole 7. Furthermore when a button is secured in the hole 7, disengagement of the button from the hole 7 is easily achieved by first ensuring the connecting threads of the button are engaged in the vertical portion of the “T”-shaped hole 7 and subsequently lifting a bottom portion of the button away from the hole 7 such that a top portion of the button is passed through the top bar of the “T”-shaped hole 7, followed by the bottom portion of the button.

FIGS. 14-19 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support as shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 shows the fibreboard packing support 1 is additionally provided with a clip 76 formed from a plastics material. FIG. 15 shows the support panel 2 laid flat against a back of a shirt, with the under-collar support 51 positioned beneath the folded collar of the shirt. FIG. 16 shows a sleeve of the shirt passed across a back of the support panel 2 and tucked around a sleeve tab 65. A top edge of the sleeve is slotted into a locating slot 68. The use of the locating slot 68 contributes to holding the sleeve in place against the support panel 2. As shown in FIG. 17, the other sleeve of the shirt is then folded over the back of the support panel 2 and the clip 76 is used to hold a top of each sleeve together. The use of the clip 76 ensures the shirt can remain tightly held around the edges of the support panel 2. As shown in FIG. 18, the use of the clip 76 allows the bottom portion of the semi-packed shirt to be folded up against the folded shoulders of the shirt and tucked between the support panel 2 and the folded shoulders of the shirt. The button tab 6 may be used to secure to a lower button of the packed shirt and hold the packed shirt in place against the back of the support panel 2.

FIG. 19 shows a packed shirt, packed using the packing support as described in accordance with the example of FIGS. 13-18.

FIG. 20 illustrates a packing support piece according to another example disclosed in WO 2015/177535. The packing support piece is in the form of an uppermost packing support 90, having a support panel 2 and an under-collar support 51. A crease line 64 is provided between the support panel 2 and the under-collar support 51 to allow the under-collar support 51 to bend up relative to the support panel 2. The support panel 2 and under-collar support 51 are substantially as described with reference to FIG. 13, apart from the hereinafter described differences. The support panel 2 has defined therein two connecting button holes 91. The connecting button holes 91 are positioned in a vertical line in the centre of the support panel 2, just below the crease line 64. Each connecting button hole 91 has a shape that substantially resembles an upside-down “T” shape. The uppermost packing support 90 has a height which is shorter than some other packing supports described herein. In this particular example, the height of the uppermost packing support 90 is 229 millimetres.

In use, the uppermost packing support 90 is configured to be fitted with a shirt, substantially as described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 15-17. When a first shirt has been part packed using a packing support 1 as described with reference to FIGS. 15-17. A second shirt may be part-packed around the uppermost packing support 90. The uppermost packing support 90 can then be secured to the first shirt by buttoning a second button of the first shirt (i.e. the button below the top button) through one of the connecting button holes 91. The bundle of two part-packed shirts are then both folded behind the packing support assembly and the loose shirt material is folded within the lowermost shirt, substantially as described with reference to FIG. 18. The uppermost packing support 90 does not protrude beneath a lower edge of the packing support 1 because the uppermost packing support 90 is shorter than the packing support 1. In this way, a shirt packaging comprising two packed shirts may be assembled. Additional packing supports 90 can be provided for packing bundles of more than two shirts. FIG. 21 illustrates a step required for packing a set of shirts using the packing support according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 20. A second button 94 of a lower shirt can be buttoned through a connecting button hole 91 of an uppermost packing support 90 to connect a lower shirt to an upper shirt.

FIG. 22 illustrates a plurality of shirts packaged using the packing supports according to the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 20. FIG. 22 shows two shirts packaged together, where the lower shirt is secured to the upper packing support. More than two shirts can be packaged together by providing additional packing supports. In multiple shirt packages, a width of the support panel in each packing support may be different. In particular, the width of the support panel of the uppermost packing support is wider than the width of the support panel of the lowermost packing support. This ensures that the footprint of the lowermost packing support with multiple shirts wrapped around is substantially the same as the footprint of the uppermost packing support with only one shirt wrapped around.

Due to the collar support of such packing supports being wide (sometimes approximately double the width of the associated support panel), there can be a great deal of wastage in cutting the packing supports from stock sheet material. The present invention, at least in its preferred embodiments, seeks to provide an alternative to such shirt packaging of the prior art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening. The packing support comprises a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use; and an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel has a width defined between respective outermost lateral edges. The under-collar support extends substantially parallel to the width of the panel and has a width no more than 20% greater than the width of the support panel. In certain embodiments, the width of the under-collar support is no more than 15% greater than the width of the support panel, more preferably no more than 10% greater than the width of the support panel. In certain embodiments, the width of the under-collar support is substantially equal to the width of the support panel.

Thus, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the under-collar support is much narrower than in the prior art and does not extend significantly beyond the lateral edges of the support panel. Advantageously, this allows a greater number of packing supports to be formed from a given amount of raw material.

The packing support is, in certain embodiments, a single, integrally formed component.

Advantageously, this means that the support panel and the under-collar support stay connected together, even if the shirt has been unpacked in a store, for example. This has the advantage that the under-collar support will not become detached from the support panel, so it will be easier to neatly re-fold the shirt around the packing support.

The packing support may be formed, for example cut, from a sheet material. The sheet material may be formed of cardboard or fibreboard, for example corrugated fibreboard. The corrugated fibreboard may comprise a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. The sheet material may be chosen based on a retailer's requirements.

Product information, retailer information, or any other desired information may be printed on the sheet material. The printed information may be printed onto a printable label and affixed to the sheet material. The printable label may be affixed by gluing. Embossing or debossing may also be used.

In alternative embodiments, the support panel and the under-collar support may be separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support. The support panel of such embodiments is formed, for example cut, from a first sheet material, which may be corrugated fibreboard, and the under-collar support is formed, for example cut, from a second sheet material, different to the first, such as a plastics sheet material, which may be transparent. One of the under-collar support and the support panel may have defined therein at least a connecting slot, and the other of the under-collar support and the support panel may have extending therefrom at least a complimentary connecting tab, arranged to connect the under-collar support to the support panel by engagement of the connecting tab in the connecting slot. Thus, a more efficient use of materials can be made, because more support panel and associated collar support members can be cut from stock sheet material, due to the fact that the pieces can be arranged more efficiently on the sheet material with less wastage because there are more options for arranging the component parts on the respective sheets than where the under-collar support is integral with the support panel.

This alternative in itself is believed to be a novel feature and thus in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening. The packing support comprises a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use; and a collar support member configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel and the collar support member are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support, wherein the support panel is formed, for example cut, from a first sheet material, such as corrugated fibreboard, and wherein the collar support member is formed, for example cut, from a second sheet material, such as a plastics sheet material, which may be transparent.

Thus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the support panel and the collar support member are formed from different materials. Advantageously, this permits each part of the packing support to be constructed from the most appropriate material. For example, corrugated fibreboard is particularly suited to the support panel because it is relatively light, stiff, easy to process and economically efficient, particularly when a series of support panels can be cut from a sheet with minimal wastage as compared to prior packing supports that had integral collar support members, whilst transparent plastics material is particularly suited to the collar support member because it provides good visibility of the shirt. Moreover, due to the simpler shapes of the separate component parts compared to the more complex shape of an integrally formed packing support, more pieces can be cut from a given amount of stock material. The transparent plastics material may be polypropylene. The transparent plastics material may be an alternative material which is also durable, transparent and easy to manufacture. Polypropylene is widely recyclable.

In some embodiments, one of the collar support member and the support panel has defined therein at least a connecting slot, and the other of the collar support member and the support panel has extending therefrom at least a complimentary connecting tab, arranged to connect the collar support member to the support panel by engagement of the connecting tab in the connecting slot. In a position of use, a part of the connecting tab may be wider than a width of the connecting slot, whereby to substantially prevent disengagement of the connecting tab from the connecting slot. Thus, engagement of the connecting tab in the connecting slot may be achieved by passing the connecting tab through the connecting slot until a part of the connecting tab which is wider than a width of the connecting slot has passed through the connecting slot. This may be achieved by deforming or folding the connecting tab before or after the connecting tab has passed through the connecting slot.

The collar support member may comprise a connection portion including said at least a connecting slot or at least a complimentary connecting tab; an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use; and an inner collar support configured for forming, in use, a ring within the collar opening. Thus, at least inner collar support, the under-collar support, and the connecting portion are substantially transparent, which is desirable in order to provide good visibility of the shirt.

The collar support member may further comprise a connecting member connecting the connection portion to the inner collar support by extending from an end of the connection portion to the inner collar support. The connecting member is dimensioned to connect the inner collar support to the connection portion while the inner collar support is positioned within the collar opening of the shirt. The length of the connecting member between the connection portion and the inner collar support may be at least the depth of the inner collar support. The under-collar support may be connected to the connection portion between the inner collar support and the connection portion.

In certain embodiments, the packing support is for use with a shirt having a series of front buttons and which is folded when packed with a lower portion of the front of the shirt behind an upper portion of the front of the shirt, the packing support further comprising a button tab configured to secure one of the front buttons of the lower portion of the packed shirt to the packing support, whereby to retain the packed shirt in a folded configuration, wherein the button tab has at least one hole defined therein for engagement with one of the front buttons. The button tab may be defined by at least one cut through the material of the packing support.

The packing support may further comprise a hanging tab for connection to a hanger. The hanging tab may extend from the support panel. The hanging tab may extend from the connection portion of the collar support member. The hanging tab may comprise at least one creased line provided between the hanging tab and the support panel.

The support panel may comprise a central portion that is foldable along a fold line to bring a free end thereof downward to a position beyond a lower edge of the support panel prior to said fold, thereby extending the effective height of the support panel.

The support panel defines, in use, a portion of the front of the packed shirt behind which the remainder of the front of the shirt is folded.

The invention extends to packing support in combination with a shirt.

The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary prior art packing support;

FIGS. 2-11 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 illustrates a shirt packed using the packing support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 illustrates a second exemplary prior art packing support;

FIG. 14 illustrates the packing support of FIG. 13 together with a plastic clip accessory;

FIGS. 15-19 illustrate the steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support of the kind shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 20 illustrates a third exemplary prior art packing support;

FIG. 21 illustrates a step required for packing a set of shirts using the packing support according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 illustrates a plurality of shirts packaged using the packing supports according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 13 and 20;

FIG. 23 illustrates a packing support according to a first aspect of the invention;

FIG. 24 illustrates a variant of the packing support of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a photograph illustrating a rear side of a packing support according to a second aspect of the invention, comprising interconnected support panel and collar support members;

FIG. 26 is a photograph showing a close-up detail of the interconnection of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 illustrates a collar support member of the packing support of the second aspect;

FIG. 28 illustrates an associated support panel of the packing support of the second aspect;

FIGS. 29 and 30 are photographs showing front and rear views respectively of shirts packaged using packing supports according to the second aspect of the invention;

FIG. 31 illustrates another variant of the packing support of FIG. 23, having a fold-out central portion; and

FIG. 32 illustrates the variant of FIG. 32, with the central portion folded out to extend an effective height of the packing support.

While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A packing support 100 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 23 and with further reference to relevant aspects of the prior art as disclosed in FIGS. 1 to 22 and as discussed above. The packing support 100 is formed from a corrugated fibreboard material, as described above. The packing support 100 may be formed from cuts through a sheet of corrugated fibreboard.

The packing support 100 comprises a symmetrical, substantially rectangular support panel 102 for providing support to a main body of a packed shirt. As viewed in FIG. 13, the support panel 102 has left and right edges 120, 122 extending between a bottom edge 124 and a top end 126 of the support panel. The top end 126 of the support panel 102 is connected to an under-collar support 151 across a crease line 164. The crease line 164 allows the under-collar support 151 to bend along the crease line 164 relative to the support panel 102. The support panel 102 is also provided with a notch 112 in the centre of the bottom edge 124 and softly serrated edges 115 on at least top and bottom ends of the left and right sides 120, 122, both substantially as described in relation to the example illustrated in FIG. 1. The softly serrated edges 115 of the support panel 102 provide a textured edge, offering increased grip against the surface of the shirt without damaging the material. The direction of the grain of the corrugated fibreboard is across the support panel. In this way, the softly serrated edges 115 cross several flutes of the corrugated fibreboard, whereas the fold crease line 164 is substantially along a single flute of the corrugated fibreboard. In certain embodiments, the support panel 102 may have a waisted shape, including cut out portions 69, 70 as illustrated and described with reference to the example of FIG. 13. In certain embodiments, the support panel 102 may include crease lines 71, as also illustrated and described with reference to the example of FIG. 13.

The left and right edges 120, 122 comprise outermost lateral edges of the support panel 102, thereby defining a maximum width W_sof the support panel 102 between them. In one exemplary embodiment, the width W_sis 9″ (229 mm). The distance between the bottom edge 124 and the top of the support panel 102, i.e. the crease line 164 where the under-collar support 151 is joined to the support panel 102, is 14″ (357 mm). In that same example, the maximum width W_uof the under-collar support 151 is 259 mm and the total distance from the bottom edge 124 to the top of the under-collar support 151 is 400 mm. In other words, the under-collar support 151 extends beyond the width W_sof the support panel by 30 mm, or 15 mm on each side, due to the symmetry. This equates to the under-collar support 151 having a width W_uthat is approximately 13% more than the width W_sof the support panel 102. More generally, the ratio of the width of the support panel to that of the under-collar support should be in the range of 1:1 to 1:1.2, preferably 1:1 to 1:1.15 and more preferably 1:1 to 1:1.1.

The width of the under-collar support 151 is thus less than in the prior art (such as that of FIG. 13). Because the under-collar support 151 does not extend significantly beyond the outermost width of the support panel 102, a more efficient use of material can be made, and more packing supports 100 can be cut from the raw sheet material, with reduced material wastage.

The under-collar support 151 is provided with crease lines 152 arranged vertically along the under-collar support 151 to allow the under-collar support 151 to bend around a collar. The number and positions of the crease lines 152 can be varied depending on a number of factors, including the size of the collar of the shirt to be packed and the desired shape of the packed collar.

The support panel 102 in FIG. 23 comprises a button tab 106 cut out from the support panel 102, save for a connection across a crease line 137. Crease line 137 is provided to allow the button tab 106 to bend out of the plane of the support panel 102 when a shirt is being packed using the packing support 100. In some examples, the cut out may be a perforated cut, such that at least some parts of an outline of the button tab 106 away from the crease line 137 are frangibly attached to the support panel 102 until the button tab 106 is popped out for use. The button tab 106 has defined therein holes 107. The support panel 102 has defined therein a finger hole 143, provided between the button tab 106 and the support panel 102. The finger hole 143 allows a packager to easily extract the tab from the support panel.

The button tab 106 is a pop-out tab configured to pop-out from the support panel 102. The button tab 106 has defined therein three holes 107. Each hole 107 is substantially “T” shaped, as described with reference to the example disclosed in FIG. 13.

The support panel 102 may include a central cut-out portion 130. By cutting out a central portion 130 in this manner, the packing support 100 can be made lighter and use less material without significantly compromising on structural rigidity.

In another embodiment, as shown with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, instead of a central portion being completely cut-out, a support panel 402 of a packing support 400 includes a central portion 430 that is cut along three sides, but remains attached at a lower edge 432. Accordingly, the central portion 430 can be folded downwardly along the fold line formed at the non-cut lower edge 432 to bring the free edge 434 of the central portion 430 down to a position that extends the effective height of the support panel 402 by a distance M, as shown in FIG. 32. A notch 412b is located in the middle of the free edge 434 so that when the central portion 430 is folded downwardly, the notch 412b can be used as a reference for centring a shirt on the packing support 400. Another notch 412a may be provided in the bottom centre of the support panel 402 to gives a simple indication of the centreline of the support panel 402 prior to folding out the central portion 430. In some embodiments, an additional collar support piece 440 configured to stiffen a portion of a collar of a packed shirt may be provided. The collar support piece 440 is frangibly attached to the central portion 430 of the support panel 402. Specifically, the collar support piece 440 is provided between the free edge 434 of the central portion 430 and a top cut line 442 through the support panel 402. The collar support piece 440 may be substantially as described in WO 2015/177535.

The steps required for packing a shirt using the packing support 100 as shown in FIG. 23 or the packing support 400 as shown in FIG. 32 substantially mirror those of the packing support 1 of FIG. 13 and as described above with reference to FIGS. 14-20. The resulting packed shirt will also appear similar to that shown in FIG. 19. As illustrated, there is no sleeve tab in the embodiments of FIG. 23 or 32, and accordingly the sleeve would not be tucked around the sleeve tab as shown in FIG. 16, but rather would simply be folded back on itself in line with the left edge 120. It will be appreciated that a sleeve tab could be provided in certain embodiments. Moreover, in certain embodiments a portion of a sleeve, such as the cuff, may be folded to be visible from the front face of the packed shirt, as shown in FIG. 19, whereas in other embodiments the whole sleeve may be folded behind the front face, as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 24 illustrates a packing support piece in the form of an uppermost packing support 190, having a support panel 102 and an under-collar support 151. A crease line 164 is provided between the support panel 102 and the under-collar support 151 to allow the under-collar support 151 to bend up relative to the support panel 102. The support panel 102 and under-collar support 151 are substantially as described with reference to FIG. 23, but the packing support 190 has a height which is shorter than some other packing supports described herein. In this particular example, the height of the uppermost packing support 190 is 265 millimetres. One or more button holes (not shown) may be provided, as shown and described with reference to the example of FIGS. 20 to 22, but this is not essential. The central portion 130 may, in an alternative embodiment, be akin to that described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, so be foldable downwardly to extend the effective height of the packing support.

Thus, for a given height of a resulting packed shirt, the support panel 402 can be shorter, in its unfolded condition, so a significant material saving (equivalent to the distance M) can be made.

Another type of packing support 200 is illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 30. The packing support 200 comprises two separate components: a support panel 202; and a collar support member 280, which are connected to one another to form the packing support 200. The support panel 202 is formed, for example cut, from a corrugated fibreboard sheet material, and the collar support member 280 is formed, for example cut, from a transparent plastics sheet material, such as polypropylene. The support panel 202 may take substantially the same form as the support panel 2 described by reference to FIG. 13, including waisted regions 269 and 270, as illustrated, or the support panel 102 of FIG. 23. However, provision is made to connect with the associated collar support member 280. In the illustrated embodiment, the support panel 202 includes, centrally in an upper region, four connecting slots 300.

The collar support member 280 comprises a connection portion 302 that includes a pair of connecting tabs 304 that can be engaged in the corresponding complimentary connecting slots 300 of the support panel 202 as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 in particular. Each connecting tab 304 is provided with two securing tabs 306, with two crease lines 305 provided between the securing tabs 306 and the connecting tab 304.

Extending from the upper edge of the connection portion 302, and correspondingly from the upper edge 226 of the support panel 202 when the collar support member 280 is connected thereto, is an under-collar support 203. The under-collar support 203 consists of two pieces in this embodiment, where both are arranged, in combination, to form a partial loop within the fold of the collar of the shirt, extending towards the front of the collar. The under-collar support may take the form illustrated in FIGS. 25 to 30 or may be more akin to the under-collar support 3 shown in the example of FIG. 1. Also extending from the upper edge of the connection portion 302 is a connecting member 204, which connects the connection portion 302 to an inner collar support 205. The connecting member 204 extends from the upper edge of the connection portion 302 a distance at least equal to the height of the collar of the shirt when the collar is folded down over the under-collar support 203. The inner collar support 205 is as otherwise described with reference to the inner collar support of FIG. 1, with like parts referenced by the same reference numerals but with 200 added (e.g. the tab 11 of FIG. 1 corresponds to the tab 211 of this embodiment, etc.). There is a pair of fold lines 264 across the boundary between the connection portion 302 and the two parts of the under-collar support 203. A further fold line 219 extends between the connection portion 302 and the connecting member 204. A hanging tab 213 extends from the boundary between the connection portion 302 and the fold line 219 as a cut-out in the connecting member 204. A hanger locating hole 214 is defined within the hanging tab 213 to fasten a hanging member, such as a hook.

To connect the collar support member 280 with the support panel 202, the two securing tabs 306 of each connecting tab 304 are bent over along the fold lines 305, such that the width of each connecting tab 304 and folded securing tabs 306 is narrow enough to fit through the slots 300. In the illustrated example, as perhaps best seen in FIG. 26 (which shows a detail of the rear side of the support panel 202), the free end of each connecting tab 304 is first inserted through an upper slot 300a from a front side of the support panel 202 and then back through a lower slot 300b from the rear side of the support panel 202. Once the securing tabs 306 have cleared the lower connecting slot 300b, the securing tabs are folded back out flat to secure the collar support member 280 to the support panel 202. Some flex of the connecting tabs 304 may occur to assist in insertion through the slots 300.

It will be appreciated that these interconnecting slots and tabs may be reversed, with the slots on the collar support member and the tabs on the support panel. Moreover, rather than a pair of slots 300a, 300b for each connecting tab 304, just a single slot 300 for each connecting tab 304 may be provided, albeit perhaps providing a less secure connection. Likewise, just a single tab 304 may be provided, for insertion into a corresponding single slot or into a corresponding pair of slots, in which case the single tab and associated slot or slots may be located centrally.

The shirt can then be packed, substantially as described previously with respect to the example of FIG. 1, by inserting the under-collar support 203 into the fold of a folded collar, folding the inner collar support 205 over to be placed within the collar opening. The tab 211 and slots 210 are used to adjust the size of the loop formed by the inner collar support 205 such that it engages substantially the entire inner surface of the collar opening of the shirt. The end result is a packaged shirt as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Advantageously, by having the different component parts of the packing support 200 formed, for example cut, from different sheet materials, the respective component parts can have material properties particularly suited to their purpose; in this case the support panel 202 being cut from fibreboard provides a stiff yet lightweight material that has good printing properties, whilst the collar support member 280 being cut from polypropylene sheet provides a reasonably stiff yet flexible member that is able to be formed into curved shapes or loops to perform the collar support function, whilst also being transparent to provide a visually attractive packing support in which the collar details remain visible in use. It will be appreciated that other combinations of different sheet materials may be used as appropriate for their intended purpose.

The corrugated fibreboard in the present embodiment is E-flute, having dimensions of approximately 295 flutes per metre and a flute thickness of 1.6mm, though other sizes of corrugated fibreboard can be used. In some embodiments, different sections of the packing support may be formed from different specifications of corrugated fibreboard. Corrugated fibreboard is typically stiffer than polypropylene, so additional crease lines may required, particularly in areas of the packing support 100, 200 where the direction of bend will be across the grain.

Although embodiments of the packing supports have used certain shapes for connecting button holes 91, it will be appreciated that different shapes could equally be used. For example, all holes configured to be secured to a button could be cross-shaped, T-shaped, inverse-T-shaped, or any other suitable shape. In some embodiments, a mixture of button hole shapes can be used, both between multiple packing supports and within a single packing support.

Although embodiments of the packing supports are described as having the support panel being formed from a sheet of corrugated fibreboard, it will be appreciated that other materials could be used, such as cardboard or plastics.

In summary, the present invention relates to a packing support for a shirt, the shirt having a collar defining a collar opening. In one aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel and an under-collar support configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel has a width defined between respective outermost lateral edges, and the under-collar support extends substantially parallel to the width of the panel and has a width no more than 20% greater than the width of the support panel. In another aspect, the packing support comprises a support panel around which the shirt is folded, in use, and a collar support member configured for supporting the folded collar, in use. The support panel and the collar support member are separate components, connected to one another to form the packing support. The support panel is cut from a corrugated fibreboard sheet material, and the collar support member is cut from a transparent plastics sheet material. The present invention seeks to provide an alternative to shirt packaging of the prior art, and particularly to have less wastage of typically fibreboard sheet material from which the support panel is cut. More support panels can be cut from the card stock than in the prior art packing supports with longer (i.e. wider) collar support members, especially under-collar supports.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.

Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.

Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein.

For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.

PACKING SUPPORTS

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