Patent Grant
8038010
The present invention is directed to protective packaging. More particularly, the present invention pertains to protective packaging for curved and curvilinear objects.
Small objects or objects having linear sides can easily be packaged in boxes for protection. Also; large objects having straight sides can be protected with bubble wrap or rigid edge protectors. U-shaped packaging containers, or U-boards, are known packaging material for many such objects. The board is formed from a layered, or laminated, construction of paper and/or paper board that is subsequently formed into a U-shape (U-shaped cross-section). The board generally is rigid; that is, the walls are rigidly formed into the U-shape (transverse relative to the base) and are rigid longitudinally along the length of the channel. The walls do not fold down onto the base, nor can the board, without more, be folded length-wise onto itself.
Unfortunately, many objects needing packaging have curved or irregular edges, such as tables, frames, J-tracks for garages, and the like. The curved, curvilinear, or irregular shape of such objects makes it difficult to adequately protect the object during transit, particularly with regard to the perimeter, which is subject to the greatest stresses and opportunity for damage during handling.
An irregularly-shaped object is typically placed within a larger, bulky box that is filled with filler or cushioning material so that the object is not jostled within the box. Other times a large, curved object is wrapped in bubble wrap or other bulky material. While effective, both packaging mechanisms cause undue waste and expense.
Linear U-boards are sometimes used to package curved or curvilinear items as well. However, even U-boards that allow bending of the U-board of about 90 degrees often have cuts which are straight or perpendicular to the bottom of the U-board. These straight cuts, however, may not be effective in allowing the U-board to bend more than 90 degrees from the horizontal. As such, these straight-cut U-boards may not be conducive to protecting, for example, S-shaped objects having more than one curve and/or presenting a curve greater than 90 degrees.
Accordingly, there is a need for packaging for curved or curvilinear objects. Desirably, such packaging reduces waste, is environmentally friendly, and is moldable around various curvilinear shapes and sizes.
A single piece edge protector for curved and curvilinear-shaped objects includes a preformed, rigid, laminated U-board having a bottom wall, and first and second sidewalls which include preformed angled cuts. The preformed cuts are formed at about 15 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the bottom wall of the U-board. Each sidewall of the edge protector is a mirror-image of the other such that a preformed cut on the first sidewall is directly across from and corresponds to a preformed cut on the second sidewall. In addition, a plurality of the preformed cuts form generally V-shaped openings in both the first sidewall and in the second sidewall of the U-board; thus, the V-shaped openings on the first sidewall are directly across from the generally V-shaped openings on the second sidewall in an initial position. The preformed cuts are formed such that a width of an opening formed by the preformed cuts increases from a bottom of the opening to a top of the opening.
The plurality of preformed cuts on the first sidewall and the plurality of preformed cuts on the second sidewall form a plurality of legs on the first and second sidewalls. Each of the legs have a generally trapezoid-like shape, and each leg may have a similar surface area or a different surface area as an adjacent leg along the length of the edge protector. In an embodiment, each leg of the edge protector has a height H.
The edge protector is configured to allow for following or bending around a curved perimeter or a curvilinear perimeter of the object to be packaged. The preformed cuts are biased to facilitate curvature of the edge protector around a perimeter of the object, such that the edge protector is able to protect shapes ranging from linear stretches to shapes having curved portions of about 0 to 135 degrees or more.
The edge protector, in an embodiment, includes an end cap closure. The edge protector can be mounted to the curved or the curvilinear object in several different manners, including using, for example, friction or snug fitting, adhesive, rope, metal or plastic strap, and/or plastic film.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures and appended claims.
The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.
It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the figures and in particular to
The preformed cuts 112, 114 are formed at about 15 degrees (113, 115) from a plane 117 perpendicular to the bottom wall 104 of the U-board 102. Each sidewall 106, 108 of the edge protector 100 is a mirror-image of the other, such that a preformed cut 112, 114 on the first sidewall 106 is parallel to and directly across from (i.e. corresponds to) a preformed cut 112, 114 on the second sidewall 108. In addition, the preformed cuts 112, 114 form generally V-shaped openings 116 in the first sidewall 106 and the second sidewall 108 of the U-board 102. The preformed cuts are formed such that a width of the generally V-shaped opening formed by the preformed cuts increases from a bottom shown generally at 127 to a top of the opening. The V-shaped openings 116 on the first sidewall 106 are directly across from the V-shaped openings 116 on the second sidewall 108. The preformed cuts 112, 114 may be biased cut.
The plurality of preformed cuts 112, 114 on the first sidewall 106 and the plurality of preformed cuts 112, 114 on the second sidewall 108 also form a plurality of legs 118 along a length L of the edge protector 100. The legs 118 have a generally trapezoid-like shape 110 such that a top 120 and a bottom 122 of the legs 118 are parallel to each other and the sides 124, 126 of the legs are at an angle to each other. Each leg 118 has a height H, the perpendicular distance between the bottom of a leg 122 and the top 120 of a leg 118. Each leg may have a similar surface area A or a different surface area as an adjacent leg along the length L of the edge protector 100. That is, the legs 118 can have the same or different surface areas than other (e.g. adjacent) legs. In addition, in an embodiment, the preformed cuts 112, 114 may be bias cut 138 such that the legs 118 flare in an outward direction 139, as shown in the top view of the U-board 100 in
In one embodiment, shown in
The bottom wall 104, may be scored 132 (
The edge protector 100, in an embodiment, includes an end cap closure 150. The edge protector 100 can be mounted to the curved or the curvilinear object using friction or snug fitting, adhesive, strap, and/or plastic film 160. It will be appreciated that the end cap can be formed by bending or folding one or more of the legs 118 inward, onto the edge protector 100 itself.
The edge protector 100 follows a curved perimeter P or a curvilinear perimeter P of the object 101.
In another configuration, shown in
The advantages of the present single piece edge protector will be appreciated by those with skill in the art. The flexibility of movement of the rigid edge protector allows for protection of even the most irregularly shaped objects while decreasing waste and expense. In addition, having the legs and preformed cuts parallel or directly across from each other along the length of the edge protector facilitates bending of the edge protector neatly and cleanly, in for example, a 90 degree angle, without undue twists, folds, or turns in the edge protector. Also, the present edge protector allows for folding of the edge protector in a variety of different positions in order to fully protect a curved or curvilinear object. The edge protector is both rigid and flexible; scoring on one or both of an interior and an exterior of the bottom wall facilitates the folding of the edge protector, while the sidewalls remain rigid. The present edge protector reduces waste and expense while providing close, needed protection to curved or curvilinear objects.
All patents referred to herein, are incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/698,804, filed Feb. 2, 2010, now abandoned, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12698804 | Feb 2010 | US |
| Child | 12816857 | US |
