APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSHIONING AN OBJECT
An apparatus, system and method to protect an object with a sleeve has a seam extending along the sleeve wherein the sleeve folds to attach along the seam. The sleeve is inserted on an object, such as a food container or a beverage container, to surround the container. A lattice is formed by expansion of slits extending along the sleeve inserted on the container. The depth of the lattice cushions the container from breakage. A bottom extends from the sleeve to surround the container. The sleeve may be placed in a partitioned section of a crate or box and/or may be incorporated in a bag to receive and/or protect the object.
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The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for cushioning an object, such as a bottle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible sleeve made from a material, such as paper of a specified basis weight, that may mold to conform to the profile of the bottle as the sleeve slides onto the bottle. The paper sleeve may have slits that expand upon insertion of the paper sleeve into and/or around the bottle to define a honeycomb-shaped lattice with a depth that, for example, provides protective cushioning for the bottle against abrasive impact with another rigid object.
Bottles, such as wine, sparkling wine, carbonated juice and/or champagne bottles, as well as other types and/or forms of specialty alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic drinks may be bottled in glass bottles. Such glass bottles are often rigid and contain liquid. The bottles, however, may be susceptible to breakage. Often two bottles contact each other inside a bag holding the glass bottles. Such a situation is undesirable and presents a safety hazard, if broken glass is produced from the breakage of the glass bottles.
A variety of products and/or solutions exist to address the above-described problem, namely the breakage of bottles upon transport. For instance, grocery store employees may insert each glass bottle into a paper-bag like sleeve and/or place the bottles adjacent to each other, to minimize movement of the bottle that may contribute to the breakage of the bottles. However, such sleeves do not provide protective cushioning to each of the glass bottles. Breakage due to blunt force impact and/or dropping of the bottle still occurs using known sleeves.
Accordingly, other protective products, such as packaging crates, are known to assist in the transport of glass bottles. The crates may have several defined compartments where each compartment is dimensioned to receive a single bottle, for example, a wine bottle. However, the crates are typically used for transporting multiple bottles simultaneously, and are not well-suited for the purchase of only one or two wine bottles. In addition, substantial space is necessary to store packaging crates for customer use.
As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,871 to Goodrich et al. discloses an expandable material to fill hollow spaces in packaging boxes and/or or the like. Specifically, the material may be made from paper with slits which expand to form an array of openings. Each opening is hexagonal in shape and the same size. Other devices for cushioning objects and/or providing for protective cushioning are disclosed in European Patent No. 2858918A1 to Page et al. and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2016/0067938 to Goodrich.
Known methods, apparatuses or systems for cushioning an object may use various materials that expand to provide cushioning to protect the object from breakage. However, a need exists for a device, such as a paper sleeve, that may expand to surround and/or protect a bottle from breakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention generally relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for cushioning an object, such as a bottle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cushioning sleeve made from a material, such as paper of a specified basis weight, that may conform to the bottle as the sleeve slides onto or surrounds the bottle.
The invention provides an apparatus having a sleeve that may be defined by a height and a diameter. A seam may extend along the height of the sleeve. The sleeve may fold to attach to itself along the seam. A slit may extend along the height of the sleeve wherein the sleeve. The sleeve may be inserted onto a container to expand along the slit to surround the container.
Additionally, the invention provides a system having a sleeve that may be inserted around a bottle. The sleeve may slide toward a bottom of the bottle. A slit may be formed in the sleeve that expands on the bottle to fit the sleeve around the bottle. A lattice may be formed on the sleeve by the expansion of the slit around the bottle. The lattice may surround the bottle to protect the bottle from breakage.
Further, the invention provides a method for aligning a sleeve with a container. The sleeve may be inserted onto the container and may expand upon insertion onto the container. Accordingly, the container may be cushioned by the sleeve.
Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a system and a method for cushioning an object.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a sleeve that may fold along a seam on the sleeve.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a sleeve made from paper with a basis weight in the range of thirty pounds to ninety pounds.
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a sleeve made from paper selected based on characteristics of a container.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a sleeve that expands to form substantially a cylinder to accommodate a container.
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a sleeve with slits that expand upon insertion of the sleeve onto a bottle to form a lattice.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.
In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present invention. Further, numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible.
Referring to
The sleeve 10 may be formed from a pliable material, such as paper and/or cardstock, and may be cut to size in a commercial paper-cutting machine, for example. Specifically, in an embodiment, the sleeve 10 may be made from paper with a basis weight ranging from thirty pounds to ninety pounds, with a preferred basis weight of fifty pounds. The basis weight may be defined as the total weight, in pounds, of three-thousand square feet of paper sheets wherein each sheet sheet has dimensions of twenty-four inches by thirty-six inches.
The paper selected to form the sleeve 10 may depend on the characteristics of the container to cushion. For example, bottles made from a relatively brittle material, such as glass, may use a higher and/or heavier basis weight paper and/or card stock. Similarly, a durable container not as susceptible to breakage may only require a lighter basis weight paper.
The sleeve 10 may have a sequence of slits 12 extending longitudinally along the height 20. The slits 12 may be cut in the sleeve 10 by a paper-cutting machine. The sleeve 10 may open along the diameter 18 and may be placed onto and/or around a section 28, as shown in
Referring to
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As shown in
Further, in an embodiment, the sock-type sleeve 64 may surround primarily the bottom 36 of the container 44 and otherwise have a limited height in the direction A toward the cap 34. Such a configuration may be suitable for short bottles, such as baby bottles and/or food jars, for example, which may be relatively short.
Accordingly, the sock-type sleeve 64 may substantially enclose the container 44 as well as the bottom 36 of the container 44 to cushion and/or protect the bottom 36 from impact with a surface. The sock-type sleeve 64 may be formed in a substantially similar process to the sleeve 10 with the slits 12 extending longitudinally across the sock-type sleeve 64. Similar to the sleeve 10, the sock-type sleeve 64 may be formed and/or cut to size in a paper-cutting machine from a paper with a specified basis weight.
After expanding the sleeve 10 on the container 44, the sleeve 10 may be visually defined by individual cells 30 across a lattice 26 formed by the expansion of the slits 12 in the sleeve 10. The pattern formed by the expanded and/or deformed slits 12 around a circumference 38 of the container 44 may generally resemble a hexagonal pattern and/or a honeycomb-shaped pattern. The sleeve 10 may surround the profile and/or curvature of the container 44 to protect the container 44 from breakage. Each of the cells 30 may have a depth and/or thickness to absorb energy related to impact of the container 44 with the sleeve 10 against an object, such as another container 44. Thus, the sleeve 10 may absorb and/or retain the energy produced upon collision of the container 44 with another object. The container 44 is thereby protected against unwanted abrasion and/or breakage.
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In an embodiment, a method for using the sleeve 10 may involve aligning the sleeve 10 with the container 44. The sleeve 10 may be slid onto the cap 34 of the container and expanded upon further sliding onto the container 44. The sleeve 10 may cushion the container 44.
Further, the slits 12 may be defined on the sleeve 10 to expand upon insertion of the sleeve 10 onto the container 44. The sleeve 10 may be directed toward the bottom 36 of the container 44 to protect the container 44 from breakage. The sleeve 10 may absorb energy from an impact of the container 44.
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The lattice 26 of the expanded sleeve 10 may contact and/or otherwise compress against the interior side 80 of the bag 54 such that the container 44 may fit into the bag during, for example, transport. The lattice 26 may provide cushioning and/or otherwise protect the container 44 enclosed by the bag 54 from damage and/or breakage due to impact of the bag 54 with, for example, another object. Further, as shown in
In an embodiment, the bottom 36 of the container 44 may be inserted in the direction A as shown in
Referring to
Further, the sleeve 10 or the sock-type sleeve 64 may be attached to and/or otherwise adhered by an adhesive from a top section 66 to a bottom section 70 to the box 68 within one or more or all of the partitioned sections 76 of the box 68. Thus, as shown in
Further, in an embodiment, the sleeve 10 or the sock-type sleeve 64 may be attached to and/or otherwise adhered by an adhesive from the top section 66 to the bottom section 70 to the box 68 within one or more of the partitioned sections 76 of the box 68. Accordingly, either the sleeve 10 or the sock-type sleeve 64 may protect and/or cushion the container 44 held within the sleeve 10 or the sock-type sleeve 64 from impact with and/or impact within the box 68 and/or within one or more or all of the partitioned sections 76 within the box 68.
Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods, and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a sleeve defined by a height and a diameter wherein the height is greater than the diameter;
- a seam extending along the height of the sleeve wherein the sleeve folds to attach along the seam; and
- a plurality of slits extending along the height of the sleeve wherein the sleeve is inserted on a container to expand along the plurality of slits to form a lattice that substantially surrounds the container to cushion the container from impact.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a bottom that extends from the sleeve to surround the container.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a bag wherein the sleeve is attached to the bag to receive the container.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made from paper with a basis weight in the range of thirty pounds to ninety pounds.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lattice has a depth proportionate to the rigidity of the container.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a crate with a plurality of partitioned sections wherein at least one of the plurality of partitioned sections has the sleeve.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve expands to a cylindrical shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
- a second slit formed across an entrance of the sleeve wherein the second slit assists insertion of the sleeve over the container.
9. A system comprising:
- a sleeve inserted around a bottle wherein the sleeve slides over the bottle and further wherein the sleeve is substantially made from paper;
- a plurality of slits formed in the sleeve that expand on the bottle to fit the sleeve around the bottle; and
- a lattice formed on the sleeve by expansion of the plurality of slits around the bottle wherein the lattice surrounds the bottle.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the lattice has a substantially hexagonal pattern.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the lattice has a depth to absorb energy from impact of the bottle against a rigid object.
12. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
- a bottom of the sleeve that extends from the sleeve to surround the bottle.
13. The system of claim 9 wherein the bottle fits into a circumference of the sleeve.
14. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
- a box having an interior defined by partitioned sections wherein the sleeve is incorporated in at least one of the partitioned sections.
15. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
- a partitioned section in a crate wherein the sleeve adheres to a side of the partitioned section to receive the bottle.
16. A method comprising:
- aligning a paper sleeve with a plurality of slits extending across the sleeve with a container;
- inserting the paper sleeve onto the container;
- sliding the paper sleeve around the container to expand the plurality of slits to form a lattice around the container; and
- cushioning the container with the lattice.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
- enclosing a bottom of the container by the paper sleeve.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
- adhering the paper sleeve to a bag that receives the container.
19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
- adhering the paper sleeve to at least one partitioned section of a plurality of partitioned sections in a box.
20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
- placing the sleeve on another sleeve to form a stack.
Type: Application
Filed: May 26, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 30, 2017
Applicant: Danco Packaging Supply Company (Elk Grove Village, IL)
Inventors: Daniel Edward Mulvey (Elk Grove Village, IL), Daniel Joseph Mulvey (Elk Grove Village, IL)
Application Number: 15/165,602