Package box, cushion and plate material

Abstract

A package box including an outer box and at least two cushions disposed symmetrically in the outer box is provided. The cushion includes a rectangular bottom plate, two long side plates, two short side plates and at least two container structures. The long side plates are connected perpendicularly with long sides of the bottom plate. The short side plates are connected perpendicularly with short sides of the bottom plate. The container structures are disposed in a region surrounded by the bottom plate, the long side plates and the short side plates. Each container structure has a concave. The concaves join to form a containing space. A plate material of the cushion is also provided.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 95148853, filed Dec. 25, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to a package box, a cushion, and a plate material.

2. Related Art

Electronic devices such as the laptop computer are vulnerable to damages due to external forces during the transportation. Therefore, they have higher demands for the packaging structure. Currently, the most common method is to provide inside the package box several cushions, such as separator boards, paper, plastic cushions, plastic foam, and bubble wraps. They serve the purpose of preventing the electronic devices from hitting the package box walls during the transportation, thereby protecting them from external forces. However, these cushions often have unsmooth edges that may cut the user. Moreover, the plastic cushions have bad impacts to the ecological system. In contrast, paper cushions have fewer impacts to the environment, reduce the stocking space, and enjoy the cost-effective advantage.

Currently, the most common manufacturing technology for making paper cushions is to use a mold to directly and thermally press paper into shape. Alternatively, the paper board is cut into plates of various shapes according to need, and the plates are folded and glued into shape.

Conventional package boxes have different types of cushions that are asymmetric in structure. This inevitably increases the cost in production, assembly, transportation, and material logistics. Therefore, it is imperative to provide a paper cushion with a smooth shape and a symmetric structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide a package box and a cushion, wherein the cushion supports and fixes the article inside the package box and prevents it from damages due to external impacts.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a cushion folded from environmentally friendly paper.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a cushion and a plate material with smooth shapes and symmetric structures, so that their transportation, material logistics, and production and assembly are simpler.

In accord with the above-mentioned objectives, the disclosed package box includes an outer box and at least two cushions disposed symmetrically inside the outer box. Each cushion includes a rectangular bottom plate, two long side plates, two short side plates and at least two container structures. The long side plates are connected perpendicularly with long sides of the bottom plate. The short side plates are connected perpendicularly with short sides of the bottom plate. The container structures are disposed in a region surrounded by the bottom plate, the long side plates and the short side plates. Each container structure has a concave. The concaves join to form a containing space.

In accord with the above-mentioned objectives, the disclosed cushion includes a rectangular bottom plate, two long side plates, two short side plates, and at least two container structures. The long side plates are connected perpendicularly with long sides of the bottom plate. The short side plates are connected perpendicularly with short sides of the bottom plate. The container structures are disposed in a region surrounded by the bottom plate, the long side plates and the short side plates. Each container structure has a concave. The concaves join to form a containing space.

In accord with the above-mentioned objectives, a plate material is proposed to form a cushion. The plate material includes a bottom plate with two long sides and two short sides. Each short side of the bottom plate is connected with a short side plate. Each long side of the bottom plate is connected with a long side plate and at least one container structure. The container structure includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, a concave side plate, and a concave bottom plate. The first plate, the second plate, and the third plate are connected in sequence to the long side plate. The concave side plate and the concave bottom plate are disposed between the first plate and the second plate, with the concave side plate connecting to the first plate and the concave bottom plate connecting to the second plate. The concave side plate and the concave bottom plate are connected as well.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cushion supports and fixes the article inside the package box, preventing it from damages due to external impacts.

In another embodiment of the invention, the material of the cushion is environmentally friendly paper.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cushion has a smooth shape in order not to cut the user.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cushion has at least one cushion opening to achieve better cushion effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the package box according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the cushion in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 along the A-A′ line; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the plate material for forming the cushion in the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

The cushion in conventional package boxes is plastic and thus unfriendly to the environment. Moreover, it often has an uneven edge which may cut the user. Besides, the package box usually contains cushions of different types and asymmetric structures. This increases the costs for production, assembly, transportation, and logistics. The invention discloses a cushion folded from paper and having an even shape so as not to cut the user.

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the drawing, the package box 100 includes an outer box 200 and two cushions 300 disposed symmetrically inside the outer box 200. Each cushion 300 has a containing space 302. The package box 100 can hold an article 400, such as a laptop computer. For example, both ends of the article 400 are disposed inside the containing space 302 of the cushion 300. Afterwards, the article 400 along with the two cushions 300 is disposed inside the package box 100. It should be noted that the article 400 can be stably kept inside the outer box 200 without hitting the outer box 200 during the transportation, as long as two cushions 300 of the same structure are disposed on both ends of the article 400. Therefore, the disclosed package box 100 only requires one type of cushion. In comparison with other package boxes that require different cushions, the invention is much simpler in transportation, internal logistics, production, and assembly.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of the disclosed cushion. FIG. 3 is the cross section of FIG. 2 along the A-A′ line. With simultaneous reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the shape of the cushion 300 is rectangular. It includes a rectangular bottom plate 310, two long side plates 320, two short side plates 330, and at least two container structures 341a, 341b. Each long side plate 320 is connected perpendicularly with the long side 311 of the bottom plate 310. Each short side plate 330 is connected perpendicularly with the short side 312 of the bottom plate 310. The container structures 341a, 341b are disposed opposite to each other in the region enclosed by the bottom plate 310, the long side plates 320, and the short side plates 330. Each of the container structures 341a, 341b has a concave 343. The concaves 343 are connected to form the containing space 302. It should be remarked that the shapes of the long side plates 320, the short side plates 330, and the container structures 341a, 341b can be designed according to the shape of the article to be contained therein. The bottom plate 310 can be square. The cushion 300 can be square as well.

The container structure 341a and the container structure 341b are disposed opposite to each other. Each of the container structures 341a, 341b has a first plate 342, a second plate 344, a concave side plate 346, and a concave bottom plate 348. The first plate 342 is connected perpendicularly to the long side plate 320. Both the concave side plate 346 and the concave bottom plate 348 are arranged between the second plate 344 and the first plate 342. The concave side plate 346 is connected perpendicularly with the first plate 342. The concave bottom plate 348 is connected perpendicularly with the second plate 344. The concave side plate 346 and the concave bottom plate 348 are connected perpendicularly to form the concave 343. Each of the container structures 341a, 341b can further includes a third plate 349 disposed on the bottom plate 310. The third plate 349 is connected perpendicularly with the second plate 344 for the container structure to be more stable.

In order for the cushion 300 to provide better cushion effects, the first plate 342 has a cushion opening 363, such as a long stripe opening of a length about, for example, ⅔ of the length of the cushion 300.

As shown in FIG. 4, the plate material 500 is preferably made of paper of better quality, such as corrugated paper and copperplate paper. Moreover, the flute direction of the material (e.g., corrugated paper) has the design to sustain longitudinal pressure (axial pressure). This enhances the compression strength of the package boxes when they are stacked together. The plate material 500 can be formed by thermal molding on paper pulp or by cutting a single paper board. Before folding, the plate material 500 is a flat paper board. The cushion 300 is formed after folding. The plate material 500 includes a bottom plate 310, two long side plates 320, two short side plates 330, and two container structures 341a, 341b.

More explicitly, the bottom plate 310 is rectangular. Each long side 311 of the bottom plate 310 is connected in sequence the long side plate 320, the first plate 342, the second plate 344, and the third plate 349. A first folding line 351 is formed between the long side plate 320 and the bottom plate 310. A second folding line 352 is formed between the first plate 342 and the long side plate 320. A third folding line 353 is formed between the second plate 344 and the first plate 342. A fourth folding line 354 is formed between the third plate 349 and the second plate 344. Parallel cutting lines 361, 362 are formed on the first plate 342 and the second plate 344. A fifth folding line 355 is formed on the first plate 342 between the cutting lines 361, 362. A sixth folding line 356 and a seventh folding line 357 are formed on the second plate 344 between the cutting lines 361, 362. All the folding lines are parallel to one another. The cutting line 361 is perpendicular to the first folding line 351. The fifth folding line 355, the sixth folding line 356, the seventh folding line 357, the cutting line 361, and the cutting line 362 together define the concave side plate 346 and the concave bottom plate 348.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the short side plate 330 is connected to the short side 312 of the bottom plate 310. An eighth folding line 358 is formed between the short side plate 330 and the bottom plate 310. The short side plate 330 has at least one fixing chip 332 connected to the short side plate 330. A ninth folding line 359 is formed between the first fixing chip 332 and the short side plate 330. Two second fixing chips 334 are formed on the short side plate 330 connected to the short side plate 330. A tenth folding line 360 is formed between the second fixing chip 334 and the short side plate 330.

Please refer simultaneously to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The plate material 500 is folded according to the following steps to form the cushion 300. First, it is first folded along the third folding line 353 and the fourth folding line 354 according to the cross-sectional view of the container structure 341a as shown in FIG. 3. Afterwards, it is folded along the fifth folding line 355, the sixth folding line 356, and the seventh folding line 357 to form the container structure 341a. The container structure 341b is formed in the same way. Afterwards, it is folded along the first folding line 351 and the second folding line 352, so that the long side plate 320 is perpendicular to the bottom plate 310 and the container structures 341a, 341b are located above the bottom plate 310.

Afterwards, the plate is folded along the eighth folding line 358, the ninth folding line 359, and the tenth folding line 360, so that the short side plate 330 is perpendicular to the bottom plate 310, the first fixing chip 332 is inserted between the short side plate 330 and the long side plate 320, the second fixing chip 334 is inserted between the short side plate 330 and the first plate 342, thereby fixing the shape of the cushion 300. The cushion 300 thus has a smooth rectangular shape. Since the plate material 500 has a symmetrical structure, the structures on both sides of the bottom plate 310 can be formed by same folding. This simplifies the folding involved in the cushion 300. Moreover, the processes of transportation, internal logistics, design cost, production and assembly can be simplified as well.

In summary, the invention has the following advantages:

1. The disclosed cushion can support and fix the article contained inside the package box, preventing it from damages due to external impacts. Moreover, the flute direction of the material (e.g., corrugated paper) has the design to sustain longitudinal pressure (axial pressure). This enhances the compression strength of the package boxes when they are stacked together.

2. The disclosed cushion is formed by folding paper material. It requires less material and is more friendly to the environment.

3. The disclosed cushion has a smooth shape to avoid cuts on the user.

4. The disclosed cushion and its plate material have symmetrical structures and can be integrally formed. This therefore simplifies the processes of transportation, internal logistics, production and assembly.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A package box, comprising:

an outer box; and

at least two cushions disposed symmetrically inside the outer box, each of which includes: a bottom plate having two long sides and two short sides; two long side plates connected perpendicular with the long sides of the bottom plate; two short side plates connected perpendicular with the short sides of the bottom plate; and at least two container structures disposed oppositely in the region enclosed by the bottom plate, the long side plates, and the short side plates; wherein each container structure has a concave and the concaves are connected to form a containing space.

2. The package box of claim 1, wherein the container structure includes a first plate connected perpendicularly with the long side plate, a second plate perpendicular to the first plate, a concave side plate, and a concave bottom plate, the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate being disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the concave side plate being connected perpendicularly with the first plate, the concave bottom plate being connected perpendicularly with the second plate, and the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate being connected perpendicular with each other.

3. The package box of claim 2, wherein the container structure has a third plate on the bottom plate and connected perpendicularly with the second plate.

4. The package box of claim 2, wherein the first plate has a cushion opening.

5. The package box of claim 1, wherein the material of the cushion is paper.

6. The package box of claim 1, wherein the material of the cushion is corrugated paper or copperplate paper.

7. A cushion for a package box, comprising:

a bottom plate having two long sides and two short sides;

two long side plates connected perpendicularly with the long sides of the bottom plate;

two short side plates connected perpendicularly with the short sides of the bottom plate; and

at least two container structures disposed oppositely in the region enclosed by the bottom plate, the long side plates, and the short side plates; wherein each container structure has a concave and the concaves are connected to form a containing space.

8. The cushion for a package box of claim 7, wherein the container structure includes a first plate connected perpendicularly with the long side plate, a second plate perpendicular to the first plate, a concave side plate, and a concave bottom plate, the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate being disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the concave side plate being connected perpendicularly with the first plate, the concave bottom plate being connected perpendicularly with the second plate, and the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate being connected perpendicular with each other.

9. The cushion for a package box of claim 8, wherein the container structure has a third plate on the bottom plate and connected perpendicularly with the second plate.

10. The cushion for a package box of claim 8, wherein the first plate has a cushion opening.

11. The cushion for a package box of claim 7, wherein the material of the cushion is paper.

12. The cushion for a package box of claim 7, wherein the material of the cushion is corrugated paper or copperplate paper.

13. A plate material for forming a cushion for a package box, comprising:

a bottom plate having two long sides and two short sides;

two short side plates connected respectively to the short sides;

two long side plates connected respectively to the long sides; and

two container structures connected respectively to the long side plates;

wherein each container structure includes a first plate, a second plate, a concave side plate, and a concave bottom plate; the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate are disposed between the first plate and the second plate; the concave side plate is connected with the first plate, the concave bottom plate is connected with the second plate, and the concave side plate and the concave bottom plate are connected with each other.

14. The plate material of claim 13, wherein a first folding line is formed between the long side plate and the bottom plate, a second folding line is formed between the first plate and the long side plate, a third folding line is formed between the second plate and the first plate; a third plate is connected to the second plate and a fourth folding line is formed between the third plate and the second plate.

15. The plate material of claim 14, wherein two cutting lines are formed on the first plate and the second plate and perpendicular to the first cutting line, a fifth folding line is formed between the cutting lines on the first plate, a sixth folding line and a seventh folding line are formed between the cutting lines on the second plate, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh folding lines are parallel to the first folding line.

16. The plate material of claim 13, wherein an eighth folding line is formed between the short side plate and the bottom plate.

17. The plate material of claim 13, wherein the short side plate has at least a first fixing chip connected to the short side plate and a ninth folding line is formed between the first fixing chip and the short side plate; the short side plate has at least a second fixing chip connected to the short side plate and a tenth folding line is formed between the second fixing chip and the short side plate.

18. The plate material of claim 13, wherein the first plate has a cushion opening.

19. The plate material of claim 13, wherein the material of the plate material is paper.

20. The plate material of claim 13, wherein the material of the plate material is corrugated paper or copperplate paper.