Packing box

Abstract

A packing box for an electronic product to protect an electronic product from external impact. The packing box includes a first packing unit to pack an upper part of the product, a second packing unit passing through the first packing unit and joined to a lower part of the first packing unit, to pack a middle part of the product, and a third packing unit passing through the first and second packing units and joined to a lower part of the second packing unit, to pack a lower part of the product. The packing box is readily disassembled and allows the product to be easily repacked.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0114839, filed on Nov. 18, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a packing box, and, more particularly, to a packing box for an electronic product to protect the electronic product from external impact where the packing box is readily disassembled and allows the product to be easily repacked.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a packing box for an electronic product functions to protect electronic products housed therein and contributes to convenient transfer and stacking. That is, a variety of distribution processes are required to transfer electronic products from a production line of factories to consumers. Packing boxes are generally used to prevent the breakage or damage of electronic products caused by external factors such as external impact in the distribution process and to contribute to convenient transfer and stacking.

Such a packing box for an electronic product generally takes a rectangular shape and enables packing by inserting an electronic product into the packing box and then joining bonding members, arranged at both sides of the top and the bottom, or at both sides of left and right sides of the packing box. However, such a bonding member is firmly attached in order to maintain safe packing, thus disadvantageously making the packing box difficult to disassemble.

Furthermore, such a general packing box is utilized in large electronic products such as air conditioners and refrigerators. However, unpacking these large electronic products indoors is quite inconvenient, thus inevitably requiring unpacking outdoors and then transfer indoors. In the transfer process, the electronic product may be damaged.

In addition, since conventional packing boxes for electronic products require the use of means such as knives or scissors in order to remove the electronic product from the packing box, the product included therein may be damaged. Furthermore, upon return of electronic products, the cut packing boxes are difficult to recycle.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a packing box for an electronic product that protects an electronic product from external impact wherein the packing box can readily be disassembled and allows the product to be easily repacked.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packing box for an electronic product, in which an electronic product is housed and packed, the packing box including one or more units.

The packing box may include a first packing unit to pack one part of the electronic product and a second packing unit passing through the first packing unit, to pack another part of the electronic product.

The first packing unit may include at least one holding member adjacent to the second packing unit and the second packing unit may include at least one fixing member, on which the holding member is fixed.

The second packing unit may only partially overlap the first packing unit.

The second packing unit may have a width greater than the width of the first packing unit, in order to allow the first packing unit to pass through the second packing unit in a vertical direction.

The holding member may include a slot formed by partially cutting the first packing unit, and the fixing member may include an engagement jaw to be engaged in the slot, wherein the engagement jaw is formed by partially cutting the second packing unit.

The first and second packing units may include four side surfaces to cover the electronic product in four directions, and the side surfaces may include two narrow surfaces and two wide surfaces.

The packing box may be separated from the product, based on a principle that, when the second packing unit is lifted up, the engagement jaw is disengaged from the slot and the first packing unit thus overlaps the second packing unit.

The packing box further may include a third packing unit passing through the first and second packing units, to pack the other part of the electronic product.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packing box for an electronic product, including: a first packing unit to pack an upper part of a product; a second packing unit passing through the first packing unit and joined to a lower part of the first packing unit, to pack a middle part of the product; and a third packing unit passing through the first and second packing units and joined to a lower part of the second packing unit, to pack a lower part of the product.

The product may have a greater length than width.

The one of the first and second packing units may include a first holding member and the other of them may include a first fixing member, on which the holding member is fixed, to join the first packing unit to the second packing unit.

The one of the second and third packing units may include a second holding member and the other of them may include a second fixing member, on which the second holding member is fixed, to join the second packing unit to the third packing unit.

The first and second holding members may include a slot formed by partially cutting the packing box, and the first and second fixing members may include an engagement jaw engaged in the slot, wherein the first and second fixing members are formed by partially cutting the packing box.

When the third packing unit is lifted up, the engagement jaw is disengaged from the slot, and at the same time, the second packing unit and the first packing unit are sequentially lifted up.

The packing box may be disassembled from bottom to top of the electronic product.

The product may be a large electronic product including an air conditioner or a refrigerator.

The first packing unit, the second packing unit and the third packing unit may have identical lengths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the condition wherein an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are views illustrating a first packing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views illustrating a second packing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating a third packing unit according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B are views illustrating a process for disassembling the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the condition where a packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B are views illustrating the condition wherein the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention is unfold or assembled.

As shown in FIG. 1, a packing box for an electronic product 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention functions to pack an electronic product 1 such as an air conditioner for transfer and storage, which is divided into one or more units along a packing direction.

That is, the packing box for an electronic product 10 includes: a first packing unit 100 to pack one part of an electronic product 1 having a greater length than width; a second packing unit 200 to pack another part of the electronic product 1, where the second packing unit 200 passes through the first packing unit 100 and is connected thereto, and a third packing unit 300 to pack the other part of the electronic product 1, where the third packing unit 300 passes through the first and second packing units 100 and 200 and is connected to the second packing unit 200.

Although a case where the packing box for an electronic product is applied to an air conditioner is illustrated in the drawings, the packing box may be applied not only to the air conditioner, but also to other large electronic products such as refrigerators having a greater length than width. In addition, the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention is divided into one or more units and may thus include at least two packing boxes partitioned along a packing direction of the electronic product.

FIG. 2A is an unfolded view illustrating the first packing unit and FIG. 2B is an assembled view illustrating the first packing unit.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the first packing unit 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a constituent component to pack one part of the electronic product having a length greater than a width. Specifically, the first packing unit 100 is a packing box to pack an upper part of the electronic product having a greater length than width.

The first packing unit 100 includes a side surface 110 wherein a rectangular sheet plate is divided into four identical parts. The side surface 110 may include two wide surfaces 111 which occupy a large area in the first packing unit 100 and two narrow surfaces 112 which occupy a small area therein.

The wide surface 111 and the narrow surface 112 are partitioned from each other, based on a first folding portion 110a.

The first packing unit 100 includes an upper surface 120 contacting the side surface 110. The upper surface 120 is partitioned from the side surface 110, based on a second folding portion 120a. A holding member 130 is arranged on the outermost side from the wide surface 111.

Accordingly, the first folding portion 110a is folded to form one side of the first packing unit 100 with two wide surfaces 111 and two narrow surfaces 112, and the second folding portion 120a is folded to form an upper part of the first packing unit 100 with four upper surfaces 120. In addition, the holding member 130 is bonded with an adhesive to the narrow surface 112 arranged at the opposite side thereof or is attached to the same with a stapler, to provide a rectangular first packing unit 100.

The first packing unit side surface 110 is provided with at least one holding member 130, through which the first packing unit 100 is joined to the second packing unit 200. The second packing unit holding member 130 is a constituent component where the second packing unit 200 partially overlaps the first packing unit 100 in a packing direction of the electronic product. Accordingly, the first packing unit holding member 130 may take the form of a slot provided by partially cutting an area of the narrow surface 112 adjacent to the second packing unit 200. That is, the first packing unit holding member 130 may be in the form of a rectangular slot provided by press-forming an area adjacent to a lower edge of the narrow surface. The reason for formation of the first packing unit holding member 130 on the narrow surface 112 is to cause the wide surface 111 to face the front surface of the electronic product and thus to easily join/disjoin the first packing box 100 to the electronic product.

FIG. 3A is an unfolded view of the second packing unit and FIG. 3B is an assembled view of the second packing unit.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second packing unit 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a constituent component to pack another part of the electronic product having a greater length than width. More specifically, the second packing unit 200 is a packing box which passes through the first packing unit 100 and packs the middle of the electronic product.

Similar to the first packing unit 100, the second packing unit 200 includes a side surface 210 wherein a rectangular sheet plate is divided into four identical parts. The side surface 210 may include two wide surfaces 211 which occupy a large area and two narrow surfaces 212 which occupy a small area, based on a first folding portion 210a. In addition, the wide surface 211 is provided with a holding member 240 at one end thereof. The first folding portion 211 is folded to form the side surface of the second packing unit 200 with two wide surfaces 211 and two narrow surfaces 212, and the holding member 240 is adhered to the opposite narrow surface 212 to provide a rectangular second packing unit 200.

In addition, the second packing unit side surface 210 is provided with at least one fixing member 220 on which the first packing unit holding member 130 is fixed. The second packing unit fixing member 220 may be in the form of an engagement jaw, which is formed by partially cutting the second packing unit 200 and is engaged in the first packing unit holding member 230. That is, the second packing unit fixing member 220 may protrude from the second packing unit side surface 210 by cutting downward an area corresponding to the first packing unit holding member 130 using processing such as press-forming.

In addition, the second packing unit side surface 210 is provided with at least one holding member 230 through which the second packing unit 100 is joined to a third packing unit 300. The second packing unit holding member 230 is a constituent component where the second packing unit 200 partially overlaps the first packing unit 100 in a packing direction of the electronic product. That is, the second packing unit holding member 230 may take the form of a rectangular slot provided by cutting a portion of the narrow surface 112 such that the holding member 230 is adjacent to the second packing unit 300. Accordingly, while the second packing unit 200 passes through the first packing unit 100 in order to pack the electronic product, the second packing unit engagement jaw 220, which is cut and protrudes downward, is engaged in the first packing unit slot 130, thereby allowing the second packing unit 200 to easily join to the first packing unit 100.

FIG. 4A is an unfolded view of a third packing unit and FIG. 4B is an assembled view of a third packing unit.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the third packing unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a constituent component to pack the other part of the electronic product having a greater length than width. More specifically, the third packing unit 300 passes through the first and second packing units 100 and 200 and packs a lower part of the electronic product.

Like the first and second packing unit 200, the third packing unit 300 includes a side surface 310 wherein a rectangular sheet plate is divided into four identical parts. The side surface 310 includes two wide surfaces 311 which occupy a large area and two narrow surfaces 312 which occupy a small area. The wide surface 311 and the narrow surface 312 are partitioned from each other, based on a first folding portion 310a, and a holding member 330 is arranged at one end of the wide surface 311, the outermost side from the center of the wide surface 311. The first folding portion 310a is folded to form one side of the third packing unit 300 with two wide surfaces 311 and two narrow surfaces 312, and the holding member 330 is bonded to the narrow surface 112 arranged at opposite sides thereof, to provide the third packing unit 300.

In addition, the third packing unit side surface 310 is provided with at least one fixing member 320 on which the second packing unit holding member 230 is fixed. The third packing unit fixing member 320 may take the form of an engagement jaw, which is provided by cutting a portion of the third packing unit 300 and is engaged in the second packing unit holding member 230. That is, the third packing unit fixing member 320 may be formed such that it is cut and protrudes downward by press-forming an area corresponding to the second packing unit holding member 230.

Accordingly, while the third packing unit 300 passes through the second packing unit 200 in order to pack the electronic product, the third packing unit engagement jaw 320, which is cut and protrudes downward, is engaged in the second packing unit slot 230, thereby allowing the third packing unit 300 to easily join to the second packing unit 200.

Hereinafter, an operation of the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B illustrate a process for disassembling the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, a size of the packing box according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a width of the second packing unit W2 is greater than a width of the first packing unit W1 so that the second packing unit 200 can pass through the first packing unit 100. As shown in FIG. 5A, compared to the first packing unit width W1, the second packing unit width W2 has a space with a size of about half a thickness T so that the second packing unit 200 can pass through the first packing unit 100 and be fixed on the first packing unit 100 at the fixing member 220.

A width of the third packing unit W3 is greater than the second packing unit width (also referred to as a horizontal length) W2 so that the third packing unit 300 can pass through the second packing unit 200. Like the second packing unit width W2, the third packing unit width W3 has a space with a size of about half a thickness T, compared to the second packing unit width W2, so that the third packing unit 300 can pass through the first and second packing units 100 and 200 and be fixed on the second packing unit 200 at the fixing member 320.

A length of the second packing unit L2 is substantially equivalent to a length of the first packing unit L1, and a length of the third packing unit L3 is substantially equivalent to the first and second packing unit lengths L1 and L2. This length specification aims to allow users to easily disassemble the packing box 10 and cause the packing box 10 to overlap another box in a predetermined portion.

Hereinafter, a process for disassembling and repacking the packing box according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the third packing unit 300 is lifted up in an A direction, the third packing unit fixing member 320 is disengaged from the second packing unit holding member 230, and the third packing unit 300 slides in an A direction along the outside of the second packing unit 200, while the third packing unit 300 is separated from the second packing unit 200.

That is, when a user lifts up the third packing unit 300, the third packing unit engagement jaw 320 is disengaged from the second packing unit slot 230 and the second packing unit 200 can thus be readily separated from the third packing unit 300.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the third packing unit 300 is further lifted in an A direction, the second packing unit engagement jaw 220 is disengaged from the first packing unit slot 130, the first packing unit 100 is separated from the second packing unit 200 and the second packing unit 200 thus slides along the outside of the first packing unit 100.

Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first packing unit 100, the second packing unit 200 and the third packing unit 300 overlap one another, thus reducing an overall length of the packing box 10 and enabling the packing box 10 to be readily separated from the large electronic product. That is, the packing box 10 according to one embodiment is divided into one or more units along a packing direction of the electronic product, and the units are joined to one another through the slots 130 and 230 and the engagement jaws 220 and 320 provided in the packing box 10, thus eliminating the necessity of an additional device to separate the packing box 10 and further readily disassembling the packing box 10, as compared to conventional cases.

In addition, the packing box for an electronic product 10 is separated from the electronic product without using any device, thus causing no damage to the surface of the packing box 10. Accordingly, the packing box 10 separated from returned electronic products is recycled to repack the electronic product in a reverse order of the disassembly order thereof, thus advantageously significantly reducing a repacking cost of the electronic product.

As apparent from the foregoing, the packing box for an electronic product according to one embodiment of the present invention includes one or more units to pack an electronic product having a length greater than a width, thus advantageously making it easy to disassemble and readily repacking returned electronic products.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A packing box for an electronic product, in which an electronic product is housed and packed, the packing box comprising:

a first packing unit to pack one part of the electronic product; and

a second packing unit passing through the first packing unit, to pack another part of the electronic product.

2. The packing box according to claim 1, wherein

the first packing unit comprises at least one holding member adjacent to the second packing unit, and

the second packing unit comprises at least one fixing member on which the holding member is fixed.

3. The packing box according to claim 1, wherein the second packing unit only partially overlaps the first packing unit.

4. The packing box according to claim 3, wherein the second packing unit has a width greater than the width of the first packing unit, in order to allow the first packing unit to pass through the second packing unit in a vertical direction.

5. The packing box according to claim 2, wherein

the holding member comprises a slot formed by partially cutting the first packing unit, and

the fixing member comprises an engagement jaw to be engaged in the slot, the engagement jaw formed by partially cutting the second packing unit.

6. The packing box according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second packing units comprise four side surfaces to cover the electronic product in four directions, and

the side surfaces comprise two narrow surfaces and two wide surfaces.

7. The packing box according to claim 5, wherein the first packing unit overlaps the second packing unit so that the packing box is separated from the product when the second packing unit is lifted up and the engagement jaw is separated from the slot.

8. The packing box according to claim 3, wherein the packing box further comprises a third packing unit passing through the first and second packing units and packing the other part of the electronic product.

9. A packing box for an electronic product, comprising:

a first packing unit to pack an upper part of the product;

a second packing unit passing through the first packing unit and joined to a lower part of the first packing unit, to pack a middle part of the product; and

a third packing unit passing through the first and second packing units and joined to a lower part of the second packing unit, to pack a lower part of the product.

10. The packing box according to claim 9, wherein the product has a greater length than width.

11. The packing box according to claim 9, wherein

one of the first and second packing units comprises a first holding member, and

the other packing unit comprises a first fixing member, on which the holding member is fixed, to join the first packing unit to the second packing unit.

12. The packing box according to claim 11, wherein

one of the second and third packing units comprises a second holding member, and

the other packing unit comprises a second fixing member, on which the second holding member is fixed, to join the second packing unit to the third packing unit.

13. The packing box according to claim 12, wherein

the first and second holding members comprise a slot formed by partially cutting the packing box, and

the first and second fixing members comprise an engagement jaw engaged in the slot, the first and second fixing members formed by partially cutting the packing box.

14. The packing box according to claim 13, wherein, when the third packing unit is lifted up, the second packing unit and the first packing unit are sequentially lifted up, as the engagement jaw is disengaged from the slot.

15. The packing box according to claim 9, wherein the packing box is disassembled from bottom to top of the product.

16. The packing box according to claim 10, wherein the product is a large electronic product including an air conditioner or a refrigerator.

17. The packing box according to claim 16, wherein the first packing unit, the second packing unit and the third packing unit have equal lengths.