METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AND HOLDING IN COMPRESSION WOVEN FABRIC ARTICLES AND PRODUCTS THEREOF
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for compressing woven material or other compressible material, such as, but not limited to, a comforter set or bedding set. The bedding set or other woven material is placed into a reclosable storage bag which includes a reclosable zipper and a reclosable air valve. With the zipper open, the bag is compressed by a compression apparatus, typically in the absence of vacuum being applied, and, thereafter, the zipper is closed. Straps are wrapped around the compressed bag and the compressed bag is placed into a tote container or similar device. The result is a package with reduced volume, which reduces shipping and display costs, and is more aesthetically attractive to the consumer.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/304,734, filed on Feb. 15, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for producing compact shipping for woven fabric articles or compressible materials, such as, but not limited to, bedding materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, it is well known to package woven fabric articles or compressible materials, such as bedding material, in a package or bag made from polymeric or similar material. However, the resulting packaging can be bulky which increases transportation, storage and display costs throughout the chain of commerce. Similarly, a consumer may be less prone to buy an unwieldy package.
The storage of polymeric bag within a box is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,160, entitled “Combined Storage Apparatus”, issued on Sep. 15, 2009 to Chen.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSUREIt is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus for compressing woven fabric articles or compressible materials, such as, but not limited to, bedding materials, in order to provide a compact and aesthetically pleasing package.
This and other objects are attained by the present disclosure by providing a method and apparatus wherein compressible materials are placed into a plastic storage bag, typically of the type with an air valve and a reclosable zipper. The zipper remains open, and the compressible material and plastic storage bag are compressed, typically with a pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus. After the compression step has been performed, the zipper is closed thereby retaining the package in its compressed state. The plastic storage bag, with the compressed woven cloth material therein, is then placed into a reusable tote bag, typically including a clear vinyl portion. This results in an aesthetically pleasing container for display and sale to the customer. This further results in a tote bag and plastic storage bag which may be used by the consumer after the retail sale of the compressible material within the plastic storage bag and the tote bag.
Further objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that
Compression arm 30 reciprocates vertically toward and away from tray 20. Compression arm 30 includes flat compression plate 32 (typically sixteen by sixteen inches for applications involving bedding materials) which moves toward and away from tray 20 and impinge against the package 100 (to be described). The compression plate 32 provides a compression surface and is connected by first and second horizontal cross-beams 34, 36 which are, in turn, connected to respective first and second vertical guide rods 38, 40 which are engaged by respective first and second guide apertures 39, 41 and thereby constrained to vertical motion. Vertical drive rod 37 is connected between pneumatic drive 48 and compression plate 32. Pneumatic drive 48 thereby moves compression plate 32 vertically and applies a force to compression plate 32, thereby causing a compression force to be exerted across the area of compression plate. It has been found that a force of at least 2.5 to 3.5 pounds per square inch typically is required for sufficient compression of most compressible materials, such as, but not limited to, woven textile or cloth, particularly those frequently used for bedding materials.
After the comforter set 102 is placed in the sealable storage bag 104 as shown in
The storage bag 104 is then removed from the pressing apparatus 10 and placed into the forming section 200 of the packaging shown in
Strap portions 208, 210, 218, 220 are engaged tightly around storage bag 104 and snap buckle portions 212, 214 and 222, 224 are inter-engaged to each other to form first and second straps 216, 226 which are tightly wrapped around storage bag 104, thereby constraining storage bag 104 and maintaining the size and shape of storage bag 104.
The storage bag 104, with forming section 200 engaged thereto, is then placed within cloth tote container or bag 300, which serves as an outer container typically formed as a luggage-type container, thereby further constraining storage bag 104. Tote container or bag 300 includes a bottom wall 302 with a square or rectangular shape and four side walls 304, 306, 308, 310 extending therefrom. Top wall 312 extends from side wall 304 and includes cloth zipper 315 around three sides thereof for releasable attachment with side walls 306, 308 and 310. The terms “top”, “bottom” and “side” are arbitrary in this context as the orientation of tote container or bag 300 can be easily changed. Further, top wall 312 typically includes transparent window or portion 313 so as to allow the purchaser to see the contents of storage bag 104. Side wall 308 includes handle 314 sewn or otherwise attached thereto, thereby allowing a customer to carry the tote container or bag 300, with the storage bag 104 and comforter set 102 therein.
After the storage bag 104 and comforter set 102 have been placed into the tote container or bag 300, an optional fabric sample 400 (matching in appearance to the comforter set 102) may be placed over the storage bag 104, including the comforter set 102, and the zipper 315 of tote container or bag 300 closed, so that the display through transparent top wall 102 is more aesthetically pleasing.
In this way, an appealing and compact package for the comforter set 102 (or similar woven or similar material objects) is achieved as shown in
Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.
Claims
1-46. (canceled)
47. A packaging of compressible material, comprising:
- a package including front and rear walls, a mouth with a reclosable zipper; and an air valve in a closed position, the air valve further including an open position;
- compressible material contained within the package, the compressible material being in a compressed state resulting from a compressive force of at least 2.5 pounds per square inch, and the package being at least partially evacuated of air;
- straps secured around the package; and
- the package being contained in a tote container.
48. The packaging of claim 47 wherein the compressible material includes woven material.
49. The packaging of claim 47 wherein the compressible material includes textile or cloth.
50. The packaging of claim 48 wherein the reclosable zipper includes two interlocking profiles which, when interlocked, form a leak resistant seal.
51. The packaging of claim 50 wherein the reclosable zipper includes a slider.
52. The packaging of claim 50 further including a forming section around the package, wherein the wrapping straps extend from the forming section.
53. The packaging of claim 52 wherein the forming section includes rigid or semi-rigid bottom panel.
54. The packaging of claim 53 wherein the forming section further includes first and second rigid or semi-rigid side panels extending from the bottom panel.
55. The packaging of claim 54 wherein the tote container includes a rectangular or square bottom wall with four side walls extending therefrom, and a top wall extending from one of the side walls.
56. The packaging of claim 55 wherein the tote container includes a cloth zipper formed around three sides of the top wall for attaching to three of the side walls.
57. The packaging of claim 56 wherein the top wall includes a transparent panel.
58. The packaging of claim 57 wherein one of the side walls of the tote container includes a handle attached thereto.
59. The packaging of claim 58 further including placing a sheet of material between the package and the transparent panel of the top wall of the tote container, whereby the sheet of material is visible through the transparent panel.
60. The packaging of claim 59 wherein the sheet of material has an appearance which matches that of the woven material.
61. The packaging of claim 47 wherein the packaging, including the compressible material therein, is sold in a retail establishment.
62. The packaging of claim 47 wherein the compressive force was applied while the package was in a tray with side elements, a configuration of the side elements determining the shape of the package in the compressed state.
63. The packaging of claim 62 wherein the compressive force was applied while the package was in a tray with a rear element, a configuration of the rear element determining the shape of the package in the compressed state.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2011
Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. (Glenview, IL)
Inventors: Lawrence Share (Skokie, IL), Donald Lee Crevier (Essex, IL), Alan Varacins (Burlington, WI), Stanley Piotrowski (Addison, IL), Timothy Michael Arends (St. Charles, IL)
Application Number: 12/823,331