CRADLE FOR TRANSPORT AND SHIPMENT WITHOUT DANGER OF BREAKING BRITTLE AND PRECIOUS OBJECTS

Abstract

A device designed for transporting fragile and precious objects comprises a boxlike container, suspended inside which in a crossed configuration by means of their elastic extensions or stays (14, 14a, 16, 16a) are a first, bottom, membrane (18), designed to receive the fragile object, and a second, top, membrane (20), which has the task of covering the object itself and of appropriately tensioning the first membrane so that the object is suspended elastically in a sort of cradle, formed by said two membranes, preferably equidistant from the walls of the container itself and hence protected from any impact.

Description

The present invention relates to the sector of packaging and more precisely to a device designed for transporting fragile and precious objects comprising an anchorage constituted by two membranes set on top of one another hanging on elastic stays that fix to a container made of transparent rigid material through slits made on the walls of the container itself so as to provide a cradle, suspended within said container, in which to place one or more fragile objects, without any danger of said objects undergoing damage due to accidental impact.

By the term “packaging” is meant any composite product made of materials of any nature, designed to contain and protect given goods, from raw materials to finished products, to enable handling thereof and their delivery from the producer to the consumer or to the user and to ensure display thereof, as well as the disposable articles used for said purpose.

Owing to the increased sensitivity in regard to the protection of the environment, today considerable importance is attributed, in the containment, transport, and packaging of finished products, to the use of materials that can be readily recycled in to the reduction as far as possible of the amount of said materials. Above all in the case of tertiary packaging, i.e., packaging devised so as to facilitate handling and transport of a certain number of units or else multiple packaging to avoid handling of the units and damage linked to transport, there is a tendency to eliminate use of materials that not are biodegradable. Consider, for example, use of fillers made of plastic material such as polystyrene balls or flakes within packages containing fragile goods so as to isolate each piece from the others and prevent any impact that might cause damage.

The task of the present invention is to avoid use, in the packaging of fragile products, of pollutant and cumbersome materials that are moreover difficult to dispose of, by providing a device that is compact and can be reused in the totality of its components, that will enable transport of one or more fragile products, without danger of accidental breakage, isolating from any contact or impact the product/products itself/themselves within a container thanks to an elastic suspension system.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned above that will be usable also as showcase once it has reached its destination.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a device of the type mentioned above having a shape designed to enable stacking thereof on other similar devices.

The above purposes have been achieved according to the invention by providing a boxlike container, suspended inside which are, on top of one another, by means of their elastic extensions or stays, a first membrane, designed to receive the fragile object and a second membrane that has the task of covering the object itself and of appropriately tensioning the first membrane, by, exerting thereon a thrust downwards, so that the object is elastically suspended in a sort of “cradle”, sufficiently distant from the walls of the container itself and hence protected from any impact.

According to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, the membranes are made of a soft elastic and resistant material and can adapt to any shape of object enveloping it perfectly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each membrane is provided on two opposite sides with at least one pair of elastic extensions or stays arranged symmetrically, and said membranes are positioned in the container so that the elastic extensions or stays of the second membrane are oriented in a direction perpendicular to that of the elastic extensions or stays of the first membrane.

Preferably, each pair of elastic stays of one membrane is designed to connect up to the other pair of stays of the same membrane after the pairs of stays of each membrane have been passed from the inside of the container to the outside through corresponding slits made in the opposed walls of the container itself.

In order to facilitate said operation, the free ends of the stays of one pair are preferably equipped with male snap-action safety closing means to enable an easy engagement thereof in a condition of tension on the lid of the container with the female closing means provided on the free ends of the stays of the other pair.

According to a further characteristic of the invention, the elastic stays of the second membrane, which is set perpendicular to the first membrane, are longer than the stays of the first membrane, the slits through which they must pass to come out of the container are positioned further down than the slits for the stays of the first membrane, and the snap-action closing means at the ends of the elastic stays can be adjusted so that by varying the tensioning of the second membrane it is possible to adjust the tension of the first membrane after the object to be transported has been properly placed thereon.

In a simplified embodiment, in the case of objects of small dimensions, the extensions or stays of the supporting membrane are directly constrained to the walls of the container by passing the ends thereof in holes or slits made in two of the walls of the container and knotting them to prevent them from coming out, whilst the second membrane can be replaced by an elastic strip of adequate width that after covering the object resting on the first membrane is tensioned by passing the opposite ends thereof through two slits made on the other two walls of the container at a level lower than the one at which the first membrane is located and pulling them together on the top lid so as to exert a thrust downwards on the first membrane exerting thereon the right tensioning.

According to a variant of the invention, the first membrane, i.e., the one that supports the object, is equipped with a plurality of pockets or brackets so as to be able to position a number of objects in one and the same cradle, the length of the elastic stays being adjustable according to the weight of the objects supported therein.

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate merely by way of non-limiting example a preferred embodiment thereof. In the plates of drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container without the lid with the supporting membrane in a working position prior to introduction of the object to be transported;

FIG. 2 shows the same container once again without lid, with the object set between the two membranes;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container with the lid that is blocked in position by the elastic stays of the membrane that come out of the purposely provided slits made in the container itself;

FIG. 4 shows in front elevation a transparent container with the object suspended in the cradle formed by the two membranes tensioned by the elastic stays, ready for being transported by hand;

FIG. 5 shows the same container whilst it being put in a large box sized for being shipped;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container with the slits for passage of the elastic stays;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the supporting membrane provided with two elastic stays provided at the ends with snap-action closing elements and with laces or bands with Velcro to ensure adherence of the object to the membrane itself;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second membrane with the elastic stays provided with snap-action closing elements;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tabs at the base of the elastic stays of the first membrane for fixing the membrane to the container at the moment when the object is introduced into the container;

FIG. 10 shows a solution alternative to that of FIG. 9, whereby the tab is replaced by a guillotine detent set in the top slits of the container;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show three further embodiments of a membrane equipped with pockets or brackets for positioning a number of objects simultaneously; and

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a simplified variant of the invention, indicated for fragile objects of small dimensions such as sweet boxes or the like, in which the second membrane is made up of an elastic ribbon that is tied in a bow on the lid of the container.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, the device basically comprises a boxlike container 12, with a press-close lid 22, a first, bottom, membrane 18, which is designed to receive the fragile object F and is provided on opposite sides with two pairs of elastic extensions or stays 14, 14a and a second, top, membrane 20, which is also provided on opposite sides with pairs of extensions or stays 16, 16a. The free ends of the pairs of stays 14 and 16 are provided with snap-action safety closing means of a male type 26, whilst the free ends of the pairs of stays 14a and 16a are provided with snap-action safety closing means of a female type 28.

Said membranes are preferably made of a soft elastic and resistant material, such as neoprene, so as to be able to adapt to the shapes of the object transported enveloping it perfectly.

The first membrane 18 is mounted within the container 12 by passing on the outside the pair of elastic stays 14, 14a through corresponding slits 24, 25, which are made in the opposed front walls 30, 32 of the container 12 itself, and engaging on the lid 22 the free ends provided with male engagement means 26 with the free ends provided with female engagement means 28.

The second membrane 20 is mounted on top of the first with the same modalities with the sole difference that the stays 16, 16a, are passed through the slits 34, 36 made in the side walls 38, 40 in a direction perpendicular to that of the stays 14, 14a, so as to envelop the object F completely in a sort of wrapper or “cradle” that remains preferably suspended at the centre of the container itself, and so that the tension of the stays 16 is modified owing to the presence of adjustable male and female snap-action closing means. In this way, it is possible to provide the right tension on the stays 14 of the membrane 18 once the product or products to be packaged has/have been introduced into the container.

The container 12 can be of various sizes and shapes standardized according to boxes for shipping goods, and as may be seen in the figures, is preferably made of a transparent plastic material to enable also visual inspection of the contents, with a press-close lid 22 which, is also transparent.

As already mentioned, the first membrane 18 can be provided with laces, elastic brackets or bands with Velcro 13, to ensure adherence of the object to the membrane itself, as may be seen in FIG. 7.

It can moreover be provided, as may be seen in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, with a plurality of pockets 44, 46 or brackets 48 of different shapes and sizes, for placing a number of objects in one and the same container.

Finally, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the presence of tabs 40 projecting along the elastic stays 14, 14a or as an alternative to the guillotine detents 42 in the slits 24, 26, which make possible, by blocking return of the stays 14, 14a, to stop temporarily in a suspended position the membrane 18 to enable introduction of the object F, before proceeding to positioning the second covering membrane 20 and to closing with the lid 22.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a variant whereby, in the presence of objects of small dimensions, the second membrane is replaced by an elastic ribbon 20a that is tied in a bow on the lid, whilst the first membrane is constrained to the walls of the container fixing with knots the free ends of its extensions within holes 50 that replace the top slits in the walls of the container.

From what has been said so far the advantageous characteristics of the invention are evident, as likewise the possible uses thereof.

In particular, the device described may be used in museum and exhibition stands, by setting each item in its “cradle” and reserving for the smaller items the membrane equipped with multiple pockets or brackets.

The device may be used in gift or promotional packaging, personalizing the container as regards its shapes and the use of colours and particular conformations of the stays and/or extensions of the membranes.

Finally, the device may be used as container in all those cases where the product calls for particular care to prevent any damage deriving from an inappropriate resting position: consider in particular precious products, such as truffles, where the part in contact with a rigid resting surface is likely to rot.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein. It is on the other hand evident that many variations and modifications may be made by persons skilled in the branch without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the ensuing claims.

Claims

1. A device designed for transporting fragile and previous objects, comprises comprising a boxlike container, suspended inside which in a crossed configuration by means of their elastic extensions or stays are a first, bottom, membrane, designed to receive a fragile object, and a second, top, membrane, for covering the fragile object and tensioning the first membrane so that the fragile object is suspended elastically in a sort of cradle, formed by said two membranes, preferably equidistant from the walls of the container itself and hence protected from any impact.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the membranes are made of a soft elastic and resistant material and can adapt to any shape of object enveloping it perfectly.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each membrane has on opposite sides at least two elastic extensions or stays arranged symmetrically, and wherein said membranes are positioned in the container on top of one another so that the elastic stays of the second membrane are oriented in a direction perpendicular to that of the elastic stays of the first membrane.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each pair of elastic stays of one membrane is equipped with means for engaging the other pair of stays of the same membrane.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the free ends of the stays of on pair are equipped with male snap-action safety closing means to enable easy engagement thereof in a condition of tension on the lid of the container with the female closing means provided on the free ends of the stays of the other pair, after the pairs of stays of each membrane are passed from the inside of the container to the outside through corresponding slits made in the opposed walls of the container itself.

6. The device as claim 1, wherein the elastic stays of the second membrane that is positioned on top of the first are longer than the stays of the first membrane, and the slits through which said elastic stays must pass to come out of the container are located, in the walls of the container, at a level lower than those for the stays of the first membrane, so that by adjusting the tensioning of the second membrane it is possible to adjust the tension of the first membrane.

7. The device as of claim 1, wherein the first membrane, is equipped with a plurality of pockets or brackets so that a number of objects can be positioned in one and the same cradle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the elastic stays can be adjusted according to the weight of the object.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the container and its lid are made of transparent material to enable visibility of the object or objects contained therein.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the extensions or the stays of the supporting membrane are directly constrained to the walls of the container by passing the ends thereof in holes or slits made in two of the walls of the container and knotting them to prevent them from coming out, whilst the second membrane can be replaced by an elastic strip of adequate width that after covering the object resting on the first membrane is tensioned by passing the opposite ends thereof through two slits made in the other two walls of the container at a level lower than the one at which the first membrane is located and pulling them together on the top lid so as to exert a thrust downwards on the first membrane exerting a tensioning thereon.