Package cushioning for an article to be packaged

Abstract

A cushioning part for cushioning an article to be packaged in an outer packaging has a mat-shaped base layer, from which at least one hollow support body protrudes above a base cross section cutout on the top side. In order to improve the damping of the article to be packaged by the cushioning part, the invention proposes that the support body is designed in the form of an arcuate bridge which spans the base cross section cut out of the support body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE 10 2023 101 682.2, filed on Jan. 24, 2023, the contents of which is incorporated in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a cushioning part for cushioning an article to be packaged in an outer packaging. The disclosure further relates to a sliding box with a cushioning part and with a sleeve as an outer packaging for the cushioning part.

BACKGROUND

Cushioning parts for cushioning an article to be packaged in an outer packaging are generally known in the prior art. For example, European patent application EP 3 848 302 A1 discloses a cushioning part with a mat-shaped base layer, from which at least one hollow support body protrudes.

Sliding boxes for holding articles packed with cushioning parts are also generally known in the prior art.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a cushioning part and a sliding box that provide improved dampening of an article packaged within the cushioning part and the sliding box.

The cushioning part includes a mat-shaped base layer, from which at least one hollow support body protrudes upwardly above a base cross section cutout. The support body is designed in the form of an arcuate bridge which spans the base cross section cutout of the support body.

One advantage of the arcuate bridge shape is its improved elasticity compared to a known hump-shaped or truncated cone-shaped support body. The arcuate bridge can be easily pressed in, i.e., it is flexible, in response to a pressure load from the packaged article. This is achieved because the support bodies are hollow and a passage is formed below the arcuate bridge. The hollow passage can accommodate the pressed-in arcuate bridge in the event of a pressure load.

In this application, the terms “section” and “area” are used interchangeably.

The cushioning parts can advantageously be nested or stacked in one another in the delivery state, at least unless laminated to a supporting layer. This saves volume in the delivery state.

The disclosure also relates to a sliding box. The sliding box includes at least one cushioning part as discussed above and a sleeve as an outer packaging. The sleeve may be in the form of a rectangular tube section. The cushioning part can be pushed into and out of the sleeve together with the article to be packaged.

As far as technically possible, all combinations of the exemplary embodiments described here for the cushioning part and the sliding box are also considered to be disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cushioning part with a random arrangement of individual support bodies according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a cushioning part according to a second exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a support body in a detailed view;

FIG. 4 shows the cushioning part in an L-shaped third exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a cushioning part in a U-shaped fourth exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a cushioning part according to a fifth exemplary embodiment with two folded-over edge regions for partially overlapping the central region;

FIG. 7 shows a cushioning part in a rectangular configuration according to a sixth exemplary embodiment with four folded-over edge regions for completely overlapping the central region;

FIG. 8 shows a cushioning part according to a seventh exemplary embodiment, the base layer being laminated to a supporting layer;

FIG. 9 shows a cushioning part according to an eighth exemplary embodiment with two folding edges that are at right angles to one another; and

FIG. 10 shows a sliding box with a cushioning part and with a sleeve as outer packaging for the cushioning part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described in detail below in the form of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. In all figures, the same technical elements are designated with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a cushioning part 100 for cushioning an article to be packaged in an outer packaging. The packaged article is not shown in the figures. For cushioning, the article is placed on the cushioning part 100 and is at least partially surrounded by the cushioning part 100 within the outer packaging.

The cushioning part 100 comprises a mat-shaped base layer 110, from which at least one hollow support body 120 protrudes upwardly above a base cross section cutout 122 on the upper side. Preferably, multiple support bodies 120 are used. The support bodies 120 are designed in the form of arcuate bridges 124, which span the base cross section cutouts 122 of the support body 120. The article 30 to be packaged is typically placed flat on the elastic bridges 124 and is thereby stored in a cushioned manner. In addition to the support bodies designed as arcuate bridges, further and differently configured support bodies may also be formed on the base layer 110. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the support bodies 120 are distributed in a random arrangement on the base layer. That is, in the illustrated example at least some of the support bodies are not symmetrically arranged in columns and rows but rather asymmetrically distributed. With regard to the advantages of the support body 120 in the form of the arcuate bridge 124, reference is made to the statements made above in the summary of the description.

Unlike a uniformly foamed material, as used in the prior art, the damping resistance of the support body can be variably adjusted, e.g., by varying its geometry, especially the arc radii or material thickness. The strength of the damping resistance can be partially different or evenly distributed over the surface of the cushioning part.

The cushioning part may include a first support body having an arcuate bridge with a first arc radius. The cushioning part may include a second support body having an arcuate bridge with a second arc radius, the second radius being smaller than the first radius.

The cushioning part may include a first support body having an arcuate bridge having a first material thickness. The cushioning part may include a second support body having an arcuate bridge having a second material thickness, the second material thickness being smaller than the first material thickness.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the cushioning part, in which a plurality of the support bodies 120 are arranged on the base layer 110 in a first section I of the cushioning part 100, here for example 4 rows one behind the other. The arcuate bridges 124 of the individual support bodies 120 are arranged parallel to one another, so that the passages 128 below the arcuate bridges 124 of the support bodies 120 are aligned with one another in a row. The aligned passages 120 of a series of support elements together form an elongated cavity, which can also serve to hold a rod-shaped article to be packaged, especially if the cushioning part is inserted into the outer packaging.

The rows of support bodies 120, which can be seen in parallel in FIG. 2, can be connected to one another via webs 127, whereby the stability of the first section I of the cushioning part 100 is significantly increased. The webs 127 are typically also designed as hollow bodies, just like the support bodies 120. Therefore, the base cross sections of both the webs 127 and the support bodies 120, 122 are cutouts, i.e., they are formed as holes in the base layer 110.

The support bodies 120, which are arranged in a row one behind the other according to FIG. 2, are arranged there, for example, so close one behind the other that the springers 126 of the arcuate bridges 124 merge into one another in the longitudinal direction of the rows and form a common base height H1. This applies to each two adjacent support bodies arranged one behind the other. The springers 126 denote the transitions of the cushioning parts from the mat-shaped base layer 110 to the arcuate bridge 124. The springers are not to be understood as being separate from the arcuate bridges, but rather as being part of the arcuate bridges.

FIG. 2 also shows that in the first section I, also called the central region, the support bodies 120 can have a lateral surface 121 on at least one side of the arcuate bridge 124. The lateral surface 121 can be designed to be completely closed, in which case it is designated by reference number 121-1, or it can be only partially closed or partially open, in which case it is designated by reference number 121-2.

The cushioning part shown in FIG. 2 consists, for example, of five sections I, II, III, IV, V, which are separated from one another via respective folding edges Ki with i=1-I, here K1 to K4. Regardless of the folding edges, the cushioning part 100 is formed in one piece in its entirety with all its sections. For example, it is made of pulp, cardboard, fiber molding or a combination of these materials. In contrast to plastic foams often used in the prior art, these materials are sustainable and environmentally friendly, and in particular recyclable.

FIG. 3 shows an individual support body 120, as it protrudes in one piece from the base layer 110. The support body has a partially closed lateral surface 121-2 at least on one side of the arcuate bridge 124. This partially closed lateral surface 121-2 is formed in the base area of the support body 120 between the base layer 110 and extends up to a predetermined height H2 above the base layer. Above the height H2, the lateral surface does not exist, or it has an opening there to form the passage 128 below the arcuate bridge 124.

The following applies to the common base height H1 and the predetermined height H2 of the lateral surface 121:

• • ¼Hmax<H1<¾Hmax, preferably ⅓Hmax<H1<⅔Hmax; and
  • ¼Hmax<H2<¾Hmax, preferably ⅓Hmax<H2<⅔Hmax;
  • where Hmax is the vertical distance between the base layer 110 and the apex of the arcuate bridge.

The base height H1 and the predetermined height H2 advantageously each form height limits for the indentation of the arcuate bridges 124 by the article to be packaged in a load case. If the two heights H1, H2 are different, the higher of the two heights is reached first and forms a resistance against further indentation of the arcuate bridge. Only when the load that occurs is so great that this resistance is overcome does further indentation take place to the lower of the two heights, which forms further resistance to the indentation.

Regardless of whether the lateral surface 121 is completely or partially closed, it is typically designed in the base area of the support body 120 in the form of a plane running obliquely to the base layer 110. This inclined plane is inclined relative to the base layer by an acute angle α, for which the following applies, for example:

• • 30°<α<90°, preferably 40°<α <80°.

FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the cushioning part 100, in which the first section I and the second section II are folded relative to one another at the folding edge I by a fold angle β of here, for example, β=90 °.

In order to realize such a folding arrangement, it is necessary that the support bodies 120 in the first and second sections I, II of the cushioning part 100 are arranged and/or designed in such a way that the folding of the two adjacent sections relative to one another is possible. That is, the support bodies 120 of the two adjacent sections must not hinder or stand in the way of each other when the folding occurs.

On the one hand, this can be realized in that a support body in the first section I at the folding edge Ki, here in particular K1, is not directly opposite to a support body in the second section II at the folding edge. Alternatively or additionally, a mutual hindrance of the support bodies at the folding edge can be prevented in that the acute angles at which the mutually facing lateral surfaces of two support bodies at the folding edge are each inclined relative to their associated base layer are ≤90° in total. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, the acute angle α1 by which the partially closed lateral surface 121-2 of the support body 120 on the first section I is inclined and the acute angle α2 by which the closed lateral surface 121-1 of the support body 120 in the section II is inclined relative to the base layer 110, together form an angle ≤90°.

FIG. 5 shows the cushioning part 100 according to a fourth exemplary embodiment in a U-shaped arrangement. The cushioning part 100 comprises two sections II and III as edge regions, which are each folded by 90° relative to the central region I at the folding edges K1 and K3. This presupposes that the support bodies 120, which are opposite one another in the folding areas, are arranged and/or designed in such a way that they do not hinder one another when folding, as was previously explained with reference to FIG. 4. The central region I and the folded sections II and III together create a space to accommodate the article 30 to be packaged. Due to the elastic design of the support bodies 120 both in the central region I and in sections II, III, the article 30 to be packaged is stored well padded both in the vertical downward direction and in the horizontal direction.

FIG. 6 shows the cushioning part 100 according to a 5th exemplary embodiment with a central region I and two folded sections II and IV as edge regions.

The edge region II is folded by 90° relative to the central region I and the edge region IV is in turn also folded by 90° relative to the edge region II. The edge region IV so lies opposite and parallel to the central region I at a distance therefrom. In order to keep this distance constant and stabilized, spacers 130 are attached to the section IV, preferably on both edges, which support the section IV relative to the base layer 110. Here, for example, a truncated cone-shaped support body 120 is formed within the spacer to stabilize the spacer 130 against buckling. In the fifth exemplary embodiment shown here, the three sections I, II and IV of the cushioning part form a kind of pocket into which the article to be packaged can be inserted. It is then fully padded and protected in the area of the 4th section IV.

As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment for the spacer 130 shown in FIG. 6, the spacers can also be attached entirely or partially to the edges of the first section I and/or to the edges of the section II. Solutions are also conceivable in which spacers are provided on the edges of several sections that support each other.

FIG. 7 shows the cushioning part according to a 6th exemplary embodiment with the central region I and with the four folded sections II, III, IV and V. The 6th exemplary embodiment is a development of the 5th exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6. The folded sections III and V have been added over what is shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the cushioning part 100 represents a closed cushioning part with a rectangular cross section. The closure is achieved in particular because the free ends of sections IV and V lie flush with one another, that is, they abut one another without any gaps. Alternatively, these free ends can also be spaced apart, i.e., they can be formed with a gap from one another. The cross section then results in an open rectangle.

In FIG. 7 it can also be seen that the support bodies 120 in the 2nd section II and the third section III have closed lateral surfaces 121-1 on both sides of their arcuate bridges. The closed lateral surfaces not only serve to provide greater rigidity in the edge area, but also primarily ensure that these sections II, III are closed to the outside. This is important because if, as will be explained later with reference to FIG. 10, the cushioning part 100 is inserted in a sliding direction S into a sleeve 210 as an outer packaging, the sections II and III form the outside of a sliding box 200. The 6th embodiment of the cushioning part 100 according to FIG. 7 offers a cavity in its interior for receiving the article to be packaged. This cavity offers all-around protection for the article to be packaged.

FIG. 8 shows the cushioning part 100 according to a 7th exemplary embodiment, the base layer 110 being laminated with its underside on a supporting layer 140, here for example in the form of corrugated cardboard. The support bodies 120 mentioned are formed on the top side of the base layer 110. This applies not only to the central region I, but also to the neighboring sections II and III. The central region I and the adjacent sections II, III are formed in one piece with one another, although separated from one another via the known folding edges K1, K3. The supporting layer 140 is also formed in one piece under the entire base layer 110; however, it can alternatively be only partially laid there and/or separated for each individual section I, II, III.

The supporting layer 140 preferably has a recess in the area of the base cross section cutout 122 of at least one of the support elements 120 as access into the cavity of the respective support body 120 from below, i.e., from the supporting layer 140.

FIG. 9 shows the cushioning part 100 according to an 8th exemplary embodiment by means of two folding edges K1 and K2, which are arranged here, for example, at a right angle to one another. Folding the sections II and III by, for example, 90° relative to the central region I advantageously enables the cushioning part 100 to be formed in the form of a cube.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows the sliding box 200. This consists of at least one of the previously described cushioning parts 100 and a sleeve 210 as outer packaging for the cushioning part in the form of a rectangular tube section, for example. The cushioning part 100 can be pushed into and out of the sleeve together with the article to be packaged, not shown in FIG. 10, in a sliding direction S.

The front of the sliding box is omitted in FIG. 10 solely to allow a view into the interior of the sliding box. The front typically corresponds to Section II, as described above with reference to FIG. 7. The details of the cushioning part 100 can be seen, namely in particular the support bodies 120, the webs 127 and the spacers 130 which support in the vertical direction. It is not absolutely necessary that only cushioning parts 100 according to the 6th exemplary embodiment can be inserted into the sliding box 200, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. Rather, it is also conceivable that cushioning parts according to all eight embodiments discussed above or combinations thereof can be inserted into the sleeve 210 together with the article to be packaged.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

• • 30 article to be packed
  • 100 cushioning part
  • 110 mat-shaped base layer
  • 120 hollow support body
  • 121 lateral surface
  • 121-1 closed lateral surface
  • 121-2 partially opened/closed lateral surface
  • 122 base cross section cutout
  • 124 arcuate bridge
  • 126 springer
  • 127 web
  • 128 passage
  • 130 spacer
  • 140 supporting layer
  • 200 sliding box
  • 210 sleeve
  • I to V sections/areas
  • H1 base height
  • H2 predetermined height
  • H_max vertical distance between the apex of the arcuate bridge and the base layer
  • Ki, K1, K2 folding edge
  • α acute angle between the lateral surface and the base layer
  • β bend angle
  • S sliding direction

Claims

1. A cushioning part (100) for cushioning an article (30) to be packaged in an outer packaging, comprising:

a mat-shaped base layer (110); and

a hollow support body (120) protruding above a base cross section cutout (122) on an upper side of the mat-shaped base layer (110),

wherein the hollow support body (120) is designed in form of an arcuate bridge (124) which spans the base cross section cutout (122) of the hollow support body (120).

2. A cushioning part (100) for cushioning an article (30) to be packaged in an outer packaging, comprising:

a mat-shaped base layer (110); and

a plurality of hollow support bodies (120), each protruding above a respective base cross section cutout (122) on an upper side of the mat-shaped base layer (110),

wherein the hollow support bodies (120) are designed in form of an arcuate bridge (124) which spans the respective base cross section cutout (122) of the support body (120),

wherein adjacent hollow support bodies (120) of the plurality of hollow support bodies (120) are arranged in at least one row on the base layer (110), and

wherein the arcuate bridges (124) at the support bodies (120) arranged in a row are arranged parallel to one another, and passages (128) below the arcuate bridges (124) are each aligned with one another.

3. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 2,

wherein two adjacent rows of support bodies (120) are supported against each other by at least one web (127).

4. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 2,

wherein at least two of the adjacent hollow support bodies (120) arranged in the row are arranged so closely one behind another that springers (126) of their arcuate bridges merge into one another and form a common base height (H1).

5. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 2,

wherein a completely or partially closed lateral surface (121-1, 121-2) is formed on at least one of the plurality of hollow support bodies (120) on at least one side of the arcuate bridge (124).

6. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 4,

wherein a partially closed lateral surface (121-2) is formed in a base area of at least one of the support bodies (120) between the base layer (110) and a predetermined height (H2) above the base layer (110); and

wherein the partially closed lateral surface has an opening above the predetermined height (H2) to form a passage (128) below the arcuate bridge (124).

7. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 6,

wherein the common base height (H1) is between ¼ and ¾ of a vertical distance (Hmax) between the base layer (110) and an apex of the arcuate bridge, and

wherein the predetermined height (H2) is between ¼ and ¾ of the vertical distance (Hmax) between the base layer (110) and the apex of the arcuate bridge.

8. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 5,

wherein the lateral surface (121-1, 121-2) in a base area of the support body (120) is formed in a plane that runs obliquely to the base layer (110) at an acute angle (α) that is between 30° and 90°.

9. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 1,

wherein the cushioning part (100) is made of pulp, cardboard, cast fiber, or a combination thereof.

10. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 1, further comprising

a supporting layer (140) in the form of corrugated cardboard,

wherein an underside of the base layer (110) is laminated onto the supporting layer (140).

11. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 10, further comprising

a recess in the corrugated cardboard in an area of the base cross section cutout of the hollow support body (120), the recess providing an access to a cavity of the hollow support body (120).

12. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 1,

wherein the base layer (110) outside the hollow support body (120) has at least one straight folding edge (Ki),

wherein the straight folding edge (Ki) divides the base layer (110) into at least a first and a second section (I, II, III, IV, V),

wherein hollow support bodies (120) are arranged and/or designed in the first and second section in such a way that the first and a second section (I, II, III, IV, V) can be folded relative to one another by 90°.

13. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 12,

wherein those of the hollow support bodies (120) arranged at the folding edge (Ki) in the first section (I) are not opposed to those of the support bodies (120) that are arranged at the folding edge (Ki) in the second section (II).

14. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 12,

wherein a first support body of the support bodies is arranged in the first section (I) at the folding edge (Ki) and in the second section (II) a second support body of the support bodies is arranged in the second section (II) at the folding edge (Ki),

wherein the first support body (120) and the second support body (120) are arranged opposite one another,

wherein a lateral surface (121) of the first support body (120) facing the folding edge, regardless of whether it is open, partially closed or completely closed, forms a first acute angle (α1) with the base layer (110),

wherein a lateral surface of the second support body (120) facing the folding edge, regardless of whether it is open, partially closed or completely closed, forms a second acute angle (α2) with the base layer (110), and

wherein a sum of the first acute angle (α1) and the second acute angle (α2) is smaller than 90° (α1+α2<90°).

15. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 14,

wherein lateral surfaces of the support bodies (120) in the second and/or a third section (II, III) have no openings.

16. The cushioning part (100) according to one of claim 12,

wherein that the base layer (110) has two, three, four or more straight folding edges (Ki),

wherein the base layer (110) is accordingly divided into three, four, five or more sections (III, IV, V), and

wherein the support bodies (120) are each arranged and/or designed in an area of the folding edges (Ki) in such a way that two adjacent ones of the three, four, five or more sections (III, IV, V) can be folded by 90° relative to one another, in order to form the cushioning part with a cross section in shape of a U or in shape of a rectangle.

17. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 16,

wherein two of the folding edges are formed at an angle of 90° to one another on the base layer (110) to form the cushioning part in the form of a cube.

18. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 16,

wherein a fourth or a fifth section (IV, V) lies opposite the first section (I) of the cushioning part (100) when folded, and

wherein at least one spacer (130) is arranged to support the fourth or fifth section (IV, V) at a distance from the first section (I).

19. The cushioning part (100) according to claim 18,

wherein a hollow support body (120) is formed in the spacer (130).

20. A sliding box (200), comprising:

the cushioning part (100) according to claim 1; and

a sleeve (210) forming an outer packaging in form of a rectangular tube section,

wherein the cushioning part (100) is configured to be pushed into and out of the sleeve together with the article to be packaged.

21. The sliding box (200) according to claim 20,

wherein the cushioning part (100) has an L-shaped cross section as a one-sided edge with a second section (II) which is folded relative to a first section (I), or

wherein the cushioning part has a U-shaped cross section with a second and third section (II, III) which is folded relative to a first section (I) as edges, or

wherein the cushioning part (100) is designed with a rectangular cross section, with a fourth section and a fifth section of the base layer (110) facing a first section (I) when folded over, and with free ends of the fourth section and the fifth section (IV; V) spaced apart or touching each other, and

wherein the cushioning part (100) including all sections is formed in one piece.