Packaging system

• US 6,923,324 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kanai, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US10/346,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 206/497, 206/223, 206/583, 206/495, 206/478
• US Class Current: 206/497
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/07 using resilient suspension means B65D81/051 takes precedence

Abstract

A packaging system that protects an article. The packaging system includes a corrugated paperboard cradle having a flat, rigid support portion for supporting a lower surface of the article and a tubular plastic sleeve having a tubular axis. The sleeve surrounds the article and at least a portion of the support portion to secure the article to the cradle. The sleeve is heat shrunk to conform to the upper periphery of the upper surface of the article, to form a package assembly. The cradle is placed in a universal presentation box for shipping.

Claims

1. A packaging system for an article, the article having an article width measured along a first dimension of the article, the system comprising:

a cradle being a flat sheet of corrugated paperboard, said cradle having a cradle width measured along a first dimension of said cradle and two edges spaced apart by said cradle width, said cradle for receiving, on a face thereof, the article such that the first dimension of the article is substantially aligned with said first dimension of said cradle, said cradle width substantially exceeding the article width; and

a tubular sleeve defining a tubular axis and surrounding said cradle and the article so that said tubular axis is perpendicular to the first dimension of the article and said cradle, said sleeve being formed of a heat shrinkable material and conforming to an upper periphery of said article and to said two edges such that a said sleeve adopts a substantially trapezoidal shape as viewed along said tubular axis.

2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said sleeve adopts a shape substantially conforming to the article width as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and parallel to said face.

3. The packaging system of claim 1, the article having an article length measured in a second dimension of the article that is perpendicular to the first dimension of the article, said cradle having a cradle length measured in a second dimension of said cradle that is perpendicular to said first dimension of said cradle, said cradle length substantially exceeding said article length.

4. The packaging system of claim 3, wherein said sleeve adopts a shape substantially conforming to the article width as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and parallel to said face.

5. The packaging system of claim 1, said cradle having a cradle length measured in a second dimension of said cradle that is perpendicular to said first dimension of said cradle, said tubular sleeve extending a maximum distance measured along said tubular axis, said cradle length substantially exceeding said maximum distance.

6. The packaging system of claim 5, wherein said sleeve adopts a shape substantially conforming to the article width as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and parallel to said face.

7. The packaging system of claim 5, the article having an article length measured in a second dimension of the article that is perpendicular to the first dimension of the article, said cradle length substantially exceeding said article length.

8. The packaging system of claim 7, wherein said sleeve adopts a shape substantially conforming to the article width as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and parallel to said face.

9. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein said sleeve has two opposite ends defining said maximum distance, each of said ends adopting a concave shape as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and perpendicular to said face.

10. The packaging system of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has two opposite ends defining said maximum distance, each of said ends adopting a concave shape as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and perpendicular to said face.

11. The packaging system of claim 6, wherein said sleeve has two opposite ends defining said maximum distance, each of said ends adopting a concave shape as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and perpendicular to said face.

12. The packaging system of claim 5, wherein said sleeve has two opposite ends defining said maximum distance, each of said ends adopting a concave shape as viewed in a direction perpendicular to said tubular axis and perpendicular to said face.