Insert for protecting a product within a box

• US 20060131207A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritiv Operating Company (Pixelle Specialty Solutions LLC)
• Original Assignee: International Paper Company
• Inventors: Kari, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,648,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/591
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5045 Tubular lining and supporting elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/05 maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents B65D81/022, B65D81/025, B65D81/03 take precedence

Abstract

The invention provides a symmetrical, corrugated fibreboard blank which can be folded into an insert configured to be received within a shipping container. A product can be protected and secured by the insert. The symmetrical design results in ease and speed of assembly regardless of the orientation of the blank along the end user'"'"'s packaging assembly line. The 5-sided shape of the insert produces void spaces that the products cannot reach, thus creating natural air cells within the insert. The ends, tabs and panels of the insert also provide for minimal movement of the product within the insert and further provide layers of cushioning upon impact. The insert can secure a variety of different sized products, is environmentally friendly, inexpensive and space-saving.

Claims

1. An insert for receiving and protecting at least one of a plurality of different sized and shaped products, said insert comprising:

a member having an opening extending therethrough for receiving and protecting the product therein; and

a first bellows panel configured to close off a first end of said opening and further configured to be at least partially positioned within said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said member such that the product may be secured within said opening of said member with minimal movement.

2. An insert as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second bellows panel configured to close off a second end of said opening and further configured to be at least partially positioned within said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said member such that the product may be secured within said opening of said member with minimal movement.

3. An insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said first bellows panel comprises first and second portions divided by a fold line, said second portion of said first bellows panel comprising first and second segments divided by a bellows fold line, said first segment being separated from said first portion by said fold line.

4. An insert as defined in claim 3, wherein said second segment of said first bellows panel is configured to be positioned proximate to the product within said opening.

5. An insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said member has at least one portion thereof which is configured to be folded into said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said member such that the product may be secured within said opening of said member with minimal movement.

6. An insert as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one tab member extending outwardly from said member, said at least one tab member configured to space said member from a sidewall of a box when said insert is packed inside the box.

7. An insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is formed by folding a single corrugated fibreboard blank and by securing a first portion of said blank to a second portion of said blank with an adhesive.

8. An insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is formed by folding a single corrugated fibreboard blank and by inserting a locking tab of said corrugated fibreboard blank into an aperture formed during the folding of said corrugated fibreboard blank.

9. An insert as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is generally pentagonal in cross-section.

10. An insert for receiving and protecting at least one of a plurality of different sized and shaped products, said insert comprising:

a five-sided portion defining an opening therethrough for receiving and protecting the product therein; and

means for closing off opposite ends of said opening.

11. An insert as defined in claim 10, wherein said five-sided portion has at least one portion thereof which is configured to be folded into said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said five-sided portion such that the product may be secured within said opening of said five-sided portion with minimal movement.

12. An insert as defined in claim 11, wherein said at least one portion of said five-sided portion which is configured to be folded into said opening is a V-panel.

13. An insert as defined in claim 12, wherein said V-panel includes first and second elongated panels which are secured to one another along a fold line, said fold line of said V-panel being positioned proximate to the product when said V-panel is folded into said opening.

14. An insert as defined in claim 13, wherein said five-sided portion has at least one aperture provided therethrough proximate to said fold line of said V-panel in order to provide relief for the folding of the V-panel into said opening.

15. An insert as defined in claim 11, wherein said at least one portion of said five-sided portion which is configured to be folded into said opening is a flap member.

16. An insert as defined in claim 10, wherein said closing means comprise first and second bellows panels which are connected to said five-sided portion, said first bellows panel configured to close off a first end of said opening, said second bellows panel configured to close off a second, opposite end of said opening, said first and second bellows panels further configured to be at least partially positioned within said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said five-sided portion such that the product may be secured within said opening of said five-sided portion with minimal movement.

17. An insert as defined in claim 16, wherein each said bellows panel comprises first and second portions divided by a fold line, said second portions of said bellows panels comprising first and second segments divided by a bellows fold line, said first segment being separated from said first portion by said fold line.

18. An insert as defined in claim 17, wherein said second segments of said first and second bellows panels are configured to be positioned proximate to the product within said opening.

19. An insert as defined in claim 10, further comprising at least one tab member extending outwardly from said five-sided portion, said at least one tab member configured to space said five-sided portion from a sidewall of a box when said insert is packed inside the box.

20. An insert as defined in claim 10, wherein said five-sided portion of said insert is formed by folding a single corrugated fibreboard blank and by securing a first portion of the corrugated fibreboard blank to a second portion of the corrugated fibreboard blank with an adhesive.

21. An insert as defined in claim 10, wherein said five-sided portion of said insert is formed by folding a single corrugated fibreboard blank and by inserting a locking tab of the corrugated fibreboard blank into an aperture formed during the folding of the corrugated fibreboard blank.

22. An insert as defined in claim 10, further comprising end panels which are connected to said five-sided portion, said end panels configured to be positioned between said closing means and a sidewall of a box when said insert is packed inside the box, such that further protection is provided between the box and the product secured within said opening.

23. An insert as defined in claim 10, wherein said insert is formed from a single corrugated fibreboard blank.

24. A blank configured to be folded into an insert for protecting a product, said blank comprising:

a base panel generally having first, second, third and fourth sides, said first and second sides being positioned opposite one another, said third and fourth sides being positioned opposite one another, said first and second sides being positioned generally perpendicular to said third and fourth sides;

first and second intermediate panels, said first intermediate panel being joined to said first side of said base panel, said second intermediate panel being joined to said second side of said base panel;

first and second bellows panels, said first bellows panel being joined to said third side of said base panel, said second bellows panel being joined to said fourth side of said base panel;

first and second top panels, said first top panel being joined to said first intermediate panel along a side of said first intermediate panel which is opposite said first side of said base panel, said second top panel being joined to said second intermediate panel along a side of said second intermediate panel which is opposite said second side of said base panel; and

first, second, third and fourth end panels, said first and second end panels being joined to opposite sides of said first top panel, said opposite sides of said first top panel being generally perpendicular to said side of said first intermediate panel which is opposite said first side of said base panel, said third and fourth end panels being joined to opposite sides of said second top panel, said opposite sides of said second top panel being generally perpendicular to said side of said second intermediate panel which is opposite said second side of said base panel.

25. A blank as defined in claim 24, wherein said base panel has a fold line which generally extends from said third side thereof to said fourth side thereof, generally equidistantly between said first side thereof and said second side thereof.

26. A blank as defined in claim 25, wherein said base panel has a V-panel which includes first and second elongated panels which are secured to one another along a portion of said fold line.

27. A blank as defined in claim 24, further comprising at least one flap member which is partially provided on said base panel and partially provided on said first intermediate panel.

28. A blank as defined in claim 24, further comprising at least one flap member which is partially provided on said base panel and partially provided on said second intermediate panel.

29. A blank as defined in claim 24, wherein each said bellows panel comprises first and second portions divided by a fold line, said second portions of said bellows panels comprising first and second segments divided by a bellows fold line, said first segment being separated from said first portion by said fold line.

30. A blank as defined in claim 24, wherein said base panel, said first and second intermediate panels, and said first and second top panels are configured to be folded to form a five-sided structure having an opening provided therethrough.

31. A blank as defined in claim 30, wherein said first bellows panel is configured to be folded to close off a first end of said opening, said second bellows panel configured to be folded to close off a second, opposite end of said opening, said first and second bellows panels further configured to be at least partially positioned within said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said five-sided structure such that the product may be secured within said opening of said five-sided structure with minimal movement.

32. A blank as defined in claim 31, wherein said first and third end panels are configured to be folded such that said first and third end panels are positioned between said first bellows panel and a sidewall of a box when the insert is packed inside the box, and wherein said second and fourth end panels are configured to be folded such that said second and fourth end panels are positioned between said second bellows panels and an opposite sidewall of the box when the insert is packed inside the box.

33. A blank as defined in claim 30, wherein said first and second top panels are secured to one another by an adhesive in order to form said five-sided structure.

34. A blank as defined in claim 30, wherein said first and second top panels are secured to one another by a tab member provided on one of said first and second top panels being locked into an aperture formed during the folding of said blank.

35. A blank as defined in claim 24, wherein said blank is formed of corrugated fibreboard.

36. A method of folding a single blank to form an insert configured to receive and protect a product, said method comprising the steps of:

folding first panels of said blank to form a member having an opening extending therethrough; and

folding second panels of said blank to close off ends of said opening and to decrease an interior dimension of said member.

37. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

folding third panels of said blank such that said third panels are positioned between said second panels and a sidewall of a box when said insert is packed inside a box.

38. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein said member is generally pentagonal in cross-section.

39. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

folding at least one portion of said first panels into said opening in order to decrease an interior dimension of said member.

40. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

securing said first panels in a form of said member with an adhesive.

41. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the step of:

securing said first panels in a form of said member by inserting a locking tab of said blank into an aperture formed during the folding of said blank.