Abstract:
This invention relates to protective packaging materials for use during shipping and/or storage of objects. The packaging material of the present invention, referred to as the protective packing material, comprises a flexible mesh structure and a means for absorbing shock integrated into the flexible mesh structure whereby the invention may be either wrapped around or stuffed in and around one or more objects such that the shock absorbing means absorbs a shock from a blow to the one or more objects thereby protecting the one or more objects from damage and the mesh structure contains the shock absorbing means and prevents the shock absorbing means from scattering.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This invention relates to protective packaging materials for fragile objects. Various types of packaging materials have been, and are being employed for packaging and shipping of perishable or fragile objects. These have included the use of various kinds of packaging material intended to both space and protect objects within an outer box.  
           [0002]    For example, a packaging material commonly known as bubble pack or bubble wrap is currently used to provide cushioning for the shipping of fragile objects. However, bubble wrap has inherent disadvantages. Such disadvantages include maintaining the integrity and cushioning ability of the bubble wrap as the air pockets are punctured as a result of coming in contact with the sharp edges of the item being protected or other items being shipped contemporaneously. Moreover, the bubble wrap is not suitable to insure proper spacing between objects and is difficult to force into tight spaces between two objects being shipped in the same container without puncturing. Bubble wrap also acts as an insulator and traps heat and moisture. It does not allow an item to “breath” to release heat and moisture. Trapped moisture could cause damage to an item being shipped.  
           [0003]    Another current example of packaging materials is the styrofoam® or other like material formed as “peanuts”. The peanut is essentially extruded and expanded polystyrene or like material that has been manufactured to various sizes and shapes. Such packing materials do a good job of evenly and efficiently filling the spaces surrounding an odd shaped item or items in a box. Furthermore, the peanut has a property of“elastic memory” that allows a crushed or deformed peanut to return to its original shape.  
           [0004]    However, the peanut has significant disadvantages. Peanuts are lightweight and as a result tend to scatter everywhere. The peanuts often carry an electrostatic charge that causes them to cling to things, which makes sweeping them up and collecting them difficult. Because they are lightweight, they blow away easily in the wind and are easily scattered into the environment. Once into the environment, the peanuts are a hazard as they can be ingested by animals causing injury or even death.  
           [0005]    Thus, what is needed is a new packing material to overcome the deficiencies of current protective packaging approaches as discussed above. Such an invention must be able to provide excellent protective qualities, be reusable, allow flexibility in spacing of multiple items in a container, and comprise a system that will not scatter into the environment after use or between uses.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    The present invention solves the deficiencies inherent in current packaging materials. The present invention provides excellent protective qualities and is reusable. The present invention also allows flexibility in use in that it can be either used to wrap single and multiple items and/or can be used to space multiple items within a larger container by stuffing the invention between and around multiple items. Further, the present invention, unlike peanuts, will not scatter and is easy to collect and store for future use.  
           [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, the protective packing material includes a flexible mesh structure and a means for absorbing shock integrated into the flexible mesh structure. The present invention may be either wrapped around or stuffed in and around one or more objects such that the shock absorbing means absorbs a shock from a blow to the object(s) thereby protecting the object(s) from damage. The mesh structure contains the shock absorbing means and prevents the shock absorbing means from scattering.  
           [0008]    These and other advantages and features of the present invention shall hereinafter appear, and for the purposes of illustration, but not limited, exemplary embodiments of the present invention shall hereinafter be described. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the protective packing material in combination with an object.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a prospective view of the protective packing material.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a side view of the protective packing material.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention utilizing “peanut” shaped shock absorbing nodules.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the protective packing material. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    In accordance with the present invention, protective packing material is provided as shown generally in FIGS. 1 through 5 and is indicated by the numeral  10 . FIG. 1 shows the invention  10  in combination with an object  6 . However, the present invention is not limited in its use to a single object shipped in a single box. The present invention may be used to wrap and protect multiple objects to be shipped or stored in or without an external container. The present invention may also be used to space and protect one or more objects in a container by stuffing it between and around objects. Yet another use of the present invention includes the combination of wrapping objects, placing the wrapped objects in a container, and then using additional packing material of the present invention as a spacer between objects in the container.  
         [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, and referring generally to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , the protective packing material includes a flexible mesh structure  20  that is essentially gridlike or netlike. Specifically referring to FIG. 3, the mesh structure has a top side  22  and a bottom side  24 . The mesh structure  20  can be constructed from any suitable material known to one of ordinary skill that is flexible, resilient and strong. Such materials include, but are not limited to, plastics, nylon, rubber, including synthetic rubbers, twine or other stringlike material.  
         [0016]    The present invention also includes means for absorbing shock that is integrated into the flexible mesh structure  20 , whereby the protective packing material  10  is wrapable around and/or stuffable in and around one or more objections  6 . The shock absorbing means are arranged and constructed to protect objects by absorbing the shock from an external force. Further, by integrating the shock absorbing means into the flexible mesh structure  20 , the shock absorbing means are easily contained and do not scatter as is the case with packing materials such as styrofoam® “peanuts”.  
         [0017]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, means for absorbing shock includes multiple nodules  30  having a top portion  32  and a bottom portion  34 . The top portion  32  extends outwardly from top side  22  of flexible mesh structure  20 . Correspondingly, bottom portion  34  extends outwardly from bottom side  24  of flexible mesh structure  20 .  
         [0018]    Alternately, and as depicted in FIG. 4, the nodules may be “peanut” shaped  36 . Here again the peanut shaped nodules have a top portion  38  extending outwardly from top side  22  and a bottom portion  40  extending outwardly from bottom side  24 . However, and not depicted in any figure for obvious reasons, the shock absorbing nodules of any embodiment maybe any suitable and effective geometric shape and size. The size of the shock absorbing nodules is dependent on the choice of one of ordinary skill based upon the anticipated use. For example, large heavy objects may require relatively large nodules to achieve sufficient shock absorbing protection. Alternately, in the case of heavy or large objects, smaller nodules may be used and the requisite protection achieved by wrapping multiple layers of the present invention around the object or objects. Smaller and lighter objects may require smaller nodules to achieve the requisite level of protection.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 5, another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. This alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a first mesh structure  42  having a top side  44 , a bottom side  46 , and a periphery  48 . A second mesh structure  50  is also provided. The second mesh structure  50  has a top side  52 , a bottom side  54 , and a periphery  56 . The periphery  48  of the first mesh structure  42  and the periphery  56  of the second mesh structure  50  are interconnected. Means for absorbing shock are interspersed between the first mesh structure  42  and the second mesh structure  50 , such that the shock absorbing means are fixedly retained between the first and second mesh structures. The shock absorbing means again may be nodules of various shapes and sizes depending upon the particular application. FIG. 5, for example, shows spherical shock absorbing nodules  30 , however, the shock absorbing nodules may be “peanut” shaped or may be any other suitable and effective geometric shape and/or size.  
         [0020]    Any geometric shape suitable for effective shock absorbing or aesthetic considerations is anticipated as within the scope of the present invention. By way of example only, such geometric shapes include but are not limited to spheres, ellipsoids, cylinders, rectangular prisms, cubes, irregular prisms, polyhedrons, and combinations or variations thereof. Choice of shape may be dictated by considerations such as manufacturability, aesthetics, shape and size of objects to be protected, and/or any other relevant consideration of one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0021]    The shock absorbing nodules  30 ,  36  may be constructed from any suitable material that provides effective shock absorbing properties, is pliable elastic or rubbery in that such material returns to essentially its original shape after use and/or absorbing a shock, and is integratable into the mesh structure  20 . By way of example and without limiting the scope of the present invention, the shock absorbing nodules  30 ,  36  maybe constructed from styrene polymers, styrene copolymers, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, foam rubber, derivations thereof, and combinations thereof.  
         [0022]    As is readily seen, the present invention overcomes the deficiencies associated with current packing materials. Unlike bubble wrap type packing materials that lose their protective qualities once the bubbles are “popped”, crushing the shock absorbing nodules of the present invention will not eliminate its protective qualities. Moreover, depending on the material chosen, the nodules will more or less return to their original shape and functionality once the crushing force is removed. Further, unlike conventional packing materials, use of the present invention allows the protected object to “breath” allowing moisture and/or heat to escape.  
         [0023]    The present invention is not only wrapable around one or more objects, but also may be stuffed in and around objects to serve both a protective function and a spacing function. However, unlike the loose “peanut” packing system, the protective packing material allows the shock absorbing nodules to be contained by the mesh structure thereby avoiding the scattering problem of loose “peanut” type packing materials. Scattering is not only eliminated, but the potential for accidental ingestion by animals is greatly reduced.  
         [0024]    Other advantages of the present invention include flexibility of use as the protective packing material can be constructed to accommodate any size, weight and shape of object or objects to be protected. This advantage can be achieved by varying the size, shape and material of construction of the shock absorbing nodules and/or the mesh structure. Although other advantages may be found and realized and various modification may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the details given above, but rather may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.