Corner packing member

Abstract: A corner packing member comprising two arms (1,2) which are joined together by means of a hinge (3) formed integrally therewith, one of the arms (2) of the packing member being provided withat least one flexible tang (4) adjacent the line of the hinge (3) and the other of the arms (1) of the packing member having at least one complementary cut-out (6) formed therein adjacent the line of the hinge (3), whereby, in use, when the arms (1,2) of the corner member are bent around the hinge line, the cut-out (6) is forced past the flexible tang (4) in order to retain the two arms (1,2) at an angle of substantially 90°.

Description: The present invention relates to a corner packing member and, in particular, to such members for use in the glazing trade. Packing members are used in the glazing trade in order to assist in packing panes of glass into the frames of windows, doors and the like. Corner packing members, as the term implies, are used to pack the corners of such frames. They may be rigid packing members with a 90° angle between the two arms, or flexible packing members in which the two arms are linked by a thin flexible plastic strut. The flexible corner packing members possess the advantage that they can be moulded flat in one piece, but the disadvantage that they are quite hard to use because the two arms are difficult to maintain with a 90° angle between them when they are being installed. WO91/02864 relates to a cornerpiece for joining adjacent tubular spacer bars in a spacer frame for an insulated glass panel. We have now developed an improved corner packing member which can be moulded flat but which can be transferred into a substantially rigid member with a 90° angle of substantially 90° between the two arms thereof. Accordingly, the present invention provides a corner packing member comprising two arms which are joined together by means of a hinge formed integrally therewith, one of the arms of the packing member being provided with at least one flexible tang adjacent the line of the hinge and the other of the arms of the packing member having at least one complementary cut-out formed therein adjacent the line of the hinge, whereby, in use, when the arms of the corner member are bent around the hinge line, the cut-out is forced past the flexible tang in order to retain the two arms at an angle of substantially 90°. The corner packing member of the present invention is preferably made from a plastics material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The arms of the corner packing member of the present invention are preferably elongate. They may be of any sutiable design which will be familiar to those skilled in the glazing art. For example, the arms may be wedge shaped and be intended to cooperate with appropriate wedge packing members in order to pack the frame appropriately at the corner of a door or window frame, or the like. It will be understood that the precise size and shape of the arms is not important to the concept of the present invention which can be utilized with arms of substantially any configuration. Generally the arms of the corner member are joined together by the integrally formed hinge along a portion of one of their shorter sides. Preferably a single tang and a single complimentary cut-out portion are formed in the arms of the member, preferably with hinged portions being disposed on either side thereof. The tang generally projects substantially at a right angle from the arm to which it is attached. The corner packing members of the present invention are moulded flat, yet can be bent to form a relatively rigid corner member. The cut-out portion on the one arm of the corner member may be provided with a lip which is adapted to engage a shoulder formed adjacent the free end of the tang, i.e. the end which is not connected to the arm of the packing member. The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates the central portion of a corner packing member of the present invention in its initial flat form; Figure 2 is a part cut away perspective view of the corner packing member of Figure 1 when it has been bent to 90°; and Figure 3 is a section through the corner packing member of Figure 1 along the line I-I. Referring to the drawings, a corner packing member has two arms, 1 and 2, which are joined by means of an integrally formed hinge 3. It will be understood that a part only of each of the arms 1 and 2 is shown, the remainder of the arms being of conventional form. The corner packing member is shown in Figure 1 in its flat condition and it is in this condition in which it is integrally moulded from a plastics material, preferably polyethylene or polypropylene. The integral hinge is formed therein by there being much less material in the region of the hinge 3 joining arms 1 and 2 together, as best shown in Figure 1. Arm 2 of the corner packing member is provided with a tang 4 which projects from the arm at an angle of substantially 90°. This tang 4 is flexible, the flexibility being provided by the tang being attached to shank 5 which is attached to the arm 2 only at one end thereof. The arm 1 of the corner packing member has a cut-out area 6. The two arms are thus hinged together on either side of the cut-out member 6 as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates the corner packing member of Figure 1 when the arm 1 has been moved in the direction of the arrow so that the cut-out 6 is forced over the tang 4, thus forcing the tang to spring downwardly and, essentially, locking the two arms together at an angle of substantially 90°. The cut-out portion 6 of arm 1 is provided with a lip 7 which, in use, in adapted to locate a shoulder 8 formed on the tang 4. This arrangement is best shown in Figure 3 of the diagrams, the arm 1 being shown in its original flat condition and, in chain outline, when the cut-out 6 has been forced over the tang 4, the shoulder 8 of tang 4 being located under lip 7 of cut-out 6. It will be appreciated that the corner packing member of the present invention possesses the advantages of enabling the corner packing member to be moulded in flat condition, thus reducing the moulding cost and enables the corner packing members to be delieved in a flat condition which enables a much better use of space during transit. The corner packing members possess the advantage that, although they can be manufactured and delivered in flat condition, in use they can be converted into substantially rigid corner packing members with an angle of substantially 90° between the two arms.

Claims: A corner packing member comprising two arms (2 and 1) which are joined together by means of a hinge (3) formed integrally therewith, one of the arms (2) of the packing member being provided with at least one flexible tang (4) adjacent the line of the hinge (3) and the other of the arms (1) of the packing member having at least one complementary cut-out (6) formed therein adjacent the line of the hinge (3), whereby, in use, when the arms (2 and 1) of the corner member are bent around the hinge (3) line, the cut-out (6) is forced past the flexible tang (4) in order to retain the two arms (2) and (1) at an angle of substantially 90°. A corner packing member as claimed in claim 1 which is formed from a plastics material. A corner packing member as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the arms (2 and 1) of the corner member are elongate. A corner packing member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the flexible tang (4) projects substantially at a right angle from the arm (2) to which is is attached. A corner packing member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cut-out (6) is provided with a lip (7) which is adpated to engage a shoulder (8) formed adjacent the end of the tang (4) which is not connected to the said arm (2) of the packing member. A corner packing member as claimed in any oen of the preceding claims wherein a single tang (4) and single complementary cut-out portion (6) are provided in the arms (2 and 1) of the said member. A corner packing member as claimed in claim 6 wherein the two arms (2 and 1) are hinged together on either side of the cut-out (6).

Inventors: HANLEY ALAN MARK, WALKER DAVID WILLIAM, HANLEY, ALAN MARK, WALKER, DAVID WILLIAM
Applicants: GLAZPART LTD, GLAZPART LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65D59
IPC codes: E06B3, B65D85, B65D81