PACKAGE WITH A SHOCK ABSORBING INSERT

Abstract: The invention relates to a package for a product comprising at least one elastic damping body (12) arranged around at least a part of the product, filled with medium and having at least two medium chambers (14, 15) which are joined for medium communication via at least one constriction (18), wherein the medium chambers are positioned such that the resultant force via the product only acts on one of the medium chambers, wherein in preference the medium chambers are arranged on mutually adjoining surfaces of the product.

Description: PACKAGE WITH A SHOCK ABSORBING INSERT The present invention relates to a package for a product and to a damping body therefor. The invention relates more particularly to a package for a product wherein a product is received in a package and therein rests on or is clamped in between filling material. This filling material consists in particular of a body filled with medium, which medium can consist of a gas, a liquid or a mixture thereof. The purpose of this filling material is among other things to protect the product in the package against the results of for example drop forces, impact forces and the like. It has been found however that, under certain conditions or in particular applications, the filling material insufficiently absorbs and dissipates the above described forces whereby product damage occurs. In drop tests with electronic products received in a package it has been shown for example that the bodies filled with medium have insufficient damping properties. The invention has for its object to provide a package for a product in which a filling material is applied that has greatly improved damping properties. The package according to the invention is therefore characterized in that it comprises at least one elastic damping body arranged around at least a part of the product, filled with medium and having at least two medium chambers which are joined for medium communication via at least one constriction, wherein the medium chambers are positioned such that the resultant force via the product only acts on one of the medium chambers. The improved damping properties are obtained at least partially in that the resultant force exerted on the damping body by the product under the influence of external forces only acts on one of both medium chambers whereby a change in shape of this medium chamber occurs and a change in shape corresponding therewith in the other medium chamber. Created by these changes in shape is a damping effect, the magnitude of which is determined by the degree to which the constriction transmits the change in shape to the other medium chambe . In the case a compressible, for example gaseous, medium is used, this will cause pressure changes in both medium chambers. In the case a non-compressible, for example liquid, medium is used, the medium chambers will undergo changes in shape and in this case the medium chamber walls must be elastic, for example rubber-like. It is noted that if the damping body is arranged in a packing a part of the damping effect can also be produced by a change in shape of a portion of the packing that makes contact with a medium chamber. According to a first and preferred embodiment the medium chambers are arranged on adjoining surfaces of the product. The package thus has damping properties on the adjoining surfaces. According to another embodiment a medium chamber is located adjacent to the product. According to another preferred embodiment the damping body comprises three medium chambers. If these three medium chambers are in contact with mutually adjoining package walls a package is created which has damping properties on these three surfaces. An optimal construction occurs when the damping body comprises a central medium chamber and two side medium chambers each connected thereto for medium communication. In a package according to the invention a number of damping bodies according to the invention can be incor- porated. According to a preferred embodiment two damping bodies are positioned in the shape of a cross round the product, wherein for example both central medium chambers are arranged one over the other. Another substantially cross-shaped damping body is created if in preference the damping body comprises a central medium chamber and four side medium chambers connected thereto for medium communication. If in this case at least one side medium chamber is provided with a cover medium chamber connected thereto for medium communication a damping body occurs which, for example in a block-shaped packaging, encloses the product on all sides and provides the product on all sides with damping properties according to the invention. If a product must be protected mainly against forces acting laterally on the product, it is recommended that the damping body encloses a side edge with two adjoining corners. In this case the damping body according to the invention is an open prismatic body in which a product part is received via an open side surface. As stated above, the damping properties are determined inter alia by the dimensions, the number and/or the shape of the constrictions. The constrictions can be arranged in an elegant and economically advantageous manner in a connecting seam dividing two medium chambers, for example a weld seam between two medium chambers which are formed for instance from two layers of sheet-like material. In order to avoid that, when the resultant force of the product is exerted on a medium chamber, splitting forces at the point of the connecting seam thereby become too great, it is further recommended that in the constriction the constriction seam walls converge towards the middle of the seam. Because of the convergence the resultant splitting force perpendicularly of the connecting seam is smaller. In order to enable filling of the damping body with medium and if the medium must be released from the damping body, it is further recommended that the damping body be provided with at least one medium valve. In a preferred embodiment the valve is further arranged in a package wall. A package thus occurs in which the damping body is already incorporated, so that only by filling the damping body via a package wall a prepacking of the package ready for product is rapidly effected. The valves described in the European patent applications EP-A-0 324 519 and EP-A-0 420 353 can for example be used as medium valve. A durable and improved medium-tight damping body results when the damping body is constructed from two mutually differing layers of material, for example an inner material layer with optimal medium-tight properties and an outer material layer with optimal protective properties. For example the inner material layer can consist of polyethylene and the outer material layer of polypropylene, optionally of a web of fibres, such as glass fibres, plastic fibres and the like. If one or more damping bodies adequately enclose the product and the damping body is made of sufficiently robust material, an outer packaging or wrapping can be dispensed with. In that case closing means are used to enclose the product in the damping means. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the above described damping body intended for use in a package according to the invention. Mentioned and other aspects of the package according to the invention and of the damping body according to the invention will be further described hereinafter in more detail and by way of example only on the basis of a number of non-limiting embodiments, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a perspective partially broken away view of a first damping body according to the invention; figures 2 and 8 show another damping body according to the invention in perspective, partially broken away and partially in section; figures 3-7 each show another perspective, partly broken away view of a package according to the invention, in which at least one damping body according to the invention is included; figure 9 shows on a smaller scale a piano from which the damping body according to figure 8 is manufactured; figure 10 shows a damping body according to figure 7 which also forms the outer packaging; and figures 11 and 12 show views of another damping body according to the invention respectively in piano form and in partially assembled form. Figure 1 shows a damping body 1 according to the invention. The damping body 1 comprises two plastic, single- walled medium chambers 2 and 3 which are mutually connected via a weld seam 4. Arranged in the weld seam 4 are a number of, for example four, constrictions 5, whereof constriction seam walls 6,7; 8,9 mutually converge toward the other medium chamber 2;3. The medium chambers 2 and 3 filled with medium, in this case air, are mutually connected for medium communication via these constrictions 5. The medium is carried into the damping body via a valve 10 provided with a valve opening 11. Such a valve is described in the European patent application EP-A-0.324.519, the content of which is deemed to be interpolated herein through reference thereto. Figure 2 describes another damping body 12 according to the invention which again comprises two medium chambers 14 and 15 mutually connected via a weld seam 13. Both chambers 14 and 15 are double-walled. The inner wall 16 is manufactured from polyethylene and the outer layer 17 from for instance polypropylene. The damping body 12 is created by sliding a sleeve of polyethylene into a sleeve of polypropylene and subsequently arranging the weld seam 13 and head end weld seams not shown here. Welding of the weld seam 13 is performed such that the desired number of constrictions 18 of the desired size are held open therein. As indicated in figure 1, the constriction 18 is likewise provided with mutually converging constriction seam walls 19,20; 21,22. Figure 3 shows a package 23 according to the invention for packaging therein of for instance an electronic product 24. The package 23 is provided with two damping bodies 25 and 26 located mutually opposite and two upper damping bodies 27 and 28 lying transversely thereof. The product 24 rests on the medium chambers 29 and 30 of the respective damping bodies 25 and 26. The other respective medium chambers 31 and 32 extend adjoining the product 24 and rest against the package 23. By closing the flaps 33 and 34 the product is now enclosed in the package for damping on all sides. It is further noted that the damping bodies 25-28 are filled with medium, in this case for example air, via the valves 35. Figure 4 shows another package 36 according to the invention for packaging a product 37. In this case the package 36 comprises two damping bodies 38 and 39 which each comprise a central medium chamber 40 and two adjoining side medium chambers 41 and 42 which are mutually connected for medium communication via constrictions 5 which are arranged in a weld seam 43. The damping bodies 38 and 39 are filled with medium by means of the valve 10. Figure 5 shows a package 44 according to the invention in which the damping bodies 38 and 39 shown in figure 4 are arranged in the shape of a cross in the package 44. Figure 6 shows a package 45 according to the invention in which is arranged a damping body 46 which comprises a central medium chamber 47 and four side medium chambers 47-51 connected thereto for medium communication via constrictions 5. Figure 7 shows a package 52 according to the invention with a damping body 53 that comprises a central medium chamber 54 and four side medium chambers 55-58 connected thereto for medium communication via constrictions 5. In this case the side medium chamber 56 is further connected for medium communication via constrictions 5 to a cover medium chamber 59. A product arranged in the package 52 is thus received in the package 52 damped on all sides and for instance in clamped manner. Figure 8 shows a damping body 60 according to the invention with an open prismatic form which is intended to receive a product edge with adjoining corners via an open side surface 61. The damping body 60 comprises a top surface 62 and a bottom surface 63, each of which are constructed from two medium chambers 64, 65 and 66, 67 which are mutually separated by a weld seam 68, 69. The closed side surfaces 70 and 71 are formed by medium chambers 72 and 73. The above described constrictions 18 are present in the weld seams between the medium chambers 72 and 73 mutually and the adjoining medium chambers 64-67. All medium chambers can be filled via the valve 74 arranged in the medium chamber 65. The piano 75 (figure 9) for the damping body 60 of figure 8 comprises two layers 76, 77 of medium-tight material which still have to be fixedly welded on the free edges 78, 79 with formation of the weld seams 68 and 69. Figure 10 shows a damping body 80 that is largely similar to the damping body 53 of figure 7. However, in this case the medium chambers are constructed from an internal layer 81 of medium-tight material of for instance polyethylene and an external layer 82 constructed from a web of polyethylene fibres. The standing edges of the outer layers 83-86 are mutually sewn together forming a substan- tially form-retaining damping body 80. In this case an external package or wrapping can be dispensed with. Using a closure (not shown) the medium chamber 87 functioning as cover can be fixed to the other medium chambers. Finally, figures 11 and 12 show a damping body 88 according to the invention which comprises a lateral medium channel 89 having connecting thereto transverse medium channels 91 mutually separated by weld seams 90. This mat¬ like damping body 88 can be wrapped around the product for packing and be fixed with closing strips 92 of for instance velcro tape and be filled via the valve 93 with medium. Depending on the materials used for the damping body 88 and on the application, the damping body 88 with the product therein can either be received in an outer packaging or be used as such. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Package for a product comprising at least one elastic damping body arranged around at least a part of the product, filled with medium and having at least two medium chambers which are joined for medium communication via at least one constriction, wherein the medium chambers are positioned such that the resultant force via the product only acts on one of the medium chambers. 2. Package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium chambers are arranged on mutually adjoining surfaces of the product. 3. Package as claimed in claim 1, wherein a medium chamber lies adjacent to the product. 4. Package as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the damping body comprises three medium chambers. 5. Package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the damping body comprises a central medium chamber and two side medium chambers each connected thereto for medium communication. 6. Package as claimed in claim 5 , wherein two damping bodies are mutually positioned in the shape of a cross around the product. 7. Package as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the damping body comprises a central medium chamber and four side medium chambers connected thereto for medium communication. 8. Package as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one side medium chamber is provided with a cover medium chamber connected thereto for medium communication. 9. Package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damping body is an open prismatic body, in which a product part is received via an open side surface. 10. Package as claimed in claims 1-9, wherein the constriction is arranged in a connecting seam separating two medium chambers. 11. Package as claimed in claim 10, wherein the constriction seam walls in the constriction converge towards the middle of the seam. 12. Package as claimed in claims 1-11, wherein the damping body is provided with a medium valve. 13. Package as claimed in claim 12, wherein the valve is arranged in a package wall. 14. Package as claimed in claims 1-13, wherein the damping body is received between the product and a packing. 15. Package as claimed in claims 1-13, wherein the damping body is constructed from two mutually differing layers of material. 16. Damping body for a package as claimed in claims 1- 15. *****

Inventors: HESSELMAN JOHANNES WILLEM HEND, SCHRAM HENK, HESSELMAN, JOHANNES, WILLEM, HENDRICK, SCHRAM, HENK
Applicants: AMNION LICENCE BV, AMNION LICENCE B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65D81
IPC codes: B65D81