NON-RIGID PACKAGING FOR FOOTWEAR

Abstract: The packaging is especially useful for the economic storage and protection of footwear (20). It is typically manufactured from a minimal amount of plastic sheeting (2), thereby removing the need for the excessive amounts of paper and cardboard used in conventional shoe boxes, for example.

Description: Non-rigid packaging for footwear This invention relates to packaging for the carriage of footwear, a method of manufacture thereof, and to a method of transporting footwear. Newly manufactured boots or shoes are traditionally placed in pairs in separate rectangular boxes for transportation to their point of sale. To maintain optimum condition of the contents, these shoe boxes are substantially rigid and copious tissue paper or the like is used to cushion the contents and prevent their movement during transit. Manufacture of these boxes and their padding utilises vast amounts of precious resources. Assembly of the boxes is time and labour intensive. Additionally, the necessarily rigid structure of these boxes limits the number of units carried by vehicles used for their transportation. Each individual sale will also require further packaging in the form of a carrier bag. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided packaging for the carriage of footwear comprising a non-rigid container cut from two stacked rectangular sheets sealed together at their edges . Preferably the container is provided with fastening means at its cut edge. Preferably the container comprises complementarily shaped compartments cut from the same stacked rectangular sheets. Preferably each compartment is adapted to accommodate boots or shoes. The compartments may be connected for the compartmentalised carriage of a pair of boots or shoes. Preferably the compartments and their connection are cut in one piece from the same stacked rectangular sheets. This connection may serve as handle for the container. This connection may serve as a hanger for the container. Alternatively, a portion of a compartment may be removed to leave a space which may serve as a handle for the container. This space may serve as a hanger for the container. Alternatively compartments cut from the same stacked rectangular sheets may be utilised as separate containers. Preferably the container is adapted for suspension from a hook. Alternatively the container is adapted to hang over a rail. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of a container for the carriage of footwear comprising the steps of stacking two rectangular sheets of material, sealing the sheets together at their edges to form a compartment, cutting from a sealed first edge towards an opposite sealed second edge to divide the compartment, leaving the second seal intact to form a connecting piece to connect the divided compartment, providing fastening means for the cut edges of the divided compartment to form separate compartments, and twisting the connecting piece to form a handle. According to a third aspect of the present invention is provided support apparatus for the container of the first aspect of the invention comprising a moveable frame. Preferably the frame is collapsible. Said frame may have vertical rails provided with hooks. Said frame may have horizontal rails. Preferably the horizontal rails are provided with hooks. Said horizontal rail may comprise buffers to restrict movement of containers hung thereover. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described as means of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a rectangular compartment for the first aspect of the present invention, showing the line of cut to form two distinct connected compartments; Figure 2 is a plan view of the rectangular compartment, " showing the line of cut to form two distinct unconnected compartments; Figure 3 is a side view of a container; Figure 4 and 5 show handle and hanging details; Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show possible combinations of compartment shapes which can be cut from the rectangular compartment; Figure 7 shows connected compartments hanging from a rail by means of the connecting handle; Figures 8a and 8b show designer versions of the compartments ; Figure 9 shows a horizontal rail with buffers; Figure 10 shows hooks on a vertical rail and on a wire depending from a hook; Figure 11 shows a hangable moveable frame with vertical rails; Figure 12 shows a hangable moveable frame with horizontal rails; and Figure 13 and Figure 14 show further embodiments of support frames. Referring to the drawings, a container is formed from two congruent sheets 2 of heavy duty transparent plastic. The outer edges 4, 6 of these sheets are heat sealed together to form a flat rectangular compartment 1. Complimentary shapes are cut from this rectangle to form a container or containers. The shapes tessellate to reform the rectangle, and there is thus no wastage. The cut 12 is usually in the shape of a curve commencing near a side of a first sealed edge 4 and extending towards an opposite sealed edge 6. The cut 12 is halted just before the second sealed edge 6. This division of the sealed rectangle 1 forms two separate compartments 10, 14. The uncut portion 16 of the sealed edge connects the compartments 10, 14. This connection may be twisted to form a handle 18. These separate compartments are each used to house one of a pair of boots 20. A boot is placed in the compartment through the open cut edge 22 which is provided with fasteners 24 or plastic strip fastening and sealed once the contents are inserted. Such separation of a pair of boots means that there is no possibility of damage through contact during transit and thus no need for protective padding within a compartment. The handle 18 can be used to transport an individual pair of compartments 10 14 or alternatively be used to suspend a pair of shoes or boots from a wire 24 or similar rail. This rail may have buffers 48 to discourage the compartments from movement along the rack 24. Sealed pairs of rectangles may simply be stored until a user requires them to be cut for use as containers. Mass production of such sheets 2 from heavy duty plastic will provide packaging for mass produced shoes. However if it is desired that the packaging should add value to the goods it contains, different types and textures of materials may be used. Sensory devices such as smells or tactile surfaces 26 may enhance its appeal. The same basic format can be used to manufacture separate bags. One compartment may be used to house both of a pair of shoes 28, for example in Figure 6c, if the shoes are soft and contact is not a problem. A portion of the compartment may be cut away to form a handle 30. The remainder of the rectangle from which such a compartment is formed may be used to form a other distinct compartments. Once filled, these compartments may be stored with economical use of space. One method of storage is to suspend the compartments from vertical rails 32 provided with hooks 34 on which the compartments may hang . Alternatively, hooks 36 may be provided on a vertical or horizontal surface from which wires 38 or threads, from which the compartments may depend, are suspended. Alternatively a rack 40 with horizontal rails 42 from which the compartments may hang is provided. This rack 40 is provided with a hook 44 to allow for its hanging in a window or on a wall for display purposes. The rack is also provided with castors 46 for ease of movement. The rails 42 also have hooks 48 from which the compartments may hang. This means that newly manufactured shoes may be packaged in paired compartments, immediately hung on the rack 40, transported on this rack 40 to the point of sale which may be a shop or the like and, without being removed from the rack 40, displayed for sale. An alternative rack 50 has vertical rails 52 and separate hooks 54 for hanging bags, and is again moveable for transportation and display purposes. These racks 40,50,54,56 may be collapsible for storage and return to footwear manufacturers. Improvements and modifications can be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims: "Claims" 1. Packaging for the carriage of footwear comprising a non-rigid container cut from two stacked rectangular sheets sealed together at their edges. 2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is provided with fastening means at its cut edge . 3. Packaging as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the container comprises complementarily shaped compartments cut from the same stacked rectangular sheets. 4. Packaging as claimed in claim 3 wherein each compartment is adapted to accommodate boots or shoes. 5. Packaging as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the compartments are connected for the compartmentalised carriage of a pair of boots or shoes. 6. Packaging as claimed in claim 5 wherein the compartments and their connection are cut in one piece from the same stacked rectangular sheets. 7. Packaging as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the connection serves as a handle for the container. 8. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 wherein the connection serves as a hanger for the container. 9. Packaging as claimed in claim 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein a portion of a compartment is removed to leave a space which may serve as a handle for the container. 10. Packaging as claimed in claim 9 wherein the space serves as a hanger for the container. 11. A method of manufacture of a container for the carriage of footwear comprising the steps of stacking two rectangular sheets of material, sealing the sheets together at their edges to form a compartment, cutting " from a sealed first edge towards an opposite sealed second edge to divide the compartment, leaving the second seal intact to form a connecting piece to connect the divided compartment, providing fastening means for the cut edges of the divided compartment to form separate compartments, and twisting the connecting piece to form a handle. 12. Support apparatus for the container of any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising a moveable frame. 13. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the frame is collapsible. 14. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein said frame has vertical rails provided with hooks. 15. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein said frame has horizontal rails. 16. Support apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the horizontal rails are provided with hooks. 17. Support apparatus as claimed in claims 15 or 16 wherein said horizontal rail comprises buffers to restrict movement of containers hung thereover. 18. Packaging substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. 19. A method of manufacture of a container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings . 20. Support apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: MACDONALD FRANCES, MACDONALD, FRANCES
Applicants: MACDONALD FRANCES, MACDONALD, FRANCES
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D85