Abstract:
A cushioning conversion machine includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart upstream assemblies which advance the sheet stock material with a transversely reciprocating twisting motion and at least one downstream assembly that retards the advance of the stock material. Additionally, the upstream assemblies feed the sheet stock material at a feed rate greater than the feed rate at which the downstream assembly passes the sheet stock material. The downstream assembly thereby cooperates with the upstream assemblies to crumple the stock material and impart loft thereto, and as a further result, the crumpled stock material includes a regular arrangement of folds preferably forming a herringbone pattern.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/888,150 filed Jul. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,299. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a conversion machine and a method for converting sheet stock material into a cushioning product. More particularly, the machine and method produce a cushioning surface wrap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the process of shipping an item from one location to another, a protective packaging material is typically placed in the shipping container to fill any voids and/or to cushion the item during the shipping process. Some commonly used protective packaging materials are plastic foam peanuts and plastic bubble wrap. While these conventional plastic materials seem to perform adequately as cushioning products, they are not without disadvantages. Perhaps the most serious drawback of plastic bubble wrap and/or plastic foam peanuts is their effect on our environment. Quite simply, these plastic packaging materials are not biodegradable and thus they cannot avoid further multiplying our planet&#39;s already critical waste disposal problems. The non-biodegradability of these packaging materials has become increasingly important in light of many industries adopting more progressive policies in terms of environmental responsibility. 
     The foregoing and other disadvantages of conventional plastic packaging materials have made paper protective packaging material a very popular alterative. Paper is biodegradable, recyclable and composed of a renewable resource; making it an environmentally responsible choice for conscientious companies. 
     While paper in sheet form could possibly be used as a protective packaging material, it is usually preferable to convert the sheets of paper into a relatively low density pad cushioning dunnage product. This conversion may be accomplished by a cushioning conversion machine, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,291, U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,889 or European Patent Application No. 94440027.4. Such a cushioning conversion machine includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, a stock supply assembly which supplies a continuous web of the sheet stock material, a conversion assembly which converts the sheet stock material into a continuous strip of a cushioning product, and a severing assembly which cuts the strip into sections of a desired length. The conversion assembly includes a folding or forming assembly which inwardly folds the lateral edges of the sheet stock material and a feed assembly which contacts a central section of the folded stock material. With particular reference to the machine disclosed in European Patent Application No. 94440027.4, the feed assembly crumples the folded portions of the stock material. 
     These earlier cushioning conversion machines produce a cushioning product having lateral pillow portions and a thinner central connecting portion. Such cushioning products are used to fill the voids between the item to be shipped and its container. However, in some packaging situations, a “flatter” cushioning product, or a product having less loft, may be more appropriate. For example, a “flatter” cushioning product may be more advantageous for placement between relatively flat items, such as plates and/or for the individual “surface wrapping” of articles such as fragile ornaments, glass hurricane lamps or the wooden legs on fine furniture. It would be desirable to have a flatter cushioning product with the flexibility to wrap around fragile and unusually shaped objects and which still functions to cushion and/or protect the object from damage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel cushioning conversion machine and method which may be used to produce a “flatter” cushioning product or surface wrap than those produced by prior machines and methods. Additionally or alternatively, the present invention provides a cushioning conversion machine/method in which the sheet stock material is supplied in lengths related to the desired length of the cushioning product whereby a severing assembly is not necessary. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the cushioning conversion machine includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart upstream assemblies which advance the sheet stock material with a transversely reciprocating motion and at least one downstream assembly which retards the advance of the stock material. The upstream assemblies feed the sheet stock material at a feed rate greater than the feed rate at which the downstream assembly passes the sheet stock material. The downstream assembly thereby cooperates with the upstream assemblies to crumple the stock material and impart loft thereto. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each upstream assembly includes a support wheel and a feed wheel. The feed wheel has an annular rib thereon which fits within an annular groove in the support wheel. The support wheel of each upstream assembly has axial end portions on either side of the annular groove, and each axial end portion has a plurality of flat faces alternating with arcuate areas about the circumference thereof. The flat faces of one axial end portion preferably are transversely aligned with the arcuate areas of the other axial end portion, and the arcuate areas may have a friction enhanced surface. 
     Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each downstream assembly includes a support wheel and a compression wheel. The support wheel has a friction enhanced surface for gripping the crumpled stock material and creasing the folds against the compression wheel. 
     The cushioning conversion machine may also include a stock supply assembly adapted to supply the sheet stock material in lengths related to a desired length of the cushioning product. Alternatively or additionally, the cushioning conversion machine may include a stock supply assembly adapted to supply a continuous web of the sheet stock material from which the upstream and downstream assemblies will produce a continuous web having crumpled portions. The cushioning conversion machine may also include a severing assembly for severing the continuous web into sections of a desired length. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a cushioning conversion machine for converting sheet stock material into cushioning products of a desired length includes a conversion assembly which converts discrete lengths of sheet stock material into cushioning products. The conversion assembly includes a plurality of laterally spaced apart upstream assemblies which feed the stock material with a transversely reciprocating twisting action and at least one downstream assembly which retards the advance of the stock material. The downstream assembly cooperates with the upstream assemblies to crumple discrete lengths of the stock material and impart loft thereto. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of making a cushioning product from sheet stock material includes the steps of: advancing the sheet stock material through a plurality of laterally spaced apart upstream assemblies in a transversely reciprocating manner; and retarding the advancement of the stock material through at least one downstream assembly downstream of the upstream assemblies. In this way the stock material becomes crumpled through the cooperation of the advancing and retarding steps. 
     As is preferred, the upstream assemblies operate to feed the sheet stock material at a feed rate greater than the feed rate at which the downstream assembly operates to feed or pass the sheet stock material therethrough. As is also preferred, the retarding step includes creasing the crumpled stock material so that the cushioning product retains a crumpled resilient state. 
     According to another aspect of a preferred method, a supplying step may include supplying sheet stock material having lengths related to a desired length of the cushioning product. Alternatively, the supplying step may include supplying sheet stock material as a continuous web whereby the converting step will produce a continuous web having crumpled portions. The method may also include the step of severing the continuous web into sections of a desired length. 
     As is preferred, the sheet stock material is biodegradable, recyclable, and made from a renewable resource. Most preferably, the sheet stock material is paper, and more particularly, Kraft paper, and is composed of a plurality of superimposed plies of Kraft paper. 
     The invention also provides a surface wrap produced by the conversion machine and/or method described above. In addition, there is provided a method of surface wrapping an article for cushioning purposes, such method including the step of wrapping the surface wrap around the surface of the article. 
     A preferred embodiment of surface wrap according to the invention includes a flat sheet stock material having a plurality of narrow, compressed feeding trails alternating with wide cushioning crumpled zones having a plurality of folds. The folds in the crumpled zones include a somewhat regular arrangement of folds preferably forming a herringbone pattern. 
     The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these embodiments being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a cushioning conversion machine according to the invention with the side wall of the machine&#39;s outer casing nearest the viewer broken away to permit viewing of internal machine components, and with the machine situated on a table and being supplied with pre-cut sheets of stock material from a cartridge placed on the table; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the internal components of the cushioning conversion machine of FIG.  1  and particularly upstream and downstream assemblies thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, illustrating the upstream assemblies; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2, illustrating the downstream assemblies; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of a cushioning conversion machine according to the invention, with the side wall of the machine&#39;s outer casing nearest the viewer broken away to permit viewing of internal machine components, and with the machine situated on a table, and supplied with continuous sheet stock material from a floor supported supply roll; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of a severing assembly in the machine; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a cushioning surface wrap produced in accordance with the invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a view of a cushioning surface wrap applied to an object to be protected in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a cushioning conversion machine according to the invention is designated generally by reference numeral  20 . The illustrated machine  20  converts sheet stock material (the thickness thereof being negligible to the length and width thereof, thus essentially two-dimensional) into a relatively three-dimensional cushioning product for use as a surface wrap  36 . 
     The machine  20  includes a frame  22  to which is mounted a feeding and crumpling assembly  24  and a motor  26  for driving the feeding and crumpling assembly  24 . The machine  20  preferably is provided with an outer casing  28  which encloses the frame  22 , feeding and crumpling assembly  24 , and other interior components of the machine  20 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cushioning conversion machine  20  may be set upon a table  30  to dispense a cushioning product at a convenient height for use. A cartridge  32  supplies cut sheet stock material  34  to the cushioning conversion machine  20 , which then produces the cushioning surface wrap  36 . The cartridge  32  includes a mechanism for delivering individual or discrete sheets from a stack thereof to appropriate guides (not shown) and into the feeding and crumpling assembly  24 . 
     A preferred stock material consists of one or more plies or layers of biodegradable and recyclable sheet stock material made from a renewable resource. Such a stock material is preferably 30 to 50 pound basis weight Kraft paper. The resulting crumpled sheet stock material has greater loft (i.e., lower density) than the uncrumpled sheet stock material. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, wherein further details of the cushioning conversion machine  20  are shown, the frame  22  can be seen to include side plates  80  and  82  which are joined together by transverse frame members  23  (FIG. 2) and  25  (FIGS. 3,  4  and  7 ). The feeding and crumpling assembly  24  includes a plurality of upstream assemblies  84  and one or more downstream assemblies  86  mounted between the side plates  80  and  82  downstream of the upstream assemblies  84 . (The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used herein in relation to the direction of flow of the stock material through the machine, from an upstream end toward a downstream end.) 
     As seen in FIG. 3, each of the upstream assemblies  84  includes an upper support wheel  88  and a lower feed wheel  90 . The feed wheel  90  is fixed to a feed shaft  92  that is rotatably supported by and between the side plates  80  and  82 . The support wheel  88  is supported for rotation on a first support shaft  94  which has opposite ends thereof attached to respective floating supports  96  in the form of bars. 
     Looking to FIG. 4, the downstream assemblies  86  each comprise an upper support wheel  98  and a lower compression wheel  100 . The compression wheel  100  is fixed to a compression shaft  102  that is rotatably supported by and between the frame side plates  80  and  82 . The support wheel  98  is supported for rotation on a second support shaft  104  which has opposite ends thereof respectively attached to the floating supports or bars  96  downstream of the first support shaft  94  (See FIG.  5 ). 
     Turning to FIG. 5, each floating bar  96  has a pair of guide holes through which a pair of guide pins  140  extend. The guide holes in the floating bars  96  preferably are oversized in relation to the guide pins  140 . The ends of the shafts  94  and  104  are guided in elongated slots  148  in the side plates  80  and  82  (FIG.  2 ), which slots extend substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the stock material, thereby maintaining the axes of each compression wheel  100  and feed wheel  90  and corresponding support wheel  88  and  98 , respectively, in vertical alignment. 
     The guide pins  140  are attached to a mounting bracket  142  which is attached to the adjacent side plate  80 ,  82 . The guide pins  140  extend substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the stock material and have thereon respective springs  144  which resiliently bias the floating bar  96  and thus the support wheels  88  and  98  toward the feed wheels  90  and the compression wheels  100 , respectively. As shown, the springs  144  are interposed between the floating bar  96  and stops  146  on the remote ends of the guide pins  140 . When material  34  is not being fed through the machine  20 , the springs  144  will resiliently hold the wheels of each pair against one another, or with a small gap therebetween by reason of the floating bars  96  engaging the mounting brackets  142 , or the shafts  94  and  104  against ends of the slots  148 . 
     The guide pins  140  may extend through holes in the outer casing  28  as illustrated in FIG.  5  and the outer ends  146  of the guide pins  140  may be slotted or otherwise configured to receive an adjustment tool, such as a screw driver, for turning the guide pins. By turning the guide pins, which are threaded into the mounting brackets  142 , the biasing force may be adjusted. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, the two shafts  92  and  102  are driven positively by the motor  26 , the shaft  102  through a drive chain  150  to the motor  26  and the shaft  92  through a second drive chain  152 . Drive chain  150  is secured to the motor  26  via sprocket  154  and shaft  102  via sprocket  155 . The second drive chain  152  is secured to shaft  102  via sprocket  156  and shaft  92  via sprocket  157 . It will be appreciated, however, that other drive mechanisms and arrangements may be employed if desired, such as gear trains. 
     The machine  20  also may include a guide chute  106  (FIG. 2) between the side plates  80  and  82 . In the illustrated embodiment the guide chute  106  is substantially rectangular in cross section. As shown, the support wheels  88  (FIG. 3) and  98  extend into the interior of the guide chute  106  through slots  108  (FIG. 2) in the top wall of the chute  106 , whereas the feed wheels  90  (FIG. 3) and compression wheels  100  extend through slots in the bottom wall of the chute  106 . 
     Rotation of the shafts  92  and  102  effects corresponding rotation of the feed wheel  90  and compression wheel  100  for advancing the sheet material through the feeding and crumpling assembly  24 . As discussed further below, the feed wheel  90  coacts with the support wheel  88  to feed the stock material at a rate greater than the rate at which the material is fed or passed between the compression wheel  100  and support wheel  98 . In the illustrated embodiment, this is effectuated by rotating the feed wheel  90  and compression wheel  100  such that the circumferential speed of the feed wheel  90  is greater than the circumferential speed of the compression wheel  100 . The ratio of the circumferential speeds preferably falls in the range of about 1.7:1 to about 2:1, which ratios can be achieved by an appropriate sizing of the sprockets  154  and  155 , for example. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each feed wheel  90  is generally cylindrical in shape, with a middle portion in the form of an annular groove  156  which, for example, may have an approximately semicircular cross section or a rectangular cross-section. The feed wheel  90  also has opposite axial end portions, each of which has a cylindrical periphery or circumference forming arcuate areas  160  interrupted by flat faces  158 . The flat faces  158  of one axial end portion are transversely aligned with the arcuate areas  160  of the other axial end portion. The arcuate areas  160  are preferably knurled or otherwise provided with friction-enhancing means, such as ribs or crenellations, for relatively slip free engagement with the stock material. 
     As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each support wheel  88 , which coacts with a feed wheel  90 , has a generally cylindrical shape at axial end portions  162  thereof which are disposed on opposite sides of a middle section where there is provided a radially outwardly protruding annular rib  164  which preferably is rounded, as shown. The cylindrical end portions  162  preferably are knurled or otherwise provided with friction-enhancing means, such as ribs or crenellations, for relatively slip free engagement with the stock material. 
     The discrete sheets of stock material  34  (FIG. 1) pass between the wheels  88  and  90  of each feeding and crumpling assembly, and are fed forwardly by each feed wheel  90 . The material  34  will be pinched along a region thereof with a variable force, as explained further below, by each support wheel  88 , when passing between the arcuate areas  160  of axial end portions of the support wheel  88  and the cylindrical axial end portions  162  of each feed wheel  90 . This region of the strip, however, will be relatively free to slip when passing between each of the flat faces  158  and the cylindrical axial end portions  162  of the support wheel  88 . Because of the angular offset between the flat faces  158  of the axial end portions, the strip will be pulled alternately from each side of its longitudinal axis, instead of being pulled only axially. This imparts a transversely reciprocating twisting action or motion to the stock material. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, corresponding flat faces of the several feed wheels are laterally aligned, i.e., in phase; however, other arrangements wherein the flat faces are angularly offset from one feed wheel to another may be used. In this manner, the pulling action of each feeding and crumpling assembly may be varied to provide different transverse crumpling patterns across the width of the sheet material as it is pushed together and pulled apart laterally by the relatively adjacent feeding and/or crumpling assemblies. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the upstream and downstream assemblies  84  and  86 , respectively, are evenly spaced and aligned along the path of the stock material. The transverse spacing between relatively adjacent assemblies, however, may be varied to provide different crumpling effects. Also, the downstream assemblies  86  may be staggered relative to the upstream assemblies  84 , and the respective numbers thereof may be varied as well to obtain different crumpling patterns. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the compression wheel  100  of each downstream assembly  86  is generally cylindrical in shape and has two end portions  166  preferably crenelated or otherwise provided with friction-enhancing means, such as ribs or a knurled surface, for relatively slip free engagement with the stock material, separated by a radially relieved middle portion  168  which may have a smooth outer diameter surface. If desired, compression wheel  100  may be crenelated across its entire width (omitting the relieved middle portion  168 ) or other friction enhancing surface treatments may be utilized. The support wheel  98  is a cylinder which may have a smooth outer diameter surface or one provided with knurling or other friction-enhancing means against which the crenelated end portions  166  of the compression wheel  100  will crease the stock material. The sheet of material  34  (FIG. 1) coming from the upstream assemblies  84  is pinched between the crenellations or ribbing of the compression wheel  100  and the outer diameter surface of the support wheel  98 , with consequential creasing of the folds formed by the crumpling imparted to the stock material. 
     As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, there is a downstream assembly  86  corresponding to each upstream assembly  84 . However, a smaller number of complementary and corresponding feed wheels  100  and support wheels  98  of the downstream assembly  86  may extend across a greater portion of the width of the sheet stock material, or a single feed wheel and a single support wheel of the downstream assembly may extend across the entire width of the sheet stock material. 
     The force exerted by the springs  144  preferably is distributed in such a way that the pressure exerted by the wheel  88  against wheel  90  is greater than that exerted by the wheel  98  against wheel  100 . Also, as was described above, the upstream assemblies  84  are driven to produce a feed rate (upstream feed rate) which is greater than the feed rate produced (or permitted) by the downstream assemblies  86  (downstream feed rate). The result is that the sheet of material leaving the upstream assemblies  84  is going to be retarded by the wheels  98  and  100  of the downstream assemblies  86 . As a result, the material  34  (FIG. 1) will be longitudinally crumpled between the upstream and downstream assemblies  84  and  86 , respectively. Crumpling of the material  34  results from this difference in feed rates between the upstream assemblies  84  and downstream assemblies  86 , and the back and forth pulling/pushing, twisting or transversely reciprocating motion or action effected by the upstream assemblies  84 . 
     For further information regarding each individual feeding and crumpling assembly  24  similar to that just described, reference may be had to European Patent Application No. 94440027.4, filed Apr. 22, 1994 and published on Nov. 2, 1995 under Publication No. 0 679 504 A1, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. However, in the machine  20  of the present invention, the transverse row of feeding and crumpling assemblies effects crumpling across the full width of the sheet material. 
     In FIG. 6, another embodiment of machine  20 ′ is shown supported on a table  30 ′ with continuous sheet stock material  34 ′ supplied from a stock roll  200  supported by a stand  204 . The stand  204  is positioned on the floor and the stock material  34 ′ is fed upwardly to the machine  20 ′, although other positions, such as on top of the machine  20 ′ with the stock material  34 ′ being fed downwardly to the machine  20 ′, would also work. In either case and regardless of the angle at which the stock material  34 ′ is fed from a supply thereof to the machine  20 ′, a constant entry roller  206  at the upstream end of the machine  20 ′ properly directs the stock material  34 ′ into the machine  20 ′. 
     The stock material  34 ′ preferably consists of a web of sheet stock material of one or more plies. A preferred stock material  34 ′ consists of a biodegradable, recyclable and reusable material such as paper and more particularly 30-50 pound basis weight Kraft paper. 
     The machine  20 ′ also includes a device of any desired type for severing the continuous crumpled web or strip into sections of desired length, which device may be, for example, the illustrated severing assembly  208  (FIG.  6 ). A severing assembly is not necessary, however, if the strip of cushioning can be severed by tearing, for example, as in the case where the stock material is supplied with perforations therein defining laterally extending tear lines. The strip severing assembly  208  divides or separates the crumpled cushioning exiting from between the downstream assemblies  86 ′ into sections of desired length. In the illustrated embodiment, the severing assembly  208  is in the form of a cutting assembly that cuts the crumpled cushioning to form a cushioning product of desired length. In this manner, the length of the cushioning product may be varied depending on the intended application. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the severing assembly  208  includes a severing member  210  mounted to a carriage  212 . The carriage  212  rides within a support guide  214  attached to the side members  80 ′ and  82 ′. The severing member  210  may be, for example, a thin blade mounted for lateral movement in a plane perpendicular to the path of the converted strip of cushioning. The severing blade  210  is formed with a sharp severing or knife edge  216  which is inclined to the movement direction of the severing member  210 . As illustrated, the edge  216  is at about a thirty degree angle. 
     The severing assembly  208  also includes a blade guide or track  218 . The blade guide  218  is mounted to a horizontal frame member  220  which is attached to the side members  80 ′ and  82 ′. The blade guide  218  provides a blade path which extends parallel to and directly below the support guide  214 . The blade guide  218  has a top surface  222  which is flush with the bottom of the guide chute  106 ′. The severing assembly  208  also includes a handle  224  attached to the severing member  210 . When the handle  224  is used to move the carriage  212  across the support guide  214 , the inclined edge  216  of the severing member  210  squeezes the converted sheet material against the top surface  222  which forms a reaction surface for the severing member  210 . The converted sheet material is severed by the combined effect of the inclined sharp edge  216  and the reaction surface  222  of the blade guide  218 . 
     Further assisting the alignment of the severing member  210 , the severing assembly  208  includes an alignment guide  226  below the support guide  214  and above the blade guide  218  which aligns the severing member  210  directly below the support guide  214  and directly above the blade guide  218 . The handle  224  may have the illustrated T-shape, with the stem thereof extending through a slot in the outer casing  28 ′ so as to connect with the carriage  212 . Other handle shapes may be used in place of the T-shaped handle. 
     The particular construction and operation of the severing assembly is not essential to the present invention. However, reference may be had to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/386,355 abandoned for a severing assembly similar to that illustrated, or to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 08/110,349 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,596 and Ser. No. 08/478,256 abandoned for other types of severing assemblies which also could be utilized. Reference may also be had to U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,172 for details of a single handle operator for operating the severing assembly and also for controlling the motor  26 ′. These patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference for their showings of severing and handle operator assemblies. The remaining components of the cushioning conversion machine  20 ′ are essentially the same as those in machine  20 , described above and shown in FIGS. 1-5. 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a preferred surface wrap  36  produced by the cushioning conversion machine  20  (FIG.  1 ). The surface wrap  36  has a plurality of longitudinally extending cushion regions  302  transversely spaced apart by relatively flatter and narrower feeding trails  300  created by the feeding and crumpling assemblies. The cushion regions  302  include a herringbone arrangement of folds. The cushion regions  302  are less compressed and the folds are looser and more open (the inside angles made by the folded material generally are greater) than in the feeding trails  300  which are more compressed with tighter, more closed folds. As a result, the surface wrap  36  has more loft than the uncrumpled sheet stock material. 
     In use, the surface wrap  36  may be used to wrap and/or surround an object to be protected. An advantage of the cushioning surface wrap  36  is that it may be easily arranged to conform to the shape of the object. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates the use of the surface wrap  36  illustrated in FIG.  9 . The surface wrap  36  may be wrapped around the object to be wrapped  304 , such as a wine glass. As illustrated, the surface wrap  36  cushions while generally following the irregular contour of the object to be wrapped  304 . 
     Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described integers (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such integers are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any integer which performs the specified function of the described integer (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the described structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.