Abstract:
An exemplary packing box ( 2 ) includes a receptacle portion ( 21 ) and at least one buffer portion ( 23 ). The receptacle portion includes a plurality of side walls ( 213, 215, 217 ) and a base ( 211 ) perpendicular to thereof. The side walls and the base cooperatively define a receiving space. The at least one buffer portion extends from at least one of the side walls. The at least one buffer portion is located in the receiving space and including a first supporting member (213 b ) and at least one buffer layer ( 233 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to packing boxes, and more particular to a one-piece packing box having at least one buffer therewithin.  
       GENERAL BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Various manufactured articles, for example liquid crystal displays or notebook computers, are packed at the factory before shipment to distributors. A common kind of package generally includes a box and a buffer member received in the box. The buffer member is made of lightweight material that helps reduce the effect on the article of impact sustained by the box during transportation.  
         [0003]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , this is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional packing box assembly  1 . The packing box assembly  1  includes a box  110  having a cover  120 , and a grid shaped buffer member  130 . The box  110  is made of folded cardboard, and the buffer member  130  is received in the box  110 . The buffer member  130  is made from foam material (for example, polyethylene foam) that provides good mechanical buffering. The buffer member  130  includes a plurality of crisscrossed boards (not labeled) perpendicular to a bottom of the box  110 . An article is arranged on the buffer member  130  in the box  110 . Then the cover  120  is folded over and sealed. Thus the packing box assembly  1  securely holds the article in the box  110 .  
         [0004]     Although the buffer member  130  provides desired buffering, the packing box assembly  1  has certain drawbacks as follows.  
         [0005]     Polyethylene foam is poisonous in its precursor forms or if it is disposed of improperly once the buffer member  130  is eventually discarded. In addition, the process of molding the buffer member  130  is relatively expensive. Furthermore, the buffer  130  has to be arranged in the box  110  before the article is packed in the box  110 . Therefore, use of the packing box assembly  1  can be time-consuming.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, what is needed is a packing means that can overcome the above-described problems.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     An exemplary packing box includes a receptacle portion and at least one buffer portion. The receptacle portion includes a plurality of side walls and a base perpendicular to thereof. The side walls and the base cooperatively define a receiving space. The at least one buffer portion extends from at least one of the side walls. The at least one buffer portion is located in the receiving space and including a first supporting member and at least one buffer layer.  
         [0008]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     In the drawings, all the views are schematic.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an unpacked packing box with four integrally formed buffer members, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the packing box of  FIG. 1  fully assembled.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the packing box of  FIG. 1  completely flat prior to folding thereof.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional packing box assembly. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 1  this is an isometric view of an unpacked packing box  2  with four integrally formed buffer members  23 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The packing box  2  includes a receptacle  21  and the buffer members  23 . The buffer members  23  are integrally formed with the receptacle  21  as a single piece. The receptacle  21  is typically made of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. The receptacle  21  includes a cover  210 , a base  211 , a first side wall  213 , four second side walls  215 , a third side wall  217 , and a bending wall  219 . When the packing box  2  is assembled, the first, second and third side walls  213 ,  215 ,  217  are each substantially perpendicular to the base  211 .  
         [0015]     The first side wall  213  and the third side wall  217  are connected to two opposite shorter sides of the base  211 . Two of the second side walls  215  are connected to two opposite longer sides of the base  211 , and the other two second side walls  215  are connected to two opposite longer sides of the cover  210 . The bending wall  219  is connected to the third side wall  217 . The cover  210  is arranged opposite to the base  211  and connected to the first side wall  213 . When the first, second and third side walls  213 ,  215 ,  217  are arranged to be perpendicular to the base  211 , the first, second and third side walls  213 ,  215 ,  217  cooperate with the cover  210  to form a receiving space. The buffer members  23  are arranged at four corners of the base  211 , and abut the respective first, second, and third side walls  213 , 215 ,  217 .  
         [0016]     When the packing box  2  is assembled, each buffer member  23  is a hollow structure. Being part of the receptacle  21 , the buffer member  23  is typically made from corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. The buffer member  23  includes two supporting members  231   a ,  231   b , and two buffer layers  233 . The supporting members  231   a ,  231   b  are substantially perpendicular to the base  211 , and the buffer layers  233  are substantially parallel to the base  211 . The supporting member  231   a  spans a height substantially the same as a height of the first, second, and third side walls  213 ,  215 ,  217 . The supporting member  231   b  spans to a height that is lower than the height of the first, second, and third side walls  213 ,  215 ,  217 . A lower one of the buffer layers  233  spans through bottom portions of both supporting members  231   a ,  231   b . An upper one of the buffer layers  233  is arranged at a top of the supporting member  231   b , but below a top of the supporting member  231   a.    
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , this is an isometric view of the packing box  2  fully assembled. The second side walls  215  connected to the cover  210  respectively overlap the second side walls  215  connected to the base  211 . The bending wall  219  is bent from the third side wall  217  and covers part of the cover  210 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , this is a plan view of the packing box  2  completely flat prior to folding thereof. The receptacle  21  is folded along dashed lines as shown. The four buffer members  23  extend from respective portions of the first and second side walls  213 ,  215 . Each buffer member  23  includes a plurality of inserting parts  234 , and a plurality of slits  235 . Widths of the inserting parts  234  correspond to dimensions of the slits  235 .  
         [0019]     In use of the fully assembled packing box  2 , an article is arranged on the upper buffer layers  233  of the buffer members  23 . For a typical article, four corners of the article abut top portions of the four supporting members  231   a  of the buffer members  23  respectively. Then the cover  210  is folded over onto the article. Finally, the bending wall  219  is folded over onto the end of the cover  210 , and attached to the end of the cover  210 .  
         [0020]     The receptacle  21  can be made of a single layer of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper, or multilayer corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper. That is, the receptacle  21  can be configured according to the buffer performance desired for the packing box  2 . For example, the receptacle  21  may need to be suitably strong in the case of a weighty article to be packed.  
         [0021]     An exemplary process of fabricating the packing box  2  is as follows. Firstly, a rectangular board of corrugated paper pasted over with a plurality of sheets of kraft paper is provided. Secondly, the board is cut according to the shape shown in  FIG. 3 . Thirdly, the corrugated paper is folded along with dotted lines shown in  FIG. 3 . Finally, the buffer members  23  are bent, and the inserting parts  234  are inserted into the corresponding slits  235 .  
         [0022]     The number of buffer members  23 , supporting members  231   a ,  231   b , and buffer layers  233  is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The numbers of these components can be increased or reduced according to the needs of the particular application of the packing box  2 . In particular, the weight of the article to be packed and supported by the buffer members  23  is a major consideration.  
         [0023]     In summary, the buffer members  23  are formed integrally with the receptacle  21 . Unlike in conventional art, there is no need for a separate buffer member. Therefore in use of the packing box  2 , packing an article is a simple process. In addition, the buffer members  23  are made of corrugated paper, which is safe and environmentally friendly.  
         [0024]     While preferred and exemplary embodiments have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, the above description is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.