Abstract:
A packing cushion includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base. An inner surface of one of the plurality of sidewalls defines at least one first protruding block. An inner surface of the base defines at least one second and third protruding blocks. Each of the at least one third protruding block protrudes from an end of the at least one second protruding block. The at least one first protruding block contacts with the object to act as a cushion in a first direction. The at least one third protruding block supports the object and is capable of cooperating with the at least one second protruding block to provide a second cushioning in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for the object.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to packing cushions for stabilizing an object when packed. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many products require to be boxed up for shipping and storage. However, some of these products are frangible and easily damaged during shipping if packed in a box without filler or padding. Therefore, packing cushions are needed in the boxes to protect the products. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packing cushion in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a packing cushion in accordance with another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a packing cushion  10  in accordance with an embodiment is shown. The packing cushion  10  can be used in boxes or other shipping containers to protect objects from shocks and vibrations during shipping, e.g., to protect an electronic device (not shown). The packing cushion  10  is made of flexible materials. In the embodiment, the packing cushion  10  is made of pulp based material such as cardboard. 
     The packing cushion  10  is substantially a hexahedron. The packing cushion  10  includes a rectangular base  15  and four sidewalls (hereinafter, a first sidewall  11 , a second sidewall  12 , a third sidewall  13 , and a fourth sidewall  14 ) protruding from four rims of the base  15 . The first sidewall  11 , the second sidewall  12 , the third sidewall  13  opposite to the first sidewall  11 , and the fourth sidewall  14  opposite to the second sidewall  12  define an accommodating space to receive all or at least a part of an electronic device. 
     Two first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  protrude from an inner surface of the first sidewall  11 . The first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  connect to the base  15  and are spaced apart from each other. The first protruding block  110  is adjacent to the fourth sidewall  14 . The first protruding block  112  is adjacent to the second sidewall  12 . The first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  all include a first planar surface  113  opposite to the base  15  and a first contacting surface  115  opposite to the third sidewall  13 . 
     Two first protruding blocks  130 ,  132  protrude from an inner surface of the third sidewall  13 . The first protruding blocks  130 ,  132  correspond to the first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  respectively, and cooperate with the first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  to provide cushioning for the electronic device along a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall  11 . The first protruding blocks  130 ,  132  all include a first planar surface  133  opposite to the base  15  and a second contacting surface  135  opposite to the first sidewall  11 . 
     Two second protruding blocks  153 ,  154  protrude from the base  15 . The second protruding block  153  is arranged between the first protruding blocks  110 ,  130 . The second protruding block  154  is arranged between the first protruding blocks  112 ,  132 . Two third protruding blocks  151 ,  152  protrude from opposite ends of the second protruding blocks  153  and connect with the first protruding blocks  110 ,  130  respectively. Two third protruding blocks  155 ,  156  protrude from opposite ends of the second protruding blocks  154  and connect with the first protruding blocks  112 ,  132  respectively. The second and third protruding blocks  153 ,  154 , 151 ,  152 ,  155  and  156  cooperate to provide cushioning for the electronic device along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the base  15 . 
     The first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  cooperatively define a first contour (not labeled). The first protruding blocks  130 ,  132  cooperatively define a second contour (not labeled). The first and second contours mate with opposite sides of the electronic device to provide cushioning for the electronic device. The third protruding blocks  151 ,  152 ,  155 ,  156  and two second protruding blocks  153 ,  154  cooperatively define a depression (not labeled) for receiving part of the electronic device. 
     The second protruding blocks  153 ,  154  all include a second planar surface  1530  opposite and parallel to the base  15 . The third protruding blocks  151 ,  152  all include a third planar surface  1510  opposite and parallel to the base  15 . The third protruding blocks  155 ,  156  all include a third planar surface  1550  opposite and parallel to the base  15 . Each third planar surface  1510  is parallel to the first and second planar surfaces  113 ,  1530 . Each third planar surface  1550  is parallel to the first and second planar surfaces  133 ,  1530 . The distance between the base  15  and the third planar surfaces  1510  is smaller than the distance between the base  15  and the first planar surfaces  113 , but is larger than the distance between the base  15  and the second planar surface  1530 . Thus, the first protrusions  110 ,  112 , the second protrusions  153 ,  154 , and the third protrusions  151 ,  152  are formed into steps with respect to the base  15 . The distance between the base  15  and the third planar surfaces  1550  is smaller than the distance between the base  15  and the first planar surfaces  113 , but is larger than the distance between the base  15  and the second planar surface  1530 . Thus, the first protrusions  130 ,  132 , the second protrusions  153 ,  154 , and the third protrusions  155 ,  156  are also formed into steps with respect to the base  15 . 
     A plurality of protrusions  121 , 123  protrude from an inner surface of the second sidewalls  12 , and a plurality of protrusions  141 ,  143  protrude from an inner surface of the second sidewall  14 . The protrusions  121 ,  123 ,  141 ,  143  are also connected to the base  15 . The protrusions  121 ,  123  cooperatively define a third contour (not labeled), and the protrusions  141 ,  143  cooperatively define a fourth contour (not labeled). The third and fourth contours match with opposite ends of the electronic device to be cushioned the electronic device to provide cushioning for the electronic device along a third direction substantially perpendicular to the second and fourth sidewalls  12 ,  14 . 
     The first and second sidewalls  11 ,  12 , the protrusion  121 , and the first protruding block  112  cooperatively define a first receiving space  125 . The protrusions  121 ,  123  cooperatively define a second receiving space  127 . The second and third sidewalls  12 ,  13 , and the protrusion  123  cooperatively define a third receiving space  129 . 
     The structure of the fourth sidewall  14  is similar to that of the second sidewall  12 . The first and fourth sidewalls  11 ,  14 , the protrusion  141 , and the first protruding block  110  cooperatively define a fourth receiving space  145 . The fourth and third sidewalls  14 ,  13 , and the protrusion  143  cooperatively define a fifth receiving space  147 . The first, second, third, fourth and fifth receiving spaces  125 ,  127 ,  129 ,  145 , and  147  are substantially hollow cylinders, and receive the ends of the to be cushioned electronic device. The protrusions  141 ,  143  cooperatively define a recess  149  for receiving the electronic device and provide a cushioning space for the electronic device in third direction. 
     An opening  157  is defined at the bottom of the base  15  for allowing the user to grasp the packing cushion  10 . The opening  157  is arranged between the second protruding blocks  153  and  154 . 
     In use, the electronic device is received between the first protruding blocks  110 ,  112 ,  130  and  132 , with opposite sides abutting the first and second contacting surfaces  115 ,  135 . The electronic device further abuts the third protruding blocks  151 ,  152 ,  155 ,  156 . 
     When there is an impact or shock, the electronic device presses against the first and third sidewalls  11 ,  13  in the first direction, the first protruding blocks  110 ,  112 ,  130  and  132  deform to absorb energy of impact for protecting the electronic device. When the electronic device presses the base  15  in the second direction, the third protruding blocks  151 ,  152 ,  155  and  156  deform to absorb energy of impact for a first cushioning. The second protruding blocks  153 ,  154  adapt to absorb energy of the impact for a second cushioning for protecting the electronic device. When the electronic device is forced against the second and fourth sidewalls  12 ,  14  in the third direction, the protrusions  121 ,  123 ,  141  and  143  deform to absorb energy of impact for protecting the electronic device. The recess  149  provides a cushioning space for the electronic device. 
     Therefore, by virtue of the packing cushion  10 , the object is protected from shocks and vibrations in any directions. 
     The number of the first, second and third protruding blocks  110 ,  112 ,  130 ,  132 ,  151 ,  152 ,  153 ,  154 ,  155 ,  156  are changeable according to a shape of the electronic device to be packed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a packing cushion  20  in accordance with another embodiment is shown. The packing cushion  20  is similar to the packing cushion  10 . The difference between the packing cushion  20  and the packing cushion  10  is that a portion of the ends of the first protruding blocks  110 ,  112  away from the base  15  is cut away to define two cutouts  260 ,  261 . The two cutouts  260 ,  261  all include a fourth planar surface  262  opposite to the third sidewall  13 . The first protruding blocks  210 ,  212  include a first contacting surface  215  opposite to the third sidewall  13 . The fourth planar surfaces  262  are coplanar to each other. The distance between the fourth planar surface  262  and the first sidewall  11  is smaller than the distance between the fourth planar surfaces  215  and the first sidewall  11 . Thus, the first protruding blocks  210 ,  212  and the cutouts  260 ,  261  form a ladder-shape with respect to the first sidewall  11 . 
     When the container of the electronic device is subjected to an impact and the electronic device presses the first sidewall  11  in the first direction, the first protruding blocks  210 ,  212  deform to absorb energy of impact for a first cushioning. The cutouts  260 ,  261  adapt to absorb energy of the impact for a second cushioning for protecting the electronic device. 
     Although information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.