Patent GB-1419168-A (GB)
Title: Packing cushions
IPC: B65D81/107
Filed: 1973-05-18
Abstract: 1419168 Boxes for fragile articles SONY CORP 18 May 1973 [24 May 1972] 23853/73 Heading B8P A foldable packing cushion 10, made of flat resilient material, comprises a first part 12, Fig. 3, having a projecting trapezoidal-shaped tab and a second part 11 having a similarly-shaped recess, the two parts 11, 12 being hinged together so as to be relatively movable between a first configuration in which the tab is engaged in the recess and the two parts 11, 12 are disposed flat for storage of the cushion and a second configuration in which the two parts are disposed with their general planes substantially at right angles for use of the cushion, movement from the first to the second configuration causing compression of said resilient material at some, at least, of the edge regions of the tab and the recess and the subsequent resilient expansion providing mutually engageable surfaces of the two parts to retain the two parts in the second configuration. As shown in Fig. 3, an initially flat cushion 10, made, e.g. of foamed plastics material such as polyethylene, is cut throughout its thickness with a pair of slits 13 which diverge inwardly up to a third slit 15 which extends upwardly from the bottom face 11b, Fig. 4, a certain distance, to form a hinge 14 a trapezoidal-shaped first portion 12 being formed by the slits 13, 15. When turned upwardly through 90 degrees about the hinge 14 the edges 13a of the portion 12 snap over the corresponding edges 13b of the portion 11 to hold the portion 12 upright. The cushion is placed in a carton E, Fig. 8, to cushion an article, such as a radio, against the bottom, and at least one side wall, of the carton. In a modification, Figs. 10, 13, the cushion comprises side portions 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d each being cut at 30 to provide hinges 31 and each having through cuts 29, 32a, 32b, and 33 so that they can be folded up, Fig. 14, not shown, to provide side wall portions 38. Through slits 26, 26a, 26b and partial slit 27 form a hinged standing portion 23 similar to portion 12, Fig. 1. The side portion 22a is not held in an upright position except by the closure in which the cushion is inserted. The flat portion 21 has finger holes 25. In a third embodiment, Figs. 16-18, not shown, a flat portion (41) is hinged to two identical opposed side portions (42, 43) which, in the manner described, are adapted to be folded upwardly and maintained in a position perpendicular to the flat portion (41) which has intermediate tab portions (49) which extend into the corresponding side portion, additional end portions (51), which form tabs (56), being hinged (at 53) to each end of each side portion. On erecting the cushion the side portions (42, 43) and the end portions (51) are folded respectively upwardly and inwardly to form a rectangular hollow box, Fig. 18, not shown. Such a box is adapted to be fitted over each end of an article (T) in a container (E), Fig. 19, not shown. In a further embodiment, Figs. 20-22, not shown, a pair of cushions (110, 111), each with a folding side (111) and two folding end portions (111), is adapted to be used with a folding carton 100. The cushion may be formed of corrugated paper. Instead of being formed by partial slits the hinges of the first portions 12 may be formed by web members which connect the first and second portions 11, 12.