Patent Publication Number: US-2023146687-A1

Title: Packing member

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-181656 filed on Nov. 8, 2021. the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a packing member. 
     Some known shock absorbers enclose an article to be packed from all around it. 
     Conventionally, a cardboard sheet is used as a shock absorber. Conventionally, one cardboard sheet is folded and an article to be packed is enclosed in the folded cardboard sheet. The article to be packed enclosed in the cardboard sheet is accommodated in a case. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a packing member includes a storage case and a plurality of cushion members. The storage case is for storing an article to be packed. The plurality of cushion members are disposed in the storage case so as to face the article to be packed. The plurality of cushion members each have coupling portions. Of the plurality of cushion members, adjacent cushion members are coupled together by the coupling portions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a plurality of cushion members according to one embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a state where the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment face an article to be packed (as seen from the front side); 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of a state where the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment face the article to be packed (as seen from the rear side); 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member arranged at the bottom left side; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member arranged at the bottom right side; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, a cushion member arranged at the top left side: 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member arranged at the top right side; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member that holds the article to be packed from opposite sides in the left-right direction; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of the cushion member shown in  FIG.  8   : 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member arranged at the front side; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of, of the plurality of cushion members according to the one embodiment, the cushion member arranged at the rear side; 
         FIG.  12    is a diagram illustrating positioning of the cushion member at the bottom side according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG.  13    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the front side of the cushion member at the top left side according to the one embodiment: 
         FIG.  14    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the front side of the cushion member at the top right side according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG.  15    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the rear side of the cushion member at the top left side according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG.  16    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the rear side of the cushion member at the top right side according to the one embodiment: 
         FIG.  17    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the left side of the cushion member at the front side according to the one embodiment; 
         FIG.  18    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the right side of the cushion member at the front side according to the one embodiment: 
         FIG.  19    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the left side of the cushion member at the rear side according to the one embodiment, 
         FIG.  20    is a diagram illustrating a positioning structure for the right side of the cushion member at the rear side according to the one embodiment; and 
         FIG.  21    is a perspective view illustrating an assisting function of the packing members according to the one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  21   , packing members  100  according to an embodiment will be described. In the following description, X direction in the diagram is defined as the left-right direction (corresponding to the “horizontal direction”), Y direction in the diagram is defined as the front-rear direction, and Z direction in the diagram is defined as the up-down direction. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the packing member  100  includes a storage case  200 . The storage case  200  is for storing an article to be packed  300 . The article to be packed  300  is, for example, a printer. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the packing member  100  includes a plurality of cushion members  10  that are independent of each other . That is, the plurality of cushion members  10  are each a member separate from any other of the cushion members  10 . The plurality of cushion members  10  are each made of paper. The plurality of cushion members  10  are arranged inside the storage case  200 . The plurality of cushion members  10  protect the article to be packed  300  in the storage case  200 . 
     The storage case  200  is formed of, for example, a cardboard sheet. The storage case  200  has an opening  200 A at the top side in the up-down direction. The plurality of cushion members  10  are put in or taken out of the storage case  200  through the opening  200 A. That is, the direction in which the cushion members  10  are put in or taken out of the storage case  200  is the up-down direction. Likewise, the article to be packed  300  is put in or taken out of the storage case  200  through the opening  200 A. 
     Although not illustrated, after the article to be packed  300  is accommodated, the opening  200 A is closed with flaps that are formed integrally with a main body of the storage case  200 . After the article to be packed  300  is accommodated, the opening  200 A may be closed with a lid member that is separate from the main body of the storage case  200 . When the article to be packed  300  is put in or taken out, the opening  200 A is opened. 
     The number of cushion members  10  is seven. The number of cushion members  10  that constitute the packing member  100  is not subject to any particular limitation; it may be less than seven, or may be equal to or larger than eight. In the following description, the plurality of cushion members  10  may be distinguished by the reference signs  1  to  7 . 
     The plurality of cushion members  10  are disposed in the storage case  200  so as to face the article to be packed  300 . The plurality of cushion members  10  are arranged between the inner face of the storage case  200  and the article to be packed  300  and are in contact with the article to be packed  300 . The plurality of cushion members  10 , in the storage case  200 , support the article to be packed  300  so that it does not move. 
     Of the plurality of cushion members  10 . two are arranged, in the storage case  200 , at the bottom side in the up-down direction. Hereinafter, the two cushion members  10  arranged at the bottom side in the storage case  200  are identified by the reference signs  1  and  2  to be distinguished from the other cushion members  10 .  FIG.  4    is a diagram showing the cushion member  1  alone, and  FIG.  5    is a diagram showing the cushion member  2  alone. 
     One cushion member  1  at the bottom side is arranged at the left side in the left-right direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its bottom left corner, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its bottom left corner. The other cushion member  2  at the bottom side is arranged at the right side in the left-right direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its bottom right corner, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its bottom right corner. 
     The cushion members  1  and  2  are hollow pulp moldings formed by pulp molding from a pulp molding material using a mold. When, for example, the storage case  200  is dropped, the pulp moldings deform to damp (absorb) the impact on the article to be packed  300 . The cushion members  3  and  4  described later are also pulp moldings. 
     Of the plurality of cushion members  10 , two are arranged, in the storage case  200 , at the top side in the up-down direction. Hereinafter, the two cushion members  10  arranged at the top side in the storage case  200  are identified by the reference signs  3  and  4  to be distinguished from the other cushion members  10 .  FIG.  6    is a diagram showing the cushion member  3  alone, and  FIG.  7    is a diagram showing the cushion member  4  alone. 
     One cushion member  3  at the top side is arranged at the left side in the left-right direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its top left corner, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its top left corner. The other cushion member  4  at the top side is arranged at the right side in the left-right direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its top right corner, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its top right corner. 
     Hereinafter, of the plurality of cushion members  10 , the three cushion members  10  other than the cushion members  1  to  4  are identified by the reference signs  5  to  7 .  FIGS.  8  and  9    are diagrams showing the cushion member  5  alone.  FIG.  10    is a diagram showing the cushion member  6  alone.  FIG.  11    is a diagram showing the cushion member  7  alone. 
     The cushion members  5  to  7  are, for example, members formed by folding cardboard sheets. The cushion members  5  to  7  have hollow parts (tubular parts) formed by folding cardboard sheets. 
     The cushion member  5  has a function of assisting a user in taking out or putting in the article to be packed  300  (hereinafter simply called the assisting function). This will be described in detail later. The cushion member  5  does not necessarily need to have the assisting function. 
     The cushion member  5  has a left part  510 , a right part  520 , and a bottom part  530 . 
     The left part  510  faces the left side of the article to be packed  300  in the left-right direction, and the right part  520  faces the right side of the article to be packed  300  in the left-right direction. In other words, the left part  510  and the right part  520  face each other across the article to be packed  300 . The left part  510  has a side plate  501  that faces the left side face of the article to be packed  300  and the right part  520  has a side plate  502  that faces the right side face of the article to be packed  300 . The pair of side plates  501  and  502  are parallel (or substantially parallel) to YZ plane. The pair of side plates  501  and  502  face each other across the article to be packed  300 . 
     The article to be packed  300  is held from opposite sides in the left-right direction by the pair of side plates  501  and  502 . The pair of side plates  501  and  502  may be in contact with the article to be packed  300 . The pair of side plates  501  and  502  may be provided with additional shock absorbers (for example, pulp moldings). Such shock absorbers may be in contact with the article to be packed  300  (the article to be packed  300  may be supported with those shock absorber). 
     The left part  510  has a hollow part  511  in a rectangular columnar shape at the front side in the front-rear direction. The right part  520  has a hollow part  521  in a rectangular columnar shape at the front side in the front-rear direction . The hollow part  511  is fixed to a front part of the side plate  501 . and the hollow part  521  is fixed to a front part of the side plate  502 . In the storage case  200 , the hollow part  511  is arranged in the left corner at the front side, and the hollow part  521  is arranged in the right corner at the front side. The hollow part  511   supports a left part of the front side of the article to be packed  300 , and the hollow part  521  supports a right part of the front side of the article to be packed  300 . 
     The bottom part  530  is a hollow part in a rectangular columnar shape. The bottom part  530  includes a front bottom part  531  and a rear bottom part  532 . The front bottom part  531  is arranged, in the storage case  200 , at the front side in the front-rear direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its front, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its front. The rear bottom part  532  is arranged, in the storage case  200 , at the rear side in the front-rear direction, is in contact with the article to be packed  300  at its rear, and supports the article to be packed  300  at its rear. 
     The left part  510  and the right part  520  are connected together. In other words, the pair of side plates  501  and  502  are connected together . Specifically, the cushion member  5  has a bottom plate  50  that faces the bottom surface of the article to be packed  300 . The bottom plate  50  connects the pair of side plates  501  and  502  together at their bottoms. The pair of side plates  501  and  502  are connected to the bottom plate  50  at their bottoms. Hereinafter, connecting portions between the bottoms of the pair of side plates  501  and  502  and the bottom plate  50  are identified by the reference sign CP. 
     For example, for the production of the cushion member  5 , a cardboard sheet is prepared that integrally has a part to become the left part  510 , a part to become the right part  520 , and a part to become the bottom part  530 . The part to become the left part  510  (side plate  501 ) is folded perpendicularly to the part to become the bottom plate  50 . The part to become the right part  520  (side plate  502 ) is folded perpendicularly to the part to become the bottom plate  50  so that the right part  520  (side plate  502 ) faces the left part  510  (side plate  501 ).  FIG.  9    schematically shows a state where the left part  510  is folded completely and the right part  520  is folded halfway. 
     The cushion member  6  is arranged, in the storage case  200 , at the front side in the front-rear direction. The cushion member  6  is in contact with a front part of the article to be packed  300 . The cushion member  6  supports the front part of the article to be packed  300 . 
     The cushion member  6  has hollow parts  61  and  62  that extend each in a rectangular columnar shape in the up-down direction. In the storage case  200 , the hollow part  61  is arranged at the left side, and the hollow part  62  is arranged at the right side. The tubular axes of the hollow part  511  of the cushion member  5  and of the hollow part  61  of the cushion member  6  substantially coincide in position. The tubular axes of the hollow part  521  of the cushion member  5  and of the hollow part  62  of the cushion member  6  substantially coincide in position. 
     The cushion member  7  is arranged, in the storage case, at the rear side in the front-rear direction. The cushion member  7  is in contact with a rear part of the article to be packed  300 . The cushion member  7  supports the rear part of the article to be packed  300 . 
     Of the plurality of cushion members  10 , the cushion members  1  and  2  are arranged first inside the storage case  200 . After the cushion members  1  and  2  are arranged, the cushion member  5  is arranged inside the storage case  200 . After the cushion member  5  is arranged, the cushion members  6  and  7  are arranged inside the storage case  200 . The cushion members  3  and  4  are arranged last inside the storage case  200 . 
     Next, the positioning of the cushion members  10  will be described. 
     The plurality of cushion members  10  each have coupling portions E. The coupling portions E of the plurality of cushion members  10  each couple with another on an adjacent cushion member  10 . In other words, the plurality of cushion members  10  each couple with another adjacent cushion members  10  with the coupling portion E. Thereby, in the storage case  200 , the plurality of cushion members  10  are positioned with respect to the article to be packed  300 . 
     Of every two coupling portions E that are coupled together, one is a coupling projection and the other is a coupling hole. That is, the coupling portions E comprise coupling projections and coupling holes. The coupling projections extend in the up-down direction. The coupling holes are holes in which the coupling projections can be removably inserted. This will now be described specifically. 
     A coupling portion E of the cushion member I and a coupling portion E of the cushion member  2  are coupled to coupling portions E of the cushion member  5 .  FIG.  12    shows a positioning structure for the cushion members  1  and  5 . In the following description, wherever different coupling portions E need to be distinguished, a coupling portion E of the cushion member  1  that is coupled to the cushion member  5  is identified by the reference sign E 1 , and a coupling portion E of the cushion member  2  that is coupled to the cushion member  5  is identified by the reference sign E 2 . A coupling portion E of the cushion member  5  that is coupled to a coupling portion E 1  or E 2  is identified by the reference sign E 51 . 
     The cushion members  1  and  5  are positioned in a similar manner to the cushion members  2  and  5 . Thus, no separate diagram is given of the positioning structure for the cushion members  2  and  5 ; instead, reference is to be made to  FIG.  12   , which shows the positioning structure for the cushion members  1  and  5 . 
     The coupling portions E 1  and E 2  are coupling projections. The coupling portions E 1  and E 2  are protruding parts that project upward in the up-down direction. The cushion member  1  has one coupling portion E 1  at each of the front and rear sides . The cushion member  2  has one coupling portion E 2  at each of the front and rear sides. 
     The coupling portions E 51  are coupling holes. The coupling portions E 51  are holes in which the coupling projections as the coupling portions E 1  and E 2  can be inserted. The coupling portions E 51  are not limited to holes; they may instead be any other structure as long as the coupling projections can be inserted. For example, the coupling portions E 51  can be recessed parts. 
     The coupling portions E 51  are formed in a plate part that constitutes the bottom surface (the face facing downward) of the bottom part  530 . In other words, the coupling portions E 51  are the holes that penetrate the plate part that constitutes the bottom surface of the bottom part  530 . In yet other words, the coupling portions E 51  are openings that are formed in the bottom surface (plate part) of the bottom part  530 . 
     The coupling portions E 51  are formed one in each of the front bottom part  531  and the rear bottom part  532 , both at the left. In other words, the coupling portions E 51  are formed at places that overlap, in the up-down direction, the regions where the coupling portions E 1  are formed 
     Thus, after the cushion member  1  is arranged at the bottom in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion member  5  over the cushion member  1  from above results in the coupling portions E 1  being inserted in the coupling portions E 51 . As a result, the cushion members  1  and  5  are coupled together. 
     The coupling portions E 51  are formed one in each of the front bottom part  531  and the rear bottom part  532 , both at the right. In other words, the coupling portions E 51  are formed at places that overlap, in the up-down direction, the regions where the coupling portions E 2  are formed. 
     Thus, after the cushion member  2  is arranged at the bottom in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion member  5  over the cushion member  2  from above results in the coupling portions E 2  being inserted in the coupling portions E 51 . As a result, the cushion members  2  and  5  are coupled together. 
     The cushion member  5  is placed on the cushion members  1  and  2 . That is, with focus on the cushion members  1 ,  2 , and  5 , the cushion members  1  and  2  correspond to a “first cushion member”, and the cushion member  5  corresponds to a “second cushion member”. 
     Inserting the coupling portions E 1  in the coupling portions E 51  permits the cushion members  1  and  5  to be positioned with respect to each other. Inserting the coupling portions E 2  in the coupling portions E 51  permits the cushion members  2  and  5  to be positioned with respect to each other. In other words, the cushion members  1 ,  2 , and  5  are held so as not to move in the direction parallel to XY plane (the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction). 
     Coupling portions E of the cushion members  3  and  4  are coupled to coupling portions E of the cushion member  6 .  FIG.  13    shows a positioning structure for the cushion members  3  and  6 , and  FIG.  14    shows a positioning structure for the cushion members  4  and  6 . In the following description, wherever different coupling portions E need to be distinguished, a coupling portion E of the cushion member  3  that is coupled to the cushion member  6  is identified by the reference sign E 31 , and a coupling portion E of the cushion member  4  that is coupled to the cushion member  6  is identified by the reference sign E 41 . A coupling portion E of the cushion member  6  that is coupled to coupling portion E 31  or E 41  is identified by the reference sign E 61 . 
     The coupling portions E 31  and E 41  are coupling holes. The coupling portions E 31  and E 41  are coupling holes that penetrate the cushion members  3  and  4  respectively in the up-down direction. For example, after a pulp molding process, holes are formed in the cushion members  3  and  4 . The cushion member  3  has one coupling portion E 31  at the front side. The cushion member  4  has one coupling portion E 41  at the front side. 
     The coupling portions E 61  are coupling projections. The coupling portions E 61  are plate-like projections that project upward. The coupling portions E 61  can be inserted in the coupling holes as the coupling portions E 31  and E 41 . For example, the coupling portions E 61  can be obtained by folding parts of the cardboard sheet to become the cushion member  6 . Plate-like projections to become the coupling portions E 61  may be fitted to the main part of the cushion member  6  afterward. 
     The coupling portions E 61  are formed one at each of the left and right sides of the cushion member  6 . In other words, the left coupling portion E 61  is arranged at a place that overlaps, in the up-down direction, the region where the coupling portion E 31  is formed, and the right coupling portion E 61  is arranged at a place that overlaps, in the up-down direction, the region where the coupling portion E 41  is formed. 
     Thus, after the cushion member  6  is arranged first in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion members  3  and  4  over the cushion member  6  from above results in the coupling portions E 61  being inserted in the coupling portions E 31  and E 41 . As a result, the cushion member  6  and the cushion members  3  and  4  are coupled together. 
     The cushion members  3  and  4  are placed on the cushion member  6 . That is, with focus on the cushion members  3 , 4 , and  6 , the cushion member  6  corresponds to a “first cushion member”, and the cushion members  3  and  4  correspond to a “second cushion member”. 
     Coupling portions E of the cushion members  3  and  4  are coupled to coupling portions E of the cushion member  7 .  FIG.  15    shows a positioning structure for the cushion members  3  and  7 , and.  FIG.  16    shows a positioning structure for the cushion members  4  and  7 . In the following description, wherever different coupling portions E need to be distinguished, a coupling portion E of the cushion member  3  that is coupled to the cushion member  7  is identified by the reference sign E 32 , and a coupling portion E of the cushion member  4  that is coupled to the cushion member  7  is identified by the reference sign E 42 . A coupling portion E of the cushion member  7  that is coupled to coupling portions E 32  and E 42  is identified by the reference sign E 71 . 
     The coupling portion E 32  is a cut-off part formed at the left rear corner of a plate part parallel to XY plane (the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction). The coupling portion E 42  is a cut-off part formed at the right rear corner of a plate part parallel to XY plane. The cushion member  3  has one coupling portion E 32  (a cut-off part in a plate part) at the rear side. The cushion member  4  has one coupling portion E 42  (a plate part with a cut-off part) at the rear side. 
     The coupling portions E 71  are cut-off parts formed at the top front corners of a plate part parallel to YZ plane. The coupling portions E 71  (cut-off parts in the plate part) can be obtained by folding a part of the cardboard sheet to become the cushion member  7 . A plate part with cut-off parts as coupling portions E 71  may be fitted to the main part of the cushion member  7  afterward. 
     The coupling portions E 71  are formed one at each of the left and right sides of the cushion member  7 . In other words, the left coupling portion E 71  is arranged at a place that overlaps, in the up-down direction, the region where the coupling portion E 32  is formed, and the right coupling portion E 71  is arranged at a place that overlaps, in the up-down direction, the region where the coupling portion E 42  is formed. 
     Thus, after the cushion member  7  is arranged first in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion members  3  and  4  over the cushion member  7  from above results in the coupling portions E 32  and E 42  and the coupling portions E 71  being coupled together, and thereby the cushion member  7  and the cushion members  3  and  4  are coupled together. 
     There is no particular limitation on the configuration of the coupling portions E 32 , E 42 , and E 71 . The coupling portions E 32  and E 42  may be coupling projections, and the coupling portion E 71  may be coupling holes. Or, the coupling portions E 32  and E 42  may be coupling holes, and the coupling portions E 71  may be coupling projections. 
     Coupling the coupling portions E 31  and E 41  with the coupling portions E 61  and coupling the coupling portions E 32  and E 42  with the coupling portions E 71  permits the cushion members  3 ,  4 ,  6 , and  7  to be positioned with respect to each other. Thus, the cushion members  3 .  4 ,  6 , and  7  are held so as not to move in the direction parallel to XY plane (the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction). 
     The cushion members  5  and  6  are coupled (engaged) with each other. A positioning structure for the cushion members  5  and  6  is shown in  FIGS.  17  and  18   . In the following description, wherever different coupling portions E need to be distinguished, a coupling portion E of the cushion member  5  that is coupled to the cushion member  6  is identified by the reference sign E 52 . A coupling portion E of the cushion member  6  that is coupled to coupling portion E 52  is identified by the reference sign E 62 . 
     The coupling portions E 52  are coupling holes. The coupling portions E 62  are coupling projections. There are two coupling portions E 52 , and they are top parts (top ends) of the hollow parts  511  and  521  in the up-down direction. In other words, the coupling portions E 52  are the holes (openings) at the top ends of the hollow parts  511  and  521 . There are two coupling portions E 62 , and they are bottom parts of the hollow parts  61  and  62  in the up-down direction (see  FIG.  10   ). 
     Thus, after the cushion member  5  is arranged first in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion member  6  over the cushion member  5  from above results in bottom parts (that is, coupling projections) of the hollow parts  61  and  62  of the cushion member  6  being inserted in the tubular parts (that is, coupling holes) of the hollow parts  511  and  521 . As a result, the cushion members  5  and  6  are coupled together. 
     The cushion member  6  is placed on the cushion member  5 . That is, with focus on the cushion members  5  and  6 , the cushion member  5  corresponds to a “first cushion member”, and the cushion member  6  corresponds to a “second cushion member”. 
     The cushion members  5  and  7  are coupled (engaged) with each other. A positioning structure for the cushion members  5  and  7  is shown in  FIGS.  19  and  20   . In the following description, wherever different coupling portions E need to be distinguished, a coupling portion E of the cushion member  5  that is coupled to the cushion member  7  is identified by the reference sign E 53 . A coupling portion E of the cushion member  7  that is coupled to coupling portion E 53  is identified by the reference sign E 72 . 
     There are two coupling portions E 53 . One coupling portion E 53  is a slit formed by cutting the left side plate  501  from above. The other coupling portion E 53  is a slit formed by cutting the right side plate  502  from above. The side plates  501  and  502  each have the coupling portion E 53  at the rear side. 
     The coupling portion E 72  is a slit formed by cutting from below a plate part which is parallel to XZ plane and intersects with (can be perpendicular to) the side plates  501  and  502  as seen in a plan view from the up-down direction. The coupling portions E 72  are formed one at each of the left and right sides of the cushion member  7 . In other words, the left coupling portion E 72  is arranged at a place that overlaps (intersects with), in the up-down direction, the coupling portion E 53  in the side plate  501 , and the right coupling portion E 72  is arranged at a place that overlaps (intersects with), in the up-down direction, the coupling portion E 53  in the side plate  502 . 
     Thus, after the cushion member  5  is arranged first in the storage case  200 , laying the cushion member  7  over the cushion member  5  from above results in the coupling portions E 53  and E 72  being coupled together, and thereby the cushion members  5  and  7  are coupled together. 
     There is no particular limitation on the configuration of the coupling portions E 53  and E 72 . The coupling portions E 53  may be coupling projections, and the coupling portions E 72  may be coupling holes. Or, the coupling portions E 53  may be coupling holes, and the coupling portions E 72  may be coupling projections. 
     Coupling the coupling portions E 52  and E 62  together and coupling the coupling portions E 53  and E 72  together permits the cushion members  5  to  7  to be positioned with respect to each other. Thus, the cushion members  5  to  7  are held so as not to move in the direction parallel to XY plane (the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction). 
     In the embodiment, as described above, the plurality of cushion members  10  ( 1  to  7 ) each have coupling portions E. The plurality of cushion members  10  each couple with another adjacent cushion member  10  with the coupling portions E. With this structure, even when any of the cushion members  10  is deformed and a gap is formed between the deformed cushion member  10  and the article to be packed  300 , since the deformed cushion member  10  is coupled with other cushion member  10 , it is possible to prevent the deformed cushion member  10  from deviating from the initial position. 
     Owing to the deviation of the deformed cushion member  10  being prevented, it is possible to suppress the inconvenience of a part of the article to be packed  300  supposed to be protected by the cushion member  10  not being protected sufficiently. Thus, it is possible to prevent the article to be packed  300  from being damaged when an impact is applied to the storage case  200 . 
     In the embodiment, as described above, laying over the cushion member  10  (corresponding to a “first cushion member”) that has been arranged first in the storage case  200  the cushion member  10  (corresponding to a “second cushion member”) to be arranged next in the storage case  200  from above results in the coupling projections being inserted in the coupling holes, and thereby the first and second cushion members are coupled together. With this structure, simply by arranging a plurality of cushion members  10  in the storage case  200  sequentially via the opening  200 A, it is possible to couple the cushion member  10  that is arranged first with the cushion member  10  that is arranged next. As a result, there is no need to separately perform a task of coupling the cushion members  10  together and this improves workability. 
     Next, a description will be given of the cushion member  5  having the assisting function. 
     In configuration in which the cushion member  5  has the assisting function, the cushion member  5  corresponds to a “third cushion member”. The cushion member  5  is arranged, in the up-down direction, between the cushion members  1  and  2  and the cushion members  6  and  7 . The cushion member  5  is coupled with the cushion members  1  and  2  below and with the cushion members  6  and  7  above with the coupling portions E. The cushion members  6  and  7  are coupled with the cushion members  3  and  4 . 
     Thus, in the embodiment in which the cushion member  5  has the assisting function, the cushion members  1  and  2  correspond to a “first cushion member”. The cushion members  6  and  7  correspond to a “second cushion member”. The cushion members  3  and  4  are indirectly coupled with the cushion member  5  via the cushion members  6  and  7 . Thus, the cushion members  3  and  4  too correspond to a “second cushion member”. 
     Also, in the embodiment in which the cushion member  5  has the assisting function, the coupling portions E 1  of the cushion member  1 , the coupling portions E 2  of the cushion member  2 , and the coupling portions E 51  of the cushion member  5  correspond to a “first coupling portion”. The coupling portions E 62  of the cushion member  6  and the coupling portions E 52  of the cushion member  5  correspond to a “second coupling portion”. The coupling portions E 1  of the cushion member  1  and the coupling portions E 2  of the cushion member  2  correspond to a “first coupling projection”. The coupling portions E 51  of the cushion member  5  correspond to a “first coupling hole”. The coupling portions E 62  of the cushion member  6  correspond to a “second coupling projection”. The coupling portions E 52  of the cushion member  5  correspond to a “second coupling hole”. 
     The pair of side plates  501  and  502  of the cushion member  5  can each, as shown in  FIG.  9   , move in directions toward and away from the side face of the article to be packed  300  with the connecting portion CP as a pivot. In other words, the pair of side plates  501  and  502  each move so as to swing its end part opposite from the connecting portion. 
     In some cases, after the cushion members  1  and  2  are arranged inside the storage case  200 , the cushion member  5  is, already fitted to the article to be packed  300 , arranged inside the storage case  200  along with the article to be packed  300 . Here, if the left part  5   10  and the right part  520  move in directions away from the article to be packed  300 , it makes packing difficult. 
     Thus, in the embodiment, as described above, the left part  510  has coupling portions E 52  and E 53  at its end part opposite from the connecting portion CP. To the coupling portion E 52 , the coupling portion E 62  of the cushion member  6  is coupled, and to the coupling portion E 53 , the coupling portion E 72  of the cushion member  7  is coupled. 
     With this configuration, as a result of the coupling portions E 52  and E 53  of the cushion member  5  being coupled to the coupling portions E 62  of the cushion member  6  and the coupling portions E 72  of the cushion member  7  respectively with the pair of side plates  501  and  502  holding the article to be packed  300  from opposite sides in the left-right direction (that is, the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction), the pair of side plates  501  and  502  are held at positions facing each other across the article to be packed  300  in the left-right direction. That is, when the cushion member  5  along with the article to be packed  300  is arranged inside the storage case  200 , coupling the cushion members  6  and  7  with the cushion member  5  makes it possible to prevent the pair of side plates  501  and  502  from moving in directions away from the side face of the article to be packed  300 . This leads to improved workability during packing. The pair of side plates  501  and  502 , with the cushion member  5  and the cushion members  6  and  7  coupled together, make contact with the side face of the article to be packed  300 . 
     With this configuration, to unpack the packing members  100  and take the article to be packed  300  out of the storage case  200  from above, first the cushion members  3  and  4  are removed, then the cushion members  6  and  7  (that is, the second cushion member) are pulled up so that they are released from coupling with the cushion member  5  with the coupling portions E; and thus the cushion members  6  and  7  are removed. Then, by pulling up the cushion member  5  (that is, the third cushion member) while holding the pair of side plates  501  and  502 , the cushion member  5  is released from coupling with the cushion members  1  and  2  (that is, the first cushion member) with the coupling portions E, and the article to be packed  300  can then be pulled up along with the cushion member  5 . This provides improved workability in the unpacking of the article to be packed  300 . 
     Here, the pair of side plates  501  and  502  each have a handle portion  500  formed in an upper part. The handle portions  500  are each formed by removing a part of the side plate  501  or  502  so as to form an opening penetrating it in the plate thickness direction. 
     With this structure, as a result of the cushion member  5  (that is, the third cushion member) and the cushion members  6  and  7  (that is, the second cushion member) being decoupled from each other, as shown in  FIG.  21   . the pair of side plates  501  and  502  each open in a direction away from the side face of the article to be packed  300  with the bottom end part as a pivot. Specifically, the pair of side plates  501  and  502  each open in a direction away from the side face of the article to be packed  300  with the connecting portion CP (see  FIG.  9   ) connected to the bottom plate  50  as a pivot. This allows the user to hold the handle portion  500 . This makes it easy to carry the article to be packed  300 . 
     During unpacking of the article to be packed  300 , simply by removing the cushion members  6  and  7  from the cushion member  5 , it is possible to unpack the article to be packed  300  out of the cushion member  5 . This eliminates the need for extra operation such as cutting the cushion member  5 . This provides improved convenience to the user. 
     The embodiments disclosed herein should be understood to be in every aspect illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the description of the embodiments given above but by the appended claims, and encompasses any modifications made within a sense and scope equivalent to those of the claims.