Patent Publication Number: US-8123035-B2

Title: Shock-absorbing package

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0080979, filed on Aug. 31, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to a shock-absorbing packing material for protecting objects packed therein from external shock. 
     BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART 
     Packages of various materials and configurations of differing degrees of efficacy are in everyday use by shippers and manufactures alike during transporting, distribution and/or storage of goods to protect the goods against damages resulting from shock, temperature, humidity and/or the like. One type of such package is an air-injected shock-absorbing package, which is gaining a recent popularity due to its light weight and the shock absorbing characteristics of air. Such an air-injected shock-absorbing package includes a plurality of air pockets filled with air to prevent or dampen the transmission of externally received shock to an object packed in the package. 
     The air-injected shock-absorbing package includes a package body typically in the shape of a pocket, sleeve or an envelope, defining at least a partial enclosure into which the object being packed is received and an entrance opening through which the object is received into such partial enclosure. The package body also includes a plurality of air pockets that can be inflated by an injection of air. 
     In a conventional air-injected shock-absorbing package of the above described structure, once the object is received in the package through the entrance opening, in order to complete the packaging of the object, the entrance opening is sealed or closed at least partially to prevent the object from falling out, for example, by boding, e.g., thermally fused, together the sides of the package bodies adjacent the entrance opening. 
     SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, shock-absorbing package may be provided to include a body defining a pocket and a pocket opening through which to receive an object into the pocket, a cover formed on one side of the pocket opening in such a manner capable of covering the pocket opening, a penetration hole formed on the other side of the pocket opening in such a manner capable of receiving therethrough at least in part the cover and a cover air pocket formed on the cover. The cover air pocket may be inflatable with air into an inflated volume that is larger than a deflated volume the cover air pocket has when it is deflated. 
     The cover air pocket may have its length extending substantially parallel to a lengthwise direction of the penetration hole. When injected with air, the cover air pocket may have thickness substantially greater than the width of the penetration hole. 
     The penetration hole may have a length that extends parallel to the pocket opening. The cover may include a reduced portion having a first width that is smaller than the length of the penetration hole and a locking portion having a second width that is lager than the length of the penetration hole. The locking portion may be passable through the penetration hole so as to be in an engaged contact with portions of the body proximate to the penetration hole. The cover air pocket may be formed on the locking portion of the cover. 
     The body may comprise a plurality of body air pockets each capable of being filled with air. 
     The body may further comprises an inlet through which air is received into the body, a main injection path configured to distribute the air received through the inlet to the plurality of body air pockets and to the cover air pocket and a plurality of sub injection paths each connected to the main injection path at one end thereof and to a corresponding one of the plurality of body air pockets and the cover air pocket at the other end thereof. 
     The locking portion may comprise a notch facilitating tearing of the locking portion. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a shock-absorbing package may be provided to include a body defining a pocket and a pocket opening for receiving therethrough an object into the pocket, a cover formed on the body to extend on one side of the pocket opening in such a manner capable of covering the pocket opening and a cover air pocket formed on the cover, the cover air pocket being inflatable with air so as to absorb at least partially a shock received by the cover. 
     The body may comprise a penetration hole formed on a side of the pocket opening opposite the cover in such a manner capable of receiving therethrough at least a portion of the cover. The cover may comprise a reduced portion having a first width smaller than the length of the penetration hole and a locking portion having a second width lager than the length of the penetration hole. The locking portion may be passable through the penetration hole so as to be in an engaged contact with portions of the body proximate to the penetration hole. The cover air pocket may be formed on the locking portion. 
     The cover air pocket may have its length extending substantially parallel to the length of the penetration hole. When injected with air, the cover air pocket may have a thickness substantially greater than a width of the penetration hole. 
     The locking portion may comprise a notch facilitating tearing of the locking portion. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a package for packing an object therein, which may include a package body defining a sleeve for receiving therein the object to be packed, the sleeve being open at at least one end thereof, a cover flap extending from the sleeve in such a manner capable of covering an opening of the sleeve and a cover air pocket formed on the cover flap. The cover air pocket may be inflatable with air. 
     The package may further comprise a hole formed on the package body. The hole may be configured to receive a portion of the cover flap including the cover air pocket, and may have a hole width that allows the cover air pocket to pass through the hole when the cover air pocket is deflated, and that does not allow the cover air pocket to pass through the hole when the cover air pocket is inflated with air. 
     The package body may comprise at least two sheets of film bonded together at select portions thereof, at least some of those other portions of the at least two sheets of films not bonded defining one or more body air pockets inflatable with air. 
     The sleeve may be formed by folding of the at least two sheets of film that are bonded together at select portions thereof. 
     The package may further comprise an air inlet through which air is received and an air supply path through which the air received through the air inlet is conveyed to the cover air pocket. 
     The sleeve may have formed thereon one or more body air pockets inflatable with air. The air supply path may comprise a first air supply path between the air inlet and the one or more body air pockets and a second air supply path between the air inlet and the cover air pocket. 
     The air inlet may alternatively comprise a first air inlet and a second air inlet. The air supply path may alternatively comprise a first air supply path between the first air inlet and the one or more body air pockets and a second air supply path between the second air inlet and the cover air pocket. 
     The first air supply path and the second air supply path may not be connected to each other so that there is no air passage between them. 
     The cover flap may have formed thereon a notch facilitating tearing of the cover flap in such a manner causing the cover air pocket to be deflated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various features and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent by the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shock-absorbing package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially assembled plan view of the shock-absorbing packing material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are perspective views showing the processes of packing an object using the shock-absorbing package according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. While the embodiments are described with detailed construction and elements to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the various applications and advantages of the embodiments, it should be apparent however that the embodiments can be carried out without those specifically detailed particulars. Also, well-known functions or constructions will not be described in detail so as to avoid obscuring the description with unnecessary detail. It should be also noted that in the drawings, the dimensions of the features are not intended to be to true scale and may be exaggerated for the sake of allowing greater understanding. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a shock-absorbing package  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a body  11  defining a pocket, sleeve or an envelope shape that provides a receiving part  10   a  for receiving the object being packed and a cover or flap  12  integrally formed with the body  11  to extended from one side of the body  11  near an entrance of the receiving part  10   a  in such a manner capable of closing the entrance of the receiving part  10   a.    
     A penetration hole  11   a  may be formed on the other side of the entrance of the receiving part  10   a , in the vicinity of the entrance. According to an embodiment, the penetration hole  11  may extend along a direction parallel to the entrance. The cover  12  may include a reduced portion  12   a , the width of which may be smaller than the length of the penetration hole  11   a , and a locking portion  12   b  configured to be capable of passing through the penetration hole  11   a  while having a width that is larger than the length of the penetration hole  11   a  so as to be capable of being engaged with portions of the body  11  around the penetration hole  11   a . According to an embodiment, the reduced part  12   a  and the locking part  12   b  may be formed integrally with respect to each other. 
     The body  11  may include a plurality of body air pockets  11   b  that serve to dampen the transmission of externally received shock to the object P received in the receiving part  10   a . The cover  12  may include one or more cover air pockets  12   c , which may serve the purposes of dampening the transmission of the external shock received to the entrance of the receiving part  10   a , and of maintaining the locking part  12   b  in the state of engagement with the portions of the body  11  at the penetration hole  11   a.    
     According to an embodiment, the body air pockets  11   b  may have elongated shapes that extend parallel to one another along the body  11 , for example, from one end of the body  11  near the entrance of the receiving part  10   a  to the opposite end. The cover air pocket  12   c  may be formed on the locking part  12   b  of the cover  12 , for example, to extend along the length direction of the penetration hole  11   a , and, according to an embodiment, may be arranged to extend perpendicular to the body air pockets  11   b . The cover air pocket  12   c  may be designed to be capable of being inflated to a thickness relatively larger in comparison to the width of the penetration hole  11   a  so that the cover air pocket  12   c  when inflated cannot pass through the penetration hole  11   a.    
     According to an embodiment, one or more V-shaped notches  12   d  may further be provided at one or both sides of the locking part  12   b  of the cover  12  so that the locking part  12   b  can be conveniently torn off using the V-shaped notch(es)  12   d  to thereby deflate the cover air pocket  12   c.    
     The shock-absorbing package  10  may further include an air inlet  10   b  through which air may be injected into, and be supplied to, the plurality of body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c . The shock-absorbing package  10  may further include a main injection path  10   c  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a plurality of sub injection paths  10   d . The air injected through the inlet  10   b  is distributes the to the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  via the main injection path  10   c . Each of the plurality of sub injection paths  10   d  is connected to the main injection path  10   c  at one end thereof, and to each corresponding one of the plurality of body air pockets  11   b  or the cover air pocket  12   c  at the other end thereof, such that the air injected into the main injection path  10   c  is distributed to the body air pockets  11   b  and to the cover air pocket  12   c . Although not shown, the sub injection paths  10   d  may each be equipped with a valve to prevent the air from flowing back from the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  toward the main injection path  10   c.    
     The shock-absorbing package  10  including the body air pockets  11   b , the cover air pocket  12   c , the inlet  10   b , the main injection path  10   c  and the sub injection path  10   d  may be formed by binding, for example, through thermally fusing selective portions of a plurality of film members made of resin. For example, the cover  12  may be formed at one end of a plurality of film members bonded to each other at select portions thereof while the penetration hole  11   a  may be formed at the other end as shown in  FIG. 2 . The film members may then be folded at the middle thereof. The folded halves may be bonded, for example, through thermal fusion, at both side ends to produce the shock-absorbing package  10  that includes the receiving part  10   a  between the film member halves. 
     In order to pack the object P in the shock-absorbing package  10 , in the initial state in which the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  are not injected with air, the entrance of the receiving part  10   a  of the shock-absorbing package  10  may be widened as illustrated in  FIG. 1  to receive therethrough the object P in the receiving part  10   a.    
     After the object P is received in the receiving part  10   a  through the widened entrance of the receiving part  10   a , the locking part  12   b  of the cover  12  may be passed through the penetration hole  11   a , and may be supported by portions of the body  11  around the penetration hole  11   a  so that the cover  12  closes the entrance of the receiving part  10   a  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The locking part  12   b  in its deflated state may be inserted into and pass through the penetration hole  11   a  with a relative ease as the shape thereof can be transformed such as, for example, by folding, bending, stretching, etc., so as to be passable through the penetration hole  11   a , since the shock-absorbing package  10 , including the locking part  12   b , may be film(s), such as, for example, made of resin. Therefore, the locking part  12   b  can pass through the penetration hole  11   a , and can returned to the shape allowing engaged contact with the portions of the body  11  near the penetration hole  11   a.    
     When air is injected through the inlet  10   b  with the locking part  12   b  of the cover  12  in engaged contact with the body  11  near the penetration hole  11   a  as shown in  FIG. 4 , the injected air is supplied to the plurality of air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  through the main injection path  10   c  and the plurality of sub injection paths  10   d . Accordingly, the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  are inflated by the air into the inflated form having an almost circular sectional shape. The thickness of the inflated cover air pocket  12   c  in particular becomes substantially greater than the width of the penetration hole  11   a.    
     The locking part  12   b  in such increased thickness state when the cover air pocket  12   c  is inflated cannot pass through the penetration hole  11   a , thereby maintaining the cover  12  in the state that it closes the entrance of the receiving part  10   a.    
     Moreover, since the air charging the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  is compressible, transmission of shock may be effectively absorbed by the air, greatly reducing the amount of the externally received shock transmitted to the object P in the receiving part  10   b . Shock received to the entrance of the receiving part  10   a  may be absorbed by the cover air pocket  12   c  whereas shock to the other parts may be absorbed by the body air pockets  11   b.    
     When the object P needs to be taken out from the receiving part  10   a  of the shock-absorbing package  10 , the locking part  12   b  may be torn off using the notches  12   d , thereby deflating the cover air pocket  12   c . Since the thickness of the locking part  12   b  is reduced due to the deflation of the cover air pocket  12   c , the locking part  12   b  can be shaped to escape the penetration hole  11   a  with a relative ease, allowing the cover  12  to open the entrance of the receiving part  10   a , and thus allowing the removal of the object P from the receiving part  10   a.    
     Although embodiments in which the body air pockets  11   b  and the cover air pocket  12   c  are both supplied with air through one main injection path  10   c  has been described above, according to alternative embodiments, the cover air pocket  12   c  may be injected with air through air supply path(s) separate from the body air pockets  11   b.    
     A shock-absorbing package according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure provides the closure of the package using a cover air pocket is provided to the cover passable through a penetration hole provided in the package. By inflating the cover air pocket to a larger volume, the cover stays closed. The shock-absorbing package according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be re-open by deflating the cover air pocket. 
     The cover air pocket formed on the cover may provide an additional protection against shock to the portion of the package at the receiving entrance of the package. 
     While the disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to several embodiments thereof with particular details, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims and their equivalents.