Patent Publication Number: US-8523048-B1

Title: Glass packaging article

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/138,117 filed Dec. 16, 2008. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to inserts designed for glass shipping and packaging articles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Articles for packaging and/or shipping glass, and bottles in particular, should be affordable and robust. They should be able to damped vibration and absorb shock from a variety of angles. They should be easy to build and “green”, that is, environmentally friendly for disposal. They should be durable and light weight and take less storage space than more expensive styrofoam. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       In the drawings, the same reference numbers and acronyms identify elements or acts with the same or similar functionality for ease of understanding and convenience. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of an unformed glass package. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustration of an embodiment of the article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package. 
         FIG. 3  is an open end view illustration of an embodiment of the article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package. 
         FIG. 4  is a closed end view illustration of an embodiment of the article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of an embodiment of a locking tab. 
         FIG. 6  is an alternative illustration of an embodiment of an unformed glass package 
         FIG. 7  is a side view illustration of an alternative embodiment of the article of  FIG. 6  formed into a glass package 
         FIG. 8  is a closed end view illustration of an alternative embodiment of the article of  FIG. 6  formed into a glass package. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of an unformed glass package 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     References to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or an “alternative embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an embodiment of an unformed glass package. The following description [0009] of the article of  FIG. 1  describes tolerances, measurements, materials, etc. which are exemplary for the application and which are not necessarily the values that would apply in every application and/or embodiment of the invention. The described embodiments are distinguished from conventional four-sided containers or inserts currently used for most bottles. Instead it comprises three sides per bottle in a triangular subcontainer providing the bottle secure seating and space for enhanced impact protection. 
       FIG. 6  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of an unformed glass package. The following description [0009] of the article of  FIG. 6  describes tolerances, measurements, materials, etc. which are exemplary for the application and which are not necessarily the values that would apply in every application and/or embodiment of the invention. The described embodiments are distinguished from conventional four-sided containers or inserts currently used for most bottles. Instead it comprises three sides per bottle in a triangular subcontainer providing the bottle secure seating and space for enhanced impact protection. 
     The exemplary article(s) in paragraph [0007] and [0008] are made out of 40-ECT or some other strength corrugated board which is strong enough to support the weight load. The final box may hold two liquid bottles of wine or liquor, in which three sides are folded together on the left side to join with three sides folded together on the right side (see joints  1 ,  2  and arrows,  3 ). The end result is a “box” with a double triangle divider between the two bottles. The two folded triangles are then “locked” into position by the insertion or pushing of a (for example) 3¾″ locking tab (see  4 ) scored on one (for example) 7″ outside panel into reciprocal holes cutout on the opposite (for example) 5⅛″ folded panel (see  5 ). The locking tab holes may be ⅜″×3½″ cutouts or some other size as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The outside panels (see  7 ) are scored for a folding “floor” and top for each bottle. The floor and top are then reinforced by some push in scores  6  (e.g. 1¼″ thick) which fit in directly under the folded floors. This allows for the bottom and top panel bottle support. The push in components may or may not, for example, provide for a 1¼″ buffer space below the push in components which can be utilized for “climate” temperature control environment to protect the integrity of the bottle and its contents as in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 . They may also fold without providing utilization space for “climate” temperature control as in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 9 . Allowances are also made within the alternative embodiment ( FIG. 6 ) for a NS-bottle stabilization tab (see  8 ) and a SBT short bottle tab (see  9 ) designed to shorten and close the triangular bottle cavity to securely fit and protect shorter and narrower bottle sizes. Space has been cutout to allow ease of folding equivalent to the width 3/16″ of the corrugated board for the two NS and SBT bottle tabs (see  10 ) 
     The over all dimensions of the box may be 40″ by 19½″. Four of the inner panels may be 6″ inches wide or some other similar sized dimension serving the same purpose for larger or different size containers. The two outer panels may be 8″ long enough to make a square box when touching each other after being folded. A 19½″ height of the box may allow for an approximate 1″ cushion below the two folded scores which fit under the floor. It is also possible to make this box 40″×17½″ by eliminating the 1″ cushion on both the top and bottom of the box. The finished measurements of the folded container once locked into position after folding and joining all scores may be: 17¼″×6″×6″ as in  FIG. 1  or 16¾″×6″×6″ as in  FIG. 6 . 
     The joined triangular subcontainers may form a “square” box where each bottle is surrounded by cardboard sides which create a buffer zone for bottle movement in the event of impact. The resulting insert may be sufficient to hold two 3½″ wide by 13¼″ tall glass bottles. Each bottle is surrounded within the container by no less than two cardboard layers or dividers when placed into the outside shipping box. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view illustration of an embodiment of the exemplary article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package and  FIG. 7  is a side view illustration of an alternative embodiment of the exemplary article of  FIG. 6  formed into a glass package.  FIG. 3  is an open end view illustration of an embodiment of the article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package.  FIG. 4  is a closed end view illustration of an embodiment of the article of  FIG. 1  formed into a glass package.  FIG. 8  is a closed end view illustration of an alternative embodiment of the article of  FIG. 6  formed into a glass package.  FIG. 5  is an illustration of an embodiment of a locking tab.  FIG. 9  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a locking tab. 
     The foregoing described aspects depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted arrangements are merely exemplary, and that in fact other arrangements may be implemented within the scope of the inventive features. 
     The described embodiments of package inserts may be employed to ship multiple bottles of wine or liquor in a safe and friendly environment. These embodiments may be more economical to store and purchase than Styrofoam products. The inserts may be stored in flat bundles and require very little storage space. The cardboard is durable and light weight. More than one insert may be used within a shipping box. For example, one could place six inserts into a box for shipping twelve bottles, or four inserts to ship eight bottles, two inserts for four bottles or a single insert to ship two bottles of wine. 
     This patent application and related descriptions incorporate by reference Provisional Application No. 61/138,117. 
     Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.