Improvements in Means for Packing Fragile Articles for Transport.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Packing Fragile Articles for Transport.
I, RICHARD PIKE, GLASGOW, of 5, Grove Park Gardens, Chiswick, Barrister
at Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of pack-
ing fragile articles so that they may be safely carried by rail or other means of
transport with little risk of being broken. For this purpose I construct the
packing case in such a way that articles placed in it are cushioned upon air &
thereby separated from any hard substance which would be likely to cause
fracture. For example, I may apply one form of my invention to the packing
of eggs for transport, by constructing the case so that each egg lies in a cup
shaped air cushion, the outer surface of the latter being constructed either of a
hard rigid substance or of a flexible air tight substance, the inner surface being
flexible & air tight, so that, on the inflation of the cushion, every part of the
inner surface clings to the egg, though it is not essential that it should touch
at every point. In order to prevent swinging of the egg relative to the outer
surface after inflation, the inner surface may be connected to the outer surface
by a ring or disc of cloth or other flexible material, the latter being fixed to the
inner surface at or near the end furthest from the opening which admits the
egg The Ce is thus virtually floating in air & therefore free from any chance
of jars or knocks which would be apt to break it. By arranging these cushions
on a frame, it is obvious that a case may be made according to my invention so
as to hold any number of eggs.
My invention may be applied to other fragile articles, minor alterations in
construction being required according to the shape of the article.
In order to unpack, it is only necessary to deflate.
1
Ostalo 1907
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Packing Fragile Articles for Transport.
I, RICHARD PIKE GLASGOW, 5, Grove Park Gardens, Chiswick, Barrister
at Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of pack-
ing fragile articles so that they may be safely carried by rail or other means of
transport with little risk of being broken.
For this purpose I construct the packing case in such a way that articles
placed in it are cushioned upon air and thereby separated from any hard sub-

page_text: stance which would be likely to cause fracture. For example I may apply one
form of my invention to the packing of eggs for transport by constructing the
case so that each egg lies in a cupshaped air cushion the outer surface of the
Tatier being constructed either of a hard rigid substance or of a Hexible air tight
substance the inner surface being flexible and air-tight so that on the inflation
of the cushion every part of the inner surface clings to the egg though it is not
essential that it should touch at every point. In order to prevent swinging of
the egg relative to the outer surface after inflation the inner surface may be
connected to the outer surface by a ring or disc of cloth or other flexible material
the latter being fixed to the inner surface at or near the end furthest from the
opening which admits the egg. The egg is thus virtually floating in air and
therefore free from any chance of jars or knocks which would be apt to break
it. By arranging these cushions on a frame it is obvious that a case may be
made according to my invention so as to hold any number of eggs.
Another way in which my invention may be carried out consists in arranging
in a box of suitable size a series of air cushions so placed that when inflated they
press upon the fragile article at a sufficient number of places to prevent it from
moving in the box by reason of lifting or any other movement which would
tend to alter its position relative to the box. For example in a box constructed
to carry say six eggs I place air cushions along each of the bottom edges in the
inside of the box, and a corresponding number of cushions along lines parallel to and
near the top edges of the box. The width of the box is such that these cushions when
deflated are nearly in contact with those on the opposite edge at the bottom and the
top of the box. While the cushions are deflated each egg may be placed so as to rest
on two opposite cushions and to be covered by the corresponding cushions at
the top so that at least four support each egg but it is not essential that the
cushions should be deflated to start with. Or if the cushions on each edge are
sufficiently near to each other the eggs may be placed between them. When
the cushions are inflated the result is that in this arrangement eight are always
supporting each egg.
Instead of having separate cushions I may have a tube of suitable diameter
along each eilge. Each tube unny be inflated separately or the tubes may he
connected together by small tubes so as to be capable of being inflated together.
The mouth of the tube for inflating may be arranged in any convenient position
inside the box so as to permit of inflating the cushions or large tubes by blowing
or by an air pump.
Figure 1 is a section through the end and Figure 2 a plan of a box constructed
to hold a number of eggs in one air cushion. Figure 3 is an end section and
Figure 4a plan of the form in which a number of air cushions is used.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the form in which air tubes extending along the length
of the box are used.
'
In Figures and 2 A is the air cushion having in section the shape of a horse
shoe, so that the inner side C of the cushion supports the egg. B is the outside
box within which the cushion is fixed. E is the connection between the box.
and the cushion to prevent the latter swinging against the sides of the box.
The outside A of the cushion may be of metal or other rigid material instead of
being flexible or it may be dispensed with altogether if the outside box is air
tight. Fis the valve for inflating the cushion." D is the egg in position.
In Figures 3 and 4 A A are the separate cushions which may be inflated
separately or together. D D are the eggs placed between the cushions.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7 AA are the airtubes extending along the length of th
box B, DD are the eggs placed so as to rest on the two bottom tubes, and
under the two upper tubes. G is a tube connecting the tubes A. A.
It will he evident that when these air cushions are inflated the eggs will be
securely held in position by the pressure of the tubes against the surfaces of
the eggs.

page_text: Any convenient form of valve may be attached to the inflating tube or the
tube may be closed by nipping or other equivalent means.
The cushions or tubes may be attached to the box by any suitable means for
example by rubber solution or clamping.
My invention may be applied to other fragile articles minor alterations in con-
struction being required according to the shape of the articles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The method of packing fragile articles whereby they are partially or com-
pletely surrounded by air or other equivalent gas suitably enclosed so as to pre-
vent them from moving and so as to separate them from any hard substance
which would be likely to cause fracture.
2. The method of packing fragile articles by placing them in a suitably shaped
flexible bag so arranged that the latter may be caused to press upon substan-
tially the whole surface of the article by means of air or other equivalent gas
substantially as described.
3. The method of packing fragile articles by so arranging a series of separate
air cushions that the latter will when suitably inflated press on different places
of the articles substantially as described.
4. The method of packing fragile articles by so arranging continuous air tubes
that the latter would press at different places of the articles substantially as
described.
Dated this 15th day of July 1898
RICHARD PIKE GLASGOW.