Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a buffer packing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a buffer packing apparatus for packing a plurality of objects. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Before packing up an object for transportation, some buffering material is normally placed inside a packaging box to pack the object and provide some space for buffering damages due to impact. In the earlier days, lightweight and easy-to-manufacture buffering materials such as polyurethane or plastic were used. In recent years, however, with environmental protection fresh in everybody&#39;s mind, material fabricated from paper gradually replaces the conventional polyurethane or plastic in packing things up for delivery. Nowadays, the most common buffering material includes molded packing apparatus or properly cut and folded cardboard. Because folded cardboard is easier and cheaper to manufacture, this type of packing is wildly used. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conventional buffer packing apparatus  100 . The buffer packing apparatus utilizes two pieces of folded cardboard to produce buffer columns  101  at each corner and a wallboard  102  on each side. A plurality of partition boards  103  is also used to partition the packing apparatus into a plurality of empty slots  104  for accommodating various packing objects. In a conventional design, the objects to be packages such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or a notebook computer are inserted into the respective space between the partition boards  103 . The supporting walls  101   a  of the buffer columns  101  and the wallboards  102  not only provide support to the packing apparatus but also fix the objects in position so that a rigid packing apparatus is obtained. Because the pack objects are in direct contact with the wallboards  102 , the buffering effect close to the wallboards  102  is poor. Furthermore, with a right-angled design for all four corners, the outer edge of the buffer columns  101  are also in direct contact with the packing box. Hence, any external impact on the packing box is likely to cause some structural damage to the buffer column  101  leading to possible collapse of the buffering capacity of the entire buffer packing apparatus. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a buffer packing apparatus that provides a space for accommodating an object and protecting the object from possible damage due to an external impact. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a buffer packing apparatus for packing a plurality of objects. The buffer packing apparatus comprises a plurality of rectangular partition boards and a plurality of buffer columns. The rectangular partition boards are parallel to but separated from each other by a fixed distance for supporting objects. All corners of the rectangular partition boards have chamfers. Furthermore, the side edges of each rectangular partition boards adjacent to the chamfered corner has a plurality of first slots. The buffer columns are flushed into all the corners of the rectangular partition boards to form buffering spaces. Each buffer column has a plurality of second slots. The second slots on the buffer columns and the first slots on the rectangular partition boards mesh with each other so that the buffer columns and the rectangular partition boards together form an apparatus with a plurality of spatial compartments. 
   In one embodiment of this invention, each buffer column has a U-shaped column body with each U-shaped body comprising a support wall and two meshing walls. Both the support wall and the meshing walls mesh with the rectangular partition walls. The support wall serves as a supporting column for the objects. The meshing walls are attached to the support wall but folded in a direction perpendicular to the support wall. Furthermore, the second slots on the U-shaped column body extend from the support wall into the meshing walls. 
   In another embodiment of this invention, each buffer column comprises a pair of U-shaped column bodies and a connecting wall. The U-shaped column bodies are located on each side adjacent to the chamfers. Each U-shaped column body is constructed from a support wall and a pair of meshing walls. Both the support wall and the meshing walls mesh into the rectangular partition boards. The support wall serves as a supporting column for the objects. The meshing walls are attached to the support wall but folded into a direction perpendicular to the support wall. Furthermore, the second slots on the U-shaped column body extend from the support wall into the meshing walls. 
   Note that the connecting wall not only encloses the chamfers of the rectangular partition walls but also extends along the adjacent side edges of the rectangular partition boards to connect with U-shaped column bodies close to the chamfers. In this embodiment, the connecting wall is connected to the meshing wall of the U-shaped column body furthest from the chamfers, for example. 
   In yet another embodiment of this invention, buffer columns comprising just a U-shaped column body are set on some of the corners of the rectangular partition boards. Buffer columns comprising a pair of U-shaped column bodies connected via a connecting wall are set on the remaining corners of the rectangular partition boards. With this arrangement, packaging personnel can easily identify the orientation of various objects inside the packing apparatus. 
   In this embodiment, the corners connecting the respective meshing walls with the support wall have no chamfer. 
   In one embodiment, each side edge of the rectangular partition boards between the buffer columns has a buffer slot so that the rectangular partition board has the capacity to absorb a portion of the stress caused by an external impact. 
   In one embodiment, the rectangular boards and the buffer columns constituting the buffer packing apparatus are fabricated using chevron paper, packaging paper or paper-like material. 
   In addition, the chamfers on the rectangular partition boards provide an additional gap between the outer edges each buffer column and a packing box after the buffer packing apparatus is lowered into a packing box. Hence, the degree of damage to the buffer columns when the packing box receives an external impact will be greatly minimized. In other words, the buffer packing apparatus of this invention will have a higher structural strength. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a conventional buffer packing apparatus. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a buffer packing apparatus according one embodiment of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the components of a buffer packing apparatus of this invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an expanded out version of an “A” type buffer column of the buffer packing apparatus of this invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an expanded out version of an “B” type buffer column of the buffer packing apparatus of this invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the process of assembling the buffer packing apparatus of this invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a buffer packing apparatus according to this invention inside a packing box. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a buffer packing apparatus according one embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 3  is an exploded view showing the components of a buffer packing apparatus according to one embodiment of this invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the buffer packing apparatus  200  comprises a plurality of rectangular partition boards  202 , eight U-shaped column bodies  204  and a pair of connecting walls  206 . The rectangular partition boards  202  are set at a fixed distance apart but parallel to each other. All corners of each rectangular partition board are chamfered  208 . Furthermore, the two side edges of the rectangular partition board close to each chamfer  208  has a set (for example, two) of first slots  210 . In addition, the side edge of each rectangular partition between the two sets of first slots  210  has a buffer slot  222 , for example. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the U-shaped column bodies  204  mesh with the respective corners of the rectangular partition boards to serve as buffer columns. The U-shaped column bodies  204  together with the rectangular partition boards  202  form a plurality of spatial compartments  250 . Each U-shaped column body  204  comprises a support wall  216  and a pair of meshing walls  218  and  220 . The meshing walls  218  and  220  connect with the respective sides of the support wall  216  but the meshing walls  218  and  220  are folded in a direction perpendicular to the support wall  216 . Moreover, the side edges (or corners) of the meshing walls  218 ,  220  away from the support wall  216  have chamfers  226 . Furthermore, each U-shaped column body  204  has a plurality of second slots  212  extending from the support wall  216  into both meshing walls  218  and  220 . When the second slots  212  on a U-shaped column body  204  mesh with corresponding first slots  210  on the edges of the rectangular partition boards  202 , the entire U-shaped column body  204  is embedded within the rectangular partition boars  202 . Furthermore, after meshing the U-shaped column bodies  204  and the rectangular partition boards  202  together, the support walls  216  can serve as physical supports for the packing objects. Aside from enclosing two neighboring chamfers  208 , the two connecting walls  206  also extend from the respective chamfers  208  along adjacent sides and connect with a buffer column having a configuration similar to the aforementioned U-shaped column body  204 . In the following, a buffer column having just a simple U-shaped column body  204  is referred to as an “A” type buffer column. On the other hand, a buffer column having two U-shaped column bodies  204  connected via a connecting wall  206  is referred to as a “B” type buffer column. 
     FIG. 4  is an expanded out version of an “A” type buffer column according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the U-shaped column body  204  is fabricated by folding a flat chevron paper with three fold sections. The second slots  212  on the U-shaped column body  204  is formed, for example, by cutting grooves  214  on the flat three-fold chevron paper before folding. 
     FIG. 5  is an expanded out version of an “B” type buffer column according to this invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the “B” type buffer column is formed by folding a flat chevron paper that includes a section for the connecting wall  206  and two sections for the U-shaped column bodies  204 . In this embodiment, the connecting wall  206  connects with the side of the meshing walls  220  of the U-shaped column body  204  away from the chamfers  208 . Furthermore, the rectangular wall  224  of the connecting wall  206  encloses the chamfer  208  at the corner of the rectangular partition board  202 . The second slots  212  on the U-shaped column body  204  is formed, for example, by cutting grooves  214  on the flat chevron paper before folding. 
     FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the process of assembling a buffer packing apparatus according to this invention. To package an object  300 , an operator may select one of the sides for sliding the object  300  into the buffer packing apparatus  200 . After slipping the object  300  into the buffer packing apparatus  200 , the orientation of the object  300  inside the packing apparatus  200  can be identified through the setting of the buffer columns. For example, the object  300  is slipped into one of the compartments  250  of the buffer packing apparatus  200  by opening up the two “B” type buffer columns. 
     FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a buffer packing apparatus according to this invention inside a packing box. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the entire buffer packing apparatus  200  is lowered into a packaging box  400 . With chamfers  208  or  226  on every corner of the buffer packing apparatus  200 , gaps  260  are produced that minimize the extent of direct contact with the packaging box  400 . When the edges of the packaging box  400  receives an impact, the degree of damage to the U-shaped column bodies  204  is reduced and the buffering capacity of the packing apparatus  200  is enhanced. 
   Aside from using chevron paper, other type of materials including packaging paper, paper-like or buffering material can also be used to form the buffer packing apparatus. Furthermore, although four type “A” buffer columns and two type “B” type of buffer columns are used in the aforementioned packing apparatus, the buffer columns can be all “A”, all “B” or various combinations of “A” and “B”. Through a variation in the positioning of the buffer columns, the orientation of the objects within the packing apparatus can be readily identified. 
   In addition, the chamfers on the rectangular partition boards and the meshing walls of the U-shaped column bodies provide additional gaps between the buffer columns and a packaging box. Therefore, the degree of damage on the buffer columns when the packaging box receives an impact is greatly minimized. In other words, overall strength of the buffer packing apparatus is increased. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the apparatus of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 7