Method for using a package insert for cushioning an object

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351287-B2
Application number	US-201615194709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A package insert for cushioning an object during transport includes a plurality of support pins disposed in parallel with respect to each other, and a perforated sheet having a plurality of perforation holes disposed therein. Each of the plurality of supporting pins is disposed within a corresponding perforation hole of the plurality of perforation holes. Each of the plurality of perforation holes has a diameter or width that is equal to or smaller than a diameter or width of its corresponding supporting pin such that the corresponding supporting pin is kept in place by friction when inserted into the corresponding perforation hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for packaging an object, comprising:
setting the object on a surface;
pressing a first package insert over the object, the first package insert comprising: a first plurality of support pins disposed in parallel with respect to each other; and a first perforated sheet, having a first plurality of perforation holes disposed therein, wherein each of the first plurality of supporting pins is disposed within a corresponding perforation hole of the first plurality of perforation holes, wherein the first package insert is pressed such that the arrangement of the first plurality of support pins, relative to the first perforated sheet, aligns to contour with the object;
trimming portions of the first plurality of support pins that protrude from an opposing side of the first perforated sheet;
placing the first package insert, upside-down, within a container;
placing the object, upside-down, within the container on top of the first package insert;
pressing a second package insert within the container such that the object is disposed within the container between the first and second package insert, the second package insert comprising: a second plurality of support pins disposed in parallel with respect to each other; and a second perforated sheet having a second plurality of perforation holes disposed therein; wherein the second package insert is pressed such that the arrangement of the second plurality of support pins, relative to the second perforated sheet, aligns to contour with the object; and
trimming the second plurality of support pins such that each of the second plurality of support pins extends to the top of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of support pins are cylindrical or prism-shaped.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of perforation holes has a circular or polygon-shape.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of supporting pins are disposed within their corresponding perforation holes such that the perforation holes are loose enough around the corresponding supporting pin so as to allow the supporting pin to be moved when an external force is applied but tight enough around the corresponding supporting pin so as to prevent the supporting pin from being moved under the force of gravity alone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of supporting pins is constructed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), and polycarbonate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pluralities of supporting pins is constructed of a polymer foam.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second perforated sheet is constructed of corrugated paperboard, corrugated plastic, a polymer or a polymer foam.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sealing the container after the trimming of the second plurality of support pins.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of support pins are trimmed using a wire.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein;
an engagement of the first and second pluralities of supporting pins with their corresponding perforation holes provides a frictional force greater than the weight of the object; and
the pressing of the first package insert and second package insert applies a pressure greater than the frictional force.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Eberbach Adam H

Classifications

• B65B67/02

  Packaging of articles or materials in containers · CPC title

• B65B61/22 Primary

  for placing protecting sheets, plugs, or wads over contents, e.g. cotton-wool in bottles of pills · CPC title

• B65B55/20

  Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material · CPC title

• B65D81/05

  maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents ({B65D81/022, B65D81/025, } B65D81/03 take precedence) · CPC title

• B65B5/04

  Packaging single articles · CPC title