Nesting and shock absorbing package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654613-B2
Application number	US-201715639988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jan 27, 2017
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A package for enclosing at least one item is disclosed. The package includes a first portion having a first surface including at least one protrusion, a second portion having a second surface including at least one indentation, and a hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion. The hinge is configured to allow the package to transition from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position the first portion and the second portion define an enclosed space for enclosing an item. The at least one protrusion and the at least one indentation may provide cushioning and shock absorption for the package and/or may allow the package to nest with another package stacked above or below the package.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A package for enclosing at least one item, the package comprising:
a first portion including a first surface comprising
a plurality of protrusions, each of the plurality of protrusions comprising an arched ridge having a first radius, the plurality of protrusions separated by one or more substantially flat valleys, each of the one or more substantially flat valleys formed between a pair of the plurality of protrusions, and
a raised frame comprising raised walls surrounding a depression, wherein a height of the raised walls relative to the one or more substantially flat valleys is substantially the same as a height of the plurality of protrusions relative to the one or more substantially flat valleys, and a height of the depression is substantially the same as a height of the one or more substantially flat valleys;

a second portion including a second surface comprising
a plurality of indentations, each of the plurality of indentations comprising an arched ditch having a second radius, wherein the second radius is substantially equal to the first radius, the plurality of indentations separated by one or more substantially flat raised portions, each of the one or more substantially flat raised portions formed between a pair of the plurality of indentations, and

an indented frame comprising indented portions surrounding a boss, wherein a depth of the indented portions relative to the substantially flat raised portions is substantially the same as a depth of the plurality of indentations relative to the substantially flat raised portions, and a height of the boss is substantially the same as a height of the substantially flat raised portions; and
a hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion, the hinge configured to allow the package to transition between an open position and a closed position; wherein, in the closed position, the first portion and the second portion define a space for enclosing at least one item.

2. The package of claim 1 , wherein:
each arched ridge is convex; and
each arched ditch is concave.

3. The package of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of protrusions are positioned on the first surface and configured to nest with a plurality of indentations of a first other package stacked on a first side of the package; and
the one or more substantially flat valleys are positioned on the first surface and configured to nest with one or more substantially flat raised portions of the first other package stacked on the first side of the package.

4. The package of claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of indentations are positioned on the second surface and configured to nest with a plurality of protrusions of a second other package stacked on a second side the package; and
the one or more substantially flat raised portions are positioned on the second surface and configured to nest with one or more substantially flat valleys of the second other package stacked on a second side of the package.

5. The package of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of protrusions are configured to space a first part of the first surface away from an item enclosed within the package to create sway space between the item and the first part of the first surface; and
a second part of the first surface is configured to contact the item.

6. The package of claim 5 , wherein:
the plurality of indentations are configured to space a first part of the second surface away from the item enclosed within the package to create sway space between the item and the first part of the second surface; and
a second part of the second surface is configured to contact the item.

7. The package of claim 1 , wherein:
the raised frame is configured to nest with an indented frame of another package stacked above the package; and
the indented frame is configured to nest with a raised frame of another package stacked below the package.

8. The package of claim 1 , wherein:
the depression is configured to nest with a boss of another package stacked above the package; and
the boss is configured to nest with a depression of another package below the package.

9. A system of packages for items, the system comprising:
a first package having a first surface with a first topography comprising
a plurality of protrusions, each of the plurality of protrusions comprising an arched ridge having a first radius, the plurality of protrusions separated by one or more substantially flat valleys, each of the one or more substantially flat valleys formed between a pair of the plurality of protrusions, and
a raised frame comprising raised walls surrounding a depression, wherein a height of the raised walls relative to the one or more substantially flat valleys is substantially the same as a height of the plurality of protrusions relative to the one or more substantially flat valleys; and

a second package having a second surface with a second topography comprising
a plurality of indentations, each of the plurality of indentations comprising an arched ditch having a second radius, wherein the second radius corresponds to the first radius, the plurality of indentations separated by one or more substantially flat raised portions, each of the one or more substantially flat raised portions formed between a pair of the plurality of indentations, and
an indented frame comprising indented portions surrounding a boss, wherein a depth of the indented portions relative to the substantially flat raised portions is substantially the same as a depth of the plurality of indentations relative to the substantially flat raised portions;

wherein:
the second topography corresponds to and is configured to nest with the first topography; and
the first package is configured to stack with the second package such that the first surface contacts the second surface.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first topography and the second topography are configured to inhibit the first surface from sliding relative the second surface.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first package is configured to enclose a first item, a first portion of the first surface configured to contact the first item and a second portion of the first surface configured to be spaced away from the first item; and
the second package is configured to enclose a second item, a first portion of the second surface configured to contact the second item and a second portion of the second surface configured to be spaced away from the second item.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the second portion of the first surface is configured to create a first sway space between the first item and the first surface;
the second portion of the second surface is configured to create a second sway space between the second item and the second surface; and
the first sway space and the second sway space are configured to overlap in a plane extending between the first item and the second item.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first topography and the second topography each comprise a wavy structure.

14. A method of stacking at least two packages, the method comprising:
providing a first package including a first surface comprising a first topography corn pri sing
a plurality of protrusions, each of the plurality of protrusions comprising an arched ridge having a first radius, the plurality of protrusions separated by one or more substantially flat valleys, and
a raised frame comprising raised walls surrounding a depression, wherein a height of the raised walls relative to the one or more substantially flat valleys is substantially the same as a height of the plurality of protrusions rela

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Liu Sichang

Classifications

• B65D21/0223 Primary

  the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses (B65D21/0222 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D25/02

  Internal fittings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44) · CPC title

• B65D11/20 Primary

  Details of walls made of plastics material · CPC title

• B65D11/10

  of polygonal cross-section and all parts being permanently connected to each other (B65D11/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D81/022

  Containers made of shock-absorbing material (B65D81/03 takes precedence; for thermal insulating purposes B65D81/3813) · CPC title