Molded fiber cushioning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906719-B2
Application number	US-201916265694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2019
Priority date	Sep 24, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Packaging may include cushioning elements. Molded fiber cushioning elements may be configured as end caps, and may include independently flexible panels. The cushioning elements may include an upper and lower panel fixed together about their periphery, but free to bend and translate about and along each other otherwise. The cushioning elements may include opposed mechanical bends that are proximate a friction interface, thereby allowing the cushioning element to absorb impact and vibration, and replacing the need for less environmentally friendly cushioning, such as expanded polystyrene or foam cushioning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Packaging, comprising:
a first molded fiber cushion component comprising:
a first molded fiber component comprising a first panel having a product support surface that is flexible about a first flexure point;
a second molded fiber component comprising a second panel coupled to the first molded fiber component at a peripheral region and flexible at a second flexure point in an opposing direction from the first flexure point, wherein the second panel is coupled to the first panel at an outer periphery of the first molded fiber component and an inner periphery of the first molded fiber component; and

a second molded fiber cushion component comprising:
a third molded fiber component having a product support surface that is flexible about a third flexure point;
a fourth molded fiber component coupled to the third molded fiber component at a peripheral region and flexible at a fourth flexure point in an opposing direction from the third flexure point,

wherein the first molded fiber cushion component at least partially encloses an upper portion of a product, and wherein the second molded fiber cushion component at least partially encloses a lower portion of the same product, such that the molded fiber cushion components form end caps for the product.

2. The packaging of claim 1 wherein the product is a finished goods package.

3. The packaging of claim 1 , further comprising:
a friction interface between the first and second flexure points, and a friction interface between the third and fourth flexure points, each configured such that the respective flexure points translate along respective surfaces of the molded fiber components in response to a force applied to the product support surface.

4. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein each product support surface flexes about its respective flexure point to absorb an impact in response to a force applied downward to the product support surfaces.

5. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the first panel is contoured such that an interior periphery is formed to receive a product therein, the interior periphery transitioning into the product support surface and allowing the product support surface to flex relative to a wall formed from the first panel,
wherein in response to a force applied to the product support surface of the first molded fiber component, the interior wall flexes towards the product.

6. The packaging of claim 5 , wherein the second panel is fixed to the first panel at an outer periphery of the first molded fiber component and an inner periphery of the first molded fiber component.

7. The packaging of claim 5 , wherein a portion of the second panel is free to translate along a distance along the first panel at a friction interface between the first and second flexure points.

8. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein the first and second molded fiber cushions are received in a base box and the base box is closed by a lid.

9. The packaging of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first and second molded fiber cushions partially enclose a plurality of products, respectively, and wherein the plurality of first and second molded fiber cushions are positioned in a box for shipping.

10. A molded fiber cushion component comprising:
a first molded fiber component having a product support surface that is flexible about a first flexure point;
a second molded fiber component coupled to the first molded fiber component at a peripheral region and flexible at a second flexure point in an opposing mechanical direction from the first flexure point; and
a friction interface between the first and second flexure points configured such that the first and second flexure points translate along respective surfaces of the first and second molded fiber components in response to a force applied downward to the product support surface.

11. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 10 , wherein the first molded fiber component further comprises:
a second product support surface that is flexible about a third flexure point in the same direction as the first flexure point.

12. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 10 , wherein the product support surface flexes about the first flexure point to absorb an impact in response to a force applied downward to the product support surface.

13. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 10 , wherein the first molded fiber component comprises a first panel forming a wall contoured such that an interior periphery is formed to receive a product therein, the interior periphery transitioning into the product support surface and allowing the product support surface to flex relative to the wall.

14. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 13 , wherein the second molded fiber component comprises a second panel fixed to the first panel at an outer periphery of the first molded fiber component and an inner periphery of the first molded fiber component.

15. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the second panel is free to translate along a distance along the first panel at the friction interface between the first and second flexure points.

16. A molded fiber cushion component comprising:
a first molded fiber panel having first and second product support surfaces that are downwardly flexible;
a second molded fiber panel coupled to the first molded fiber panel at a peripheral region and downwardly flexible at friction interfaces between the first and second molded fiber panels proximate the first and second product support surfaces,
wherein the first and second product support surfaces are substantially coplanar in a first configuration, wherein the friction interfaces are positioned between the first and second molded fiber panels at areas of contact between flexure points of the first and second molded fiber panels, the friction interfaces being configured to allow translation of the first and second molded fiber panels against each other in response to a force applied downward to a product support surface, and such that a downward force on a product support surface is offset between the flexure points of the first and second molded fiber panels, respectively.

17. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 16 , wherein the first and second product support surfaces are independently downwardly flexible.

18. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 16 , wherein the first and second product support surfaces extend inward from opposing sidewalls of the molded fiber cushion component.

19. The molded fiber cushion component of claim 16 , further comprising:
sidewalls forming a cavity to receive a product therein,
wherein the first molded fiber panel further comprises third and fourth product support surfaces that are downwardly flexible and are substantially coplanar in the first configuration, and
wherein each of the product support surfaces extend inward from the sidewalls and are independently downwardly flexible.

20. A packaging system comprising the molded fiber cushion component of claim 16 , wherein a plurality of first and second molded fiber cushion components partially enclose a plurality of products, respectively, and wherein the plurality of first and second molded fiber cushion components are positioned in a box for shipping.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• PINCUS Derek Bowman

Classifications

• B65D25/02 Primary

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

• B65D81/058 Primary

  Protectors contacting five surfaces of the packaged article, e.g. five-sided end protectors · CPC title

• B65D2581/053

  Paper in general, e.g. paperboard, carton, molded paper · CPC title

• B65D81/133

  of a shape specially adapted to accommodate contents, e.g. trays {(B65D81/053 takes precedence; thermally insulated trays B65D81/3816, B65D81/3827)} · CPC title