Packaging with integrated cushioning supports

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12559285-B2
Application number	US-202318512760-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2023
Priority date	Dec 12, 2022
Publication date	Feb 24, 2026
Grant date	Feb 24, 2026

Abstract

A product packaging is disclosed. The product packaging includes a base box and a cover. The base box includes a base panel and cushioning cells together defining a product-receiving space. The cushioning cells include an upper cushioning cell disposed at an upper edge of the base panel, a lower cushioning cell disposed at a lower edge of the base panel, a left side cushioning cell disposed at a left side edge of the base panel, and a right side cushioning cell disposed at a right side edge of the base panel. The cover covers the product-receiving space and is coupled to the left side cushioning cell and to the right side cushioning cell. The left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell are hingedly coupled to the base panel. The base panel and the cushioning cells are integral and formed from a single blank.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . Product packaging, comprising:
a base box comprising:
a base panel; and
cushioning cells comprising:
an upper cushioning cell disposed at an upper edge of the base panel and defining an upper side of the base box;
a lower cushioning cell disposed at a lower edge of the base panel and defining a lower side of the base box;
a left side cushioning cell disposed at a left side edge of the base panel and defining a left side of the base box; and
a right side cushioning cell disposed at a right side edge of the base panel and defining a right side of the base box;

wherein the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell are hingedly coupled to the base panel, wherein each of the cushioning cells comprises four panels arranged to form a rectangular cross-section, wherein each of the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell further comprises a fifth panel, the fifth panel being adhered to one of the four panels, wherein none of the panels of the left side cushioning cell or the right side cushioning cell are adhered to the base panel, wherein the base panel and the cushioning cells together define a product-receiving space, and wherein the base panel and the cushioning cells are integral and formed from a single blank; and a cover configured to cover the product-receiving space of the base box, the cover configured to be coupled to the left side cushioning cell and to the right side cushioning cell.

2 . The product packaging of claim 1 , wherein when the cover is intact and is coupled to the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell, the cover stops the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell from rotating relative to the base panel, and maintains the product packaging in a closed configuration.

3 . The product packaging of claim 2 , wherein the cover is configured to be separated into a left cover panel coupled to the left side cushioning cell and a right cover panel coupled to the right side cushioning cell such that separating the cover into the left cover panel and the right cover panel transitions the packaging into an open configuration in which the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell rotate together with the left cover panel and the right cover panel, respectively, relative to the base panel to expose and expand the product-receiving space.

4 . The product packaging of claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises a ripcord extending between the left cover panel and the right cover panel,
wherein the left cover panel, the right cover panel, and the ripcord are integral and formed from a single blank, and wherein tearing away the ripcord separates the left cover panel and the right cover panel, thereby allowing the left cover panel and the right cover panel to be rotated away from each other, exposing the product-receiving space.

5 . The product packaging of claim 4 , wherein the left cover panel comprises a left front cover panel and a left side cover panel, and wherein the left side cover panel is adhered to an outer side of the left side cushioning cell,
wherein the right cover panel comprises a right front cover panel and a right side cover panel, and wherein the right side cover panel is adhered to an outer side of the right-side cushioning cell, and wherein, when the left cover panel and the right cover panel are separated and rotated away from each other, the left side cover panel and the right side cover panel rotate together with the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell, respectively, to expand the product-receiving space.

6 . Product packaging, comprising:
a base box comprising:
a base panel; and
cushioning cells comprising:
an upper cushioning cell disposed at an upper edge of the base panel and defining an upper side of the base box;
a lower cushioning cell disposed at a lower edge of the base panel and defining a lower side of the base box;
a left side cushioning cell disposed at a left side edge of the base panel and defining a left side of the base box; and
a right side cushioning cell disposed at a right side edge of the base panel and defining a right side of the base box;

wherein the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell are hingedly coupled to the base panel, wherein each of the cushioning cells comprises four panels arranged to form a rectangular cross-section, wherein each of the upper cushioning cell and the lower cushioning cell comprises a fifth panel, the fifth panel forming a hypotenuse panel extending diagonally between interior corners of its respective cushioning cell, wherein the base panel and the cushioning cells together define a product-receiving space, and wherein the base panel and the cushioning cells are integral and formed from a single blank; and a cover configured to cover the product-receiving space of the base box, the cover configured to be coupled to the left side cushioning cell and to the right side cushioning cell.

7 . The product packaging of claim 6 , wherein each of the left side cushioning cell and the right side cushioning cell further comprises a fifth panel, the fifth panel being adhered to one of the four panels, wherein none of the panels of the left side cushioning cell or the right side cushioning cell are adhered to the base panel.

8 . The product packaging of claim 6 , wherein the hypotenuse panels extend upwardly toward the product-receiving space.

9 . The product packaging of claim 6 , wherein each hypotenuse panel has a length less than those of the other four panels of its respective cushioning cell.

10 . The product packaging of claim 9 , wherein an adhesive is disposed on an outer side of a panel adjacent to the hypotenuse panel of the panels of each of the upper and lower cushioning cells, adhering its respective cushioning cell to the base panel.

11 . The product packaging of claim 1 , wherein the base box is integrally formed of a unitary cardboard material, and
wherein the cover is integrally formed of a unitary cardboard material.

12 . A packaged product assembly, comprising:
the product packaging of claim 1 ; and a product disposed within the product-receiving space, wherein the product packaging is in a closed configuration in which the product is restrained from moving relative to the product packaging by contact with the base panel, the cushioning cells, and the cover.

13 . The packaged product assembly of claim 12 , wherein the product is a packaged product including retail packaging having an outer shape of a rectangular cuboid,
wherein the base panel, the cushioning cells, and the cover together define the product-receiving space as a rectangular cuboid matching that of the outer shape of the retail packaging.

14 . A blank for forming product packaging comprising:
a central base panel; a left panel integrally extending outward from a left side of the central base panel and connected to the central base panel at an upward fold line; a right panel integrally extending outward from a right side of the central base panel and connected to the central base panel at an upward fold line; an upper panel integrally extending outward from an upper side of the central base panel and connected to the central base panel at an upward fold line; and a lower panel integrally extending outward from a lower side of the central base panel and connected to the central base panel at an upward fold line, wherein each of the left panel and the right panel comprises five sub-panels connected at parallel upward fold lines, and wherein, coun

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hayes Isaac
• Andre Bartley K
• Shen Yi-Tung
• Gomez Garcia Jonathan
• Long Michael S
• Pagano Kevin T
• Heck Anne-Marie
• Tuano Avianne Marie Bracamonte
• Alpine John
• Provoost David Michel
• De Dycker Herman Germain

Classifications

• B65D5/4266

  Folding lines, score lines, crease lines · CPC title

• B65D5/545

  for opening containers formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank · CPC title

• B65D2543/00851

  on the central part of the lid · CPC title

• B65D5/2009

  all formed by folding extensions of the side walls · CPC title

• B65D5/5021 Primary

  Integral elements for containers formed by folding-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides · CPC title