US 5,538,778 A · Method and apparatus for producing individual rolls of packing material

Abstract

An expanded cushioning material for packing or packaging is in the form of a filled cylinder. The cylinder is formed from a spiral of an essentially flexible, extended sheet material. The flexible material, in its unexpanded form, has a plurality of spaced parallel rows of individual slits extending transversely from one end of the sheet material to the opposing end of the sheet material. Each of the rows have interval spaces between consecutive slits. The slits in each row are positioned adjacent the interval space between consecutive slits in the adjacent parallel row of slits. The sheet is expanded by extending the sheet in the direction normal to the parallel to the rows of slits to form an array of openings, generally similar in shape and size. The cells include inclined land areas and legs. The land areas of adjacent spiral layers are nested and interlocked and fill the interior of the cylinder. The sheet in substantially expanded form has a sufficient load bearing capacity and sufficient elastic potential energy to protect an article in transit against impact damage, by cushioning the article.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A void fill material for use in packing or packaging comprising:

a filled cylinder formed from a spiral of an essentially flexible, extended sheet material;
said flexible material, in its unexpanded form, having a plurality of spaced parallel rows of individual slits extending transversely from one end of the sheet material to the opposing end of said sheet material, each of said rows having interval spaces between consecutive slits;
said slits in each row being positioned adjacent the interval space between consecutive slits in the adjacent parallel row of slits;
said sheet being expanded by extending the sheet in the direction normal to the parallel to the rows of slits whereby the slits form an array of openings, each opening being generally similar in shape and size, and being formed by inclined land areas and legs, wherein said land areas of adjacent spiral layers are nested and interlocked and fill the interior of said cylinder, said sheet in substantially expanded form having a sufficient load bearing capacity and sufficient elastic potential energy to protect an article in transit against impact damage, by cushioning said article.

1 more element

A method of protecting an object for shipping, comprising the steps of:

placing said object in a container,
filling the void space in said container with a plurality of cylinders of extended material,
said extended material being formed of at least one spirally wound sheet of flexible, non-woven fibrous material;
said at least one sheet having a plurality of spaced parallel rows of individual slits extending transversely from one end of the material to the opposing end of said at least one sheet, each of said rows having interval spaces between consecutive slits;
said slits in each row being positioned adjacent the interval space between consecutive slits in the adjacent parallel row of slits;
said material being expanded in length and thickness by extending the opposing ends of each sheet which are parallel to the rows of slits whereby the slits form an array of openings, each opening being generally similar in shape and size, thereby forming a substantially expanded sheet having a sufficient load bearing capacity and sufficient elastic potential energy to protect an article in transit against impact damage, by cushioning the article;
said extended material being formed into a cylindrical configuration by forming a spiral of said extended material, thereby forming a cylinder of spirally expanded material.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for producing individual rolls of packing material

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for producing individual rolls of packing material

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26