US 5,628,402 AGranted

Gas-containing product supporting structure

AssigneeIntepac Technologies Inc.

InventorsRobert G. Dickie, Michael D. Clee

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A supporting structure for positioning a product within an outer shipping container takes the form of a plastic bladder shaped on one side to provide a cavity having internal dimensions matching external dimensions of the product and shaped on the other to have external dimensions matching internal dimensions of the shipping container. The air bladder may be either a vertical or a horizontal positioning elements and is typically used pairs within a single container. The air bladder is compact and can be discarded after use with minimal environment impact. In examples shown, the air bladder is of a plastic material such as polyethylene and is produced by blow molding, making it particularly suitable for disposal after use by a recycling process, thereby further reducing potential environmental impact.

Claims19

Dependent claims

In combination, an outer packing container and a supporting structure for positioning and supporting a product within the outer packing container, said supporting structure comprising:

a blow-molded semi-rigid and self-supporting monolithic gas-containing bladder being formed from walls that are resiliently and elastically deformable under dynamic loading conditions while being strong enough to support a static load from the product, said bladder including a plurality of discrete chambers which are elastically deformable and self-supporting, each chamber being in fluid communication with at least one other chamber, said bladder providing a preformed product receiving portion in a first region, and;
a packing container contacting portion in a second region of said bladder which is remote from and generally opposed to said first region;
wherein at least one of said plurality of discrete chambers is unsealed and is open to the ambient atmosphere, is elastically deformable, and supports a product load imposed thereon in static load supporting conditions thereof and substantially retains its predetermined configuration and dimensions;
and
wherein said self-supporting gas-containing bladder supports a product load imposed thereon in dynamic load supporting conditions thereof and substantially retains its predetermined configuration and dimensions.

2 more elements

A supporting structure for positioning and supporting a product during storage and shipping, wherein the product to be supported has predetermined external dimensions;

and wherein said supporting structure comprises:
a semi-rigid and self-supporting polymer resin gas-containing bladder incorporating a plurality of discrete inflatable chambers and at least one means for fluid communication between each of said chambers, wherein at least one of said plurality of discrete chambers is unsealed and is open to the ambient atmosphere;
wherein said bladder has a preformed product receiving cavity with a predetermined configuration which is independent of pressure within said bladder, and where said predetermined configuration is such as to fit at least a portion of said predetermined external dimensions of the product to be supported;
wherein said ass-containing bladder is deformable and substantially retains its preformed configuration under static load-bearing conditions;
and
wherein said gas-containing bladder is deformable and sufficiently resilient, so as to substantially retain its preformed configuration under dynamic load-bearing conditions, so as to minimize accelerative or decelerative forces from forces applied to said gas-containing bladder and thereby so as to minimize transmission of kinetic energy to said product while under dynamic load-bearing conditions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/471,962Filed 6 Jun 1995 · continuation
Priority: 5 Nov 1990
Granted: 13 May 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B65D 81/113
Using blocks of shock-absorbing material: of a shape specially adapted to accommodate contents
B65D 81/052
Using pillow-like elements filled with cushioning material, e.g. elastic foam, fabric: filled with fluid, e.g. inflatable elements
B65D
Containers for storage or transport of articles or materials

Family

Serial612,239Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Nov 1990
Serial851,333Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Mar 1992
Serial128,265Parent of this continuation · filed 28 Sep 1993
Serial196,792Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Feb 1994
US 5,628,402 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.