Packaging Member

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-079967 filed on May 16, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a packaging member.

Conventionally, there has been widely used a packaging member formed by bending a single sheet material (blank) formed of, for example, a corrugated cardboard plate into a prescribed three-dimensional shape. Such a packaging member includes a combination of a protrusion and a hole, a slit, a cutout, or the like so as to retain the three-dimensional shape.

A packaging member according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first packaging sub-member and a second packaging sub-member. The first packaging sub-member is formed in a tube shape extending in a first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing an article to be packaged. The second packaging sub-member is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the first direction and internally includes a housing region for housing the first packaging sub-member. The second packaging sub-member includes a pair of side wall portions that is arranged to be opposed to each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and a concavity that is formed at an upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions and is recessed downward. The first packaging sub-member includes a convexity that is arranged to be opposed to the concavity and is inserted into the concavity.

With reference to the appended drawings, the following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to what is described below. The following description refers to, in the drawings, a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow Das a “first direction” (a longitudinal direction of a packaging member) and a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow Das a “second direction” (a transverse direction of the packaging member). The first direction Dand the second direction Dare orthogonal to each other.

is a perspective view of a packaging memberaccording to the embodiment.is a perspective view of a first packaging sub-memberof the packaging memberin.is a perspective view of the first packaging sub-memberin(in a developed state).is a developed view of the first packaging sub-memberin.

As shown in, the packaging memberhas substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape in outline and extends to be elongated along the first direction D. The packaging memberincludes a first packaging sub-memberand a second packaging sub-member.

As shown in, the first packaging sub-memberis formed in a tube shape extending in the first direction D. In other words, the first packaging sub-memberis formed in a squarely cylindrical shape extending in the first direction D. The first packaging sub-memberinternally includes a housing region Sfor housing an article P to be packaged.

When developed, the first packaging sub-memberis brought to a state shown inand. The first packaging sub-memberis formed by using a single sheet material (blank) that is substantially rectangular in outline when developed into a flat state and is formed of, for example, corrugated cardboard or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. That is, the first packaging sub-memberis formed by bending the single sheet material.

The first packaging sub-memberincludes a bottom portion, a top portion, and a pair of side wall portions.

In the first packaging sub-memberin a flat sheet material state, the bottom portionis arranged at substantially a middle thereof in a short-side direction (an up-down direction in). When viewed from an up-down direction, the bottom portionhas, in a planar view, a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D(a left-right lateral direction in). In the first packaging sub-memberin an assembled state shown in, the bottom portionis arranged at a lower end thereof so as to be opposed to the top portionvia the housing region Sin the up-down direction. In the first direction D, the bottom portionis divided into two parts across a gapprovided at an intermediate part of the bottom portionin the first direction D.

In the first packaging sub-memberin the flat sheet material state, the top portionis arranged at each of upper and lower ends thereof in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in). When viewed from the up-down direction, the top portionhas, in the planar view, a rectangular shape extending in the first direction D(the left-right lateral direction in). In the first packaging sub-memberin the assembled state shown in, the top portionis arranged at an upper end thereof so as to be opposed to the bottom portionvia the housing region Sin the up-down direction. In the assembled state shown in, rectangular parts of the sheet material in the planar view, each corresponding to the top portion, are overlaid on each other in the up-down direction.

In the first packaging sub-memberin the flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portionsis arranged on both outer sides of the bottom portionin the short-side direction (the up-down direction). The pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion(crease lines). To be more specific, in the first packaging sub-memberin the flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent upward along two crease linesextending in the first direction Dat a distance from each other via the bottom portionin the short-side direction.

In other words, the pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent from both ends of the bottom portionin the second direction D. The pair of side wall portionsis arranged to be opposed to each other in the second direction D. Furthermore, in the first packaging sub-memberin the assembled state shown in, each of the pair of side wall portionsextends in the first direction Dand in the up-down direction.

An upper end of each of the pair of side wall portionsis connected to the top portion. The top portionis formed by being bent vertically to a lateral side along a crease linethat is positioned at a boundary between the top portionand a neighboring one of the side wall portionsand extends in the first direction D. The top portionis formed in a flat plate shape extending in the first direction Dand in the second direction D. To be more specific, at the upper end of the first packaging sub-member, a flat plate-shaped part (the top portion) that is rectangular in the planar view and is connected to one of the pair of side wall portionsand another flat plate-shaped part (another top portion) that is rectangular in the planar view and is connected to the other of the pair of side wall portionsare overlaid on each other in the up-down direction.

As shown in, the second packaging sub-memberis formed in substantially a U-shape when viewed from the first direction D. The second packaging sub-memberinternally includes a housing region Sfor housing the first packaging sub-member.

Though not shown, when developed, the second packaging sub-memberis formed of a single sheet material. The second packaging sub-memberis formed by using a single sheet material (blank) that is substantially rectangular in outline when developed into a flat state and is formed of, for example, corrugated cardboard. That is, the second packaging sub-memberis formed by bending the single sheet material.

The second packaging sub-memberincludes a bottom portion, a pair of sidewall portions, and a pair of buffer portions.

When viewed from the up-down direction, the bottom portionhas, in the planar view, a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction D. The pair of side wall portionsis connected to both ends of the bottom portionin the second direction D.

The pair of side wall portionsis arranged at both ends of the second packaging sub-memberin the second direction Dso as to be opposed to each other via the housing region S. Each of the pair of side wall portionshas, when viewed from a direction in which they are opposed to each other (the second direction D), a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction D. The pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion(both ends thereof in the second direction D). To be more specific, in the second packaging sub-memberin a flat sheet material state, the pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent upward along two crease lines extending in the first direction Dat a distance from each other via the bottom portionin the second direction D.

The pair of buffer portionsis arranged at both ends of the second packaging sub-memberin the first direction Dso as to be opposed to each other via the housing region S. In the second packaging sub-memberin the flat sheet material state, the pair of buffer portionsis formed by bending both end parts of the second packaging sub-memberin the first direction D.

Next, with reference toin addition to, a description is given of a detailed configuration of the packaging member.is a partially enlarged perspective view of the packaging memberin.shows an enlarged view of a middle part of the packaging memberinin the first direction D.

The second packaging sub-memberincludes concavitiesand. At a middle of the second packaging sub-memberin the first direction D, the concavitiesandare arranged at upper edges of the pair of side wall portions. The concavitiesandare recessed downward from the upper edges of the side wall portions. The concavitiesandeach have a rectangular shape extending in the first direction Dwhen viewed from the second direction Dand penetrate through the side wall portionsin the second direction D.

The first packaging sub-memberincludes convexitiesand. In the packaging memberin an assembled state shown in, the convexitiesandare arranged to be opposed respectively to the concavitiesandof the second packaging sub-member. That is, at a middle of the first packaging sub-memberin the first direction D, the convexitiesandare arranged at upper edges of the pair of side wall portions. The number of the convexitiesandis equal to the number of the concavitiesand. The convexitiesandeach have a rectangular shape extending in the first direction Dwhen viewed from the up-down direction and protrude toward outer sides of the pair of side wall portions(outer sides thereof in the second direction D). The convexityis inserted into the concavity, and the convexityis inserted into the concavity.

According to the above-described configuration, the convexitiesandof the first packaging sub-memberare inserted into the concavitiesandof the second packaging sub-member, respectively, and thus it is possible to suppress movement, within the second packaging sub-member, of the first packaging sub-memberhousing the article P to be packaged therein. That is, it is possible to suppress positional shifting between two packaging sub-members (the first packaging sub-member, the second packaging sub-member). Accordingly, the packaging memberis configured to suppress positional shifting between the two packaging sub-members and thus can provide a favorable buffer effect.

Furthermore, the convexitiesandare arranged at upper edges of the first packaging sub-member, while the concavitiesandare arranged at upper edges of the second packaging sub-member, and thus it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-memberwith respect to the second packaging sub-memberin the up-down direction.

Furthermore, the first packaging sub-memberincludes a tongue pieceand a hole(see).

In the first packaging sub-memberin the flat sheet material state, the tongue pieceprotrudes outward from a circumferential edge of the sheet material. To be more specific, the tongue pieceprotrudes upward (outward) beyond the top portionarranged at the upper end of the first packaging sub-memberas the sheet material in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in). The tongue pieceis arranged at the middle of the first packaging sub-memberin the first direction D. The tongue pieceis positioned at a circumferential edge of the top portionand is bent in the second direction Dat a crease lineextending in the first direction D.

The holeis arranged along the crease linepositioned at the boundary between the top portionarranged at the lower end of the first packaging sub-memberas the sheet material in the short-side direction (the up-down direction in) and a neighboring one of the side wall portions, and extends in the first direction D. The holeis arranged at the middle of the first packaging sub-memberin the first direction Dand penetrates through the sheet material in a thickness direction thereof. When the first packaging sub-memberis formed into a tube shape, i.e., brought to an assembled state, the holeoverlaps with the tongue piece, which then is inserted, in a bent state, into the hole. This makes it possible for the first packaging sub-memberto retain the tube shape (a squarely cylindrical shape), which is a three-dimensional shape.

Further, as shown in, the convexityis arranged on an inner side of the tongue piecein the first direction D. To be more specific, the convexityis arranged at a middle of the tongue piecein the first direction D. The convexityprotrudes outward from the crease line(upward in the up-down direction in). In other words, the convexityprotrudes outward from the crease linein the second direction D.

According to the above-described configuration, in the first packaging sub-memberas the sheet material, the convexitycan be arranged inside the tongue piece. The tongue pieceis a part indispensable for retaining the first packaging sub-memberin the tube shape (the squarely cylindrical shape) and includes the convexitytherein, and thus there is no need to newly provide a part protruding outward as the convexity. That is, the convexityis provided without causing a change in area of the first packaging sub-memberin the, and this makes it possible to suppress an increase in amount of materials used.

Furthermore, the convexityprotrudes outward in the second direction Dso as to be parallel to the top portion. That is, when the tongue pieceis bent at the crease line, the convexityis kept from being bent. This leads to a reduction in region to be bent of the tongue piecein the first direction D, thus making it possible to easily bend the tongue piece.

It is only required that the packaging memberbe provided with at least one of a pair of the concavityand the convexityand a pair of the concavityand the convexity. In other words, it is only required that, at the upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions, one of the concavitiesandbe formed. Further, it is only required that, at the upper edge of at least one of the pair of side wall portions, one of the convexitiesandbe formed.

Further, as shown in, in the packaging member, the pair of the concavityand the convexityand the pair of the concavityand the convexityare different in length in the first direction D. To be more specific, in the first direction D, a length Lof the pair of the concavityand the convexityis shorter than a length Lof the pair of the concavityand the convexity.

According to the above-described configuration, the convexitycould not be inserted into the concavity. That is, it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-memberwith respect to the second packaging sub-memberin the second direction D. In other words, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, when viewed from the second direction D, the first packaging sub-memberis erroneously arranged in terms of its front and back sides with respect to the second packaging sub-member. Accordingly, it is possible to properly arrange, in the packaging member, the first packaging sub-memberwith respect to the second packaging sub-memberand thus to provide a favorable buffer effect.

Furthermore, in the packaging member, respective lengths of the pair of the concavityand the convexityand the pair of the concavityand the convexityin the first direction Dvary depending on a type of the article P to be packaged. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, for the article P to be packaged, instead of the appropriate packaging membercorresponding to the type thereof, some other inappropriate packaging member is erroneously used. That is, the appropriate packaging membercorresponding to the type of the article P to be packaged is used, and this makes it possible to provide a favorable buffer effect.

Next, with reference to, a description is given of a configuration of a modification example of the packaging member.is a partially enlarged perspective view of a packaging memberaccording to the modification example.

As shown in, the packaging memberaccording to the modification example includes concavitiesandand convexitiesand. To be more specific, a second packaging sub-memberincludes the concavitiesand. A first packaging sub-memberincludes the convexitiesand. The convexityis inserted into the concavity, and the convexityis inserted into the concavity.

Further, in the packaging member, a pair of the concavityand the convexityand a pair of the concavityand the convexityare different in position in a first direction D. To be more specific, in the first direction D, the pair of the concavityand the convexityis arranged at a middle of the packaging member, and the pair of the concavityand the convexityis arranged on an outer side of the middle of the packaging member.

According to the above-described configuration, the convexitycould not be inserted into the concavity. Also, the convexitycould not be inserted into the concavity. That is, it is possible to suppress erroneous arrangement of the first packaging sub-memberwith respect to the second packaging sub-memberin a second direction D. In other words, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, when viewed from the second direction D, the first packaging sub-memberis erroneously arranged in terms of its front and back sides with respect to the second packaging sub-member. Accordingly, it is possible to properly arrange, in the packaging member, the first packaging sub-memberwith respect to the second packaging sub-memberand thus to provide a favorable buffer effect.

Furthermore, in the packaging member, respective positions of the pair of the concavityand the convexityand the pair of the concavityand the convexityin the first direction Dvary depending on a type of an article P to be packaged. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, for the article P to be packaged, instead of the appropriate packaging membercorresponding to the type thereof, some other inappropriate packaging member is erroneously used. That is, the appropriate packaging membercorresponding to the type of the article P to be packaged is used, and this makes it possible to provide a favorable buffer effect.

While the foregoing has described the embodiment of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited in scope thereto and can be implemented in variously modified forms without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.