Packaging Member

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-090686 filed on Jun. 4, 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 including a packaging box in which an article to be packaged is housed and a buffer member arranged in the packaging box. The buffer member is arranged outside a housing region for housing the article to be packaged and protects the article to be packaged from an impact.

A packaging member according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a packaging box and an upper buffer member. The packaging box has, on an upper side therein, an opening through which a first article to be packaged and a second article to be packaged are taken into and out of the packaging box. The upper buffer member is arranged above the first article to be packaged and adjacently to the opening and internally includes a housing region for housing the second article to be packaged. The packaging box includes an outer flap, an inner flap, and a protrusion. The outer flap is provided at an upper edge of the packaging box and is capable of opening and closing the opening. The inner flap is provided at an upper edge of the packaging box and is arranged to underlie the outer flap when the opening is closed by the outer flap. The protrusion is provided on the inner flap and protrudes, when the opening is closed by the outer flap, toward the housing region in the upper buffer member so as to contact the second article to be packaged.

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. In the following description, a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow Din the drawings is referred to as a “first direction” (a longitudinal direction of a second article Prto be packaged), and a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow Dtherein is referred to as a “second direction” (a transverse direction of the second article Prto be packaged). 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 the packaging memberin, illustrating a state where a packaging boxhas been removed from the packaging member.is a partially developed view of the packaging boxof the packaging memberin.

As shown in, the packaging memberhas substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape in outline and includes a tray-equipped pallet, the packaging box, and a buffer member.

The tray-equipped palletincludes a trayand a pallet. The trayis secured to an upper surface of the pallet. The trayincludes a bottom portionhaving a rectangular shape in a planar view and four side wall portions. The bottom portionand the four side wall portionsare each formed in a flat plate shape. The four side wall portionsare connected to four sides of the bottom portionand extend upward.

The palletincludes top and bottom platesandeach having a rectangular shape in the planar view and a plurality of columns. The top and bottom platesandare each formed in a flat plate shape identical to the shape of the bottom portionof the tray. The top plateis secured to the bottom portionof the trayby use of a nail, a screw, or the like (not shown). The plurality of columnsare horizontally arrayed in a prescribed arrangement and each have upper and lower ends to which the top and bottom platesandare secured, respectively.

The packaging boxinternally houses a first article Prto be packaged and the second article Prto be packaged. In this embodiment, the first article Prto be packaged corresponds to an article to be packaged as a main body, and the second article Prto be packaged corresponds to an additional article that is packed together with the first article Prto be packaged as the main body. The packaging boxhas a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open bottom surface and thus covers side and upper surfaces of the first article Prto be packaged. The packaging boxhas an upper opening (an opening)that appears when after-mentioned outer and inner flapsandare opened. The first article Prto be packaged and the second article Prto be packaged are taken into and out of the packaging boxthrough the upper opening

shows a developed view obtained by developing the packaging box. In, a part of the packaging box(on a left side in) is omitted from depiction. The packaging boxis formed by using a single sheet material (blank) having substantially a rectangular shape in outline when developed into a flat state and is formed of, for example, corrugated cardboard. That is, the packaging boxis formed by bending the single sheet material.

The packaging boxincludes four side wall portions, two outer flaps, and two inner flaps. The side wall portions, the outer flaps, and the inner flapsare each formed in a flat plate shape rectangular in the planar view.

In the packaging memberin a flat sheet material state, the four side wall portionsare joined to each other in one direction (a left-right lateral direction in). The four side wall portionsare connected to each other at both ends thereof in the direction in which they are mutually joined (the left-right lateral direction in) and thus are formed into a squarely cylindrical shape extending in an up-down direction as shown in. In the packaging memberin an assembled state shown in, the four side wall portionsare arranged to internally overlap with the four side wall portionsof the tray.

The two outer flapsand the two inner flapsare provided at upper edges of the packaging box. In other words, the two outer flapsand the two inner flapsare connected to upper edges of the four side wall portions. The two outer flapsare connected to two horizontally opposed sides of the side wall portions. The two inner flapsare connected to two other horizontally opposed sides of the side wall portionsorthogonal to the outer flaps.

The two outer flapseach have a rectangular shape in the planar view and are capable, when horizontally arrayed, of closing the upper opening. That is, the two outer flapsare capable of opening and closing the upper opening. When the upper openingis closed by the two outer flaps, the two inner flapsare arranged to underlie (under) the two outer flaps. A detailed configuration of the inner flapswill be described later.

The buffer memberis arranged in a gap between the first article Prto be packaged and the packaging boxand protects the first article Prto be packaged from an impact. The buffer memberis formed by bending, for example, a sheet material formed of corrugated cardboard into a prescribed shape. The buffer memberincludes a side buffer memberand an upper buffer member.

The side buffer memberis arranged to cover each of four corners of the first article Prto be packaged between side surfaces thereof. The side buffer memberis formed in an L shape as viewed from the up-down direction and extends in the up-down direction along the corners of the first article Prto be packaged. The upper buffer memberis arranged above the first article Prto be packaged and adjacently to the upper opening. The upper buffer memberinternally includes a housing region S for housing the second article Prto be packaged. A detailed configuration of the upper buffer memberwill be described later.

Next, with reference toin addition to, a description is given of the detailed configurations of the inner flapsand the upper buffer member.are, respectively, a sectional perspective view and a vertical sectional view of the packaging memberin.are partial perspective views, respectively, of the upper buffer memberand one of the inner flapsin the packaging memberin.

The upper buffer memberincludes a housing areafor housing the second article Prto be packaged. When the upper openingis closed by the two outer flaps, the housing areais arranged to underlie (under) one of the inner flapshaving an after-mentioned protrusion.

As shown in, the housing areais formed in a U shape in cross section as viewed from the first direction D, which is a horizontal direction of the packaging member. The housing areaincludes therein the housing region S for housing the second article Prto be packaged. The housing areahouses the second article Prto be packaged, which is an elongated member extending in the first direction D.

The housing areaincludes a bottom portionand a pair of side wall portions. As viewed from the up-down direction, the bottom portionhas a rectangular shape in the planar view 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.

At both ends of the housing areain the second direction D, the pair of side wall portionsis arranged to be opposed to each other via the housing region S. Each of the pair of side wall portionshas a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction Das viewed from a direction in which they are opposed to each other (the second direction D). The pair of side wall portionsis formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion(both the ends thereof in the second direction D). In the housing region S, the second article Prto be packaged is arranged adjacently to one of the pair of side wall portionscloser to any of the side wall portionsof the packaging boxand extends in the first direction D.

The one of the inner flapsincludes the protrusion. As shown in, and, the protrusionis provided on an inner surface side of the one of the inner flaps. When the upper openingis closed by the outer flaps, the protrusionprotrudes toward the housing region S in the upper buffer member. That is, the protrusionis provided on one of the inner flapspositioned above the housing areaof the upper buffer memberwhen the upper openingis closed by the outer flaps. In the housing region S in the upper buffer member, the protrusioncontacts, from above, the second article Prto be packaged.

According to the above-described configuration, the protrusionof the one of the inner flapscontacts the second article Prto be packaged and thus can retain it in the housing region S. Since the protrusionfor retaining the second article Prto be packaged is provided on the one of the inner flapsof the packaging box, there is no need to separately and newly prepare a retaining member for retaining the second article Prto be packaged. Thus, the number of components used can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the packaging memberthat is capable of, by using a cost-reduced configuration, favorably retaining and protecting an article to be packaged.

Furthermore, at the time of opening the upper openingof the packaging box, concurrently with opening of the inner flaps, the second article Prto be packaged can be easily released from retention by the protrusion. This makes it possible to improve workability in unpacking.

In this embodiment, the one of the inner flapsincludes two protrusions. The two protrusionsare arranged side by side in the first direction D, namely, the longitudinal direction of the second article Prto be packaged.

Furthermore, the protrusionis formed using a part of the one of the inner flaps. To be more specific, the protrusionis formed by cutting and raising a part of the one of the inner flapseach having a flat plate shape into a shape protruding toward the housing region S in the upper buffer member. According to this configuration, the protrusionas a retaining portion for retaining the second article Prto be packaged can be easily formed using a part of the one of the inner flaps.

In the one of the inner flapsof the packaging boxin a sheet material state shown in, the protrusionis formed as a cut pieceS to be raised. The cut pieceS to be raised is bent inward (downward) with respect to the one of the inner flapsalong three crease linesextending in the second direction Dat a distance from each other in the first direction D, and thus the protrusionis formed into a triangular shape as viewed from the second direction D(see).

The protrusionincludes an engagement groovepenetrating through the sheet material in a thickness direction thereof. The one of the inner flapsincludes an engagement piecearranged at a distance from the cut pieceS to be raised in the first direction D. The engagement pieceis also formed in a rectangular shape by a cutting and raising process.

When the cut pieceS to be raised is bent into a triangular shape to form the protrusion, the engagement grooveis adjacently opposed to the engagement piece. Then, the engagement pieceis inserted into the engagement groove. The engagement piecehas a length in the second direction Dequal to or greater than that of the engagement grooveand is fitted into the engagement groove

As described above, the protrusionis formed by being bent into a V shape toward the housing region S for housing the second article Prto be packaged in the upper buffer member. According to this configuration, the protrusionas the retaining portion for retaining the second article Prto be packaged can be configured to have strength. This makes it possible to favorably retain and protect the second article Prto be packaged.

Furthermore, as shown in, the housing areaof the upper buffer memberincludes a retaining piece. The retaining pieceis arranged at the middle of the housing region S for housing the second article Prto be packaged in the first direction D. The retaining pieceis formed by cutting and raising a part of the bottom portionin the upper buffer member. In other words, the retaining pieceis formed by lifting upward a part of the bottom portionat the middle thereof in the first direction D. The retaining pieceretains the second article Prto be packaged by holding the second article Prto be packaged between itself and an inner bottom portion of the housing area.

According to the above-described configuration, the protrusionas the retaining portion for retaining the second article Prto be packaged and the retaining pieceare provided, and thus it is possible to enhance an effect of retaining and protecting the second article Prto be packaged in the housing area. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, concurrently with opening of the inner flaps, the second article Prto be packaged is completely released from retention. This makes it possible to suppress, at the time of opening the inner flaps, accidental falling off of the second article Prto be packaged from the housing area.

The retaining piecemay be formed by cutting and raising a part of either of the side wall portionsin the upper buffer member.

Furthermore, as described earlier, the one of the inner flapsincludes the two protrusions. In the first direction D, namely, the longitudinal direction of the second article Prto be packaged, the two protrusionsare arranged on both outer sides of the retaining pieceso as to interpose the retaining piecetherebetween.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, in the housing area, one side part of the second article Prto be packaged in the longitudinal direction (the first direction D) is displaced in the second direction D. This makes it possible to improve the effect of retaining and protecting the second article Prto be packaged in the housing area.

The number of the protrusionsis not limited to two and may be one or not less than three.

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.