Electronic product packaging

The present disclosure relates to an electronic product and packaging structures for packing the electronic products, and more particularly to packaging structures for an electronic product with less size.

To prevent damage caused by collisions during transportation, computer or server products are typically enclosed with cushion materials and packaged in a box. For example, Chinese Patent No. CN217147039U discloses a packaging structure for a computer system unit that protects the top and bottom of the computer chassis to avoid collisions. Another example, Chinese Patent No. CN217348680U, describes a packaging structure for a computer chassis where components are stored in upper and lower supports within the packaging box for added protection. However, these additional supports increase the overall size of the packaging box, making handling and shipping less convenient.

Therefore, finding a way to package and protect the system unit and its components without increasing the packaging volume is a challenge that those skilled in the art aim to overcome.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article for packaging a casing of a system unit of a desktop computer and one or more components to be installed in the system unit. The article comprises a package box, an external cushion insert and an internal cushion insert. The package box includes a surrounding side panel defining an accommodation space to receive the casing, a bottom closure panel and an upper closure panel removably overlaying on a top of the surrounding side panel. The external cushion insert includes a first packing cushion. The first packing cushion is disposed between the package box and the casing of the system unit and at least partially encompasses the casing of the system unit. The internal cushion insert is detachably disposed inside the casing of the system unit. The internal cushion insert includes a second packing cushion and one or more recess compartments formed on the second packing cushion.

The recess compartment includes a housing space to hold the component and an access opening allowing the housing space to be exposed. The second packing cushion has a contour of an external surface following at least a partial contour of an internal structure of the casing of the system unit and a contour of an internal surface formed over the recess compartments following at least a partial contour of an external structure of the component, thereby the external surface of the second packing cushion is at least partially in contact with the internal structure of the casing and the internal surface of the second packing cushion is at least partially in contact with the external structure of the component.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when an element such as a layer, portion, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on”, “overlie” or “atop” another element, it can be directly on, directly overlie or directly atop the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on”, “directly overlie” or “directly atop” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

Relative terms may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element, layer, portion, or region to another element, layer, portion, or region as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. A number of embodiments will be explained below, identical structural features are identified by identical or similar reference symbols in the figures. As used herein, “lateral” or “lateral direction” should be understood to mean a direction or extent that runs generally parallel to the lateral extent of the semiconductor device. The lateral direction thus extends generally parallel to its surfaces or sides.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The indefinite articles and the definite articles shall encompass both the plural and singular unless the opposite is clearly apparent from the context.

The term “horizontal” as used herein will be understood to be defined as a plane parallel to the plane or surface of the substrate, regardless of the orientation of the substrate. The term “vertical” will refer to a direction perpendicular to the horizontal as previously defined. Terms such as “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, “side” (e.g. sidewall), “higher”, “lower”, “upper”, “over”, and “under”, are defined with respect to the horizontal plane. These terms may mean direct contact between the elements or allow for intervening elements.

illustrate an article for packing an electronic product. The article is a packaging structurefor protecting and packaging the electronic product. In the example, the electronic productis a computer system unit including a casingof the system unit and one or more electronic componentsto be installed in the system unit. The computer system unit refers to the system unit in a desktop PC rather than an all-in-one computer. In some examples, the computer system unit may be the system unit in either the desktop PC or the all-in-one computer, as long as the casing and the components thereof can be disassembled and assembled.

The casinghas an internal space. The electronic componentsmay include any components in connections with the electronic product, such as hard drives, CPUs, memories, graphics cards, fans, optical disc drives, card readers, cords, transmission lines, etc.

The packaging structureincludes a package box, an external cushion insertand an internal cushion insert.

The package boxis a base box having a cavity to receive the casing. The package boxincludes a surrounding side panel, a lower paneland an upper panel. The surrounding side paneldefines an accommodation spacewith a top openingand a bottom opening. The lower panelis positioned in and closes the bottom opening. The lower panelmay be affixed to the bottom openingor removably covers the bottom opening. The upper panelremovably covers the top opening. The lower paneland the upper panelare configured to close and seal the package boxand enclose the casingwithin the packaging structure. The lower paneland the upper panelmay be a lid or a flap connected to or extended from the surrounding side panel.

The external cushion insert, referred to as the first packing cushion A, includes an upper cushion insertand a lower cushion insert. The first packing cushion A is positioned outside the casing, occupying the space between the casingand the package box. The first packing cushion A is in contact with an external regionof the casingto buffer the external regionand one or more cornersfrom potential harm or destruction during shipping or warehousing. The upper cushion insertis placed between the casingand the top opening, while the lower cushion insertis positioned between the casingand the lower panel. In one example, the upper cushion insertand the lower cushion insertare designed solely to protect the casingand do not include structures or functions to store or accommodate the electronic components. Their primary purpose is to secure and house the casingwithin the package box.

The internal cushion insertoccupies the internal space. The internal cushion insertis separately from the casingand detachably disposed inside the casing. The internal cushion insertis configured to protect the casingfrom the inside and includes a plurality of recess compartments. Each of the recess compartmentshas a housing spaceand an access opening. The access openingexposes the housing space, allowing the electronic componentto be placed in or removed from the housing space. In the example, the internal cushion insertincludes one or more separating members, one or more stuffing membersand a side packing pad. The separating membersare stacked along a height direction to form a second packing cushion B. The separating membersinclude one or more first separating membersand one or more second separating members. Both the first separating memberand the second separating membersextend along a transverse plane to form a board-like structure. The first separating memberhas a first recess that extends along the transverse plane and being exposed laterally, while the second separating memberhas a second recess that extends along the transverse plane and being exposed both laterally and vertically. The first and second recesses have openings formed at one end or both ends. When the separating membersare stacked together, a recess-like structure may be provided between the second recess of the second separating memberand a top surface or a lower surface of the neighboring separating member (the first separating memberor the second separating member). That is, the first recess and the second recess provide the plurality of recess compartmentsformed on the second packing cushion B.

In various embodiments, the package boxmay be formed from fibrous materials such as paper-based and wood-based materials. For example, cardboard, cartonboard, paperboard, paper, chipboard and other such paper-based and wood-based materials known to those in the art. The external cushion insertand/or the internal cushion insertmay be formed from resilient materials.

The housing spaceof the recess compartmentis configured to accommodate the electronic component. The access openingis exposed in a direction in parallel to a width direction of the casing. That is, the access openingfaces a detachable side panel of the casing. The second packing cushion B has a contour B1 of an external surface and a contour B2 of an internal surface. The contour B1 of the external surface is complementary to the internal spaceof the casing. The contour B2 of the internal surface is formed in the housing spaceand shaped to accommodate the electronic component. In one example, the contour B2 of the internal surface is complementary to a shape of the electronic component. Therefore, the contour B1 of the external surface is in contact with an internal structureof the casingand the contour B2 of the internal surface is at least partially in contact with an external structure of the electronic component.

In an example, the contours of the first separating member, the second separating memberand/or the stuffing membersmaybe different from each other. For instance, the contour B1 of the external surface and the contour B2 of the internal surface are designed to be based on the shape of the second packing cushion B.

The first separating memberincludes an upper portion, a bottom portionand a side portion. The side portionvertically extends from the bottom portionto the upper portion. The upper portionand the bottom portiondefine the recess compartmentswith the housing spaceand the access opening. The second separating memberincludes a bottom portionand a side portion, which collectively define a recess. The recessturns into the recess compartmentswhen the first separating memberand the second separating memberare assembled and stacked together.

The stuffing membersmay be disposed in the housing space. In some examples, the stuffing membersmay have a shape that is complementary to the contour B2 of the internal surface of the second packing cushion B. In one example, the stuffing membersare inserted into the recess compartmentsto act as a supporting structure for the internal cushion insert. In other examples, the stuffing membershave a slotthat is smaller than the housing space, which provides space to accommodate smaller electronic components, such as cords, wires, etc.

The side packing padis positioned upright and on the side of the internal cushion insert. The side packing padcovers the access openingto prevent the electronic componentsfrom falling out.

Referring to, the separating membersinclude a second separating member, a first separating member, and second separating membersand, from top to bottom.

illustrates the internal cushion insertwithout the electronic componentsplaced inside. The recessof the second separating memberand a top surface of the first separating membercollectively define the housing space. The recessof the second separating memberand a bottom surface of the first separating membercollectively define the housing space. The recessof the second separating memberand a bottom surface of the second separating membercollectively define the housing space.

illustrates the internal cushion insertthat accommodates the stuffing members. The stuffing membersupports the internal cushion insert, preventing the deformation due to the weight of the packaged product or external loads or forces. In some examples, the stuffing memberprovides the slotto house smaller electronic components, without compromising its structural integrity.

illustrates the internal cushion inserthoused with the stuffing membersand the electronic components. As mentioned, the recess compartmentsmay selectively accommodate the stuffing membersor the electronic components, depending on configuration of the packaging structureand the electronic product. For example, a hard drive may be securely stored in the housing spacethat is formed between the second separating memberand the first separating member, a memory may be securely stored in the housing spaceof the first separating member, a fan may be securely stored in the housing spacethat is formed between the first separating memberand the second separating member, the stuffing membersmay be filled into the housing spacethat is formed between the second separating memberand, and a power cord may be securely stored in the slotformed inside the housing space.

The packaging structure according to the present invention can protect the casing through the external cushion insert to avoid damage due to collision, and protects the electronic components through the internal cushion inserts. The internal cushion inserts are detachably provided inside the casing, which improves efficiency of use of space. The electronic components as well as other accessories and parts can be securely stored inside the casing without increasing the packaging volume.