US-12623833-B2 - Protective packaging for items

US12623833B2US 12623833 B2US12623833 B2US 12623833B2US-12623833-B2

Abstract

Protective packaging is described that includes a base having an outer and an inner base wall. A plurality of sidewalls extends from the outer base wall to define an internal volume and an opening. The internal volume is opposite the outer base wall. The inner base wall is disposed within the internal volume spaced apart from the outer base wall. A cover includes an outer cover wall and an inner cover wall. The cover is rotatably attached to at least one sidewall. The cover is rotatable between a closed position in which the cover closes the opening and an open position in which the cover does not close the opening. In the closed position, the inner cover wall is within the internal volume and spaced apart from the outer cover wall and the inner base wall. The inner base wall and the inner cover wall receive or house an item.

Inventors

Christopher Coles

Assignees

Agile Box Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221214
Priority Date: 20211215

Claims (16)

1 . Protective packaging for packaging an item, the protective packaging comprising: a base comprising: an outer base wall; an inner base wall; and a first tab extending from the inner base wall; a plurality of sidewalls extending from the outer base wall whereby to define an internal volume, wherein: the plurality of sidewalls defines an opening to the internal volume, and the opening is opposite to the outer base wall; and the inner base wall is disposed within the internal volume and is spaced apart from the outer base wall; and a cover comprising: an outer cover wall; an inner cover wall; and a second tab extending form the inner cover wall; wherein the cover is rotatably attached to a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; the cover is rotatable between a closed position in which the cover closes the opening and an open position in which the cover does not close the opening; in the closed position, the inner cover wall is disposed within the internal volume and is spaced apart from the outer cover wall and the inner base wall; the first tab is fixedly attached to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; in the closed position, the inner cover wall abuts the first tab; the second tab is fixedly attached to the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; and the inner base wall abuts the second tab; the inner base wall comprises a first portion configured to receive or house the item; and the inner cover wall comprises a second portion configured to receive or house the item.
2 . The protective packaging of claim 1 , wherein the inner base wall extends substantially between the plurality of sidewalls.
3 . The protective packaging of claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, the inner cover wall extends substantially between the plurality of sidewalls.
4 . The protective packaging of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover wall comprises a cut-out or recess along one of its sides.
5 . The protective packaging of claim 1 , further comprising; a further cover arranged to be positioned over the cover when the cover is in its closed position, the further cover being rotatably attached to one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.
6 . The protective packaging of claim 5 , wherein the further cover comprises a rip-tab.
7 . The protective packaging of claim 1 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises one or more features selected from a group of features consisting of: a hole, a slit, a plurality of slits, a depression, an indentation, and a cavity.
8 . The protective packaging of claim 7 , wherein: the first portion comprises a first hole for receiving or housing the item; and the second portion comprises a second hole for receiving or housing the item.
9 . A blank for protective packaging for an item, the blank comprising: a first section; a second section laterally adjoining the first section, wherein the second section is separated from the first section by a first fold line; a third section laterally adjoining the second section at an opposite side of the second section to the first section, wherein the third section is separated from the second section by a second fold line; a fourth section laterally adjoining the third section at an opposite side of the third section to the second section, wherein the fourth section is separated from the third section by a third fold line; a fifth section extending outwardly from the first section in a first direction, wherein the fifth section is separated from the first section by a fourth fold line; a sixth section extending outwardly from the fifth section at a side of the fifth section opposite to the first section, wherein the sixth section is separated from the fifth section by a fifth fold line; a seventh section extending outwardly from the sixth section at a side of the sixth section opposite to the fifth section, wherein the seventh section is separated from the sixth section by a sixth fold line; an eighth section extending outwardly from the seventh section at a side of the seventh section opposite to the sixth section, wherein the eighth section is separated from the seventh section by a seventh fold line; a ninth section extending outwardly from the third section in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction, wherein the ninth section is separated from the third section by an eighth fold line; a tenth section extending outwardly from the ninth section at a side of the ninth section opposite to the third section, wherein the tenth section is separated from the ninth section by a ninth fold line; an eleventh section extending outwardly from the tenth section at a side of the tenth section opposite to the ninth section, wherein the eleventh section is separated from the tenth section by a tenth fold line; and a twelfth section extending outwardly from the eleventh section at a side of the eleventh section opposite to the tenth section, wherein the twelfth section is separated from the eleventh section by an eleventh fold line; and wherein the seventh section comprises a first portion configured to receive or house the item; and the eleventh section comprises a second portion configured to receive or house the item.
10 . The blank of claim 9 , wherein the ninth section comprises a cut-out or recess along one of its sides.
11 . The blank of claim 9 , further comprising; a thirteenth section extending outwardly from one of the second section or the fourth section, wherein the thirteenth section is separated from the one of the second section or the fourth section by a twelfth fold line.
12 . The blank of claim 11 , wherein the thirteenth section comprises a rip-tab extending laterally across the thirteenth section.
13 . The blank of claim 9 , wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprises one or more features selected from a group of features consisting of: a hole, a slit, a depression, an indentation, and a cavity.
14 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein: the first portion comprises a first hole for receiving or housing the item; and the second portion comprises a second hole for receiving or housing the item.
15 . A method for assembling packaging from the blank of claim 9 , the method comprising: fixedly attaching the eighth section to the first section; fixedly attaching the twelfth section to the third section; folding the blank along the first fold line, the second fold line, and the third fold line such that the first section, the second section, the third section, and the fourth section form a plurality of sidewalls that define an internal volume; and folding the blank along the fourth fold line, the fifth fold line, the sixth fold line, and the seventh fold line such that the fifth section closes a first opening of the internal volume at a first end of the sidewalls and the sixth section, the seventh section, and the eighth section are within the internal volume.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method is at least partially performed by a machine.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to packaging, including but not limited to protective packaging for fragile goods, such as eggs. BACKGROUND Fragile goods often require specialised or bespoke packaging for protection during handling and transit. Such packaging may include, for example, air packaging, bubble wrap, foam packaging, moulded polymer packaging, moulded polystyrene, or polystyrene pieces. SUMMARY The present inventors have realised that existing conventional packaging whose shape conforms with that of an object to be packaged, e.g., packaging that is vacuum moulded or injection moulded or thermo-plastically moulded, tends to be difficult or costly to manufacture. The present inventors have further realised that existing conventional packaging whose purpose is to provide protection to an object therewithin tends to be excessively cumbersome or heavy. The present inventors have further realised that existing conventional packaging, in particular protective packaging, tends to be environmentally unsustainable to manufacture or dispose of. The present inventors have realised that some conventional flat-pack packaging is difficult and costly to manufacture, susceptible upon assembly to fatigue and breakage under heavy load, insufficiently thermally insulating upon assembly for many applications, environmentally unsustainable to manufacture or dispose of, or combinations thereof. The present inventors have therefore recognised that it is desirable to provide flat-pack packaging that is simultaneously cost-effective to manufacture and distribute, sufficiently robust to mitigate the likelihood of packaging fatigue or breakage under load, and sufficiently thermally insulating to improve the longevity of perishable or heat-sensitive goods enclosed therein. It is more desirable still that such packaging be formed entirely of environmentally sustainable materials. In a first aspect, there is provided protective packaging for packaging an item. The packaging includes a base having an outer base wall and an inner base wall, a plurality of sidewalls extending from the outer base wall whereby to define an internal volume, wherein the plurality of sidewalls define an opening to the internal volume, the opening being opposite to the outer base wall, and the inner base wall is disposed within the internal volume and is spaced apart from the outer base wall, and a cover having an outer cover wall and an inner cover wall. The cover is rotatably attached to a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The cover is rotatable between a closed position in which the cover closes the opening and an open position in which the cover does not close the opening. In the closed position, the inner cover wall is disposed within the internal volume and is spaced apart from the outer cover wall and the inner base wall. The inner base wall includes a first hole for receiving the item. The inner cover wall includes a second hole for receiving the item. The inner base wall may extend substantially between the plurality of sidewalls. In the closed position, the inner cover wall may extend substantially between the plurality of sidewalls. The outer cover wall may include a cut-out or recess along one of its sides. The protective packaging may further include a first tab extending from the inner base wall, wherein the first tab is fixedly attached to a further sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The protective packaging may further include a second tab extending from the inner cover wall, wherein the second tab is fixedly attached to the sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The first hole may be a substantially circular hole. The second hole may be a substantially circular hole. Both the first hole and the second hole may be a substantially circular hole. The protective packaging may further include a further cover arranged to be positioned over the cover when the cover is in its closed position, the further cover being rotatably attached to one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. The further cover may include a rip-tab. The protective packaging may be made of one or more materials selected from the group of materials consisting of: a recycled material, a recyclable material, a biodegradable material, paper, card, cardboard (e.g. corrugated cardboard), wood, polymer, and a cellulose fibre material. The packaging may be an egg box or carton. The item may be an egg. The base may further include a first tab extending from the inner base wall. The first tab may be fixedly attached to a further sidewall. In its closed position, the inner cover wall may abut the second tab. The cover may further include a second tab extending from the inner cover wall. The second tab may be fixedly attached to the sidewall. The inner base wall may abut the first tab. In a further aspect, there is provided a blank for protective packaging for an item. The blank includes a first section, a second section, the second section laterally adjoining the