PACKAGING MEMBER

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

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.

BACKGROUND

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.

SUMMARY

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging member in FIG. 1, illustrating a state where a packaging box has been removed from the packaging member.

FIG. 3 is a partially developed view of the packaging box of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional perspective view of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an upper buffer member of the packaging member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of one of inner flaps in the packaging member in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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 D1 in the drawings is referred to as a “first direction” (a longitudinal direction of a second article Pr2 to be packaged), and a direction indicated by a double-headed arrow D2 therein is referred to as a “second direction” (a transverse direction of the second article Pr2 to be packaged). The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are orthogonal to each other.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging member 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1, illustrating a state where a packaging box 20 has been removed from the packaging member 1. FIG. 3 is a partially developed view of the packaging box 20 of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging member 1 has substantially a rectangular parallelepiped shape in outline and includes a tray-equipped pallet 10, the packaging box 20, and a buffer member 30.

The tray-equipped pallet 10 includes a tray 40 and a pallet 50. The tray 40 is secured to an upper surface of the pallet 50. The tray 40 includes a bottom portion 41 having a rectangular shape in a planar view and four side wall portions 42. The bottom portion 41 and the four side wall portions 42 are each formed in a flat plate shape. The four side wall portions 42 are connected to four sides of the bottom portion 41 and extend upward.

The pallet 50 includes top and bottom plates 51 and 52 each having a rectangular shape in the planar view and a plurality of columns 53. The top and bottom plates 51 and 52 are each formed in a flat plate shape identical to the shape of the bottom portion 41 of the tray 40. The top plate 51 is secured to the bottom portion 41 of the tray 40 by use of a nail, a screw, or the like (not shown). The plurality of columns 53 are horizontally arrayed in a prescribed arrangement and each have upper and lower ends to which the top and bottom plates 51 and 52 are secured, respectively.

The packaging box 20 internally houses a first article Pr1 to be packaged and the second article Pr2 to be packaged. In this embodiment, the first article Pr1 to be packaged corresponds to an article to be packaged as a main body, and the second article Pr2 to be packaged corresponds to an additional article that is packed together with the first article Pr1 to be packaged as the main body. The packaging box 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open bottom surface and thus covers side and upper surfaces of the first article Pr1 to be packaged. The packaging box 20 has an upper opening (an opening) 20a that appears when after-mentioned outer and inner flaps 22 and 23 are opened. The first article Pr1 to be packaged and the second article Pr2 to be packaged are taken into and out of the packaging box 20 through the upper opening 20a.

FIG. 3 shows a developed view obtained by developing the packaging box 20. In FIG. 3, a part of the packaging box 20 (on a left side in FIG. 3) is omitted from depiction. The packaging box 20 is 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 box 20 is formed by bending the single sheet material.

The packaging box 20 includes four side wall portions 21, two outer flaps 22, and two inner flaps 23. The side wall portions 21, the outer flaps 22, and the inner flaps 23 are each formed in a flat plate shape rectangular in the planar view.

In the packaging member 1 in a flat sheet material state, the four side wall portions 21 are joined to each other in one direction (a left-right lateral direction in FIG. 3). The four side wall portions 21 are connected to each other at both ends thereof in the direction in which they are mutually joined (the left-right lateral direction in FIG. 3) and thus are formed into a squarely cylindrical shape extending in an up-down direction as shown in FIG. 1. In the packaging member 1 in an assembled state shown in FIG. 1, the four side wall portions 21 are arranged to internally overlap with the four side wall portions 42 of the tray 40.

The two outer flaps 22 and the two inner flaps 23 are provided at upper edges of the packaging box 20. In other words, the two outer flaps 22 and the two inner flaps 23 are connected to upper edges of the four side wall portions 21. The two outer flaps 22 are connected to two horizontally opposed sides of the side wall portions 21. The two inner flaps 23 are connected to two other horizontally opposed sides of the side wall portions 21 orthogonal to the outer flaps 22.

The two outer flaps 22 each have a rectangular shape in the planar view and are capable, when horizontally arrayed, of closing the upper opening 20a. That is, the two outer flaps 22 are capable of opening and closing the upper opening 20a. When the upper opening 20a is closed by the two outer flaps 22, the two inner flaps 23 are arranged to underlie (under) the two outer flaps 22. A detailed configuration of the inner flaps 23 will be described later.

The buffer member 30 is arranged in a gap between the first article Pr1 to be packaged and the packaging box 20 and protects the first article Pr1 to be packaged from an impact. The buffer member 30 is formed by bending, for example, a sheet material formed of corrugated cardboard into a prescribed shape. The buffer member 30 includes a side buffer member 31 and an upper buffer member 32.

The side buffer member 31 is arranged to cover each of four corners of the first article Pr1 to be packaged between side surfaces thereof. The side buffer member 31 is 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 Pr1 to be packaged. The upper buffer member 32 is arranged above the first article Pr1 to be packaged and adjacently to the upper opening 20a. The upper buffer member 32 internally includes a housing region S for housing the second article Pr2 to be packaged. A detailed configuration of the upper buffer member 32 will be described later.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 in addition to FIGS. 1 to 3, a description is given of the detailed configurations of the inner flaps 23 and the upper buffer member 32. FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a sectional perspective view and a vertical sectional view of the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1. FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial perspective views, respectively, of the upper buffer member 32 and one of the inner flaps 23 in the packaging member 1 in FIG. 1.

The upper buffer member 32 includes a housing area 321 for housing the second article Pr2 to be packaged. When the upper opening 20a is closed by the two outer flaps 22, the housing area 321 is arranged to underlie (under) one of the inner flaps 23 having an after-mentioned protrusion 231.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the housing area 321 is formed in a U shape in cross section as viewed from the first direction D1, which is a horizontal direction of the packaging member 1. The housing area 321 includes therein the housing region S for housing the second article Pr2 to be packaged. The housing area 321 houses the second article Pr2 to be packaged, which is an elongated member extending in the first direction D1.

The housing area 321 includes a bottom portion 321a and a pair of side wall portions 321b. As viewed from the up-down direction, the bottom portion 321a has a rectangular shape in the planar view extending to be elongated in the first direction D1. The pair of side wall portions 321b is connected to both ends of the bottom portion 321a in the second direction D2.

At both ends of the housing area 321 in the second direction D2, the pair of side wall portions 321b is arranged to be opposed to each other via the housing region S. Each of the pair of side wall portions 321b has a rectangular shape extending to be elongated in the first direction D1 as viewed from a direction in which they are opposed to each other (the second direction D2). The pair of side wall portions 321b is formed by being bent upward from circumferential edges of the bottom portion 321a (both the ends thereof in the second direction D2). In the housing region S, the second article Pr2 to be packaged is arranged adjacently to one of the pair of side wall portions 321b closer to any of the side wall portions 21 of the packaging box 20 and extends in the first direction D1.

The one of the inner flaps 23 includes the protrusion 231. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the protrusion 231 is provided on an inner surface side of the one of the inner flaps 23. When the upper opening 20a is closed by the outer flaps 22, the protrusion 231 protrudes toward the housing region S in the upper buffer member 32. That is, the protrusion 231 is provided on one of the inner flaps 23 positioned above the housing area 321 of the upper buffer member 32 when the upper opening 20a is closed by the outer flaps 22. In the housing region S in the upper buffer member 32, the protrusion 231 contacts, from above, the second article Pr2 to be packaged.

According to the above-described configuration, the protrusion 231 of the one of the inner flaps 23 contacts the second article Pr2 to be packaged and thus can retain it in the housing region S. Since the protrusion 231 for retaining the second article Pr2 to be packaged is provided on the one of the inner flaps 23 of the packaging box 20, there is no need to separately and newly prepare a retaining member for retaining the second article Pr2 to be packaged. Thus, the number of components used can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the packaging member 1 that 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 opening 20a of the packaging box 20, concurrently with opening of the inner flaps 23, the second article Pr2 to be packaged can be easily released from retention by the protrusion 231. This makes it possible to improve workability in unpacking.

In this embodiment, the one of the inner flaps 23 includes two protrusions 231. The two protrusions 231 are arranged side by side in the first direction D1, namely, the longitudinal direction of the second article Pr2 to be packaged.

Furthermore, the protrusion 231 is formed using a part of the one of the inner flaps 23. To be more specific, the protrusion 231 is formed by cutting and raising a part of the one of the inner flaps 23 each having a flat plate shape into a shape protruding toward the housing region S in the upper buffer member 32. According to this configuration, the protrusion 231 as a retaining portion for retaining the second article Pr2 to be packaged can be easily formed using a part of the one of the inner flaps 23.

In the one of the inner flaps 23 of the packaging box 20 in a sheet material state shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 231 is formed as a cut piece 231S to be raised. The cut piece 231S to be raised is bent inward (downward) with respect to the one of the inner flaps 23 along three crease lines 23f extending in the second direction D2 at a distance from each other in the first direction D1, and thus the protrusion 231 is formed into a triangular shape as viewed from the second direction D2 (see FIG. 7).

The protrusion 231 includes an engagement groove 231g penetrating through the sheet material in a thickness direction thereof. The one of the inner flaps 23 includes an engagement piece 23e arranged at a distance from the cut piece 231S to be raised in the first direction D1. The engagement piece 23e is also formed in a rectangular shape by a cutting and raising process.

When the cut piece 231S to be raised is bent into a triangular shape to form the protrusion 231, the engagement groove 231g is adjacently opposed to the engagement piece 23e. Then, the engagement piece 23e is inserted into the engagement groove 231g. The engagement piece 23e has a length in the second direction D2 equal to or greater than that of the engagement groove 231g and is fitted into the engagement groove 231g.

As described above, the protrusion 231 is formed by being bent into a V shape toward the housing region S for housing the second article Pr2 to be packaged in the upper buffer member 32. According to this configuration, the protrusion 231 as the retaining portion for retaining the second article Pr2 to be packaged can be configured to have strength. This makes it possible to favorably retain and protect the second article Pr2 to be packaged.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the housing area 321 of the upper buffer member 32 includes a retaining piece 321h. The retaining piece 321h is arranged at the middle of the housing region S for housing the second article Pr2 to be packaged in the first direction D1. The retaining piece 321h is formed by cutting and raising a part of the bottom portion 321a in the upper buffer member 32. In other words, the retaining piece 321h is formed by lifting upward a part of the bottom portion 321a at the middle thereof in the first direction D1. The retaining piece 321h retains the second article Pr2 to be packaged by holding the second article Pr2 to be packaged between itself and an inner bottom portion of the housing area 321.

According to the above-described configuration, the protrusion 231 as the retaining portion for retaining the second article Pr2 to be packaged and the retaining piece 321h are provided, and thus it is possible to enhance an effect of retaining and protecting the second article Pr2 to be packaged in the housing area 321. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, concurrently with opening of the inner flaps 23, the second article Pr2 to be packaged is completely released from retention. This makes it possible to suppress, at the time of opening the inner flaps 23, accidental falling off of the second article Pr2 to be packaged from the housing area 321.

The retaining piece 321h may be formed by cutting and raising a part of either of the side wall portions 321b in the upper buffer member 32.

Furthermore, as described earlier, the one of the inner flaps 23 includes the two protrusions 231. In the first direction D1, namely, the longitudinal direction of the second article Pr2 to be packaged, the two protrusions 231 are arranged on both outer sides of the retaining piece 321h so as to interpose the retaining piece 321h therebetween.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress a phenomenon in which, in the housing area 321, one side part of the second article Pr2 to be packaged in the longitudinal direction (the first direction D1) is displaced in the second direction D2. This makes it possible to improve the effect of retaining and protecting the second article Pr2 to be packaged in the housing area 321.

The number of the protrusions 231 is 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.