US2277537A - Packing material - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1942- T. H. ALFRED PACKING MATERIAL Filed July 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 1942 PACKING MATERIAL Torr-is H. Alfreds, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Mapes Consolidated Manufacturing Company,

Griflith, lnd., a corporation of Delaware I Application July 3, 1939, Serial No. 282,602

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in packing material and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. terial illustrated and described herein is especially adapted for use in connection with so-called cellular fillers for packing eggs in a conventional egg case.

The conventional egg case of commerce is generally made to standard dimensions and takes the form of an open top box with a transverse partltion dividing the case into two compartments each substantially 125 2 inches deep and 11 /2 inches square. hold dozen eggs arranged in five tiers or layers of 3 dozen each and whereby the case has a capacity of 30 dozen eggs with an average weight of about 52 lbs. Such a packed case usually includes a cover for the open top thereof and which cover is nailed at its ends to the ends of the case.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to provide a specially constructed pad for both the'top and bottom of each compartment, to protect the eggs in the associated layers in connection with different types of pads for the intermediate layers of eggs. As an example of the pads used at the top and bottom of each compartment, reference is made to the De Reamer Patent 1,954,586 of April 10, 1934, and as an example of the intermediate pads reference is made to the Koppelman and Cooper Patent 1,429,207 of September 12, 1922.

Each compartment is adapted to The packing ma- -With an egg case packed with the patented pads above mentioned, the packer is required to stock two different types of pads and in a case packed with such pads, the weight of the eggs, pads and cellular fillers is all imposed upon the bottom pad. Therefore, this pad had to be made relatively deep, thick or of such vertical dimensions from top to bottom to enable it to support the weight of the eggs, pads and fillers above, without crushing. The pad of the previously mentioned De Reamer patent functioned ably in this respect, but its vertical dimensions are such as to prohibit its use between the several layers or tiers of eggs in a standard egg case because they would cause the top layer of eggs to project above the top of the case to such an extent as to prevent the application of the usual cover.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a pad which can be used throughout the case from top to bottom, which provides a cushioning action between the adjacent layers and which requires that a packer stock only a single type of pad.

Again it is an object of the invention toprovide apad in which portions thereof are adapted to receive a cooperating filler in such interlocking relationship as will prevent undesired shifting of the filler relative to the pad and also furnish additional area to support the filler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad of this kind having a novel seat structure for the eggs, which not only provides ventilation for the bottom of the eggs engaged thereon but includes parts so disposed that certain thereof provide partial support for eggs in adjacent cells of the filler used with the pad.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pad of this kind wherein the parts that form the seats for the eggs are so disposed that a trussed cross sectional shape is present along a straight line across the pad in any direction thereof whereby the pad is strengthened to resist bending strains and the tendency to warp so that the pad remains in a uniformly flat condition.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the several advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view on a full size scale, of the egg receiving side of substantially a quarter corner fragment of the improved pad.

Fig. 2 is a detail, full size vertical, sectional view through the pad fragment shown in Fig. 1, the plane of the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is another full size vertical sectional view through the pad fragment appearing in Fig. 1, as taken on the line -33 thereof.

Fig. 4 is also a full size vertical sectional view through the pad as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of an egg case packed with the improved pads and associated fillers, a part of the side of the case bein broken away better to disclose the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the packed egg case, before the cover has been applied and illustrates more particularly the overage or excess in height of the stack of pads and fillers over the depth of the egg case compartment containing the stack.

Fig. 7 is a view similarto Fig. 6 and shows the stack as having yielded in height to approximate the depth of the associated compartment as when the associated end of the cover has been nailed in position to close said compartment.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the top portion of one end of the case with the cover in its closed position and shows the topmost pad in the stack as reversed face-for-face to arrange the egg receiving side f the pad downward.

The improved packing material in this instance is illustrated as employed in connection with standard cellular fillers in a standard egg case. Such a case, which is indicated as a whole at I0, is generally made of wood veneer and cleats, to include sides ends l2, 9. bottom l3, and a central transverse partition l4 which divides the case into two open top compartments. A cover I is included as a part of the case and said cover, when it is nailed at its ends to the ends l2 of the case, closes the open top ends of the compartments. Ordinarily such a cover is not nailed to the transverse partition.

The compartments of the egg case have a standard dimension, being approximately 12 inches deep and about 11 inches square.

The cellular fillers employed are of the standard unitary folding, interlocking strip type. Each unit comprises two sets of seven strips each, and which strips are indicated at It. These strips are all of the same length and height and approximate 11 /2 inches in length and 23/ inches in height. When said units are opened up into cellular form, they each provide 36 egg receiving cells each approximately 1% inches square. Five of such cellular fillers are employed in each compartment of the case so that each compartment holds 15 dozen eggs, giving a capacity of 30 dozen of eggs for the case.

|1 indicates as a whole, one of the improved cushion pads, there being six of such pads used in each egg case compartment or twelve to the case. Such pads are arranged one on the bottom, one on the top, with four intermediate the fillers to coact therewith in forming a stack of packed tiers.

Each pad H, which is a scant 11 inches square, is preferably made of molded pulp and it includes a sheet-like body l8 about 1 of an inch thick that has rounded corners. Rising from the top or egg receiving side of the pad are circular projections l9 arranged in rows extending both longitudinally and transversely of the pad, each projection consisting of an upwardly and inwardly tapering side wall 20 and a flat top 2|. These projections are arranged on lines spaced 1% inches apart, so as to accord with the spacing between the strips of the fillers and are disposed so as to coincide axially with the intersections of the strips l6 of the filler. The top surface of the top wall of each projection is spaced of an inch above the bottom surface of the sheet-like body.

22 indicates other circular projections rising from the same side of the pad and disposed in the lines of the projections l9, one being positioned midway between each two adjacent projections l9. As these projections 22 are disposed in the plane'of the axes of the projections l9, they are also disposed in the plane of those parts of the filler strips between the intersections thereof.

The projections 22 are of a diameter and height greater than the diameter and height of the projections l9 and each projection 22 includes an'inwardly and upwardly extending annular side wall 23. In the top end portion of each projection 22 is a groove 24 having inwardly and downwardly tapering or extending side walls 25 and a bottom 26, the latter being disposed in the plane of the top wall 2| of the projections l9. With this arrangement, the top or inlet end of each groove is wider than its bottom 26.

The grooves 24 in the projections 22 in each row thereof beginning along one side of the pad, extend longitudinally in the direction of said side and the grooves in the projections 22 in each I row beginning along another side of the pad arranged at a right angle to the first mentioned side, extend longitudinally in the direction of said other side. With this arrangement, the projections I9 and 22 in any row thereof extending in both directions of the pad, are disposed in alternate relation as best appears in Fig. 1.

As the bottom wall 26 of each groove 24 is disposed in the plane of the top wall 2| of the projections IS, the top surface of the wall 26 is spaced A of an inch above the bottom surface of the body It. As shown in this particular instance, the grooves 24 are of an inch deep and therefore the top end of the projections 22 is spaced of an inch above the bottom surface of the body I8. These dimensions appear in Fig. 3.

With the projections 22 arranged as above described, they are disposed with their opposite sides, one in each cell of the filler. Thus there are parts of each four adjacent projections arranged within the area of each cell and each part functions to provide a partial support for the egg placed in the cell.

A pad made as described, has the advantage that at no line across the pad, in any direction thereof, does any one part thereof extend clear across the pad in the same plane. Thus, a cross section, taken on a line through any direction of the pad, present a number of connected together trusses that materially stiffen the pad. Therefore, the improved cushion pad is not limp but is relatively stiff and strong for its weight and may be handled without bending along any line extending in any direction across the pad. Again, a pad constructed in this manner is advantageous because in the molding of the same, distortion i prevented and which distortion usually occurs when there are lines or grooves extending from side to side of the pad in the same plane. Other advantages will be evident from the description of the use of the pad with the fillers.

In packing a case III with the improved pad, in connection with the standard or conventional filler before mentioned, a pad is placed in the bottom of each compartment, with that side of the pad with the projections thereon uppermost. The area of contact between each pad and the bottom of the compartment, in which it is located, will be that area as defined by the bottom surface of the sheet-like body. As the arrangement of the projections l9 and 22 is the same about the four sides of the pad and as the arrangement of the grooves 24 in the rows of projections I9 is a right angular one, no care need be taken in placing the pad in its compartment with a certain side thereof disposed in a particular relation to a certain side of the compartment.

A cellular filler is then expanded or opened into its rectangular cell forming condition and placed upon the pad at the bottom of each compartment of the case. When such fillers have been placed in position, the bottom edges of the intersecting portions of the strips of the filler will engage upon the top wall 2| of the projections I9 and the bottom edges of the strips between said intersecting portions will engage upon the bottom walls 26 of the grooves 24 of the projections 22. It is apparent therefore that the bottom edges of the filler strips are supported upon the surfaces 2| and 26. Hence there is such adequate support that danger of the filler cutting through the supports is avoided. Also because the edges of the strips are received in the grooves of members 22, an interlocking relationship is established, preventing undue shifting of the fillers.

As will be apparent from Fig. 1, opposite par of the side walls 23 of each projection will be disposed in adjacent cells, and there will be four of such side wall parts in each cell and with which an egg placed in said cell will engage as upon a four point seat. When the cells have each received an egg, the first tier or layer in each compartment is constituted. As the bottom edges of the strips of the filler are spaced above the plane of the sheet portion, air may circulate over each pad and about and between the said projections l9 and 22 thereon.

Another pad I 1 is then placed in each compartment upon the top edges of the first applied filler, at which time the bottom surface of the main body portion between said projections I 9 and 22 engage directly upon the top edges of the strips of the filler below. Thereafter another filler is arranged in position in each compartment upon the second pad therein and which fillers receive the eggs in the cells thereof and each of which eggs engages upon the walls 23 of the four projections 22 having parts disposed in each cell, to form the second tier or layer of the stack being built up in each compartment.

The third, fourth and fifth tiers or layers are built up in each compartment and a pad is then placed upon the topmost filler in said compartment. If the eg s are of the ordinary size the last pad is placed in position with the egg receiving side up. This provides in each compartment a stack of filler tiers or layers in each compartment comprising six top, bottom and intermediate pads and five alternate fillers. Each of'the first five pads has an effective depth equal to that of the distance between the bottom surface of the body portion and the top surface of the walls 2| of the projections 19 and the bottom walls 26 of the grooves 24 in the projections 22. As indicated, the distance is A of an inch. The sixth pad has an effective depth equal to the height of the projections 22 and which is of an inch, and as each of the five filler strips has a depth of 2 inches, the effective height of the stack is the total of five times A of an inch plus five times 2% inches plus of an inch which makes 13 inches for the height of the stack overall in the example illustrated.

As the compartments in which these stacks are arranged have a depth of 12 inches as before mentioned, it is apparent that the stack projects above the top of the case the diiference between 13%; inches and 12 /2 inches or of an inch before the cover is applied to the case to close the compartments.

This means that there is an overage between the height of the stack and the depth of the compartment in which it is located and which overage must be taken up when the lid or cover for the case is applied thereto. The lid or cover is attached by driving nails through the ends 'there of into the ends of the case so that the cover bows slightly at its middle to be spaced above the top of the partition I4 of the case.

When the cover is brought home into compartment closing position on the case, a compression force is applied to each stack which is absorbed by the egg spacing material in the various layers.

When relatively large eggs constitute the majority of the eggs packed in said compartments,

the topmost pad is placed in said compartment with the projections l9 and 22 facing upwardly which is in the same direction as in the other five pads below as shown in Fig. 6.

However, when the eggs in the top layer are relatively small, if desired the pad at the top of the stack may be reversed to face said projections downwardly so that the side walls 23 of the projections 22 come substantially close to the top ends of the eggs in the top layer. This reduces the height of the stack V of an inch and which is equal to the height of the projections l9 and the bottom wall 26 of the grooves in the projections 22.

The improved construction eliminates the necessity of the use of more than one kind of pad in a case. It does not require a new mode of manipulation in packing or unpacking an egg case nor does it require a particular arrangement of the pads in the case, by the person doing the packing. 7

Another advantage of the present arrangement over packing methods heretofore employed is that the cushioning effect is distributed throughout the stack and not concentrated primarily in the bottom cushion pad as before. Hence, there is less danger of egg breakage.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement, construction of the various parts employed, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wishto be limited thereto except as may be specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of the body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion, said projections are disposed in the planes of the strips of the filler and certain thereof have parts extending into the area of adjacent cells to provide a four-point support for the articles placed in said adjacent cells as formed by said strips of said filler, said projections having depressed top end portions to receive the bottom edge portions of the strips of said filler in a manner providing support therefor.

2. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of the body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion,

said projections are disposed in the planes of the portions of the strips of said filler to support the same.

3. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of relatively high projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of the body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion, said projections are disposed in the planes of the strips of said filler, said projections 1 being so formed that at least certain of them provide partial support for the articles placed in adjacent cells as formed by said strips of the filler, said projections each having a depression in the upper end thereof to provide partial support for said strips of said filler, and other and lower projections also rising from the same side of the body portion and having top portions disposed in the plane of the bottom of said depression and adapted to provide additional support for said strips of said filler.

4. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of the body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of the body portion, said projections are disposed in the planes of the strips of said filler, said projections being so formed that at least certain of them have parts extending into the area of adjacent cells to provide a four point support for the articles placed in said adjacent cells as formed by said strips of said filler and provide partial support for said strips of said filler, and other projections also rising from the same side of the body portion and disposed in the planes of the intersections of said strips for providing additional support for said strips of said filler.

5. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of fillers and embodying therein a sheetlike body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of the sheet-like body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion, said projections are disposed in the planes of the strips of said filler, certain of said projections being so formed as to provide partial support for the articles placed in adjacent cells as formed by said strips of said filler, some of said certain projections having grooves in their top portions extending in one direction of the sheet and others of said certain projections having grooves in their top ends extending in a direction at a right angle to the first mentioned direction, said grooves in said certain projections being adapted to receive the bottom edge portion of the strips of saidfiller to provide a support for certain parts of said strips, and means also rising from the same side of the body portion, also in said planes of said filler strips and terminating in substantially the plane of the bottom of said grooves and providing support for certain other parts of said strips.

6. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced from one side of the body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion, said projections are disposed in the planes of the strips of said filler, certain of said projections being so formed as to provide partial support for th articles placed in adjacent cells as formed by said strips of said filler, said certain projections having inwardly and downwardly tapering grooves in their top portions, the grooves in some of said certain projections extending in one direction of the pad and the grooves in the other of said certain projections extending in a direction at a right angle to the first mentioned ones, said grooves being adapted to receive portions 01 said strips of said fillers to provide support therefor.

7. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion and a plurality of projections rising from and so spaced upon one side of th body portion that when a cellular filler is engaged upon said side of said body portion, said projections aredisposed in the planes of the strips of said filler, certain of said projections being formed to provide partial support for the articles placed in adjacent cells as formed by said strips of said filler, said certain projections having inwardly and downwardly tapering grooves in their top portions, the grooves in some of said certain projections extending in one direction of the pad and th grooves in the other of said certain projections extending in a direction at a right angle to the first mentioned ones, and other projections also rising frOm the same side of said body and disposed in the planes of the intersections of the strips of said filler and each having a top disposed in the plane of the bottom of the grooves in said certain projections for the support of th intersecting portions of said strips of said filler.

8. A packing material in the form of a cushion pad for use in connection with intersecting strip type of cellular fillers and embodying therein a sheet-like body portion, and projections rising from one side of the body portion and disposed in rows extending in two directions of the pad, certain of said projections having grooves in their top ends extending in one of said directions of the pad and others of said projections having grooves in their top ends extending in the other of said directions of the pad, and other projections rising from the same side of the pad and disposed between and in line with the projections in the first mentioned rows thereof, the top of said other projections being disposed in substantially the plane of the bottom of said grooves.

9. An egg case assembly comprising alternate cushion pads and intermediate cell forming fillers arranged in layers one abov the other, said fillers comprising sets of intersecting strips of the same height, each pad embodying therein a sheetlike body portion with a plurality of right angled rows of spaced apart relatively high projections rising from one side of the body portion in the planes of the filler strips, said projections being so formed that parts of adjacent ones are disposed in each cell formed by the strips to coact in supporting the articles disposed in each cell, said projections being formed to receive the bottom edge portions of the strips of the filler above, Mlth the bottom surface of the sheet-like body portion engaging upon the top edges of the strips of the filler below and other relatively low projections also rising from the same side of the body portion of each pad and disposed in the planes of and engaged by the intersections of the strips of the tiller above.

10. An egg case assembly comprising alternate cushion pads and intermediate cell forming fillers arranged in layers one above the other, said fillers comprising sets of intersecting strips of the same height, each pad embodying therein a sheet-like body portion with a plurality of right angled rows of spaced apart relatively high projections rising from one side of the body portion in the planes of the filler strips, said projections being so formed that parts of adjacent ones are disposed in each cell formed by the strips to coact in supporting the articles disposed in each cell,

said projections being formed with grooves in their top portions extending in the directions of said strips for receiving the bottom portions of the strips of the filler above in supporting engagement, the bottom surface of certain of said pads engaging upon the top edges of the strips of the filler below and other and lower projections rising from the same side of the body portion of each pad and disposed in the planes of and engaged by the intersections of the strips of the filler above.

TORRIS H. ALFREDS.

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