APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CUSHIONING AN OBJECT
An apparatus, system and method to protect an object with a sleeve has a seam extending along the sleeve wherein the sleeve folds to attach along the seam. The sleeve is inserted on an object, such as a food container or a beverage container, to surround the container. A lattice is formed by expansion of slits extending along the sleeve inserted on the container. The depth of the lattice cushions the container from breakage. A bottom extends from the sleeve to surround the container. The sleeve may be placed in a partitioned section of a crate or box and/or may be incorporated in a bag to receive and/or protect the object.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a sleeve defined by a height and a diameter wherein the height is greater than the diameter;
a seam extending along the height of the sleeve wherein the sleeve folds to attach along the seam; and
a plurality of slits extending along the height of the sleeve wherein the sleeve is inserted on a container to expand along the plurality of slits to form a lattice that substantially surrounds the container to cushion the container from impact.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a bottom that extends from the sleeve to surround the container.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a bag wherein the sleeve is attached to the bag to receive the container.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made from paper with a basis weight in the range of thirty pounds to ninety pounds.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lattice has a depth proportionate to the rigidity of the container.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a crate with a plurality of partitioned sections wherein at least one of the plurality of partitioned sections has the sleeve.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve expands to a cylindrical shape.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a second slit formed across an entrance of the sleeve wherein the second slit assists insertion of the sleeve over the container.
9 . A system comprising:
a sleeve inserted around a bottle wherein the sleeve slides over the bottle and further wherein the sleeve is substantially made from paper;
a plurality of slits formed in the sleeve that expand on the bottle to fit the sleeve around the bottle; and
a lattice formed on the sleeve by expansion of the plurality of slits around the bottle wherein the lattice surrounds the bottle.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein the lattice has a substantially hexagonal pattern.
11 . The system of claim 9 wherein the lattice has a depth to absorb energy from impact of the bottle against a rigid object.
12 . The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a bottom of the sleeve that extends from the sleeve to surround the bottle.
13 . The system of claim 9 wherein the bottle fits into a circumference of the sleeve.
14 . The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a box having an interior defined by partitioned sections wherein the sleeve is incorporated in at least one of the partitioned sections.
15 . The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a partitioned section in a crate wherein the sleeve adheres to a side of the partitioned section to receive the bottle.
16 . A method comprising:
aligning a paper sleeve with a plurality of slits extending across the sleeve with a container;
inserting the paper sleeve onto the container;
sliding the paper sleeve around the container to expand the plurality of slits to form a lattice around the container; and
cushioning the container with the lattice.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:
enclosing a bottom of the container by the paper sleeve.
18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:
adhering the paper sleeve to a bag that receives the container.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:
adhering the paper sleeve to at least one partitioned section of a plurality of partitioned sections in a box.
20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:
placing the sleeve on another sleeve to form a stack.