Protective packaging product
View Patent ↗The protective packaging product includes superimposed upper and lower honeycomb layers 1 and 2 extending between a pair of flexible side members 3 and 4. Each honeycomb layer is formed of flexible paper strips arranged face-to-face and bonded to each other at a series of spaced attachment locations. The honeycomb layers are expandable to form an array of hexagonal cells which are open at both ends. An item such as a surfboard can be inserted between the layers 1 and 2 so that the layers and the flexible side members conform to the shape of the surfboard and protect it against impact damage.
1. A packaging product which includes expandable superimposed upper and lower honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) extending between a pair of flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ), characterised in that the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ) are two separate and discrete elongate flat strips which are respectively attached to opposite edges of both superimposed honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ), whereby, when said honeycomb layers are expanded, the flexible side members can each move independently of the other to adopt a curved profile, and wherein there is a gap ( 9 ) between the two honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ), extending between the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ), allowing opposing faces of the two honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) to move apart when an item is inserted into the gap.
2. A packaging product according to claim 1 in which each honeycomb layer comprises a plurality of flexible strips ( 5 ) arranged face-to-face and attached to each other at a series of attachment locations ( 6 a, 6 b ) spaced lengthwise of the flexible strips.
3. A packaging product according to claim 2 in which the attachment locations ( 6 a, 6 b ) which are spaced lengthwise of each flexible strip ( 5 ) alternate between opposite faces thereof.
4. A packaging product according to claim 2 in which the attachment locations ( 6 a , 6 b ) are spaced lengthwise of each flexible strip ( 5 ) with intervening gaps ( 7 ), and the attachment locations and said intervening gaps are of substantially equal length.
5. A packaging product according to claim 2 in which outermost strips ( 5 ) at opposite edges of each honeycomb layer ( 1 , 2 ) are attached to respective flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ).
6. A packaging product according to claim 2 in which the flexible strips ( 5 ) are formed of paper.
7. A packaging product according to claim 2 in which each honeycomb layer ( 1 , 2 ) is expandable perpendicular to said lengthwise direction to form an open cellular structure.
8. A packaging product according to claim 1 in which each honeycomb layer ( 1 , 2 ) comprises an array of cells ( 8 ).
9. A packaging product according to claim 8 in which the cells ( 8 ) are open at opposite upper and lower faces of the respective honeycomb layer.
10. A packaging product according to claim 1 in which each honeycomb layer ( 1 , 2 ) comprises an array of hexagonal cells ( 8 ).
11. A packaging product according to claim 1 in which outer faces of the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ) carry printed matter.
12. A packaging product according to claim 1 having a generally planar item inserted between the honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ).
13. A packaging product according to claim 12 in which the generally planar item is a surfboard.
14. A packaging product which includes expandable superimposed upper and lower honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) extending between a pair of flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ), characterised in that the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ) are two separate and discrete elongate flat strips which are respectively attached to opposite edges of both superimposed honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ), whereby, when said honeycomb layers are expanded, the flexible side members can each move independently of the other to adopt a curved profile, in which each honeycomb layer comprises a plurality of flexible strips ( 5 ) arranged face-to-face and attached to each other at a series of attachment locations ( 6 a , 6 b ) spaced lengthwise of the flexible strips, in which the flexible strips ( 5 ) are formed of paper, and in which the flexible paper strips ( 5 ) are from 100 to 200 gsm (grams per square metre).
15. A packaging product which includes expandable superimposed upper and lower honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) extending between a pair of flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ), characterised in that the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ) are two separate and discrete elongate flat strips which are respectively attached to opposite edges of both superimposed honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ), whereby, when said honeycomb layers are expanded, the flexible side members can each move independently of the other to adopt a curved profile, in which each honeycomb layer ( 1 , 2 ) comprises an array of cells ( 8 ), and in which the cells ( 8 ) have a maximum transverse dimension of 10 to 20 mm.
16. A packaging product which includes expandable superimposed upper and lower honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) extending between a pair of flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ), characterised in that the flexible side members ( 3 , 4 ) are two separate and discrete elongate flat strips which are respectively attached to opposite edges of both superimposed honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ), whereby, when said honeycomb layers are expanded, the flexible side members can each move independently of the other to adopt a curved profile, in which each of the honeycomb layers ( 1 , 2 ) is 10 to 50 mm thick.