Suspension packaging system and method

摘要

A product is mounted on a support pad and suspended on the pad by wrapping a stretch wrapping film around the combination of the pad and product. The borders of the pad extend beyond the borders of the product so the package containing the product can be stood on edge, but the edge of the product is spaced away from the surface on which the package is stood. The borders of the pad also include notches on the top and bottom of the pad that receive the stretch wrapping film away from the borders of the pad and closer to the product. Thus the product, secured to the pad, is suspended away from that surface. Multiple packages can be packed into a shipping container and the loaded container can be lifted and transported by a lift truck with lifting forks received in passageways formed in the container by notches in the bottom edges of the support pads. The pads and containers are made of die-cut corrugated fiberboard material although other material could be used.

主权项

1. A suspension packaging system for packaging a curved product having a height, a top surface, a bottom surface and a concave back surface, the system comprising:
a suspension pad configured specifically for use with the curved product, said suspension pad comprising a front side, a rear side, a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, a right edge, a first notch extending inwardly from said bottom edge, a second notch extending inwardly from said bottom edge, a third notch extending inwardly from said top edge and a fourth notch extending inwardly from said top edge, wherein said suspension pad is taller than the height of the product, wherein a distance between said first and third notches is approximately equal to the height of the curved product, wherein said suspension pad is adapted to be curved in a substantially continuous curve along substantially its entire width and wherein an entirety of said top edge of said suspension pad is substantially free of bends or creases that would impair said top edge from curving when said suspension pad bends and forms a planar curve that substantially conforms to the concave back surface of the curved product; and a stretch wrapping film comprising a stretchable material that exhibits elastic recovery when used as stretch film, wherein said stretch wrapping film is adapted to be stretched around the curved product and said suspension pad and be received in said first, second, third and fourth notches to secure the curved product to said suspension pad, wherein said suspension pad is adapted to bend and form a planar curve that conforms to the concave back surface of the product when said suspension pad is secured to the curved product with said stretch wrapping film and wherein said top edge of said suspension pad is adapted to define a continuous curved shape encompassing the entire top edge of said suspension pad when said suspension pad forms a planar curve.