AU2011101150A4 - Improvements to air-packing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective device for fragile articles in which an adaptor is positioned and located to assist in the inflating of inflatable chambers of the protective device. The adaptor allows for the inflatable protective device to be readily inflated by either an individual or an automated process. C~C, iCM

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO AIR-PACKING DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements to protective devices, and in particular protective devices that utilise gas chambers to provide cushioning. 5 When shipping fragile products, such as wine, electronic devices etc., it is common to use Styrofoam packaging that has either been shaped to receive a certain item or alternatively to use Styrofoam pieces that pack around the device if it is irregularly shaped. Styrofoam and its equivalents, are quite useful and perform effectively, they have a number of disadvantages, such as poor recycling attributes, one off use, 10 storage issues. A replacement for Styrofoam packaging are packaging devices that use gas, in particular air, to create a gas filled cushion or series of gas filled cushions around the article that requires protection. In effect these air-cushioning bags create a standoff zone between the article to be protected and an exterior surface, much the same as 15 Styrofoam packaging does. However, the advantage that air cushioning bags have is that they can be recyclable due to the different plastics material, more efficient storage in that air cushioning bags can be stored uninflated, inflation occurring only at the time at which the article needs to be inserted into the air cushioning bag. Air cushioning bags also have advantages over the more traditional "bubble wrap" due to 20 the low space requirements for uninflated air cushioning bags compared to the bubble wrap, which is inflated or pressurised at the point of manufacture. Typically air-cushioning bags are made from quite pliable material in which the walls are joined along their opposed longitudinal edges and have a number of parallel longitudinal seams to define a plurality of inflatable chambers. These inflatable 25 chambers may have one way valves positioned at an end which allow pressurised air to enter into the inflatable chamber however once inflated the one way valve is closed by the internal pressure within the chamber. These one-way valves are often referred to as "check valves". 1 A problem that has been identified by the use of the pliable material to form the protective device is that it can be difficult to find the primary gas or air input opening unless there is some specific marking or colouring to indicate its location. Even when found however it can be difficult to insert a gas filling means, such as a 5 gas needle, into the opening as the pliable material is thin and can be difficult to separate without some effort. This then results in a bag that can be generally difficult to inflate and use, and in particular makes such bags less favourable for individual's use, or for bulk purchase by individuals where they can be subsequently inflated without undue effort. 10 This invention relates to a protective device for fragile articles, the device having a plurality of inflatable chambers, the inflatable chambers being in fluid communication with a shared gas input chamber, wherein the gas input chamber includes a support guide in fluid communication with an interior of the shared gas input chamber and an outside of the protective device, so as to guide a gas filling means to pass gas from 15 the outside of the protective device to into the interior of the shared gas input chamber. In preference, the support guide includes a one-way valve means to allow the ingress of a gas there through. In preference, the gas filling means is a conduit connected to a pressurized gas 20 supply. In preference, the conduit terminates in a coupling means to interconnect with the hollow support guide. In preference, the conduit includes a needle. In preference, the support guide is substantially conical in shape. 25 In preference, the support guide has a gas input hole and a gas out put hole. In preference, the gas input hole and the gas output hole are diametrically opposed. 2 In preference, the support guide includes a circular flange positioned around the gas input hole BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention is described more fully 5 hereafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the present invention in an un-inflated condition; Figure 2 shows the present invention inflated; Figure 3 is the same view as figure 2, with an article to be protected inserted into an interior section. 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1 the protective device (2) is constructed from a sheet or plurality of sheets of pliable material to define a number of inflatable chambers (5), each of which has a one way check valve (7) located at one end, the other end being seam sealed. 15 Each of the one way check valves (7) allows for fluid communication from the main gas input chamber (or duct) (10), which is similar in function to a manifold. The main gas input chamber (10) has an opening (12) at one end, within which is a support guide (14). The support guide (14) is made of a suitably rigid material, such as a polyethylene 20 material and has a gas input hole or opening (16) and a gas output exit hole (18). A circular flange (20) is located around the gas input opening (16). In use, a gas filling means (22) is then either coupled to the flange (20) of a gas input hole (16) or a needle (24) attached to the gas filling means (22) is inserted through the gas input hole (16), either way pressurized gas is then forced through the gas 25 filling means (22) and into the main gas input chamber (10) to provide gas to the individual inflatable chambers (5) through the one way valves (7). 3 It should be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to have either one inflatable chamber or a plurality of inflatable chambers and the presence of the one way valves (7) to connect the inflatable chambers to the main gas input chamber are optional. Indeed, the support guide (14) can have its own one way 5 check valve, such as a self-sealing valve as is known in the field. This would provide a convenient and simplified air entry/gas entrapment means. The use of the support guide (14) in the protective device (2) now then provides for a quick and relatively simple mechanism within which to introduce a gas into the main gas input chamber of the gas filled protective device (2). This means that such 10 protective devices can be transported and bought in bulk in an un-inflated condition. Inflation can then be brought about at any location where there is a suitable gas filling means which could be either machine operated, i.e. on a production line or by use of a hand pump with an appropriately shaped needle or conduit having the required coupling means to couple to the support guide (14). An example of this type of use 15 would be a domestic user wishing to ship or transport a bottle of wine. The protective devices of the present invention can then be readily purchased through any retail outlet in an un-inflated condition and suitably inflated by the support guide (14) or potentially inflated at the point of purchase say for example a post office. The bottle of wine can then be inserted into the enclosure formed within 20 the protective device, which in turn can then be placed in a suitably sized cardboard container for subsequent transport to its intended destination. As is now apparent, the support guide used on the present invention provides a substantial advantage and improvement to protective devices being air cushioning bags that has otherwise been known. 25 The described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction, which would be apparent to one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 30 4

Claims (5)

1. A protective device for fragile articles, the device having a plurality of inflatable chambers, the inflatable chambers being in fluid communication with a shared gas input chamber, wherein the gas input chamber includes a support guide in fluid communication with an interior of the shared gas input chamber and an outside of the protective device, so as to guide a gas filling means to pass gas from the outside of the protective device to into the interior of the shared gas input chamber.

2. The protective device of claim 1, wherein the support guide includes a one-way valve means to allow the ingress of a gas there through.

3. The protective device of claim 2, wherein, the gas filling means is a conduit connected to a pressurized gas supply.

4. The protective device of claim 3 wherein the conduit terminates in a coupling means to interconnect with the hollow support guide.

5. The protective device of claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5