GB2326154A - Protective envelope or bag divided into compartments - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective envelope comprises two protective outer layers (4, 6), each having secured to an inner side thereof a protective sheet, such as foam or bubble material, the pad being seamed around an outer margin on three sides (A, B, C) leaving the top side (D) unsealed. The envelope comprises an intermediate layer (12), also of protective material such as sheet foam or bubble material, the layer (12) being interposed between the two layers (4, 6) and secured thereto along the three sides (A, B and C). Thus at the mouth of the envelope two chambers (X and Y) are presented, accessible through the open top of the envelope, said chambers (X and Y) being divided by the intermediate protective layer. Thus an article may be inserted into the chamber (X), and a different article may be inserted into the chamber (Y), prior to closing of the envelope by the use of the flap (16). The intermediate layer (12) may maintain the articles separated, preventing damage by (eg) collision, bumping or chemical interaction.

Description

Tittle: Improvements Relating to Protective Envelopes DescriDtion of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to protective envelopes. The term "envelope" is used herein generically to include not only envelopes as are used in mail rooms, but also bags in which an article may be protected during (eg) transportation.

There is a large and increasing demand for protective envelopes particularly to protect fragile articles, for example electronic components or components of a fragile nature such as of glass, during transportation such as postage.

A conventional protective envelopes (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) comprises two sheets of protective material secured or integrally connected together on three sides, the fourth side being open to which an article to be protected may be inserted into the interiors of the envelope. If desired a closure flap may be provided to secure the two sheets together after insertion of the article.

For example, the sheets may each comprise an outer layer of a heavy duty paper such as Kraft, on the inner side of which one or more layers of a resilient, protective material may be provided, such as sheet foam material, "bubble" material, or materials of a similar nature, or combinations of such materials. Alternatively the sheets may each comprise an inner layer, which may also be of Kraft, but conveniently of lesser weight, with protective material therebetween, such as macerated paper.

In the manufacture of such envelopes, sheet material is produced on a continuous basis comprising an outer layer and an inner lay of protective material, for which pieces of appropriate length are severed, to be secured together as hereinbefore described, conventionally by a combination of a folding and side seaming operation.

Such protective envelopes have been used extensively, with considerable advantage.

Difficulty however is encountered where it is desired to place two or more articles to be protected (for example electronic apparatus such as printed circuit boards) within the same protective envelope, where movement of the articles around the interior of the envelope during transportation may cause problems. Such problems have conventionally been solved by (eg) wrapping one of the articles in protective material, to prevent contact between the two articles.

This is of course time consuming and not necessarily satisfactory, and it is one of the various objects of this invention to provide a protective envelope which overcomes, inter alia, this particular problem.

According to this invention there is provided a protective envelope of the kind specified, comprising an intermediate sheet extending between (viz, generally parallel to) the two sheets of protective material, being secured to said two sheets along said three sides, to divide the interior of the envelope into two chambers.

Thus an article to be protected may be inserted in one of the chambers, and another article to be protected may be inserted into the other chamber, the intermediate layer preventing contact between the two articles, and providing additional protection thereof.

If desired more than one intermediate layer may be utilised, to divide the interior of the protective envelope into three or more chambers.

Conveniently the intermediate layer is of a protective material, which may be foam material, "bubble" material, or a combination thereof.

The intermediate sheet may terminate at the mouth of the envelope (that is, at the level of termination of at least one of the two sheets) in the region of the open mouth of the envelope, or may project through the open mouth, to be folded down with the flap, securely to prevent articles transferring from one chamber to the other.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a protective envelope which is a preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the protective envelope which the preferred embodiment of this invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view thereof on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The protective envelope which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises, in conventional manner, two protective outer layers 4 and 6, each layer comprising an outer sheet of heavy duty Kraft, having secured to the inner side thereof a protective sheet, conveniently afforded by foam material or bubble material. The pad is seamed around an edge margin on three sides A, B, and C, leaving the top side D unsealed, providing a space between the two layers 4 and 6, allowing, in conventional manner, an article to be protected to be inserted into the envelope. A flap 16 may then be folded over to close the opening, being held in position by (eg) a mechanical fastening, adhesive or the like.

In accordance with this invention the protective envelope shown in the accompanying drawings comprises an intermediate layer 12, preferably also of protective material such as sheet foam material or "bubble" material, the layer 10 being interposed between the two layers 4 and 6 and secured thereto and therebetween along the sides A, B, and C.

Thus along the side D, at the mouth of the envelope, two chambers X and Y are presented, accessible through the open top of the envelope, said chambers X and Y being divided by the intermediate protective layer 10. Thus one or more articles may be inserted in the chamber X and one or more different articles may be inserted into the chamber Y, prior to closing of the envelope by use ofthe flap 16.

The intermediate layer 10 maintains the article or articles in the chamber X separated from the article or articles in the chamber Y, preventing damage by (eg) collision or bumping, or chemical interaction, or the like.

If desired a second intermediate layer (not shown) may be provided, to so divide the interior of the padded envelope into three chambers, allowing three articles or groups of articles to be inserted into the three chambers, or if desired more than two intermediate layers may be utilised.

It will of course be appreciated that if there is no need to separate the articles inserted into the envelope, the presence of the intermediate layer or layers will simply provide additional protection to the article or articles.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1 A protective envelope comprising two sheets of protective material secured or integrally connected together on three sides, the fourth side being open by which an article to be protected may be inserted into the interior of the envelope, comprising an intermediate sheet extending between the two sheets of protective material to divide the interior of the envelope into two chambers.

2 A protective envelope according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of intermediate layers, to divide the interior of the protective envelope into three or more chambers.

3 A protective envelope according to one of claims land 2 wherein the intermediate layer comprises foam material.

4 A protective envelope according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate layer comprises a "bubble" material.

5 A protective envelope according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate sheet terminates at the mouth of the envelope.

6 A protective envelope according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the intermediate sheet projects through the open mouth.

7 A protective envelope according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the intermediate sheet is secured to said two sheets along three sides of the envelope.

8 A protective envelope according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a closure flap to secure the two sheets together after insertion of an article.

9 A protective envelope constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10 Any novel feature or novel combination of features as hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.