Cohesive Packaging Material in a Shipping Container and Method

Abstract

A method of making a package for shipping an article comprises the step of attaching to a shipping container ( 22 ) a flexible material ( 24 ) with a cohesive ( 30 ) on at least a portion thereof, such that a portion of the flexible material ( 24 ) having the cohesive ( 30 ) material can be pressed to a cohesive ( 32 ) on a surface of at least one of another portion of a flexible material ( 24 ) and the shipping container ( 22 ). Thus the flexible material ( 24 ) is connected to the container ( 22 ) such that the cohesive portion can be readily secured to another cohesive portion to hold an article in a desired position in the container.

1 . A packaging system comprising a shipping container and a flexible material connected to the shipping container, the flexible material having a connecting portion connected to the container and a securing portion extending from a wall of the shipping container, the securing portion having a cohesive on a surface thereof for adhering to a cohesive at a different location on another part of the flexible material or some other part of the packaging system to hold an article relative to the shipping container. 
   
   
       2 . A packaging system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of the flexible material is affixed to a side wall of the shipping container. 
   
   
       3 . A packaging system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of the flexible material is affixed to a bottom wall of the shipping container. 
   
   
       4 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the connecting portion of the flexible material is proximate an end of the flexible material. 
   
   
       5 . A packaging material as set forth in any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the connecting portion is between a pair of securing portions. 
   
   
       6 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a sheet material. 
   
   
       7 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a crumpled sheet material. 
   
   
       8 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a plurality of sheets. 
   
   
       9 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a plurality of superimposed sheets. 
   
   
       10 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a crumpled sheet material and an uncrumpled sheet material. 
   
   
       11 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material has a cohesive at a distal end thereof. 
   
   
       12 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes paper or plastic. 
   
   
       13 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material is kraft paper. 
   
   
       14 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the container is metal, wood, paper or plastic. 
   
   
       15 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, further including a frame within the container to space a support surface for an article from a wall of the container. 
   
   
       16 . A packaging system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the connecting portion of the flexible material is affixed to the frame. 
   
   
       17 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, wherein the flexible material includes a first sheet connecting opposing side walls to define a support surface for an article and a second sheet extendable over at least a portion of the first sheet, the second sheet having a cohesive portion that is connectable to a cohesive portion on at least one of the first sheet, another location on the second sheet and another portion of the system. 
   
   
       18 . A packaging system as set forth in any previous claim, further including a dunnage product connected to the flexible material to space an article to be secured from a wall of the container. 
   
   
       19 . A packaging system as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising a relatively stiff material connected to the flexible material or the dunnage product. 
   
   
       20 . A method of securing an article in a container for shipment comprising the steps of placing the article in the shipping container; and securing the article in the shipping container by pressing a portion of a flexible material having a cohesive on a surface thereof to a cohesive on a surface of at least one of another portion of a flexible material and the shipping container, where the flexible material is connected to the container before the securing step. 
   
   
       21 . A method of making a package for shipping an article comprising the step of attaching to a shipping container a flexible material with a cohesive on at least a portion thereof such that a portion of the flexible material having the cohesive on a surface thereof can be pressed to a cohesive on a surface of at least one of another portion of a flexible material and the shipping container. 
   
   
       22 . A method as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of crumpling the flexible material before attaching the crumpled sheet material to the shipping container. 
   
   
       23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of attaching the crumpled sheet material to an uncrumpled sheet material before attaching the assembled sheet material to the shipping container. 
   
   
       24 . A method as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of detaching a portion of the flexible material from a releasable adhesive or the container before pressing cohesive portions of the flexible material together.