Packaging of equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging structure for shock-absorbing packaging of equipment comprising at least a first cell and a second cell, which is gastight separated from the first cell, the cells are inflated with a gas, preferably air, each cell comprising multiple connected tubular cavities arranged essentially parallel to each other in a comb-shaped structure, where the comb-shaped structures of the at least first and second cells are interlocked and each tubular cavity of the first cell is mechanically joined to the neighbored tubular cavity of the second cell establishing a first mat of mechanically joined tubular cavities to enwrap the equipment to be transported. The invention further relates to a packaging system comprising at least two of these packaging structures and to a method to apply the packaging structures to enwrap the equipment.

1 . A packaging structure for shock-absorbing packaging of equipment comprising at least a first cell and a second cell, which is gastight separated from the first cell, the cells are inflated with a gas, preferably air, each cell comprising multiple connected tubular cavities arranged essentially parallel to each other in a comb-shaped structure, where the comb-shaped structures of the at least first and second cells are interlocked and each tubular cavity of the first cell is mechanically joined to the neighbored tubular cavity of the second cell establishing a first mat of mechanically joined tubular cavities to enwrap the equipment to be transported,
 characterized in that each of the cells has at least one separate closable valve suitable to inflate gas into the cell and to remove gas from the cell enabling multiple inflation and removable of gas, wherein the cells are made of a resin material.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the valves are suitable for gas pressures inside the cells of at least 6 bar. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the valves are check valves, double check valves or Sclaverand valves. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the resin material comprises polyamide, polyethylene and reinforced nylon. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the packaging structure further comprises at least a second mat of tubular cavities mechanically connected to the first mat, preferably along a connection line, in order to increase the number of gastight separated cells connected to each other to enwrap the equipment to be transported. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first connection means and at least one second connection means suitable to provide a connection to the second and first connection means of another packaging structure along a first direction in order to provide a tight fit of the packaging structure on the equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the first and second connection means are arranged separately from the valves. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the first connection means and/or the second connection means comprise at least one elastic part, preferably an elastic belt or a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the first connection means is at least one element of the group of clips, clamps, fasteners or belts and the and the second connection means is at least one corresponding counterpart of the group of holed, slits or recesses. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging structure as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the packaging structure comprises at least one first attaching means and at least one second attaching means suitable to provide a connection to the second and first attaching means of another packaging structure along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to increase the area of the joined packaging structures to the size of a larger equipment to be enwrapped. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging system comprising at least two packaging structures according to  claim 1  each comprising first connection means and second connection means to be connected together to form an outer cover for shock-absorbing packaging of equipment to be transported. 
     
     
         12 . A method for shock-absorbing packaging of equipment with packaging structures according to  claim 1  comprising the steps of
 inflating the cells ( 21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ) made of resin each comprising at least one separate closable valve_with gas, preferably air, 
 closing the valve ( 3 ) after the cells ( 21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ) are inflated, 
 wrapping the packaging structures ( 1 ) around the equipment ( 6 ) 
 remove the gas from the cells ( 21 ,  22 ) after use to return the size of the cells. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , characterized in that the step of wrapping comprises the step of
 connecting the packaging structures together via at least one first connection means of the packaging structure and at least one second connection means of the other packaging structure along a first direction in order to provide a tight fit of the packaging structure on the equipment.   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of
 forming an outer cover for the equipment to be transported by with at least two packaging structures by connecting the first and second connection means.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of
 connecting the packaging structures together via at least one first attaching means of the packaging structure and at least one second attaching means of the other packaging structure along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to adjust the area of the joined packaging structures to the size of a larger equipment to be enwrapped.