Packaging for protecting objects and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

Packaging composed of a cover ( 20 ) obtained from a packaging sheet ( 22 ) derived from a film ( 23 ), with transverse ( 30 ) and longitudinal joint lines ( 31 ), to establish pads ( 32 ) between them that are filled with fluid ( 33 ) in order to achieve the protection of an object ( 21 ) around the exterior of which the protective cover ( 20 ) is applied to fit. The cover ( 20 ) can have pads ( 32 ) that are closed or open ( 34 ) and connected together, allowing the fluid to pass. The packaging sheet ( 22 ) also has fold zones ( 35 ) to enable it to be fitted to the outline or shape of the object to be protected ( 21 ), gap zones ( 36 ) to fit the surface of the object to be protected ( 21 ), and closure zones ( 37 ) to close the sheet ( 22 ) onto itself, fitting the object to be protected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging to protect objects ( 21 ) comprising at least one protective cover ( 20 ) having at least two stacked films ( 23 ), each film ( 23 ) with at least one layer of plastic, the two stacked layers of film ( 23 ) are joined by transverse joint lines ( 30 ) and longitudinal joint lines ( 31 ), where these joint lines ( 30  and  31 ) form pads ( 32 ) filled with fluid ( 33 ), characterized in that the protective cover ( 20 ) has at least one layer of pads ( 32 ), with fold zones ( 35 ), gap zones ( 36 ) and with the possibility of having closure zones ( 37 ); so that this protective cover ( 20 ) specifically fits the surface ( 38 ) and outline of the object to be protected ( 21 ) during storage and transport, from manufacture until it is put into service at the final user's address. 
     
     
         2 . The packaging for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claim 1 , characterized in that the material of the two films ( 23 ) forming the protective cover ( 20 ) can be multilayer, having at least one layer of plastic, where it can have other layers of paper, cardboard or metal or a combination of materials in one film. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 1  and  2 , characterized in that the transverse joint lines ( 30 ) and the longitudinal joint lines ( 31 ) are capable of having constant or varying spacing, to form pads ( 32 ) with the same or different dimensions. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the pads ( 32 ) are closed. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that some of the pads ( 32 ) can be furnished with connecting channels ( 34 ) between them, to allow the fluid ( 33 ) to pass from one to another at a controlled rate to increase the control over the protection for the object to be protected ( 22 ). 
     
     
         6 . The packaging for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that the protective cover ( 20 ) can have an essentially flat external surface that fits the internal surface of the final cover, or can have an external surface that is not essentially flat for decorative and/or structural reasons. 
     
     
         7 . A manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), starting from at least two stacked films ( 23 ) of the appropriate width and thickness, and composed of at least one layer of plastic, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
 joining of the films ( 23 ) by means of transverse joint lines ( 30 ) forming transverse channels ( 39 ) between consecutive transverse joint lines ( 30 ), where said transverse channels ( 30 ) are open on at least one of their ends ( 43 ), giving a preformed sheet ( 24 );   subsequent joining by means of longitudinal joint lines ( 31 ), to form pads ( 32 ), fold zones ( 35 ), gap zones ( 36 ) and closure zones ( 37 ), performing the filling of said pads ( 32 ) with a fluid ( 33 ) during the longitudinal joint ( 26 ) making phase to give a packaging sheet ( 22 );   And folding of the packaging sheet ( 22 ) at the fold zones ( 35 ), said packaging sheet ( 22 ) can be closed onto itself by means of the closing zones ( 37 ), creating the protective cover ( 20 ) which is the subject of the invention.   
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claim 7 , characterized in that the transverse channels ( 39 ) of a given preformed sheet ( 24 ) can be of a different width to fit the outline or shape of the object to be packaged ( 21 ). 
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 7  and  8 , characterized in that the transverse joints ( 30 ) can be made by welding or by means of adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claim 9 , characterized in that rollers or cylinders ( 40 ) are used in welding the transverse joints ( 30 ), which are fitted with welding bands ( 41 ), prepared to be able to move radially ( 42 ) and to emerge from the external surface of the cylinders ( 40 ), or to remain concealed in them. 
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claim 9 , characterized in that the transverse joints ( 30 ) made using adhesive are made by spraying the adhesive onto the film ( 23 ) that is to form the preformed sheet ( 24 ). 
     
     
         12 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 7  to  11 , characterized in that the longitudinal joints ( 31 ) are made in the preformed sheet ( 24 ) of the previous stage by means of a system of joint modules ( 44 ) arranged in a group, with each of these having at least one joint wheel ( 45 ) and at least one evacuation wheel ( 46 ), where these wheels ( 45  and  46 ) have the appropriate mechanism to enable them to be moved independently in the vertical direction and also have the appropriate means to produce the joint by welding the films. 
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claim 12 , characterized in that each joint module ( 44 ) can form welds independently from the rest of the joint modules ( 44 ), producing pads ( 32 ) of different sizes on the same packaging sheet ( 22 ), so giving rise to the fold zones ( 35 ), gap zones ( 36 ) and closure zones ( 37 ) on the packaging sheet ( 22 ). 
     
     
         14 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 7  to  13 , characterized in that the longitudinal joints ( 31 ) and the introduction of the fluid ( 33 ) to the transverse channels ( 39 ) through at least one of their ends ( 43 ) is performed at the same time and in the shaping zone of the second stage ( 26 ). 
     
     
         15 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 7  to  14 , characterized in that the fluid ( 33 ) for filling the pads ( 32 ) can be a gas, a mixture of gases, a liquid or foam. 
     
     
         16 . The manufacturing process to produce packaging ( 20 ) for the protection of objects ( 21 ), as per  claims 7  to  15 , characterized in that the packaging sheet ( 22 ) is folded at the fold zones ( 35 ) in an order determined in the design of the packaging, thus forming the protective cover ( 20 ).