Protective packaging

Abstract

There is provided a method of manufacturing a protective packaging structure comprising the steps of providing a moulded structure comprising an attachment surface, the moulded structure including a recessed portion defining a shock absorbing region, applying the moulded structure to a packaging substrate using the attachment surface, and configuring the substrate to form the protective packaging structure. A protective packaging comprising a moulded structure based on paper plate technology is also disclosed.

1 . A method of manufacturing a protective packaging structure comprising the steps of:
 providing a moulded structure comprising an attachment surface, the moulded structure including a recessed portion defining a shock absorbing region;   applying the moulded structure to a packaging substrate using the attachment surface; and   configuring the substrate to form the protective packaging structure.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the substrate whereby to conform to an outer dimension of an article to be packaged. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of inserting a plurality of moulded structures into respective pre-positioned depressions in an assembly tray of a conveyer system or rotary table system. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the moulded structures are inserted manually by operators or automatically by robotic arms or dispensers, 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising the step of applying adhesive to the attachment surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the flat sheet is pressed onto the attachment surfaces of the moulded structures. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising the step of folding the flat sheet to form a half-box having the moulded structures attached thereto. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying comprises one or more of: gluing; stapling; sandwiching; and interconnecting. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the moulded structures are glued onto the substrate in a flat-laying arrangement and are subsequently moved into a final position and orientation by folding the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . A protective packaging, the packaging comprising:
 a paper-based moulded structure, the moulded structure comprising an attachment surface and a recessed portion defining a shock absorbing region; and   a substrate, wherein the attachment surface is arranged to secure the moulded structure to the packaging substrate.   
     
     
         11 . A protective packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the moulded structure comprises an intermediate section comprising at least one hinge that is alignable with a hinge on the substrate to enable joint pivoting. 
     
     
         12 . A protective packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the moulded structure comprises a first section and a second section and the attachment surface is formed at a periphery of the first section and second section. 
     
     
         13 . A protective packaging as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the moulded structure can be pivoted about the hinge to form a substantially L-shaped structure. 
     
     
         14 . A protective packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the moulded structure is secured between two substrates. 
     
     
         15 . A protective packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the packaging is an end-cap suitable for protecting a printing product.