초록 ▼

A supporting structure for positioning a product within an outer shipping container takes the form of a plastic bladder shaped on one side to provide a cavity having internal dimensions matching external dimensions of the product and shaped on the other to have external dimensions matching internal

A supporting structure for positioning a product within an outer shipping container takes the form of a plastic bladder shaped on one side to provide a cavity having internal dimensions matching external dimensions of the product and shaped on the other to have external dimensions matching internal dimensions of the shipping container. The air bladder may be either a vertical or a horizontal positioning elements and is typically used pairs within a single container. The air bladder is compact and can be discarded after use with minimal environment impact. In examples shown, the air bladder is of a plastic material such as polyethylene and is produced by blow molding, making it particularly suitable for disposal after use by a recycling process, thereby further reducing potential environmental impact.

대표청구항 ▼

A supporting structure for positioning and supporting a product during storage and shipping, wherein the product to be supported has predetermined external dimensions; and wherein said supporting structure comprises: a semi-rigid and self-supporting polymer resin gas-containing bladder incorporating

A supporting structure for positioning and supporting a product during storage and shipping, wherein the product to be supported has predetermined external dimensions; and wherein said supporting structure comprises: a semi-rigid and self-supporting polymer resin gas-containing bladder incorporating a plurality of discrete inflatable chambers and at least one means for fluid communication between each of said chambers, wherein at least one of said plurality of discrete chambers is unsealed and is open to the ambient atmosphere; wherein said bladder has a preformed product receiving cavity with a predetermined configuration which is independent of pressure within said bladder, and where said predetermined configuration is such as to fit at least a portion of said predetermined external dimensions of the product to be supported; wherein said ass-containing bladder is deformable and substantially retains its preformed configuration under static load-bearing conditions; and wherein said gas-containing bladder is deformable and sufficiently resilient, so as to substantially retain its preformed configuration under dynamic load-bearing conditions, so as to minimize accelerative or decelerative forces from forces applied to said gas-containing bladder and thereby so as to minimize transmission of kinetic energy to said product while under dynamic load-bearing conditions.