PARTITION ASSEMBLY MADE WITH MULTIPLE PLY PARTITIONS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a partition assembly for dividing the space inside a container or box; more particularly to a partition assembly made of slotted, multiple ply partitions.

Description of the Prior Art

In the storage, shipment or display of parts or merchandise, it is a common practice to divide the interior of a box or container into a plurality of individual cells. The interior of a box or container is typically separated by a series of dividers, one set of parallel dividers being orthogonal to a second set of dividers. The dividers separate the interior of the container into a plurality of individual holding cells each of which is intended to hold a separate item for display and/or shipment. The division of the interior of the box or container helps prevent the items therein from contacting one another and breaking during shipping. The division or partitioning of the container also aids in the loading and unloading of the items therein, as well as inventorying the contents of each box or container.

The dividers typically are slotted and arranged in an orthogonal relationship to divide the interior of the box or container into a desired number of

holding cells. The dividers are slotted in a manner that enables the dividers to engage with one another at the location of the slots so that the dividers form an orthogonal grid or matrix. Typically the dividers are made of the same material as the material of the box or container, plastic or paperboard. However, the dividers may be constructed of any suitable material with sufficient rigidity to prevent the contents of the container from contacting one another and being damaged.

One disadvantage with known partition assemblies is that the upper edges of the partitions may have exposed sharp edges. For example, corrugated plastic partitions may have sharp upper edges created by cutting a sheet of corrrugated plastic to the desired partition size. Such an exposed upper edge of the partition may damage products or parts being loaded into or unloaded from the cells of the container in which is located the partition matrix or assembly. Partition assemblies incorporating partitions having exposed sharp upper edges may require additional clearance between the parts being either loaded or unloaded and the upper edges of the partitions. Another disadvantage of such partition assemblies is that the person loading or unloading parts or products into or from the cells of the container may cut or scrape their knuckles or hands on the exposed upper edges of the partitions when loading or unloading parts or products.

Additionally, the stiffness of the partitions of the assembly is dictated by the material from which the partitions are made. The stiffness of the partitions may not be altered without changing the material from which the partition is made.

U.S. patent number 2,647,679 discloses a partition assembly which separates the interior of a box or container into a plurality of cells. The partitions of the assembly disclosed in this patent are formed by folding a blank of material along a fold line so as to create a rounded smooth upper edge. The material is disclosed as being paper board or similar material.

Another partition assembly for dividing the interior of a container is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,375,263. The partitions of this assembly are similarly rounded along their upper edges and are made of transparent vinyl sheets.

In each of these prior art partition assemblies, the opposed plies of the dividers or partitions formed by folding a blank of material are not secured to each other. Consequently, the opposed sides or plies of the partitions are not secured to each other and may be easily separate, thereby expanding into the cells of the container defined by the partition assembly. Consequently, the partitions may contact the products or parts stored in the cells and damage them. Additionally, the partition plies may easily tear or otherwise be damaged. Upon assembly or disassembly of the partition matrix, one or more portions of the partitions may tear and hence cause disassembly of at least a portion of the partition matrix. It therefore has been one objective of the present invention to provide a double-ply partition for use in a partition assembly in which the plies are secured together.

It has been a further objective of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a double-ply partition for use in a partition assembly which is secure and may not be easily disassembled.

It has been another objective of the present invention to provide a double-ply partition for use in a partition assembly in which the partition has the desired degree of stiffness.

Summary of the Invention The partition assembly of the present invention which accomplishes these objectives comprises at least one first slotted partition intersecting with at least one second slotted partition at an intersection. The intersecting first and second slotted partitions form a plurality of holding cells into which different parts are stored for shipment or display. Each first slotted partition has at least one slot extending inwardly from an edge of the first slotted partition. Likewise each second slotted partition has at least one slot extending inwardly from an edge of the second slotted partition. Preferably the slots are evenly spaced in order to make the holding cells which are defined by the

intersecting partitions of identical dimensions. However, the slots may be located at any desired locations. In one embodiment, each of the slots of a first slotted partition extends inwardly from an edge of the first slotted partition to approximately the midpoint of the first slotted partition. Each of the slots of a second slotted partition extends inwardly from an edge of the second slotted partition to approximately the midpoint of the second slotted partition.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the partition is formed of a multilayered material folded in half and secured to itself. The fold creates a rounded upper edge at the fold line which is smooth and has a continuous surface with the outer side walls or skins of the partition. The partition blank comprises an inner layer of foam, preferably polyolefin foam, and an outer layer, skin or facegood. In one embodiment, the inner foam layer is bonded directly or laminated to the outer layer. The outer layer may be made of woven polyester, non-woven polypropylene, foamed or solid polyolefin or other material such as latex or non-polyolefin plastic. The outer layer may be selected as appropriate to protect or prevent surface damage to the products being stored and/or shipped in the cells of the container.

In an alternative embodiment, a desired stiffness or rigidity may be created in the partition by inserting into the partition blank from which the partition is made a thin plastic skin or middle layer between the inner foam layer and the outer layer or facegood. By altering the thickness and/or mechanical properties of this middle layer, or by omitting it altogether, the desired level or degree of stiffness of the partition may be achieved during the manufacturing process.

In an alternative embodiment, the partition blank may be made solely of one foam layer without any outer layer or facegood. The method of manufacturing the multiple ply partition comprises multiple steps. Although the method is described with respect to one preferred embodiment, the method may be used with any of the embodiments contemplated by this invention.

In one instance, a multiple layered partition strip or blank having an outer skin secured to a foam interior is first provided. This partition blank may be made using any desired known method such as co-extrusion, lamination, etc.

The partition blank is folded so as to create two opposed plies and a smooth edge connecting the plies. The foam interior layer of at least one of the plies is heated with a heat source. The heat source is placed in such proximity to the contacting portions of the partition plies so that heat from the heat source causes the foam portion of at least one of the partition plies to become at least partially molten. The heat source is then distanced from the partition plies and the foam portions of the partition plies allowed to cool under pressure, thereby creating a securement of the foam layers or portions of the partition plies to create a unitary partition having a foam interior portion surrounded by an outer skin. The heat source may be hot air or any other suitable heat source.

In this manner, the plies of the partition are parent welded or fused together along their interior or inner surfaces. For purposes of this document, the term

"parent weld" or "parent weldment" refers to a weldment of two contacting partition plies welded, fused or secured together without the use of any additional material other than the material of the partition plies themselves. The present invention is not intended to be limited strictly to foam, partition plies made of corrugated plastic may be parent welded together in accordance with the present invention in a manner disclosed and taught in assignee's U.S. Patent No. 5,788,146, which is fully incorporated herein.

One advantage of using a partition blank having a foam interior made of a polyolefm foam is that the two plies of the partition blank may be secured or fused together using only heat, thereby eliminating the need for additional material such as adhesive, staples or other fasteners. The omission of the additional material may reduce the labor and material cost of making the slotted partition. The securement of the two plies together using only heat may not be possible or economically desirable with other materials such as paperboard, commonly used to make partitions.

Such a process of welding opposed plies of a partition together without the use of any additional material other than the material of the partition plies to form a multiple ply partition having the desired stiffness is quick, economical and allows many multiple ply partitions to be mass produced with low material and labor costs. Once the portion of at least one ply is separated from the heat source and allowed to cool, the plies are parent welded together in a permanent relationship.

An alternative method of joining the foam interior layers of the plies of the partition is to adhesively secure them together. Other means of securing the foam interior layers of the folded partition plies may used if desired. This method of making a two ply partition by securing opposed plies of the partition together is quick, easy and inexpensive. The opposed plies of the partition are permanently secured to each other, making the partition nondisassembling and enhanced by being double layered or double ply without using any additional material or tools.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the partition assembly of the present invention located inside a container;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the construction of the partition assembly of Fig. 1 illustrating a plurality of first slotted partitions and a plurality of second slotted partitions;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 A is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a partition used in accordance with the present invention having a middle layer; and

Fig. 4A is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating a method of manufacturing partition blanks according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4B is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating a method of manufacturing a roll of material used to make partition blanks according to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4C is a diagrammatic side elevational view further illustrating the method of manufacturing partition blanks according to the method of Fig. 4B;

Fig. 5 A is a perspective view of a partition blank;

Fig. 5B is a perspective view illustrating the partition blank of Fig. 5 A being folded;

Fig. 5C is a perspective view illustrating the interior foam layers of opposed plies of the partition blank of Fig. 5 A being heated;

Fig. 5Cl is a perspective view illustrating the interior foam layers of opposed plies of the partition blank of Fig. 5 A being joined without heat; Fig. 5D is a perspective view illustrating the heated partition blank of

Fig. 5C cooling under pressure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5E is a perspective view illustrating a method of cutting a two-ply partition to size; and

Fig. 5F is a perspective view illustrating a finished slotted partition according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a partition assembly 10 for dividing the space inside a container 5. Although one type or configuration of container 5 is illustrated in Fig. 1, the partition assembly 10 of the present invention may be used in any type of container or box. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the partition assembly 10 comprises a plurality of parallel first slotted partitions 12 intersecting with a plurality of parallel second slotted partitions 14.

As shown in Fig. 2, each first slotted partition 12 has a rounded upper or top edge 16, a planar bottom edge 18 and two opposed side edges 20. Likewise each second slotted partition 14 has a rounded upper or top edge 22, a planar bottom edge 24 and two opposed side edges 26.

Each first slotted partition 12 has at least one slot 28 which extends downwardly from the top edge 16 of the first slotted partition 12 to approximately the

midpoint of the first slotted partition 12. The slots 28 may be evenly spaced apart in order that the individual holding cells 7 of the partition assembly may be evenly sized. See Fig. 1. Alternatively, the slots 28 of the first slotted partitions 12 may be unevenly spaced in order to form holding cells of the partition assembly of differing sizes to accept different sized parts. The slots 28 are shown as being vertical but may be horizontal if the partition assembly 10 is placed on edge.

As shown in Fig. 2, each second slotted partition 14 has at least one slot 30 extending upwardly from the bottom edge 24 of the second slotted partition 14 to approximately the midpoint of the second slotted partition 14. The slots 30 of the second slotted partitions 14 may also be evenly spaced in order so that the holding cells

7 of the partition assembly 10 may be evenly sized. Again see Fig. 1. Alternatively, the slots 30 may be unevenly spaced in order to form holding cells of the partition assembly of differing sizes adapted to accept different sized parts. The slots 30 are shown as being vertical but may be horizontal if the partition assembly 10 is placed on edge. In one embodiment of the present invention each of the first and second slotted partitions 12, 14 is made of a multilayered material. Each of the partitions 12, 14 is a two-ply partition formed by the method shown in Figs. 5A-5F and described below. Fig. 3 illustrates one of the partitions 12 in detail according to one embodiment of the present invention. As best illustrated in Fig. 3, slotted partition 12 has two opposed plies 32 and 34 which are parallel to one another and joined together. The partition 12 has an outer layer or skin 36 assuming a generally inverted U-shaped configuration when the partition 12 is folded and the opposed plies 32 and 34 secured together. A wide variety of materials may be used for the outer layer or skin 36 including, but not limited to, woven polyesters, non-woven polypropylenes, foamed and solid polyolefins, latex, non- polyolefin plastics.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, inside the outer layer or skin 36 is a foam interior 38 comprising two layers 40, 42 joined together along an interior surface 44. A wide variety of materials may be used for the foam interior 38 of the partition 12. In one preferred embodiment, the foam interior 38 is a polyolefin foam. However, other

materials other than foam which may be welded or joined together may be used in accordance with the present invention. If desired, the outer skin 36 may be omitted, in which case, the entire partition 12 would be made of foam.

Fig. 3 A illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, partition 12a has an additional layer incorporated therein when compared to the partition 12 shown in Fig. 3. In this alternative embodiment, the partition 12a has an outer layer or skin 36a, a foam interior 38a comprising two layers 40a, 42a joined together along surface 44a. In addition, a middle stiffening layer 46 is secured between the outer layer or skin 36a and the foam interior 38a. Like the outer layer 36a of the partition 12a, the middle stiffening layer 46 assumes a generally inverted U-shaped configuration when the partition 12a is folded and the opposed plies 32a and 34a secured together as shown in Fig. 3A. A wide variety of materials may be used for the middle stiffening layer or skin 46 including, but not limited to, various plastics. If desired, additional middle stiffening layers of any suitable material (not shown) may be added to the partition blank. The partition 12a has a smooth upper edge

75a like the partition 12 shown in Fig. 3 created by the folding of a partition blank and securing the opposed plies 32a, 34a together in the manner described below.

Referring to Fig. 4A, to practice the method of this invention and form a multilayered partition blank 66 for subsequent use in forming a slotted two ply partition like partition 12 shown in Fig. 3 for use in a partition assembly, a roll 48 of outer skin material is provided. As illustrated in Fig. 4A, a web of outer skin material 50 is unwound from the roll 48 and passed between two heated conveyors 52. Other heat sources may used if desired. Another roll 54, this one containing a web 56 of foam material is provided. The continuous web 56 of foam is unrolled from the roll 54 and passed into a nip 58 between rollers 60. The webs 50, 56 are joined together to create a multilayered web 62. As shown in Fig. 4A, the multilayered web 62 is passed between cooling conveyors 63 and then cut with cutting device 64 to create a partition blank 66. Any suitable means for cooling the multilayered web 62 other than conveyors may be

used if desired. The cut multilayered partition blanks 66 are then stacked on top of one another to create a stack 68.

Figs. 4B and 4C illustrate another method of forming a cut multilayered partition blank 66a. In this method, a roll 48a of outer skin material is provided. As illustrated in Fig. 4B, a web of outer skin material 50a is unwound from the roll 48a and passed between two heated conveyors 52a. Again, other heat sources other than conveyors may used if desired. Another roll 54a, this one containing a web 56a of foam material is provided. The continuous web 56a of foam is unrolled from the roll 54a and passed into a nip 58a between rollers 60a. The webs 50a, 56a are joined together to create a multilayered web 62a. As shown in Fig. 4B, the multilayered web 62a is then passed between cooling conveyors 63a before being rolled up into a roll 70. As illustrated in Fig. 4C ₅ the multilayered web 62a is unrolled from roll 70 and cut with cutting device 64a at one or more desired locations to create a partition blank 66a. The partition blanks 66a are then stacked to create a stack 68a. Although Figs. 4A-4C illustrate several method of manufacturing a multilayered partition blank, any other suitable known method of making a multilayered partition blank may be used such as co-extrusion, heat bonding or laminating several layers together.

Once a multilayered partition blank 66, 66a has been created, the multilayered partition blank is then formed into a two-ply slotted slotted partition 12 using the method illustrated in Figs. 5A-5F. For purposes of simplicity, Figs. 5A-5F illustrate a method of creating a two ply partition 12. However, the same method may be used to create any partition used in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 5A illustrates a multilayered partition blank 66 in a planar flat orientation. Fig. 5B illustrates the multilayered partition blank 66 of Fig. 5 A being folded along a fold line

74 so as to create two opposed plies 32, 34 and a rounded smooth edge 75 joining the plies as seen in Fig. 3. This smooth edge 75 becomes the upper edge of the partition 12. Fig. 5C illustrates the interior foam layers 40, 42 of the opposed plies 32, 34, respectively being heated with a heat source 76. In the illustrated embodiment, the

heat source 76 blows hot air in the direction of arrows 78 to heat at least one of the interior foam layers 40, 42 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66. Of course, other types of heaters may be used in accordance with the present invention to heat at least one of the interior foam layers 40, 42 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 using any number of known methods.

Fig. 5D illustrates the interior surfaces 80 of the foam layers 40, 42 of the opposed plies 32, 34, respectively, contacting each other and being under pressure from a pressure source 82 such as a press like the one illustrated in Fig.5D. In the illustrated press 82 opposed plates 84 contact the outer skin 36 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66. Rods 86 extending outwardly from the plates 84 and joined thereto cause the plates to move to and away from each other in a known manner. As shown in Fig. 5D, the plates 84 push the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 together until the inner surfaces 80 thereof contact each other. Pressure is then applied by the press 82 as the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 are cooled. The result is that the foam interior layers 40, 42 of the opposed plies 32, 34 of the multilayered partition blank 66 are fused together to create partition 12. Although one type of press is illustrated any other type of device may be used to place the two opposed plies of the blank under pressure during the cooling process. Any method of cooling the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 may be used in accordance with the present invention to fuse the interior foam layers 40, 42 together including allowing the heated foam interior layer or layers to cool at room temperature.

As shown in Fig. 5Cl, the heater may be omitted from the process of manufacturing a slotted partition 12 shown in Fig. 5F. In such a situation, adhesive 88 may be applied to the inner surfaces 80 of the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 either before or after the multilayered partition blank 66 is partially folded as shown in Fig. 5B. Other known methods of securing the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 may be used if desired.

Fig. 5E illustrates an unslotted two ply partition 90 resulting from the securing of the opposed plies 32, 34 of the folded multilayered partition blank 66 together in any manner including those described above. One or move knives 92 may be used to cut the unslotted two ply partition 90 to the desired size. As shown in Fig. 5F, slots 94 are then cut out of the unslotted two ply partition 90 at the desired locations. The end result is a two ply slotted partition 12 for use in a partition assembly such as the one 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While I have described only a few embodiments of my invention, I do not intend to be limited except by the scope of the following claims. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: