Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2019903213 filed on 2 September 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates, generally, to a method of packaging, and more particularly, to a method of packaging resiliently deformable articles, such as, for example, components of a demountable article of furniture.

Background

[0003] Purchasing items on line is becoming common place and it is then necessary to have the purchased items delivered to their destinations. Large, bulky purchased items require large packages and can be awkward to transport and be handled by delivery company staff. This problem is compounded when there are multiple large items in a single package, or a combination of one or more large items and various small items in a single package. These large packages take up a large volume on transportation vehicles, thus requiring more transportation vehicles to be deployed on a given day to ensure that all packages arrive at their destination in a timely manner. Also, these large packages are unwieldly for both delivery company staff and customers destined to receive these packages, thus increasing the risk of injuries attributed to handling such large packages.

[0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles, or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of packaging at least one resiliently deformable article, the method comprising: partially covering the at least one article with a first portion of a retainer, the first portion of the retainer carrying a first part of a fastener arrangement; placing a second portion of the retainer, carrying a second part of the fastener arrangement, about an uncovered part of the at least one article to form a stack with the first part of the fastener arrangement being spaced from the second part of the fastener arrangement; compressing the stack to deform the at least one article resiliently and to bring the first part of the fastener arrangement and the second part of the fastener arrangement into juxtaposition with each other; and fastening the first part of the fastener arrangement and the second part of the fastener arrangement together to retain the at least one article in a compressed state.

[0006] The fastener arrangement may be a zip fastener, and the fastening may comprise fastening a first part of the zip fastener and a second part of the zip fastener together to retain the at least one article in the compressed state.

[0007] The compressing may comprise compressing the stack by using a press.

[0008] The method may comprise partially covering at least one of: one or more other resiliently deformable articles; and one or more substantially non-deformable articles.

[0009] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for packaging at least one resiliently deformable article, the system comprising: a first portion of a retainer to partially cover the at least one article, the first portion of the retainer carrying a first part of a fastener arrangement; a second portion of the retainer to be placed about an uncovered part of the at least one article to form a stack, the second portion of the retainer carrying a second part of the fastener arrangement, the arrangement of the first portion of the retainer and the second portion of the retainer about the at least one article being such that the first part of the fastener arrangement is spaced from the second part of the fastener arrangement; and a press to compress the stack to deform the at least one article resiliently and to bring the first part of the fastener arrangement and the second part of the fastener arrangement into juxtaposition with each other, such that the first part of the fastener arrangement and the second part of the fastener arrangement are able to be fastened together to retain the at least one article in a compressed state.

[0010] The fastener arrangement may comprise a zip fastener.

[0011 ] The first portion of the retainer may partially cover at least one of: one or more other resiliently deformable articles; and one or more substantially non-deformable articles.

[0012] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

[0014] Figure 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of part of an embodiment of a system for packaging at least one resiliently deformable article;

[0015] Figure 2 shows an end view of the part of the system shown in Figure 1, with a first portion of a retainer partially covering the at least one resiliently deformable article; [0016] Figure 3 shows an end view of the system with a second portion of the retainer in position to be placed about an uncovered part of the at least one resiliently deformable article to form a stack;

[0017] Figure 4 shows an end view of the system of packaging the at least one resiliently deformable article, with the at least one resiliently deformable article in a compressed state, and

[0018] Fig. 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, the part of the stack encircled by Circle ‘A’ in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0019] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a system 10 for packaging at least one resiliently deformable article, schematically illustrated at 14.

The at least one resiliently deformable article 14 forms part of a demountable article of furniture and, for example, could be a seat cushion, as illustrated in this particular embodiment. In an embodiment, a plurality of components of the demountable article of furniture could be packaged together in a single package to be transported as a single unit. Thus, for example, the seat cushion could be combined with other components having lesser resilient deformability such as, for example, one or more armrests or backrests. For ease of explanation the package of articles will be referred to as the article 14.

[0020] The system 10 comprises a first portion 12 of a retainer 13 to partially cover the article 14, the first portion of the retainer 12 carrying a first part 26 of a fastener arrangement, or fastener, 24. The system 10 further comprises a second portion 22 (Fig. 3) of the retainer 13 to be placed about an uncovered part of the article 14 to form a stack 15, the second portion 22 of the retainer 13 carrying a second part 28 of the fastener 24. The arrangement of the first portion 12 of the retainer 13 and the second portion 22 of the retainer 13 about the article 14 is such that the first part 26 of the fastener 24 is initially spaced from the second part 28 of the fastener 24. The system 10 further comprises a press 11 to compress the stack 15 to deform the article 14 resiliently and to bring the first part 26 of the fastener 24 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 into juxtaposition with each other, such that the first part 26 of the fastener 24 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 are able to be fastened together to retain the article 14 in a compressed state.

[0021] In Figure 1, part of the system 10 is shown, including the press 11 and the first portion 12 of the retainer 13. The first portion 12 of the retainer 13 is shown in position to partially cover the article 14. The press 11 includes a press plate 18 which is displaceable along rails 20 towards a base 16 to press the stack 15 disposed on the base 16.

[0022] Figure 2 shows the same parts of the system 10 as shown in Figure 1. The partially covered resiliently deformable article 14 is placed on the base 16 of the press 11, with the first portion 12 of the retainer 13 being interposed between the article 14 and the base 16 of the press 11.

[0023] Figure 3 shows the same parts of the system 10 as shown in Figure 2, with the addition of the second portion 22 of the retainer 13 being shown in position to be placed about the uncovered part of the article 14 to form the stack 15.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the press plate 18 in a lowered, compressing position on the rails 20 and maintaining compression of the stack 15 with the first part 26 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 being placed in juxtaposition such that they can be fastened together as shown in the enlarged view A of Figure 5. In this particular embodiment, the fastener 24 is a zip fastener.

[0025] In use, the first portion 12 of the retainer 13 is placed over the article 14 so as to partially cover it. The article 14, with the first portion 12 of the retainer 13 applied to it, is turned over and placed on the base 16 of the press. The second portion 22 of the retainer 13 is placed about the uncovered part of the resiliently deformable article 14 to form the stack 15. The stack 15 is then compressed using the press 11, to deform the article 14 resiliently so that the first part 26 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 carried by the first portion 12 and the second portion 22 of the retainer 13, respectively, are brought into juxtaposition with each other. The first part 26 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 are then fastened together to retain the article 14 in its compressed state.

[0026] Advantageously, resiliently deformable articles are compressed and retained in a compressed state to reduce their overall volume. This reduction of volume allows for a more efficient use of space on transportation vehicles and decreases the risk of injury attributed to carrying these packaged resiliently deformable articles by making the articles easier to manipulate.

[0027] It will be appreciated that the presently disclosed system is not limited to the illustrated press 11, and that any suitable means, including other types of presses and weights, may be used to compress the stack 15 to deform the article 14 resiliently and to bring the first part 26 and second part 28 of the fastener 24 into juxtaposition with each other, such that the first part 26 and the second part 28 of the fastener 24 are able to be fastened together to retain the article 14 in a compressed state.

[0028] It will also be appreciated that any suitable retainer may be used to retain the resiliently deformable article in a compressed state. The retainer does not necessarily need to be a continuous piece of material but could, instead, be a lattice of tie down straps, webbing, ropes, chains, and the like. It will also be appreciated that the first portion 12 and second portion 22 of the retainer 13 are formed from a non-stretch or limited stretch material, such as non-woven material.

[0029] It will also be appreciated that any suitable fastener arrangement may be used to retain the resiliently deformable article in a compressed state, such as hook and loop fasteners, ratchet fasteners, buckles, pins, cam fasteners, over centre fasteners, and the like. [0030] Further, as described above, multiple articles may be covered by the retainer to form the stack 15 prior to being compressed, including additional resiliently deformable articles as well as substantially non-deformable articles.

[0031] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.