Cushioning material and packaging cushioning device

Abstract

This cushioning material includes: a first sheet having a first flat part, a first protruding part provided so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the first flat part, and a first recessed part protruding in a direction opposite to the first protruding part relative to the first flat part; and a second sheet having a second flat part, a second protruding part provided so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the second flat part, and a second recessed part protruding in a direction opposite to the second protruding part relative to the second flat part. The first sheet and the second sheet are configured to be mirror objects. The tip part of the first protruding part is inserted into the second recessed part, and the tip part of the second protruding part is inserted into the first recessed part, thereby joining the first sheet and the second sheet.

Description

Cushioning materials and packaging cushioning devices

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cushioning material and a packaging cushioning device.

[0002] Plastic cushioning materials are commonly used to package goods. However, plastic is difficult to decompose. Furthermore, when plastic is incinerated for disposal, it generates harmful substances.

[0003] To address these environmental issues, it is necessary to use cushioning materials made from biodegradable materials, such as paper, which have a low environmental impact. However, biodegradable cushioning materials tend to have lower rigidity than cushioning materials made from plastics, making them difficult to use in environments where they are subject to large impacts or for packaging items weighing tens of kilograms.

[0004] To solve these problems, a highly rigid panel that can be made from biodegradable materials has been proposed. Highly rigid panels have been developed in the fields of architecture, automobiles, and aircraft, and honeycomb truss core panels are well known.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a pair of panels have polygonal planar portions and recesses recessed to a predetermined side relative to the planar portions, and the planar portions and polygonal bottom surfaces of the recesses are arranged in a planar tessellation state. The tip of the recess of one panel piece is joined to the planar portion of the other panel piece, and the planar portion at the ridge line of the recess of one panel is joined to the planar portion at the ridge line of the recess of the other panel piece, thereby forming the panels.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-134620

[0007] The panel of Patent Document 1 is formed by fitting two panel pieces together. The flat portions at the vertices of the polygonal structures constituting the mating panel piece are joined to the flat portions of the opposing mating panel piece, and the flat portions at the ridgelines of the polygonal structures constituting the mating panel piece are joined to the flat portions at the ridgelines of the opposing mating panel piece. This unifies the panels and improves their rigidity. However, if the flatness or dimensional accuracy of the joined flat portions is insufficient, the joint strength may decrease, potentially reducing the rigidity of the panels. In particular, when this structure is manufactured using biodegradable materials, concerns about flatness or dimensional accuracy exist, making it necessary to achieve a stable joint without relying on flat portions.

[0008] The present disclosure aims to provide a cushioning material and a packaging cushioning device with improved rigidity.

[0009] The cushioning material of the present disclosure comprises a first sheet having a first flat portion, a first convex portion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the first flat portion, and a first concave portion protruding from the first flat portion in a direction opposite to the first convex portion; and a second sheet having a second flat portion, a second convex portion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the second flat portion, and a second concave portion protruding from the second flat portion in a direction opposite to the second convex portion, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are configured in mirror symmetry, and the tip of the first convex portion is inserted into the second concave portion and the tip of the second convex portion is inserted into the first concave portion, thereby joining the first sheet and the second sheet.

[0010] The packaging cushioning device according to the present disclosure is configured by stacking a plurality of the above-described cushioning materials.

[0011] In the cushioning material and packaging cushioning device disclosed herein, the tip of the first convex portion is inserted into the second concave portion, and the tip of the second convex portion is inserted into the first concave portion and joined, thereby increasing the joining area between the first sheet and the second sheet, thereby improving the joining strength and rigidity.

[0012] 1 is a perspective view of a cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first panel piece of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the first panel piece of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second panel piece of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the second panel piece of the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cushioning material according to a comparative example. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a cushioning material according to a comparative example. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a ninth panel piece of the cushioning material according to the comparative example. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a comparison of the areas of joints in the cushioning material according to embodiment 1 and the cushioning material according to the comparative example. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the conditions of a numerical analysis for the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the conditions of a numerical analysis for the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the results of a numerical analysis for the cushioning material according to embodiment 1. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a third panel piece of the cushioning material according to modified example 1 of embodiment 1. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fourth panel piece of the cushioning material according to modified example 2 of embodiment 1. FIG. 17 is a plan view of a cushioning material according to modified example 2 of embodiment 1. FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cushioning material according to modified example 2 of embodiment 1. 1 is a perspective view of a fifth panel piece of a cushioning material according to a third modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sixth panel piece of a cushioning material according to a third modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cushioning material according to a third modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cushioning material according to a third modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a seventh panel piece of a cushioning material according to a fourth modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an eighth panel piece of a cushioning material according to a fifth modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the eighth panel piece of a cushioning material according to a fifth modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cushioning material according to a sixth modification of embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a packaging shock absorber according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the packaging shock absorber according to the second embodiment is used. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a packaging shock absorber according to a seventh modification of embodiment 2. FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating a state in which the packaging shock absorber according to the sixth modification of embodiment 2 is used. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cushioning material according to a third embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the cushioning material according to the third embodiment is used.FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of application of a cushioning material according to embodiment 3 to an object to be packaged. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ninth panel piece of a cushioning material according to embodiment 4. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ninth panel piece of a cushioning material according to embodiment 4. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a cushioning material according to embodiment 4. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cushioning material according to embodiment 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cushioning material according to modified example 8 of embodiment 4. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a cushioning material according to modified example 8 of embodiment 4. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a cushioning material according to modified example 8 of embodiment 4.

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the present disclosure includes all possible combinations of the configurations shown in the following embodiments. In particular, the combinations of components are not limited to those in each embodiment; components described in one embodiment can be applied to another embodiment. The configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the configurations of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configurations shown in the drawings. In the following description, directional terms (e.g., "up," "down," "right," "left," "front," "rear," etc.) are used as appropriate to facilitate understanding, but these are for explanatory purposes and do not limit the present disclosure. In each drawing, components designated with the same reference numerals are identical or equivalent, and this applies throughout the entire specification. The relative dimensional relationships or shapes of the components in each drawing may differ from those in the actual product.

[0014] Embodiment 1. <Cushioning material 1> Fig. 1 is a perspective view of cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a plan view of cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1, showing a cross section taken along line A-A in Fig. 2.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the cushioning material 1 has a first panel piece 10 and a second panel piece 11 configured in mirror symmetry, with the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 fitted together in an opposing relationship. The first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 each have a convex portion and a concave portion protruding in opposing directions. The tip 101a of the first convex portion 101 of the first panel piece 10 is inserted into the second concave portion 112 of the second panel piece 11, and the tip 111a of the second convex portion 111 of the second panel piece 11 is inserted into the first concave portion 102 of the first panel piece 10. This results in a fitted configuration of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11. The first panel piece 10 is an example of a first sheet, and the second panel piece 11 is an example of a second sheet. The cushioning material 1 is made of a biodegradable material. Examples of biodegradable materials include paper and biodegradable plastic.

[0016] In the following description, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is defined, with the Z-axis direction representing the mating direction of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 of the cushioning material 1, the X-axis direction representing the direction perpendicular to the mating direction of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11, and the Y-axis direction representing the direction perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis. The mating direction is the direction in which the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 face each other, and is the direction in which a load is expected to be applied.

[0017] <First panel piece 10> Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first panel piece 10 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged front view of the first panel piece 10 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first panel piece 10 is formed with polygonal first convex portions 101 and first concave portions 102 regularly arranged on a first flat portion 100. The first convex portion 101 includes a plurality of first convex portions 101, and the first concave portion 102 includes a plurality of first concave portions 102.

[0018] A plurality of first convex portions 101 and a plurality of first concave portions 102 are provided at predetermined intervals, for example, along the length and width of the first flat portion 100 in the XY plane. The first convex portions 101 protrude in the Z-axis direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the first flat portion 100. The first concave portions 102 protrude in the Z-axis direction relative to the first flat portion 100, in the opposite direction to the first convex portions 101. In other words, the first convex portions 101 and the first concave portions 102 protrude in two directions relative to the first flat portion 100, namely, in the + direction of the Z axis and the - direction of the Z axis.

[0019] Each of the first convex portions 101 has a first protruding portion 101A having a polygonal truncated pyramid shape and three second protruding portions 101B protruding in three directions from the first protruding portion 101A. The three second protruding portions 101B are an example of a plurality of second protruding portions.

[0020] The first protruding portion 101A has a first upper surface 1010 of a polygonal truncated pyramid, and three long ridge surfaces 1011A, 1011B, and 1011C whose ridgelines are chamfered in a band shape from the first upper surface 1010 of the polygonal truncated pyramid to the first flat portion 100. The three long ridge surfaces 1011A, 1011B, and 1011C are examples of multiple ridge surfaces.

[0021] The second protrusion 101B protrudes outward from three surfaces between any two of the three long ridge surfaces 1011A, 1011B, and 1011C of the first protrusion 101A below the first upper surface 1010 of the first protrusion 101A. The three surfaces are referred to as long slopes 1013A, 1013B, and 1013C. The long slopes 1013A, 1013B, and 1013C are examples of slopes.

[0022] Therefore, the first convex portion 101 having a polygonal truncated pyramid shape is composed of a first upper surface 1010 constituting the upper surface, a first surface group A, a second surface group B, and a third surface group C. The first surface group A includes a long ridge line surface 1011A, a short ridge line surface 1012A, a long slope surface 1013A, a short slope surface 1014A, a short slope surface 1015A, and an inclined surface 1016A.

[0023] The second surface group B includes a long ridge line surface 1011B, a short ridge line surface 1012B, a long inclined surface 1013B, a short inclined surface 1014B, a short inclined surface 1015B, and an inclined surface 1016B. The second surface group B is configured such that the first surface group A is disposed at 120° rotational symmetry in the counterclockwise direction with respect to a center line 1016 that passes through the center of gravity G of the first upper surface 1010 and is parallel to the Y axis.

[0024] The third surface group C includes a long ridgeline surface 1011C, a short ridgeline surface 1012C, a long inclined surface 1013C, a short inclined surface 1014C, a short inclined surface 1015C, and an inclined surface 1016C. The third surface group C is configured such that the second surface group B is further arranged with 120° rotational symmetry in the counterclockwise direction.

[0025] The polygonal first protrusions 101 are arranged in a staggered pattern, offset by 1 / 2 pitch in the Y-axis and X-axis directions, with the center of gravity G of the first upper surface 1010 as the origin. A first recess 102 having a hexagonal first bottom surface 1021 is formed in the area surrounded by three connected first protrusions 101. The first recess 102 is composed of the first bottom surface 1021 and six surfaces continuing from each side of the first bottom surface 1021. The six surfaces constitute the side surfaces of the first recess 102 and include inclined surfaces 1020A, 1020B, 1020C, 1020AB, 1020BC, and 1020CA. Inclined surfaces 1020A, 1020B, and 1020C are examples of first side surfaces.

[0026] The slope 1020A is continuous with the slope 1016A adjacent to the short ridge surface 1012A, the short slope 1014A, and the short slope 1015A of the first convex portion 101. The slope 1020B is continuous with the slope 1016B adjacent to the short ridge surface 1012B, the short slope 1014B, and the short slope 1015B of the first convex portion 101. The slope 1020C is continuous with the slope 1016C adjacent to the short ridge surface 1012C, the short slope 1014C, and the short slope 1015C of the first convex portion 101. The inclined surfaces 1016A, 1016B, and 1016C are surfaces of the second protruding portion 101B that are inclined downward toward the first recessed portion 102.

[0027] Slope 1020AB is located between slope 1020A and slope 1020B. Slope 1020BC is located between slope 1020B and slope 1020C. Slope 1020CA is located between slope 1020C and slope 1020A. Slope 1020AB, slope 1020BC, and slope 1020CA are examples of second side surfaces.

[0028] <Second panel piece 11> Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the second panel piece 11 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the second panel piece 11 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1, as viewed from the negative direction of the Z axis in Fig. 1.

[0029] 6 and 7, the second panel piece 11, like the first panel piece 10, is formed of a second flat portion 110, a polygonal second convex portion 111, and a second concave portion 112. The second panel piece 11 is configured in mirror symmetry with the first panel piece 10. Therefore, the second convex portion 111 of the second panel piece 11 protrudes in the negative direction of the Z axis relative to the second flat portion 110, and the second concave portion 112 protrudes in the positive direction of the Z axis relative to the second flat portion 110. The structure of the second panel piece 11 may be the same as that of the first panel piece 10.

[0030] The second panel piece 11 is disposed opposite the first panel piece 10 and fitted into the first panel piece 10, thereby combining the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 to form the cushioning material 1. When the cushioning material 1 is constructed, the protruding direction of the second convex portion 111 relative to the second flat portion 110 of the second panel piece 11 is opposite to the protruding direction of the first convex portion 101 relative to the first flat portion 100 of the first panel piece 10. Furthermore, when the cushioning material 1 is constructed, the protruding direction of the second concave portion 112 relative to the second flat portion 110 of the second panel piece 11 is opposite to the protruding direction of the first concave portion 102 relative to the first flat portion 100 of the first panel piece 10.

[0031] Similar to the first convex portion 101, the polygonal second convex portion 111 is composed of a second upper surface 1110, a first surface group A, a second surface group B, and a third surface group C. The first surface group A includes a long ridge line surface 1111A, a short ridge line surface 1112A, a long slope 1113A, a short slope 1114A, a short slope 1115A, and an inclined surface 1116A.

[0032] The second surface group B includes a long ridge line surface 1111B, a short ridge line surface 1112B, a long inclined surface 1113B, a short inclined surface 1114B, a short inclined surface 1115B, and an inclined surface 1116B. The second surface group B is configured such that the first surface group A is disposed with rotational symmetry of 120 degrees counterclockwise, with the position of the first surface group A being 0 degrees.

[0033] The third surface group C includes a long ridge line surface 1111C, a short ridge line surface 1112C, a long inclined surface 1113C, a short inclined surface 1114C, a short inclined surface 1115C, and an inclined surface 1116C. The third surface group C is configured such that the first surface group A is further arranged rotationally symmetrically by 120 degrees counterclockwise, with the position of the first surface group A being 0 degrees.

[0034] The long ridge surface 1111A, the long ridge surface 1111B, and the long ridge surface 1111C are examples of a plurality of ridge surfaces. The long slope surface 1113A, the long slope surface 1113B, and the long slope surface 1113C are examples of slope surfaces.

[0035] The polygonal second protrusions 111 are arranged in a staggered pattern, shifted by 1 / 2 pitch in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction, with the origin being a position shifted by 1 / 2 pitch in the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction from the center of gravity G of the second upper surface 1110. A second recess 112 having a hexagonal second bottom surface 1121 is formed in an area surrounded by three connected second protrusions 111. In other words, the second protrusion 111 includes a plurality of second protrusions 111, and the second recess 112 includes a plurality of second recesses 112.

[0036] The second recess 112 is composed of a second bottom surface 1121 and six surfaces continuing from each side of the second bottom surface 1121. The six surfaces constitute the side surfaces of the second recess 112 and include inclined surfaces 1120A, 1120B, 1120C, 1120AB, 1120BC, and 1120CA. Inclined surfaces 1120A, 1120B, and 1120C are examples of second side surfaces.

[0037] The slope 1120A is continuous with the short ridge surface 1112A, the short slope 1114A, and the slope 1116A adjacent to the short slope 1115A of the second convex portion 111. The slope 1120B is continuous with the short ridge surface 1112B, the short slope 1114B, and the slope 1116B adjacent to the short slope 1115B of the second convex portion 111. The slope 1120C is continuous with the short ridge surface 1112C, the short slope 1114C, and the slope 1116C adjacent to the short slope 1115C of the second convex portion 111. The inclined surfaces 1116A, 1116B, and 1116C are surfaces of the second protruding portion 111B that are inclined downward toward the second recessed portion 112.

[0038] The slope 1120AB is located between the slope 1120A and the slope 1120B. The slope 1120BC is located between the slope 1120B and the slope 1120C. The slope 1120CA is located between the slope 1120C and the slope 1120A.

[0039] The first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 formed as described above are fitted together to form the cushioning material 1. The fitted state of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 can be explained as follows.

[0040] Using the first protrusion 101 forming the first panel piece 10 as a reference, the first protrusion 101 is fitted into the second recess 112 forming the second panel piece 11. At this time, the first top surface 1010, long ridge surface 1011A, long ridge surface 1011B, and long ridge surface 1011C of the first panel piece 10 each contact the second bottom surface 1121, slope 1120AB, slope 1120BC, and slope 1120CA of the second panel piece 11. Furthermore, the long slope 1013A, long slope 1013B, and long slope 1013C of the first panel piece 10 each contact the slope 1120A, slope 1120B, and slope 1120C of the second panel piece 11, respectively. In addition, the short ridge line surfaces 1012A, 1012B, and 1012C of the first panel piece 10 contact the short ridge line surfaces 1112A, 1112B, and 1112C of the second panel piece 11, respectively.

[0041] Using the second protrusion 111 forming the second panel piece 11 as a reference, the second protrusion 111 fits into the first recess 102 forming the first panel piece 10. At this time, the second top surface 1110, long ridge surface 1111A, long ridge surface 1111B, and long ridge surface 1111C of the second panel piece 11 contact the first bottom surface 1021, slope 1020AB, slope 1020BC, and slope 1020CA of the first panel piece 10, respectively. Furthermore, the long slope 1113A, long slope 1113B, and long slope 1113C of the second panel piece 11 contact the slope 1020A, slope 1020B, and slope 1020C of the first panel piece 10, respectively. In addition, the short ridge line surfaces 1112A, 1112B, and 1112C of the second panel piece 11 contact the short ridge line surfaces 1012A, 1012B, and 1012C of the first panel piece 10, respectively.

[0042] The first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 may simply be in contact with each other at their respective contact surfaces, or may be bonded together with an adhesive or the like and mechanically joined.

[0043] The first convex portion 101 and the first concave portion 102 of the first panel piece 10 are configured to protrude in two directions, the negative direction of the Z axis and the positive direction of the Z axis, relative to the first flat portion 100. The second convex portion 111 and the second concave portion 112 of the second panel piece 11 are configured to protrude in two directions, the positive direction of the Z axis and the negative direction of the Z axis, relative to the second flat portion 110. The first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are fitted together, and the ridges and slopes of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 come into contact to form the cushioning material 1, thereby improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1, particularly the rigidity in the translational direction, i.e., the fitting direction. This allows for a cushioning material 1 with high rigidity.

[0044] In addition, in the drawings referred to in the explanation of the cushioning material 1, the chamfering or bending R necessary for manufacturing the cushioning material 1 is omitted, but the cushioning material 1 may be chamfered or bent as needed.

[0045] <Manufacturing Method> Next, a method for manufacturing the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. First, the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are molded. When the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are molded using a biodegradable material, they can be molded by adsorbing paper fibers into a mold, as in pulp molding, or by pouring raw material into a mold. Alternatively, the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 may be molded by plastically deforming a sheet-like raw material in a mold, or may be manufactured by foam molding or blow molding. At this time, additional processing or surface treatment may be performed to improve the surface roughness or dimensional accuracy of the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11.

[0046] Next, the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are brought face to face and fitted together. At this time, the first top surface 1010 and the second bottom surface 1121 of the first panel piece 10 are connected. The long ridge surface 1011A of the first panel piece 10 are connected to the slope 1120AB of the second panel piece 11. The long ridge surface 1011B of the first panel piece 10 are connected to the slope 1120BC of the second panel piece 11. The long ridge surface 1011C of the first panel piece 10 are connected to the slope 1120CA of the second panel piece 11. The long slope 1013A of the first panel piece 10 are connected to the slope 1120A of the second panel piece 11. The long slope 1013B of the first panel piece 10 are connected to the slope 1120B of the second panel piece 11. The long slope 1013C of the first panel piece 10 is connected to the slope 1120C of the second panel piece 11. The short ridge surface 1012A of the first panel piece 10 is connected to the short ridge surface 1112A of the second panel piece 11. The short ridge surface 1012B of the first panel piece 10 is connected to the short ridge surface 1112B of the second panel piece 11. And the short ridge surface 1012C of the first panel piece 10 is connected to the short ridge surface 1112C of the second panel piece 11.

[0047] The connection may be made by bonding with adhesive or the like, mechanically joining, or by applying heat to partially melt and join. The connection may simply be in contact as long as the function of the buffer material 1 can be maintained. In this way, the buffer material 1 is manufactured.

[0048] <Function> The cushioning material 1 is formed by fitting the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 together, and for example, the polygonal first convex portion 101 forming the first panel piece 10 is configured to fit into the second concave portion 112 forming the second panel piece 11. When the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are fitted together, the first convex portion 101 and the second convex portion 111 are in contact with each other on their respective surfaces, and the first concave portion 102 and the second concave portion 112 are in contact with each other on their respective surfaces. In other words, the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are configured such that the polygonal first convex portion 101 and the second convex portion 111 share a ridgeline. In this way, contact between the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 occurs throughout the entire cushioning material 1, so that the volume of the cushioning material 1 is filled by the polygonal first convex portion 101 and the second convex portion 111, resulting in a cushioning material 1 with improved rigidity in the translational direction.

[0049] The polygonal first convex portion 101 that serves as the mating portion has a similar shape to the second concave portion 112, and multiple convex portions 101 are arranged in the X-Y plane. Therefore, the position of the second panel piece 11 in the X-Y plane relative to the mating first panel piece 10 is regulated during the manufacturing process of the cushioning material 1. Furthermore, by mating the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 and joining their contact surfaces, the area of ​​the joint is increased compared to when they are joined only by the ridges of the convex portions, making it possible to obtain a more stable joint.

[0050] <Comparative Example> Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cushioning material 2 according to a comparative example. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a tenth panel piece 20 of the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example.

[0051] 8 to 10, the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example has a structure in which a tenth panel piece 20 and an eleventh panel piece 21 are fitted together facing each other. The tenth panel piece 20 has a tenth flat portion 200 and a polygonal tenth convex portion 201, and the eleventh panel piece 21 has an eleventh flat portion 210 and a polygonal eleventh convex portion 211. The cushioning material 2 is the same size as the cushioning material 1, that is, the tenth panel piece 20 and the eleventh panel piece 21 have the same thickness, length, and width, and the distance between the tenth panel piece 20 and the eleventh panel piece 21 is also the same. Focusing on the tenth panel piece 20, the cushioning material 2 is configured to be joined to the eleventh panel piece 21 at the upper surface 2010 of the tenth convex portion 201, the ridge line 2011A, the ridge line 2011B, and the ridge line 2011C.

[0052] 11 is a diagram showing a comparison of the area S of the joint portion between the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment and the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example. As shown in Fig. 11, the area S of the joint portion of the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment is increased by about 10% compared to the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example.

[0053] As described above, in the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example, focusing on the tenth panel piece 20, the eleventh panel piece 21 is joined at the ridge lines 2011A, 2011B, and 2011C of the tenth flat portion 200 and the tenth convex portion 201. The structure of the cushioning material 2 is such that movement of the tenth panel piece 20 can be restricted when a force perpendicular to the ridge joint acts on the tenth panel piece 20. However, if the flatness or dimensional accuracy of the joined flat surface is insufficient, the joint strength decreases, and the force restricting movement of the ninth panel piece 18 may be insufficient.

[0054] On the other hand, the cushioning material 1 has a larger bonded area than the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example. Specifically, the first panel piece 10 is bonded to the second panel piece 11 at the first upper surface 1010, the long ridge surface 1011A, the long ridge surface 1011B, and the long ridge surface 1011C. The first panel piece 10 is further bonded to the second panel piece 11 at the long slopes 1013A, the long slopes 1013B, the long slopes 1013C, the short ridge surfaces 1012A, the short ridge surfaces 1012B, and the short ridge surfaces 1012C. As in the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1, the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 each have a convex portion and a concave portion in two directions, which allows for an increased bonded area compared to the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example, which has a similar size.

[0055] For example, in the case of panel pieces made of biodegradable materials such as paper, the unevenness of the paper fibers protrudes from the surface of the panel pieces, reducing the surface roughness and dimensional accuracy at the joint between the panel pieces, and the joint strength, which in turn reduces the rigidity of the joined pair of panel pieces. In the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1, the increased joint area provides a stable joint, allowing for the stable production of cushioning materials 1 with the target rigidity value. Furthermore, the joint surfaces added by the convex and concave portions are similar in shape, which further improves the stability of the joint for fitting.

[0056] <Numerical Analysis> Next, the results of a numerical analysis of the rigidity in the translational direction and shear direction when the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1 is deformed from a predetermined direction will be described by comparing it with the cushioning material 1 according to a comparative example. The rigidity in the translational direction is the rigidity derived from the load in the Z direction, which is the mating direction. The rigidity in the shear direction is the rigidity derived from the load in the X direction, which is perpendicular to the mating direction.

[0057] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the conditions for the numerical analysis of the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating the conditions for the numerical analysis of the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the conditions for the numerical analysis are that a compression plate P larger than the cushioning material 1 is used to apply forced displacement to the cushioning material 1 in the -X and -Z directions. When a forced displacement is applied in the -X direction, a location on the opposite surface of the compression plate P is fixed. When a forced displacement is applied in the -Z direction, a structure simulating the base plate 30 is assumed to be fixed in space, and the surface where the base plate 30 and the cushioning material 1 contact is fixed. Similar conditions are also applied to the cushioning material 2 in the comparative example.

[0058] Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating the results of numerical analysis of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating the results of numerical analysis of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1. Figs. 14 and 15 show a comparison between the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 1 and the cushioning material 2 according to the comparative example.

[0059] 14 and 15, it can be seen that the relationship between the displacement D in the -X and -Z directions and the reaction force F generated in the compression plate P is in good agreement between Cushioning Material 1 and Cushioning Material 2. By increasing the area of ​​the joint, Cushioning Material 1 can be said to have the same rigidity in the translational direction and shear direction as Cushioning Material 2 of the comparative example.

[0060] <Modification 1> Figure 16 is a perspective view of the third panel piece 12 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 16, the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 1 includes a third panel piece 12 having a third recessed portion 122 that protrudes from a third flat portion 120 in the opposite direction to the third protruding portion 121. The third panel piece 12 is an example of the first sheet or the second sheet.

[0061] The third recess 122 is located on the inner periphery of the third protrusion 121 provided on the outermost periphery of the third panel piece 12, in an area where the third protrusion 121 is not provided. The third recess 122 has a shape in which a plurality of first recesses 102 or second recesses 112 provided in the first panel piece 10 or the second panel piece 11 are connected together. In other words, in the first panel piece 10 or the second panel piece 11, the portion that forms the first flat portion 100 on the inner periphery is lowered to the height of the third bottom surface 1221 in the third recess 122, and the third bottom surface 1221 of the third recess 122 is continuous.

[0062] With this configuration, when the protrusions of the opposing panel pieces are inserted into the third recesses 122, the area of ​​contact with the third recesses 122 is reduced. This reduces the rigidity of the cushioning material 1 in the translational direction, but instead increases the softness of the cushioning material 1, making it possible to adjust the rigidity of the cushioning material 1 and obtain a cushioning material 1 with the desired rigidity.

[0063] <Modification 2> Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the fourth panel piece 13 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 18 is a plan view of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1, showing a cross section taken along line B-B in Fig. 18.

[0064] 17 to 19 , the cushioning material 1 according to the second modification includes a fourth panel piece 13, and is configured such that a gap is formed between the fourth panel piece 13 and the first panel piece 10, i.e., in the Z direction. The fourth panel piece 13 is an example of a second sheet. The fourth panel piece 13 has a polygonal fourth protrusion 131 and a fourth recess 132, and the dimension of the fourth protrusion 131 in the direction in which it protrudes from the fourth flat portion 130, i.e., in the Z direction, is smaller than the dimension of the first protrusion 101 of the first panel piece 10 in the Z direction.

[0065] When the fourth panel piece 13 having this configuration is joined to the first panel piece 10, the contact area with the first panel piece 10 is reduced, and when compression in the Z direction acts on the cushioning material 1, the rigidity in the compression direction, i.e., the translational direction, decreases and the softness increases. This makes it easier for the cushioning material 1 to deform when crushed, and it is possible to obtain a cushioning material 1 with the desired rigidity and softness. Note that the cushioning material 1 may be configured to have vertical gaps over the entire surface in the X and Y directions, or may be configured to have vertical gaps in parts of the X and Y directions.

[0066] <Modification 3> Figure 20 is a perspective view of the fifth panel piece 14 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 3 of Embodiment 1. Figure 21 is a perspective view of the sixth panel piece 15 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 3 of Embodiment 1. Figure 22 is a plan view of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 3 of Embodiment 1. Figure 23 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 3 of Embodiment 1, showing a cross-section along line CC in Figure 22.

[0067] 20 to 23, the cushioning material 1 according to the third modification includes a fifth panel piece 14 and a sixth panel piece 15, and some of the short ridges are raised in the Z direction. The fifth panel piece 14 and the sixth panel piece 15 are examples of the first sheet and the second sheet.

[0068] Specifically, the short ridge surfaces 1412B and 1412C of the fifth panel piece 14 and the short ridge surfaces 1512B and 1512C of the sixth panel piece 15 are pulled up in the Z direction. The fifth panel piece 14 has a fifth convex portion 141 and a fifth concave portion 142, and the sixth panel piece 15 has a sixth convex portion 151 and a sixth concave portion 152. The -Z side end of the inclined surface 1416A constituting the fifth convex portion 141 is pulled up toward the +Z side, and accordingly, the inclined surface 1416A constituting the fifth convex portion 141 is extended in the height direction. Therefore, when a translational load acts on the cushioning material 1, buckling is likely to occur, for example, at the inclined surface 1416B of the fifth convex portion 141 and the inclined surface 1416B of the sixth concave portion 152. In this way, the cushioning material 1 can adjust its rigidity by being easily deformed in the translational direction.

[0069] The fifth panel piece 14 and the sixth panel piece 15 may have a configuration in which the short ridges are raised in the Z direction not only partially in the XY directions but also over the entire surface. Furthermore, instead of the fifth panel piece 14 and the sixth panel piece 15 having short ridges raised in the Z direction, the angle of the short ridges relative to the Z direction may be changed, and this configuration also makes it possible to adjust the rigidity of the cushioning material 1.

[0070] <Modification 4> Figure 24 is an enlarged perspective view of the seventh panel piece 16 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 4 of Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 24, the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 4 includes the seventh panel piece 16 having a seventh convex portion 161 and a seventh concave portion 162. The seventh convex portion 161 has a depression 1617 on the seventh top surface 1610, and the seventh concave portion 162 has a protrusion 1627 on the seventh bottom surface 1621. The seventh concave portion 162 is an example of at least one of the first sheet or the second sheet. The depression 1617 and the protrusion 1627 may be provided on a portion of the seventh panel piece 16 in the XY directions, or may be provided on the entire surface.

[0071] When a pair of seventh panel pieces 16 are joined facing each other and the recess 1617 of one seventh panel piece 16 is fitted with the protrusion 1627 of the other seventh panel piece 16, the area of ​​contact between the seventh panel pieces 16 is increased, thereby improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1. Furthermore, when a pair of seventh panel pieces 16 are joined facing each other without fitting the recess 1617 of one seventh panel piece 16 with the protrusion 1627 of the other seventh panel piece 16, a gap is formed between the seventh panel pieces 16, thereby reducing the rigidity of the cushioning material 1. Furthermore, the rigidity can also be adjusted by fitting a pair of seventh panel pieces 16 facing each other and secondarily fitting the recess 1617 of one seventh panel piece 16 with the protrusion 1627 of the other seventh panel piece 16.

[0072] <Modification 5> Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the eighth panel piece 17 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 5 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 26 is a plan view of the eighth panel piece 17 of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 5 of Embodiment 1. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 5 of Embodiment 1.

[0073] 25 to 27 , the eighth panel piece 17 of the cushioning material 1 according to Variation 5 has an eighth convex portion 171 in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid and an eighth concave portion 172 shaped to fit into the eighth convex portion 171, with the eighth convex portion 171 and the eighth concave portion 172 arranged in a blind pattern. The eighth panel piece 17 is an example of the first sheet and the second sheet. A pair of eighth panel pieces 17 are arranged opposite each other and joined together to form the cushioning material 1 according to Variation 5.

[0074] The eighth panel piece 17 has a four-fold symmetric structure, which increases the surface area compared to a three-fold symmetric structure such as the first panel piece 10, thereby increasing the area of ​​the adhesive portion when the eighth panel piece 17 is fitted together, improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1. Furthermore, because the eighth panel piece 17 has a four-fold symmetric structure, the proportion of fitting locations is increased, making it possible to more reliably prevent misalignment between the pair of eighth panel pieces 17 than in the case of a three-fold symmetric structure.

[0075] <Variation 6> Fig. 28 is a perspective view of cushioning material 1 according to Variation 6 of Embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 28, cushioning material 1 may be formed in a roll as sheet 7. It is desirable that sheet 7 be rolled up while ensuring a gap between them via a spacer (not shown), such as a double-sided adhesive sheet. This prevents the first sheet and the second sheet in cushioning material 1 from being crushed, and allows cushioning performance to be maintained.

[0076] The first sheet and the second sheet constituting the cushioning material 1 may have notches or holes. The notches or holes can be provided during the process of forming the first sheet or the second sheet. The notches or holes may also be provided by additional processing. Compression may also be applied to the first sheet and the second sheet by additional processing. The notches, holes, or compression may be provided partially. This allows the rigidity to be reduced partially.

[0077] Although the first and second sheets have been described as having a configuration in which the slopes or ridges forming the polygonal shapes are rotationally symmetric at 120 degrees or 90 degrees, the first and second sheets do not have to be rotationally symmetric as long as they can fit together. For example, the first protrusion 101 and the second protrusion 111 may be a scalene or an equiangular shape.

[0078] The cushioning material 1 may be formed by manufacturing the first sheet and the second sheet separately and fitting them together, or, for example, the first sheet and the second sheet may be molded integrally using a 3D printer.

[0079] The height of the cushioning material 1, that is, the dimension in the Z direction, which is the thickness direction, is arbitrary. The height of the cushioning material 1 can be set to a desired height depending on the item to be packaged, etc., within a range that allows the desired cushioning performance to be exhibited. The cushioning material 1 can be subjected to a surface treatment process, such as painting, as necessary. By performing a surface treatment process, the strength of the cushioning material 1 can be improved.

[0080] The material of the cushioning material 1 may be a paper material such as pulp mold, but is not made of paper. The material of the cushioning material 1 may be, for example, a sheet of any material with a small environmental impact, such as a sheet made of biodegradable plastic or a composite material of biodegradable plastic and another biodegradable composition.

[0081] Although the cushioning material 1 has been described as being formed by fitting only the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 together, it is also possible to have a configuration in which a sheet-like panel is attached to both sides or one side of the cushioning material 1, or a configuration in which a panel is inserted into a box body.

[0082] The first panel piece 10 to the seventh panel piece 16 can be combined as appropriate.

[0083] According to the cushioning material 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the first panel piece 10 is provided with a first convex portion 101 that protrudes relative to the first flat portion 100 and a second concave portion 112 that protrudes in the opposite direction. The second panel piece 11 is also provided with a second convex portion 111 and a second concave portion 112. With the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 facing each other, the first convex portion 101 of the first panel piece 10 is inserted into the second concave portion 112 of the second panel piece 11, and the second convex portion 111 of the second panel piece 11 is inserted into the first concave portion 102 of the first panel piece 10. This restricts relative movement between the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 in the planar direction, and the provision of the concave portion increases the bonding area, stabilizing the bonded portion and providing a cushioning material 1 with improved bonding strength and rigidity.

[0084] Furthermore, the first convex portion 101 has a polygonal truncated pyramid shape and has a first protruding portion 101A and a second protruding portion 101B, and the second convex portion 111 has a polygonal truncated pyramid shape and has a first protruding portion 111A and a second protruding portion 111B, similar to the first convex portion 101. This increases the surface area of ​​the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11, and when the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are joined facing each other in the cushioning material 1, the rigidity of the cushioning material 1 in the translational direction can be improved.

[0085] Furthermore, the ridge surface of the first convex portion 101 contacts the second side surface of the second concave portion 112, and the ridge surface of the second convex portion 111 contacts the side surface of the first concave portion 102, so the area of ​​the joint between the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 is increased and the joint is made more stable. This improves the rigidity of the cushioning material 1.

[0086] Furthermore, the inclined surface of the first convex portion 101 and the inclined surface of the second convex portion 111 are in contact with each other. This restricts movement of the second panel piece 11 relative to the first panel piece 10 in any direction along the first flat portion 100, stabilizing the joint and improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1.

[0087] Furthermore, the cushioning material 1 is configured such that the first side surface of the first recess 102 contacts the sloped surface of the second protrusion 111, and the first side surface of the second recess 112 contacts the sloped surface of the first protrusion 101. This restricts movement in any direction along the flat portion of the second panel piece 11 relative to the first panel piece 10, thereby stabilizing the joint and improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1.

[0088] Furthermore, the first bottom surface 1021 of the first recess 102 contacts the second top surface 1110 of the second protrusion 111, and the second bottom surface 1121 of the second recess 112 contacts the first top surface 1010 of the first protrusion 101. This increases the contact area between the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11, thereby improving the rigidity of the cushioning material 1 in the translational direction.

[0089] Furthermore, since the first panel piece 10 and the second panel piece 11 are formed from biodegradable materials, the burden on the environment can be reduced compared to when plastic or other materials are used as raw materials.

[0090] Furthermore, the cushioning material 1 according to the second embodiment can be wound into a roll as a sheet 7. The rolled sheet 7 can be used in cases where cushioning material is provided over a wide area, such as on the side of a refrigerator, to protect the packaged item.

[0091] Embodiment 2. <Packaging cushioning device 3> Figure 29 is a perspective view of a packaging cushioning device 3 according to embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 differs from embodiment 1 in terms of the packaging cushioning device 3 that uses cushioning material 1. In embodiment 2, parts that are common to embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences from embodiment 1.

[0092] 29, the packaging cushioning device 3 is formed by arranging a large number of cushioning materials 1 of the same size. For example, an adhesive sheet or the like can be used to arrange the cushioning materials 1. The number of cushioning materials 1 used in the packaging cushioning device 3 can be determined depending on the size of the packaging cushioning device 3, etc.

[0093] Fig. 30 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the packaging cushioning device 3 according to embodiment 2 is used. In Fig. 30, the packaging box 4 is shown in a perspective view, and the packaging cushioning device 3 is shown hatched. As shown in Fig. 30, the packaging cushioning device 3 is placed, for example, at the bottom inside the packaging box 4, and the object to be packaged 5 is placed on the upper surface of the packaging cushioning device 3.

[0094] By disposing the packaging cushioning device 3 below the object 5 to be packaged, when vertical downward acceleration acts on the object 5 due to a drop or collision of the packaging box 4, the packaging cushioning device 3 contracts and kinetic energy is stored in the form of elastic energy, thereby mitigating the impact on the object 5 to be packaged.

[0095] Although the packaging buffer device 3 is illustrated as having five sides with the top surface missing, it may also be configured to form a flat space, and for example, the packaging box 4 may be a spherical surface or a three-dimensional object with three or more sides.

[0096] <Seventh Modification> Fig. 31 is a perspective view of a packaging cushioning device 6 according to a seventh modification of embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 31, the packaging cushioning device 6 is configured by stacking multiple layers of cushioning materials 1. The packaging cushioning device 6 can ensure a greater cushioning force than when there is only one layer of cushioning materials 1.

[0097] The stacked cushioning materials 1 can be joined together with, for example, an adhesive sheet, in the same manner as the packaging cushioning device 3. Furthermore, the cushioning material 1 can be provided with notches or holes to match the shape of the object 5 to be packaged.

[0098] Fig. 32 is a side view illustrating a state in which the packaging shock absorber 6 according to the sixth modification of the second embodiment is used. In Fig. 32, similar to Fig. 30, the packaging box 4 is shown in a perspective view, and the packaging shock absorber 6 is shown hatched. As shown in Fig. 32, the packaging shock absorber 6 is disposed, for example, at the bottom inside the packaging box 4, and the object to be packaged 5 is disposed inside the packaging shock absorber 6.

[0099] The packaging cushioning device 6 has cushioning materials 1 stacked in multiple layers, which allows it to obtain a greater cushioning force than a single layer. Therefore, the packaging cushioning device 6 is effective when a greater impact is expected or when protecting packaging objects 5 that are vulnerable to impact. The packaging cushioning device 6 can also be used to fill unnecessary space that occurs inside the packaging box 4 when packaging objects 5 are stored in the packaging box 4.

[0100] Furthermore, when the packaging cushioning device 6 has cushioning materials 1 of different sizes that are stacked, the number of cushioning elements increases, and it is possible to obtain a packaging cushioning device 6 that is tailored to the shape of the object to be packaged 5. Therefore, even when the cushioning performance is insufficient due to a small number of cushioning materials 1, the cushioning performance can be easily controlled by using the packaging cushioning device 6. Furthermore, for example, by applying the packaging cushioning device 6 to unnecessary space that occurs when the object to be packaged 5 is stored inside a container such as a packaging box 4, the unnecessary space can be filled.

[0101] The above-described packaging cushioning device 3 according to the second embodiment uses the cushioning material 1, and is therefore capable of protecting the shock-sensitive packaged object 5. In particular, when the cushioning material 1 is formed by stacking multiple layers, the cushioning force is increased compared to when the cushioning material 1 is a single layer, and it can also be used to fill the space in which the packaged object is stored.

[0102] Embodiment 3. Fig. 33 is a perspective view of a cushioning material 8 according to embodiment 3. Fig. 34 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the cushioning material 8 according to embodiment 3 is used. Fig. 35 is a perspective view illustrating an example of application of the cushioning material 8 according to embodiment 3 to an object to be packaged 5. Fig. 36 is a perspective view illustrating an example of application of the cushioning material 8 according to embodiment 3 to an object to be packaged 5, showing a state in which the side packaging material 730 has been removed. The cushioning material 8 according to embodiment 3 differs from embodiments 1 or 2 in that it is used for heavy objects. In embodiment 3, parts common to embodiments 1 and 2 are assigned the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences from embodiments 1 and 2.

[0103] As shown in Figures 33 to 36, the cushioning material 8 has a tray structure 80 and a twelfth panel piece 82, and is used for packaging objects 5 that are heavy items such as refrigerators.

[0104] Although not shown, a flat portion, a polygonal convex portion, and a concave portion are formed on the tray structure 80 and the twelfth panel piece 82 that make up the cushioning material 8. The cushioning material 8 is formed by fitting the tray structure 80 and the twelfth panel piece 82 together in an opposing relationship.

[0105] An object 5 to be packaged, such as a refrigerator, is placed on cushioning material 8 and is covered and packaged with packaging materials including floor packaging material 710, top packaging material 720, and side packaging material 730. The packaging materials are, for example, materials used to package the refrigerator with the cushioning material 1 attached, and are, for example, thick paper such as cardboard. The packaging materials are fixed with bands 40 wrapped around the packaging material. The side packaging materials 730 are provided with a plurality of handles 31.

[0106] The floor packaging material 710 is made up of a cardboard tray 84. A cushioning material 8 is placed on the tray 84, and the tray 84 and the cushioning material 8 form a packaging cushioning device 9. The packaging cushioning device 9 supports the bottom of the packaged item 5, preventing it from shifting position during transportation.

[0107] The side packing material 730 is made of, for example, cardboard, and covers the entire periphery of the object to be packaged 5. Between the side packing material 730 and the object to be packaged 5, for example, a flat cushioning material 8 is provided.

[0108] The top packing material 720 is made of, for example, cardboard, and covers the top surface of the object to be packaged 5. Between the top packing material 720 and the object to be packaged 5, for example, a block-shaped cushioning material 8 is provided.

[0109] In this way, the cushioning material 8 can be used in a sheet or block form, and can also be used in a tray-like structure that conforms to the shape of the packaged item 5. Furthermore, such cushioning material 8 can also be used partially in areas where rigidity is required.

[0110] By using cushioning material 8 as part of the packaging of a refrigerator, which is a heavy object, it becomes possible to store refrigerators in a stacked state, to absorb shock to the refrigerators when they are dropped during transportation, and to prevent dents from being made on the design surface of the refrigerator. Note that the use of cushioning material 8 is not limited to refrigerators.

[0111] Embodiment 4. <Cushioning material 1> Figure 37 is a perspective view of the ninth panel piece 18 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 4. Figure 38 is a plan view of the ninth panel piece 18 of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 4. Figure 39 is an exploded perspective view of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 4. Figure 40 is a cross-sectional view of the cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 4. In Figure 40, hatching of the cross section has been omitted to facilitate understanding. The cushioning material 1 according to embodiment 4 differs from embodiments 1 to 3 in the shapes of the convex and concave portions. In embodiment 4, parts that are common to embodiments 1 to 3 are assigned the same reference numerals and description is omitted, and the following description focuses on the differences from embodiments 1 to 3.

[0112] 37 to 40, the cushioning material 1 according to the fourth embodiment has a ninth panel piece 18 that includes a ninth convex portion 181 and a ninth concave portion 182. The ninth convex portion 181 and the ninth concave portion 182 have a shape such that a circle has been cut out of the ninth flat portion 180. The ninth convex portion 181 and the ninth concave portion 182 are formed at positions that are three-fold symmetrical about a sphere.

[0113] The cushioning material 1 is configured such that a pair of ninth panel pieces 18 are arranged, for example, with one ninth panel piece 18 rotated 180 degrees relative to the other ninth panel piece 18, facing each other. The ninth convex portion 181 of one ninth panel piece 18 is fitted into the ninth concave portion 182 of the other ninth panel piece 18, thereby combining them.

[0114] The ninth panel piece 18 has a ninth convex portion 181 and a ninth concave portion 182 that are spherical in shape, and the convex portions are smooth. Therefore, when a packaged item is packaged in the cushioning material 1 made up of the ninth panel piece 18, it is possible to prevent indentations from being formed on the packaged item. Therefore, the cushioning material 1 using the ninth panel piece 18 is suitable for protecting, for example, the top surface or the left and right side surfaces of the packaged item, which are decorative surfaces.

[0115] Furthermore, because one ninth panel piece 18 of the cushioning material 1 is rotated 180 degrees relative to the other and faces the other, the edges of the hollowed-out portions of the circle are positioned opposite each other, and the contact between the edges regulates the position of the ninth protrusion 181. This improves rigidity in the translational direction, which is the fitting direction. For example, when the cushioning material 1 is attached to the side of a packaged item, the packaged item can be protected even if a force perpendicular to the side acts on the side. Therefore, by using the cushioning material 1 with the ninth panel piece 18 in a refrigerator or the like, which may be subject to impacts on the side, it is possible to protect the refrigerator while preventing indentations from occurring on the design surface.

[0116] <Modification 8> Fig. 41 is a perspective view of a cushioning material 1 according to Modification 8 of Embodiment 4. Fig. 42 is an exploded perspective view of a cushioning material 1 according to Modification 8 of Embodiment 4. Fig. 43 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a cushioning material 1 according to Modification 8 of Embodiment 4. In Fig. 43, hatching of the cross section is omitted to facilitate understanding.

[0117] As shown in Figures 41 to 43, a pair of ninth panel pieces 18 may be arranged opposite each other so as to be mirror images of each other, with the ninth convex portion 181 and the ninth concave portion 182 fitted together. In this case, although the rigidity of the cushioning material 1 is reduced, the circular shape is maintained, resulting in a curved shape and improved cushioning properties. Therefore, the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 8 is used, for example, in areas where a steady load is applied and greater elasticity is required. In particular, when refrigerators and the like are stored in an upside-down stacked state, it is expected that the sides will be subjected to a load for a long period of time. However, using the cushioning material 1 according to Modification 8 can prevent damage caused by the steady load.

[0118] The cushioning material 1 according to the fourth embodiment can be attached freely to any of the side, top, or bottom surfaces of the packaged item.

[0119] According to the cushioning material 1 of embodiment 4 described above, the ninth convex portion 181 and the ninth concave portion 182 are spherical and there are no corners in the concave and convex portions, which prevents indentations from being made on the packaged object and is particularly effective in protecting the design surface.

[0120] It should be noted that various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the meaning of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0121] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Cushioning material, 2 Cushioning material, 3 Packaging cushioning device, 4 Packaging box, 5 Packaging object, 6 Packaging cushioning device, 7 Sheet, 8 Cushioning material, 9 Packaging cushioning device, 10 First panel piece, 11 Second panel piece, 12 Third panel piece, 13 Fourth panel piece, 14 Fifth panel piece, 15 Sixth panel piece, 16 Seventh panel piece, 17 Eighth panel piece, 18 Ninth panel piece, 20 Tenth panel piece, 21 Eleventh panel piece, 30 Base plate, 40 Band, 80 Tray structure, 82 Twelfth panel piece, 84 Tray, 100 First flat portion, 101 First convex portion, 101A First protruding portion, 101B Second protruding portion, 101a Tip portion, 102 First concave portion, 110 Second flat portion, 111 Second protruding portion, 111A First protruding portion, 111B Second protrusion 111a Tip 112 Second recess 120 Third flat portion 121 Third convex portion 122 Third recess 130 Fourth flat portion 131 Fourth convex portion 132 Fourth recess 141 Fifth convex portion 142 Fifth recess 151 Sixth convex portion 152 Sixth recess 161 Seventh convex portion 162 Seventh recess 171 Eighth convex portion 172 Eighth recess 180 Ninth flat portion 181 Ninth convex portion 182 Ninth recess 200 Tenth flat portion 201 Tenth convex portion 210 Eleventh flat portion 211 Eleventh convex portion 710 Floor packaging material 720 Top packaging material 730 Side packaging material 1010 First top surface, 1011A long ridge surface, 1011B long ridge surface, 1011C long ridge surface, 1012A short ridge surface, 1012B short ridge surface, 1012C short ridge surface, 1013A long slope, 1013B long slope, 1013C long slope, 1014A short slope, 1014B short slope, 1014C short slope, 1015A short slope, 1015B short slope, 1015C short slope, 1020A slope, 1020AB slope, 1020B slope, 1020BC slope, 1020C slope, 1020CA slope, 1021 first bottom surface, 1110 second top surface, 1111A Long ridgeline surface, 1111B Long ridgeline surface, 1111C Long ridgeline surface, 1112A Short ridgeline surface, 1112B Short ridgeline surface, 1112C Short ridgeline surface, 1113A Long slope, 1113B Long slope, 1113C Long slope, 1114A Short slope, 1114B Short slope, 1114C short slope, 1115A short slope, 1115B short slope, 1115C short slope,1116A inclined surface, 1116B inclined surface, 1116C inclined surface, 1120A inclined surface, 1120AB inclined surface, 1120B inclined surface, 1120BC inclined surface, 1120C inclined surface, 1120CA inclined surface, 1121 second bottom surface, 1221 third bottom surface, 1412 short ridge surface, 1412B short ridge surface, 1412C short ridge surface, 1416B inclined surface, 1420B inclined surface, 1420C inclined surface, 1512B short ridge surface, 1512C short ridge surface, 1520B inclined surface, 1520C inclined surface, 1610 seventh top surface, 1617 recess, 1621 seventh bottom surface, 1627 protrusion, 1670 Bottom surface, 2010 top surface, 2011A ridge line, 2011B ridge line, 2011C ridge line, P compression plate.

Claims

1. A first sheet having a first flat portion, a first convex portion projecting perpendicular to the first flat portion and having a first upper surface, and a first recess projecting in the opposite direction to the first convex portion relative to the first flat portion and having a first bottom surface, A second sheet having a second flat portion, a second convex portion projecting perpendicular to the second flat portion and having a second upper surface, and a second recess projecting in the opposite direction to the second convex portion relative to the second flat portion and having a second bottom surface, Equipped with, The tip of the first protrusion is inserted into the second recess, The tip of the second protrusion is inserted into the first recess, The first upper surface and the second lower surface are in contact, and the second upper surface and the first lower surface are in contact, thereby joining the first sheet and the second sheet. Buffer material.

2. A first sheet having a first flat portion, a first convex portion projecting perpendicular to the first flat portion and having a first upper surface, and a first recess projecting in the opposite direction to the first convex portion relative to the first flat portion and having a first bottom surface, A second sheet having a second flat portion, a second convex portion projecting perpendicular to the second flat portion and having a second upper surface, and a second recess projecting in the opposite direction to the second convex portion relative to the second flat portion and having a second bottom surface, Equipped with, The tip of the first protrusion is inserted into the second recess, The tip of the second protrusion is inserted into the first recess, The first sheet and the second sheet are joined together. The first and second protrusions are frustum-shaped polygons. The first convex portion is, A first projection having a plurality of ridge surfaces in which the ridges are chamfered in a band shape from the first upper surface to the first flat portion, A plurality of second protrusions that are below the first upper surface of the first protrusion and protrude outward from the slope between any two of the plurality of ridge surfaces of the first protrusion, It has, The second convex portion is, A third projection having multiple ridge surfaces, the ridges of which are chamfered in a band-like manner from the second upper surface to the second flat portion, A plurality of fourth protrusions are located below the first upper surface of the third protrusion and protrude outward from the slope between any two of the plurality of ridge surfaces of the first protrusion, It has, The direction in which the plurality of second protrusions protrude is, The orientation is perpendicular to the side shared by the inclined surface and the first upper surface of the first protrusion, The plurality of second protrusions have inclined surfaces that are inclined toward the first recesses, The direction in which the plurality of fourth protrusions protrude is, The orientation is perpendicular to the side shared by the inclined surface of the third protrusion and the second upper surface, The plurality of fourth protrusions have inclined surfaces that are inclined toward the second recess. Buffer material.

3. A first sheet having a first flat portion, a spherical first convex portion projecting in a direction perpendicular to the first flat portion, and a spherical first recess portion projecting in the direction opposite to the first convex portion relative to the first flat portion, A second sheet having a second flat portion, a spherical second convex portion projecting perpendicular to the second flat portion, and a spherical second concave portion projecting in the opposite direction to the second convex portion relative to the second flat portion, Equipped with, The first recess is formed in the region surrounded by the connected first protrusions. The second recess is formed in the region surrounded by the connected second protrusions. The tip of the first protrusion is inserted into the second recess, and the tip of the second protrusion is inserted into the first recess, The first sheet and the second sheet are joined together. Buffer material.

4. The first sheet includes a plurality of first protrusions, The second sheet includes a plurality of second protrusions, The first bottom surface of the first recess and the second bottom surface of the second recess are polygonal in shape. The number of vertices on the first base and the second base is, The number of vertices is equal to the number of vertices on the first upper surface and the second upper surface, The first recess is surrounded by a plurality of the first protrusions, The second recess is surrounded by a plurality of the second protrusions, The side surface of the first recess is formed by alternating arrangement of a first side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface and a second side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface, which is different from the first side surface. The side surface of the second recess is formed by alternating arrangements of a third side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface and a fourth side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface, which is different from the third side surface. The inclined surface of the second projection is continuous with a part of the first side surface, The inclined surface of the fourth projection is continuous with a part of the third side surface, The plurality of ridge surfaces of the first convex portion and the fourth side surface of the second concave portion are in contact, The plurality of ridge surfaces of the second protrusion and the second side surface of the first recess are in contact, The cushioning material according to claim 2.

5. The first sheet includes a plurality of first protrusions, The second sheet includes a plurality of second protrusions, The first base and the second base are polygonal in shape. The number of vertices on the first base and the second base is, The number of vertices is equal to the number of vertices on the first upper surface and the second upper surface, The first recess is surrounded by a plurality of the first protrusions, The second recess is surrounded by a plurality of the second protrusions, The side surface of the first recess is formed by alternating arrangement of a first side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface and a second side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface, which is different from the first side surface. The side surface of the second recess is formed by alternating arrangements of a third side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface and a fourth side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface, which is different from the third side surface. The inclined surface of the second projection is continuous with a part of the first side surface, The inclined surface of the fourth projection is continuous with a part of the third side surface, The inclined surface of the first protrusion and the inclined surface of the second protrusion are in contact, The cushioning material according to claim 2.

6. The first sheet includes a plurality of first protrusions, The second sheet includes a plurality of second protrusions, The first bottom surface and the second bottom surface are polygonal in shape. The number of vertices on the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface is equal to the number of vertices on the first top surface and the second top surface, respectively. The first recess is surrounded by a plurality of the first protrusions, The second recess is surrounded by a plurality of the second protrusions, The side surface of the first recess is formed by alternating arrangement of a first side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface and a second side surface that shares one side of the first bottom surface, which is different from the first side surface. The side surface of the second recess is formed by alternating arrangements of a third side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface and a fourth side surface that shares one side of the second bottom surface, which is different from the third side surface. The inclined surface of the second projection is continuous with a part of the first side surface, The inclined surface of the fourth projection is continuous with a part of the third side surface, The first side surface of the first recess and the inclined surface of the second protrusion are in contact, The third side surface of the second recess and the inclined surface of the first protrusion are in contact, The cushioning material according to claim 2.

7. The first bottom surface of the first recess and the second top surface of the second protrusion are in contact, The second bottom surface of the second recess and the first top surface of the first protrusion are in contact. The cushioning material according to claim 4.

8. The first bottom surface of the first recess and the second top surface of the second protrusion are in contact, The second bottom surface of the second recess and the first top surface of the first protrusion are separated. The cushioning material according to claim 4.

9. The first sheet and the second sheet are configured to be mirror-symmetric, The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The first sheet and the second sheet are made of biodegradable material. The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. It can be wound up into a roll. The cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A cushioning material according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is configured by stacking multiple such materials. Packaging buffer.