Cushioning product and method

Abstract

A cushioning product comprises an elongated sheet of paper stock having transverse fold lines and being alternatingly folded along the fold lines in an accordion-like fashion, and a storage and dispensing device which stores the folded sheet compressed and from which the sheet is dispensed for use. The sheet can be 8″ to 12″ wide. The fold lines can be 1″ apart. The sheet can have transverse perforations. The transverse perforations can be 16″ apart. The sheet has lateral edge portions and the lateral edge portions can be folded over onto the balance of the sheet. The folded over lateral edge portions can be 2″ wide, or the folded over lateral edge portions can substantially meet. In the latter case the folded over lateral edge portions can have a small space between them. The paper stock can be Kraft paper, recycled paper, or a combination of Kraft paper and recycled paper. The storage and dispensing device can be configured to store the folded compressed sheet linearly, for example can be a box magazine. The storage and dispensing device can also be configured to store the folded compressed sheet spirally, for example can be a drum magazine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cushioning product comprising: 
 an elongated sheet of paper stock having transverse fold lines and being alternatingly folded along said fold lines in an accordion-like fashion; and    a storage and dispensing device which stores said folded sheet compressed and from which said sheet is dispensed for use as a cushioning product.    
     
     
         2 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said sheet is 8 to 12 inches wide.  
     
     
         3 . The cushioning product of  claim 2  wherein said fold lines are 1 inch apart.  
     
     
         4 . The cushioning product of  claim 3  wherein said sheet has transverse perforations.  
     
     
         5 . The cushioning product of  claim 4  wherein said transverse perforations are 16 inches apart.  
     
     
         6 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said sheet has lateral edge portions and said lateral edge portions are folded over onto the balance of said sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The cushioning product of  claim 6  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions are 2 inches wide.  
     
     
         8 . The cushioning product of  claim 6  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions substantially meet.  
     
     
         9 . The cushioning product of  claim 8  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions have a small space therebetween.  
     
     
         10 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said paper stock is Kraft paper.  
     
     
         11 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said paper stock is recycled paper.  
     
     
         12 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said paper stock is a combination of Kraft paper and recycled paper.  
     
     
         13 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet linearly.  
     
     
         14 . The cushioning product of  claim 13  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a box magazine.  
     
     
         15 . The cushioning product of  claim 1  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet spirally.  
     
     
         16 . The cushioning product of  claim 15  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a drum magazine.  
     
     
         17 . A method of packing an item in a box comprising: 
 providing the item;    providing the box;    providing an elongated sheet of paper stock having transverse fold lines and being alternatingly folded along said fold lines in an accordion-like fashion, said folded sheet being provided stored compressed by a storage and dispensing device from which said sheet is dispensed for use;    dispensing a selected length of said folded paper stock sheet;    separating said selected length of folded paper stock sheet from that remaining in said storage and dispensing device;    placing said item in said box; and    placing said selected length of folded paper stock sheet between said item and a wall of said box.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said sheet is 8 to 12 inches wide.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said fold lines are 1 inch apart.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said sheet has transverse perforations.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said transverse perforations are 16 inches apart.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said sheet has lateral edge portions and said lateral edge portions are folded over onto the balance of said sheet.  
     
     
         23 . The method of claim cushioning product of  claim 22  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions are 2 inches wide.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions substantially meet.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions have a small space therebetween.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said paper stock is Kraft paper.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said paper stock is recycled paper.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said paper stock is a combination of Kraft paper and recycled paper.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet linearly.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a box magazine.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet spirally.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a drum magazine.  
     
     
         33 . A method of packing an item in a box comprising: 
 providing the item;    providing the box;    providing an elongated sheet of paper stock having transverse fold lines and being alternatingly folded along said fold lines in an accordion-like fashion, said folded sheet being provided stored compressed by a storage and dispensing device from which said sheet is dispensed for use;    dispensing a selected length of said folded paper stock sheet;    separating said selected length of folded paper stock sheet from that remaining in said storage and dispensing device;    wrapping said item with said selected length of folded paper stock sheet; and    placing said wrapped item in said box.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said sheet is 8 to 12 inches wide.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said fold lines are 1 inch apart.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said sheet has transverse perforations.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said transverse perforations are 16 inches apart.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said sheet has lateral edge portions and said lateral edge portions are folded over onto the balance of said sheet.  
     
     
         39 . The method of claim cushioning product of  claim 38  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions are 2 inches wide.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions substantially meet.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions have a small space therebetween.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said paper stock is Kraft paper.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said paper stock is recycled paper.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said paper stock is a combination of Kraft paper and recycled paper.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet linearly.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a box magazine.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet spirally.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a drum magazine.  
     
     
         49 . A method of packing an item in a box comprising: 
 providing the item;    providing the box;    providing an elongated sheet of paper stock having transverse fold lines and being alternatingly folded along said fold lines in an accordion-like fashion, said folded sheet being provided stored compressed by a storage and dispensing device from which said sheet is dispensed for use;    dispensing a first selected length of said folded paper stock sheet;    separating said first selected length of folded paper stock sheet from that remaining in said storage and dispensing device;    wrapping said item with said first selected length of folded paper stock sheet;    placing said wrapped item in said box;    dispensing a second selected length of said folded paper stock sheet;    separating said second selected length of folded paper stock sheet from that remaining in said storage and dispensing device; and    placing said second selected length of folded paper stock sheet between said wrapped item and a wall of said box.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said sheet is 8 to 12 inches wide.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein said fold lines are 1 inch apart.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein said sheet has transverse perforations.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein said transverse perforations are 16 inches apart.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said sheet has lateral edge portions and said lateral edge portions are folded over onto the balance of said sheet.  
     
     
         55 . The method of claim cushioning product of  claim 54  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions are 2 inches wide.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions substantially meet.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56  wherein said folded over lateral edge portions have a small space therebetween.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said paper stock is Kraft paper.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said paper stock is recycled paper.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said paper stock is a combination of Kraft paper and recycled paper.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet linearly.  
     
     
         62 . The method of claim  61  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a box magazine.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 49  wherein said storage and dispensing device is configured to store said folded compressed sheet spirally.  
     
     
         64 . The method of claim  63  wherein said storage and dispensing device is a drum magazine.