Container formed of paper based material having coating to protect led chips from sulfurous emission

Abstract

A method and system for storing an electronic device, such as an LED 34 component having metallic conductive leads 36, 38 or a light engine 30 having LEDs soldered to a PCB 32, within a container 100 formed of paper material. The container interior surface 14, 16 is coated with a barrier 20 bounding the interior volume 18. Barrier 20 occludes an emission of sulfur-containing gas from the paper material into interior volume 18. Barrier 20 is a polymer, e.g. a thermoplastic material, either in the form of a sheet or a spray or liquid coating, preferably applied to the paper material blank 10 before it is folded into the container shape 100. Barrier 20 may further comprise electro-static discharge material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of storing or transporting an electronic device having a metallic electrically conductive element in a container formed from a paper material, comprising
 forming a container of a paper material, the container having an interior volume;   coating, with a barrier, an interior surface adjacent the interior volume of the container;   disposing, inside the interior volume, an electronic device having a metallic electrically conductive element; and   occluding, by action of the barrier, an emission of sulfur-containing gas from the paper material into the interior volume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cardboard comprises corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises coating the interior surface with a polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group of materials polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises electro-static discharge material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic device comprises a light engine. 
     
     
         10 . A system for storing or transporting an electronic device, the system comprising:
 a container formed from a paper material and defining an interior surface;   a barrier coated on the interior surface, the barrier occluding a transmission of sulfur-containing gas; and   an electronic device disposed within the container, the electronic device comprising at least one metallic electrically conductive element.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the container comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the container comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the cardboard comprises corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the barrier comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group of materials polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE). 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer comprises electro-static discharge material. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electro-static discharge material is selected from the group of materials conductive polystyrene (PS); inherently conductive polymer-polystyrene (IPS-PS) additive; conductive high-density polyethylene (HDPE); conductive acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/thermoplastic elastomer (ABS-TPU); and high impact polystyrene (HIPS). 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the electronic device comprises a light engine. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the coated barrier defines an innermost surface bounding an interior volume of the container.