Packaging system, apparatus, and method with articulable corner support members

• US 20050028710A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary Carpenter, Robbie Rex Powell
• Original Assignee: Gary Carpenter, Robbie Rex Powell
• Inventors: Powell, Robbie Rex, Carpenter, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/51.110
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/06 with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/44 Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00159 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00278 the load supporting surface and the base surface being identical
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00283 of the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00437 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00815 on the pallet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/055 Plastic in general, e.g. foamed plastic, molded plastic, extruded plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/053 Corner, edge or end protectors
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/054 Protectors contacting two generally perpendicular surfaces of the packaged article, e.g. edge protectors B65D81/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/64 for bulky articles

Abstract

A system for use in the packing of an appliance containing the pallet and corner members is provided. The pallet comprises first and second support members and a connecting cross member, wherein the cross member is substantially perpendicular to the first and second support members. The first and second support members include attachment holes, wherein the attachment holes allow for the attachment of the pallet to the appliance. The first and second support members and the cross member are manufactured from a synthetic substance and are substantially hollow. The system further comprises an available plurality of articulable corner support members, corner junction end caps with tenons, closed cell design elements, and standoffs used to protect, support, separate and/or stabilize the appliance in a container.

Claims

1. An articulable apparatus for use in the packing and shipment of an object within a container comprising:

a first and a second substantially hollow support lobe member; and

,

a channel having sidewalls extruded along a longitudinal centerline in the apparatus so as to create a hingeable base axis along an opposite surface of the apparatus, the first and second lobe members being resiliently connected along the hingeable base axis of the channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel is a V-shaped channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel is a contoured U-shaped channel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel is a square U-shaped channel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second lobes can be articulated to form a plurality of angles.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel created forms two opposing sidewalls each having a cooperating interlocking means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the interlocking means of one sidewall is an interlocking groove and the opposite sidewall interlocking means is an interlocking ridge hook.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the interlocking groove is disposed along at least an upper portion of a sidewall.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the interlocking groove extends in parallel relationship to the hingeable base along the length of its associated lobe support member.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the interlocking ridge is disposed along at least an upper portion of a channel sidewall.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the interlocking ridge hook extends in parallel relationship to the hingeable base along the length of its associated lobe support member, the ridge hook positioned on its sidewall in a mirror relationship with the interlocking groove.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein when the apparatus is articulated along the hingeable base axis until the ridge and groove interlocks meet and after a slight closing pressure is applied, the apparatus will interlock to form an approximate 90 degree angle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus is positioned back to an unarticulated position by applying a slight opening pressure to each support lobe.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each substantially hollow support lobe member is supported internally by at least one support member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the support member is a straight support member.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the support member is a wave shaped support member.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is used to support and protect the vertical corners of an appliance.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is used to support and protect the horizontal edges of an appliance.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the apparatus is placed into a desired position the outside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the interior corner of a container and the inside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the appliance corner that is to be supported and protected.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is plastic.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is formed through extrusion.

22. A multi-axis articulable apparatus for use in the packing and shipment of an appliance in a container comprising:

a first and a second substantially hollow support lobe member, the lobe members having a top, bottom, and side surfaces;

a channel having two sidewalls extruded along a longitudinal centerline in the top surface so as to create a hingeable base axis along the bottom surface of the apparatus, the first and second lobe members being resiliently connected along the hingeable base axis of the channel;

at least one notch aperture having a vertical axis being cut through the top, side, and bottom surfaces of the first support lobe, wherein the base of the vertical axis of the notch is adjacent to the channel; and

,

at least one impression trough having a horizontal axis formed into the top and side surfaces of the second support lobe, wherein the base of the horizontal axis of the impression trough is positioned on the second lobe in a opposite positional relationship to the base of the vertical axis of the at least one notch, the base of the horizontal axis extending through the sidewall of the channel associated with second lobe member.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the channel is a V-shaped channel.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first and second lobes can be articulated to form a plurality of angled 3-D corner/edge supports in at least 3 axes.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the channel created forms two opposing sidewalls each having an cooperating interlocking means.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the interlocking means of one sidewall is an interlocking groove and the opposite sidewall interlocking means is an interlocking ridge.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the interlocking groove is disposed along at least an upper portion of a sidewall.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the interlocking groove extends in parallel relationship to the hingeable base along the length of its associated lobe support member.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the male interlocking ridge is disposed along at least an upper portion of a sidewall.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the male interlocking ridge extends in parallel relationship to the hingeable base along the length of its associated lobe support member, the ridge positioned on its sidewall in a mirror relationship with the interlocking groove.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein when the apparatus is articulated along the hingeable base axis until the ridge and groove interlocks meet and a slight closing pressure is applied, the apparatus will interlock to form an approximate 90 degree angle.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the apparatus is positioned back to an unarticulated position by applying a slight opening pressure to each support lobe.

33. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the apparatus articulates to form a plurality of sizes of 3-D rectangles and squares.

34. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein each substantially hollow support lobe member is supported internally by at least one support member.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the support member is a straight or wave support member.

36. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the apparatus is used to support and protect the vertical horizontal edges of the appliance.

37. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein when the apparatus is placed into a desired position the outside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the interior corner of a container and the inside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the appliance corner that is to be supported and protected.

38. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the apparatus is plastic.

39. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the apparatus is formed through extrusion.

40. An articulable packaging apparatus for supporting an appliance in a container comprising:

a first and second substantially hollow lobe piece having a first and second corner junction region; and

,

a linking beam resiliently hingeably connecting the first and second lobe pieces via the first and second corner junction regions;

wherein the first and second lobes are articulated into position about their corresponding corner junction region.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein each substantially hollow lobe piece is supported internally by at least one support member.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the support member is a straight or wave support member.

43. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the apparatus is used to support and protect the vertical corners of the appliance.

44. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the apparatus is used to support and protect the horizontal edges of the appliance.

45. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein when the apparatus is placed into a desired position the outside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the interior corner of a container and the inside angle of the apparatus lies directly against the appliance corner that is to be supported and protected.

46. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the apparatus is plastic.

47. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the apparatus is formed through extrusion.

48. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the first and second lobe pieces can be articulated to form a plurality of angles.

49. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the first lobe piece can be articulated to cause the apparatus to form a 90 degree angle.

50. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the second lobe piece can be articulated to cause the apparatus to form a 90 degree angle.

51. A closed cell design packaging apparatus for protecting an appliance in a container comprising:

at least two substantially hollow geometrically shaped closed cell element members; and

a rigid linking beam connecting the closed cell element members.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the geometrically shaped closed cell element member is tubular shaped.

53. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the shape of the closed cell element members are selected from the group consisting of spherical, rectangular, square, triangular, hexagonal, pentagonal, and circular.

54. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein there are four closed cell element members

55. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein each closed cell element member is supported internally by at least one support member.

56. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the support member is a wave support member.

57. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein the four closed cell element members create four separate partitioned areas within a container for the placement of at least four appliances.

58. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the apparatus is plastic.

59. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the apparatus is formed through extrusion.

60. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the rigid linking beam forms a 90 degree angle.

61. The apparatus of claim 54 wherein the rigid linking beam connecting the four closed cell element members forms four 90 degree angles at the beam connecting junction.

62. A joinable end cap apparatus for use with corner/edge support members comprising:

a top outer surface; and

,

a plurality of tenons rigidly extending from the outer surface in at least one plane;

wherein the tenons provide a removable interlocking frictional action when inserted into the corner/edge support member, thereby causing the support member to remain removably united at the union of the end cap tenons and the support member.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the tenons extend in horizontal and vertical planes from the top outer surface of the end cap.

64. The apparatus of claim 62 wherein the tenons are inserted into an exposed substantially hollow end of a support member.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein the tenons exert frictional pressure against an internal wave support and at least one interior wall of the corner/edge support member.

66. A packing support and protection system for an appliance in a container comprising:

a pallet; and

at least one 3-D articulable corner/edge support member having interlocking means.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the articulable support member hinges along a base axis formed by a longitudinal channel.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the channel is a V-shaped channel.

69. The system of claim 66 wherein the articulable corner/edge support member is a multi-axis articulable capable of hinging in at least 3 axes.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the multi-axis support member can be articulated to form a plurality of sizes of rectangles and squares.

71. The system of claim 66 wherein the interlocking means comprises a female interlocking groove and a male interlocking ridge.

72. The system of claim 66 wherein the pallet is plastic.

73. The system of claim 66 wherein the articulable corner/edge support member is plastic.

74. The system of claim 66 wherein the pallet and the articulable corner/edge support member are plastic.

75. The system of claim 66 wherein the articulable corner/edge support member contains at least one internal support member.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the internal support member is a straight or wave support.

77. The system of claim 70 wherein the articulable corner edge support rectangle and square can be used to frame the front, top, or sides of an appliance for protection.

78. A method for packing and shipping an appliance using an articulable corner/edge support apparatus comprising the steps:

providing an appliance;

packing the appliance in the container;

providing at least one articulable corner/edge support apparatus;

articulating the apparatus to adapt to at least one corner/edge of the appliance;

positioning the apparatus as desired on the appliance; and

shipping the packed container.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the container encompasses the appliance and the articulable corner/edge support.

80. The method of claim 78 wherein the articulable support apparatus is a multi-axis articulable apparatus.

81. The method of claim 78 wherein the articulable support apparatus has two substantially hollow lobe pieces joined by a linking beam.

82. The method of claim 78 further comprising the additional step of:

providing at least one corner support having a first and second substantially hollow lobe piece having a first and second corner junction region, wherein a linking beam resiliently and hingeably connects the lobe pieces.