Flat panel display container

• US 5,423,422 A
• Filed: 03/14/1994
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EMPAK, Inc. (Entegris Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EMPAK, Inc. (Entegris Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boire, William A. J., Higgins, Sidney A., Oesterle, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US08/209,457
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 206/454, 206/455, 206/456, 206/334, 206/449, 211/41
• US Class Current: 206/723
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/107 Grooves, ribs, or the like, situated on opposed walls and between which the articles are located
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/48 for glass sheets

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for packaging, storage and transportation of flat panel displays. The apparatus has a base which receives a removable base cushion and two removable side cushions. Each cushion has a plurality of ribs defining a flat panel display receiving members. The side cushions are designed to accommodate a variety of flat panel display sizes. A cover mates with the base and further secures the flat panel displays within the flat panel display receiving members of the removable base and side cushions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for packaging, storage and transportation of flat panel displays, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base having four integral walls extending from a bottom surface, said four integral walls having a first interior surface with a plurality of first cushion receiving slots and a second interior surface with a plurality of second cushion receiving slots;

(b) a removable base cushion located in said base, said removable base cushion having a plurality of first flat panel display receiving members;

(c) a first removable side cushion located in said base having a plurality of second flat panel display receiving members said first removable side cushion configured to selectively mate with one of said first cushion receiving slots and with one of said second cushion receiving slots;

(d) a second removable side cushion located in said base having a plurality of third flat panel display receiving members, said second removable side cushion configured to selectively mate with one of said first cushion receiving slots and with one of said second cushion receiving slots whereby said first and second removable cushion selectively accommodate flat panel displays of varying size; and

(e) a cover for mating with said base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including

(a) a plurality of first ridges on each said first flat panel receiving member;

(b) a plurality of second ridges on each said second flat panel receiving member; and

(c) a plurality of third ridges on each said third flat panel receiving member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base cushion has an arcuate profile having a first convex section, a second convex section and a center arch section disposed therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of second flat panel display receiving members has an arcuate profile with at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of third flat panel display receiving members has an arcuate profile with at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including said base cushion having extending tabs for engaging posts located in said base.

7. An apparatus for packaging, storage and transportation of flat panel displays, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base configured for robotic handling, having four integral walls extending from a bottom surface, said four integral walls having a first interior surface with a plurality of first cushion receiving slots and a second interior surface with a plurality of second cushion receiving slots, a first exterior surface having a plurality of first vertical support members protruding from said first exterior surface, a second exterior surface opposite said first exterior surface having a plurality of second vertical support members, a third exterior surface having a first indented area and a fourth exterior surface located opposite said third exterior surface, said fourth exterior surface having a second indented area, a first ledge surrounding said first, second, third and fourth exterior surfaces, said first ledge configured for mating with a cover of said apparatus and a second ledge surrounding said first, second, third and fourth exterior surfaces;

(b) a removable base cushion located in said base, said removable base cushion having a plurality of first flat panel display receiving members;

(c) a first removable side cushion located in said base having a plurality of second flat panel display receiving members, and said first removable cushion having a first securing means for selectively mating with one of said first cushion receiving slots and a second securing means for mating with one of said second receiving slots;

(d) a second removable side cushion located in said base having a plurality of third flat panel display receiving members, and said second removable cushion having a third securing means for selectively mating with one of said first cushion receiving slots and a fourth securing means for mating with one of said second cushion receiving slots.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said base cushion has an arcuate profile having a first convex section, a second convex section and a center arch section disposed therebetween.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 and further including

(a) a plurality of first ridges on said first flat panel receiving members;

(b) a plurality of second ridges on said second flat panel receiving members; and

(c) a plurality of third ridges on said third flat panel receiving members.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of second flat panel display receiving members has an arcuate profile with at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion, said second ridges extending on either side of said second flat panel display receiving members.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said plurality of third flat panel display receiving members has an arcuate profile with at least one convex portion and at least one concave portion, said third ribs extending on either side of said third flat panel display receiving members.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 and further including said base cushion having extending tab members for engaging protruding posts located in said base.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first securing means is a first elongated bead on a first side of said first removable side cushion and said second securing means is a second elongated bead on a second side of said first removable cushion, said second elongated bead is offset from said first elongated bead.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said third securing means is a third elongated bead on a first side of said second removable side cushion and said fourth securing means is a fourth elongated bead on a second side of said second removable cushion, said fourth elongated bead is offset from said third elongated bead.