Suspension and retention packaging structures and methods for forming same

• US 6,302,274 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Ridgeway, Devin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSTER, JIMMY G
• Application Number:
  US09/452,264
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 206/583, 206/591, 206/594, 206/775-782, 229/186-189, 229/162
• US Class Current: 206/583
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2105/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/20 provided with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/81 Forming or attaching accessories, e.g. opening devices, closures or tear strings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5038 Tray-like elements formed by folding a blank and presenting openings or recesses without external box B65D71/72; external face of container provided with opening for receiving object in display position B65D5/5286

Abstract

A packaging structure for holding an article within an outer box includes a pair of side legs and a pair of end legs defining a main portion having a window opening, and a flexible web extending across the window opening. End portions are connected to first ends of the side legs along first fold lines and to second ends of the side legs along second fold lines. Each end portion includes an intermediate fold line at an oblique angle relative to the first and second fold lines, dividing the end portions into first regions adjacent the ends of the side legs, and second regions remote therefrom. The end portions are connected in the second regions to the end legs to form the packaging structure into an intermediate folded structure. The packaging structure may be converted from the intermediate folded structure to a use condition by pulling the side legs away from the main portion, whereby the end legs fold in a direction toward the main portion, or by folding the end legs in a direction toward the main portion, whereby the side legs move in a direction away from the main portion.

Claims

1. A packaging structure adapted for insertion into an outer box, comprising

a panel having a front surface and a rear surface;

a first pair of fold lines spaced from opposite side edges of said panel to define a pair of folding side legs, each of said side legs including a first end and a second end;

a second pair of fold lines spaced from opposite end edges of said panel to define a pair of folding end legs, said side legs and said end legs delimiting a main portion of said panel having a window opening;

a first end portion connected to said first end of one of said side legs along a first fold line, said first end portion including a first intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said first fold line to divide said first end portion into a first region adjacent said first fold line and a second region;

a second end portion connected to said second end of one of said side legs along a second fold line, said second end portion including a second intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said second fold line to divide said second end portion into a first region adjacent said second fold line and a second region;

a flexible film material connected to said panel so as to extend across said window opening; and

a series of foldable members, ones of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said side legs, and others of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said end legs;

said folding side legs being folded against said rear surface of said panel with said first end portion secured in said second region to one of said end legs and said second end portion secured in said second region to another one of said end legs to define an intermediate folded structure in which said folding end legs are substantially coplanar with one another;

said panel being foldable from said intermediate folded structure to a use condition in which said side legs and said end legs project away from said rear surface of said panel.

2. A packaging structure adapted for insertion into an outer box, comprising

a pair of end legs, each of said end legs having a front surface facing in a first direction and a rear surface facing in an opposite direction;

a pair of side legs, each of said side legs including first and second ends, said side legs and said end legs delimiting a window opening;

a first end portion connected to said first end of each of said side legs along a first fold line, said first end portion including a front surface facing in said first direction, a rear surface facing in said opposite direction and a first intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said first fold line to divide said first end portion into a first region adjacent said first fold line and a second region;

a second end portion connected to said second end of each of said side legs along a second fold line, said second end portion including a front surface facing in said first direction, a rear surface facing in said opposite direction and a second intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said second fold line to divide said second end portion into a first region adjacent said second fold line and a second region;

a flexible film material connected to at least one of said pair of side legs and said pair of end legs so as to extend across said window opening; and

a series of foldable members, ones of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said side legs, and others of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said end legs;

said front surfaces of said first end portions being secured in said second regions to said rear surface of one of said end legs and said front surfaces of said second end portions being secured in said second regions to said rear surface of another one of said end legs to define a preform;

said preform being foldable from an intermediate folded structure in which said end legs lie substantially in a plane and said side legs lie substantially parallel to said plane, to a use condition in which said side legs and said end legs are transverse to said plane.

3. A packaging structure adapted for insertion into an outer box, comprising

a panel having a front surface and a rear surface;

a first pair of fold lines spaced from opposite side edges of said panel to define a pair of folding side legs, each of said side legs including a first end and a second end;

a second pair of fold lines spaced from opposite end edges of said panel to define a pair of folding end legs, said side legs and said end legs delimiting a main portion of said panel having a window opening;

a first end portion connected to said first end of each of said side legs along a first fold line, said first end portion including a first intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said first fold line to divide said first end portion into a first region adjacent said first fold line and a second region;

a second end portion connected to said second end of each of said side legs along a second fold line, said second end portion including a second intermediate fold line disposed at an oblique angle relative to said second fold line to divide said second end portion into a first region adjacent said second fold line and a second region;

a flexible film material connected to said panel so as to extend across said window opening; and

a series of foldable members, ones of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said side legs, and others of said foldable members being foldably connected at one edge to said end legs;

said folding side legs being folded against said rear surface of said panel with said first end portions secured in said second regions to one of said end legs and said second end portions secured in said second regions to another one of said end legs to define an intermediate folded structure in which said folding end legs are substantially coplanar with one another;

said panel being foldable from said intermediate folded structure to a use condition in which said side legs and said end legs project away from said rear surface of said panel.