Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02343508 2001-04-05
TITLE: PACKING SYSTEM
INVENTORS
DAVID G. KEY
KIM R. MUMBY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to novel, improved packing device for artifacts,
particularly flat
artifacts made from plate glass or a similar heavy and breakable substance.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to novel, improved packing
systems for protecting
the secured artifact or artifacts from damage during shipping, particularly
freight shipping.
DEFINITIONS
"Artifact" is used herein in a perhaps somewhat special sense to include
aggregations of objects
such as sheets of glass or components of a framework as well as individual
objects such as a
single sheet of glass, a window, a piece of furniture, a canvass artwork or
similar object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The transporting of artifacts often requires that the artifacts be tied to the
bed of a vehicle or
vehicle-mounted support and/or that artifacts be bundled to facilitate
handling and transport.
Typically, a flexible restraint such as a rope or strap is employed for these
purposes. The rope
may be wrapped around the artifact and fixed to the transport device.
Particularly where the restraint is tight on the artifact, this may result in
breakage, denting;
abrasion, and other forms of damage to the artifact. Also, if the rope is
instead, a wire cable, and
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the artifact is hard such as a sheet of glass, for example, the artifact may
be damaged from
abrasion with the cable or bouncing against a hard object.
These problems are particularly acute in the transportation of artifacts.
These problems are
perhaps universally encountered in moving vehicles. These problems lead to
movement between
the artifact and the typical restraint systems, such as in a sawing fashion.
These problems cause
the artifact to shatter, or become damaged if only secured with a rope or
cable.
A variety of devices for protecting an artifact have been described in issued
patents. In particular,
see U.S. Patent 5,518,348, which is incorporated herein by reference. Also,
note U.S. Patent
4,639,977 issued Feb. 3, 1987 to Howard for COMBINATION ROPE GUARD AND ROPE
BUNDLE KEEPER; in U.S. Patent. 5,056,664 issued Oct. 15, 1991 to Demers for
CORNER
PROTECTOR APPARATUS; and in those patents cited and discussed in column 1 of
Demers.
The Howard device has all the disadvantages of Demers' including
susceptibility to damage
except for slits which allow the device to be assembled to an associated
restraint without
threading the latter through the protective device. However, the thin leather
or comparable
material from which the Howard device is made would allow it to be easily
dislodged from the
associated restraint both in tying down or bundling artifacts and in the
subsequent removal and
handling of the flexible restraint.
U.S. Patent 5,775753 equipment for loading containers, U.S. Patent. 5685437,
device for storing
glass plates or insulating glass panes, U.S. Patent 3,990,576 transparent
container for glass
panels, U.S. Patent 3,939,780 apparatus for shipping flat glass without
packing cases, and U.S.
Patent 3596,755, method and apparatus for shipping flat glass without packing
cases all relate to
the present invention and are incorporated by reference.
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Drawbacks of the character discussed above also exist in available systems,
which employ
complex machinery to hold the glass, and increase the cost of shipping. Still
other disclosed
devices do not enable multiple panes of glass to be shipped in the same
container without severe
damage possibilities.
A need has long existed for an inexpensive, protective packing system designed
to eliminate
damage to bundled, assembled, or tied down artifacts which can be handled in
air cargo, ship
holds, and other containers without concern for the size of the artifact in
the container, and that
damage could occur to the artifact, particularly if it is glass plate. In
addition, a long need has
existed for an environmentally friendly device of this type, made of
recyclable materials. Finally,
the present invention overcomes a long felt need for a packing system which is
easily assembled
in the field, and is strong, easy to lift, and easy to ship.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a packing system for packing flat objects
comprising: a body
having a first end and a second end, a base, and a top. The body comprises at
least a two part
construction which consists of a first component, with a first component base
extension, a second
component, with a second component base extension, and where the body is
assembled such that
the first component base extension is layered on the second component base
extension. The body
consists of an interior side and an exterior side, a first wall extending
upward from the base, a
second wall extending upward from the base, and a top formed from a first wall
extension of the
first wall which is overlaid on a second wall extension of the second wall. A
first end cap is
removably attached to the first end and a second end cap is removably attached
to the second
end. A first holder and a second holder are removably engageable with the
second wall extension
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and the base, for securely engaging opposite ends of an object to be packed in
the packing
system. The first holder comprises a first slot into which a first end of the
object can be
removably inserted, and a second holder comprises a second slot into which a
second end of the
object can be removably inserted.
A method for packing an object in a trapezoidal pyramid using the steps of:
inserting a first end
of an object into a first holder; inserting a second end of an object into a
second holder; attaching
a first component of the body to the second component of the body at the base;
inserting the
object contained by the first and second holders into the assembled body and
attaching the
holders to the base; attaching a first end cap to the body at the base;
attaching a second end cap
to the body at the base; wrapping the first wall of the body to overlap the
extension of the second
wall; attaching the end cap to the body by removably engaging a first
engageable edge, a second
engageable edge, a third engageable edge, and a fourth engageable edge
creating a closed end;
attaching the top of the first and second holders to the first wall extension;
attaching the first wall
extension to the second wall extension, forming a top.
1 S A packing system comprising: a one piece body ( 16) having a first end (
18) and a second end
(20), a base (4) and a top (10); wherein said body (16) consists of an
interior side (30) and an
exterior side (32) and said body comprises a first wall (6) and a second wall
(8) integral to and
extending upward from said base, and a top ( 10) integral with said a first
wall extension ( 12) of
said first wall which is formed by interlacing said first wall extension with
a second wall
extension (14) which is integral and extending from said second wall (8); a
first end cap (22)
removably attached to said first end ( 18) and a second end cap (24) removably
attached to said
second end (20); a first holder (26) and a second holder (28) removably
engageable with the
second wall extension (14) and the base (4) for securely engaging two ends of
an object (34) to
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be held in said packing system; wherein said first holder (26) comprises a
first slot (36) into
which a first end of the object (40) can be removably inserted, and a second
holder (28)
comprises a second slot (38) into which a second end of the object (42) can be
removably
inserted.
A protective trapezoidal container comprising: a body having a first end and a
second end, a base
and a top; and said body consists of an interior side and an exterior side and
said body comprises
a first wall and a second wall extending upward from said base and a top
formed from a first wall
extension of said first wall which is overlaid on a second wall extension of
said second wall; a
first trapezoidal shaped end cap removably attached to said first end and a
second trapezoidal
shaped end cap removably attached to said second end; a first generally
rectangular holder and a
second generally rectangular holder removably engageable with the second wall
extension and
the base for sec~:u~ely engaging two ends of an object to be held in said
protective container;
wherein said first generally rectangular holder comprises a first rectangular
slot into which a first
end of the object can be removably inserted, and a second generally
rectangular holder comprises
a second rectangular slot into which a second end of the object can be
removably inserted.
A protective trapezoidal container in the shape of a trapezoidal pyramid
comprising: a body
having a first end and a second end, a base and a top; and said body consists
of an interior side
and an exterior side and said body comprises a first wall and a second wall
extending upward
from said base and a top formed from a first wall extension of said first wall
which is overlaid on
a second wall extension of said second wall; a first trapezoidal shaped end
cap removably
attached to said first end and a second trapezoidal shaped end cap removably
attached to said
second end; a first trapezoidal holder, a second trapezoidal holder, and a
third trapezoidal holder,
wherein said first trapezoidal holder is removably engageable with the second
wall extension and
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the base for securely engaging two ends of an object to be held in said
protective container;
wherein said first trapezoidal holder comprises a first rectangular slot into
which a first end of
the object can be removably inserted, and a second trapezoidal holder
comprises a second
rectangular slot into which a second end of the object can be removably
inserted, and said third
trapezoidal holder comprises a third rectangular slot into which the object
can be inserted.
The objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the
foregoing and the
appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion of the
invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the body portion of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the body of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a view of an object contained in the two holders of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a holder containing a slot;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an end cap used in the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an end view of the packing system;
FIG. 7 shows the same view of the invention as in FIG. 6 with footpads
FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the body of the present invention with
footpads, and an
object or artifact contained in the holders
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FIG. 9 is another cross sectional view of the body of the present invention
with casters, with the
object or artifact contained in the holders being of different size than the
device shown in FIG 8.
FIG. 10 shows how the packing system can hold multiple artifacts or objects.
FIG. 11 is a front view of a holder with a slot and the back top disposed on
one side.
FIG. 12 is a side view of the packing system having 3 holders, with one holder
having two
backstops in an alternating arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention is for a method for packing and various embodiments of the
packing system.
FIG. 1 shows the body ( 16) of the unique packing system (2) having a first
wall (6). The body
(16) has a first end (18), a second end (20), a base (4) and a top (10). The
first holder (26) for
engaging the artifact or flat object to be transported in the packing system
is shown as a dotted
line. The second holder (28) for engaging the artifact or flat object is shown
as a second dotted
line. The packing system is assembled when the body (16) is closed with first
end cap (22) and a
second end cap (24) which are removably attached in formed cavities which are
created by the
first and second wall, top and base of the body.
In the most preferred embodiment, the body (16) is in the shape of a
trapezoidal pyramid as are
the end caps.
In an alternative embodiment, the end caps can be disposed over the edges of
the body and
secured to the body with any conventional device, including but not limited
to, staples, glue,
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brads, bolts, hinges, rivets, straps, tape, nails or a combination thereof. In
the preferred
embodiment, adhesive is used.
The present invention is designed for supporting weight from 1 to 500 pounds.
FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Base (4) is
attached to first wall
(6) and a second wall (8). The body has an interior side (30) and an exterior
side (32). The top of
the body (16) is formed from a first wall extension (12) integral with first
wall (6), which is
folded over a second wall extension (14) that is integral with second wall (8)
forming the top
( 10) in an overlapping or sandwich-like embodiment. The first wall extension
can be on top of
the second wall extension or it can be under the second wall extension, and
the wall extensions
can then be removably secured together, such as with adhesive.
The body is contemplated to comprise a first component (15) with a first
component base
extension (19), and a second component (17) with a second component base
extension (21) and
wherein the body is assembled such that the first component base extension is
layered in a
sandwich like-manner on the second component base extension. As with the top,
the layer can be
with either extension on top.
The packing system can be made from single scored sheets of materials or two
sheets of
materials connected together or multiple laminate structures. The key to the
material selection for
the body is strength of the body once assembled and the weight of the overall
structure so that it
works for shipping.
In the cross section of FIG. 2, the first holder (26) is shown having a first
slot (36) into which an
object is typically inserted.
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FIG. 3 depicts a typical artifact or object (34) having a first end (40) which
passing through first
slot (36) of first holder (26) and a second end (42), which passes through
second slot (38) of
second holder (28).
FIG. 4 shows first holder (26) having a slot (36) for holding the artifact.
The slot preferably is
rectangular, but may be square, or of another shape to accommodate the
artifact. For example, if
the artifact is cylindrical, the slot may be cylindrical. In the preferred
embodiment, the size of the
body is at least about 1/8 inch to about 3 inches thick. The typical holders
are between about 1/4
inch and about 3 inches thick. The overall body preferably has a height of 48-
1/4 inches, but can
range from about 12 inches to about 6 feet in height. A preferred body has a
width at the base of
24 and 9/16' inches, preferably in a range of from about 3 inches in width to
about 3 feet in
width at the base. The width at the top is preferably 7 and 7/16' inches, but
can range from 3
inches to about 3 feet in width. The preferred side height is 48-1/4 inch long
and can range from
12 inches to 6 feet in length. The preferred depth of the body is 67 and 7/8~'
inches, but can range
from 12 inches to 10 feet in depth.
The invention has been designed to use a holder with a slot opening, which is
preferably
rectangular and ideally 4 and 1/4 inches wide. However, the slot could be as
narrow as 1/2 inch
and up to 6 inches wide. The height of the slot in the most preferred
embodiment is 40 inches in
height, but can range from 6 inches up to any height, which still provides
strength to the holder
form, which the slot is constructed. This most preferred slot is cut to
accommodate a 40x 60 inch
plate glass object. The~most preferred structure of the holder is a 7 ply
laminate structure made
from cardboard. However, the holder could be useful if it had anywhere from 1
to 20 plies in
thickness, and the thickness would depend on material selection for the holder
and the artifact to
be transported.
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FIG. 5 shows an end cap having a cap body (52), with a first engageable edge
(54), a second
engageable edge (56), a third engageable edge (58) and a fourth engageable
edge (60). The end
caps create "lid like" construction.
In the preferred embodiment, the end caps are not fitted over the openings
created in the body
ends, but instead are fitted snugly inside, creating strength and a secure
packing system.
With the end caps inserted into the body in this manner, the end caps are
recessed. This type of
end cap assembly enables faster assembly of the system in the field than any
known packing
system. The end caps can be fastened to the body using any of a variety of
conventional
techniques, which include the use of staples, adhesives, bolts, rivets, tape,
and screws. This
version of use of the end caps also provides a significant advantage compared
to other system
with regard to lifting. The end caps, assemble on the body in this way,
provide a ledge like
construction, which is strongly reinforced by the layering of the body, and
the use of the folds in
the material, such that lifting become only easier, by providing a surface,
but more reliable,
because the edges which are lifted have been reinforced by the overlaid
construction and the
folded effect. The unique end cap insertion moves the structural line of
support closer to the
centerline of the body. In a preferred embodiment, this end cap provides a
third layer of on top
of the layered sandwich like structures of both the body's top and base.
Alternative embodiments of the end cap configuration on the body contemplate
that the end cap
to be inserted into the body, with the end cap engageable edges, 54, 56, 58
and 60, adhered to the
interior walls of the body, creating a smooth surface, which resists the
accumulation of dirt,
mice, or other items when stored. In this configuration, the end cap provides
a larger volume for
the interior of the body, which enables a larger artifact to be transported
using the packing
CA 02343508 2001-04-05
system. Also, this version of the end cap usage enables printing, such as
origin or destination
information or shipping contents to be on an easily viewable exterior surface
of the body.
An embodiment of the invention involves disposing the edges of the end cap on
the body (52) so
that the engageable edges, 54, 56, 58 and 60 of the end cap overlay the
exterior of the body
effectively providing additional protection to the edges of the body, and
encapsulating the body
on each end.
FIG. 6 shows the body ( 16) with the top constructed to form a laminate or
sandwich design and
the base constructed to form a laminate, or sandwich design. The base is
further enhanced with a
base support (44) attached to the base of the body to keep the body from
touching a floor or
similar surface and to facilitate lifting, such as by a forklift.
In yet another embodiment, the body can be made even more useful by adding a
first handle (62)
and second handle (68) which can be attached to first wall (6) and second wall
(8) respectively. It
is contemplated that the handles can be of a variety of materials and forms,
and can even be cut
from the walls of the body, creating slots for lifting the body. These slots
could be of any useful
shape. At least one slot per wall of the body is contemplated as useful in
this embodiment.
FIG. 7 shows body ( 16) having at least two-foot pads, a first foot pad (48)
and second foot pad
(50). Three or more footpads or base supports could be used within the
invention. The footpads
are designed to enable the packing system to be lifted, such as by a forklift
without damaging the
artifact. The packing system, in a preferred embodiment, could use removable
footpads or base
supports, ones that are attached with a removable adhesive or a similar
material, such as a bolt.
Additionally, the foot pads or base supports are preferably positioned at
least under the first and
second holders, although it is contemplated that additional foot pads could
also be located along
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the base (4) for additional support. The foot pads can be made of wood,
cardboard, plastic,
corrugated cardboard, Styrofoam or combinations thereof.
FIG. 8 shows a cross section of the body (16) wherein the artifact or object,
(34) is in a first
position, inserted into the slot of a first holder at a first position (70)
and into the slot of a second
holder at a first position (74). The distances from the holder to the end of
the body are noted as
distances "a" and "b" respectively. Also, this embodiment shows the base
supports (44) and (46)
disposed directly under the holders (26) and (28) respectively. The slots may
be engineered to
hold one or more artifacts, however, if additional space remains in the slot
area once the artifact
is inserted, it is contemplated that spacers or packing material could be used
as a buffer to
prevent any movement of the artifacts in the slot which would cause damage or
warpage. In the
preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that rectangular spaces would be
used, made from
cardboard in a mufti-ply construction.
FIG. 9 shows a body ( 16) with a small artifact engaged in the holders of body
( 16). In FIG. 9, the
body (16) is also presented as resting on a set of casters, hereafter referred
to as first wheel set
(66) and second wheel set (68). These casters could be removably attached, or,
alternatively,
holes could be punched into the base of the box, and the wheel sets could then
be set into those
holes and secured, such as with a cotter pin on the interior side of the box.
In this Figure, the object (35) is shown to be held by first and second
holders (26) and (28)
respectively; however,, the distance from first holder (26) in this figure,
which is at the first
holder's second position (72), is shown as distance " a' " to signify that the
distance is different
than the distance "a" shown in FIG. 8. Also, second holder (28) in this Figure
is positioned at
second holder's second position (76) and is shown as being at a distance of "
b' " to signify that
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first and second holders can be moved, slid, and repositioned to accommodate
smaller objects
inside the body.
FIG. 10 shows the body (16) wherein the first holder (26) contains an object
or artifact (34) and a
second additional object (80) is shown adjacent said object (34) and a third
additional object (82)
is shown adjacent said object (80) and all three objects are restrained with a
restraining band
(78). It is contemplated as within the scope of the present invention to use
one or more
restraining bands depending on the weight of the artifact or artifacts being
secured for transit. In
an alternative embodiment, these additional objects (80) and (82) could be
inserted into the slots
of the holder. It is also contemplated that if there is extra room in the
slots, permitting the objects
to slide, then wedges, such as a wedge made from cardboard, could be inserted
into the slot to
prevent jarring or movement of the additional objects in the slots. Wedges
could be used to hold
objects in the slots where the object invented for shipping is significantly
less in width than the
slot opening.
FIG. 11 shows holder (26) with a backstop (84). The backstop (84) prevents the
object (34) from
sliding through the slot in the holder.
FIG. 12 shows a body ( 16) with a holder (26) disposed in the center of the
body ( 16). A portion
of the slot of holder (26) is backstopped to prevent a first object (34) from
sliding through the
holder and a second portion of the same slot is backstopped on the opposite
side to prevent and
object (35) from sliding through the slot (26). Two additional holders are
shown, (100) and (102)
with slots which the objects passing through.
The packing system is contemplated as a reusable system, making it
environmentally friendly. It
is also contemplated that the packing system is made of post consumer paper,
which is
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recyclable, reducing the environmental impact to the creation, use and
disposal of this packing
system.
Handles can be disposed on the walls of the body for ease of lifting of the
packing system. In a
preferred embodiment, a first handle (62) is integral with first wall (6) and
a second handle (68)
is integral with second wall (8). The handles can be any number of forms, such
as punched out
handholds, or attached straps, which could be made from rope, nylon, or
leather or any similar
material. Preferably, the straps are removably attached to the walls, such as
through two holes
punched into the walls of the body. Handles could also be plastic hand holds,
such as self
attaching or metal handles which are riveted or bolted onto the walls. Even a
cardboard handhold
is contemplated as possible with this invention, such a handhold could be
punched out of the
wall of the body, and used for lifting.
The object or artifact (34) could be any number of types of objects, including
but not limited
plate glass, stained glass, panels, mirrors, artwork, decorative doors,
ceramic plates, frames, large
plate-like fragile materials, molding, windows, and china.
The body can be a unitary structure fabricated from cardboard or by molding
from a rigid or
semi-rigid polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride or comparable material.
In the preferred embodiment, body 16 has a trapezoidal cross-sectional
configuration defined by
integral, walls and overlapping extensions that form a laminate structure for
the top and base.
FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, body ( 16)
comprises a continuous one-piece construction of a base (4) from ~~hich an
attached first wall (6)
and a second wall (8) extend. The one-piece construction has an interior side
(30) and an
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exterior side (32). The top of the body is formed with a first wall extension
(12) integral with
first wall (6), which is folded over a second wall extension (14) forming the
top (10) in an
overlapped embodiment. The box component can be made from single scored sheets
of materials
or two sheets of material connected together or multiple laminate structures.
The key to the
S material selection for the body is strength of the body once assembled and
the weight of the
overall structure so that it works for shipping.
The body can be a unitary structure fabricated from cardboard or by molding
from a rigid or
semi-rigid polymer, such as a polyvinyl chloride or comparable material.
For the protective trapezoidal container embodiment, this device can utilize
handles on the walls
of the body for assistance in lifting the resultant box is contemplated. In a
preferred embodiment,
a first handle (62) is integral with first wall (6) and a second handle (68)
is integral with second
wall (8). The handles can be punched out, forming handholds, or alternatively,
the step of
attaching straps can be contemplated. Straps can be made from a wide variety
of materials, such
as rope, nylon, or leather. Straps may be removably attached, or permanently
attached, such as
through a two hole insertion point. Handles can be plastic handholds, such as
self attaching or
metal handles, which are riveted or bolted to the walls. A cardboard handhold,
could be punched
out of the wall of the body, and used for lifting as well.
The object or artifact (34) could be any number of types of objects, including
but not limited to,
plate glass, stained glass, panels, mirrors, artwork, decorative doors,
ceramic plates, frames, large
plate-like fragile materials, molding, windows, and china for this trapezoidal
configuration.
CA 02343508 2001-04-05
Alternative embodiments contemplate that the walls could be secured, such as
with hinges or
similar attaching means and the top, base and walls could all be independent,
structures which
are their affixed together.
The body of the present invention could comprise one or more of a variety of
lightweight, impact
resistant materials. Contemplated materials include cardboard, corrugated
paper, lightweight
plywood, sheet metal, sheet tin, thin stainless steel, wood, high impact
plastic, metal/plastic
laminate materials, graphite composites, fiberglass, fiberboard or
combinations thereof.
Cardboard is the preferred material of the packing system of the present
invention.
In performing the novel method of the present invention, the slot is
rectangular, but may be of a
square shape, or another appropriate shape to accommodate the angles of the
artifact. Slots,
which are circular, could be used if the artifact is cylindrical or
curvilinear.
In the preferred embodiment of the method using the materials described above,
the following
sizes of holders and body materials are contemplated as usable. The body
material thickness can
be between about 1/8 inch and about 3 inches thick. The typical holders can be
between about
1/4 inch and about 3 inches thick. The overall body for use in the method has
a height of 48 and
1/4 inches, but can range from as small as about 12 inches in height to about
6 feet tall.
A preferred body for use in the present method can have a width at the base of
24 and 9/16'"
inches, but can range from 3 inches in width to about 3 feet in width. The
width at the top of the
body is most preferably 7 and 7/16t" inches, but can range from 3 inches wide
at the top to about
3 feet wide at the time. The preferably height for the body is 48 and 1/4
inches long and can
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range from 12 inches to 6 feet in length. The preferred depth of the body is
67 and 7/8~' inches,
but can range from 12 inches to 10 feet deep.
The method contemplates the use of a holder with a slot opening, which is
rectangular and
preferably 4 and 1/4 inches wide. However, the slot could be as narrow as 1/2
inch and up to 6
inches wide. The height of the slot is preferably 40 inches high, but can
range from as short as 6
inches high up to any height which would be snugly adhered to the interior of
the body. This size
slot typically accommodates the most desired artifact, a 40x 60-inch plate
glass object. The most
preferred materials structure of the holder is a 7 ply laminate structure.
However, the holder
could be constructed from materials, which vary from 1 to20 layers in
thickness. The desired
thickness would depend on the materials selected for the holder and the
particular artifact to be
transported.
FIG. 5 shows an end cap which can be used in the novel method, which has a cap
body (52), a
first engageable edge (54), a second engageable edge (56), a third engageable
edge (58) and a
fourth engageable edge (60). The end-cap is folded in the unique method to
create a "lid like"
1 S construction, much in the manner as lids is constructed for banker's
boxes. In the preferred
method the end cap is not fitted over the openings created in the body ends,
although this is an
alternative embodiment, which is usable within the scope of the present
invention. Instead, the
most preferred method fits the end caps snugly inside the body, creating
strength and an even
more secure formed article for transporting plate glass objects. Additionally,
with the end caps
inserted in this manner, that is, with the body of the end cap recessed, the
assembly of the end
cap onto the body is easier in the field. The assembly method can further use
staples, adhesives,
bolts, rivets, tape, and screws to attach the end caps to the body. 'This
assembly method of the
end caps creates a body, which can be easily lifted.
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CA 02343508 2001-04-05
The unique end cap insertion moves the structural line of support closer to
the centerline of the
body providing greater strength. In a preferred embodiment, the end cap
provides a third layer of
on top of the formed top and formed base.
Alternative embodiments of method for attaching the end caps permit the end
cap to be inserted
into the body, creating a smooth surface, which resists the accumulation of
dirt, mice, or other
items when the created packing device which is stored. In addition, the unique
set of inserting the
end cap forming a non-recessed surface provides a larger volume for the
container, which
enables larger artifacts to be contained in the body. Also printing
information or shipping details
can be placed on the smooth, non-recessed exterior surface of the end cap and
easily viewed
during transport.
A third version of the method for attaching the end caps involves attaching
the end cap to the
body (52) so that the edges, 54, 56, 58 and 60 overlay the exterior of the
body effectively
providing additional protection to the edges of the body, totally
encapsulating the body on each
end.
FIG 6 shows the result of making the additional step of attaching a base
support (44) to the base
of the body ( 16). The resultant base support keeps the body from touching a
floor or similar
surface, which could be wet or contaminated.
A method for packing an object in a trapezoidal pyramid using the steps of:
inserting a first end
of an object into a fiist holder; inserting a second end of an object into a
second holder; attaching
a first component of the body to the second component of the body at the base;
inserting the
object contained by the first and second holders into the assembled body and
attaching the
holders to the base; attaching a first end cap to the body at the base;
attaching a second end cap
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CA 02343508 2001-04-05
to the body at the base; wrapping the first wall of the body to overlap the
extension of the second
wall; attaching the end cap to the body by removably engaging a first
engageable edge, a second
engageable edge, a third engageable edge, and a fourth engageable edge
creating a closed end;
attaching the top of the first and second holders to the first wall extension;
attaching the first wall
extension to the second wall extension, forming a top.
The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit
or essential
characteristics of the invention.
The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims
rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of
the claims, are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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