Claims
- 1. A packaging structure for a bundle of panels in which each panel has two major surfaces and a plurality of edge surfaces connecting the two major surfaces, wherein the plurality of edge surfaces of the panels form edge sides of the bundle, said packaging structure comprising:
- a plurality of corner caps with each one located at a corner of the bundle where two edge surfaces of each panel intersect and extending across the edge surfaces of every panel, and each corner cap has a base with a retainer member extending therefrom at an angle for embracing one corner of the bundle;
- a plurality of sheets with each being received within the retainer members of two of the plurality of corner caps to prevent racking of the bundle of panels; and
- a plurality of strapping bands each extending around the plurality of corner caps, wherein two of the plurality of strapping bands extend across two edge sides of the bundle parallel to a length axis of the edge surfaces which form those two edge sides, and extend diagonally across two other edge sides of the bundle.
- 2. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 wherein each corner cap is formed of molded plastic.
- 3. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the base has a plurality of feet projecting therefrom away from the bundle of panels.
- 4. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the retainer member of each corner cap contains a cavity for receiving an edge surface of one of the plurality of sheets.
- 5. The packaging structure as recited in claim 4 wherein the retainer member of each corner cap has a plurality of ribs projecting into the cavity to bite into the one of the plurality of sheets.
- 6. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of sheets are formed of material selected from the group consisting of wood, oriented strand board, plastic and corrugated cardboard.
- 7. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of the corner caps has a slide plate movably mounted to the base for engaging the bundle of panels.
- 8. The packaging structure as recited in claim 7 wherein the slide plate comprises a wall with one surface for engaging the bundle of panels and an opposing surface and, a pair of buttresses extending from the opposing surface and resting against the base.
- 9. The packaging structure as recited in claim 7 wherein the base has a guide channel; and the slide plate comprises wall with a buttress extending from the wall and into the guide channel.
- 10. The packaging structure as recited in claim 9 wherein the base has a surface with teeth; and the slide plate further comprises an arm which releasably engages the teeth to provide a ratchet mechanism for holding the slide plate against the bundle of panels.
- 11. The packaging structure as recited in claim 1 further comprising a support tray held beneath the bundle of panels by the plurality of strapping bands.
- 12. The packaging structure as recited in claim 11 wherein the support tray has a pair of grooves for receiving tines of a lifting fork of an industrial truck.
- 13. A packaging structure for a bundle of panels with each panel having two major rectangular surfaces and four edge surfaces connecting the two major surfaces, wherein the four edge surfaces of the panels form four edge sides of the bundle, said packaging structure comprising:
- four corner caps with each one located along a corner of the bundle formed by an intersection of two edge sides, and each corner cap having a base and a retainer member connected together in an L-shape for embracing one corner of the bundle, and the retainer member having a cavity;
- a first sheet received within the cavity of the retainer members of one pair of the plurality of corner caps to prevent racking of the bundle of panels;
- a second sheet received within the cavity of retainer members of another pair of the plurality of corner caps to prevent racking of the bundle of panels; and
- a plurality of strapping bands each extending around the plurality of corner caps, wherein two of the plurality of strapping bands extend across two opposing edge sides of the bundle parallel to a length dimension of the edge surfaces which form those two opposing edge sides, and extend diagonally across two other edge sides of the bundle.
- 14. The packaging structure as recited in claim 13 wherein the base has a plurality of feet projecting therefrom away from the bundle of panels.
- 15. The packaging structure as recited in claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of corner caps further comprises first and second slide plates movably located at opposite ends of the base for holding the bundle of panels between the first and second slide plates.
- 16. The packaging structure as recited in claim 13 wherein the base has two guide channels and a groove with teeth; and further comprising a slide plate having a wall, with two buttresses extending from the wall into the guide channels and an arm extending from the wall and releasably engaging one of the teeth to secure the slide plate against the bundle of panels.
- 17. The packaging structure as recited in claim 13 further comprising a support tray held beneath the bundle of panels by the plurality of strapping bands.
- 18. A packaging structure for a bundle of panels with each panel having two major rectangular surfaces and four edge surfaces connecting the two major surfaces, wherein the four edge surfaces of the panels form four edge sides of the bundle, said packaging structure comprising:
- four corner caps with each one located along a corner of the bundle formed by an intersection of two edge sides, and each corner cap having a base and a retainer member connected together in an L-shape for embracing one corner of the bundle, and the retainer member having a cavity;
- a first sheet received within the cavity of the retainer members of one pair of the plurality of corner caps to prevent racking of the bundle of panels;
- a second sheet received within the cavity of retainer members of another pair of the plurality of corner caps to prevent racking of the bundle of panels; and
- a plurality of strapping bands each extending around the plurality of corner caps and the bundle of panels, wherein two of the strapping bands extend across two opposing edge sides of the bundle parallel to a length of the edge surfaces which form those two opposing edge sides, and extend diagonally across two other edge sides of the bundle.
- 19. The packaging structure as recited in claim 18 wherein another strapping band extends lengthwise along all edge surfaces of the panels.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation in part of patent application Ser. No. 08/745,166, filed Nov. 7, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (31)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 103 535 |
Sep 1983 |
EPX |
2 268 712 |
Nov 1975 |
FRX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
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745166 |
Nov 1996 |
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