Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6345720
-
Patent Number
6,345,720
-
Date Filed
Monday, December 11, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 12, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Williams, Morgan & Amerson, P.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 320
- 206 449
- 206 485
- 206 561
- 206 564
- 206 587
- 206 722
- 206 723
- 206 725
- 206 521
- 206 707
- 229 406
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A packaging tray includes a base member, first and second side members, and a first top member. The base member has a first plurality of channels defined therein. The first and second side members extend from the base and are rotatable with respect to the base. The first top member extends from one of the first and second side members and is rotatable with respect to the one of the first and second side members. The first top member includes a second plurality of channels defined therein. The first plurality of channels are aligned with the second plurality of channels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to packaging for shipping products and, more particularly, to a single-piece packaging tray useful for packaging items, such as processor modules, for shipping.
2. Description of the Related Art
Packages used in the shipping of sensitive electronic devices protect the devices from both physical damage resulting from bumping and jostling during transit and electrical damage resulting from static electricity discharge. Many electronic devices sensitive to physical and/or electrical damage, such as processor modules (i.e., including a microprocessor, instruction cache and controller, data cache and controller, bus interface unit, etc.), are extremely costly. A single shipping container may hold as many as fifteen microprocessor modules, each valued at hundreds of dollars. For obvious reasons, it is desirable to reduce the likelihood of damage to the processor modules during shipping.
One exemplary packaging tray for shipping processor modules includes two complimentary trays. The bottom tray includes channels for securing the processor modules. Channels in the top tray cooperate with the channels in the bottom tray to form an enclosure for securing the processor module in place. The processor modules are loaded into the bottom tray, with the bottom tray being previously placed in a shipping box. Subsequently, the top tray is fit over the processor modules and the bottom tray, and the shipping box is closed. A two-piece packaging tray has several disadvantages. First, the top and bottom trays are separate inventory items and must be stored, tracked, and ordered separately. Second, although relatively rare, there have been instances where the processor modules were loaded into the bottom tray and the top tray has not been put in place prior to closure of the shipping box.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is seen in a packaging tray including a base member, first and second side members, and a first top member. The base member has a first plurality of channels defined therein. The first and second side members extend from the base and are rotatable with respect to the base. The first top member extends from one of the first and second side members and is rotatable with respect to the one of the first and second side members. The first top member includes a second plurality of channels defined therein. The first plurality of channels are aligned with the second plurality of channels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1
is a top view of a packaging tray in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is an end view of the packaging tray of
FIG. 1
in an open position; and
FIG. 3
is an end view of the packaging tray of
FIG. 1
in an closed position.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
Referring now to the Figures, a packaging tray
10
in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The packaging tray
10
is described with simultaneous reference to a top view of the packaging tray
10
shown
FIG. 1
, an end view of the packaging tray
10
in an open position shown in
FIG. 2
, and an end view of the packaging tray
10
in a closed position shown in FIG.
3
. The packaging tray
10
is adapted to secure articles of manufacture, such as processor modules
15
(shown in phantom lines in FIG.
3
), during shipping.
The packaging tray
10
includes a base member
20
, side members
30
, and top members
40
. In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging tray
10
is contiguous in that it is formed from a single sheet of source material. The packaging tray
10
is formed from an anti-static material, such as a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) or Polyethylene Terephthalate, Glycol Modified (PETG) material using a conventional thermal forming process. Hinges
50
are disposed between the side members
30
and the base member
20
, and hinges
60
are disposed between the side members
30
and the top members
40
. The hinges
50
,
60
allow the side and top members
30
,
40
to be folded such that the side members
30
contact sides of the processor module
15
, and the top members
40
contact a top of the processor module
15
. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinges
50
,
60
have a roughly w-shaped cross-section, although other cross-sections, such as c-shaped, may be used.
The base member
20
includes a bottom edge
70
, from which sloped sidewalls
80
extend. A top surface
90
, raised with respect to the bottom edge
70
, is defined between the sidewalls
80
. A first plurality of channels
100
are defined in the top surface
90
for engaging with the processor module
15
. A plurality of support feet
110
extend downwardly from the top surface
90
, roughly in the same plane as the bottom edge
70
for providing structural support for the base member
20
while the processor modules
15
are being loaded into the packaging tray
10
. The channels
100
include end walls
120
that prevent transverse movement of the processor modules
15
.
The side members
30
include sloped sidewalls
130
and channels
140
defined in a top surface
150
. The angles of the sidewalls
130
of the side members
30
and the sidewalls
80
of the base member
20
cooperate to position the channels
140
at an approximately 90° angle relative to the channels
100
when the packaging tray
10
is in a closed position (as shown in FIG.
3
). Pockets
160
are defined in the sidewalls
80
for providing additional cushioning to the processor modules
15
from potential side impacts experienced during shipping.
The top members
40
include sloped sidewalls
170
and channels
180
defined in a top surface
190
. The angles of the sidewalls
130
of the side members
30
and the sidewalls
170
of the top members
40
cooperate to form an approximately 90° angle between the channels
140
,
180
when the packaging tray
10
is in a closed position. The top members
40
include overlapping flanges
200
,
210
with cooperating fasteners
220
,
230
. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener
220
is a square button extending from the flange
200
, and the fastener
230
is a round button extending from the flange
210
. The fasteners
220
,
230
frictionally engage one another and hold the packaging tray
10
in the closed position. It is contemplated that other fastener types may be used, such as cooperating hook and loop fasteners, for example.
As seen in
FIG. 3
, with the packaging tray
10
in the closed position, the processor modules
15
are offset from the edges of the packaging tray
10
. In such an arrangement, air spaces present around the processor modules
15
isolate them from impacts to the shipping box that holds the packaging tray
10
.
Although the invention is illustrated as having symmetric side and top members,
30
,
40
, various alternative embodiments are possible. For example, only one top member
40
, similar in size to the base member
20
may be used. One of the side members
30
may have a flange for interfacing with the top member
40
. In another embodiment, the channels
140
on the side members
30
may be omitted. The channels
180
in the top members
40
may include end walls, similar to the end walls
120
in the channels
100
in the base member
20
, for preventing lateral displacement of the processor modules.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.
Claims
- 1. A packaging tray, comprising:a base member having a first plurality of channels defined therein; first and second side members extending from the base and being rotatable with respect to the base; and first and second top members extending from the first and second side members, respectively, and being rotatable with respect to the first and second side members, the first top member including a second plurality of channels defined therein, the second top member including a third plurality of channels defined therein, and the first plurality of channels being aligned with the second and third pluralities of channels.
- 2. The packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the first and second side members include fourth and fifth respective pluralities of channels formed therein, the fourth and fifth pluralities of channels being aligned with the first, second, and third pluralities of channels.
- 3. The packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the base member includes:a bottom edge; sidewalls extending from the bottom edge; and a top surface defined between the sidewalls, the first plurality of channels being defined in the top surface.
- 4. The packaging tray of claim 3, further comprising at least one support foot defined in the top surface, the support foot extending downwardly from the top surface and being in substantially the same plane as the bottom edge.
- 5. The packaging tray of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of channels includes end walls.
- 6. The packaging tray of claim 2, wherein the first and second side members each include:a bottom edge; sidewalls extending from the bottom edge; and a top surface defined between the sidewalls, the fourth and fifth pluralities of channels being defined in the top surfaces of the first and second side members.
- 7. The packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the first and second top members each include:a bottom edge; sidewalls extending from the bottom edge; and a top surface defined between the sidewalls, the second and third pluralities of channels being defined in the top surfaces of the first and second top members.
- 8. The packaging tray of claim 1, further comprising first and second hinges defined between the base member and the first and second side members.
- 9. The packaging tray of claim 8, wherein the first and second hinges comprises bends having a w-shaped cross section.
- 10. The packaging tray of claim 1, further comprising a first hinge defined between the first top member and the first side member and a second hinge defined between the second top member and the second side member.
- 11. The packaging tray of claim 10, wherein the first and second hinges comprise bends having a w-shaped cross section.
- 12. The packaging tray of claim 1, wherein the first top member includes a first flange and the second top member includes a second flange, the first and second flanges cooperating to secure the first top member to the second top member.
- 13. The packaging tray of claim 12 wherein the first flange includes a first fastener and the second flange includes a second fastener adapted to engage the first fastener.
- 14. The packaging tray of claim 13 wherein the first fastener comprises a round button and the second fastener comprises a square button.
US Referenced Citations (5)