Claims
- 1. A package for a generally rectangular appliance having four vertical corners, said package having separate components and comprising:
- (1) a four-cornered, generally rectangular, separate bottom support;
- (2) a separate, uniformly right-angled corner post vertically disposed at each corner of the bottom support and each corner post vertically extending generally along a corner of a rectangular appliance received between the corner posts and above the bottom support such that the corner posts bear against the appliance corners and wherein the corner posts extend above an uppermost surface of the appliance a distance sufficient that the weight of a similarly packaged appliance stacked on said package is substantially carried by the corner posts;
- (3) a four-cornered, rectangular separate top cap disposed on the corner posts at the corners of the top cap;
- (4) a first tensile strap extending across the top cap, over first and second of said corner posts and under said bottom support and a second tensile strap extending across the top cap, over third and fourth of said corner posts and under said bottom support such that the said tensile straps transfer a tensile stress induced therein directly to the corner posts; and
- wherein said corner posts are made of fiber board sufficient to allow said stacking without substantial crushing of the corner posts and the tensile straps are made of a material sufficient to allow the package to be vertically lifted from near the top cap thereof without separating said components thereof, and wherein the package has open side walls between adjacent corner posts.
- 2. The package of claim 1, further comprising substantially transparent wrapper material extending around said package and overlying at least the areas of said package between adjacent ones of said corner posts.
- 3. The package of claim 1, comprising a third tensile strap extending around said top cap and said top cap comprising a vertically extending flange spaced from the side of said package to permit handling of said package by a lift mechanism adapted to insert a vertically extending plate to engage said flange.
- 4. The package of claim 1, further including at least one standoff pad adapted to bear against one or more of said corner posts and against an appliance disposable therein.
- 5. The package of claim 4, wherein at least one standoff pad extends between at least two of said corner posts to create a beam providing protection in the area between said posts and bracing said posts against inward deflection.
- 6. The package of claim 1, wherein said top cap further comprising an upper surface and four skirt portions extending substantially vertically, at least one of said skirt portions comprising a folded reinforcing flap, said flap being folded to comprise a triangular brace with said upper surface and said at least one skirt portion, said flap extending between two of said corner posts whereby said flap reinforces said top cap and limits deflection of said posts toward one another.
- 7. The package of claim 1 wherein at least said top cap and each of said corner posts comprise fibre board material.
- 8. An appliance package comprising a separate top cap, a separate bottom support and four separate corner posts, a first tensile strap extending across said top cap, said bottom support and adjacent first and second of said corner posts and a second tensile strap extending across said top cap, said bottom support and adjacent the third and fourth of said corner posts, said top cap further comprising an upper surface and four skirt portions extending substantially vertically, at least one of said skirt portions comprising a folded reinforcing flap, said flap being folded to comprise a brace with said upper surface and said at least one skirt portion, said flap extending between two of said corner posts whereby said flap reinforces said top cap and limits deflection of said posts toward one another.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/817,716, filed Jan. 7, 1992now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Acknowledge prior art described in the Information Disclosure Statement received Apr. 14, 1992. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
817716 |
Jan 1992 |
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