Case for shipping articles in an upright position and in spaced lateral separation

Claim 2

A case for the shipment of an article in a substantially upright position and in spaced lateral separation from adjoining articles and portions of said case, comprising:

Claim 3

A plurality of wall panels, said wall panels foldably interconnected to form a wall panel unit, an end panel of said unit being affixed to the opposed end panel of said unit; 2. at least one external bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel; 3. a bottom indexing and support panel, said indexing bottom panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said panel, said projection adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of said article relative to said bottom indexing panel; 4. at least one internal bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal bottom panel containing therein at least one aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the projection of said bottom indexing panel, said bottom indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels. 5. a top indexing panel Containing therein at least one female recess projecting in a substantially upright direction from said top indexing panel, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top of said article; 6. at least one internal top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel containing therein at least a single aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of said female recess into which said portion of the top of said article is inserted; and 7. at least one external top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel being sandwiched between said top indexing panel and said external top panel.

Claim 4

A plurality of wall panels, said wall panels foldably interconnected to form a wall panel unit, an end panel of said unit being affixed to the opposed end panel of said unit; 2. at least one external bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel; 3. a bottom indexing and support panel, said indexing bottom panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said panel, said projection adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of said article relative to said bottom indexing panel; 4. at least one internal bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal bottom panel containing therein at least one aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the projection of said bottom indexing panel, said bottom indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels. 5. a top indexing panel Containing therein at least one female recess projecting in a substantially upright direction from said top indexing panel, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top of said article; 6. at least one internal top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel containing therein at least a single aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of said female recess into which said portion of the top of said article is inserted; and 7. at least one external top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel being sandwiched between said top indexing panel and said external top panel.

Claim 5

at least one external bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel;

Claim 6

at least one external bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel;

Claim 7

a pair of external bottom panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels;

Claim 8

a pair of external bottom panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels;

Claim 9

The case of claim 1 wherein said bottom indexing and support panel and said top indexing panel are fabricated from a thermoformed plastic material.

Claim 10

The case of claim 2 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene.

Claim 11

a bottom indexing and support panel containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced projections rising in an upright direction from said panel, each of said projections containing disposed therein a recess adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom section of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of said article relative to said bottom indexing and support panel.

Claim 12

a bottom indexing and support panel containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced projections rising in an upright direction from said panel, each of said projections containing disposed therein a recess adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom section of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of said article relative to said bottom indexing and support panel.

Claim 13

a bottom indexing and support panel, said indexing bottom panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said panel, said projection adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of said article relative to said bottom indexing panel;

Claim 14

a bottom indexing and support panel, said indexing bottom panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said panel, said projection adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom of said article so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of said article relative to said bottom indexing panel;

Claim 15

at least one internal bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal bottom panel containing therein at least one aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the projection of said bottom indexing panel, said bottom indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels.

Claim 16

at least one internal bottom panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal bottom panel containing therein at least one aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the projection of said bottom indexing panel, said bottom indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels.

Claim 17

a pair of internal bottom panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, each of said panels containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced apertures, said apertures adapted to fit around the periphery of the projections of the bottom article indexing panel, said bottom article indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels;

Claim 18

a pair of internal bottom panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, each of said panels containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced apertures, said apertures adapted to fit around the periphery of the projections of the bottom article indexing panel, said bottom article indexing panel being sandwiched between said external and said internal bottom panels;

Claim 19

The case of claim 1 wherein said bottom indexing and support panel contains a plurality of said projections and wherein said top indexing panel contains a plurality of female recesses, and wherein said internal bottom panel and internal top panel contain a plurality of apertures corresponding, respectively, to the number of said projections and female recesses.

Claim 20

The case of claim 1 wherein said projection comprises an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall disposed within said outer wall to define a circumferential groove between said inner and outer cylindrical walls into which the bottom of the article is insertable.

Claim 21

a top indexing panel containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced female recesses projecting upwardly from said top indexing panel, said recesses adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top section of said article;

Claim 22

a top indexing panel containing therein a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced female recesses projecting upwardly from said top indexing panel, said recesses adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top section of said article;

Claim 23

a top indexing panel Containing therein at least one female recess projecting in a substantially upright direction from said top indexing panel, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top of said article;

Claim 24

a top indexing panel Containing therein at least one female recess projecting in a substantially upright direction from said top indexing panel, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top of said article;

Claim 25

at least one internal top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel containing therein at least a single aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of said female recess into which said portion of the top of said article is inserted; and

Claim 26

at least one internal top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel containing therein at least a single aperture which is adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of said female recess into which said portion of the top of said article is inserted; and

Claim 27

a pair of internal top panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, said internal top panels each containing therein a plurality of substantially evenly spaced apertures adapted to peripherally circumscribe said portions of said female recesses into which said portion of said top section of said article is inserted; and

Claim 28

a pair of internal top panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, said internal top panels each containing therein a plurality of substantially evenly spaced apertures adapted to peripherally circumscribe said portions of said female recesses into which said portion of said top section of said article is inserted; and

Claim 29

The case of claim 1 wherein said projection comprises a cylindrical plug which provides a male plug for insertion into the bottom of the article.

Claim 30

The case of claim 6 wherein the aperture of said internal bottom panel is dimensioned to provide an annular groove between the periphery of the plug and the periphery of the aperture, the bottom of the article being insertable into said groove.

Claim 31

a pair of external top panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, said internal top panels being sandwiched between said top panel and said external top panels.

Claim 32

a pair of external top panels foldably connected to opposed wall panels, said internal top panels being sandwiched between said top panel and said external top panels.

Claim 33

at least one external top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel being sandwiched between said top indexing panel and said external top panel.

Claim 34

at least one external top panel foldably connected to a wall panel, said internal top panel being sandwiched between said top indexing panel and said external top panel.

Claim 35

The case of claim 1 wherein said projection comprises a plug having disposed therein a recess of hemispherical configuration into which the bottom of the article is insertable.

Claim 36

The case of claim 1 wherein said bottom indexing and support panel contains therein at least one aperture to provide communication between the internal and external bottom panels.

Claim 37

The case of claim 9 wherein internal and external bottom panels are attached to each other by an adhesive disposed in said aperture of said bottom indexing and support panel.

Claim 38

The case of claim 1 wherein said case contains a plurality of internal and external top panels and a plurality of internal and external bottom panels.

Claim 39

The case of claim 1 further including a flap foldably connected to the internal top panel, said flap being folded onto the upper surface of said internal top panel to provide communication between the internal and external top panels.

Claim 40

The case of claim 11 further including a plurality of flaps each foldably connected to an internal top panel, each of said flaps being folded onto the upper surface of an internal top panel to provide communication between the internal and external top panels.

Claim 41

The case of claim 1 wherein a plurality of layers of packaged articles are employed further including a separator layer assembly disposed between adjacent layers of articles, said assembly comprising: a. a top indexing panel containing therein at least one female recess projecting in a substantially upright direction from said top indexing panel, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top section of an article in a first lower layer of the case; b. a first separator panel containing therein at least a single aperture adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of said female recess of (a) into which said portion of the top section of said article in the lower layer is inserted, panel (b) resting atop panel (a); c. a bottom indexing and support panel resting atop said firSt separator panel, said bottom support panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said bottom support panel, said projection adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom of an article in a second upper layer in the case so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of the article relative to said panel (c), said second upper layer being vertically disposed above said first lower layer; and d. a second separator panel containing therein at least a single aperture adapted to peripherally circumscribe the projections of said bottom indexing panel (c), said panel (c) being sandwiched between said first and second separator panels.

Claim 42

The case of claim 14 wherein said bottom indexing and support panel (c) contains a plurality of projections and wherein said top indexing panel (a) contains a plurality of female recesses, and wherein the first and second separator panels contain a plurality of apertures corresponding, respectively, to the number of said female recesses and projections.

Claim 43

The case of claim 14 wherein said panels (a) and (c) are fabricated from a thermoformed plastic material.

Claim 44

The case of claim 14 wherein said first and second separator panels are foldably interconnected.

Claim 45

The case of claim 14 further including a third separator panel sandwiched between said first separator panel and said bottom indexing and support panel (c).

Claim 46

The case of claim 18 wherein said first, second, and third separator panels are foldably interconnected.

Claim 47

A shipping case for the shipment of an article in a substantially upright position and in spaced lateral separation from adjoining articles and portions of said case, comprising:

Claim 48

A shipping case for the shipment of an article in a substantially upright position and in spaced lateral separation from adjoining articles and portions of said case, comprising:

Claim 49

The case of claim 20 wherein the bottom indexing and support panel and the top indexing panel are flexible and are fabricated from polyethylene.

Claim 50

The case of claim 20 wherein a plurality of layers of packaged articles are employed, said case further including a separator layer assembly disposed between adjacent layers of articles, said assembly comprising: a. a top indexIng panel containing therein at least one female recess projecting in an upright direction, said recess adapted to peripherally circumscribe at least a portion of the top section of an article of a first lower layer in the case; b. a first separator panel containing therein at least a single aperture adapted to peripherally circumscribe the portion of the female recess of (a) into which said portion of the top section of the articles in said lower layer is inserted; c. a bottom indexing and support panel resting atop said first separator panel, said bottom support panel having at least one projection rising in an upright direction from said bottom support panel, said projection being adapted to engage at least a portion of the bottom section of an article in a second upper layer in the case, said second upper layer being vertically disposed above said first lower layer, so as to prevent any substantial lateral movement of the bottom of said article relative to said bottom indexing and support panel; and d. a second separator panel containing therein at least a single aperture adapted to fit over the projections of said bottom indexing panel (c), said panel (c) being sandwiched between said first and second separator panels.

Claim 51

THe case of claim 22 further including a third separator panel sandwiched between said first separator panel and said bottom indexing and support panel (c).

Claim 52

The case of claim 22 wherein panels (a) and (c) are fabricated form a plastic material.

Claim 53

The case of claim 24 wherein said plastic material is polyethylene.

Claim 54

The case of claim 22 wherein said panel (a) contains a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced female recesses and panel (c) contains a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced projections and wherein said first and second separator panels each contain a plurality of apertures corresponding, respectively, to the number of said female recesses and projections.