Patent US3732976A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3732976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package for fragile articles
Assignee: Packaging Corp of America
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Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A package for fragile articles is provided which includes a container having a bottom surface delimited by upright walls, and a plurality of article-loaded trays arranged in a compact, stacked, superposed relation and disposed within the container. Each tray has a plurality of article accommodating pockets separated by struts. The struts of a tray are in vertical alignment with the pockets of the trays disposed immediately above and below. The peripheries of the stacked trays are adapted to be vertically supported by the adjacent walls of the container thereby preventing sagging of certain of the peripheral pockets during storage or transporting of the loaded container.
Inventors
- 👤 C Bessett
- 👤 T Misdom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/02; B65D81/05; B65D81/127; B65D81/133; B65D1/00; B65D1/34; B65D1/36; B65D77/00; B65D77/04; B65D77/0413; B65D77/0433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A package for fragile articles comprising a container having a substantially horizontal bottom delimited by upright walls; and a plurality of relatively stiff article-loaded trays arranged in stacked, horizontal, substantially superposed relation within said container, the height of the stack being substantially coextensive with the height of the container walls; each tray haVing a peripheral configuration closely approximating the area delimited by said container walls and including a continuous upwardly extending peripheral flange, a plurality of laterally spaced, article-receiving pockets, said pockets being recessed a substantial distance from a given horizontal plane defined by the upper edge portion of said flange, and a plurality of strut portions disposed intermediate and separating said pockets, the strut portions of one tray being in substantial vertical alignment with the pockets of the tray disposed therebeneath, each strut portion having the upper surface thereof contoured to provide a centrally disposed elongated hump and broad bandlike shoulders extending laterally from opposite sides of said hump, segments of the upper surface of the strut portions being substAntially coplanar with said given horizontal plane; the under surface of each strut portion being contoured whereby the broad bandlike shoulders extend divergently downwardly from the under surface of said hump and are adjustable about said hump as an axis and yieldably engage in a slinglike relation the exterior of an article disposed therebeneath; said peripheral flange having segments thereof engaging the adjacent container walls whereby said segments being vertically supportable by said container walls and said tray remain in substantially parallel relation with respect to said container bottom; the engagement between said container wall and said flange segments being elevated relative to areas of engagement between the under surfaces of the strut portions of one tray and the exterior of the articles accommodated by a second tray disposed therebeneath.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A package for fragile articles comprising a container having a substantially horizontal bottom delimited by upright walls; and a plurality of relatively stiff article-loaded trays arranged in stacked, horizontal, substantially superposed relation within said container, the height of the stack being substantially coextensive with the height of the container walls; each tray haVing a peripheral configuration closely approximating the area delimited by said container walls and including a continuous upwardly extending peripheral flange, a plurality of laterally spaced, article-receiving pockets, said pockets being recessed a substantial distance from a given horizontal plane defined by the upper edge portion of said flange, and a plurality of strut portions disposed intermediate and separating said pockets, the strut portions of one tray being in substantial vertical alignment with the pockets of the tray disposed therebeneath, each strut portion having the upper surface thereof contoured to provide a centrally disposed elongated hump and broad bandlike shoulders extending laterally from opposite sides of said hump, segments of the upper surface of the strut portions being substAntially coplanar with said given horizontal plane; the under surface of each strut portion being contoured whereby the broad bandlike shoulders extend divergently downwardly from the under surface of said hump and are adjustable about said hump as an axis and yieldably engage in a slinglike relation the exterior of an article disposed therebeneath; said peripheral flange having segments thereof engaging the adjacent container walls whereby said segments being vertically supportable by said container walls and said tray remain in substantially parallel relation with respect to said container bottom; the engagement between said container wall and said flange segments being elevated relative to areas of engagement between the under surfaces of the strut portions of one tray and the exterior of the articles accommodated by a second tray disposed therebeneath.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The package of claim 1 wherein each tray of the stack is of like construction and successive trays of a stack are turned 180* relative to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The package of claim 2 wherein each pocket of a tray has a substantially oval configuration and the longitudinal axes of the pockets are in parallel relation with respect to a given wall of said container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The package of claim 1 wherein each tray is of molded pulp construction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The package of claim 1 wherein the upper surface segments of the strut portions comprise the upper end limits of said humps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said pockets are arranged in a plurality of elongated, substantially parallel rows with the pockets in one row being in staggered relation with the pockets in an adjacent row.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The package of claim 1 wherein said given horizontal plane is defined by the upper edge of said continuous peripheral range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |