Package corner post

Claim 2

An integral, elongated, vertical corner post for cushioning and protecting a vertical edge of an article, the corner post having an outer covering formed of corrugated fiberboard having horizontal corrugations, the outer covering comprising an elongated inner base panel adapted to lie adjacent a first surface of the article, an elongated step panel disposed transversely to said inner base panel and adapted to lie adjacent a second surface of the article, an edge of the article formed by the intersection of the first and second surfaces being received by a recess formed by the intersection of said inner base panel and said step panel, an elongated outer base panel disposed substantially parallel to said inner base panel, and elongated panel means interconnecting said step panel and said outer base panel and forming a vertex at its intersection with said outer base panel, said vertex being designed to fit into the corner of an outer container in which the corner post is employed, wherein the improvement comprises said panel means having an elongated line of weakness disposed therein and located such that said panel means will fold outward at said line of weakness upon the application of lateral compressive force to thereby cushion the edge of the protected article against the force.

Claim 3

A corner post according to claim 1 further comprising reinforcement means located interior of said outer base panel and such panel means and formed of corrugated material having vertical corrugations, said reinforcement means protecting the article against vertical compressive force.

Claim 4

A corner post according to claim 2 wherein said reinforcement means comprises a first reinforcing panel secured to the interior face of said outer base panel and a second reinforcing panel integral with said first reinforcing panel and positioned adjacent the interior face of said panel means, said second reinforcing panel being separable from said panel means when said application of lateral compressive force causes said panel means to fold outward at said line of weakness, said second reinfOrcing panel preventing the collapse of said folding panel means.

Claim 5

A corner post according to claim 3 further comprising a third reinforcing panel positioned between and secured to the inwardly directed faces of said inner base panel and said first reinforcing panel.

Claim 6

A corner post according to claim 3 wherein the intersection between said first and second reinforcing panels is located immediately interior of said vertex.

Claim 7

A corner post according to claim 3 wherein said panel means includes a vertex panel which is disposed substantially perpendicular to said outer base panel to which it is hinged.

Claim 8

A corner post in accordance with claim 3 wherein said outer base panel is adhesively attached to said first reinforcement panel over a major portion of its area but not including the region adjacent said vertex for a width at least equal to the width of said vertex panel.

Claim 9

A corner post according to claim 6 wherein said panel means includes a hypotenuse panel which extends from said vertex panel to said step panel and wherein said line of weakness is disposed not farther from the midpoint of said panel than about 10 percent of the width of said hypotenuse panel.

Claim 10

A corner post in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reinforcement means includes a short fourth panel hinged between said first and second panels lying adjacent the interior surface of said vertex panel.

Claim 11

An integral corner post for cushioning and protecting a vertical edge of an article within an outer container of generally rectangular horizontal cross section, which corner post is formed of a corrugated fiberboard member having horizontal corrugations and a corrugated member having vertical corrugations, said corner post being adapted for disposition in surface-to-surface contact with first and second perpendicular surfaces of the article being protected and first and second inner sidewalls of the outer container, said corner post being designed to extend longitudinally for at least a major portion of the height of the protected article, said vertically corrugated member being wrapped outside said other member and having an outer base panel adapted to lie adjacent the first sidewall of the outer container, said outer base panel being secured along a major portion of the opposite surface thereof to an outer base reinforcing panel of said inner member, said outer member having a vertex panel hinged to said outer base panel which is adapted to lie adjacent the second sidewall of the container, having panel means hinged to and extending from said vertex panel to a hinged step panel that lies adjacent the second surface of the protected article, and also having an inner base panel hinged to said step panel and being adapted to lie adjacent the first surface of the protected article, said inner horizontally corrugated member having a diagonal panel hinged to said outer base reinforcing panel thereof and extending generally from the intersection of said outer base panel and said vertex panel to the intersection of said panel means and said step panel, said diagonal panel containing a longitudinal line of weakness in a central location therein, which line of weakness causes controlled failure to occur resulting in outward folding of said diagonal panel to prevent damage to the article being protected while continuing to support said vertically corrugated member and cushion the vertical edge of the article.

Claim 12

An integral corner post for cushioning and protecting a vertical edge of an article within an outer container of generally rectangular horizontal cross section, which corner post is formed of a corrugated fiberboard member having horizontal corrugations and a corrugated member having vertical corrugations, said corner post being adapted for disposition in surface-to-surface contact with first and second perpendicular surfaces of the article being protected and first and second inner sidewalls of the outer container, said corner post being designed to extend longitudinally for at least a major portion of the height of the protected article, said vertically corrugated member being wrapped outside said other member and having an outer base panel adapted to lie adjacent the first sidewall of the outer container, said outer base panel being secured along a major portion of the opposite surface thereof to an outer base reinforcing panel of said inner member, said outer member having a vertex panel hinged to said outer base panel which is adapted to lie adjacent the second sidewall of the container, having panel means hinged to and extending from said vertex panel to a hinged step panel that lies adjacent the second surface of the protected article, and also having an inner base panel hinged to said step panel and being adapted to lie adjacent the first surface of the protected article, said inner horizontally corrugated member having a diagonal panel hinged to said outer base reinforcing panel thereof and extending generally from the intersection of said outer base panel and said vertex panel to the intersection of said panel means and said step panel, said diagonal panel containing a longitudinal line of weakness in a central location therein, which line of weakness causes controlled failure to occur resulting in outward folding of said diagonal panel to prevent damage to the article being protected while continuing to support said vertically corrugated member and cushion the vertical edge of the article.

Claim 13

A corner post in accordance with claim 10 wherein said line of weakness is located not farther from the midpoint of said diagonal panel than about 10 percent of the width of said diagonal panel.