Shipping container

Claim 2

In a shipping container for a book or the like and of the type comprising a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly attached to the top panel, a plurality of cover panels hingedly attached to at least three of the end panels and a bottom panel hingedly attached to at least one of the end panels, the improvement comprising: a. the bottom panel having formed on each of two opposite sides thereof at least three cushioning panels, the cushioning panels being hingedly attached to each other and to the bottom panel; and b. the bottom panel also having formed on each of the two opposite sides thereof at least two inwardly opening reinforcement panels, each reinforcement panel being formed in part from at least two of the cushioning panels and from the bottom panel.

Claim 3

The improvement as defined in claim 1 further comprising the reinforcement panels being formed in the shape of a trapezoid with the base of the trapezoid being cut in part from at least two of the cushioning panels and in part from the bottom panel.

Claim 4

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the trapezoid is formed from at least three triangular shaped panels cut scored in part from the cushioning panels and in part from the bottom panel.

Claim 5

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein at least two trapezoidal shaped reinforcement panels are formed on each of the two opposite sides of the bottom panel with the bases of the trapezoids being in juxtaposition.

Claim 6

The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein at least two trapezoidal shaped reinforcement panels are formed on each of the two opposite ends of the bottom panel with the bases of the trapezoids being in a facing relationship but being spaced apart.

Claim 7

The improvement as defined in claim 2 further comprising the trapezoid to be formed as an isosceles trapezoid.

Claim 8

In a shipping container having a pair of protective end cells for a book or the like and of the type comprising a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly attached to the top panel, a plurality of cover panels hingedly attached to at least three of the end panels and a bottom panel hingedly attached to at least one of the end panels, the improvement comprising: a. the bottom panel having formed on each of two opposite sides thereof and hingedlY attached thereto a first cushioning panel; a second cushioning panel hingedly attached to the first cushioning panel and a third cushioning panel hingedly attached to the second cushioning panel; and b. the bottom panel also having formed on each of the two opposite sides thereof a pair of reinforcement panels formed in a hexagonal shape and die cut and formed in a manner sufficient to allow the hexagonal shaped reinforcement panels to open inwardly whenever the cushioning panels are wrapped around the reinforcement panels thereby forming the protective end cells for the shipping container.

Claim 9

In a shipping container having a pair of protective end cells for a book or the like and of the type comprising a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly attached to the top panel, a plurality of cover panels hingedly attached to at least three of the end panels and a bottom panel hingedly attached to at least one of the end panels, the improvement comprising: a. the bottom panel having formed on each of two opposite sides thereof and hingedlY attached thereto a first cushioning panel; a second cushioning panel hingedly attached to the first cushioning panel and a third cushioning panel hingedly attached to the second cushioning panel; and b. the bottom panel also having formed on each of the two opposite sides thereof a pair of reinforcement panels formed in a hexagonal shape and die cut and formed in a manner sufficient to allow the hexagonal shaped reinforcement panels to open inwardly whenever the cushioning panels are wrapped around the reinforcement panels thereby forming the protective end cells for the shipping container.

Claim 10

In a shipping container for a book or the like and of the type comprising a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly attached to the top panel, a plurality of cover panels hingedly attached to at least some of the end panels and a bottom panel hingedly attached to at least one of the end panels, the improvement comprising: a. The bottom panel having formed on each of two opposite sides thereof and hingedly attached thereto a first cushioning panel, a second cushioning panel hingedly attached to the first cushioning panel and a third cushioning panel hingedly attached to the second cushioning panel; and b. the bottom panel also having formed in part on each of the two opposite sides thereof and in part on the first and second cushioning panels at least two reinforcement panels, each reinforcement panel being formed so that the innermost portion of the reinforcement panel extends into the bottom panel and the outermost portion of the reinforcement panel extends to the hinge line forming the beginning of the third cushioning panel.

Claim 11

In a shipping container for a book or the like and of the type comprising a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly attached to the top panel, a plurality of cover panels hingedly attached to at least some of the end panels and a bottom panel hingedly attached to at least one of the end panels, the improvement comprising: a. The bottom panel having formed on each of two opposite sides thereof and hingedly attached thereto a first cushioning panel, a second cushioning panel hingedly attached to the first cushioning panel and a third cushioning panel hingedly attached to the second cushioning panel; and b. the bottom panel also having formed in part on each of the two opposite sides thereof and in part on the first and second cushioning panels at least two reinforcement panels, each reinforcement panel being formed so that the innermost portion of the reinforcement panel extends into the bottom panel and the outermost portion of the reinforcement panel extends to the hinge line forming the beginning of the third cushioning panel.

Claim 12

The improvement as defined in claim 8 wherein the reinforcement panels open inwardly whenever the first, the second, and the third cushioning panels are wrapped around the reinforcement panels thereby forming a protective end cell for the shipping container.

Claim 13

The improvement as defined in claim 9 wherein the reinforcement panels are formed in the shape of a trapezoid.