Packaging device

Claim 2

A packaging device for a fragile plate-like article which comprises: a first generally rectangular panel member having a foldable lock-tab member, at least one foldable hold-down flap and a cut-out surrounding said lock-tab member; a second generally rectangular panel member corresponding substantially in size to said first panel member and having an opening corresponding in location to said lock-tab member; means fastening said first and second panel members along their side and bottom marginal edges such that the space between the respective panel members defines an envelope-like receptacle for the plate-like article; said lock-tab member having a generally vertically extending stem portion and two laterally extending side portions so as to define a generally inverted T-shaped configuration; said cut-out portion having side marginal edges and a top edge, said top edge forming an integral connection with the end of said stem portion of said lock-tab member that is remote from said side portions thereof, the distance between said side marginal edges of said cut-out being smaller than the distance between the opposed ends of said laterally extending side portions of said lock-tab member so as to enable said side marginal edges to overlap said side portions when the packaging device is assembled and locked; said hold-down flap being defined by a generally horizontally disposed slit and a pair of slits depending generally downwardly therefrom, such that when a plate-like article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle said hold-down flap can be folded over the top edge of the article and down between the article and said second panel member; and said opening being sufficiently large such that when an article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle, said lock-tab member can be pushed through said opening and folded through a complete turn of 360*, whereafter said side portions of said lock-tab member can be inserted under said side marginal edges of said cut-out, and thus between said first and second panel members so as to lock the article within the packaging device.

Claim 3

The packaging device of claim 1, wherein said first panel member comprises two hold-down flaps substantially equispaced with respect to the marginal side edges of said first panel, and wherein said lock-tab member is substantially equispaced between said hold-down Flaps.

Claim 4

The packaging device of claim 2, wherein said first and second panels are stitched along their side and bottom marginal edges.

Claim 5

The packaging device of claim 3, wherein said first and second panel members are flat and wherein said packaging device is adapted for packaging planar articles.

Claim 6

The packaging device of claim 4 including a planar sheet-like glass article packaged therein.

Claim 7

The packaging device of claim 3 wherein said first and second panels are curvilinear and wherein said packaging device is adapted for packaging curvilinear articles.

Claim 8

The packaging device of claim 6 including a curvilinear sheet-like glass article packaged therein.

Claim 9

The packaging device of claim 3, wherein said second panel member further comprises a door-like, foldable flap means adapted to reinforce said lock-tab member and to prevent said side portions of said lock-tab member from being withdrawn inadvertently from under said side marginal edges of said cut-out when the packaging device is locked, said door-like flap means comprising a pair of flap members integrally connected to and extending toward each other from the side marginal edges of said opening in said second panel member, said flap members being foldable in the direction away from said first panel member so as to permit said lock-tab member to pass through said opening, said flap members being disposed in the plane of said second panel member when the packaging device is locked.

Claim 10

The packaging device of claim 1, wherein said hold-down flap includes fold lines to facilitate folding said flap over and behind an article placed in said receptacle.

Claim 11

The packaging device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of perforations are provided in said first panel member, said perforations extending generally downwardly from said downwardly extending slits of said hold-down flap so as to facilitate the enlargement of said flap as dictated by the relative size of the article being packaged.

Claim 12

A packaging device for a fragile plate-like article, which comprises: a generally rectangular body having a first longitudinal fold line dividing said body into first and second panels, said first panel having substantially the same dimensions as said second panel, said body being folded along said first fold line such that said first panel and said second panel are disposed in face-to-face relationship; means fastening said first and second panels along their side marginal edges such that the space between the respective panels defines an envelope-like receptacle; said first panel having a foldable lock-tab member, at least one foldable hold-down flap and a cut-out surrounding said lock-tab member; said second panel having an opening corresponding in location to said lock-tab member; said lock-tab member having a generally vertically extending stem portion and two laterally extending side portions so as to define a generally inverted T-shaped configuration; said cut-out portion having side marginal edges and a top edge, said top edge forming an integral connection with the end of said stem portion of said lock-tab member that is remote from said side portions thereof, the distance between said side marginal edges of said cut-out being smaller than the distance between the opposed ends of said laterally extending side portions of said lock-tab member so as to enable said side marginal edges to overlap said side portions when the packaging device is assembled and locked; said hold-down flap being defined by a generally horizontally disposed slit and a pair of slits depending generally downwardly therefrom, such that when a plate-like article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle, said hold-down flap can be folded over the top edge of the article and down between the article and said second panel; and said opening being sufficiently large such that when an article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle, said lock-tab member can be pushed through said opening and Folded through a complete turn of 360*, whereafter said side portions of said lock-tab member can be inserted under said side marginal edges of said cut-out, and thus between said first and second panels so as to lock the article within the packaging device.

Claim 13

A packaging device for a fragile plate-like article, which comprises: a generally rectangular body having a first longitudinal fold line dividing said body into first and second panels, said first panel having substantially the same dimensions as said second panel, said body being folded along said first fold line such that said first panel and said second panel are disposed in face-to-face relationship; means fastening said first and second panels along their side marginal edges such that the space between the respective panels defines an envelope-like receptacle; said first panel having a foldable lock-tab member, at least one foldable hold-down flap and a cut-out surrounding said lock-tab member; said second panel having an opening corresponding in location to said lock-tab member; said lock-tab member having a generally vertically extending stem portion and two laterally extending side portions so as to define a generally inverted T-shaped configuration; said cut-out portion having side marginal edges and a top edge, said top edge forming an integral connection with the end of said stem portion of said lock-tab member that is remote from said side portions thereof, the distance between said side marginal edges of said cut-out being smaller than the distance between the opposed ends of said laterally extending side portions of said lock-tab member so as to enable said side marginal edges to overlap said side portions when the packaging device is assembled and locked; said hold-down flap being defined by a generally horizontally disposed slit and a pair of slits depending generally downwardly therefrom, such that when a plate-like article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle, said hold-down flap can be folded over the top edge of the article and down between the article and said second panel; and said opening being sufficiently large such that when an article is placed in said envelope-like receptacle, said lock-tab member can be pushed through said opening and Folded through a complete turn of 360*, whereafter said side portions of said lock-tab member can be inserted under said side marginal edges of said cut-out, and thus between said first and second panels so as to lock the article within the packaging device.

Claim 14

A packaging device for sheets of frangible material such as sheets of glass, vehicle windshields and the like, which comprises: a frangible sheet having forward and rearward surfaces and a top edge; a first generally rectangular panel member overlying said forward surface of said sheet and having dimensions greater than said sheet, said first panel member having at a location above said top edge of said sheet at least one foldable hold-down flap, a foldable lock-tab member and a cut-out surrounding said lock-tab member; a second generally rectangular panel member overlying said rearward surface of said sheet and having marginal edges which coincide substantially with the corresponding marginal edges of said first panel member, means fastening said first and second panel members along their side and bottom marginal edges; said lock-tab member having a generally vertically extending stem portion and two laterally extending side portions so as to define a generally inverted T-shaped configuration; said cut-out portion having side marginal edges and a top edge, said top edge forming an integral connection with the end of said stem portion of said lock-tab member that is remote from said side portions thereof, the distance between said side marginal edges of said cut-out being smaller than the distance between the opposed ends of said laterally extending side portions of said lock-tab member; said hold-down flap being defined by a generally horizontally disposed slit and a pair of slits depending generally downwardly therefrom, said flap being folded rearwardly over the top edge of said sheet and downwardly between said sheet and said second panel member; said second panel member having an opening through which said lock-tab member is passed, said stem portion of said lock-tab member being folded through a complete turn of 360* and said side portions thereof being inserted under said side marginal edges of said cut-out, and thus between said first and second panel members so as to lock said sheet within the packaging device.

Claim 15

A packaging device for sheets of frangible material such as sheets of glass, vehicle windshields and the like, which comprises: a frangible sheet having forward and rearward surfaces and a top edge; a first generally rectangular panel member overlying said forward surface of said sheet and having dimensions greater than said sheet, said first panel member having at a location above said top edge of said sheet at least one foldable hold-down flap, a foldable lock-tab member and a cut-out surrounding said lock-tab member; a second generally rectangular panel member overlying said rearward surface of said sheet and having marginal edges which coincide substantially with the corresponding marginal edges of said first panel member, means fastening said first and second panel members along their side and bottom marginal edges; said lock-tab member having a generally vertically extending stem portion and two laterally extending side portions so as to define a generally inverted T-shaped configuration; said cut-out portion having side marginal edges and a top edge, said top edge forming an integral connection with the end of said stem portion of said lock-tab member that is remote from said side portions thereof, the distance between said side marginal edges of said cut-out being smaller than the distance between the opposed ends of said laterally extending side portions of said lock-tab member; said hold-down flap being defined by a generally horizontally disposed slit and a pair of slits depending generally downwardly therefrom, said flap being folded rearwardly over the top edge of said sheet and downwardly between said sheet and said second panel member; said second panel member having an opening through which said lock-tab member is passed, said stem portion of said lock-tab member being folded through a complete turn of 360* and said side portions thereof being inserted under said side marginal edges of said cut-out, and thus between said first and second panel members so as to lock said sheet within the packaging device.

Claim 16

The packaging device of claim 12, wherein said first panel member comprises two hold-down flaps substantially equispaced with respect to the marginal side edges of said first panel, and wherein said lock-tab member is substantially equispaced between said hold-down flaps.

Claim 17

The packaging device of claim 13, wherein said first and second panel members are stitched along their side and bottom marginal edges.

Claim 18

The packaging device of claim 12, wherein said hold-down flap includes fold lines to facilitate folding said flap over and behind said sheet.