Shipping container

Claim 1

A container for accommodating a cylindrical unit provided with axially disposed protrusions at opposite ends thereof, said container comprising a pair of foldable complemental housing sections adapted to assume either a collapsed or setup state, said housing sections having one of said sections disposed in an inverted superposed relation with the other section whereby said sections coact to form a unit-accommodating compartment; each housing section including foldably connected wall panels having corresponding first edges delimiting an open end, the wall panel first edges of said housing sections being in substantially abutting relation when said sections form said unit-accommodating compartment, each housing section having a first pair of wall panels in opposed relation and having interior surfaces positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the unit when the latter is disposed within the unit-accommodating compartment; said first pair of wall panels of each housing section being adapted to be in substantially parallel close proximity to each other when said section is in a collapsed state; and substantially inflexible reinforcing pads affixed to exterior surfaces of said first pair of wall panels of each housing section, said pads and the first edges of the wall panels connected thereto having means on peripheral portions thereof adapted to supportingly engage the unit protrusions when the unit is accommodated within said compartment.