Packing system

Claim 2

A packing device for storing and transporting a plurality of items, comprising a pair of unconnected substantially identical shells, each of said shells being elongated and including a plurality of preformed elongated recesses provided in one surface thereof for defining corresponding projections on an opposite surface thereof, said recesses of each of said shells being sized, shaped, and located such that each of said recesses of a first shell of said pair of shells cooperates with a corresponding one of said recesses of a second shell of said pair of shells to firmly retain an item between said first and second shells when said first and second shells are spaced apart and mutually inverted so that said recesses in said first shell open toward said recesses in said second shell, first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of said recesses of said first shell extending along a first lateral edge of said first shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second lateral edge of said first shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said first shell between said first, second, third and fourth recesses of said first shell, said seventh recess of said first shell being sized and arranged such that a first plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said first shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell and such that a second plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said first shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell, and first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first lateral edge of said second shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second lateral edge of said second shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said second shell between said first, second, third, and fourth recesses of said second shell, said seventh recess of said second shell being sized and arranged such that a third plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said second shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell and such that a fourth plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said second shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell.

Claim 3

A packing device according to claim 1, further comprising strengthening ribs on said projections.

Claim 4

A packing device according to claim 2, wherein said ribs are formed integrally with said projections.

Claim 5

A packing device according to claim 1, further comprising first means on said projections of said first shell for meshing with teeth provided on a third shell when said first and third shells are stacked one on top of the other and second means on said projections of said second shell for meshing with teeth provided on a fourth shell when said second and fourth shells are stacked one on top of the other.

Claim 6

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second shells is formed from a sheet of material having a thickness of about 4 millimeters.

Claim 7

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second shells are vacuum formed.

Claim 8

A packing system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second shells is made from a synthetic resin material.

Claim 9

A packing device according to claim 7, wherein said material is shockproof ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene).

Claim 10

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second shells has a peripheral lip.

Claim 11

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein said first shell includes first support means for supporting said first shell a distance from a surface and said second shell includes second support means for supporting said second shell a distance from a surface.

Claim 12

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein said recesses are shaped and sized so as to receive cathode ray tubes, said first and second shells being spaced apart by said cathode ray tubes.

Claim 13

A packing device according to claim 1, wherein said recesses are sized, shaped, and located such that said first and second shells are stackable one inside the other when said recesses are not supporting items therein.

Claim 14

In combination, a plurality of cathode ray tubes and a packing device for storing and transporting said cathode ray tubes, said device including a pair of unconnected substantially identical shells, each of said shells being elongated and including a plurality of preformed elongated recesses provided in one surface thereof for defining corresponding projections on an opposite surface thereof, said recesses of each of said shells being sized, shaped, and located such that each of said recesses of a first shell of said pair of shells cooperates with a corresponding one of said recesses of a second shell of said pair of shells to firmly retain a corresponding one of said cathode ray tubes between said first and second shells when said first and second shells are spaced apart by said cathode ray tubes and mutually inverted so that said recesses in said first shell open toward said recesses in said second shell, first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a first lateral edge of said first shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second lateral edge of said first shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said first shell between said first, second, third, and fourth recesses of said first shell, said seventh recess of said first shell being sized and arranged such that a first plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said first shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell and such that a second plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said first shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell, and first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first lateral edge of said second shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second lateral edge of said second shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said second shell between said first, second, third, and fourth recesses of said second shell, said seventh recess of said second shell being sized and arranged such that a third plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said second shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell and such that a fourth plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said second shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell.

Claim 15

In combination, a plurality of cathode ray tubes and a packing device for storing and transporting said cathode ray tubes, said device including a pair of unconnected substantially identical shells, each of said shells being elongated and including a plurality of preformed elongated recesses provided in one surface thereof for defining corresponding projections on an opposite surface thereof, said recesses of each of said shells being sized, shaped, and located such that each of said recesses of a first shell of said pair of shells cooperates with a corresponding one of said recesses of a second shell of said pair of shells to firmly retain a corresponding one of said cathode ray tubes between said first and second shells when said first and second shells are spaced apart by said cathode ray tubes and mutually inverted so that said recesses in said first shell open toward said recesses in said second shell, first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said first shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a first lateral edge of said first shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a second lateral edge of said first shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said first shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said first shell between said first, second, third, and fourth recesses of said first shell, said seventh recess of said first shell being sized and arranged such that a first plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said first shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell and such that a second plane extending generally laterally across said first shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said first shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said first shell, and said seventh recess of said first shell, and first and second recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, third and fourth recesses of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second longitudinal edge of said second shell in end-to-end fashion, a fifth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a first lateral edge of said second shell, a sixth recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a second lateral edge of said second shell, and a seventh recess of said plurality of recesses of said second shell extending along a longitudinal axis of said second shell between said first, second, third, and fourth recesses of said second shell, said seventh recess of said second shell being sized and arranged such that a third plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through one of said first and second recesses of said second shell, one of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell and such that a fourth plane extending generally laterally across said second shell passes through the other of said first and second recesses of said second shell, the other of said third and fourth recesses of said second shell, and said seventh recess of said second shell.

Claim 16

A combination according to claim 13, further comprising strengthening ribs on said projections.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 14 wherein said ribs are formed integrally with said projections.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 13, further comprising first means on said projections of said first shell for meshing with teeth provided on a third shell when said first and third shells are stacked one on top of the other and second means on said projections of said second shell for meshing with teeth provided on a fourth shell when said second and fourth shells are stacked one on top of the other.

Claim 19

A combination according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second shells is formed from a sheet of material having a thickness of about 4 millimeters.

Claim 20

A combination according to claim 13, wherein said first and second shells are vacuum formed.

Claim 21

A combination according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second shells is made from a synthetic resin material.

Claim 22

A combination according to claim 16, wherein said material is shockproof ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene).

Claim 23

A combination according to claim 13, wherein each of said first and second shells has a peripheral lip.

Claim 24

A combination according to claim 13, wherein said first shell includes first support means for supporting said first shell a distance from a surface and said second shell includes said second support means for supporting said second shell a distance from a surface.

Claim 25

A combination according to claim 13, wherein said recesses are sized, shaped, and located such that said first and second shells are stackable one inside the other when said recesses are not supporting items therein.