US5024328A — Foam packing frame and blank for forming the same

Claim 1

Independent Claim 289 words

A blank formed of a material to act as a cushion to protect a fragile part when said blank is opened to present a packing frame to receive said part therein to protect the same from damage during shipping, said blank comprising: a block of material having opposed ends and opposed sides extending between said ends and having front and rear surfaces wherein the thickness of said material between said front and rear surfaces corresponds to at least the thickness of said part, and the length of said block between said ends being greater than the width of said block between said sides; said block being formed with a central cut parallel with said sides and extending between said ends and passing through said block, said cut terminating prior to said ends of said block forming a hinge area between said ends and the end of said cuts respectively, said block further including, spaced apart two pair of opposed V shaped corner cutouts projecting on both sides of said central cut, said cutouts each terminating inwardly of said parallel sides forming hinge areas therebetween; said block being capable of opening along said central cut and bending at said hinge areas forming a single piece quadrilateral packing frame wherein the length of said central cut between the respective ends and said respective V shaped cutouts forms two opposed interior sides of said frame, and the central cut between said pairs of V shaped cutouts forms two additional opposed interior sides of said frame as said V shaped cutouts are closed due to said opening of said frame forming mitered corners of said frame, and the exterior perimeter of said frame is governed by the length and width of said blank.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 289 words

A blank formed of a material to act as a cushion to protect a fragile part when said blank is opened to present a packing frame to receive said part therein to protect the same from damage during shipping, said blank comprising: a block of material having opposed ends and opposed sides extending between said ends and having front and rear surfaces wherein the thickness of said material between said front and rear surfaces corresponds to at least the thickness of said part, and the length of said block between said ends being greater than the width of said block between said sides; said block being formed with a central cut parallel with said sides and extending between said ends and passing through said block, said cut terminating prior to said ends of said block forming a hinge area between said ends and the end of said cuts respectively, said block further including, spaced apart two pair of opposed V shaped corner cutouts projecting on both sides of said central cut, said cutouts each terminating inwardly of said parallel sides forming hinge areas therebetween; said block being capable of opening along said central cut and bending at said hinge areas forming a single piece quadrilateral packing frame wherein the length of said central cut between the respective ends and said respective V shaped cutouts forms two opposed interior sides of said frame, and the central cut between said pairs of V shaped cutouts forms two additional opposed interior sides of said frame as said V shaped cutouts are closed due to said opening of said frame forming mitered corners of said frame, and the exterior perimeter of said frame is governed by the length and width of said blank.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the same is formed of cushing foam material which is resilient, lightweight and easily cut to produce the blank that is operable to form said quadrilateral frame.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein intermediate said central cut between at least one end and one of said pairs of V shaped corner cutouts there is provided a finger cutout on at least one side of said central cut, wherein when said blank is opened a finger recess extends from said interior perimeter to said frame to receive a finger to dislodge said part from within said frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

A blank as defined in claim 3 wherein there are opposed finger cutouts projecting from both sides of said central cutout forming a pair of finger recesses when said blank is opened forming said packing frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said V shaped corner cutouts have divergent sides wherein one side is normal to the other assuring a miter corner when said sides engage each other upon opening said blank.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 220 words

A single piece quadrilateral packing frame cut from a shiftable blank and formed of a material to act as a cushion to protect a part, said frame having an exterior perimeter complementary with the interior perimeter of a packing container and adapted to be placed therein upon cushing material and having an interior perimeter conforming to the shape of said part and adapted to receive said part, said blank having a pair of elongated opposed parallel side walls, a pair of parallel opposed ends, a central cut between said side walls terminating in ends inwardly of said opposed ends, two pair of V shaped corner cutouts extending from said central cut outwardly to a point inwardly of said opposed parallel side walls, said frame when said blank is shifted comprising: a pair of opposed parallel end walls each of a corresponding thickness equal to the distance between said central cut and each of said side walls of said blank; a pair of opposed parallel side walls each of a corresponding thickness equal to the distance between said central cut and each of the side walls; miter corner joints formed by said respective V shaped corner cutouts as the walls of each of said V shaped corner cutouts engage each other with the shifting of said blank to form said frame.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 220 words

A single piece quadrilateral packing frame cut from a shiftable blank and formed of a material to act as a cushion to protect a part, said frame having an exterior perimeter complementary with the interior perimeter of a packing container and adapted to be placed therein upon cushing material and having an interior perimeter conforming to the shape of said part and adapted to receive said part, said blank having a pair of elongated opposed parallel side walls, a pair of parallel opposed ends, a central cut between said side walls terminating in ends inwardly of said opposed ends, two pair of V shaped corner cutouts extending from said central cut outwardly to a point inwardly of said opposed parallel side walls, said frame when said blank is shifted comprising: a pair of opposed parallel end walls each of a corresponding thickness equal to the distance between said central cut and each of said side walls of said blank; a pair of opposed parallel side walls each of a corresponding thickness equal to the distance between said central cut and each of the side walls; miter corner joints formed by said respective V shaped corner cutouts as the walls of each of said V shaped corner cutouts engage each other with the shifting of said blank to form said frame.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 36 words

A single piece quadrilateral packing frame as defined in claim 6 wherein one of the interior surfaces of the walls includes a finger cutout to achieve easy removal of said part when positioned in said frame.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-06-17	1994-12-17	1995-06-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-06-17	1998-12-17	1999-06-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-06-17	2002-12-17	2003-06-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Foam packing frame and blank for forming the same

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